Gear

Frameless Backpacks: Engineering Analysis of the Load Carrying Performance of Selected Lightweight Packs

Gear Testing & Research November 16, 2003 Introduction The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the load carrying performance of several frameless packs available to the ultralight backpacking community. Frameless backpacks tested in this...

Quantitative Analysis of Backpack Suspension Performance

Gear Testing & Research October 17, 2003 This content is for members only

Oware Alphamid

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Overview As the name implies, the Oware Alphamid is based on a pyramid...

Granite Gear White Lightnin’ Tarp (8×10)

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Also available in 10×10 and 10×12 sizes In the field, using 8 tie-out...

Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 Overview The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the floorless shelters for lightweight backpackers. Herein, we review products from GoLite, Integral Designs, TarpTent, Oware, Granite Gear,...

GoLite Lair 1 Shelter REVIEW

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003

The GoLite Lair 1 Shelter offers more weather protection than a tarp without a dramatic weight penalty. At less than 12 oz, the Lair 1 is ideally suited for solo travel in areas where ventilation is important but the chance for rain is very real.

Integral Designs Silshelter

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Overview At only 12.9 ounces, the Integral Designs Sil Shelter provides the lightest...

Integral Designs Sil Poncho

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Overview Are you looking for a truly ultralight, minimalist solution for shelter and...

Merino Wool Shirts

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003

A review of lightweight long sleeve merino wool shirts from Smartwool, Ibex, Icebreaker, Merino Skins, and WhisperWarm.

Campmor (Equinox) Silnylon Poncho-Tarp

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Campmor’s "Ultralite Poncho/Tarps" and Equinox’s "Ultralite Poncho" are one in the same. Order...

Oware Tapered Catenary Tarp (6×8)

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Photo: Oware’s 6×8 Cat Tarp: The trim size and catenary cut ridgeline make...

TarpTent Virga, TarpTent Squall, and TarpTent Cloudburst

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003

Henry Shires' TarpTents, including the solo Virga, the dual-person Squall, and the dual-person Cloudburst, offer simple setup and excellent stability in a package suitable for those who just aren't quite ready to migrate to an open tarp yet.

Oware Flat Tarps (6×8, 8×10, 10×10)

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Photo: An Oware 10×10 ft tarp setup for an incoming mountain thunderstorm: Pitch...

Campmor (Equinox) Silnylon Tarps

Gear Reviews September 29, 2003 See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Configurations Reviewed: 6′ x 8′, 8′ x 10′ Photo Caption: Campmor/Equinox’s Ultralight Backpacking...

Pertex Shield Raises Ante in DWR Finishes for Soft Shell Garments

Gear Reviews August 7, 2003 Woven soft shell fabrics such as microfiber polyester and ultralight ripstop nylons suffer from poor DWR finishes that make their utility in the rain very limited. Perseverance Mills of the...

Revisiting Wind Shirts

Gear Reviews August 6, 2003 Revisiting Wind Shirts: Breaking the 3 oz Barrier When we last reviewed wind shirts in “Windshirt Wars”, the lightest fabrics were 1.4 to 1.1 oz/sq.yd. nylons and the lightest hoodless...

Marmot Precip vs. Cloudveil Drizzle: Raingear for Lightweight Backpacking

Gear Reviews August 4, 2003 Introduction It seems like all major manufacturers have an “ultralight” rain jacket in their line. The problem, however, is that all is not what it seems to be…ultralight often results...

Gerber Sports Saw

Gear Reviews July 10, 2003 Editor’s Note: This product is described only for your information. It has not been submitted for review and thus, has not undergone our normal testing procedures. The lightest Sven saws...

Cloudveil Prospector Jackets

Gear Reviews July 2, 2003 Introduction We like softshell garments. You know that. They are superbly breathable and offer a wider range of comfort than traditional hardshell clothing. Stretchwoven softshells, in particular, with their trim...

Feathered Friends EPIC Jackorak

Gear Reviews July 2, 2003 Imagine this. A highly water resistant, hooded wind and shower shell sized large enough for layering and to cover your butt with a full-length zipper, massive mesh-vented torso pockets, and...