If you like tarp camping or want to get a substantially lighter weight shelter without paying through the nose, I recommend you consider getting a straight cut square or rectangular silnylon tarp. They’re far less expensive than you might realize and provide …
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Brooks Range Mountaineering Ultralite Guide+Tarp
I like square flat tarps because they give me the opportunity to select or create different pitches depending on my environmental needs or aesthetic desires for the night. It’s like shelter origami ( see Square Tarp Pitches.) Contrary to what you might expect, …
Read More »Jetboil Helios Group Cooking System
The Jetboil Helios is a highly technical, group cooking system designed to accommodate the larger capacity cooking needs of 3-5 people at a time. As a result the Helios is not necessarily a small or lightweight set, but considering it serves the …
Read More »MSR Fast Stash UL Tarp Shelter
The MSR Fast Stash is a bold crossover shelter that offers all of the ventilation benefits of tarp camping with the comfort of a mainstream hiking tent. Based on a traditional flat tarp pitch tarp called an Adirondack Wind Shed (my favorite), …
Read More »Inov-8 Terroc 330 Trail Running Shoes: Long Term Review
I’ve been using Inov-8 Terroc 330 trail runners for 3-season hiking since April 2010. I just started using my fifth consecutive pair for peakbagging and backpacking, plus I bought another two pairs so that I’ll have more when I wear these out. …
Read More »Brooks-Range Mountaineering Ultralight Rocket Tent
Brooks Range Mountaineering makes an ultralight 4 season tent that weighs under 2 lbs and has a vestibule. That’s right, under 2 lbs. It’s called the A2 Rocket Tent presumably because of the space age material it is made out of. The …
Read More »Deuter Spectro AC 38 Backpack Review
I really like the Deuter Spectro 38 backpack. At 2,320 cubic inches (38L) capacity, it’s a great pack for longer day hikes, hut-to-hut routes, or fast and light overnight backpacking trips. If you’re not familiar with Deuter (pronounced Doy-ter), you should check …
Read More »CamelBak Highwire 25 Hydration Pack
The CamelBak Highwire 25L is a large capacity hydration pack that’s ideal for long-distance day hikes and peak bagging adventures. Complete with a 100 oz/3L hydration reservoir, it can hold 1526 cubic inches of gear, giving you plenty of capacity to carry …
Read More »Brunton 15TDCL Sighting Compass
I switched from a simple Suunto A10 base plate compass to a Brunton 15TDCL Sighting Compass last year because I wanted a compass that was more robust for bushwhacking, backpacking in open country across Scotland, and for avalanche prediction in New Hampshire’s …
Read More »Integral Designs eVent Micro Bivy Sack
I invested in a winter bivy sack this year because I wanted to be able to use it for camping under a shaped tarp or in snow shelters, as a lighter weight alternative to my Black Diamond FirstLight winter tent. I also …
Read More »Gossamer Gear LT 4 Carbon Fiber Hiking Poles
Gossamer Gear’s LT 4 Carbon Fiber trekking poles are adjustable length carbon fiber poles. They’re unlike most commercial trekking poles because they’re so lightweight, just 6.8 oz / pair, and they don’t have hand straps. They are adjustable to 140 cm in length (longer …
Read More »La Sportiva Crossover GTX Mountain Running Shoes
Trail Runners for Winter Hiking I got a pair of La Sportiva Crossover GTX trail running shoes to see whether they’d be good for winter hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire this winter. Earlier this year, I successfully made the …
Read More »Zpacks Hexamid Review
The Zpacks Hexamid rocked the Ultralight Backpacking scene when it first came out because it’s a single person, pyramid style, cuben fiber tarp that weighs under 3 oz. It’s made by long distance hike Joe Valesko at Zpacks.com, who has a good …
Read More »Inov-8 TerRoc 330 Trail Running Shoes
Trail Runners for Hiking I bought a pair of Inov-8 TerRoc 330 trail running shoes (left) to compare against the Inov-8 Roclite 320’s (right) I reviewed recently (you can check out that review of mine on shoe hero). A number of you …
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