Carol Crooker
I live and do a lot of my backpacking in the desert, but I LOVE the mountains of the west! I also get out to the east coast occasionally to backpack.
Latest
Gossamer Gear Polycryo Ground Cloth SPOTLITE REVIEW
Ultralight and ultra-tough, a ground cloth for the masses with a weight that appeals to the fringe.
Notes from the Field: Arizona Canyoneering, SuperUltraLight Style
Field notes on perspectives from the field, with commentary on gear and technique in the canyons of the desert southwest.
PHOTO ESSAY: Navajo Canyon, Arizona
BPL Staffers enjoy a rare opportunity to explore Arizona's Navajo Canyon.
Can A Sane Person Truly Enjoy SuperUltralight Backpacking?
SUL for the masses? Perspectives on comfortable gear - with a suggested gear checklist - for a non-technical canyoneering backpacking trip requiring less than five pounds of gear on your back.
Leki Ultralite Ti COR-TEC Trekking Poles REVIEW
Product performance review of the Leki Ultralite Ti COR-TEC Trekking Poles, lightweight poles for backpacking.
Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner REVIEW
Product performance review of the Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner, a lightweight alcohol stove for backpacking.
Isis Maia Pants REVIEW
Product performance review of the women specific Isis Maia convertible pants.
Meridian Design AquaStar Portable UV-C Water Purifier First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Ultraviolet irradiation has been used for some time in industrial and home water purification systems, but is new to the portable arena. Meridian Design introduces a portable UV-C purifier that...
Icebreaker and Ibex Superfine Wool Crews First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Icebreaker figures they’ve pretty much got their Superfine190 (190 g/m2) long sleeve crew design dialed in. I agree (see my 2004 Staff Pick)! This spring they bring out a limited...
Gregory G Pack First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Gregory has revamped their G Pack for 2005. It is slightly smaller, fabric durability has been improved, the front mesh pocket is now segmented, and a new Wraptor stabilizer has...
Fisher Space Pen The Stowaway First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
For those of you who thought the Inka pen (Day 1 dispatch) was too heavy at 0.6 ounces, how about the Stowaway at 0.2 ounces! It uses the same pressurized...
NEOS Villager Overshoes First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
NEOS Villager overshoes (the colorful ones) and Trekker overshoes (the tall ones) NEOS makes overshoes that fit over trail runners, boots, and even street shoes. The overshoes are waterproof to...
TeaTech XtraGreen Tea First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Backpacking friendly individual serving packs of instant green tea – what a concept. The buzz on green tea is that it’s “good for you.” It has antioxidants that are more...
Wild Things Update: Primalight Jacket, Belay Jacket, and EP Hooded Jacket First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Wild Things has a new 1.8 oz/yd2 PL1 insulated jacket, the Primalight. It weighs 14.6 ounces with a full front zip and zip pockets. The large size fit our tall,...
Snow Peak Cozy for Ti Mugs First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
Snow Peak released a prototype neoprene cozy for their titanium mugs. The cozy is as yet unnamed – they’re having a naming contest with a $500 prize. Since there was...
The Travel Hammock Ultralight Hammock First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
The Ultralight hammock is light and cheap – great to satisfy your curiosity about hammock camping. The combination of weight (10 ounces), price ($19.99), and length (9 feet) is hard...
Inka Extreme Conditions Pen First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
If the Inka pen has not won a design award, it will. It is a marvel of precision-engineering and attention to detail, and it weighs 0.6 ounces! Its approximately 3-inch...
Smartwool Microweight Crew First Look (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005)
New for Fall ’05, Smartwool extends its Microweight line to offer a long sleeve crew top, just what many of us have been waiting for. Wool offers superb temperature regulation,...
MEC Northern Lite Pullover and Vest REVIEW
Overview Ice Age Trail: Alan wearing the Northern Lite vest on a crisp morning. The elastic arm openings help seal in warmth. In our opinion, the Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC)...
Backpacking Food List: Protein-Powered Food for Sustained Energy
Looking to boost energy while keeping the weight down? Try this protein-powered food list for backpacking.
