Gear Reviews

The Lifestraw Flex is a screw-on style backcountry water filter that is compatible with a wide range of soda-sized water bottles and reservoirs. While it comes with its own 22 oz soft-bottle, you can also screw it onto standard-sized soda bottles, Platypus …

Klymit’s Static V Luxe Sleeping Pad is an interesting twist on a luxury inflatable sleeping pad, combining a decadent 30″ width, with a pad that is easy to inflate, and rolls up into a small bundle barely the size of many ultralightweight backpacking …

The Hoka One One Speedgoat 4 is a trail running shoe built for covering long distances comfortably while giving you confidence with each step, no matter the terrain. The Speedgoat’s most impressive feature is its Vibram MegaGrip rubber outsole with 5mm lugs …

The Exped Lightning 60 Backpack is a four-season multi-sport backpack that’s equally at home on the long trail, hauling climbing gear to the local crag, or pulling a pulk in the backcountry. Featuring an adjustable torso, full-body compression, and numerous external attachment …

The Seek Outside Divide is a 4500 cubic inch (74L) lightweight external frame backpack capable of hauling 50, 60, and even 70-pound loads even though it only weighs 44 ounces. Best suited for backpacking, packrafting, hunting, fishing, and expedition-style trips, the Divide …

The Western Mountaineering Meltdown Jacket is a 17 oz jacket for shoulder season and winter adventures. While it isn’t long enough to fall into the parka category, it has enough loft to keep your core warm even in very frigid conditions. As …

When autumn rolls around, it’s time to watch more TV in camp, backpacker TV that is. This is the time of year when I start carrying a folding saw and bushcraft style knife on my overnight backpacking trips to cut firewood and …

The CAMP USA Minima SL 1  is a compact double-walled tent that weighs 2.0 pounds. One step up from a bivy sack, it packs up impossibly small, making it an option when you need a waterproof shelter that doesn’t require much space …

The Grayl Ultralight Purifier Bottle is an innovative water treatment solution designed to remove viruses, bacteria, protozoa, chemicals, and heavy metals from backcountry water sources. Unlike other water filters and treatment methods, the Grayl Purifier does not require batteries, ultraviolet light bulbs, …

KUHL Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants are great for hiking, backpacking, and outdoor recreation because you can unzip and remove the lower legs if you start to overheat. They’re made with a super comfortable softshell-like fabric called Duralux which combination of nylon and …

While there are many camping cook sets available on the market today, the Coghlan’s 4-pot Hard Anodized Aluminum Cookset caught my eye because it has many of the same properties I like in the simple backpacking pots that I prefer. Features like …

Granite Gear backpacks are popular packs for long-distance backpacking in the United States and are a common sight on the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. I really like Granite Gear’s packs because I think they strike an excellent balance between weight …

The MSR Thru-Link Inline Water Filter is a 0.2-micron hollow-fiber water filter designed for use with a hydration system. It connects inline between the reservoir and the hose, allowing you to fill up the hydration bladder directly at the source and drink …

The Osprey Soelden 32 is a 2.5-lb pack designed for backcountry skiing and snowboarding. The Soelden, and its counterpart the women’s Osprey Sopris (20 or 30), feature options for carrying skis and boards, with reinforced areas to protect the packs from metal …