Gear Reviews

The Framus 48L is an ultralight backpack made by Bonfus, a Norwegian company, one of a handful of cottage backpacking gear companies in Europe and the UK. It’s set up like most ultralight backpacks with a roll-top closure, two side pockets, and …

The Soto WindMaster Canister Stove is more windproof and uses less fuel to boil the same amount of water than other canister stoves. This includes the Soto OD-1R Microregulator stove and the Soto Amicus. The chief difference between these stoves is the …

The Stanley Adventure Camp Cookset is an inexpensive 24 fluid oz camp cookset that can be used to form the basis of a nice compact backpacking stove system. The unit includes a stainless steel cook pot with a collapsible handle that locks …

The Sierra Designs High Route FL 1 is a 28 oz double-wall trekking pole tent designed for people who want the full coverage and headroom of a two-peak pyramid, the ability to pitch fly-first in a storm, and the flexibility of a …

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 …

The 3F UL Lanshan 1 Pro Tent is an ultralight single-wall trekking-pole tent with a side door and vestibule that can be rolled back in good weather for ventilation and views. The interior has a fully integrated bathtub floor, so you can …

The Montane Podium is an ultralight rain smock designed for trail running, fastpacking, and ultralight backpacking that’s best worn in warmer summer weather. Weighing 4.1 oz (115 g) in a size large, it’s sized quite snug with no room for a mid-layer …

La Sportiva TX Hike Mid GTX boots are lightweight waterproof/breathable hiking mids with mesh uppers, a soft and sticky sole like a trail runner, Vibram lugs like a hiking boot, and a lacing system like a mountaineering boot. While I normally shun …

REI’s Lightweight Base Layer Bottoms are long johns that have many uses on a backpacking trip. They can be used as sleeping clothes to keep your quilt/sleeping bag free of salt, body oils, and bug dope; as a base layer under rain …

The Gregory Deva 60 is a women’s internal-frame backpack that’s specially designed to carry heavy loads up to 50 pounds in comfort. It’s ideal for long backpacking trips, multi-sport adventures, and international travel when you want a backpack that’s loaded with features, …

The Kula Cloth is a pee rag (also called a pee cloth) used by many female backpackers and hikers as a zero-waste alternative to toilet paper when you have to pee. While you can use a bandana for this purpose, a Kula …

The Emberlit FireAnt Titanium Wood Stove is a collapsible wood stove that folds flat for easy carriage in your backpack. Weighing just 2.8 ounces, it can be used to burn small pieces of wood so you don’t have to carry fuel when …

Six Moon Designs Pack Pods are silnylon storage cubes, with a zippered clamshell lid, that stack one on top of the other in your backpack. I found them to be highly effective for organization and efficiency on-trail and in-camp, and reasonably priced …

The Nitecore NU32 is a high-powered (max 550 lumens) rechargeable headlamp with white and red lighting modes. It has two control buttons and fairly straightforward control logic, that cycles through its different options so you can actually remember how to use it …