I spent the majority of this summer wearing a RailRider’s Madison River Shirt for hiking and backpacking that proved ideal for the hot buggy weather we had in New England this year. Like my Railriders EcoMesh pants, also worn above, the Madison River Shirt is treated with Insect Shield whose active …
Read More »Vintage Backpacking Gear
Outdoor Equipment Supplier Straight Cut 10′ x 10′ Silnylon Tarp
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 you with a lot more versatility than so-called …
Read More »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, there’s a lot of variation in square tarp …
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 needs of up to five people, I feel …
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), the Fast Stash is a 2 person, 3 …
Read More »REI Stoke 29 Day Pack
The REI Stoke 29 is perfectly sized for long day hikes, with a large main compartment and three exterior mesh pockets (2 side, 1 front.) I adore mesh packets like this because I can me stow all of the gear or food I need during a hike so it’s easily …
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. If that’s not brand and model loyalty, I …
Read More »Rivendell Mountain Works Jensen Backpack
I got interested in Rivendell Mountain Works, makers of the Jensen Backpack, after discovering them on the web last year. I posted a message about the Jensen Backpack on Facebook and Cameron McNeish responded by saying that it was one of his favorite backpacks of all time. That got my …
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 first thing you notice about the Rocket Tent …
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 out their backpacks. A German company, they’re not …
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 food, extra layers, maps, and the 10 essentials. …
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 White Mountains. While the A10 has been an …
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 do more day hikes in winter than overnight …
Read More »Garmont Momentum Snow GTX Hiking Boot
I have been looking long and hard at lightweight alternatives to heavy mountaineering boots this winter, for lower elevation day hikes. It’s not that I dislike my plastic Scarpa Omega boots, but after hiking in trail runners all year, I’ve found that I can hike at a much faster pace …
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