Recommendations
We get a lot of questions about gear and travel booking sites.
You’ll find all our favorite gear and clothing for exploring the Rockies on this page. We’re fortunate enough to spend most of our days exploring the mountains, which means we test a lot of gear. We use and love the following items and services. You’ll also find our most recommended tour companies and transport operators.
We don’t require a subscription or a paywall to access all this content, and we are not beholden to shareholders who shape our opinions and advice around the area. No one pays us to say “this tour is fantastic!”
But you, our readers, can help support The Banff Blog and let us keep this information absolutely free for everyone. By booking your accommodation, tours, or buying travel gear through our links, you help keep our small two person (husband and wife) team working and the site free for everybody. We receive a small compensation when you purchase through one of these links, but it won’t cost you anything extra.
Please bookmark this page and use it to plan and book your next adventure. Below, we have assembled a list of some of the most useful platforms, outdoor gear, and our favorite travel websites, which we have been using for the last decade of travel.
Shop our
Canadian Rockies Digital Guide
Experience the Canadian Rockies like a local with our comprehensive, ad-free travel guide that fits right in your pocket. Download our guide today and gain insights into hidden gems, perfect photo spots, amazing restaurants, and our favorite hikes.
Transport Companies and Tours
Moraine Lake Bus Co
Get to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise easily. Buses run often throughout the summer.
ViaVia Shuttle
With a pick up from Banff or Canmore, Via Via will get you to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, or Emerald Lake! Use code BANFFBLOG15 for 15% off.
Fairview Limo
Leaves from the Lake Louise Inn and offers flexible buses to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise!
Banff Gondola
The most popular thing to do in Banff. Book your tickets directly with Pursuit.
Banff Hop On/Off
Hop on and off this bus as you please! Destinations include Johnston Canyon, Moraine Lake, and Lake Louise.
Banff Airporter
Direct transport between Calgary Airport and Canmore or Banff!
IceWalks
Want to walk on a glacier with a guide? This IceWalks tour is a best seller!
Ice Explorer
Another popular tour is hopping on the Ice Explorer vehicles combined with the Jasper Skywalk!
Maligne Lake Cruise
One of the most popular tours that takes you to the sacred Spirit Island!
Lake Minnewanka Cruise
Explore Lake Minnewanka by boat!
1 Hour Horseback Tour
Explore Banff via horseback, just like in the olden days!
Via Ferrata
Want an adrenaline rush? This Via Ferrata will definitely get your heart pumping!
Our Favorite Clothing For Hikes
Down Jacket
It’s always down jacket season in the Rockies, and the Cerium LT Hoody is our favorite. It’s lightweight, warm, and super comfortable. Get it here!
Hiking Shirt
Cotton shirts are slow to dry and pull heat away from your body. Opt for a wool shirt like the Smartwool Merino Sport shirt.
Shorts
We both love lined shorts as they reduce the risk of chafing. Check out the Swiftland Running Shorts and Fast and Free Lined Shorts.
Pants
The Men’s Renegade pants and Women’s Freeflex pants are exceptional for travel and hiking.
Underwear
Wool underwear offers better performance and comfort than cotton. Icebreaker has fantastic underwear for women and men.
Socks
Darn Tough’s Micro Hiker Socks come in a range of cuts and offer tremendous on-trail performance.
Boots
Boot choice depends on their intended use, but for most hikers, the Merrell Moab is a perfect choice.
Shoes
We ditch the cumbersome boot for most hikes and wear the Salomon Speedcross, trail running shoes.
Guide Along Audio App
The Guide Along audio app makes it easy for you to listen in the car as you pass all the incredible places in the Canadian Rockies. We love to use the Guide Along app on the Icefields Parkway, but you can also get the “Canadian Rockies” bundle. The best news? You can use the code WORLDPUR and get 25% off your purchase!
AllTrails
AllTrails is our favorite app for planning hikes. We suggest downloading it and paying for a subscription so you can download their topography maps right to your phone and access them offline. It could be better, and we have our critiques. However, AllTrails provides a lot of the info you’ll need on most hikes in the area, including helpful details like the start of the trailhead, current conditions, elevation, elevation gain, average time, and distance.
Our Favorite Gear
Poles
Hiking poles are a tremendous aid in the Rockies with uneven and loose rocky terrain. We love these hiking poles from Black Diamond.
InReach
There is not much cell service in the Canadian Rockies. In case of emergencies, we carry an emergency beacon with GPS, Garmin inReach.
Backpack
We recommend a backpack of around 20L for most hikes. Osprey backpacks are a great choice for hiking.
Multiday Backpack
For backcountry adventures, we love the Men’s Gregory Baltoro Backpack and Women’s Deva Backpack.
Capture Clip
This nifty clip from Peak Design secures a camera to my backpack strap for easy reach. No more digging in the backpack!
Microspikes
When trails are icy or have packed snow microspikes are literal lifesavers. Amazing traction devices that we could not live without.
Helmet
If you plan to tackle any of the fantastic scrambles in the Rockies it’s a good idea to protect your head with Half Dome Helmet from rockfall.
Travel Credit Cards
Many financial institutions add a surcharge and a currency conversion fee to every foreign currency purchase, particularly for debit cards. We highly recommend that everyone traveling from another country use a rewards travel credit card for purchases in Canada.
Not only will it save on foreign currency conversions, but it also comes with a ton of other advantages. Most notably, the awesome rewards can translate to free travel.
Resources For Travel Planning
Click one of the logos below to learn more!
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