Gear Reviews

I like to switch to a separate cook pot and canister stove system for shoulder season and early winter camping when the days get shorter. When I spend more time in camp I tend to cook more elaborate meals, such as dried cheese …

I bought a 5 oz Snow Claw snow shovel as a weight saver to replace my 30 oz collapsible Voile Telepro avalanche shovel. But after some winter camping and a lot of snow shelter practice, I’ve concluded that the SnowClaw isn’t a …

The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Canister Stove is a powerful 10,400 BTU backpacking and camp stove with a built-in windscreen, folding pot supports, a piezo ignitor, and pressure regulator. Weighing 2.9 oz, it’s optimized for group cooking with larger cook pots and …

The Granite Gear Perimeter 50 is a lightweight backpack that weighs slightly more than 3 lbs and has an adjustable torso length, an adjustable length hip belt, and an internal frame capable of carrying 40-pound loads with ease. It’s set up like …

The Exped MegaMat 10 is a luxurious full-size self-inflating sleeping pad best suited for car camping at a campsite or inside your car or truck. Available in a one-person or two-person (Duo) size, the MegaMat is 3.9″ thick and has an R-value …

The Montbell Light Weight Trail Chair 26 is a compact and inexpensive folding stool for camping and backpacking that is sized to fit into the side pocket of a backpack. Weighing 11.7 oz, it’s one of the lightest weight camp chairs you …

Kammok’s Ultralight Camp Kit is a minimalist backpacking hammock setup that includes the: Roo Single UL Hammock, The Kuhli UL tarp, and the Python 10 UL Hammock Suspension Straps. These three elements are also sold separately. Hammockers who are sleeping anywhere below …

Big Sky International’s Tube Steak Tent Stakes have the most unfortunate product name imaginable. You have to wonder if it’s deliberate or not. Regardless, they’re great tent stakes for pounding into hard ground or compacted soil with excellent holding power. I use …

BearVault, makers of the BV450 and BV500 bear canisters, has come out with two new bear canister sizes: the BV 425 and the BV475 which can fit horizontally into a much larger range of backpacks than the original BV500 and BV450. It …

The Outdoor Research Superstrand LT Hoodie Jacket is a lightweight jacket insulated with a new type of polyester insulation that OR claims is as soft, light, and lofty as 700-800 fill power down.” Called VerticalX Superstrand, it consists of lofted polyester strands …

The Osprey Mira 22 is a well-constructed, feature-rich hiking daypack that comes with a hydration system that holds 2.5 liters of liquid. The size works well for shorter hikes and/or hikes in warmer weather conditions that don’t require a lot of gear. …

The Six Moon Designs Skyscape Scout (SMD Scout) is an inexpensive 40 ounce, one-person, trekking pole-supported tent. It is a great option for scouts (hence the name), kids who are ready for their own tent, and anyone who wants a little extra …

The Black Diamond FirstLight Tent (updated for 2019) is a two-person, freestanding, single-wall tent for winter backpacking, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. Weighing 3 lbs 1.3 oz (after seam sealing), it has a wind-resistant wedge shape that sheds snow well and packs up …

Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s Porter 70 Backpack is one of the highest capacity packs available today from an ultralight backpack manufacturer. Weighing 31 ounces,  the 70-liter Dyneema DCF Porter is designed for packrafters, backpackers, and mountaineers who need additional pack volume for larger …