Vintage Backpacking Gear

The Zamberlan Fitz Roy straddles the technical hiking and mountaineering boot categories. I received a pair late last winter, too late to really put them to the test for winter hiking, but I’ve been hiking in them regularly this year in late autumn, and …

The Outdoor Research Acetylene Jacket is a hybrid midlayer jacket suitable for use as an external jacket for highly aerobic activity in very cold weather. The front and shoulders of the jacket are filled with Primaloft Eco insulation for warmth while the …

The Montane Fireball Verso Pull-On Sweater is a Primaloft-insulated reversible pullover with a windproof Pertex shell on one side and an air-permeable fabric that Montane calls Hypervent on the other. This garment eliminates the need to carry an extra wind shirt to …

If you’re on the fence about whether to switch to trail runners for hiking and backpacking, Altra’s Lone Peak 2.5 running shoes might make a believer out of you. Although they look like clown shoes with an oversized toe box, they are very comfortable …

The PowerPot is an anodized aluminum cook pot that has a built-in thermocouple in its base that is capable of generating electricity from heat. The PowerPot blows the Biolite away in terms of power generation efficiency and speed. Not only that, it’s completely …

If you’re a hiker, camper, runner, or cyclist and need a reliable powerful headlamp for nighttime use, you should check out the new Petzl Tikka RXP. I’ve been using one for the past few weeks and it puts the other headlamps I …

The Boreas Gear Lost Coast 60 Backpack is an internal-frame backpack suitable for multi-day backpacking trips and adventure travel. With a lively color palette, the Lost Coast is a very comfortable, stylish, and streamlined technical backpack that will appeal to hikers who …

The Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 is a streamlined, low capacity backpack designed with runners in mind more than hikers. Lacking a hip belt and sporting vest-like shoulder pads, it’s not a bad day hiking backpack for carrying lighter loads, with plenty of …

The Therm-a-Rest Altair 0 degree down sleeping bag is a very comfortable cold-weather sleeping bag that is excellent for side-sleepers or winter backpackers looking to shave more weight off their winter gear list without breaking the bank. Often called a top bag …

Designed for climbing and winter peakbagging, the Osprey Mutant 38 Backpack only weighs 2 pounds 15 ounces (size medium), and has a clean streamlined design optimized for rock and ice climbing that won’t slow you down over rough scrambling or more technical …

The SPOT Gen 3 is the newest device is the SPOT family of satellite-based personal locator beacons and communication devices designed for outdoor adventurers and represents a significant improvement over the earlier SPOT II in terms of usability and functionality. My History …

As a side sleeper, I’ve struggled to sleep comfortably in mummy shaped sleeping bags for years. They’re usually too tight around the shoulders and legs for me to roll onto my side. So I was intrigued when I learned about NEMO’s new spoon-shaped sleeping …

Granite Gear has a new multi-day backpack called the Lutsen 55L. The pack features a new adjustable hip belt, hip belt pockets, and an adjustable frame, so you can dial in a custom fit that matches your hip size and torso length …

If you thought that the only place to buy ultralight (cuben fiber – renamed DCF for Dyneema Composite Fabric) stuff sacks is from cottage gear manufacturers, you’d be wrong. Granite Gear makes excellent waterproof roll-top cuben fiber dry sacks. Called eVent Uberlight …