If you’re thinking about buying a camping hammock or looking to upgrade, the length of a gathered-end hammock can make a big difference in your comfort. The 4 foot rule Most hammock experts recommend getting a hammock that is 4 feet longer than your height so you can lie nearly …

The REI Dash 2 Ultralight Tent isn’t made anymore, but it was the lightest weight tent that REI ever manufactured, weighing just 2 pounds and 7 ounces.  I have a near mint one in my gear review closet I’d like to give away to a good home. The Dash 2 …

It’s important to bring water with you when you go day hiking to replace the fluid you lose to perspiration, help keep you more alert and flush waste products out of your body.  Not bringing enough water can lead to discomfort, while bringing too much can slow you down. How …

What is the right footwear for spring conditions: winter hiking boots or trail runners? When can you switch between the two? There is a point where avoiding frostbite trumps lightweight footwear and wearing insulated boots still makes sense. Knowing when to choose between them requires understanding: where is the snow …

The Tarptent Bowfin ($309) is a 1 person double-walled tent with two large, well-ventilated vestibules that weighs 37 ounces. It requires a long but lightweight center pole to pitch, making it remarkably fast and easy to set up. It comes with a mesh inner tent that has plenty of interior space for …

Good To-Go to go is a gourmet backpacking and camping meal company that makes really tasty dehydrated foods. They’ve been in business a few years and have been slowly adding meals to their menu, including two new ethnic meals, a spicy Korean dish called Bibimbap and a smokey Mexican Quinoa Bowl …

Mt Resolution (3415′) is an open summit at the south end of the Montablan Range, just off the Davis Path, one of the main thoroughfares to Mt Isolation. There are several different ways to approach the peak: from the south on the Mt Parker Trail, from the west over Mt …

The Platypus DuoLock Soft Bottle is a soft bottle with a locking cap that designed to prevent leaks and lost caps. The DuoLock bottle also comes with a carabiner that you can hook around your finger, use as a pour handle, or attach to your backpack so it can’t pop out of …

Oakes Gulf is the least known of Mt Washington’s great ravines and the most remote. You get to it by hiking up the Dry River Trail 9.6 miles from Rt 302, past the last remaining Dry River lean-to. It’s not an easy hike, particularly in spring when snow lingers below the …

The Hilleberg Niak is a bomber, 2 person, lightweight tent designed for three-season use in remote wilderness conditions. Weighing 3 lbs. 5 oz. it has a dome style architecture with two cross-poles that slot into sleeves, not clips, making it much more wind and weather worthy than most lightweight and ultralight …