Outdoor and travel gear, tested on real trips.
Honest guides to natural-fiber clothing, backpacks and barefoot shoes that are built to last, outdoors and on the road.
By Ellen & Greg Kinsey, brother and sister · Meet us
Hi, we’re Ellen & Greg.
A brother-and-sister team who grew up traveling. We choose natural fibers because they feel better, last longer and come from nature. We write every guide ourselves and mark the picks we’ve used.
Our story →How we choose gear →
Now testingMerino base layers on fall hikes in the Austrian Alps, since October 2026
Ellen KinseyCo-founder & editor- Based in
- The Austrian Alps
- Background
- Online magazine writer & yoga teacher
- Writes about
- Travel guides, outdoor gear, natural fibers & yoga
Greg KinseyCo-founder & editor- Based in
- On the road as a digital nomad
- Has lived in
- Australia, India, France, Italy, Mexico & Argentina
- Writes about
- Backpacks, travel tech & men’s natural-fiber clothing
Readers’ most-read guides
All gear guides →
Start here
Six places to begin, depending on what you’re packing for.
Natural Fibers
Merino, alpaca, cashmere, linen and cotton that feel better and last longer.
Barefoot Shoes
Wide toe boxes and thin soles for trails, cities and snow.
Backpacks
From personal-item bags to 60L trekking packs, sized for the trip.
Ski & Winter
Ski bags, straps, goggles and warm layers for days on the mountain.
Backpacking & Travel Gear
Tents, sleeping bags, camp furniture and travel essentials.
Travel Guides
Itineraries from Greece and Italy to Guatemala, Morocco and Sri Lanka.
Our test bench is a mountain.
Ellen lives in the Austrian Alps, so the gear we test gets real ski days, wet trails and summer hikes. Picks we’ve used ourselves carry a Tested by us badge.
Readers’ favorite guides
All merino guides →
BackpacksBest 60L Backpack for Travel and Trekking
Merino WoolThe Ultimate Merino Wool Base Layer Guide
Ski & WinterThe Best Ski Straps: 7 Picks to Keep Your Skis Together
Merino WoolBest Merino Wool Gloves for Winter
Barefoot ShoesBest Barefoot Sandals for Women for Warm Weather
EuropeThe Ultimate One Week in Greece ItineraryWhy we love natural fibers
We choose natural fibers because they feel better, last longer and come from nature. Sometimes a little nylon or elastane adds stretch or strength. When it does, we tell you the exact blend.
Soft next to skin, warm when damp and slow to hold odor, so you can rewear it on the road.
Serious warmth for the weight. Great for socks, hats and blankets in a cold winter.
Breathable and easy in the heat. Linen dries fast and gets softer the more you wash it.
Durable, repairable and better with age when it’s well made and cared for.
Barefoot Backpackers newsletter
One email a month: what we’re testing, new guides and outdoor adventures we’ve been on.