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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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Fizan Compact Trekking Poles are 3-piece lightweight, 7001 aluminum trekking poles that adjust with a twist-lock mechanism. Fizan claims that they’re the lightest aluminum trekking poles in the world, with a weight of just 158 grams per pole. The Compact poles have carbide tips, and come with three different sized plastic baskets, …
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Permethrin is a pesticide that you spray on clothing to kill black flies, ticks, and mosquitoes but has no harmful side effects on humans if used properly. It is the active ingredient used in Insect Shield and Buzz Off clothing and kills bugs when they land on your clothing. You …
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Ultralight Adventure Equipment (ULA) is one of the oldest and most respected ultralight backpacking gear manufacturers. Their backpacks are quite popular with long distance backpackers and weekend warriors in the United States and are a frequent sight along our National Scenic Trails and in the backcountry. I like ULA’s backpacks because they’re very durable …
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The Osprey Packs Talon 44 Backpack is a lightweight pack with an adjustable torso length that’s good for weekend backpacking trips, technical day hikes, and peakbagging. Weighing 2 pounds 7 ounces, it can carry a remarkable amount of gear and has a body hugging fit that provides excellent load control for …
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The Sierra Designs Divine Light 1 FL Tent is a trekking pole tent that weighs just 2 pounds and 7 ounces. It takes the best features of Sierra Designs’ groundbreaking Flashlight UL 1, Clip Flashlight and Tensegrity tents and combines them in a new solo shelter that’s roomy, easy to …
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The Thermarest Slacker Hammock Bug Shelter has a large zippered opening and floor making it easy to enter and exit, while protecting your gear, shoes, and clothing from bugs and creepy crawlers at night. It also works with any camping or backpacking hammock, including the Hummingbird Ultralight Single Hammock (shown …
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GaiaGPS is the smartphone navigation app that I teach students how to use, in addition to map and compass, in the Backcountry Navigation classes I teach. GaiaGPS works on iPhone and Android smartphones, which makes it easy to use in groups that use a wide variety of devices. It’s also the best …
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Section Hikers Backpacking Blog Hiking and Backpacking for Beginners and Experts