Vintage Backpacking Gear

The REI Essential Rain Jacket is a good value if you’re looking for a low-cost and affordable rain jacket than can span hiking, backpacking, cycling, skiing, and everyday use. It’s your basic 2.5 layer waterproof breathable rain jacket with an adjustable hood, velcro wrist cuffs, adjustable hem, and two zippered …

The REI Women’s Flash 60 is a ventilated multi-day backpack that’s lightweight but doesn’t lack for features or convenience. Weighing just 3 lbs and 5 oz, it has an adjustable-length frame and women’s-specific shoulder straps and hip belt that will fit comfortably across your chest and mold around your curves. …

The AntiGravityGear Ultralight Rain Jacket is a silnylon rain jacket with 17″ pits zips, an adjustable hood, velcro wrist cuffs, and waterproof zippers. Weighing 7.1 oz in a size XL, the sizing is generous, making it easy to layer with other garments. I’ve worn this jacket for hiking and backpacking …

It’s SectionHiker.com’s 10th anniversary this year. During that time, I’ve hiked a lot of miles and written a lot of backpacking gear reviews, including gear that could now be considered vintage, since it’s no longer made. I find it fascinating to trace the evolution of different backpacking and hiking gear …

The Eureka Spitfire 1 Tent is a low-cost, lightweight, and durable double-wall camping and backpacking tent that weighs 2 lbs 12 oz. Easy-to-setup, this classic hoop-style shelter has plenty of interior room to sit up inside, change your clothes, or store essential gear. Complete with durable aluminum poles, the Spitfire …

The My Trail Company Backpack UL 50 is a new multi-day ultralight backpack that weighs 22 oz and is inexpensively priced ($119). I’d classify it a frameless backpack, although comes with a thin, removable foam stiffener in the back panel. It has a front stretch mesh pocket, mesh water bottle …

The Jetboil FlashLite Personal Cook System is the lightest weight Jetboil cook system available today, weighing 12.3 ounces (10 oz. minimum). It’s basically the same as the 1.0 Jetboil Flash Personal Cook System but with a smaller volume and lighter weight 0.8L pot. Designed for non-winter use, it’s ideal for …

The Sierra Designs Divine Light 1 FL Tent is a trekking pole tent that weighs just 2 pounds and 7 ounces. It takes the best features of Sierra Designs’ groundbreaking Flashlight UL 1, Clip Flashlight and Tensegrity tents and combines them in a new solo shelter that’s roomy,  easy to …

The REI Flash 45 is a lightweight backpack with an adjustable, ventilated frame that’s perfect for weekend backpacking trips or more technical day hikes. Weighing just 2 lbs 14 oz in a size L, (a women’s specific version is also available) it’s a surprisingly comfortable and functional backpack capable of …

The My Trail Company Down Light Hooded Jacket is an 800 fill power down jacket that’s well suited for hanging out in camp or as a way to augment a down quilt in an ultralight sleep system. Available with or without a hood, it has a 20d nylon exterior treated …

The My Trail Company Pyramid 3 Tent is a three-person pyramid shelter with an optional inner tent. The design is basically identical to the Shangri-La 3 tent (click for review) originally made by the bankrupt ultralight backpacking manufacturer GoLite and now produced by My Trail Company with few noticeable changes over the previous …

The Backpack Light 50L ($149) is a frameless ultralight style backpack weighing 34.5 oz (L) sold by My Trail Company, which has started manufacturing the same backpacks and tents that GoLite sold before it went bankrupt in 2014. The Backpack Light 50L reviewed here is virtually identical to the Golite Jam …

The Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt 700/35 is a down quilt rated to 35 degrees that combines all the advantages of an ultralight down quilt with a hood, ideal in colder weather when you need extra thermal protection for your head. The unique hideaway hood on this Sierra Designs Quilt is magnificent in the cool weather …

The Mid-Atlantic Mountain Works (MAMW) Marcy 20 is a 20 degree 850 fill power down top quilt with an innovative side cinching system that blocks side drafts without the awkward and easy-to-lose strap systems used by other quilt makers. Owned by Jared Bebee, MAMW makes a variety of quilts ranging …