2014 Staff Picks

Introduction

An annual tradition! The BPL Staff Favorites identify the 3 pieces of gear for each of us that has impacted us most in 2014. We hope you enjoy and wish you all the best for the New Year. Don’t forget to add your own favorites in the forum below!

Summary Table: Staff Favorites

Doug Johnson

Suluk46 Tica Ice Tool

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $175
• 5.1 oz / 146 g (68 cm length)

I have one of the original Tica Ice Tools- #26 and pre-Suluk 46, back when Steve Evans was first creating amazing gear. I studied this carbon fiber and titanium wonder as Steve developed it within the BackpackingLight forums, and stood amazed when I first held it in my hands. It made my previous ultralight axe feel like a tank and it is a piece of gear art. Since then, it has been my faithful companion on every non-technical climb or scramble. It disappears on a pack, so it joins me when I’d sometimes leave an axe at home. It self-arrests and self-belays with conviction, and has joined me across many glaciers and alpine routes. The newer version has some key improvements, most notably shaft plugs to keep the snow out. I LOVE this tool.

Kovea Spider Stove

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: about $65
• 6.0 oz / 146 g

My favorite winter stove for years was my trusty Coleman Xtreme. But as the canisters became more and more rare, it was time for a change. Enter the Kovea Spider, a stove from Korea.

This remote canister stove allows standard canisters to be run upside down, ensuring a liquid feed that will work into lower temperatures and higher altitudes (much like the Xtreme). This stove also works great for groups, and was an excellent performer on a 10 day canoe trip in the Bowron Lakes, BC with my family last summer. It simmers beautifully and boils quickly as well. I have yet to put it to work melting snow, but I’ll test this out soon enough!

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Support BPL and buy the Kovea Spider Stove at Amazon.com.

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Golite Shangri-La 5

• Unavailable
• 5 lb 10 oz / 2551 g (fly, pole, bug tent)

I was first drawn into ultralight backpacking via the Ray Jardine designs manufactured by Golite in the late ’90s. Sadly, after 16 years as a manufacturer of many classic ultralight products, Golite closed shop in 2014. Of the many Golite products I have used and loved, one of my favorites is the Shangri La 5 shelter. A pyramid tent with optional bug netting or floor, this is a highly versatile shelter that works equally well in the snow as it does as a group or family tent. In the last 5 years, this is my tent that gets the most usage by far. At 5.5 pounds with the bug netting, it’s not the lightest pyramid around, but it gobbles up my family of four with ease and is comfortable as a backcountry playroom as well. I love this shelter, and I’m sad to see Golite go. My best to Kim, Coup, and all of our friends at Golite- thanks for the great adventures.

Dave Chenault

Bluewater Canyon Pro rope

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $179
• 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg

The Canyon Pro (renamed Zion Pro) is still the lightest and the most durable canyoneering rope available, making it ideal for multiday missions.  It adds minimal weight to already heavy packs, resists coreshots to a degree that makes it easy to not take any backup, and wears so well over the years that the high upfront cost will end up being a net savings.  The orange color features well in photos and is easy to find if you drop the coiled rope in a pothole.  It is fast, especially when new, and is thus not ideal for beginners, especially on longer single-strand rappels.

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Support BPL and buy the  BlueWater Canyon Pro Rope  at Amazon.com.

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Paradox Unaweep 3900

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $339
• 3.25 lbs / 1.5 kg

The Paradox suspension is by far the best I’ve used; it’s elegantly minimalist and carries 20 pound overnight loads and 80 pounds of deer meat equally well.  Coupled with a spare, yet functional bag made of durable materials and you have a category buster which renders everything but small daypacks redundant.  The Unaweep can truly carry anything you can fit in it or strap on it, so long as your legs are up to the task.  My favorite aspect of this versatile load hauler has been being able to take on lots of group gear.  Feeding my friends when they packed light on food, hauling my wife’s packraft, and carrying food and technical gear for my mother on a Grand Canyon trip have all been highlights of the year which the Unaweep made easy.  The 3900 size, in my preferred VX42, has a Talon compression panel.

Alpacka Scout

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $545
• 3 lbs 10 oz / 1.6 kg with the tie downs glued in

The Scout is not the most versatile packraft, and is not the boat I’d pick if I could only keep one.  However, it is my favorite, because of its modest size and weight, and because the style it demands, open boating on more moderate waters far from the road, invariably makes for my favorite trips.  It is tough as nails like the other Alpackas, and perfectly capable in class 3 so long as you’re in a position to not mind getting soaked.  The Scout does require aftermarket tiedowns for pack and seat attachment, the only thing I’d like to see Alpacka change.  That I was one of the last to squeak in before multi-stripe orders became extra only adds to the sentimentality.  Besides, if Captain Morgan (aka BPLer Morgan Rucks, pictured here at the APA Packraft Roundup) approves you cannot go wrong.

Roger Caffin

NB 1210 Leadvilles

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $125
• 11 oz / 315 g per shoe for size tested

These shoes were developed by New Balance for the Leadville high mountain race, and were reviewed in September 2013 here. The US size 10, 4E width were reviewed.

You will note from the photo that New Balance used Vibram soles for these shoes: an interesting departure for them. They normally use a royalty-free in-house sole. It would seem that these shoes have been very popular items and are still on sale in some places, with possibly more to come next year. (Yes, that is a hint for 2015.)

Since the review my wife and I have bought (yes, actually spent our money!) several more pairs, and we wear them daily on our morning training runs. They are not showing much sign of wear and are very comfortable. Of course, with that Vibram sole, they also grip very well.

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Support BPL and buy the  New Balance Men’s MT1210 NBX Trail Running Shoe  at Amazon.com.

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Basic Baseplate Compass

Retailers and manufacturers would love you to buy a large heavy and certainly expensive compass, but instead I go for the simplest and lightest one I can find. The photo shows a Brunton 7DNL which was reviewed here in January 2010, but please do not take this as anything more than an example. There are plenty of other brands which are just as good – and some are much cheaper. In fact, some of the inexpensive no-name units do look very similar to some of the more expensive brand-name ones: a different door on the Chinese factory maybe? Yes, I have bought and used them as well.

The features you need for good navigation are the baseplate (not very big), a smoothly rotating ‘capsule’ so you can set the local declination, the liquid fill inside the capsule to damp the needle rotation so it settles quickly, and the N-S lines inside the capsule. With this sort of compass I can navigate to within a degree or two – and so can anyone else with a bit of practice. One last feature I strongly recommend: that loop of good nylon string through the corner hole, so the compass hangs around your neck. A compass buried inside your pack is of very little use.

Does this mean I am labelling as useless all those heavier features like mirrors, lenses and prisms and other do-dads? Yep, sure does. They add weight and cost, but you won’t be navigating any better with them. Good navigation is a combination of a compass to align the map, a good topo map, and some practice. Don’t forget the practice! In fact, in fine weather, I often navigate (very well thank you) using the sun and a rough idea of the time of day.

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Support BPL and buy the  Suunto A-10 Compass  at Amazon.com.

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Deejo knife

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $26
• 0.5 oz / 15 g

This knife, along with its bigger (35 g) brother, were reviewed in Jun-2014 here. There were some comments after the review that the steel was not the hardest knife-steel available – perhaps not, but mine has kept its edge quite well over a lot of use.

So why am I including this knife here? Because it is so neat and light (but very sharp and effective) and I find it in my pocket so very often. Crocodile Dundee bowie knives are all very well in the movies, but who actually carries one? For 99% of my needs this one is fine. Forget the machismo theory: look at real life use. OK, it’s a bit small for chopping up loaves of French bread – fair enough.

Ah yes – that rather sharp point: often used for minor surgery, like digging out splinters. Much more effective for that than a traditional SAK.

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Support BPL and buy   Deejo Knives  at Amazon.com.

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Kevin Sawchuk

Hoka One One

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $160
• 12 oz / 340 g each

While these shoes suck on difficult cross-country involving steep side slopes, climbing and hopping from rock to rock, they are spectacular in protecting your feet and legs on steep and rocky trails. They are pricey, but I’ve usually gotten 600-700 miles out of each pair making them similar in cost/mile to most trail runners.

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Support BPL and buy the  Hoka One One Running Shoe  at Amazon.com.

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Trail Designs Sidewinder ULC (ultralight cone)

• Currently unavailble
• MSRP: $40
• 4.5 oz / 128 g

Although currently not available this small cone stows in my BPL 1100ml pot providing a very lightweight and compact cooking system.  While not optimized for wood burning it’s not hard to figure out how to prop this system on rocks to make it work in a pinch.  If you bug Rand he may be willing to bring this back!

$40 (when available) 1.3 ounces (cone and stakes), 4.5 ounces (including pot, lid and esbit “gram cracker” stove).

Buff

• MSRP: $20
• 1 oz / 28 g

From washing to drying, sun protection to adding a touch of warmth a Buff is nearly always with me in the outdoors.  I especially love them in the winter when they do such a good job of protecting my face from reflected sunlight.

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Support BPL and buy  Buff Headwear at Amazon.com.

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Eric Vann

Altra Lone Peaks

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $120
• 10.9 oz / 310 g

I used these shoes (the 1.5 version) continuously this summer while encountering rugged terrain while in the Bob Marshall wilderness. The shoes were subjected to snow, water while packrafting and crossing streams, dirt, and tough rock. Other than fraying seams, the shoes behaved wonderfully and although it’s probably time for me to get a new pair of shoes I still use them often. I am impressed with their tread and durability, and definitely recommend them. Altra has also released their 2.0 version which I’m sure builds upon these strengths.

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Support BPL and buy the  Altra Men’s Lone Peak 2 Trail Running Shoe  at Amazon.com.

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Feathercraft Baylee River Runner

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $1275
• 6.5 oz / 2.95 kg

While a little bit on the heavier and pricier side for a packraft, the Baylee’s value is clearly long term due to Feathercraft’s emphasis on its durability. The boat is a little more robust than some of the similar, lighter Alpacka models which makes it ideal for beginners and for rivers lined with rocks and branches. We are beginning to use these boats almost exclusively at the Montana High Adventure Base where we take out Boy Scout troops and venturing crews because they allow us to give the scouts an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors by packrafting while ensuring their safety that comes along with a more durable boat.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Porter 4400

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $345
• 2.5 pounds / 1.1 kg

This is pack is great. I love its versatility. This summer while leading treks for Boy Scouts out of the Montana High Adventure Base, some people would give me a hard time for my “rucksack”, but by the end of the trip they were impressed with it’s as adaptability. Its shape allows you to pack the pack to hold bulky loads well plus its large volume (70 liters) makes it great for expeditions where you are carrying lots of gear and food. It has many tie down points for securing the gear to the pack or the pack to a packraft. Its water resistance makes it an ideal pack for packrafters. For those who like to have total control of how they pack their pack this one’s for you. It could use a few more exterior pockets but you can make your own (see here) or you can buy some form HMG.

Ryan Jordan

Dynafit PDG / Madshus Eon AT Nordic Ski System

• Learn more about Dynafit and Madshus.
• MSRP: $295 (skis), $850 (boots), $550 (bindings)
• 8.8 lb / 4.0 kg per pair of boots, skis, and bindings

In February, I wrote AT Nordic Ski Systems: Discovering the Best of Backcountry Nordic and Alpine Touring Systems Through Hybridization and introduced you to my hybrid AT Nordic rig – Madshus Eon Skis, Dynafit TLT Speed Superlite Bindings, and Dynafit Dy.N.A. PDG boots – a system that weighs only 8.8 lb per pair. The skis have a waxless base that prevents skin transitions on easy rolling terrain. Low-effort touring and ski-running come through biomechanical efficiency from with a boot cuff that rotates through a wide range of motion and unrestricted binding toe pin rotation. Unlocking the heel for the descents means that I have good control (better than normal!) on downhills. One of the system’s best features is that when the skis do have to be carried (e.g., when alpine climbing or low-elevation approach hiking) – the burden is light!

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Support BPL and buy the  Madshus Eon Ski  and  Dynafit TLT Speed Superlight Speed Touring Bindings  and  Dynafit PDG Ski Boot  at Amazon.com.

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NeoAir Xtherm Pad

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $200
• 15 oz / 425 g

I used to fiddle with multiple pads for winter snow camping. Some combination of my backpack, a partial-length foam pad, a torso-length inflatable, etc. I’ve since gravitated towards simplicity, and with the Xtherm, way more warmth. It takes up little space in my already bulky winter pack and gives me the rest and comfort I need for long, dark, cold winter nights. I’ve camped directly on snow with the Xtherm down to nearly thirty degrees below zero (F). Below about minus 15 (F), a 1/4” foam pad underneath the NeoAir is required as additional insulation, but I only bring that extra pad when the forecast is extra-cold. If I had to own only one pad for all-seasons, this would be it.

Photo: The morning after a -27 deg F night spent under the stars on a NeoAir Xtherm pad directly on the snow.

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Support BPL and buy the  Thermarest Neo-Air Xtherm Sleeping Pad  at Amazon.com.

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Sony RX100 Camera

• Learn more Here.
• MSRP: $799
• 9.3 oz / 263 g

I’m still on version m2 of the RX100 and can’t wait for it to break (I tend to shoot a lot in inclement and cold weather, so my camera’s lifespan is always limited) so I can upgrade to the m3! But I’m more than satisfied with the incredible performance-to-weight ratio of this little gem. A sharp, contrasty Zeiss lens combined with a high-resolution larger-than-average sensor, good manual controls, RAW capability, outstanding dynamic range, and terrific 1080p video at 60 fps make this my all-time favorite camera for backpacking.

Photo: Reconnaissance Lake, High Uinta Wilderness, Sony RX100 ISO 160, 10mm (28 mm @ 35mm equiv), f/5.6, 1/500

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Support BPL and buy the  Sony RX100M m3 Camera  at Amazon.com.

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