Will Rietveld
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Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2015 Wrap-Up
A summary review of new gear, trends, and news from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2015.
Berghaus Vapourlight Hypertherm FZ Jacket Review
The Vapourlight Hypertherm Jacket is an incredibly versatile jacket which can be worn in reverse to accommodate multiple weather conditions. It is ideal for a hiker who wants to leverage one piece of gear.
Montbell Down Hugger 900 #2 Sleeping Bag Review
Great water resistance, loft, and warmth makes the Montbell Hugger an ideal sleeping bag.
REI Dash 2 (2-Person, Double Wall) Tent Review
A lightweight, high performance tent great for ultralight backpackers looking for more comfort in the wilderness - most notably couples.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Shelter Review
With room for sleeping and gear storage as well as a durable construction that can handle a range of weather conditions, the HMG UltaMid is an ideal shelter for lightweight backcountry travel.
MontBell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket Review
Although certainly a very dependable jacket, the Plasma seems to be more of a technology statement rather than a high-value jacket.
Ultralight Gaiters: State of the Market Report 2013
Balancing weight and durability, ultralight gaiters are crucial to keeping your feet dry and free from debris.
Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Part 4b: Gear Reviews (Continued)
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.
Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Part 4a: Gear Reviews
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.
Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 3: M-SUL Base Weight Gear Lists
Gear lists that demonstrate how easy it is to “make weight” for M-SUL and at the same time have all the shelter, insulation, and rain protection you need to stay dry, warm, and comfortable in the high country.
Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 2C: Selecting the Lightest, Most Functional Gear – Cooking, Water, Trekking Poles, and Accessories
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.
Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 2B: Selecting the Lightest, Most Functional Gear – Rainwear, Insulation, Headwear, Handwear, and Footwear
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.
Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 2A: Selecting the Lightest, Most Functional Gear – Backpack, Shelter, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.
Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking – Going SUL in the Mountains with Adequate Shelter, Insulation, and Rain Protection. Part 1: Concepts and Scope.
Adapting SUL for mountain conditions, where frequent weather extremes necessitate more capable gear.
Black Diamond Axiom 40 Backpack Review
A lightweight sub-3-pound internal frame backpack that’s well designed, durable, comfortable, and features freedom of movement innovations.
Montane Slipstream GL Jacket Review
A very lightweight hoodless windshirt utilizing Pertex’s newest lightest fabric – Quantum GL. In addition to his thorough evaluation, Will includes a discussion of the versatility of a windshirt.
Nemo Obi Elite 1P Tent Review
Nemo becomes a serious player in the ultralight tent category. The Obi Elite 1P is a cutting edge one-person double-wall tent that matches the weight and roominess of many single-wall tents.
MSR Lightning Flash Snowshoe Review
If unlimited traction is what you want in a snowshoe, the Lightning Flash delivers; it can rightfully lay claim to the title of lightest high-traction snowshoe available.
Field Testing Air Permeable Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies Part 3: Discussion, Conclusions, and Performance of Individual Jackets
In this final part of the series we assemble the information gleaned from our field testing into an informative discussion with down to earth conclusions. We also present field test data for each individual jacket, comment on its utility, and identify standouts.
Field Testing Air Permeable Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies – Part 2: Are There Detectable Differences Under Real World Backpacking Conditions?
Manufacturers make lofty claims for the enhanced breathability of the new fabrics. I tested ten jackets under challenging and forgiving backpacking-type conditions, while recording temperature and humidity inside and outside the jackets, and reported my findings. Perhaps I didn’t experience “air and water vapor permeability so shocking you’ll swear it's magic,” but I did identify some standouts and some promising trends of interest to backpackers.
