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 …
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Six Moon Designs Pack Liner Review
The Six Moons Design Pack Liner is an inexpensive ($20) 50L waterproof bag that helps keep your backpacking gear and clothing dry when it rains. It’s seam-taped and has a dry-bag style roll-top closure, with a D-ring so you can hang it …
Read More »Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 Backpack Review
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 Backpack is a durable Dyneema DCF backpack that’s good for thru-hiking and multi-day backpacking trips in rugged terrain. The Southwest 55 is basically the same pack as the smaller volume Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40 Backpack but …
Read More »REI Flash 55 Ultralight Backpack Review
The REI Flash 55 Backpack is an ultralight, roll-top backpack with an optional top lid pocket. Weighing 2 lbs 13 oz, it has a mesh back panel to help keep your shirt dry in warm weather and numerous pockets and straps, called …
Read More »Zpacks Pocket Tarp with Doors Review
The Zpacks Pocket Tarp w/ Doors is a one-person tarp weighing 6.1 oz with guylines attached. It is constructed from 0.55 oz/sq. yard Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF), a fully waterproof material that doesn’t stretch or sag when wet. I purchased this tent …
Read More »Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Backpack Review
The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Ultralight Backpack is a multi-day backpack that’s optimized for lightweight backpacking and thru-hiking. It’s a great backpack for people who want to transition from carrying a much heavier back to a lighter weight one, without having to …
Read More »Gossamer Gear Liteflex Hiking Chrome Umbrella Review
The Gossamer Gear Liteflex Hiking Chrome Umbrella is an 8 oz full-size trekking umbrella that provides sun and rain protection on the trail. It became a game-changer for me on my Pacific Crest Trail hike and it still reigns as one of …
Read More »Six Moon Designs Swift X Backpack Review
The Six Moon Designs Swift X is a 45L liter roll-top backpack with an adjustable torso length that will appeal to any lightweight backpacker or thru-hiker. It carries great and is absolutely loaded with features. It’s also made with XPac (a Liteskin …
Read More »Zpacks Free Duo Tent Review
The Zpacks Free Duo is an ultralight, single-wall freestanding tent made from strong, waterproof, Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF). Built for two people, this tent weighs just 30.1 ounces and has two doors and two vestibules. It has two separate H-pole units that …
Read More »NEMO Switchback Foam Sleeping Pad Review
The NEMO Switchback is an accordion-style closed-cell foam sleeping pad that can be used as an ultralight pad by itself or to augment the warmth of a second sleeping pad when sleeping outdoors in colder weather. It’s quite similar to the Therm-a-Rest …
Read More »Tarptent ProTrail Li Tent Review
The Tarptent ProTrail Li is a single-wall Dyneema trekking pole tent that weighs 15.95 ounces. It’s basically a very simple A-frame style rainfly with a floating bathtub floor that is attached to the sidewalls and ends with noseeum mesh. This lets you …
Read More »Borah Gear Bug Bivy Review
The Borah Gear Bug Bivy is a reasonably priced bivy for use under a variety of tarps when there is mild to medium bug pressure. It can add a few degrees of warmth to your sleep setup and is also great for …
Read More »Slingfin SplitWing Shelter Review
SlingFin’s SplitWing Shelter bundle is a 1-2 person, ultralight, three-piece modular shelter system with a tarp, mesh body with a solid floor, and an optional vestibule. This setup allows you to have one system that you can dial in for different 3-season …
Read More »Vargo BOT 700 Review
The Vargo BOT 700 is a lightweight, wide-mouth titanium bottle that can be used for cooking or cold-soaking meals on backpacking and camping trips. The BOT 700 lets me cook some of my meals and cold soak others, without the need to …
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