Addie's Note: I love end-of-year wrap-ups. The best of, worst of, funniest of - I can't get enough of them! In that spirit, we cast the net a bit wider this year. I am included, for instance, despite not having backpacked since pregnant with my son (he's now five). Maia is included, since she gets out more than I do, and we're both staff any way! We requested favorite gear and a favorite lifestyle item from everyone, and what filtered in was varied. One Aussie chose to highlight his favorite locations rather than gear. One local (we won't mention names, but her initials are "Stephanie Jordan") chose not to write up anything but just list her picks and let your imagination fill in the blanks. We included MAIA, for cryin' out loud!
This isn't an "Editor's Choice" or formal endorsement, just a list of stuff we like.
Enjoy - and don't forget to add your own favorites in the forum below.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- 2010 Staff Picks of Favorite Gear
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Companion forum thread to:
2010 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
And my honorable mention that paid for itself within the first two months of owning it: my espresso machine, lovingly treated with LavAzza Italian espresso.
Sam,
So….what Do the Tech Pants weigh?
Ah yes, Addie. We spent more on Super Crema beans than ANY backpacking gear!
Contrary to the reviewer's comments about the Iphone 4's GPS in airplane mode being able to work…
According to http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1355
the GPS is disabled when in airplane mode. It is a complaint made by many, myself included. We want a wilderness-mode setting for the Iphone that turns off cellular network seeking, turns off wifi seeking, and enables gps reception. Apple ignores us, if enough complain perhaps we'll get it. Email sjobs@apple.com with a request for a wilderness-mode setting — or a "enable GPS only" or something that will accomplish this.
Correct Roleigh. Sorry about that. I turn off the cell service but don't do Airplane mode. Thanks for the correction.
Great list this year guys. I love how the Staff Picks has evolved over the years from just strictly backpacking gear to including the places that we love to go, gadgets we like to bring and to just things that work for us whether they are ultra light or not.
That is the greatness of this site and its people.
HP 12C – that was a nice calculator – I liked how you could program it in reverse Polish – someone stole mine : ( – but, time to put that into a museum
You can also get this calculator for your iPhone/iPod Touch, for $15, or 12C knockoffs for less.
Museum?
My 11C is still going strong.
Lots of love here.
And lots of daily use.
My wife learned RPN, and now neither of us can run an algebraic calculator.
When you can find them, they ain't cheap.
It will be a sad, sad, day when the inevitable happens.
I have one 12C, but I prefer the 32S, of which I have two. And my daughters have RPN HP calculators too. Hopefully, the 32S will outlast me.
I did have a 45, but it is now in the local museum. :-)
Cheers
nm
Someone boobooed the photo. I'm sure it will be fixed.
I had an 11C — after 20+ years of service, sold it to a collector on eBay, and purchased a Montbell Alpine Light Jacket with the proceeds…
Montbell Ex Light Down Jacket
Integral Designs Micro Bivy
Outdoor Products Trekking Poles (with two Latch Locks)
That would be me. Thanks for the correction!
I had the original HP 45. Cried like a baby when it died.
Then I went to the HP 11C. Cried like a baby when it died.
Now have the HP 32S. The #1 button sticks occasionally. I'm tired of crying – I'm going to replace it tomorrow.
My pants (that I am OF COURSE wearing right now because I wear them EVERY DAY) weigh about 25 ounces.
Oh, and any top-picks list that mentions Slartibartfast is nerdy enough to be a winner in my book.
I have HP 27S Algebraic calculator got it in 1988, http://www.rskey.org/detail.asp?manufacturer=Hewlett-Packard&model=HP-27S
non of this RPN stuff.
Tony
My 1981 hp41c recently passed :(
So i am using a 32s. But i prefered the 41
Greatest hits; gear I'd never sell or trade; not necessarily in this order:
SMD Gatewood Cape
GG Litetrek poles
iPhone 4 (agree we need "wilderness mode")
JRB Sierra Sniveler
GG Gorilla
GG polychro groundsheet
Ti-Tri Caldera Cone with Stanco Greasepot
Cozies made from Reflectix for pot and cone caddy/mug
Thermarest NeoAir
New Balance trail runners for my 4E feet
Feathered Friends down booties
Possumdown beanie hat
Vermont Darn Tough socks
Smartwool merino sock liners
BPL Cocoon hoodie
Marmot DriClime windshirt
ID eVent jacket
Rab Drillium eVent pants
Guess that's enough.
glad to see the plain old nalgene getting some luv
for winter, nothing beats it for versatility
I will also join the hp calculator lovefest. I used my dads HP45 until I could purchase my own HP… a HP25. Like everyone else, I have stories about it surviving great abuse. The most dramatic was falling out of my pack while going around 40mph down hill… it bouncing on the ground and then was hit by the car next to me, and shot into a gully. Continued to work fine. When it was stolen I replaced it with an HP41C. Still love the key feel, but I mostly use an RPN calculator on my iphone to save the weight and bulk. Multifunction (even it isn't as good as multiple separate items) is the ultralight way :-)
I have to ask though… Ryan, does your 12C go out into the back country, and if so, what are you using it for?
–Mark
My HP 41 CV is still goiing strong after 27 years of engineering. I've had to change my batteries more than Ryan has.
I too have had my 41CV for about as long with no issues at all.
I was told about a website by a fellow 41CV user that had his repaired after it stopped working. The site is fixthatcalc dot com. It looks like they will repair just about any HP calculator ever made.
"Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don't hang on a wall
Stuff that's real, stuff you feel
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall"
– Guy Clark (Dublin Blues Album 1995)
Ryan – I purchased my HP-15C in January 1981 and it's still humming. Pocket sized, powerful, programable, ultralight calculator nirvana. I don't remember the last time I replaced the batteries. What a tool! In the mean time I've worn out three HP printers and moved on to another brand. What ever happened to that "old" Hewlett-Packard quality?
Sam – If you're looking to replace your nearly indestructable Arborwear Tech pants with some other "stuff that works" you might take look at Rail Riders Versa Tac Light pants. At 15 oz. (medium) their not especially light weight, but they are incredibly tough and the side access zips on the cargo pockets are pretty darn handy when you're sitting down.
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