My wife and family asked me to list some of the near ultralight gear I want for the holidays, and I thought I’d share my wish list with you. Some of this stuff is a little esoteric if you’re not a lightweight backpacker and they now know to ask before they buy anything for me!

I’ve been lusting after this full length bug bivy from Mountain Laurel Designs for the past year. It only weighs 5.5 oz and would be perfect under a trap or in an a shelter. It retails for $125.  

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I’m in the market for a new tarp and my ultralight mentor and friend Quoddy recommends the Spectralite Grace Duo, also from Mountain Laurel Designs. Weighing 7.8 oz., this is probably the lightest full size duo tarp available. It has a trapezoidal shape and a catenary ridge cut, including internal tie-outs along it’s 9 foot ridgeline. At $265 it would be an indulgence, but I’d put it to good use.

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I really like Montbell’s Down and Thermawrap outwear: it’s very well made, very low weight, and very warm. I already own a pair of Montbell synthetic Thermawrap pants and a Montbell Ultralight down vest. Now, I’d like to replace my well-used MEC Primaloft jacket (weighing 14 oz.) with the Montbell Ultralight Thermawrap jacket shown here. The Thermawrap product line uses a synthetic fill called Exceloft which remains warm even when wet. This jackets weighs just 8.7 oz. in size medium and includes a DWR treatment over an outer ballistic nylon shell. Retail price is $139, but Backcountry.com has them discounted 25% off to $105.

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I’ve been using a Kindle, Amazon’s Wireless Reading Device that I borrowed from work this week and I’ve gotten hooked on it. It’s perfect for a geek like me who would otherwise have to lug around a lot of technical manuals. It only weighs 10 oz. and I might even consider bringing it on an early spring or late autumn backpacking trip when I have to spend 10+ hours in my tent while it’s dark outside. If you consider that a normal paperback weighs about 7 oz., that’s really not a high weight penalty. The cost of a Kindle is still a bit dear at $359, but the electronic books for it are less expensive than paper ones, and it makes an excellent travel companion on business trips and vacations when you want to cut down on luggage weight and bulk.

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I’m a big fan of Jacks R Better Nest underquilt for my Hennessy Hammock. I’ve tried a number of different cold weather extensions manufactured by Hennessy to extend my hammock into a lower temperature range but have been unsatisfied with the results (see my field test results for the Hennessy Supershelter). So when I saw that there was a new Winter Nest available, with even more goose down insulation, I new I had to have it. The Winter Nest weighs 26 oz. and contains 6 oz. more 800+ fill goose down than the regular Nest. Price is $299, which is not that bad because you can also use it as a quilt over a sleeping pad (Big Agnes Style) if you’re sleeping on the ground.

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I am a hydration system geek and I’m always interested in trying out new filters and purification systems to see if I can improve on the convenience and quality of my First Need water purifier (none have even come close). However, I am intrigued by the Platypus CleanStream gravity based system ($80), introduced  this year and would like one for extensive field testing. Like all hydration systems, this will have it’s strengths and weaknesses, but the core concept is fairly sound. I like the fact that the different components can be replaced, so you could use wide mouth canteeens in cold weather to prevent freezing, or bring multiple "clean" bags to generate more water for multiple people. Given the size of the filter, it also looks like this might be a good winter water filter, since you can store it close to your skin to keep it from freezing. Lots of possibilities here.

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I really like my existing set of "Trail" hiking poles from Black Diamond. They are perfect for 4 season use, but they’re a bit heavy. Instead, I’d like a pair of 3 season poles that are far lighter in weight, but rugged enough for steep ascents and pitching tarps or single walled tents in moderately windy conditions. I’d also like to move away from aluminum poles to carbon fiber ones, to reduce my lightning footprint on high peaks: I had a close call on the Long Trail this summer and I’m motivated to replace my lightning rods.

I have a friend who has a pair of Gossamer Gear Lightrek Trekking Poles and he’s always gushing about them (and his sub 8 lb. pack). Gossamer Gear has just announced a new version of these adjustable, carbon fiber poles and they look like they’d be perfect for my needs. They only weigh 6.8 oz. for the pair and extend from 90 to 140 cm, making them perfect for short and tall people and for pitching for tarps and tents. They also don’t come with wrist straps, which is a feature I really appreciate, since those straps just get in the way when you’re climbing rocky trail and you need maximum wrist flexibility. The Lightreks’ cost $140 for the pair, which is a bit dear, but that’s why their on my wish list.

Do you think Santa likes hiking, too?

One of the secrets of successful backpacking is learning how to become extremely organized and to stay organized throughout your trip. That might sound obvious but it’s actually a skill that requires a lot of practice and the development of a set of rituals that you can "do in your sleep", regardless of the weather or your level of fatigue.

Take your food bag for example. How easy is it for you to get out a snack? Do you find yourself stopping and unpacking your entire food bag each time you want to make a meal?

While this may sound like an insignificant inconvenience, random food bag organization can lead to skipped snacks or delayed meals that can have a significant performance impact on your ability to put in long days or high miles. It took me a long time to understand the relationship between good food bag organization and my daily caloric intake patterns, so here’s some advice on food bag organization that you may find useful.

1. When I pack my bear bag at home, I first divide all of my meals into 5 piles: breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks.
2. I put each pile into it’s own plastic bag. I find that the best ones to use for this purpose are the plastic bags that I get from the dry cleaners that wrap my folded dress shirts.
3. I place my backpacking towel, bear bag line, and mesh sack at the bottom of my food bag.
4. Then I insert my O.P. Sack into my bear bag and place my long handled titanium spoon and toob tooth brush along the inside, propped up vertically for easy access.
5. Next, I put the 5 bags of food into my O.P. sack, one by one, so that the meal or snack that I want next, is positioned at the top of my food bag. After, I’ve eaten something, I reorder the bags as required, so that food breaks can be kept short if I want to get going again.
6. I always carry my food bag on top of the other gear in my backpack so that it’s easy to access during the day.

What nice about this system is that I’m always aware of exactly how much food I have left during a trip, because all of the same types of meals are organized together. It also makes choosing which one I want to eat a lot easier because they’re all grouped together. Before I organized my bear bag this way, I found that I had to always fully unpack and repack my bear bag each time I wanted a snack or to make a meal, and I never knew exactly how much food I had left because it was all dumped together.

Finding a good gift for a hiking friend or family member can be challenging if you’re not an expert gear hound or you don’t know their gear preferences.

Over the years, I’ve found that buying gift memberships for them in backpacking, hiking, or other outdoor organizations is a great way to recognize their passion and enthusiasm, and can introduce them to new communities or opportunities that they’ve never considered before. In addition, your gift membership helps sustain the stewardship activities of these organizations which benefits us all.

Here is a list of organizations that have broad appeal for and hikers and backpackers. I describe each one briefly and provide links to their home pages and membership forms.This list is by no means exhaustive, so make sure to search for other local hiking and outdoors organization in your area, as well.

• The American Hiking Society is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting hiking and to establishing, protecting, and maintaining foot trails in America. Give an American Hiking Society Membership.

• The Sierra Club is America’s oldest, largest, and most effective environmental organization. Give a Sierra Club membership.

• The Leave No Trace, Center for Outdoor Ethics encourages responsible, non-motorized activities with minimal impact on public recreational areas. Give a Leave No Trace Membership.

• The Wilderness Society protects and conserves America’s wilderness and road-less areas, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and national forests. Give a Wilderness Society Membership.

• The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a volunteer-based, private nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the 2175-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Give an Appalachian Trail Conservancy Membership.

• The Green Mountain Club and its members share a love for hiking and a commitment to preserving and protecting the Long Trail System for future generations. Give a Green Mountain Club Membership.

• The Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest nonprofit conservation and recreation organization, promoting the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Appalachian region. Give an Appalachian Mountain Club Membership.

• The Pacific Crest Trail Association’s mission is to protect,preserve and promote the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as an internationally significant resource for the enjoyment of hikers and equestrians, and for the value that wild and scenic lands provide to all people. Give a Pacific Crest Trail Association Membership.

• The Continental Divide Trail Alliance’s mission is to construct, manage, and preserve a non-motorized public backcountry trail along the full length of the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico and to links its significant resources with the assistance of volunteers and public and private partnerships. Give a Contental Divide Trail Alliance Membership. 

• The North Country Trail Association a grassroots organization building a 4,600 mile long hiking trail from New York to North Dakota. Give a North Country Trail Association Membership.

• The Adirondack Mountain Club is a nonprofit membership organization that protects wild lands and waters through a balanced approach of conservation and advocacy. environmental education, and responsible recreation. ADK’s mission is to represent all those who love wild places and to ensure that those places are protected and accessible for generations to come. Give an Adirondack Club Membership.

There are basically 3 ways to protect your food from bears and other animals in the backcountry: bear bags, bear canisters, and Ursacks. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s review each.

Bear Bags

On the east coast of the US, we have black bears, and hanging your food is usually sufficient to keep them from getting at it. However, technique is important, and here are some best practice tips that you might find helpful.

1. The first thing I do when I reach camp is to hang my bear bag and my food. This keeps it out of the way and safe when I’m setting up camp and filtering water at a nearby water supply. Hanging a bear bag is also best done in daylight. Doing it after dark is very difficult and can be quite hazardous.
2. I locate my bear bag about 100-200 yards away from my shelter and note the compass bearing to it from my tent so I can find it again in the morning.
3. I avoid hanging my bear bag with other people’s bags or on communal cables. There are some stupid, drunk people out there and you don’t want to suffer from their mistakes.
4. A silnylon stuff sack makes a perfectly good bear bag, but I recommend that you line it with an odor proof ziploc bag called an O.P. Sack from Watchful Designs. These liners are 10,000 times more odor proof than a regular ziploc bag and reduce a bears ability to smell your food. A bear’s sense of small is 30 times better than a human’s so this is an important consideration.
5. Pick a tree branch about 20 or so feet off the ground that is too thin for a bear to climb out onto without breaking and make sure the branch is unreachable from neighboring trees.
6. Winch your food up the tree branch and tie it off at a neighboring tree at a height above your head. You can also secure your bag using the PCT method. I don’t so this today, but I’m thinking about switching to it, even though I’ve never had a bear issue with my existing hanging method.

There is no doubt that bear bags have their limitations, particularly when it comes to preventing mouse and other small mammal damage in shelters, but ounce for ounce, bear bags provide reliable protection from animal predation when used properly and in the correct location.

Bear Canisters

A bear canister is a rigid, usually plastic barrel, that puts an impenetrable barrier between your food and the bear, or other critters like mice and raccoons. Whenever, I think of bear canisters, I think of that old TV ad for Samsonite luggage where a gorilla throws a Samsonite bag around it’s cage to prove how tough they are.

Bear canisters are required in many locations in the states west of the Mississippi and very remote locations such as the high peaks region of the Adirondacks in New York State. Before you go camping in these locations check with the local authorities about their local bear canister requirements and approved products. Bear canisters must be tested and certified by the National Park Service in these areas and the failure to bring one with you can lead to a fine if you are caught. REI and OutdoorHighAdventure and  both have a have a good list of locations in California, Washington, and Alaska where bear canister use is mandatory.

Weighing anywhere from 2-4 lbs empty, bear canisters add significant weight and volume requirements to your packing system and you’ll need to make sure that you have the proper attachment points or backpack volume to bring one of these along.

At last count there are 4 manufacturers whose bear canisters are approved for use in parks requiring bear canisters:

1. Backpacker’s Cache, weighing 2.7 lbs. and capable of holding up to 6 days of food.
2. The BearVault Solo or Full Size canisters, weighing 2.1 lbs and 2.9 lbs, and offering 4 and 7 day of food capacity.
3.  Counter Assault Bear Keg, weighing 3 lbs and 10 oz. with a capacity of 700 cu.
4. The Bearikade Weekender and Expedition canisters from Wild-Ideas.net, weighing 1 lb 15 oz and 2 lbs 1 oz, and offering 6 and 9 days of food carrying capacity. These are very lightweight, but also very expensive.

The Ursack

The Ursack is a bear bag made out of kevlar fabric which is tough enough to prevent most bears and smaller animals from getting out your food. Unlike a bear bag, it does not have to be hung from a tree, but it’s useful to tie it down so that a bear doesn’t drag it away. Ursacks are not approved in many backcountry areas as a replacement for bear canisters, although they have proponents who believe they should be. Be sure to check with local authorities before relying on it instead of a bear canister.

In 2007, I used an 7.5 oz. Ursack as bear protection on many east coast backpacking trips and personally think it’s a great solution, particularly when you are concerned about rodent or small mammals stealing your food in trail shelters. I’ve since gravitated to a simple ultralight bear bag, mostly due to weight considerations. However, if you just can’t get the hang of hanging a bear bag, or you keep getting hit by THE rock, you might try using an Ursack instead.