The best awards of the season have arrived…

After the excitement and joy of the festive season, 2025 rolls right into award season! Some may follow the Emmys, Grammys or the Oscars, but here at Wild Earth, our expert team of staff and ambassadors cast their votes for the best awards of them all - Wild Earth’s Gear of the Year! 

Pop some champagne in your camp cup and sit back in your foldable chair while we recap our top gear picks of 2024. 

Best travel accessory

Cotopaxi Cubo Travel Packing Cubes

 

 

Travel was massive again in 2024 and our team were jet-setting across the country and the globe and the Cotopaxi Cubo Travel Packing Cubes were voted as the favourite travel accessory for the year. The mesh panels provide ventilation and handles that allow you to grab them from within your luggage easily. Available in four different sizes, the Cubos feature the iconic Cotopaxi Del Dia design which repurposes material off-cuts which were bound for landfill into unique designs so no two Del Dia products look the same.

 

Best Camp Chair

Helinox Chair One

 

 

The Helinox Chair One may be one of the originals when we think of “ultralight camp chair” and even after 15 years, it’s still number one (no pun intended). The chair is constructed of super durable DAC poles and although it weighs a total of only 0.96kg, it can hold up to 145kg. The strong seat material is 600D yet super lightweight and is blue signed certified for ethical manufacturing. Packing down to only 10cm x 10cm x 36cm, it is the chair that can go anywhere - staff even took theirs on the Overland Track this year!

 

Best Headlamp

Black Diamond Spot 400 Lumen Headlamp

 

 

For a headlamp that is low profile, simple and easy to use, the Black Diamond Spot 400 Lumen Headlamp takes the top spot for 2024. It is dual fuel powered with either AA batteries or Lithium Ion BD 1500 battery and offers multiple light features including dimming, strobe, distance and red light for campfire chats. It’s rated IPX8 for waterproofness up to 30 minutes in 1.1m of water and weighs only 77.5g with batteries included.

 

Best Climbing Shoes

Scarpa Drago Rock Climbing Shoes

 

 

For the climbers who can’t wait to grab a new pair of shoes for 2025, the Scarpa Drago Climbing Shoes were at the top of our list in 2024. The shoe has only one velcro strap which provides room for tonnes of rubber coverage on the forefoot for ultimate grip and is perfect for sport climbers, boulders and competition climbing. The shoe allows for sensitivity underfoot so you can feel safe to send it on big dynos, tiny holds or whatever’s your jam.

 

Best Trail Running Shoes

Altra Lone Peak Trail Running Shoes

 

 

Altras are a complete staff and ambassador favourite at Wild Earth and particularly for ultra-runner and Wild Earth ambassador, Ryan Crawford. The Altra Lone Peak 8 features the famous wide Altra toe box for a roomy fit for your toes and the MaxTrac outsole provides unreal grip for support on the trails. Want to know more? Check out Ryan’s review and hear from the legend himself! 

 

 

Best Waterproof Jacket

Arcteryx Beta Waterproof Jacket

 

 

If there was one product we heard about over and over again in 2024, it was the Arcteryx Beta Waterproof Jacket. It practically has a cult following at this point. It is a super versatile jacket that can be taken on any adventure in any climate for wind and rain protection. This year we had ambassadors using their Arcteryx Beta Jackets in the Simpson Desert, Tasmania, Mt Kosciuszko and even far north Queensland. There are three versions of the Beta in the range and each feature Gore-tex technology for ultimate protection in the outdoors. 

 

Best Water Bottle

Nalgene Wide Mouth Sustain 1L Water Bottle

 

 

The GOAT of water bottles is back for its third Gear of the Year win in a row and although it probably doesn’t need an introduction, it’s the Nalgene Sustain 1L Water Bottle. Backed with a lifetime guarantee, it's no wonder they’re the top pick because generally when you buy one, you won’t need to buy another water bottle for many years. Water bottle trends may come and go (Stanley who?) but it’s hard to pass up the simple and super durable design of a Nalgene. Plus they’re made of 50% recycled plastic and are BPA/BPS free - is #winning still a thing? 

 

Best Travel Luggage

Patagonia Black Hole 40L Wheeled Duffel Bag

 

 

For adventures that are on the pavement rather than a dirt track, the Patagonia Black Hole 40L Wheeled Duffel Bag will keep up with every step. Like the other Black Hole packs in the Patagonia range, the wheeled duffel bag is water-resistant and made from 100% recycled fabric. The wheels are sturdy and repairable with spares included, in case of any unforeseen issues, and the interior features multiple storage compartments for organisation. If you like to travel lightweight, the duffel is also carry-on compatible so less time waiting at a luggage carousel and more time exploring. 

 

Best Camp Cookset

Traverse 3pc Camping Pots Cookset

 

 

For a lightweight and affordable camp kitchen cookset, the Traverse 3 Piece Camping Pots Cookset was the pick of the year. Including a kettle, pot and frypan, it has everything you need for gourmet backcountry cooking. The set weighs only 770g in total and all packs down together conveniently and it comes with a mesh stuff sack for easy packing and storage. 

 

Best Sleeping Pad

Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad

 

 

Big Agnes’ slogan is ‘Mother of Comfort’ and that shows in the Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad. It is 11cm thick so even side sleepers will be comfy sleeping on this mat and the 3.4R rating provides warm insulation suitable for 3-season use. The Rapide comes in five size varieties including long, wide and double sizes to suit your level of comfort. The unique offset I-Beam design distributes the baffling evenly across the mat and also reduces extra weight for ultralight trips. 

 

Best Day Pack

Osprey Daylite Lightweight Daypack

 

 

A massive name in the world of packs is Osprey and it’s no surprise that they took out the top spot with their Daylite Lightweight Daypack. It’s the ultimate pack for versatility, suitable for hiking, commuting and travelling with the simple but durable design. The standard version has a 13L capacity and includes a sleeve for a hydration reservoir or laptop and side pockets for water bottles or snacks. For heavier loads, there are chest straps and hip straps for extra support. There’s also the Daylite Plus which includes all the same awesome features but with a 20L capacity for bigger trips. 

 

Best Backpacking Tent

Mont Moondance 2FN 2-Person 3 Season Hiking Tent

 

 

Mont was new for us in 2024 and the Australian brand was a quick favourite with Wild Earth staff. This tent is designed to withstand weather conditions in 3-4 seasons thanks to the DAC poles and the 25,000mm waterproof 40 denier material and it weighs only 2kg for the two-person tent. The Moondance features dual entry side doors and provides a roomy interior of 130cm wide which is more spacious compared to some other tents for a comfortable night’s rest. 

 

Best Coffee Maker

AeroPress Original Espresso & CoffeePress

 

 

You didn’t think we could do Gear of the Year without mentioning coffee, did you? Once again, AeroPress takes the (coffee) cake and the Original Espresso & CoffeePress was voted the favourite coffeemaker of 2024. No more instant coffee sachets or hauling your espresso machine into the backcountry, the Aeropress is able to make three types of coffee - drip, cold brew and even espresso. 

 

Best Down Jacket

Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody

 

 

For the voted best down jacket of 2024, it is hard to beat one of the classics - the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody. With an 800-fill of 100% Responsible Down Standard (RDS) down, it will be sure to keep you warm in cold conditions yet it only weighs 420g and packs down small. The Down Sweater Hoody is a perfect example of simple done well. The zippers are sturdy, the hood is warm and adjustable, two front hand warmer pockets and the entire jacket packs down into its internal pocket. This jacket is an all-time great - take it from me, I’ve had mine for 6 years.

 

Best Sleeping Bag

Sea to Summit Spark Down Sleeping Bag

 

 

Let’s end this list with a bang (or a spark in this case) because the top sleeping bag of the year was the Sea to Summit Spark Down Sleeping Bag. This sleeping bag had an overhaul this year with new updates across the range and an old favourite (a 2022 and 2023 winner) still remained a new favourite. With options of temperature ratings from 7 degrees Cº to -8 degrees Cº, the Spark range still features their 850+fill power of certified RDS goosedown but have significantly decreased the weight of their ultralight sleeping bags. 

That’s a wrap on 2024! Here’s to more adventures and awesome new gear in 2025!

 

If you need any further help, don't hesitate to come in store to chat with our experts or shoot us a message online if you have any questions! We’ll see you outdoors. Share your adventures with us on Instagram at @wildearthaustralia and use the hashtag #MyWildEarth to be featured.

 

About the contributor: 

   Jess Fiske is the Marketing Manager at Wild Earth. When she isn’t rollerblading in the streets of Coolangatta, you will find her either hiking in SEQ or strapping on her snowboard somewhere cold. Always planning her next adventure, Jess loves to get outdoors and travel off the beaten path. Follow her adventures on Instagram.