Vintage Backpacking Gear

I bought the Mountain Hardware Phantom Down Jacket on sale about 2 weeks ago because I needed an exceptionally warm coat for winter camping and mountaineering. Since then, I've worn it everyday and I am amazed at how warm it is. The Phantom's insulation is 800 fill goose down making it …

If you go winter backpacking, snowshoeing, or mountaineering, you are going to want to bring at least one pair of mittens. Some people will even bring two pairs in case one gets wet. Personally, I bring a pair of mittens for warmth and a pair of gloves for added dexterity. …

It was Thanksgiving day and the weather was a bit chilly so I decided to test out a pair a Mountain Hardware Cohesion Pants for showshoeing this winter in Vermont. I put on a pair of Patagonia 1 Capilene long underwear underneath the Cohesion Pants and took a two mile …

The Montbell Ultralight Thermawrap Jacket is a lightweight insulation layer (a size XL is 9.1 oz.) that is exceptionally warm.  I wear it directly over a base layer, replacing bulkier garments like a fleece pullover. It’s also windproof, which means I can shed an outer shell layer during aerobic activities such as snowshoeing or cross-country …

Big Agnes is one of the premier gear manufacturers in the backpacking community. However, if you’ve never seen a Big Agnes sleeping bag, you may be in for a big surprise. Big Agnes was the first mainstream sleeping bag manufacturer to stop putting insulation into the bottom half of their …

If you have trouble falling asleep when your feet are too warm, then the Kelty Light Year 20F sleeping bag may be the perfect bag for you, because it has a special zipper in the foot box that gives you complete control over the warmth of your feet in warm or …

Golite’s Reed Pants are one of the lightest waterproof pants available today. At 6.4 oz for a men’s large, they are significantly lighter than both the old and new versions of Marmot Precips that weigh in at 9 oz. or more depending on size. These pants also compress down to …

On my past two backpacking trips, I’ve brought along a Gossamer Gear bug canopy to keep the bugs of my face when I sleep in open shelters. Weighing only 2.3 oz., this bug net can be hung underneath a tarp or in a shelter. Setting it up requires a little …

The Squall 2 is a classic ultralight tarptent, suitable for one or two people, that only weighs 34 oz, including a bathtub floor, collapsible rear pole, and stuff stack. Note: The Squall 2 has been discontinued.  The Squall 2 requires just 4 stakes and can be set up with your …

I just bought another sleeping pad: the Clearview Air Mattress from Big Agnes. The Clearview is a summer pad that provides 2.5 inches of padding when inflated but is not a good enough insulator for other seasons. I bought it because I’ve been sleeping on a lot of wooden floors …

On my last backpacking trip, the temperatures were warm enough that I could bring one of my lighter weight sleeping pads, a Torsolite, designed and manufactured by Bozeman Mountain Works, a boutique gear manufacturer that specializes in ultralight synthetic insulating clothing and sleep systems. At 10.4 oz., the Torsolite is …

  The Marmot Pounder is a 40 degree sleeping bag filled with synthetic Primaloft, intended for summer camping. This is a very simple sleeping bag with few frills. It has a full length zipper, a mummy hood, and a slinky nylon shell. When you lie in it or on it, …

Jack’s ‘R’ Better (frequently abbreviated JRB) is a boutique manufacturer of quilts and other accessories for Hennessy Hammocks, such as The Nest, a down underquilt for insulating the bottom of a hammock in colder weather to extend its temperature range. They also manufacture an 8 x 8 foot tarp for …

I’ve owned my REI Sub Kilo 20 down sleeping bag for about 2 years. It’s a pretty utilitarian mummy sleeping bag that provides good value at a good price ($239). Like all down bags, it  compresses down very well and takes up little room in your pack. It is also …