A near-perfect sunscreen, a versatile wind layer, and a monocular that made us feel like pirates: Here’s the gear that helped Backpacker’s editors get outside in June.
Published June 30, 2026 10:00PM
Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference on the trail. Case in point: When we tried to pick the best gear we used in June, two out of the three of us chose accessories small enough to fit into the palms of our hands.
The gear that we’re carrying may be small, but the adventures we’re having are larger than life: This June, we explored our home peaks on Colorado’s Western Slope, weathered a pop-up hailstorm in a lean-to, and whale-watched from camp on Washington state’s misty beaches. This is the equipment that’s helped us chase adventure so far this summer.
Freaks of Nature Peak Performance Sun Stick SPF50
I like staying protected from the sun. I don’t like the ghost-white cast that most mineral sunscreens paint me with, or the chalky residue they leave on my skin. Freaks of Nature’s Peak Performance Sun Stick is one of the more comfortable high-test sunscreens I’ve used. Unlike most zinc-based formulas, theirs rubs in easily and feels light on the skin. The Peak Performance stick is a perfect size for most activities, small enough to fit in a hipbelt pocket but large enough to cover my face, neck, and the backs of my hands in a couple of swipes. The plant-based formula is water-resistant for 80 minutes at a time, reef-safe, vegan, and packaged in 100 percent recycled plastic. For long summer days playing in the sun, it’s become an essential. —Adam Roy, Editor-in-Chief
Nocs Provisions Zero Tube 10×25 Monocular
The older I get, the more I strain my eyes to see things far away. Sitting at my computer, that’s not a big deal, but when I’m in the backcountry, and a moose crosses my path at 250 yards, or my partner points out an arch on a cliff halfway across a canyon, I find myself squinting to make out shapes and colors. That probably means I need glasses, but in the meantime, I’ve been using the Nocs Zero Tube Monocular, and it’s changed the game for me. This rugged, compact little looker offers 10×25 magnification to lens diameter, meaning it magnifies things ten times their size. The image clarity is good enough that you can easily and clearly see details that would have otherwise escaped you. It’s also waterproof up to 1 meter for 30 minutes, and impact resistant.
I bought this gadget for backcountry skiing, but I’ve ended up using it more for backpacking. I started carrying the monocular in a shoulder strap of my backpack, and I was genuinely surprised by how often I found myself reaching for it. On top of the ability to see further and more clearly, it also just feels cool to bust out a monocular to scope a scene. I can’t help but imagine myself on the bow of a ship in the ocean every time I do it. It’s enhanced not only my vision on the trail, but my experience as well.
\For $180 it’s worth the price, especially since I don’t worry about chucking it into my backpack or dropping it in a puddle. It’s a rugged, compact, trail tool that makes a great gift (for yourself, or another backpacker in your life). —Will Brendza, Associate Editor
Freelight Polartech Alpha Insulated Hood Jacket
Until recently, the windbreakers in my closet were reserved for downhill mountain bike rides or especially blustery summits. But once I donned this windjacket on a recent camping trip, I didn’t take it off. Lined with Alpha Direct insulation, the windproof outer shell traps a surprising amount of warmth while remaining breathable.
While camping beachside on Washington’s Orcas Island, I wore the Freelight on a breezy evening at sunset. As temperatures dropped into the low 50s after sunset, I never needed to add an extra layer. Last week, I camped in Olympic National Park; the weather toggled between soggy, mist-laden chill and warm June sun. I kept the Freelight on for most of the trip, while traipsing on the beach, cooking dinner in camp, and lounging on the shore in ripping winds. Without insulation under the arms, the jacket remains breathable when it needs to be. My one gripe is with the stretch-mesh drop pocket on the front of the jacket: Peak Performance claims it’s to stash wet gloves or a sweaty beanie, but I’d rather have regular hand pockets. —Zoe Gates, Senior Editor
