Gear Reviews by Manufacturer

The Garmin inReach Mini 2-Way Satellite Communicator is a reliable and easy-to-use GPS-enabled satellite communicator that can send SOS messages to rescuers in an emergency, email or text your friends and relatives, track your route, mark GPS waypoints and help you navigate in the backcountry. Like its big brothers, the …

The Salomon Toundra Mid WP winter hiking boot is a lightweight boot that is perfect for hiking and snowshoeing in winter weather. Rated for -40 F, the Toundra Mid WP is insulated with Aerogel, an ultralight foam insulation that NASA developed to protect the Mars probes from extreme cold. Considered the …

The Vasque Snowburban II UltraDry is a heavy-duty winter hiking and snowshoeing boot with an UltraDry waterproof/breathable membrane and 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation, making them suitable for cold weather use. Vasque doesn’t publish a temperature rating for them but they’re comparable to other 400-gram insulated winter hiking boots (-40F) …

The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is a lightweight backpack that weighs 30.7 oz. It’s ideal for weekend backpacking and long-distance trips, particularly if you prefer a backpack that has lots of pockets and a frame, like a more conventional backpack, but weighing half as much. The Mariposa is also quite …

The Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt is one of the lightest weight backpacking sleep system options available. Quality construction and wise choice of both fill and shell fabrics, combined with its superior sleeping pad attachment system, comfort, and warmth, make for an excellent backpacking quilt that excels in above-freezing temperatures.  The …

The Hammock Gear Economy Burrow Quilt (“Econ Burrow”) is a fantastic value for a high-quality top quilt and perfectly suited as a hammock top quilt for the backpacker who doesn’t mind a few extra ounces in exchange for a much lower price. The Econ Burrow works on the ground, too, …

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad (2020 edition) is an insulated air mattress designed for three-season camping with an R-value = 4.2, measured using the new Outdoor Industry Sleeping Pad R-value Standard. Weighing just 12 oz (see below), the XLite is also lightweight, durable, and rolls up small, which explains …

Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) specializes in making backpacks and shelters with Dyneema Composite Fabrics. Their distinctive white and black colored backpacks are quite popular and easy to spot in the backcountry. One of the things that sets Hyperlite apart from other cottage ultralight gear manufacturers is their multi-sport and multi-season …

The RapidPure Intrepid Water Purifier Bottle is a water bottle/purifier combo solution that removes viruses, bacteria, protozoa, chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics from backcountry and front country water sources. It’s ideal for those situations where water is plentiful, like fishing or fresh-water boating, but needs to be filtered before …

The REI Trailbreak 60 is an adjustable-length backpack capable that has enough capacity for multi-day backpacking trips. It’s hydration compatible and comes with basic features like a top lid, sleeping bag compartment, sleeping pad straps, an open front stretch pocket, and hip belt pockets. While the Trailbreak 60 Backpack is …

The Salomon X Ultra Mid 3 Aero is a lightweight mid-cut breathable hiker for men & women.  These are made without the waterproof/breathable membrane typical of most hiking boots and offer good support for those who prefer more ankle support over trail runners or hiking shoes.  Traction is great thanks …

Granite Gear backpacks are popular packs for long-distance backpacking in the United States and are a common sight on the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. I really like Granite Gear’s packs because I think they strike an excellent balance between weight and function, many have adjustable length frames and …

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 it up. This pad also has an R-value …

The Granite Gear Dagger 22 is a technical daypack that’s equally at home on the trail, for traveling, or on the campus. It’s organized like Granite Gear’s multi-day backpacks with a long front stretch pocket, side water bottle pockets, and compression straps, only with much less volume.  The top opens …