Gear Reviews

The Gregory Zulu 55 is a ventilated, adjustable frame backpack designed for carrying big loads with or without a bear canister. Weighing 4 lbs 2 oz, this new version (2023) is about a half pound heavier than its predecessor due to increased …

  The Therm-a-Rest Vesper 45 Ultralight Quilt is a 12 oz warm-weather quilt with premium materials and impressive performance features for the weight like a draft collar, pad attachment, shaped footbox, and wide girth. It’s exciting to see such a high level …

The Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo is a single-wall trekking pole tent that weighs 26 ounces (740 g). It is a six-sided shelter, shaped like a half pyramid, with a side door and vestibule area that’s good for gear storage or cooking …

The Osprey Eja 58 is an ultralight ventilated backpack made for women. Weighing 2 lbs 8 oz, the Eja 58 is a women’s specific version of the Osprey Exos 58, which is the most most popular backpack used by thru-hikers and lightweight …

The Feathered Friends Flicker 40 UL Quilt Sleeping Bag is a 19-ounce quilt sleeping bag designed for backpackers and climbers who want to the flexibility and lightweight of an insulated sleep system that can be used in many ways, including: a hoodless sleeping …

The ULA Ohm (formerly called the ULA Ohm 2.0) is a 63L ultralight style backpack that’s durable enough for rough and tough adventures. It’s also available with the same male and female shoulder straps and hip belts (available in multiple lengths) offered …

The Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 Backpack is a lightweight, adjustable-length backpack that weighs 2 lbs 10 oz. It’s an internal frame backpack with a floating top lid that’s made with lighter-weight fabrics and a simple adjustable frame system that doesn’t compromise on …

The Outdoor Research Seattle Rain Hat is a waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex rain hat with a wide brim. While it’s billed as a rain hat, it can do double duty as a UPF 50+ sun hat, especially for water sports where its floating brim …

Outdoor Products Roll-Top Dry Sacks are reasonably priced dry-bag style stuff sacks that are good for organizing and packing hiking, backpacking, and camping gear in a backpack. Priced at $15 for a 3-pack, they’re an absolute steal compared to name-brand roll-top stuff …

The QiWiz Big Dig Ultralight Titanium Trowel is an ultralight 0.5 ounce (15 grams) titanium cat hole trowel for digging holes in hard, rocky, and root-filled soil. It’s much sturdier than the cheap plastic trowels made by GSI Outdoors and much lighter …

The Cutter Lyme Disease Test Kit determines if a tick is a carrier of Lyme Disease. Rather than testing a person or pet, the test can be used to determine if a tick carries Lyme Disease before any symptoms occur. It identifies …

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 …

Outdoor Research ActiveIce Sun Spectrum Gloves are lightweight fingerless gloves that protect your hands from the sun’s harmful rays. They’re great for hiking, backpacking, paddling, running, or fishing because they eliminate the need to carry suntan lotion while protecting your hands from …

The Katadyn BeFree Water Filter System is a fast flowing water filter that’s bundled with a wide-mouth soft bottle. It’s designed to filter backcountry water sources and removes protozoa and bacteria that can make you sick. The BeFree competes head-to-head with several …