Outfitting Simplified
Guide Pick™
Guide Pick™ — The Badge That Matters
When your gear is the only thing between you and the summit, you can’t afford to guess. That’s why we created Guide Pick™ — our annual program where RMI’s professional guides vote on the equipment they trust most after thousands of days in the field. From midlayers to mountaineering boots, every product with the Guide Pick™ badge has been proven on real climbs in the harshest conditions. It’s not marketing hype, it’s expert consensus. If it earned this badge, it’s gear you can rely on.
Step 1
Real World Testing
With over 60 RMI Guides collectively spending over 10,000 days a year on the world’s highest and harshest mountains, our team puts every piece of gear through conditions no showroom can replicate. From freezing bivies on Rainier to summit pushes on Denali, the gear that makes the cut has truly been proven in the field.
Step 2
Surveyed for Performance, Comfort, and Reliability
At the end of every climbing season, guides complete an in-depth survey ranking the equipment they’ve relied on most. They evaluate what performed, what failed, and which products they’d recommend to future climbers. Their collective experience becomes a living record of the best gear available.
Step 3
Only The Best Earn the Guide Pick™ Badge
Only the top-rated products rise above the rest. When a piece of gear is consistently chosen across dozens of guides and hundreds of expeditions, it receives the Guide Pick™ badge — a mark of trust that means you can count on it in the mountains, just as we do. Look for the logo, and you’ll know it’s guide-approved.
Nerd Out
The Guide Pick™ Survey
Every year, over 60 RMI Guides weigh in on the gear they trust most in the mountains. From boots and jackets to helmets and packs, we ask them what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d choose again.
The 2025 results are in — and for the first time, we’re sharing the full breakdown with you. Inside you’ll find over 60 pages of guide votes, quotes, and data-driven insights to help you make the smartest gear choices.
See The ResultsShop Guide Pick™
1 color available
1 color available
1 color available
1 color available
1 color available
2 colors available
2 colors available
1 color available
1 color available
1 color available
1 color available
Questions about Guide Pick?
Still have questions about Guide Pick™? We’ve answered the most common ones below so you can see exactly how the badge is earned — and why it matters."
What does “Guide Pick” mean?
Guide Pick™ products are chosen each year by RMI’s professional mountain guides. They’re the pieces of gear that performed the best across hundreds of climbs and expeditions.
How often are Guide Picks updated?
We run a new survey every year and update the list to reflect what guides are actually using and trusting in the field. Gear that’s consistently outstanding often earns the badge year after year.
Are Guide Picks always the most expensive gear?
No—guides vote based on real performance, not price. Sometimes the simplest, most durable option wins, and other times it’s the innovative piece that solves a key problem on the mountain.
Can I use Guide Pick gear even if I’m not climbing big mountains?
Absolutely. While Guide Picks are tested on expeditions, they’re chosen for reliability, comfort, and performance in any outdoor setting. Whether you’re day-hiking, skiing, or backpacking, the badge means the gear is field-proven.
Do guides get paid to endorse these products?
No. Guide Picks are based solely on anonymous surveys of RMI’s guides. Brands can’t buy their way onto the list — the badge is earned through trust, experience, and performance in real conditions.
Every item with the Guide Pick™ badge has been tested, trusted, and chosen by the professionals who live in the mountains. If they trust it, you can too.
