I bought a Sawyer inline water purifier about a month ago, hoping it would replace my General Ecology First Need water filter which is about 12 ounces heavier. Both the Sawyer and the First Need are the only EPA approved  filters on the market capable of filtering giardia, cryptosporidium, and viruses. The Sawyer (model sp125) […]

Popularity: 61% [?]

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This weekend I took another section hike on the Appalachian Trail from Lee, MA to Dalton, MA, a distance of 20 miles. Unlike my last trip, this section was infinitely easier. The snow had all melted and the daytime temperatures were a lot higher. I was also joined by several friends who I had hooked […]

Popularity: 47% [?]

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When I started using the Platypus hydration system (collapsible bladder and hose), I periodically had leaks where water would seep out of the system and get the contents of my pack wet. The source of these leaks was the connection between the hose adapter and the threads of the bladder spout. This continued until I […]

Popularity: 74% [?]

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Ultralight backpack manufacturers cut down on pack weight by removing a lot of creature comforts that you will normally find on heavier or mainstream backpacks. For example, hip belt pockets are not available as an option on my new Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus backpack. These pockets are really handy for storing bug dope, Purell, sun […]

Popularity: 99% [?]

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