Gear Reviews

Outdoor Research’s Alti II Gore-Tex Mittens are seriously warm double-layer mittens designed for extremely cold weather, well below 0 degrees (F). They have a waterproof and windproof Gore-Tex outer shell with a soft leather palm, polyester fleece lining, long wrist cuffs, an …

Cascade Mountain Tech, the company that broke the trekking pole market by selling inexpensive high-quality trekking poles on Amazon and at Walmart, now offers inexpensive snowshoes that cost one-half to one-third of the price of name brands like MSR, Atlas, or Tubbs. …

REI’s Gauntlet GTX 2.0 Mittens are very warm single-layer Gore-Tex mittens good for temperatures into to the single digits. They’re extremely comfortable with long gauntlets to keep your wrists and hands warm. But the best thing about these mitts is their reasonable …

Montbell’s Light Long Gaiters are highly functional Gore-tex Gaiters with a simple design that overcomes many of the problems that you’re likely to experience with gaiters from other companies, including Outdoor Research’s Crocodile Gaiters, the most popular winter gaiters sold today. These …

Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) specializes in making rugged multi-sport backpacks and shelters with Dyneema Composite Fabrics. Their distinctive white and black backpacks are quite popular and easy to spot on National Scenic Trails and in the backcountry. One of the things that …

The ULA Circuit is one of the most popular thru-hiking and backpacking packs available today. It’s a conventional ultralight style pack with an open front mesh pocket, a roll-top closure, a spacer mesh back panel behind the shoulder straps, and large side …

Grivel’s G1 Crampons are 10-point steel crampons with a universal binding and flexible center bar, called a leaf spring, that makes them compatible for use with all types of boots including ones with soft soles that flex (like most insulated winter hiking …

The Osprey Mutant 52 is a winter backpack suitable for four-season overnight hiking, climbing, or backcountry ski trips. It’s the big brother to the Osprey Mutant 38 which I reviewed at the beginning of the winter which has less volume and is …

For winter snowshoeing on hiking trails and in the backcountry, you want a winter hiking snowshoe that is durable, with aggressive crampons for traction and a secure binding system that locks your boots to the snowshoes. If you’re interested in getting off …

I’m a big advocate of layering with winter gloves and mittens. My go-to winter combination is a fleece glove for warmth and dexterity combined with a waterproof/breathable mitten for warmth and wind protection. The two insulate well when it’s cold and the …

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 …

The Waymark Gear Lite 50 is a lightweight internal frame backpack suitable for multi-day backpacking and thru-hiking trips. Weighing 34.8 oz, the Lite 50 has a standard UL rolltop design with a sewn-on hip belt, a front mesh pocket, and durable side …

Engo Blister Prevention Patches are slick adhesive patches that you stick to your shoes to prevent blisters instead of to your feet. Blisters form because friction inside your shoes causes “skin shear”, where the outermost skin layer is pushed one way and …

The Rab Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket is a synthetic insulated jacket with a hood, chest pocket, and hand warmer pockets. It has body-mapped insulation: more on the torso and less along the sides for better thermo-regulation when active. I’ve been using …