Articles (2020)

Introduction

Rab is a British company that has been making cutting edge outdoor gear for 25 years. Up until now, customers have had to pay international shipping costs to get Rab products. Starting in 2007, their products will be available in the United States through several franchised retailers. It will be nice to add Rab products to our range of choices for outdoor gear.

At 12.7 ounces (size L), the Rab Drillium is a short-cut multi-sport jacket in a lightweight version of 3-layer eVENT fabric. The Drillium has a nice feature set and all the advantages of eVENT fabric in the same weight range as a conventional polyurethane-laminate jacket, but costs a little more. Does the performance justify the additional cost?

What’s Good

• eVENT fabric
• Lightweight and durable
• Fully seam-taped
• Helmet-compatible hood
• Water-resistant zippers
• Long sleeves and dropped tail
• High side pockets
• Inside security pocket

What’s Not So Good

• Wire brim on hood
• Helmet compatible hood, if you don’t need it
• Velcro cuff closure catches on other fabrics

Specifications

Performance

You might cringe at the price when you purchase an eVENT jacket ($275 in this case), but once you get past the cost, it’s all smiles. The Rab Drillium jacket is now an option for US consumers, so in writing this review I not only evaluate the Drillium’s features and performance, but also compare it to other eVENT jackets on the market.

The Drillium is Rab’s lightest eVENT jacket. Rab calls it a “multi-sport jacket”, and I agree with their label. It is much more than a rain jacket. I wore it constantly as an outer shell in all kinds of winter activities and weather.

The Drillium is made of Rab’s “lightweight eVENT three-layer fabric” (2.5 oz/yd²), while their other eVENT jackets are made of “midweight eVENT three-layer fabric” (4.3 oz/yd²) and are intended for mountaineering. The eVENT fabric used for the Drillium is lightweight, but it could be lighter. The face fabric is 15 denier nylon (which is light), but it has a 40 denier ripstop running through it, which makes the fabric stiffer as well.

As a multi-sport jacket, the Drillium has a carefully selected feature set (detailed in the following photos) that many would consider essential.

The Drillium’s helmet-compatible hood is a great feature for backcountry skiing, ice climbing, and lightweight mountaineering. However, backpackers may see the larger hood, its stow-away feature, and its complex adjustments as overkill. The value of the helmet-compatible hood ultimately depends on the user’s need for that feature.

Field Testing

I wore the Rab Drillium jacket while mountain snowshoeing, snow hiking, cross-country skiing, and snow camping, and also for winter camping and hiking in the southern Utah canyon country. During the test period it got a good workout shedding snow, rain, and wind and also served as an outer shell layer over insulated clothing in camp.

On me (6 feet, 170 pounds), the Drillium in size Large has a trim fit but still has enough room to layer over a medium weight insulated jacket. It fits tight over a puffy down jacket. The raglan-style sleeves are extra long, so I could easily retract my hands into the sleeves for extra warmth. The tail is dropped 4 inches to provide good coverage over the butt. Articulation is very good; when I raise my arms the sleeves pull back to my wrists, and when I cross my arms I do not feel any binding in the shoulders.

The front water-resistant zipper is a little stiff, but operates smoothly without catching. The side pockets are high and angled and have an 8-inch water-resistant zipper. They are deep and roomy (almost 12 inches high on the inside) and I found them very handy for stowing bulky gloves when I took them off, or for stowing a variety of items to keep them handy. I loved the high location of the side pockets, where a backpack hipbelt does not interfere with them. I also found the inside zippered mesh pocket very handy for stowing valuables or drying out gloves.

The Drillium’s hood is helmet-compatible and has a wire brim and three drawcord adjustors. For someone who will wear the jacket with a helmet, it is well-designed and very useful. For me, the oversize hood with three adjustments and stow-away collar are overkill and extra weight. I am not a fan of a wire-stiffened brim on a storm shell, and find it an annoyance to straighten out the wire brim every time I pulled the jacket out of a pack. Once the drawcord adjustors on the hood are set, they can be kept that way, so the hood doesn’t have to be adjusted every time. One advantage of a helmet-compatible hood (when not wearing a helmet) is that you can lift the hood on and off with the front zipper fully zipped. When the hood is not needed or desired, the jacket has a Velcro-secured pocket in the collar for stowing it. Tip: when packing the jacket, it helps to fold the hood into the stow-away collar to avoid bending the wire brim out of shape.

The Drillium is unquestionably waterproof, wind-resistant, and highly breathable. I wore the jacket on snowy days and rainy days and stayed completely dry. In a cold wind, I found the jacket most comfortable with a baselayer and thin fleece top under it while hiking.

When you carry an eVENT jacket, you may not need to carry a windshirt. The Drillium Jacket works better in the wind than many windshirts on the market. The eVENT jacket breathed extremely well and allowed me to stay cool and comfortable while hiking. In variable weather conditions, I found I could leave the Drillium eVENT jacket on much longer than other jackets due to its broader comfort range. However, it’s not a silver bullet – when I hike uphill carrying a pack, especially in the sun, I eventually start to sweat too much, and the jacket has to come off. The front zipper helps to regulate temperature somewhat, but no jacket can help you ventilate your back when you are wearing a backpack.

I didnt’ like the jacket’s rubber tab and Velcro cuff adjustors. Although an effort was made to minimize the problem, the Velcro still catches on other fabrics when stuffing a sleeping bag or packing a backpack. I avoided the problem (and fabric damage) by turning the cuffs over when stuffing other gear.

It should be noted that eVENT requires similar maintenance to Gore-Tex, which means it needs to be kept clean for the ePTFE membrane to function properly, and the surface DWR coating must be restored occasionally so the jacket repels water.

Assessment

I really like the Drillium’s fit, especially its long sleeves and dropped tail. The body has ample room for layering over a thin or medium thickness insulation layer, but is tight over thick insulation unless you oversize accordingly.

If you will be wearing a helmet when using the Drillium jacket, the helmet-compatible hood is a necessary feature. If not, the oversize hood is unnecessary excess and bother. Since I do not participate in any helmet sports, I prefer the simple hood design of the Integral Designs eVENT rain Jacket and wear it over a billed cap to keep my glasses dry. However, the body length is too short, and it also doesn’t have the high side pockets of the Drillium. But it weighs 2.7 ounces less and costs $55 less than the Drillium.

The body length of the Integral Designs eVENT Thru Hiker Jacket is 3 inches longer than the eVENT Rain Jacket, the hood is compatible with a low profile helmet, and it costs $15 less than the Drillium. However, for the same weight, the Drillium has two large side pockets while the Thru Hiker Jacket has one large Napoleon style pocket.

The Drillium has a similar feature set and weight as the Montane Quick-Fire Jacket, and costs about $70 less.

It would be nice if Rab would offer a version of the Drillium with a simple hood for backpackers and leaving the remainder of the jacket alone. The weight savings from simplifying the hood and dropping the stow-away feature, in combination with the jacket’s longer body length and high pockets would make it nearly perfect.

Overall, I found the Rab Drillium Jacket to be one of the most versatile jackets I have used. It’s much more than a rain jacket. It also doubles as a windshirt and an outer shell layer over an insulating jacket in camp.

What’s Unique

The Drillium Jacket is exceptionally well designed and constructed to take full advantage of its eVENT fabric. Every feature is carefully selected and designed.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Offer this jacket with a simple lightweight hood for backpackers
• Use water-resistant zippers that slide easier
• Re-design the side pocket zippers so they don’t catch on the storm flap
• Re-design the cuff closures so the Velcro doesn’t catch on other fabrics
• Use an even lighter weight of eVENT fabric to make the jacket lighter

Introduction

The Black Diamond Mega Light Pyramid tent is a floorless, single pole, non-freestanding shelter. Providing enough room for four adults at a weight of 7.35 ounces per person (including stakes and trekking pole connector), the Mega Light is lighter per person than most silnylon tarps, and offers better weather protection thanks to fully protected sides. I tested the Mega Light with and without the separate Black Diamond Mega Bug liner while backpacking with my two daughters in 2006 and 2007. Rather than review these two items as a single shelter, the bulk of the article focuses on the Mega Light. Most lightweight backpackers will prefer this shelter by itself, so the overweight Mega Bug inner tent is discussed separately at the end of this review.

What’s Good

• Very light weight per person of 7.35 ounces (Mega Light, stakes, and trekking pole connector, the minimum setup with supplied accessories)
• Excellent headroom in the center
• Full perimeter venting
• No-see-um lined top vent (allows an easy modification for full bug protection for do-it-yourselfers)
• Quick setup using supplied carbon pole or trekking pole adapter
• That colorful circus tent flair!

What’s Not So Good

• Lacks full bug protection without the 2 lb 10.2 oz Black Diamond Mega Bug or a do-it-yourself modification
• Large footprint requires adequate space to set up
• Not free-standing
• Non-adjustable tie-outs require repositioning stakes to tauten pitch
• Optional bug liner is heavy (the good news…it’s not really necessary)

Specifications

Performance

Pyramid tents have always been a favorite of mine for backpacking with my family because of their enormous space to weight ratio. I have used pyramids from Dana Design and GoLite, and finally made one out of 1.1 ounce silnylon. The Black Diamond Mega Light is an excellent, lightweight pyramid option, weighing 1 pound 13.4 ounces (with trekking pole adapter and 8 stakes).

The Black Diamond Mega Light is fairly quick and easy to set up. Step one, stake the four corners (with the door shut), keeping the shelter as square as possible. Step two, insert the single center pole inside and adjust the pole’s height until the pitch is taut. Step three, stake the four side midpoints tightly, and readjust the center pole if necessary.

This shelter requires a relatively large footprint. I have had to pitch it with a small bush or large rock on the inside because the campsite was too small, a work-around that won’t work with four adult occupants. Also, pyramids require stakes for support, and rocky or shallow ground can sometimes compromise the pitch. It can be necessary to tie onto large rocks or the base of a nearby tree to augment poor staking conditions.

Getting the shape square is more important than you might think. Shy of square, the shelter looses significant headroom along the closer corners. More often than not, you will need to adjust a few of the stakes after setup to square the pitch. Other pyramids I have used have adjustable ladder locks on every tie out for this purpose. The Mega Light lacks this feature, presumably to save weight, and setup is a bit more involved as a result, especially in rocky or shallow soils.

The Mega Light’s 1.3 ounce silnylon stretches some during the night. Because the adjustable center pole is on the inside, it’s an easy stay-in-your-sleeping-bag maneuver to tauten the pitch by slightly raising the pole.

The “center pole” can be any number of long items, including the supplied carbon pole, two connected trekking poles, a long stick found in the woods, or a kayak paddle. You can also suspend the Mega Light by running a cord from the webbing loop in the apex to a horizontal tree branch overhead (the location on the branch where the cording attaches must be directly over the apex to attain a taut pitch).

Black Diamond includes an 18 millimeter diameter, four-section carbon fiber pole with the Mega Light. Their carbon pole is super stiff (the same diameter as a Leki trekking pole top section) for only an 11 ounce penalty.

If you are accustomed to carrying trekking poles, you can leave the supplied carbon pole at home. Black Diamond includes a fabric and webbing trekking pole adapter (1.0 ounces) to join two trekking poles together into one long pole. The adapter has two “bags” on either end of a webbing strap. Your trekking pole grips fit into these “bags” such that they overlap each other and are secured together with integrated Velcro straps.

You can take the supplied carbon pole apart combine them with your two adjustable trekking poles to create an excellent center pole. Black Diamond manufactured their carbon center pole using standard trekking pole tubing sizes. With a 16mm inside diameter, the carbon sections will fit over the middle section of most aluminum trekking poles. By removing the handle section of two trekking poles, the lower pole sections are inserted into the carbon piece (1.8 ounces) such that the carbide tips are pointing away from each other. Adjustability is handled by the trekking poles adjustable lower section.

If you have carbon poles, you might be able to construct a similar arrangement with the aluminum adjustable section from the supplied carbon pole (I shortened this section by 8 inches, saving 0.8 ounces). I own MSR Overland Carbon trekking poles that fit into this piece perfectly. Linking your trekking poles in this manner is stiffer than using the supplied fabric trekking pole adapter, but not as stiff as using the dedicated carbon center pole.

Black Diamond constructed the Mega Light out of 1.3 ounce/square yard silicone impregnated nylon. The eight grosgrain tie outs points are reinforced with a double layer of silnylon along the tent body’s edge. The inside top of the apex is reinforced with nylon webbing and nylon packcloth. This prevents the center pole from shredding the lightweight silnylon. For ventilation, there is a single no-see-um backed mesh vent at the top of the main zipper (more on ventilation and bug protection to follow). The seams must be sealed for the shelter to be waterproof; allow several hours for this task as there are a lot of seams on this shelter. The main front zipper is a YKK #5 double tab coil. The zipper is protected by a full-length storm flap. At the very bottom of the front opening, a side release buckle secures the storm flap and prevents the zipper from self-opening in high winds.

The Mega Light held up well under heavy use over the 10-month testing period. I have used other 1.3-ounce silnylon pyramids over 5 or 6 years without degradation in the fabric’s water resistance or integrity.

Set up properly, pyramid tents are very stable in high winds, and the Black Diamond is no exception. Wind stability is enhanced because the pyramid’s shape leaves very little surface area up high where wind can have the most leverage on a shelter. Pyramids also have a wide stance, and when staked properly, are very stable shelters. However, unlike free-standing shelters, pyramids rely heavily on stake placement for tautness and stability. When backpacking in sandy bottom canyons or rocky areas, I found it sometimes frustrating to achieve a solid anchor. It was necessary to dig down past the loose sandy surface or use rocks to anchor some of the corners in a few cases. Since the Mega Light has eight tie outs it remained stable even if one or two were poorly secured, though this could cause problems in very high winds.

The Mega Light has full perimeter ground-level ventilation and a top roof vent above the door. The top vent is held open by a thin wire sewn into the vent’s rim, and can be “shut” by folding the wire in towards the shelter. We never experienced any serious condensation problems using the Mega Light. Occasionally we would notice slight moisture on the inside of the shelter walls in the morning, but never enough to drip or otherwise wet our gear significantly.

The vent is backed with no-see-um mesh, allowing you to pitch the tent closer to the ground in buggy conditions by staking directly to the grosgrain tie outs rather than the nylon cord extensions. The tie outs will not allow the Mega Light to pitch flush against the ground. Some insects can find their way in. However, the mesh-backed top vent makes it easy to convert the Mega Light to full-bug protection. Following this review, I intend to sew a 15-inch high piece of no-see-um netting around the perimeter. This will be a simple and inexpensive modification that will not add excessive weight.

Black Diamond Mega Bug (optional bug liner for the Mega Light)

For full bug protection, Black Diamond offers the Mega Bug to convert the Mega Light into a more typical double wall tent with floor and full bug lining. The Mega Bug was designed to work flawlessly with the Mega Light and Mega Mid shelters, and while it is a perfect fit, it unfortunately adds 2 pounds 8.5 ounces to the total weight and brings the minimum trail weight to 4 pounds 5.9 ounces or 1 pound 1.5 ounces per person. This minimum trail weight per person is comparable to that of a Tarptent Squall 2, assuming full occupancy. The added cost of purchasing the Mega Bug (Mega Light + Mega Bug = $459.90) is roughly equivalent to purchasing two, 2-person Squall 2s ($450).

Setup is slightly more complicated when using the Mega Bug. I found it easiest to stake out the Mega Light canopy, raise the canopy with the Mega Bug in position (by matching the apexes), and then attach the Mega Bug’s shock corded tie outs to the previously positioned Mega Light stakes. It was more difficult to achieve proper tension on the Mega Light when staking and raising the Mega Bug first.

The Mega Bug is overkill. A better add-on product would be a no-see-um mesh skirt with an attached floor that attaches to the perimeter of the Mega Light with Velcro. In this way it would convert the Mega Light into a fully enclosed single-walled shelter with all the protection of the Mega Bug without the weight. In its current configuration, most lightweight backpackers will choose the leave the Mega Bug in the store, opting instead to alter the pitch or sew mesh onto the perimeter to ward off insects.

What’s Unique

Two things make the Black Diamond Mega Light unique. It has a mesh-backed top vent, which allows you to pitch the shelter against the ground to limit bug entry. It also comes with a very nice, 11-ounce carbon fiber center pole, a lighter option than that offered by competitors.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Mega Light is a very well designed lightweight pyramid shelter. I would recommend changing a few small details to bring this shelter to perfection. Black Diamond should add adjustability to the tie outs, especially the corners, using very small webbing or even smaller cord-style ladder locks. The cost could be reduced by offering the carbon center pole as an additional option. Ultralight backpackers accustomed to carrying trekking poles are more likely to use the trekking pole adapter to save weight. The side-release buckle at the bottom of the zipper should be replaced with a smaller 1/4-inch buckle to reduce weight as well.

The fully enclosed Mega Bug is overkill. Instead, Black Diamond could reduce the Mega Bug down to a 15-inch high bug netting skirt and a waterproof floor that attaches with Velcro to the bottom perimeter of the Mega Light, offering much lighter weight and cost. This would have much greater appeal to lightweight backpackers looking for the greatest function to weight ratio.

Introduction

The Atlas BC24, a new snowshoe for winter 2006-2007, is designed for climbing, making it perfect for mountaineers, snowboarders or backcountry skiers. It’s 24 inches long for better maneuverability but has the surface area of a 25 inch snowshoe. It has the most aggressive crampon system I have ever seen and it has a superb binding that lays flat for easier packing. What is there not to like about the BC24

What’s Good

• Extremely aggressive crampon system
• Outstanding binding – easy to put on, and lays flat for packing
• Sturdy construction
• Spring-loaded suspension and binding provide perfect tracking
• Heel lift for steady climbs
• Excellent traction and lateral stability

What’s Not So Good

• Heavy (4.2 pounds per pair) for a snowshoe that will be carried on a pack much of the time
• Not enough flotation for soft snow
• Crampons ice up badly in wet snow

Specifications

Performance

The Atlas BC24 is designed for a specific purpose – climbing. They are targeted at users whose end goal is snowboarding, backcountry skiing or mountaineering. However, they are also recommended for general backcountry snow travel. The BC24 excels in many ways for these applications, but it also has a few drawbacks that will be mentioned later in the review.

The BC24 is very rugged and will take some hard use. The frame is 7075 aluminum alloy, one of the strongest available. The front and mid-sides are flattened to create a very stiff geometry. The brown anodized coating scratches fairly easily, so it’s not hard to accumulate a lot of visible scratches in the finish.

The decking is Atlas’s Duratek, which is a proprietary urethane-coated fabric claimed to have three times the abrasion resistance of Hypalon while weighing less. It has a fabric core, and is unquestionably durable.

I especially like the Summit binding on the BC24. It’s relatively simple, easy to put on and very secure. Its base is contoured to provide arch support. The snowshoes are clearly marked as left and right foot specific. There are two toe straps (many other snowshoe bindings use three) plus a heel strap, all made of durable urethane. They tighten very easily and hold tight using the tried and true hook-and-hole fastening system. The bindings lay flat, making it easier to attach the snowshoes to the outside of a backpack.

The crampons on the underside of the BC24 are plain wicked! They may be the most aggressive snowshoe crampons I have seen. The pivoting toe plate has seven 1-inch long claws on it. The crampons are shovel-like to get a good bite while climbing, and all are sharp. Under the heel there are more shovel-like crampons, and fore and aft of it are two sets of lateral crampons. The Atlas crampons beat anything offered on other snowshoes for reliable traction on wind-packed snow and ice.

Finally, the BC24 has Atlas’s Spring-Loaded Suspension, which is now standard on all Atlas snowshoes. This unique suspension/pivot system consists of a long pivot strap that connects to the aft end of the binding above the frame, wraps around the frame, and then connects to the fore end of the binding below the frame (left photo above). It doesn’t put spring into your step, as the name implies. Rather, the design builds some torsion into the pivot strap and tilts the toe down, so the binding quickly aligns the snowshoe for each step. The result is consistent tracking and improved stability. The pivot strap/binding design also puts your foot closer to the front of the snowshoe for better articulation and climbing ability.

In Use

The Atlas BC24 does what it was designed to do – climb – very well. It excelled on firm cold snow, wind-packed snow, ice, steep slopes and side hills. The combination of a stiff frame, secure binding, aggressive crampons, and heel lift bar (when needed) allowed me to climb like a mountain goat in these snowshoes. Nothing else comes close.

Their limitations were more apparent in soft snow and wet snow. I used the BC24 for snow travel while carrying a backpack, and for winter camping. My weight plus the weight of my backpack can reach up to 200 pounds, so a “backcountry” snowshoe needs to have extra surface area to provide more flotation when I am carrying a backpack. Also, more flotation is required in soft untracked mountain snow. The BC24, with 24 inches of length and 173 square inches of surface area, simply does not have enough flotation for soft snow conditions. On many occasions I was sinking in a foot or more with the BC24, which makes breaking trail very laborious.

While the BC24’s aggressive crampon system delivered superb performance in firm cold snow, it turned into a weakness in warm wet snow conditions. When traveling from colder shade snow to wet sun snow, the crampons clogged up with ice and nearly doubled the weight of the snowshoe. I found myself frequently kicking the snowshoes against trees to clean the crampons out. Most snowshoes ice up, but the BC24 does it more because of its extensive crampon system. I like to spray the crampons with silicone to keep snow from sticking.

Assessment

The Atlas BC24 snowshoe is a standout if it exactly matches your needs and conditions – it’s a champ for climbing in firm cold snow conditions. For other applications and conditions – backcountry snow travel with or without a pack in soft or wet snow conditions – it’s a mixed bag. Its traction and stability are superb, but its flotation in soft snow is inadequate and it has a greater tendency to ice up in wet snow.

Another issue is weight – although the BC24 is very sturdy (a definite plus), it is also on the heavy side at 4.16 pounds per pair. A snowshoe that will be carried much of the time should be lighter. I would like to see a Backcountry 30 (30 inches long) with all of the BC24’s great features that weighs less than 4 pounds per pair.

For climbing in firmer cold snow I highly recommend the BC24, especially if your snowshoeing facilitates another snow activity. However, for mixed backcountry snow travel, including soft snow and carrying a backpack, I would recommend a lightweight 30 inch (or larger) snowshoe that provides better flotation.

What’s Unique

The Atlas BC24 has a superb binding and crampon system for exceptional stability and climbing ability.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Drop at least half a pound of weight per pair
• Increase the surface area for better flotation in soft snow
• Better yet, give us an “ultralight” version that is 30 inches long and weighs less than 4 pounds/pair

Introduction

The Montane Quick-Fire eVENT jacket is a just-right rain jacket. It offers full coverage with a wire brim hood, drop tail and effective seam taping. The use of very breathable eVENT fabric with dual venting chest pockets and open positions on the cuffs keep you dry during serious exertion. The 11.9 ounce weight (size large) is excellent, given the list of features.

What’s Good

• eVENT fabric is the most breathable waterproof/breathable fabric around
• Drop tail keeps you drier than short-cropped jackets
• Venting chest pockets and open cuff positions for extra ventilation
• Very effective hood
• Lightweight at 11.9 ounces
• Excellent fit and articulation

What’s Not So Good

• Hood securing system gets in the way
• Front storm flap with Velcro tabs aren’t as convenient as a waterproof zipper

Specifications

Performance

Rain jackets made from eVENT are the most breathable around. The fabric is so effective that pit zips or other forms of ventilation are rarely needed to keep you drier than with any other fabrics. Sure, there are lighter fabrics, but if you’re hiking in the all-day rain or wet snow that I regularly experience in the Washington Cascades, nothing beats an eVENT jacket. The Montane Quick-Fire is a fantastic example of a lightweight eVENT jacket that blends light weight with a feature set that doesn’t compromise usability.

The coverage and breathability of the Quick Fire is so good that I stayed dry in the wettest of conditions. When snowshoeing in very wet conditions, I was thoroughly impressed by how dry I remained. When mountain biking I usually either wear a water repellent windshirt and come home a bit wet or wear a jacket made of polyurethane-coated fabric and put up with sweatiness. With the Quick-Fire, though, I could wear the jacket continuously for long rides including highly aerobic uphills and descents through downpours and deep water crossings. This jacket kept me drier than any garment I’ve ever used. The Quick-Fire also excelled in normal hiking conditions.

One downside of eVENT is that it’s almost too breathable at times. When conditions are very cold, a Gore Tex jacket acts as a partial vapor barrier and keeps warm moist air closer to your skin. In these same conditions, eVENT’s extreme breathability can leave you feeling just a bit colder.

The lightest eVENT jacket in the Montane line (and one of the lightest hooded eVENT jackets on the market), the Quick-Fire is constructed of a 3-layer “Super Lightweight” version of the fabric. It has a roomy athletic cut – I could comfortably layer a puffy belay jacket underneath or wear the jacket over a thin base layer. It is cut short in the front and has a drop tail that is about 5.5 inches longer. A one-handed adjuster on either side seals the jacket at the hips. I found the jacket’s cut to be comfortable when belaying with a harness, leaning over when mountain biking, or wearing a pack when hiking.

I love the hood of the Quick-Fire. It has a broad wire brim that I found easy to adjust on the go and a Velcro tab in the back to raise or lower the brim. It even kept my big nose dry – rare in a hood! One-handed drawcord adjustments sealed the jacket against my face while a DWR “Beardguard” lining was comfortable against my chin without freezing up. The hood is large enough to wear over a climbing helmet but I found it to be a better fit when worn under the helmet.

One thing I didn’t like about the hood was the roll-up system. A long strip of fabric hangs inside the collar of the jacket, loops through a tab on the outside of the collar and secures with Velcro. While it keeps the hood nicely stashed, it doesn’t roll up the hood as tightly as some other systems I’ve seen and the long fabric strip often got in my way or flipped out of the jacket.

The front of the jacket closes with a 2-way zipper that can be opened at the top or bottom. A 1.5 inch storm flap protects the zipper and seals with Velcro tabs. I would have preferred a waterproof zipper to simplify the front closure but the system works just fine and provides an effective seal against the elements.

When extra ventilation is needed, but the front zipper can’t be opened, you have two options. One is to open the two vented chest pockets. These pockets are placed well above a waist belt, are large enough for a Nalgene water bottle and have waterproof zippers- they are the only pockets on the jacket. The other option is to open the cuffs and secure them at full open for extra ventilation in the arms. This solution is very effective as long as your hands aren’t elevated, as when using trekking poles or an ice axe.

In our 2005 Rainwear Review Summary the Integral Designs eVENT Rain Jacket earned the best score of all the rain jackets reviewed. I used this jacket for 2 years prior to getting the Montane Quick-Fire. While the Quick-Fire weighs about 2.5 ounces more than my Integral Designs jacket, I found the benefits of a full-coverage hood, longer cut, adjustable waist with drop tail, and extra storage and ventilation options more than outweighed the increase in weight. This is my new favorite rain jacket.

At around $330, the Montane Quick-Fire is $50 more than the full-length Integral Designs eVENT Thru Hiker. In addition, it is difficult to procure outside of the U.K. and Europe. However, if you can track one down, the attention to detail, overall quality, and features for the weight make the Quick-Fire a good value, even at that price.

What’s Unique

The Montane Quick-Fire eVENT jacket offers a great feature set and weighs less than 12 ounces. There are lighter rain jackets out there, but none that will keep you as dry in truly wet conditions. This jacket has an excellent performance-to-weight ratio.

Recommendations for Improvement

While the Quick-Fire is a great jacket, I would like to see the following improvements:

• Redesign the hood stow system to eliminate the long piece of fabric that gets in the way.
• Add a waterproof zipper to simplify the front closure and to reduce weight.
• Make the jacket available in the U.S for less than $300.

Introduction

When you get down to the basics of ultralight backpacking, it’s hard to beat a tarp’s versatility and ability to provide the most shelter for the weight. But many backpackers are concerned that a skimpy one-person tarp or poncho-tarp doesn’t provide enough shelter, especially in wind-driven rain. Enter the Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn. As the name implies, it’s a two-person tarp, but since it weighs only 8 ounces (2.2 ounces more than Gossamer Gear’s SpinnSolo tarp), even solo hikers can enjoy extra space at virtually no weight penalty. How well does that approach work in practice?

What’s Good

• Exceptionally well designed and constructed
• Very light weight
• Catenary ridgeline
• Easy, fast pitching
• Color-coded front and rear pullouts
• Unlimited flexibility for pitching
• Luxury room for one person, adequate room for two

What’s Not So Good

• No bug protection (unless you use a headnet or Gossamer Gear Bug Canopy)
• Little wind protection (unless you stake the rear or a side down)

Specifications

Performance

The Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn is one of only two two-person spinnaker cloth catenary tarps on the market (the other is the Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Duo that weighs 9.8 ounces and also costs $175). For its 8 ounce weight, it provides a whopping 47 square feet of protected area. The only thing that could beat it would be a cuben fiber tarp costing nearly twice as much.

The SpinnTwinn is constructed of 0.9 ounce/square yard spinnaker cloth. The particular spinnaker cloth used by Gossamer Gear has a high thread count and is silicone coated so it is completely waterproof. It is not quite as strong as silnylon, but does not stretch or sag as silnylon does. All tieout points are reinforced with 70 denier coated nylon ripstop. Spinnaker cloth is very “crinkly” compared to silnylon, so it can be noisy in the wind if it’s not tightly pitched.

Some hikers will have trouble deciding whether to purchase the Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn or the one-person SpinnSolo. The following table compares the two (based on manufacturer data).

Unless a person is strictly a solo hiker and a gram pincher it makes a lot of sense to choose the SpinnTwinn. It provides 70% more shelter for an additional 2.2 ounces, and the extra 14 inches of length is a meaningful improvement for taller hikers.

Although it’s not absolutely necessary, it’s a good idea to seam seal the ridgeline with diluted silicone. It also strengthens and protects the stitching.

Most hikers set the SpinnTwinn up using trekking poles. For hikers who do not use trekking poles, Gossamer Gear offers an aluminum pole set that weighs 3.3 ounces. The recommended front and rear heights are 45 inches and 32 inches respectively. However, the tarp can be set up higher or lower depending on trekking pole length and wind/weather conditions.

The total trail weight for the SpinnTwinn (including seam sealing, guylines, stakes, and carry sack) is 11.2 ounces.

Field Report

The SpinnTwinn can be pitched very quickly whether you use Gossamer Gear’s tarp poles, adjustable trekking poles, or fixed-length trekking poles. Detailed pitching instructions are provided with the tarp. It requires a minimum of eight stakes for a secure pitch. A tarp is extremely versatile and many different pitching styles are possible. For more detailed information on tarp setup and techniques, read Ryan Jordan’s article on Advanced Tarp Camping Techniques for Inclement Conditions.

A tarp doesn’t provide any bug protection, so a tarp works best where bugs are scarce. Alternatively, the user can wear a headnet or Gossamer Gear’s Bug Canopy. A standard tarp setup (open both ends) doesn’t provide much wind protection, but it’s easy to pin down the foot end or one side of the SpinnTwinn to block the wind.

The beauty of a tarp is that it provides lots of room and easy entrance and exit with a minimal weight penalty. This is especially true for a solo hiker using a light two-person tarp like the SpinnTwinn, and it is easy to get in and out. Because it is more ventilated than an enclosed shelter, a tarp is less prone to condensation than any other type of shelter. However, under the right conditions, even a tarp can develop condensation.

Assessment

The Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn tarp is an ultralight backpacker’s dream come true. With a trail weight of just 10.8 ounces the SpinnTwinn provides luxurious space for one person or adequate room for two people. A solo user will still have plenty of room even when the foot end or one side of the tarp is staked to the ground. This versatile tarp can provide shelter for up to two people and it can be used as a kitchen canopy in rainy weather.

Spinnaker fabric costs more. For comparison, a two-person Oware silnylon CatTarp weighs about 2.1 ounces more and costs $63 less, but it’s significally smaller than the SpinnTwinn. The SpinnTwinn is 1.4 ounces lighter than the Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Duo Tarp, and costs the same. The dimensions of the two tarps are very similar.

What’s Unique

The Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn is one of the only two-person catenary ridgeline spinnaker fabric tarps available at the present time. It is exceptionally well designed and constructed.

Recommendations for Improvement

None (which is rare for a Backpacking Light product review)

Introduction

I previously tested the Northern Lites Elite snowshoe and found it to be the lightest general purpose snowshoe around. It definitely matches our philosophy for lightweight backcountry travel. In this review, I take a look at the Northern Lites Backcountry snowshoe, which is basically the same design and construction but 5 inches longer and 1 inch wider. The difference is the intended use – traveling in soft snow while carrying a backpack and snow camping. How does the Backcountry compare with the Elite (and other snowshoes), and which is the best choice for different applications and conditions?

What’s Good

• Lightest backcountry snowshoes available, only 2.85 pounds per pair
• Excellent flotation
• Tracks well
• Very packable
• Lightweight aluminum alloy frame and crampons
• Strong, lightweight deck and binding
• Excellent balance of lightweight and durability
• Ideal snowshoe for snow travel with a backpack

What’s not so Good

• Less aggressive crampons provide less traction on steeper slopes, sidehills, and hard snow compared to other snowshoes
• Webbing heel strap is too short for easy tightening on larger boots

Specifications

Performance

While it’s readily apparent that the Northern Lites Backcountry (and Elite) are the lightest snowshoes around, weight isn’t everything. We evaluated their performance in comparison to other snowshoes in various applications and conditions. Also, it’s useful to evaluate the Backcountry in relation to its lighter and smaller brother, the Elite, and determine the ideal application for each.

The deck on the Backcountry is Coolthane (polyurethane coated nylon mesh), which is claimed to be 250% more abrasion resistant than Hypalon. It is also nice and light. In dozens of miles of testing, I was not able to damage this material.

The deck is attached to the frame using 21 toughened nylon clips. Each of these has a 0.25 inch protruding ridge on the underside that acts as a perimeter cleat for additional traction.

The binding on the Backcountry is simple and functional compared to the more elaborate bindings on other high-end snowshoes we have reviewed. The Elite’s binding is made of a heavier weight of the Coolthane decking material that is riveted directly to a flexible Biothane pivot strap. Biothane is basically nylon seatbelt webbing in a water resistant, toughened polyurethane shell. There are three hook-and-hole straps across the toe area, plus a webbing heel strap with a ladder-lock buckle.

This type of binding is similar to that found on other brands of snowshoes, and has been proven over time to be durable, secure and reliable. I would personally prefer another hook-and-hole strap around the heel rather than the webbing strap because it is easier to tighten and loosen. Also, three toe straps may be overkill, and a couple ounces might be saved by going to two straps instead of three.

The crampons are a hardened aluminum alloy with serrated edges that are cut at about a 45 degree angle. The toe crampon is attached to the pivot strap, and the heel crampon is attached to the decking below the heel plate. Each crampon has a plastic “de-icing pad” on it, which resisted icing to a large extent, but still iced up in contrasting sun snow/shade snow conditions.

In Use

The most notable difference with the Backcountry snowshoe is their flotation. It was wonderful to travel through soft snow and only sink in 6 to 8 inches, compared to a foot or more with shorter snowshoes. That benefit was especially appreciated when carrying a backpack. The actual gain in surface area compared to the Elite is 35% (222 square inches compared to 164, manufacturer specification), which is not a huge difference, but the difference in flotation is very noticeable.

In my climbing tests, I found the Backcountry has “adequate” uphill traction under most snow conditions. It works best in hilly, more gentle terrain. In soft snow, the usual technique is to switchback up steeper hills, so the crampon area doesn’t make much difference. But the limitations of the Backcountry’s minimal crampons are more noticeable on steep hills with firm snow, sidehills, and ice. Because of the minimal size of the crampons and their blunt teeth, the crampons simply do not bite and hold as well on steep slopes and on hard icy snow as other snowshoes we tested that had sharp stainless steel teeth and lateral crampons. The crampons on the Backcountry (and Elite) are simply not that aggressive, making these snowshoes less suited for mountaineering or activities that require serious hill climbing (like snowboarding or backcountry skiing). However, the aluminum alloy crampons held up well, showing little wear after several months of testing.

For downhill walking on firm snow, I found the longer Backcountry snowshoe more prone to toboggan than shorter and toothier snowshoes. I was able to adjust to this easily, and it helped to position my weight more forward and avoid leaning back. However, the sliding is an annoyance, especially while carrying a backpack.

On sidehills, the Backcountry’s performance was average. Lacking lateral crampons, they broke loose and slid sideways more easily.

The Northern Lites Backcountry snowshoes are also very packable. The bindings lay flat, making the shoes easy to strap to a backpack, and the extra weight is much less noticeable than other snowshoes weighing nearly twice as much.

Assessment

The Northern Lites Backcountry snowshoe is an effective balance of light weight, durability, and performance. Their extra surface area provides significantly more flotation in soft snow, especially when breaking trail or carrying a backpack. For travel in softer snow I recommend getting the Backcountry rather than the Elite. The Backcountry weighs 7.3 ounces more, but the difference in flotation is remarkable, and worth the extra weight. By keeping the snowshoes on top of the snow, the Backcountry’s actually save effort so you can move faster and longer. For snowshoeing on more gentle terrain in firmer snow or on packed trails, the Elite is the snowshoe of choice.

These are not mountaineering snowshoes. The crampon system on the Backcountry (and Elite) is minimal and not very aggressive, so these snowshoes do not bite and hold very well in steep or icy conditions compared to other snowshoes with stainless steel teeth and lateral crampons. For those conditions I recommend a toothier snowshoe like the Atlas BC24 and MSR Lightning Ascent. Most of the time the crampons on the Northern Lites Backcountry are “adequate”, but it’s important to recognize their limitations.

For general snowshoeing in mixed terrain, especially in soft snow, the Northern Lites Backcountry really shines. They are perfect for lightweight snow travel carrying a backpack.

What’s Unique

The Northern Lites Backcountry (and other Northern Lites models) are the only truly ultralight snowshoes on the market. They are durable and perform well in a variety of snow conditions and terrains.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Although the aluminum alloy crampons seem to be fairly durable, they are not particularly sharp and provide sub-standard traction on hard snow and steeper slopes. Northern Lites should either redesign the aluminum crampon to be more aggressive or replace them with sharp titanium crampons. Also, the heel crampon could be longer to act more like a lateral crampon.
• Eliminate one toe strap to save some weight.

Introduction

Adapt All-Terrain Gear is a new startup company. Their first offering is the Bison carbon fiber pole, which weighs 3.9 ounces/pole and costs only $72. The weight is miniscule and the price is a super value, but how do these poles perform and hold up under rough field use?

What’s Good

• At 3.9 ounces per pole, they are some of the lightest trekking poles available
• Choice of three different EVA foam grips
• Very quiet on the trail
• A super value at $72/pair

What’s Not So Good

• Moderate stiffness may not be enough for heavyweight hikers
• Longer lengths (over 47.5 inches) have a slight wobble in the handle
• No wrist straps
• No baskets available

Specifications

Performance

The Adapt Gear Bison poles are the frugal ultralighter’s delight in that what you see is what you get – a shaft, grip, and tip. They’re simple, light, strong and cheap, with no wrist strap or basket.

At 3.9 ounces/pole, the Bison is the third lightest pole we have tested. Only the Gossamer Gear Lightrek pole (2.8 ounces/pole) and Titanium Goat poles (3.1 ounces/pole) are lighter.

So how strong and durable are they, and how do they perform in the field? I will get to that a little later in the review, but first let’s take a closer look at the Bison poles.

The shaft tapers from about 9/16 inch at the grip to 5/16 inch at the tip. The taper gives the poles a fair amount of flex. I performed a stiffness test by bridging a pole between two chairs and suspending a backpack weighing 25 pounds from the middle of the pole, then measuring the amount they bent from horizontal. They bent 3.5 inches, which is quite a bit compared to 2 inches of measured flex for the Life-Link Superlight, 1 inch measured by Carol Crooker for the Komperdell Featherlight Carbon, and 1.5 inches for many aluminum alloy poles.

I used the Bison poles a total of 27 days in my testing and encountered all sorts of terrain including packed snow, solid rock, sand, scree and brush – you name it. I am very pleased with their performance. Yes, they are a little more flexible than other carbon fiber poles, but they are not limp or fragile by any means. Even when I put all my weight on them, as when stepping off of ledges or jumping over streams, I had no concern about breaking the poles.

The surefire way to break a pole is to get it wedged in a crack and then lean on it. I wedged the Bison poles in cracks many times and often accidentally put some leverage on them and they survived just fine. They won’t break easily, though all trekking poles will break if you put enough leverage on them (and the lack of baskets makes this more likely). People who weigh more or carry a heavy pack may want to get a stiffer pole with less taper near the tips to avoid any breakage problems.

The longer length Bison poles (more than 47.5 inches) have a sleeve and shaft extension within the grip, which unfortunately gave them a slight wobble. The first poles I tested had this arrangement, and it didn’t bother me and didn’t fail. Adapt Gear is working to develop a more solid extension, which should be in place when this review is published. Shorter poles do not require the extension and will not have this problem.

The Bison poles do not have any wrist cord or strap. While some hikers prefer straps, I personally don’t miss them at all. A wrist strap can lead to pole breakage when a pole gets wedged or the hiker takes a fall. For a carbon fiber pole of miniscule weight I don’t see a need for a wrist strap, except in some scrambling situations where if you drop a pole, you lose it.

The suitability of a fixed-length trekking pole as a shelter support depends on the pole length and shelter design. Most single wall shelters and tarps require a pole from 42-49 inches, although most shelters can be pitched higher if you insert the pole before staking out the shelter. Effective pole length can also be adjusted by either putting a rock under the handle to raise it or (more commonly) digging a hole or angling the pole to lower it.

These poles are also noticeably quiet on the trail. Unlike the Titanium Goat poles I recently reviewed, whose hollow tubes resonated with every step, the Bison poles give a quiet “chunk” as the tips hit the dirt, no “clank”. One thing I did miss at times is a small trekking basket to keep the poles from sinking very far into sand. Actually trekking baskets are a mixed bag because they tend to fill up with mud and get heavy, requiring constant bumping to clean them out. That aside, the lack of basket options definitely limits their use in snow.

Overall, I found the Adapt Gear Bison poles to be a solid performer and adequately stiff and strong to take hard use in the field.

What’s Unique

The Adapt Gear Bison pole is a “Best Buy” among carbon fiber trekking poles. It’s light, strong, durable, and costs only $72 per pair.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Offer a lightweight wrist cord for users who want it
• Offer trekking and snow baskets

Introduction

Mountainsmith’s PCT 45 backpack is a smaller volume cousin to their AT 55 backpack and part of their Treklite series (the CDT 45 – a backpack designed for women – is also in this series). It’s a feature-rich backpack designed to carry good-sized heavy loads. With the CDT 45, Mountainsmith has tried to craft a pack that will suit the needs of both on-trail and off-trail users who need to carry high density/low volume loads. Perhaps they have also attempted to fill the perceived needs of too many groups of consumers. In trying to be a backpack for too many types it has missed the mark in some areas, but for many this may well be a very valuable backpack.

What’s Good

• Comfortable fit
• Good weight transfer to the hipbelt
• Side pockets are accessible even when wearing the backpack
• Tough body construction

What’s Not So Good

• Top pocket is small and does not function well as a fanny pack
• Without proper adjustment of the top pocket the main compartment can become quite exposed to the elements
• Hip stabilizing straps add little benefit
• The pouches on the hipbelt are very small and for most will be of little use
• Front pocket is only truly secure when the top compression strap is very tight

Specifications

^*NOTE: the kilogram values cited for the manufacturer’s specifications come from their website and do not match the pounds/ounces measurement they cite. However, the kilogram value does come closer to the BackpackingLight measurement for the regular sized backpack.

Performance

This backpack follows traditional top-loading design trends featuring a main pack-bag, a top lid that can be removed and used as a fanny pack, two side pockets, and a modest front pocket suitable for storing a rain jacket or small tarp. There are also two very small pouches on the hipbelt that are just large enough to hold a snack apiece or a cell phone. While many readers may find these small pouches of use I do not because they are so small.

The two external side pockets can easily hold 1-liter water bottles. The front pocket is capable of storing a moderate amount of gear such as a rain jacket or small tarp. I do not believe it would serve well as a drying pocket since, like the side pockets, it is solid 210 denier nylon. While all the external pockets are slightly stretchy they do not self-seal. While this is not such a concern for the side pockets if you plan to put water bottles in them it can be an issue with the front pocket even when you cinch it closed with the top compression strap. While I never lost anything from the pocket I would like it to seal more snugly against the body of the backpack across the entire width of the top elastic of the pocket.

The PCT 45’s top lid is not very large. It is designed to be removed and used as a summit or fanny pack. However, given its small size I do not think it serves this function that well. The straps used to secure the top lid to your waist are slender and so the weight distribution combined with overall stability are only average. I feel that his attempt to make the top pocket multi-functional was not successful. The backpack would be far better served with a more functional single-purpose top pocket.

This is one of the most comfortable backpacks I have worn. Mountainsmith sells two sizes of the pack: regular and large which cover a torso length fit range of 17 to 23 inches. I tested the size Regular and found it easy to dial in a perfect fit for my torso length.

The rest of PCT 45’s Load Dispersion Technology Suspension consists of a dual density molded foam framesheet and angled aluminum stays that connect to the load lifter straps and hipbelt. The suspension is flexible enough that the pack moves well with my body without becoming a floppy encumbrance. The load lifter straps do a very respectable job of bringing the backpack close to my body when the weight being carried is high. However, the hipbelt stabilizer straps (not to be confused with the heavy straps that secure the hipbelt) seem to have only a minimal effect on the overall feel of the backpack – bottom sway was not affected much whether they were used or not. I could not detect a difference with these straps in use or hanging loose even when carrying a 38 pound load on a day hike.

The backpack features four side compression straps and a top compression strap. While they provide some load control by tightening up the sides of the main pack bag, their overall effectiveness is not spectacular. The top compression strap does a fair job of controlling the top portion of the pack bag and since it must be tightened down to secure the top of the front pocket, I can always count on the upper portion of the main compartment to be fairly stable. Given the nature of this backpack, this is an area that I believe could be greatly enhanced. With a modest re-design of the compression straps and quick-release buckles, a straightjacket compression system – straps that span the entire width of the pack bag – could be made. This would give users much greater control over how they compress the main pack bag. Furthermore, a straightjacket compression system would let users effectively secure large items like snowshoes to the front of the backpack increasing the pack’s utility as a winter backpack.

What’s Unique

The suspension is easily capable of carrying loads that would be generally carried in a much larger volume backpack.

Recommendations for Improvement

• The hipbelt load stabilizers seem to accomplish little even with heavy loads which causes me to question their usefulness.
• Re-design the top lid to be somewhat larger and just serve as a standard floating top lid.
• I personally found the hipbelt pouches of little use and feel the pack would be better served if they were either eliminated or significantly enlarged. Their limited volume outweighs their usefulness.
• Re-design the compression straps from the basic side compression to a full straightjacket compression system. A partial solution would be to reverse the position of the female buckles. But a more complete solution could give the backpack a full straightjacket compression without compromising side compression options if that is all that is required.