Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid

18_oz After lots of gear churn I have accepted that the lightest possible tarp is not necessarily the best one for me. I’ve been enjoying a bright orange silnylon Duomid since last spring. It stays in my pack most nights because I prefer the simplicity of sleeping in a bivy, but this tarp provides 360° coverage from the wind and rain for myself and a guest (either my son or my dog). I have an MLD Innernet that seems like a good addition to the setup but I’ve yet to sleep in it.

– Matthew King

1.1 osy MYOG Mid Liner

5.5_ozUsing solid fabric liners in a few of Seek Outside’s larger tents this past winter made me wonder why they’re not standard equipment in all mids. Condensation is one of the most frequent complaints with pyramids, and a problem which is to a large degree inherent to the design itself. Turning at least half of your mid into a true double wall tent manages this issue very well, and adds little weight. The half liner pictured here, for a Seek Outside Little Bug Out, weighs 5.5 ounces in basic 1.1 ounce nylon ripstop, and has been in my mid all year.

Ripstop by the Roll carries a good selection of high quality 1.1 osy ripstop nylons at affordable prices for MYOGers.

– Dave Chenault

REI Magma 10 Down Sleeping Bag

30_ozI used this bag guiding this fall in the Montana Beartooth Range in wet, cold, and snowy conditions. It kept me warm even when temperatures dipped down into the low teens. It stuffs small and at 1 lb 14 oz it was not a burden to carry!

Ryan discusses the REI Magma 10 in more detail in the recent Holiday Gear Guide as well, noting that it’s one of the best values on the market for a very high quality and warm down bag. I agree!

– Kevin Fletcher

Butt in a Sling (BIAS) Weight Weenie Micro Hammock

6.4_oz There are plenty of hammocks on the market these days, but the Weight Weenie is something special. It weighs just 6.4 ounces and fits my 6’1″ just fine in the 52″ width and 11′ length. I prefer a wider hammock for overnight use, but this size is perfect for relaxing in camp and my son slept 14 nights in this hammock last summer! It has a fixed ridgeline which makes it easy to have perfect sag every time, and the camo fabric is soft, durable, and comfortable against the skin. These hamocks are handmade by Shane Waits in Tennessee, and you can choose a variety of options, suspensions, and accessories to make it exactly what you want. Besides that, the base price is only $49.95 which is amazing considering the excellent quality. I have two BIAS hammocks and they are my absolute favorites; if I had some advice it would be to get your Butt in a Sling too!

– Doug Johnson

Nemo Equipment Astro Insulated Air Lite Sleeping Pad (Wide)

23_oz Many people feel they have truly arrived when they sleep on a NeoAir pad. Sure, I love mine too, but I’m starting to think that maybe it was just a gateway drug for the real deal- the Nemo Astro Insulated Lite. This pad blows the NeoAir away; it is 3.5 inches thick (40% thicker than a NeoAir), has a built-in pillow baffle for extra head support, it’s warm in sub-freezing conditions, and the 25″ x 76″ size means you can spread out and roll around without ever hitting the ground. Sure, 1 lb 7 oz is not ultralight, but it’s only 7 ounces more than a long/wide NeoAir and it is WAY more comfortable. These days I want a good night’s sleep, even when sleeping under a tarp, and the Nemo pad gives some luxury that helps me sleep well all night and wake up refreshed. The Nemo Astro is in my pack more often than not lately and I’d have a hard time going back.

– Doug Johnson

Arc’Teryx Norvan VT Shoes

11.0_oz A lightweight shoe with exceptional performance in technical terrain, this has been a dream come true for me. I use it on hiking and mountain running day trips and with light overnight packs (< 40 lb).

Unique features: on-the-fly lacing system to change fit quickly to suit terrain, Vibram soles, technical (low-volume) fit, 9mm drop, narrow last.

– Max Neale

Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Trail Running Shoes

10.4_oz This shoe ticks a lot of boxes for the lightweight backpacker. It’s light weight but not too minimalist, provides enough cushioning from terrain, has a simple but effective gaiter interface, has good drainage, and the tread gives decent traction. But, it’s the fit that sets it apart from its competitors for me with its snug heel pocket and very roomy toe box. – Mike Martin

I’ve been hiking in Version 1.0 Altra Lone Peaks since I completed my first 50-mile trek across the Beartooths when I was 12. The new 3.5s are the best rendition of the shoes that I have ever owned, solving both structural problems (sloppy fit) and durability issues (toecap and upper fabric). These are my shoes of choice for just about everything, including the trails, tundra, talus, and granite slabs of the places I hike the most: the Rockies of CO, WY, and MT, and the High Sierra. – Chase Jordan

Altra Lone Peak 3.0 Neoshell Low (Women’s)

10.0_oz I’ve worn Altra shoes for several years. This upgrade from the (non-Neoshell) Superior 3.0 gives me a significant cushioning boost for backpacking, and warmer feet for winter hiking. We hike almost every day during the winter, and my feet have remained warm and dry in Wyoming’s snowy conditions. The toe box remains comfortable even as I add thicker wool socks for more winter warmth.

I’m loving how my Dirty Girl Gaiters attach perfectly to the front eye hook and velcro on the back heels of the Lone Peaks. My Kahtoola Micro spikes easily slip on and off and I finally feel like I have the optimal winter footwear system. Not having to worry about cold, wet feet while winter hiking and snowshoeing keeps me doing what I love throughout the winter season, which is to walk outside in the mountains.

– Stephanie Jordan

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody

9.3_ozI’ve worn the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody almost every day since the beginning of September. It’s cozy enough for a three-season insulating layer while being light enough to wear on the move while day hiking in the extremely cold temperatures of my Wyoming winter.

I’m a fan of its fit, durability, giant handwarmer and inside stash pockets, hood, hem length, and of course at just a shade over 9 oz, its weight. While there are lighter synthetic garments available, they probably can’t match the performance and features of the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody at this weight. (I discussed it in more depth in my recent Holiday Gear Guide.)

– Ryan Jordan

Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody

10.9_ozThe Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody doesn’t pencil out well, and before I wore it on a rainy September trip I wouldn’t have believed how versatile and functional it is. This hoody is 50% midlayer, 30% soft shell, and 20% windshirt, and outperforms all three of those things shockingly often. Most significantly, as a midlayer under a rain jacket it outperforms fleece in every respect in multiday rain storms, something I would not have thought possible.

Learn more about the Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody in Ryan Jordan’s review.

– Dave Chenault

Nunatak Skaha Apex Jacket

10.0_oz I used this for mountaineering, ski mountaineering, and hiking expeditions this year. Few other synthetic insulated jackets can match its warmth-to-weight ratio.

The Nunatak Skaha Apex can be customized with respect to fabrics, insulation weights, and features. Weights for the lightest and simplest versions start at about 10 oz for a typical “M/L” size and go up from there.

– Max Neale

Montbell EX Light Down Anorak

6.2_oz Despite advances in “water resistant” goose down, and various synthetic insulations, I’m still pretty old-school when when it comes to insulation. Yes, you have to keep it dry, but I still like the loft, warmth per weight, drape, and durability of high fill-power down. The EX Light Down Anorak has exactly the feature set I want for 3-season hiking: nothing extraneous, integrated hood, quality down, lightweight notions, and the pièce de résistance: a handwarmer tunnel pocket that is worth the entire weight of the garment by itself.

– Mike Martin

Patagonia Wind Shield Hybrid Soft Shell Pants (Women’s)

10.3_ozI love this soft shell fabric – it protects me from wind and cooler temperatures (our family just returned from winter hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park where we experienced wind gusts up to 60 mph in exposed alpine terrain and I remained comfortable and warm!). A wide waist band and stretchy fabric makes them among the more comfortable outdoor pants I’ve worn, when I’m climbing over deadfall, scrambling in rock, or just stair-climbing up steep trails. The seat is protected by the more water repellent fabric, which means I can sit briefly on snow to adjust my snowshoes or trail crampons and not get a wet behind. More breathable side, back, and mid panels maintain comfort when exertion levels are high.

I was apprehensive to buy these because of the price, but they have found a regular home in my fringe- and winter-season outdoor kit. Why? Fit, quality, and performance / versatility of the hybrid construction in a wide range of conditions.

– Stephanie Jordan

Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Jacket (Women’s)

5.5_oz I picked the Outdoor Research Womens Helium II Jacket up to replace an old Pertex jacket which was delaminating. I had decided against getting a jacket using older versions of Pertex Shield – I was tired of “wetting out.”

The Pertex Shield+ is a marked improvement to the original Pertex fabric. The Outdoor Research Womens Helium II is a minimalist design which is compact to pack, lightweight and relatively stylish. Aside from how small it packs up, my favourite feature is the stiffened hood brim, which keeps the rain out of the neck of the jacket.

– Emylene VanderVelden

ZPacks Ventum Wind Shell Jacket

1.9_oz I’ve used the ZPacks Ventum Wind Shell Jacket backpacking in the desert Southwest and the Montana Beartooths, and backcountry skiing in Utah’s Wasatch. I know there are lots of sub-5 oz wind shirts on the market, but at 1.9 oz for the Ventum, it just seems like a no-brainer to bring along.

– Kevin Fletcher

Arc’Teryx Beta SL Pant

9.2_oz Most lightweight rain pants get shredded by brush or have fragile coatings or membranes that aren’t durably waterproof. I used these for eight weeks of off-trail backpacking and mountaineering trips. They are both waterproof and durable!

– Max Neale

Patagonia Houdini Wind Jacket

3.6_ozThe Patagonia Houdini Wind Jacket is my favorite piece of clothing for spring, summer, and fall hiking and backpacking; it is also my most used piece of “auxiliary” clothing (i.e., clothing that is added to my trekking clothes for stormy or cold conditions).

The Houdini is lightweight and breathable and provides uncompromised comfort when battered by the incessant gales that rip through the high alpine here in Wyoming. There are a lot of wind shirts on the market, but the Houdini has proven its construction quality and durability over the course of hundreds of days’ worth of expeditions that involved rock scrambling and bushwhacking. My Houdini has no holes, and no unraveling stitches – not bad for a garment that has been used hard for several years.

– Chase Jordan

Outdoor Research Women’s Wrapid Gaiter

4.2_oz I have been using Outdoor Research Womens Verglas Gaiters for over a decade. Usually, I favour a full leg gaiter, but this past spring I switched to the Outdoor Research Womens Wrapid Gaitor.

They are smaller, lighter, and cooler relative to the Verglas. The Wrapids have stood up well against mud and snow during the shoulder season. The Outdoor Research Wrapid Gaitor packed smaller than full leg gaiters when I didn’t need them and are a breeze to take on and off thanks to the convenient velcro closure.

– Emylene VanderVelden

The Buff

0.7-2.9_ozI’ve worn Buffs off and on for many years, but now I take one on every trip. I can’t say this about any other piece of equipment I own – the Buff is that versatile and valuable. During the winter my Buff is a facemask and neck gaiter under my fleece hat for cold temps and brisk winds. During the summer, it provides sun protection for my neck and face and I use it packrafting, fly fishing, glacier mountaineering – i.e., my snow-and-water-sports.

Buff weights vary a bit, depending on fabrics and model. My UV Half Buff ($14.95 from Backcountry.com) weighs less than 0.7 oz and makes a great bandana or headband for summer use.

– Ryan Jordan

MYOG Heavy Lycra Gaiters

2.5_oz My gaiters were made using a fairly heavy-weight Lycra (stretch nylon) fabric. The heavier weights are more durable. A benefit to Lycra is that it’s very breathable. The photo shows an early morning in an alpine region, wearing the gaiters over wet socks, with condensation droplets appearing on the outside of the gaiter fabric.

– Roger Caffin

Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero

3.2_ozI hate wearing hoods on my raincoats. This waterproof-breathable hat solves that problem. In lighter rain I wear the hat and get better ventilation and better visibility. If it really starts to pour I put the Sombrero on top of my hood. That really seals things up to keep me dry. As a side benefit the Sombrero is great if you have a decent raincoat with a poorly fitting hood (a fairly common problem).

– Luke Schmidt

Superior Wilderness Designs Full Suspension 35L Pack

25_oz I have used both versions of the Superior Wilderness Designs 35L packs – with and without the suspension. I love both of them – they are simple, lightweight designs that carry weight well. I am now experimenting with them for backcountry skiing, which places special demands on a pack’s ability to stabilize a load with a user’s center of gravity moving around so much. It’s early in the ski season, but so far, so good!

– Kevin Fletcher

Osprey Rev 18 Pack

19_ozSadly discontinued, this trail running pack from Osprey is the closest thing I’ve seen to a genuinely functional and ultralight daypack. With plenty of pockets, all easily accessible on the go, and intelligently light materials throughout (a double bottom, for instance), it is hard to find fat to trim, and harder still to find something it doesn’t do well. Day hiking, mountain biking, and skiing are all things it does equally well.

– Dave Chenault

Osprey Rev 24 Pack

20_ozThis backpack has become my primary option for day hiking and 24-hour excursions during the summer and pre-snow shoulder seasons. I can fit my essentials in the pack and not have to feel like I am sacrificing safety or comfort while on the trail. Angled side pockets allow easy access to snacks, water, and more while on the move.

As Dave noted above, the Rev line has been discontinued by Osprey. #SAD!

– Chase Jordan

Seek Outside Unaweep 6300 Pack

3.5_lb This is hands down the best pack I’ve used for packrafting. The shape of the pack allows me to carry a lot of the weight and bulk of a big load low down. This is very nice when I have to bushwhack and duck under trees. When I’m looking at carrying two weeks of food, packrafting gear, and mountaineering gear this is the pack I grab. Seek Outside now makes smaller and lighter versions of the same pack like the Gila and the Divide.

– Luke Schmidt

BRS 3000t Stove

0.9_oz Over the years, I’ve cultivated an embarrassingly large collection of stoves of different types. They all now sit in storage bins. The light weight and simplicity of the BRS 3000t Stove, coupled with a protocol to refill fuel canisters, and a set of techniques to use it in very cold weather has made my various solid fuel, alcohol, inverted canister, “integrated” canister, and white gas stoves obsolete. Whether for a quick summertime overnight hike, or a sub-zero winter expedition, I use this stove. (Disclaimer: Refilling canisters and sub-freezing upright stove use require special techniques. Failures can be dangerous.)

– Mike Martin

Fozzils Solo Pack Dishware

4.0_ozI impulsively picked up the Fozzils Solo Pack dishware out of curiosity. The cup, plate and bowl together weigh about four ounces (113g) and pack completely flat. I have not packed much more than a cup and a spork for dishware in years, but these seemed like a neat idea.

When I tested them, they are a great idea. The Fozzils Cup and Bowl feature measuring lines, the plate features a generous lip which keeps food in it. When I was finished eating, I undid the snaps and poured some water over the dish at the grey water disposal site and every bit of food residue rinsed off with no effort. I wish the cup and bowl had built-in handles, and I’m not sure how long the snaps will stand up, those will need further testing, but so far I’m impressed.

– Emylene VanderVelden

Zelph’s Stoveworks Modified Toaks 550 Titanium Pot

2.8_ozI’ve gone no-cook on every trip this year but I still bring a small cookset (for incidental tea and coffee) that I’ve assembled using parts from various suppliers. Zelph rolls a sweet bead onto a Toaks 550 titanium cookpot so that you don’t have to use stakes or a silicone band to suspend the pot over the Sidewinder Cone.

Mine has no handle, a Four Dog lid, a DIY Ti foil stove sized for 4 gram Esbit tablets and weighs 102 grams in the stuffsack including a lighter. This is a luxury item I don’t mind carrying.

– Matthew King

Caffin v3 Winter Stove

3.2_oz Inverted canister operation delivers liquid fuel feed (more power / sustained burn for cold temperatures). Remote canister design allows for the use of a tight-fitting windscreen for maximum efficiency. Photo: Alpine region, very early morning, -7 C, warm milk and tea/coffee for breakfast.

– Roger Caffin

Katadyn BeFree Filter Bottle

2.3_ozI first reviewed the BeFree here back in July. Since then, I’ve taken it on every trip since and it’s been my primary water treatment strategy.

The BeFree filter delivers potable water faster than any device I’ve ever used, is very light, and is compatible with my favorite water bottles (HydraPak).

– Ryan Jordan

Northstar Canoes – Northwind 18 Blacklite Canoe

48_lb This summer, my family completed an 11 day canoe/backpacking adventure in Yellowstone National Park. It was a perfect opportunity for us to try out our new Northstar Canoe, and the boat was incredible! Our Blacklite version has an exterior carbon fiber layer for stiffness and an Aramid (kevlar) inner layer for tensile strength. This makes a 48 pound canoe that swallows our family of four and gear for an extended adventure. It paddled extremely well in significant waves, was surprisingly maneuverable on the river, and it glides SO well. It is a thing of beauty and a pleasure to portage, such as when I one-trip carried it and my gear on a tough trail to Ross Lake in North Cascades National Park. These boats are handmade in Minnesota by the legendary Ted Bell himself and I cant wait to get it back to its home state when we visit the Boundary Waters this summer!

– Doug Johnson

Petzl Leopard FL Crampons

12_ozWhen I wanted to do some light mountaineering I needed crampons that would be light and pack small. These held up well to a traverse across Mt. Edziza in British Columbia. – Luke Schmidt

These are the lightest, and best, general mountaineering (snow) crampons on the market today. I verified the weight of mine at 6.1 oz apiece – which makes them nearly as light as my Kahtoola Microspikes, and far more effective for steep snow and glacier travel. – Ryan Jordan

Black Diamond Ion Headlamp (new model)

1.6_oz This was an “upgrade gift” for a backpacking trip in the Idaho Sawtooths I took with Ryan this summer (it’s replacing an old Spot that Chase gave me for Mother’s Day years ago). Ryan wrote more details about the new Ion in our Holiday Gear Guide.

This new (2017) model Ion was a huge step up in comfort for me. I hardly know it’s on my head and sometimes walk around wearing it while looking for it. I love to night hike and the Ion burns for several hours even in chilly weather (use Li batteries to get the weight down to 1.6 oz and increase cold weather performance). I use it at home for a reading light when I can’t sleep – sometimes, when I know I have to face real life and responsibilities in the morning, it’s nice to pretend I’m in my tent at a remote spot!

– Stephanie Jordan

Nightcore Tube LED Light

0.3_ozThis $10 LED keychain flashlight is all I use on most trips. My “backup” light is a larger AAA flashlight with a reversible clip that I can put on my hat but I rarely feel the need for more light than the Nitecore Tube.

It’s rechargeable so I always head out with a full battery and I’ve got it tied to a small loop of shockcord which allows me to attach it to whatever is convenient. Mine is bright pink which makes it hard to lose.

– Matthew King

Silva / Tech4o Traileader PRO Altimeter Watch

1.3_ozThis watch originally came with a ridiculously heavy wrist strap that was uncomfortable and binding, so I cut it off and added a string loop to hang it around my neck. Its “digital compass”, which I tested extensively, was utterly useless and unreliable (as 2-axis compasses tend to be). So the most redeeming quality of this instrument is its altimeter – which is very useful when ascending or descending mountains with a topo map. (Note: when I got this it was just a Silva product, but they have since split the Tech4o range of watches off into a separate brand/product line – refer to Tech4o.com for more info.)

– Roger Caffin