Gear Reviews by Manufacturer

The LifeStraw Water Filter is a 2 oz straw-style water filter that you drink through. While LifeStraw (the company) likes to say that you can use it to drink directly from a stream or pond, that’s an exaggeration. Crouching down like that is uncomfortable at best since the straw is …

The Hyke & Byke Antero 15 is a hybrid ground sleeping bag and hammock peapod insulation system meant to lower the cost of entry into outdoor recreation. I recently reviewed another hammock peapod system, the Outdoor Vitals MummyPod. The Hyke and Byke Antero 15 is a similar concept but it …

The Massdrop Veil is an ultralight breathable wind shirt which provides active insulation even in high winds. Wind shirts are very lightweight and usually weigh between 2 and 3 ounces. While they’re not waterproof, many experienced hikers carry and use a wind shirt to prevent heat loss in windy exposed …

The MSR Reactor Stove System is not the lightest weight backpacking stove available or the most flexible because it can’t simmer, but it boils water really fast and is 40% more efficient than most other pot & canister stove combinations. Those two properties make it a very reliable companion on off-the-grid adventures …

The MSR Carbon Reflex 1 is an ultralight double-walled tent that weighs just 1 lb 7 oz.  It’s actually a second-generation version of the Carbon Reflex 1, but now 11 oz lighter weight than the earlier generation tent I first tested in 2011. The weight savings come primarily from using …

Hyperlite Mountain Gear manufactures ultralight backpacking gear in an old mill building in Biddeford, Maine. The company was founded by two brothers, Mike and Dan St Pierre, who built the company from scratch. They’ve grown the company quickly by partnering with the State of Maine and local venture capitalists intent …

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 to attach to any backpack with a vertical …

The MassDrop x Granite Gear x60 is a roll top backpack with an optional top lid and an adjustable length hip belt. Weighing 23.2 to 40.2 ounces (depending on the configuration), it has a max load of 30-35 pounds. The X60 is a modified version of Granite Gear Crown2 60 …

The MSR WindBurner is a canister stove system built around the wind-proof and super fuel-efficient radiant burner technology that MSR originally developed for its snow-melting powerhouse Reactor Stove. Unlike conventional backpacking stoves, radiant burners don’t have flames, which makes them impervious to windy weather so that they burn hotter and longer …

The Hydrapak Seeker 3L is a 100 ounce (3 liter) soft water bottle that weighs 3.1 ounces empty and has a 42 mm opening. The big benefit of using a soft bottle for backpacking is that it can be rolled up and tucked out of the way when it’s not …

The Katadyn BeFree Water Filter is a hollow-fiber water filter, like the filter included in the Sawyer Squeeze and Sawyer Mini Water Filter Systems, but with a MUCH FASTER flow rate. How fast? I can filter a liter of water in 30 seconds with it, so real fast. While the BeFree …

The MSR Advance Pro 2 Tent is a two-person, wedge-style tent designed for professional mountaineers who are willing to sacrifice on tent comfort in exchange for light weight and a small footprint. Weighing 2 lbs 14 oz ounces, the single wall Advance Pro 2 includes a pair of Easton Syclone …

Icebreaker’s 200 Oasis Legless base layer bottoms are a 100% Merino Capri-length pant.  The below-the-knee design reduces bulk around your lower legs.  They feature a brushed elastic waistband and flatlock seams for comfort.  The Merino wool offers great warmth, breathability and odor resistance.  The Oasis is made of light 200 …

I started using a different pair of snowshoes a few years ago, switching from a pair of MSR Lightning Ascents to a pair of Evo Ascent Snowshoes, also from MSR. While the Lightning Ascents are great snowshoes for mountainous winter hiking and snowshoeing, I needed a more durable more maneuverable …