Welcome to the launch of the first ever Advnture Awards, a celebration of the very best the outdoors has to offer. As millions of people come out of Covid-19 lockdowns around the world, the time has never been better to experience the joys of hiking, camping and trail running – and our inaugural event recognises the finest outdoor kit you can buy right now.
Below you’ll see the shortlists for 21 product-focused Advnture Awards, across four categories – Trail Running, Camping, Outdoor Tech and Hiking. In our fifth category, Explorers, we’re celebrating the people who make the outdoors a better place, whether it’s through their amazing, record-breaking achievements or their efforts to inspire others.
The Advnture Awards winners will be announced on the site across the week of May 17-21, 2021. The shortlists and prizewinners have been selected by a judging panel of Advnture contributors, all of them expert adventurers who regularly put the best outdoor kit through its paces where it’s meant to be used – over trails and mountain tops around the world. The panel features Casey Blaine, Berne Broudy, Kieran Cunningham, Louis Dzierzak, Matthew Jones, Pat Kinsella, Sian Lewis, Jonathan Manning, Brian Metzler and Fiona Russell.
The selection below features some of the best outdoors kit available right now. Scroll down to see the shortlists for the Advnture Awards 2021.
TRAIL RUNNING
Essential equipment for those who want to explore the outdoors at a faster pace.
Best trail running shoes
- Dynafit Ultra 100s
- INOV-8 Trail Fly Ultra G 300 Max
- La Sportiva Bushido II
- On Cloudventure
- Salomon Wildcross
- VivoBarefoot Primus Trail II FG
Best men’s trail running apparel
- Darn Tough No Show Tab Ultra-Lightweight Merino Wool socks
- Evadict Waterproof Trail Running Jacket
- Inov-8 Stormshell jacket
- Julbo Aero running sunglasses
- Rab Vital Windshell Jacket
- Smartwool PHD Run Cold Weather mid crew
Best women’s trail running apparel
- Brooks Dare Strappy Run Bra
- Flanci skort
- Inov-8 Race Elite Tight
- Lululemon Enlite Bra Zip Front
- OMM Kamleika Jacket
- Under Armour Infinity High Bra
Best hydration pack
- Montane Women's VIA Snap 4L Running Vest Pack
- Raid Light Revolutiv 24L
- Salomon Active Skin 8
- Thule Vital 3L women
- Camelback Fourteeneer 26
CAMPING
The kit that makes sure nights under canvas are memorable for all the right reasons.
Best backpacking tent
- Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Bikepack
- Kelty Dirt Motel
- MSR Hubba NX Solo
- Nemo Dragonfly
- Sierra Designs Meteor 3000 2P
- Terra Nova Laser Compact All-Season 2
Best car camping tent
- Coleman Valdes Deluxe 6XL Air BlackOut
- Easy Camp Galaxy 400
- Outwell Airville 6SA
- Quechua 2 Seconds Blackout
- Vango Osiris Air
- Vaude Badawi Long 6P
Best sleeping bag
- Air Haglofs LIM +1
- Mountain Hardwear Lamina ECO AF -1°C/30°F
- Rab Neutrino Pro 400
- Sierra Designs Cloud 800 35F
- Thermarest Hyperion 32F/0C
- Thermarest Vesper 32 Quilt
Best sleeping pad or mat
- EXPED Synmat UL Unisex
- Klymit Insulated Static V-Lite
- Robens Trailguard 50
- Sea to Summit Women’s Comfort Light
- Thermarest NeoAir
- Thermarest NeoAir UberLite
Best camping stove
- Coleman Fyrestorm
- Jetboil Flash
- Optimus Vega
- Primus FireStick
- SOTO Windmaster
- TOAKS Titanium Backpacking Wood Burning Stove
Best multitool
- Gerber Truss
- Leatherman Charge+ TTi
- RoverTac Multitool Hatchet
- SOG PowerLitre
- Tyger Auto Shovel
- Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X
OUTDOOR TECH
The technological innovations that make the outdoors better.
Best GPS smartwatch
- Coros Apex Pro
- Coros Pace 2
- Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar
- Suunto 9 Baro
- Wahoo Elemnt Rival Multisport
Best outdoors app
- Alltrails
- FreeRoam
- Go Jauntly
- komoot
- OS
- Viewranger
Best headlamp
- Black Diamond Storm 400
- Knog Bilby
- Nitecore HC65
- Petzl Actik Core 450
- Silva Trail Runner Free
HIKING
The best kit on the market for hitting the trails – whether you’re on a forest walk or climbing a mountain.
Best men’s hiking footwear
- Hanwag Banks
- Inov-8 Roclite 345 GTX
- Keen Karraig
- Merrell Moab II
- Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX
- Scarpa Maverick Mid GTX
Best women’s hiking footwear
- Brasher Country Walker
- Danner Inquire Mid Insulated
- Keen Terradora II
- Lowa Wendelstein II W’s
- Salewa W’s Dropline GTX
- Scarpa Mistral
Best large backpack
- Berghaus Trailhead 65
- Granite Gear Crown 2 60
- Gregory Tribute 70
- Jack Wolfskin Denali 65
- Lowe Alpine Airzone Camino Trek 40:50
- Osprey Stratos 50
Best daypack
- Deuter Futura 30
- Lowe Alpine Cholatse 32:37
- Montane Azote 32
- Mountain Hardwear UL 20
- Mountainsmith Scream 25
- Osprey Talon 33
Best men’s waterproof jacket
- Alpkit Balance 2
- Berghaus Changtse
- Finisterre Stormbird
- Klättermusen Allgrön 2.0
- Montane Alpine Resolve
- Patagonia Torrentshell
Best women’s waterproof jacket
- Mammut Kento HS Hooded
- Marmot Precip Eco
- Ortovox Civetta
- Outdoor Research Women’s Motive AscentShell
- Patagonia Storm 10
- Velocio Ultralight Rain Jacket
Best base layer
- Bam Zip-Neck Bamboo Base Layer
- Columbia Omni-Heat 3D Knit Crew II Base Layer Top
- Helly Hansen Lifa Merino Mid-weight Hoodie
- Keela Merino Long-Sleeved Top
- Páramo Grid Technic
- Zebru Responsive Long-Sleeve Top
Best mid layer
- Finisterre Nimbus
- Jottnar Fenrir
- Outdoor Research Vigor Full-Zip Hoodie
- Páramo Enduro or Ventura Fleece
- Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
- Rab Cirrus Alpine
EXPLORERS
Four special awards to celebrate the people who’ve made a difference in the outdoors, whether it’s for their remarkable achievements or simply being an inspiration to others.
