I upgraded my primary headlamp this winter to the new, redesigned Black Diamond Icon headlamp which throws out a beefy 200 lumens of light with a burn time of 75 hours on a high setting and 175 hours on low. I do …
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SPOT X Two-Way Satellite Messenger Review
The SPOT X is a two-way satellite messenger that can send and receive SMS messages and emails with friends and family or search and rescue services anywhere in the world. It is a big step forward from SPOT’s Gen 3 satellite communicator …
Read More »Princeton Tec Helix Backcountry Rechargeable Lantern Review
The Princeton Tex Helix Backcountry Rechargeable Lantern is an excellent luxury item for camping that’s lightweight enough for family or couples backpacking. It’s also a remarkably well-designed product that can be used in many ways: as a hanging lantern, a spotlight with …
Read More »Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp Review
I originally bought the Black Diamond Spot headlamp for use on winter backpacking trips where I need extra light for melting snow after dark, but I like it so much I use it the rest of the year. It is great for …
Read More »Black Diamond Ion Headlamp Review
The Black Diamond Ion is a cute little headlamp powered by two AAA batteries that has a built-in dimmer switch, red light mode, strobe, and an electronic lock. Getting a headlamp with a locking on/off switch is a must-have if you know …
Read More »Black Diamond Orbit Camping Lantern Review
When the weather starts getting a little colder and darkness falls before 6PM, I add a few luxury items to my pack on overnight backpacking trips, like a mini-lantern and a paperback book to pass the time at night. On my last …
Read More »ARC MicrOFix GPS Personal Locator Beacon
I do a lot of solo backpacking in some out of the way places and my wife, understandably, worries about my safety. This year she asked me to bring along a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) on my more remote trips where a …
Read More »McNett Aquaseal Zip Tech: Zipper Lubricant
There’s nothing worse than having a having a stubborn rain jacket zipper that won’t zip when it starts to rain heavily. To prevent this, I lubricate all of the zippers on my hiking coats, sleeping bags, and shelters at least once a …
Read More »Photon Freedom Micro-light Review
The Photon Freedom Microlight is an ultralight LED light that weighs a mere 6 grams (0.2 oz) and can easily replace that clunker of a headlamp you are wearing today. It comes with a detachable hat clip that you can wear on …
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