Your Best Gear of 2010

Soft shell pants!

Cocoon Ultralight Air-Core Pillow

Leatherman Style CS scissor-oriented multi-tool

Osprey Exos pack

1.) TT Moment- survived numerous drenchings in the California desert of the PCT, and for that, I thank it!

2.) GG mariposa- super light and I personally found it very comfortable unless I had 7 days of food in it with a bear box. I'd say it was still comfortable, but a little achy towards the end of the day with 20+ pounds on the back.

3.) GoLite UL 20 quilt- considering I only just recieved the quilt yesterday, I'd still like to say it looks and feels great and can't wait to use it!

4.) Cat food can stove- I realize that it is hand made, but it has saved me numerous ounces by switching out the heavy gas stove. It has yet to fail and not cook my food. Thumbs up!

Pack: MLD "super" Burn
Shelter: MLD SoloMid (custom 1.5 black cuben)
Bivy: MLD Alpine Bivy (custom full 3L eVent)
Quilt: nunatak arc Alpinist
Clothing: Houdini

2011 will be exciting with new MLD,HMG and Katabatic gear on order now.

1. MLD Burn (and most things made by MLD)
2. BPL Firelite 550 SUL- over 2 cups capacity and (minus the lid) weighs less than a trapper's mug.
3. My grizzly and black dubbed woolly worm

definitely seeing some items that are making several folks top picks- neo air, goose feet booties, MB exlite, MLD Burn- some others I'm sure

1. MLD Burn
2. MLD solomid
3. WM Versalite. FIrst WM and liked it so much I bought a Ultralite.

i have only used it once, to me its like a feature-rich Ion.
Burn baby burn!

MLD Burn makes my short list… but makes a list nonetheless! I have nothing but positive things to say about that pack, Ron nailed it with that little ruck. Same pack, different gear, different users, but definitely a winner amongst this group.

Mike … im noticing thats its the more unique items … Nobody does an exl other than mb yet … And the burn looks unique

or the product is just that good ;)

^ that's true- I'd say the most often cited picks are indeed unique, that no one else is doing (yet anyways); unique but obviously very functional too!

every time I eye the Burn, my Ion gives me a dirty look :)

Not trying to pad the stats, but:
1. MLD Burn
2. Neoair
3. Easton stakes

Looking foward to trying out my new MLD solomid, MLD superlight bivy, and NB MT101's

1: Small micron wool base layers- The rest of my base clothing has caught up to wool socks for me- I've been converting all my base layers to wool over the last year. T Shirts – Zip Hoodies- Mid wt Zip T Necks- etc. Wool Baby Wool!

2: Cuben Fiber- Any Thang Cuben- Smooth Green Colored Cuben- Oh So Strong Cuben- The Olive Green Cuben SoloMid is my most used shelter on solo trips. Oh Cuben, My Cuben…BOMB

3: It's cliche- but – the iPod shuffle 3rd Gen- the tiny tiny one- 20gms with headphones. It got me through many many long training hikes, road and trail runs including the Blue Ridge Marathon- the toughest city road 26.2 marathon in the country. My key training tool for any endurance event including backpacking.

4: Montrail Sabino Trail : It's fits my 12.5 wide fore foot and hugs my reg width mid foot and heel.

2011 is gonna be even better!!!

Headed out for a hike to a frozen waterfall right NOW!

I bought so much stuff this year, and I regret none of the purchases thanks to insight from all of who contribute here.

1) Katabatic Sawatch – Made the switch to a quilt and love it.
2)Kookabay 24 x 60 custom – so comfy.
3) Steripen Opti – Water never tasted so good. Was a iodine user before.
4) Icebreaker clothing – the purge of synthetics will continue into 2011.
5)GG The one, Mariposa plus and LT4's – Great tent. Great pack. Great sticks.

For 2011: More wool, and just ordered a Marmot Mica. And most importantly a promise to myself to work less, and get out and use my stuff and enjoy creation more.

This morning I was poking around the BPL reader reviews and noticed three things. First, there are several items that I really like that I hadn't posted reviews on. Second, that there were several items which have been mentioned often on this site that no one had posted a review of, and finally, that over time, my experiences have changed how I would rate some things. So I have taken a bit of time to update some of my reviews and add a few.

I would encourage everyone who added something to this thread to take a few minutes and update the BPL review. Crowd sourcing works best when there is an easy way for people to see what people like. Read through this thread is fun for us and can be helpful, but if the 5+ people who said they loved their MLD Burn took the time to add to it's reader review, it would be much more noticeable for people who use the BPL user reviews to find items they might want to consider using. Right now there is just a single review of the Burn, and no reviews of the SoloMid, Rab Alpine Pull-on, etc.

–Mark

"definitely seeing some items that are making several folks top picks- neo air, goose feet booties, MB exlite, MLD Burn- some others I'm sure"

Yep, Katabatic Quilts, KookaBay, and SMD goods (especially the Swift) too.

I was fortunate enough to access BPL before I bought 90% of my gear.

Definite winners.

1. Merino Wool (icebreaker)

I really really like the thinner baselayer stuff. Uber-comfortable when sweating, worn when drying, sleeping in.

2. Nesco 75pr Dehydrator.

Chunky beef stew, w/carrots, potatoes and instant rice for breakfast. Hearty food at a fraction the weight and perfect for a lazy person who doesn't particularly like cooking. Crock pot or can opener + dehydrator = easy.

3. Down wear

EB Downlight Sweater

Despite being in between sizes and the small being a little tight under the armpits and the stomach bellowing out a bit, once used in the field I didn't notice this nitpicks I thought would annoy me at all. Very warm and toasty, great to sleep in. Glad I kept one. For $50, gotta be near the top of list for value alone.

Montbell Ex-Light Navy Blue.

Haven't had a chance to use it camping yet, but I've been wearing it around town everyday since I got it. Like the look, and it will be perfect for summer camping at 5.6 oz, simplifying, far less bulk, weight (no brainer).

4. Tarptent DB and Zpacks Hexamid Solo Tent.

I'm very very happy with my tent choices. Joe Valesko is awesome to deal with.

5. Driducks Ultralite 2

Only used once, so the jury is still out, but it's looking pretty good. I think I've managed to save about 10 oz for most of the camping I'm likely to be doing.

6. Eagle Claw Telescopic/Pfluegger President spin setup.

Stoked.

______________________________________________________

Honorable Mention for my fit/body type.

6. MLD Burn and NB 101.

I love the look, feel and design/functionality of the Burn. The craftsmanship is first rate, the mesh pockets perform perfectly, the extension collar/roll top enclosure, buckles, straps are smooth as butter.

The NB 101s are extremely comfortable and I feel like I'm into parkour wearing them. Very light, and the soles seem like rocks would be no problem, yet flexible.

However, not sure if I got the fit just right for both products, but that's more me than the products.

____________________________________________________

2011.

8. Montbell UL Spiral #3.

Just got it Dec 31. Haven't actually used it yet, but I think I found a winner. The regular fits me perfect, nice fabric (feels more cotton-like than nylon) and rolling around in it fully cinched with only my mouth exposed, I can't believe how comfortable it is. The loft is excellent on mine.

9. Kookabay Pad, Tigoat Poles on order, thinking of Caldera Keg. Though I really don't need this stuff because what I have is perfectly functional and reliable, it's a lot of weight saved.

Thanks BPL. Happy New Year everyone.

1. Icebreaker layers = AWESOME

2. Mont-Bell Thermawrap Jacket = Great for mild temps and travelling

3. Tarptent Moment

Possible gear to try for 2010: trying out tarps (Gatewood cape?), lighter boots (Inov8), more cottage gear manufactured here in the U.S.A., the quest for my ultimate 40-60L lightweight internal frame pack.

1. NeoAir. I spent months on this thing this year. My favorite pad of all time.

2. Tarptent Moment. Great solo tent. Thinking about moving to less shelter for some trips, but for a full-on tent, it's a winner. Used almost as often as my NeoAir, this is a piece of gear that I trust to get me through anything. Used in the hot humidity, torrential downpours, some hail and freezing rain as well as some snow. Performed wonderfully every time.

3. Stoic (formerly "BackCountry") wool. Sorry Icebreaker fans, my Stoic is about 40% of the price and just as comfy. Not available in as light of weights, but Stoic has become my go-to for all but the hottest summer days.

For me??

Nemo Go Go Bivy-I absoulutely love this. More of a tent than a bivy, but roomy nonetheless
ULA CDT-I have owned a few ULA's and this one is my favorite!
Soto Cannister stove-awesome cannister stove for times that I go without a alcohol stove!

My first year with a full time wage, so I went a bit nuts.

1.) Zpacks hexamid + Bear Paw bug net – So huge yet so light

2.) WM Highlight (long) – I have been wanting this bag for many years and it did not disappoint

3.) Aarn Marathon Magic 55 – I went from a GG Mariposa to this baby and couldn't be happier, definately worth the extra weight.

Other Contenders
*Anything on the Zpacks website – carabiners, line locks, light load towels, Ti Pegs
*Calderra Cone – Everybody already knows about this one
*Rab Momentum – Nice, light and simple eVent Jacket
*Golite tumalu pants – same as above but in pertex
*MB down parka and pants – lovely
*Goose feet socks – As above
*Neoair (large) – when it isn't punctured
* Zebralight H51 – would have definately been up there if it had not have crapped itself on my last hike after only a couple of uses

Here's mine:

1- OR Tremor pants- tough, comfy and big vents. winter armor

2- Marmot wrist gaiters and Smartwool arm warmers. Makes changing from l/s to s/s take 10 seconds and I don't have to stop. Wrist gaiters seemed frivolous but I am really surprised at how warm they keep my hands. I went from numb to warm in about 10 min with no gloves- just wrist gaiters.

3- Gregory z35- Yeah, yeah… this is BPL, I know… I need a solid frame for my back. Gregory fits me perfectly. Perfect volume for me. Big trip? -tent on the outside= plenty of room. Day hike? -compression is good= no floppy loads (except my gut)

4- OR cadet style hat. Bill is short and folds for fitting into a pocket.

My top three for 2010 wold be:

Kifaru Sawtooth Tipi, not ultralight but the best combination of usable space/weight in a heated shelter that will withstand about any weather.

Kifaru Ultra Light 5200 pack. I was lucky enough to get to use one of the final prototypes for several months. For a hunting pack I found it ideal. It carried 87 lbs with ease (the most weight I have had in it). That was an entier boned out sheep and my camp. It has everything I need and nothing extra.

Inov-8 RocLite 400's. These are the mid cut version of Ryan's pick. They are a great shoe/boot. I have been using Inov-8's for quite a few years and like them more all the time.

#1 The BPL site

I first have to say how glad I am to have found this site and to have benefited from the wealth of knowledge so many of you have shared with me. The shared research, incites and reviews have helped me tremendously as I try to refine my various systems.

#2 I know this may sound weird, but my health/fitness. It has only been the last two years that I've been able to hike for the first time in a long time due to a series of serious knee injuries and an ankle break. I have lost 30 pounds and my love of the great outdoors has been re-ignited with a vengeance. I have a ways to go but did complete a 17 mile mountain hike/climb this summer that I never would have dreamed of attempted just two short years ago. I'm pumped about about adding snowshoeing to keep it up this winter.

#3 Wool
This ain't your scratchy Grandma's wool baby!I have a bit of an aversion to synthetics next to my skin so the super soft, warm and washable technical wools are a godsend. I regularly use wool baselayers, hoodies, socks, hats, etc. I'm even wearing (and loving) Ininji wool toe socks after being recommended by a friend. TSA got a kick out of them when I recently went through airport security.

#4 FF Down Booties with shell
I haven't gotten to use these out in the field yet but have worn them around the house and I can't wait to take them camping.

#5 EB Ascent Down Vest
I picked this up from the Gear Swap and have barely taken it off. It was the old model and was leaking more than I liked. I took it to a EB store while traveling and they exchanged it without hesitation even though I told them I hadn't purchased it from their store. Way to go EB for raising the bar on your products and standing behind them.

#5 JRB Stealth Down Quilt
My first quilt and a great summer quilt for SE AK where I live. I've even used it with some extra layers down to around freezing and slept like a baby. It is lightweight, warm and not too big and not too small.

#5 MSR Overland Carbon trekking poles.
While not the lightest around, these poles have helped me log a ton of miles in beautiful SE AK on terrain I wouldn't have imagined getting to experience due to old injuries.

Honorable mentions only because I haven't gotten the chance to use them: MLD SoloMid and Spirit quilt, Bushbuddy (I don't count making tea at home because it is so fun to use), Backcountry Boiler (still in production but the BB got me hooked on wood burners and I'm a gear junky and wanted to support Devin's efforts), 40 Below Overboots,and a bunch of other stuff too numerous to mention.

Happy New Year to all.

Oh I forgot to mention my Alpacka packraft! I've only taken it out on some alpine lakes and bounced along the ocean shore but it is soooo cool. I can't wait to get out more on it this summer…

Mark, I agree that we should be posting reviews in Reader Reviews. However, in my case, I haven't been able to give the items enough of a test yet to justify a review. I suppose I could reproduce the thank-you-note I wrote to my son #1 and his wife about the Smartwool liner gloves they got me for Christmas, but (having been laid up with a nasty cold) I haven't even worn them outdoors yet! The Goose Feet have been on one overnight camping trip and I've been wearing them around the house during the current cold spell. My Montbell Ex-Lite Down Jacket has been on a number of dayhikes but I've only actually worn it once! I suspect that others may have the same issue.

I've read several reader reviews on BPL that said something like the following: "I recently took my new XXX tent on an overnight trip to XXX. The weather was beautiful, no rain or wind. This is an awesome tent!" No way will I write a report like that! If I haven't used an item extensively in a variety of nasty conditions, I won't review it!

I've had several pieces of gear that I liked for the first several months and then discovered shortcomings–enough to make me sell or return them–after more extensive use. Look for reader reviews of my 2010 "best gear" late in 2011!

> Mark, I agree that we should be posting reviews in Reader Reviews.
> However, in my case, I haven't been able to give the items enough
> of a test yet to justify a review…. Look for reader reviews of my
> 2010 "best gear" late in 2011!

Makes perfect sense. The majority of items I posted in this thread I have been using for several years… but they are still my best gear in 2010. I didn't stop to think that many of the items in the list might be so new enough that people haven't been able to fully assess them yet. Now that you said that, it makes perfect sense. I look forward to your, and other people's reviews in the coming year.

–Mark