The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II is a trail runner with mesh uppers and a sticky rubber sole that is great for hiking and backpacking in mountainous terrain. La Sportiva is a climbing shoe company after all, so it figures that they’d …
Read More »Philip Werner
Backpacking First Aid Kit: Roll Your Own
I carry a lightweight (6 oz) home-grown first aid kit when I go day hiking and backpacking. It contains more bandages and medications than I might need on a trip so I only have to replenish it periodically. It’s closely “aligned” to …
Read More »Exped Ultra 3R Sleeping Pad Review
The Exped Ultra 3R Sleeping Mat is a lightweight inflatable sleeping pad that’s 3 inches thick and has an R-value of 2.9, making it suitable for outside temperatures down to 25F. It contains synthetic insulation which makes it very quiet to sleep …
Read More »NEMO Tensor Alpine Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad Review
The NEMO Tensor Alpine Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad is a lightweight insulated air mat that weighs 17 ounces and is 3″ thick. It has a flat 2-way valve and includes an inflation sack so you don’t have to bust a gut blowing …
Read More »Can You Drink Tannic Water?
If you hike or backpack in areas that have large amounts of decaying vegetation, like the forests of North America, you’re going to come across natural water sources that have a sickly red, orange, or yellow color. The tea-like coloring is caused …
Read More »Gossamer Gear G4-20 Backpack Review
The Gossamer Gear G4-20 Backpack is a 42-liter frameless roll-top backpack that weighs 25 oz. Being frameless it’s best for carrying loads under 20 to 25 pounds and makes a nice ultralight backpack for multi-day trips and extended day hikes. In many …
Read More »Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder Pocket Review
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder Pocket is the best pocket I’ve found for carrying a smartphone, camera, or a Garmin inReach Explorer+ strapped to my backpack shoulder pads, where I can easily access them during a hike. This accessory pocket is easy …
Read More »ULA Robic Circuit Backpack Review
The ULA Circuit Backpack is a high-capacity lightweight backpack with a surprising amount of flexibility for many types of backcountry adventures. Made with bomber 400D Robic Nylob fabric and feature-rich, the Circuit is a seriously tough pack for long backpacking trips. Perhaps …
Read More »Chicken Tramper 45 Liter Ultralight Backpack Review
The Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear 45 Liter Backpack (CTUG-45) is an ultralight roll-top backpack made with XPAC, a lightweight waterproof fabric related to Dyneema DCF, but more abrasion resistant and less expensive. The pack is fairly unique in that it has an …
Read More »Soto Amicus Stove and Cookset Combo Review
The Soto Amicus Stove and Cook Set Combo is a lightweight and durable cooking system for backpacking adventures. Reasonably priced, the cook set comes with the Soto Amicus stove and a two-piece aluminum pot set with a 500 ml pot and a …
Read More »How to Become an Expert Off Trail Navigator
A compass is one of the 10 essentials and while many hikers and backpackers carry one, many don’t know how to use it to navigate in the backcountry. This is something I hear often when I teach map and compass skills courses …
Read More »Bushwhacking Unknown Pond Peak
Unknown Pond Peak is the 100th highest mountain on the New Hampshire Hundred Highest peakbagging list, a list that I’ve been slowly working on since 2012. I haven’t done an off-trail trail hike for a while since I’ve been pursuing The White …
Read More »Stanley Adventure Camp Cookset Review
The Stanley Adventure Camp Cookset is an inexpensive 24 fluid oz camp cookset that can be used to form the basis of a nice compact backpacking stove system. The unit includes a stainless steel cook pot with a collapsible handle that locks …
Read More »How to Plan a Day Hike
When I go day hiking or backpacking, I begin preparing a few days in advance by watching the weather forecast and documenting my trip plan. It’s a good habit to get into especially if you hike in the mountains or on more …
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