"Gear" is a pretty general term. But for those of us gear-heads, it tends to mean the products that you rely on when the going gets tough. These included things like the "10 essentials of survival" and EDC knives and tools. Our Gear experts also test many outdoor products like backpacks, and wearables that serve a purpose such as hiking boots. We rigorously test all products in the gear category in their intended environments and for their intended purposes.