Gear Roundup: Our Favorite Hiking Gear of February 2025

February is here and it's a nice time to start prepping for adventure as winter begins to slowly wind down.

This month, we're celebrating the final throws of winter with a fresh roundup of hiking gear we've been loving, testing, or have on our radar. New gear has been announced by much-loved brands, and we can't help but be super stoked.

From big-ticket buys to the small-but-awesome pieces, we know you’ll find something to get excited about in our favorite hiking gear of February roundup!

How We Chose Our Favorites

Here at Southwest Hikes, we're a small but mighty team of gear-obsessed outdoor professionals. So between falling down gear rabbit holes and constantly using various outdoor and hiking gear, our brains have gear fever. The pieces you'll find in our February roundup are items we genuinely really like or find fascinating!

Let the Roundup Commence!

Best Hiking Clothes of February

Squak Mountain Grid Fleece Hoodies
Over the past many months, me and my husband have been hiking and living our lives in various grid fleece hoodies. One of the definitive stand-outs has been the Squak Mountain Grid Fleece Hoodie. So much so that dear husband purchased another one so he'd have some color options. The Squak is thick fleece, very breathable and has a nice cut for hiking as well as kicking around town. It is also one of the most affordable fleece hoodies on that market. They're made in Utah.

Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie
If February is feeling cold, a new down jacket might make these final winter months feel a little warmer. Fjallraven's Expedition Pack Down Hoodie is a lighter version of their very extreme Expedition Parka. It's a cozy and stylish down hoodie that can pack up nice and small. It can easily transition from winter to spring when it comes to backpacking and hiking adventures. It's available in both women and for men's sizing.

Best Hiking Footwear of February

La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX
If you're dealing with snow this February and don't have a ton of ice to contend with, La Sportiva's Cyklon Cross GTX is a waterproof trail runner built for snowy times. It has great traction and grip on snow and uses a BOA closure which is great for mittened up hands. They're a lightweight shoe too, making them a bit of a unicorn where winter footwear is concerned.

Kahtoola MICROspikes
If you're dealing with ice this February, then you'll want to pick up some traction for your shoes. No company does lightweight traction better than Kahtoola, and their MICROspikes are awesome. Not only will they give you confidence to hike on icy terrain, they'll also pack up nice and tiny when you're off the slippery stuff. the best part of the MICROspikes to me, is how quick they are to get on and off from a standing position.

Random Gear You MUST See of February

Six Moon Designs Wy'east Ultralight Daypack
We really like this little daypack for year-round adventure. It features a very simple design, made of burly fabrics. It's ultralight at 25 ounces and is 30 liters. Six Moon Designs always makes comfortable fitting backpacks and the Wy'east has been exceptionally comfortable, with enough space for just about any dayhike.

NEMO Equipment Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Pad
At 11.6 ounces fully packed up, NEMO's Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Pad is one of the lightest on the market. It's also comfortable and durable! Forever on a quest to cut weight and maintain comfort, this sleeping pad certainly is an innovative new gear drop from NEMO Equipment.

GRAYL 24 ounce GeoPress Water Filter
If you're looking for a super easy way to filter water, including heavy metals, the GRAYL GeoPress Water Filter is our top recommendation. Not only is this press easily to use, it's also easy to drink from and pour from. If you filter a lot of water while you hike, this is a game changer.

Outdoor Research Prevail Heated GORE-TEX Mitts
Sometimes it is simply impossible to keep your hands warm in frigid temperatures. Even with the thickest and most premium mittens and gloves. When it's downright freezing, a battery-assist is just the ticket. The Prevail Heated GORE-TEX Mitts from Outdoor Research are the perfect mittens to keep your hands cozy. They are well insulated, but with added heaters, take warmth to a whole other level!

Best Hiking Fuel of February

Pinnacle Foods Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuits & Herbed Sausage Gravy
This is one of the most delicious backpacking meals I have ever eaten, and the rest of the Southwest Hikes crew is in agreement. It's a crazy change of pace from most dehydrated meals as far as flavors and textures go. It also hydrates super quick even at higher elevations. While it's not necessarily the healthiest meal option, sometimes yum-factor trumps the veggie-rich factor.

Seattle Gummy Company HydraFuel Sour Patch Margarita Hydration Gummies
Hikers rejoice! Seattle Gummy Company's Hydration gummies replenish your body’s electrolytes while you are moving and grooving in the heat and sun. They have the same hydrating electrolytes as electrolyte tabs, capsules, drinks, or powders; they’re just added to a delicious, easy-to-eat gummy. It's the first of its kind on the market. Pretty sweet!

Spotlight: February Shoutout!

February’s Favorite: Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader
If you're a backpacker who also loves to read, then our February Shoutout is for you! Kindle's new Paperwhite E-Reader is basically built for backpacking. It's extremely compact, but larger than a phone screen. It's also lighter than any phone, weighing in at 7.4 ounces! It features 16GB of storage, has a battery life that is insane (literally can be charged every 6 weeks or so with daily reading!) and it has a nice adjustable backlight that can be bright or very dim. It's also waterproof.

I used to read on my phone in the backcountry, and that not only killed my battery, it killed my eyes. Especially when you're totally socked in with bad weather and have days to kill stuck inside a tent. The Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader is a real game changer for reading in the wild. It can hold pretty much unlimited books and it is oddly rugged. We don't love to promote Amazon products here, but the Kindle Paperwhite really is epic.

Tips for Buying Hiking Gear in February

A lot of companies are still hosting significant winter sales on their gear, so it can be a good time to scoop up some deals. Right now is also a good time to buy some new gear for warmer weather adventures, as most companies are releasing new gear for spring and summer. So if you see something you really love, it's probably wise to buy it before it sells out; this is especially true of hiking clothes, backpacks and stoves.

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