Gear Reviews

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 NEMO Siren 45 is a bed-style lightweight quit that weighs 21 oz and is insulated with 850 fill power RDS down. It’s an updated and redesigned version of the NEMO’s 30 degree Siren Ultralight Down Quilt (still available on Amazon), which has horizontal baffles instead of the new vertical …

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 …

The Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt 800 (35 degree) is a down quilt with a unique hideaway hood system that you can use to insulate your head in cooler weather if you’re sleeping on the ground on a sleeping pad or in a hammock. It’s the most compelling feature of the …

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 …

Bug season can be unpleasant, but it’s no reason to give up hiking and backpacking. You just need to cover up with insect-proof clothing and wear bug dope. If you never hike when insects are active, you’re not going to get much hiking and backpacking done, are you? Here’s a …

The Gossamer Gear Ranger 35 is a technical day pack that’s ideal for day hiking, hut-to-hut hikes, multi-sport trips, and travel with numerous external and internal pockets for keeping yourself organized. Weighing 33.9 oz, it’s fairly burly for a Gossamer Gear backpack, weighing more than the company’s ultralight Mariposa 60 …

Outdoor Research’s Thru-Gaiters are short stretch gaiters with a Hypalon instep strap and two front hooks for clipping on to your shoelaces. They can be used with hiking boots, mids, or trail runners and incorporate OR’s ActiveIce thermoregulating technology to keep your calves cool while keeping mud and trail debris …

The Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad is an ultralight and ultra-thin closed-cell foam pad which can be used to completely eliminate sleeping pad slip on silnylon and Dyneema DCF tent floors. A true multi-purpose item, this 1/8″ foam pad can also be used as a dog bed, a windbreak for …

The Grayl GeoPress Water Purifier is a bottle based water filter that removes bacteria, viruses, and protozoa from contaminated backcountry and international water sources. It’s easy to use, portable, and safe to use by individuals for day hiking, fishing, or international travel when you don’t want to mess around with …

The Zpacks Plexamid is a one-person, single-wall ultralight tent that weighs 14.8 ounces. It is made with 0.51 oz/sq. yard Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF), a waterproof material that has does not stretch or sag, making it well-suited for lightweight tents, tarps and stuff sacks. But, while the Plexamid “checks all …

The Outdoor Vitals StormLOFT Down MummyPod 0*F is a cold-weather sleeping bag that can be used either on the ground as a mummy bag or in a hammock as a peapod insulation system. Weighing under 3 pounds and filled with 800 fill power, responsibly-sourced DWR down, the MummyPod has a …

The Outdoor Research Interstellar Bivy is a 4-season bivy that features an upper made with AscentShell, a proprietary waterproof breathable fabric made by OR that has some built-in stretch. While the floor of the bivy is nylon coated TPU for more conventional waterproofness and abrasion resistance, the addition of the AscentShell …

The Exped Schnozzel UL is a large 42L pump bag and roll-top stuff sack that can be used to inflate Exped,  Sea-to-Summit, and REI inflatable sleeping pads which have a flat inflation valve. The Schnozzel Pumpbag UL is also available in a smaller 20L size. You can even buy a …