Introduction
Each year, our staff selects their favorite backcountry gear from the past 12 months, and we look forward to you sharing your favorite gear of the year as well in the forum comments below!
Table of Contents • Note: if this is a members-only article, some sections may only be available to Premium or Unlimited Members.
- Introduction
- Our Staff
- Shelters and Sleep Systems
- Packing
- Clothing
- Feathered Friends EOS Down Vest
- Enlightened Equipment Torrid APEX Jacket
- Patagonia Nanopuff Pants
- Patagonia Down Sweater Vest
- Minus 33 Woolverino Micro 1/4 Zip Hoodie
- Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0 Rain Jacket
- Janji Groundwork Tight
- RBH Designs Vapor Mitt
- Rab Expedition Slipper
- Outdoor Research Radar Cap
- Dirty Girl Gaiters
- GoLite Wisp Jacket
- Montbell Rain Umbrero
- Cooking and Hydration
- Footwear
- Accessories
- BioLite HeadLamp 200
- SOLO Patient Assessment Bandana
- Kala Waterman Ukulele
- Frontiersman Bear Moose Horn
- Klymit V Seat
- pStyle
- Gossamer Gear LT5 Trekking Poles
- Klymit Cush Seat
- Road ID Sidekick ID for Fitbit + Garmin
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear Face Mask
- Gossen Metrawatt MetraHit 29S Power Meter and Thermoworks ThermaQ2 4-Channel Thermocouple Meter
- Airplane Mode
- How About You?
Our Staff
This year’s Staff Picks contributors are:
Shelters and Sleep Systems
Seek Outside Eolus Tent
I’ve been waiting a long time for a legitimately stormworthy, trekking pole tent that doesn’t rely on zippers as they’ve been the Achilles heel of most tents I’ve used in the desert southwest. The Seek Outside Eolus, which weighs about 3 lb with guylines and stakes, has been my primary two-person tent this year. It’s not as light as some other ultralight tents out there, but it makes up for it with its reasonable price, roomy nest, giant vestibules, overall reliability, and storm worthiness. – Ben Kilbourne
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Tent
My tent is my baby and humble abode! The amount of space, good ventilation and inner pockets make this my favorite gear pick. – Shilletha Curtis
Nemo Dagger 3P Tent
When sharing a tent with Ryan, I really appreciated the dual side doors so I could have my own entrance. Steep walls and lots of headroom help prevent claustrophobia, my least favorite thing about most backpacking tents. Easy setup, stable in wind, lots of gear organization options, room for the dog, and a bright cheery color. – Stephanie Jordan
MSR Pro Bivy Sack
Having used an eVENT bivy sack with a DCF floor and a stiffened brim from a cottage manufacturer for several years, I spent 2020 reducing my pack size, and wanted a bivy sack that was more compact. I chose the MSR Pro Bivy because its dimensions are wide enough to accommodate my winter sleep system – a foam pad, a 3-inch-thick wide inflatable pad, and a lofty winter sleeping bag. – Ryan Jordan
Feathered Friends Lark 10 UL Sleeping Bag
In my quest to find a cold-weather down mummy bag that was roomy enough to layer a winter down parka and pants, windproof enough to sleep under a tarp without a bivy sack, and light and compact enough to feel like a 3-season bag rather than a winter bag, I’ve returned to my trusty Feathered Friends Lark 10 UL. At 31 oz, when combined with down puffy clothes, it’s my bag of choice for all but the most frigid 4-season conditions in the Rockies. – Ryan Jordan
Nunatak Doggy Down Bag
Keeps me warm when my master gets a wild hair to do some tent testing. Has a sleeve for my pad so I don’t fall off. This is a custom item, so be nice to Jan if you want one. Don’t worry, they’all gotta soft spot for canines. Start your email with “hey Jan, my dog has been shiverin’ and I need some help…” Works every time. – Sierra
Packing
ULA Circuit Backpack
The ULA Circuit is awesome, lightweight and durable. I love how light the pack is and how you can remove pieces like the aluminum stay in make it lighter. It carries well and the hip pockets are solid. – Shilletha Curtis
Rogue Panda Zoro Backpack
Rogue Panda is known for bike bags. The Zoro is the first commercially available backpacking pack created by Rogue Panda founder Nick Smolinske, and features a few innovations that really caught my eye. The floating hip-belt and innovative horizontal water bottle pockets particularly stood out. The pack is undergoing re-design, and isn’t currently available, but I highly recommend it as a load-hauling pack when it comes back on the market. – Andrew Marshall
Mountain Smith Tour and Day Lumbar Packs
I do day hikes. I don’t like a sweaty back while hiking. Even in the winter, I don’t need much gear with me. The answer: a lumbar pack. Light weight, adequate capacity and all weight is off my shoulders and back. The Day Pack has enough room for my extra winter needs. Now, for you backpackers, if you follow all the tips found on BPL, the lumbar pack will probably keep you out in the wilderness for weeks on end! – Stephen Seeber
Zpacks Pack Liner Dry Bag
Because most packs I’ve used are not completely waterproof, I used to pack everything in individual dry bags or one big trash compactor bag, but this year I found a better way. The Zpacks Packliner Dry Bag has kept my gear completely dry on many trips including repeated full pack submersions in the Verde River and 48 hours of solid rain in the Mazatzal Mountains this Spring. Made of 1.0oz DCF and weighing only 1.8oz, this 44L dry bag has become an indispensable piece of gear for me this year. – Ben Kilbourne
Clothing
Feathered Friends EOS Down Vest
The vest version of the classic Feathered Friends jacket. This vest packs a lot of warmth and space-saving minimalism into seven ounces. It’s now my insulation of choice to ward off a chill at high elevations in the summer, and it works just as well as a shoulder-season layer in more temperate climates. – Andrew Marshall
Enlightened Equipment Torrid APEX Jacket
I’ve never used a synthetic-fill jacket before, and now I’ll never go back. The Torrid APEX weighs less than 8 ounces and is as warm as any of my down backpacking jackets. Since it’s synthetic, I actually wear this as a hiking layer when it gets cold, and I don’t feel gross or clammy like I would if I hiked in down. This jacket goes on every backpacking trip with me. – Maggie Slepian
Patagonia Nanopuff Pants
I was a bit hesitant to bring something so heavy when doing winter xc-ski touring, but these pants have been great to toss on over what I skied in when I get to camp and don’t want to get chilled before changing into dry layers. I don’t have to worry about the insulation absorbing moisture, since they’re synthetic, and the durability is a major plus. The zipper and pockets also had functionality that would’ve been lost with some of the lightweight down pants — going to the bathroom in the winter is enough of a chore already, without having to complicate things further by not having a zipper! – Mark Wetherington
Patagonia Down Sweater Vest
Lightweight, windproof, and warm, I prefer pairing this with a fleece jacket (vs. a single puffy layer) for warmth during summer and early fall trips. – Chase Jordan
Minus 33 Woolverino Micro 1/4 Zip Hoodie
Down provides more warmth per ounce, but merino provides more comfort. The Woolverino hoodie checks all my boxes: hoodie to warm my neck and ears, thumb loops to cover my wrists, 1/4 zip to vent heat when hiking. Most important, it turns a cold, wet, blustery evening into a spa day. Well, not quite, but it is a difference-maker. – Drew Smith
Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0 Rain Jacket
This is a quality product by Helly Hanson that is totally windproof and waterproof. It’s a nice single outer layer that is easily packable and extremely lightweight. Quite fashionable on top of its great functionality! – Daniel Hu
Janji Groundwork Tight
I took a risk and wore these out of the box on a 200+ mile thru-hike this year, and they were superb. They sit high so they don’t slide down while hiking (a near-constant issue for me with hiking tights), but the waistband is so wide and flat that they don’t feel restrictive or uncomfortable. They have a flatlock inseam which meant zero chafing, and after 12 days of continuous wear, they kept their shape and never sagged or stretched. They’re light, breathable, and wicking, and I’m going to get a pair in every color. – Maggie Slepian
RBH Designs Vapor Mitt
I have poor hand circulation and suffer in the cold. I have used heated gloves for several years. Each glove, with an extra battery weighs 15.85 ounces! Almost two pounds! And they are not that warm because the liner seams and outer glove seams line up and create a miserable thermal short circuit. During high winds I must also wear a windproof shell. Each Vapor Mitt, with the highest available insulation weighs 4.5 ounces. 9 ounces for the pair. I have used them in single digits with high winds and my hands have been happy. They offer pretty good dexterity for such a warm mitten. – Stephen Seeber
Rab Expedition Slipper
When I received my Rab Expedition Slippers in the mail, my invoice had a handwritten note at the bottom which read: “now your feet will never be cold!” How right the sales associate was! In my pursuit of a lighter sleep system, in a cold weather climate, the Rab Expedition Slipper bridged the weight and temperature gap between carrying a shoulder season rated quilt all year, and using a lighter, down summer quilt. – Emylene VanderVelden
Outdoor Research Radar Cap
The Radar line stands above the rest of nylon caps and hats for me due to the breathability of its softshell material. I have been using the same cap for the last few years and it is still my favorite, most used piece of headwear. I do not know of any other manufacturer that offers softshell headwear. The folding brim of the cap is also extremely practical as well. – Iago Vazquez
Dirty Girl Gaiters
After switching from boots to trail runners, emptying dirt and debris became an hourly chore. Many had praised Dirty Girls, but I was skeptical, worried about overheating my already-sweaty feet. Finally ponied up and bought a pair more than a decade ago. Now I won’t hike or backpack without them, and I can wear thinner socks without stuff digging into my feet. Too many patterns to choose from; choose your size wisely. 45 grams for the pair in my size. – Rex Sanders
GoLite Wisp Jacket
Sadly, the Wisp is no longer in production. We will throw one of these windshirts over the top of our Taslan smocks when it gets a bit cool and windy. As they weigh no more than 90 g each, and they block the wind very well, they are usually to be found in our packs. But I am sure there are many other brands available. – Roger Caffin
Montbell Rain Umbrero
For windless precipitation, I love to pair the Montbell Rain Umbrero with other pieces of headwear under it, most often a mesh trucker hat or cycling cap. I can easily control the ventilation/warmth and I do not need to wear my raingear hood. The thin flexible wire allows it to fold and store easily, but it also makes it unusable in anything but light winds. – Iago Vazquez
Cooking and Hydration
Vargo Ti Bot 700
The Vargo TiBot 700 mL pot embodies the multi-use principle of lightweight backpacking. I have used it as a cooking pot, coffee mug, a small bowl, an auxiliary water bottle for long carries, a rehydration bottle when I’ve run out of fuel, a water scoop at desert seeps. It stores a canister and small stove when not being put to any of these other uses. – Drew Smith
GSI Ultralight Java Drip
In our article, How to Make Coffee in the Backcountry: Gear and Methods, I gathered all of the coffee making methods I amassed over the years and the GSI Ultralight Java Drip stands out from the rest. I take the GSI Ultralight Java Drip on almost every trip and regret not taking it if I don’t. – Emylene VanderVelden
MSR Titan Fork and Spoon
After breaking my trusty cut-down REI Permaware spoon on a trip several years ago, I went on a long search for the perfect titanium replacement, since I’m not a sporky guy. Most titanium spoons have an unpolished bowl that feels yucky in my mouth. Yes, I tried to polish one and failed after much swearing. Finally bought the MSR Titan Fork and Spoon set, and immediately ditched the wire keychain and fork. Plus the spoon doesn’t have any useless slots or holes to accumulate weird gunk. Eating bliss returned, should last my lifetime, and I can almost scare myself with the reflection. 17 grams. – Rex Sanders
DIY V4 Winter Stove
My latest DIY winter stove. At ~85 g, it is lighter than many upright stoves, but it works fine in the deeps of winter. – Roger Caffin
Good To-Go Packaged Meals
Cutting meat from your diet can be daunting for a backpacker, but Good To-Go gives you delicious, healthy food, energizing, and ethically-sourced food. The Mushroom Risotto might be my favorite. – Chase Jordan
Footwear
Altra Lone Peak 4.5 Trail Running Shoes
Finding a shoe that remains comfortable over the course of a long trip has for many years been an unsolvable problem for me making my purchase of the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 my single most important gear discovery this year. The latest iteration of the Lone Peak has a heel cup that is narrow enough for average feet, great traction, and a durable upper along with the characteristic foot-shaped toe box and zero-drop you’re already familiar with. I’ve put hundreds of miles on these and have experienced no knee pain or plantar tendon pain, things that previously plagued me on long backpacking trips before. – Ben Kilbourne
Hoka Speedgoat Trail Running Shoes
I added Hoka Speedgoats to my footwear arsenal a few years ago primarily as a recovery shoe to wear after long-mileage training days. Now, they’ve earned a spot in my backpacking routine when I’m hiking hardpacked trails. I also like them during the winter where the high stack height helps insulate my feet from the cold ground in my snowy home hiking areas. – Ryan Jordan
Injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew Socks (Women’s)
These Injinji socks prevent me from getting blisters and the taller cuff keeps junk out of my socks. I also like Injinji Liner Crew Socks in the winter, worn under a cushioned wool sock. – Stephanie Jordan
Accessories
BioLite HeadLamp 200
This is, in short, the most comfortable headlamp I’ve ever used. It isn’t the brightest, longest lasting, or lightest rechargeable headlamp on the market. But thoughtful engineering with an eye towards a seamless blend of hardware and software make it the most comfortable and most stable (no bounce) that I know of. Great for on-trail excursions and winter trips where you need to wear a headlamp around camp for long periods. – Andrew Marshall
SOLO Patient Assessment Bandana
Sure, I’ve had multiple Wilderness First Aid courses. But I am not at all confident that I would correctly follow protocols when faced with an actual incident. That’s what checklists are for. This bandana provides you with a memory aid so that you can focus on executing, not trying to recall what’s next. Plus, it is a bandana. – Drew Smith
Kala Waterman Ukulele
Recorded music blaring in the backcountry is always horrible and inappropriate. Live music, perhaps accompanied by a sip of whisky among friends, is a great way to make the wilderness feel like home. This plastic ukulele weighs only 14 oz, is nearly indestructible, and sounds surprisingly good. – Drew Smith
Frontiersman Bear Moose Horn
A dubious option for bears, we use this for moose instead. After several hostile moose encounters (including two charges) since we moved to Wyoming, I’ve come to realize that my hiking partner may be the moose whisperer. Since air horns are more effective moose deterrents than rubber bullets or pepper spray, we may never leave home again without it. I also appreciate the locking on/off button – at 115 decibels, you don’t want this to be accidentally discharged. – Stephanie Jordan
Klymit V Seat
The Klymit V Seat started as a joke about my bony butt needing cushioning after one too many complaints about sitting on hard wet stumps and rocks. However, the Klymit V Seat solved being uncomfortable, and it became a favorite winter backpacking item because I could use it as insulation between the toe of my quilt and the tent wall. The Klymit V Seat packs down small and compared to a chair, is a lightweight solution that has multi-purposes. – Emylene VanderVelden
pStyle
Peeing has become so much more efficient and safe with my pStyle. I love not having to squat or pull my pants down to pee! – Shilletha Curtis
Gossamer Gear LT5 Trekking Poles
Trekking poles are a must for me, and the LT5 are the lightest and most comfortable ones I’ve ever used. They collapse to just 60 centimeters, and have a wide range of length adjustment from the three-piece build. The shafts are a carbon construction that absorbs impact, the foam grips absorb sweat, and the straps are padded. They weigh under 10 ounces for the pair, and I feel like they “swing” lightly and easily on the trail. I will say that you have to be careful with these, as carbon poles can’t withstand hard lateral pressure. If you feel the pole get caught in a rock, stop and extract it straight up. I’ve snapped one of the shafts by trying to wrench it out from a rock at an angle. These are best for on-trail, not scree field expeditions. – Maggie Slepian
Klymit Cush Seat
I actually use the Klymit Cush as a pillow more than a seat. I sleep both on my back and on my side when on the ground. I need more pillow height when on my side and significantly less on my back. All I need to do is fold this thing twice and I have a tall pillow, unfold it and I have lower one. The end circles work great when folded and laying on one’s side as the ear goes inside the circle and it does not get pinched. Because of its length the Klymit Cush also works great to combat calf ridge in the hammock. And of course you can use it as a seat, something most pillow manufacturers warn you against. – Iago Vazquez
Road ID Sidekick ID for Fitbit + Garmin
After too many Type III adventures that ended in emergency rooms and hospitals, I bought one of these to slip over my ABC watchband. Shows a bunch of hopefully useful information if I’m incapacitated. Maybe it helped after my mountain-bike induced concussion this spring, but I don’t remember that day or the next two weeks. Be prepared and safe out there. Only 10 grams of worn weight, so it doesn’t count. – Rex Sanders
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Face Mask
While the COVID-19 experience of 2020 is something we won’t want to remember too vividly in the future, the reality is we are many months away from returning to normal and many of us may not have a vaccine before we begin our spring and summer treks. This will be a part of my kit for the foreseeable future on busy trails, and it’s something we all should consider to keep our trail mates and passerby safe. – Chase Jordan
Gossen Metrawatt MetraHit 29S Power Meter and Thermoworks ThermaQ2 4-Channel Thermocouple Meter
For the nerd on your list, nothing better to figure out what will keep you warm on the trail! – Stephen Seeber
Airplane Mode
It has been GREAT to turn my phone off or set it on airplane, even just on day hikes where I would usually have reception. As much as I appreciate gear, I am even more grateful for uninterrupted time in beautiful places and sometimes stepping away from technology is essential to achieve that! My apologies for this questionable staff pick, but it was really important to me and I think it’s always good to have a reminder that sometimes the best gift you can give yourself is some peace and quiet (so long as you don’t avoid urgent responsibilities). – Mark Wetherington
How About You?
What are your 3 favorite pieces of gear for 2020?
Let us know in the forum comments below!
DISCLOSURE (Updated April 9, 2024)
- Backpacking Light does not accept compensation or donated/discounted products in exchange for product mentions or placements in editorial coverage. Some (but not all) of the links in this review may be affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and visit one of our affiliate partners (usually a retailer site), and subsequently place an order with that retailer, we receive a commission on your entire order, which varies between 3% and 15% of the purchase price. Affiliate commissions represent less than 15% of Backpacking Light's gross revenue. More than 70% of our revenue comes from Membership Fees. So if you'd really like to support our work, don't buy gear you don't need - support our consumer advocacy work and become a Member instead. Learn more about affiliate commissions, influencer marketing, and our consumer advocacy work by reading our article Stop wasting money on gear.
Discussion
Become a member to post in the forums.
Backpacking Light staff and contributors offer up their favorite gear of 2020!
What’s yours?
Durstongear/Massdrop X-Mid 1p – I’ve been using this shelter since it came out in early 2019 and have been very impressed. It’s well thought out, easy to set up, roomy, and is a lot of tent for the price. One of the features I really love about this shelter is the fact that you can open both doors for cross ventilation – a feature not found on many solo tents, but quite useful here in the humid southeast. You can even have the doors open during non-windblown rain without getting water inside the inner net.
Patagonia Airshead Pullover – I’ve still been using my trusty 2011 Houdini for backpacking, but I bought an Airshead on clearance to use road and trail running and it has been fantastic. The fabric has a wonderfully soft, supple hand that is comfortable against the skin – more so than any other windshirt I’ve used, and it it’s just the right balance of windproofness and breathability. After years of feeling like there was no real replacement to my ’11 Houdini if something happened to it, I would be totally fine backpacking with a Airshead or Houdini Air.
Patagonia Sun Stretch Shirt – I’ve tried several button up hiking shirts for trips out west where I need bug and sun protection and after several years of using the REI Sahara, I finally broke down and bought a Patagonia Sun Stretch shirt from Worn-Wear – Patagonia’s online used clothing store. The shirt didn’t look like it had ever been worn to me, and if it was, it was cleaned and prepped as brand new. As with most Patagonia gear the quality and materials were excellent. It’s more breathable than most button up hiking shirts and with an at home Permethrin treatment still kept the early August bugs at bay. While I’ll continue to reach for my OR Echo shirts when bugs aren’t an issue, the Sun Stretch is the best shirt of it’s style that I’ve found. It also earns bonus points for looking good off the trail as well.
Fires and Covid made backpacking a bit difficult in the PNW in 2020, so I turned to overlanding and camping to get away from most civilization and into the woods. So my favorite gear for 2020 is car camping gear. My Kuma 19″ propane fire pit is a definite winner for cold nights when the sun goes down around 4 pm. I’d have been in my shelter by 5 pm without the fire pit, instead of drinking scotch (or tea) and chatting til after 9 pm.
Another favorite piece of gear is my 12’x20′ Oware tarp. It’s a great place to sit under with the fire pit to get out of any rain or snow falling. As with everything Dave makes, the craftsmanship was impeccable. Many ways to set it up, it serves its purpose extremely well. Here’s the tarp and stove in action.
My Dometic PLB40 battery is a great piece of kit. I’ve used it three times so far while overlanding/car camping, and it has lasted through the entire weekend (often Friday night to Monday morning) keeping my Dometic fridge running, and still had 50 percent or more battery left. Part of that, of course, is because I was using it in winter, I can’t wait to see how it does in warmer weather. It recharges quickly and holds a charge quite well. You can also use it to charge various devices via USB.
I’ll offer four instead of three, the fourth being my new Rav4 TRD Off-Road with a Front Runner Slimline II rack on top. The new Rav lets me go places I certainly couldn’t with my Elantra (or even my old Rav from 2015), and the Front Runner rack sits low enough that I can actually pack up the Rav in my garage instead of having to do it in the driveway. While it’s not a true 4WD, and nowhere near as off-road capable as a vehicle purpose-built for overlanding, it does get around 30 mpg. Hard to beat. (Thanks to Ian for the photo)
I have two and they are my Topo Athletic UltraVentures and their gaiters and my ZPack Arc Haul Zip. My new gear to try for 2021 is my new 2 person tent the X-Mid 2p.
Patagonia Thermal Weight Capilene Hoody. I will say the same thing this year I have for the last 10 years: best base for cool/cold weather outdoor activities with a HUGE range of comfort when paired with a wind shirt. Without wind protection the grid weave lets air flow through speeding the release of heat. With a shell it insulates well. Comfort down to 30F when running without a shell, below that with a shell. When walking around town keeps me comfortable down to 45F when combined with a wind shirt. I am reasonably comfortable engage in high energy activities when it’s 65F by fully opening the zipper and pushing the sleeves up to my elbows. Dries amazingly quickly and feels more comfortable than any other shirt I have used when it’s wet.
De Soto Mobius Tri Shorts. Until it’s below freezing my legs don’t need covering when I am moving. They are comfortable for all the activities I engage in, in a wide range of conditions. They have reduced issues with chaffing, dry fairly quickly, and are reasonably comfortable when wet. They have side pockets large enough to hold some nutrition and my phone so I don’t need to use a special cycling jersey or worry about hip strap hindering access. I never need to think about what shorts to wear for vigorous physical activities…. I just grab my pair of Tri Shorts.
My favorite gear for all of life
I second everything Mark said about the Patagonia Thermal Weight Capilene Hoody! Best mid-layer I ever bought.
Soto Windmaster stove paired with a Toaks 130 cm 900ml Ti pot. Boils 16 oz of water in less than 90 sec.
Zpacks Duplex. Going on 5 years and still love it every trip I take.
Nemo Tensor Insulated UL LW pad. A luxury I grant myself…replaced a LW Neoair…not going back. Pair with the Med UL Schnozzel doing double duty as pack liner.
Nitecore NU25. Just so light, bright and convenient.
DIY CF Trekking poles w/Gossamer Gear Kork-o-Lon handles. 4.3 oz each. Perfection.
Thanks for all of the recommendations! A few new products to me. My favorites:
Enlightened Equipment Torrid APEX Jacket which Melanie recommended above -my latest purchase, astoundingly light for its warmth and no sewn-through seams so it is the best at stopping wind. On the Oregon coast and in the Montana mountains, I like it! Synthetic fill means it is affordable also.
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20º quilt -I finally decided to try a quilt in place of a sleeping bag last year, and this was a revelation. About half the weight for the same warmth, and so easy to pack, much less bulk. The under-pad straps are super-functional and the zippered footbox opens to make a featherweight summer quilt.
BSR LPG gas stove, the tiniest thing and under $20. Weighs 25 grams! Everyone in my family owns one.
That photo doesn’t look like the southeast to me! :)
Yeah, that’s not the Southeast US, it’s Crabtree Lake #3 or Upper Crabtree Lake on the Southern Sierra High Route. Discovery Pinnacle -part of the Mt. Whitney ridge) is just out of frame on the left, and Crabtree Pass is the notch on the right. This lake is at 12,200ft.
Question regarding the nunatakusa dog sleeping pad. I am curious your thoughts on the sleeping pad you use and prefer when dealing with dogs and their claws. Thanks again.
1) Voormi Riverrun Hoody
Go every where, do everything. Superfine Merino with inner layer of high-performance wicking yarns. Super light, warm layer when hiking in cool conditions. Super light cool layer when hiking in hot conditions. Base layer, sun shirt, thermal etc, etc. Just brilliant!
2) Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles
Strong, light, comfortable and turns you into a mountain goat!
3) Xero Excursion Barefoot Hiking Boot
Super comfortable minimalist, zero drop barefoot boot with AMAZING grip, water resistant and tough. Feels like wearing slippers all day, but gets you through the most rugged terrain. Going minimalist/barefoot takes time to recondition your feet after wearing cast-like shoes for a lifetime, but once you get back to properly functioning cave-man (person?) feet, you’ll never want to go back…
Also: Injinji socks and Gossamer Gear Mariposa pack!
Rob – there’s a pad sleeve in the dog bag. I use a foam pad for her, so puncture isn’t an issue.
Brad, how does the Durston handle winds?
I’ve used it on two week long trips in the Sierra and a couple of weekends in the Appalachians but nothing with much wind. I’d really like to see mid panel tieouts, but I think it will do OK. This year it’ll get a workout in Wind River Range so it may get tested more there.
1) CMTs 3K poles. I’ve not personally broken any poles yet, and with these, they are light enough and are comfortable.
https://cascademountaintech.com/products/3k-carbon-fiber-hiking-trekking-poles-cork-grip
2) Merino Buff (a DHB product by Wiggle, not available anymore unfortunately) – this thing goes EVERYWHERE with me.
3) With the exception of one cold night, I’ve loved my uninsulated BA AXL mummy. It is light, it is thick (enough) and packs down so tiny.
I’ve seen the light with merino and am in process of switching out all my old SINthetic stinkfest baselayers. I want to try an alpaca hoody next for similar reasons.
Top pieces of gear from this past year:
My new Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 3400 (my first lightweight pack) – Fits me perfectly a looks good while doing it. What else can I say. Its a beautiful pack and I’ve enjoyed every hike with it so far.
Enlightened Equipment Revelation (30F version) – My first quilt. I will certainly never go back for three season use. I tested it out for the first time on a week long trip in Olympic National Park. I was plenty warm when I paired it with an insulated pad. Temps likely got into the low 40’s.
Arc’teryx Thorium AR – My old reliable. I have had this jacket for over 6 years. It still looks and feels brand new. Its heavy for a down, but bomber durable and great for around town as well. I happily pack the extra weight during the winter.
Patagonia Capilene Cool shirts/baselayers: I couldn’t believe the wicking capability of these shirts in hot and humid weather of the northeast and northwest. They also come with lots of options of great environmental themed graphics. My new go to for anything 3 season. I bought a LS and short sleeve.
The only new gear I’ve bought in the past two years was one of Dan Durston’s packs, for when I’m in a fanatical mood and don’t need the size of my (admittedly ridiculous) McHale. Otherwize, I have sold or gifted all of my old (non-military) packs.
So other than that I’ll just post this:
Not terribly light, I know. This is the car-camping rig that I cobbled together for my daughter’s Girl Scouts activities.
I’m not an off-roader, but I do like to get to remote trailheads. My career is demanding enough- and thus my time off is limited enough- that I try not to waste time with long approaches, and this vehicle gets me to places where I can already start my hike remote. I’m slowly working on necessary accessories like a winch, etc. Unfortunately, RhinoRack tells me that they have no plans to develop a Backbone system for the 2-door JL.
It also turns out to be a surprisingly good “city car”. It is short (2-door version) and has a ridiculously tight turning radius, so it’s easy to park.
It gets best in class gas mileage with the 4-cylinder 2.0L turbo, believe it or not- I suspect because nobody else makes a “light SUV” with an engine that small. Though unfortunately this engine is not offered with a manual transmission.
But then, predictably, right after I bought it Jeep released their plug-in hybrid Wrangler (though only in 4-door). Grrr. If I’d just waited another year… We got my wife the plug-in hybrid Pacifica a while ago and it has enough range that she can do her daily commute on battery alone, which is very nice. Presumably the hybrid Wrangler (also by Fiat-Chrysler) would have similar performance. Alternative vehicles have (finally!) gotten practical enough that I can look forward to getting one for my next vehicle, I supppose. But, wow, I’m considering trading in far sooner than I usually do for that hybrid Wrangler. Apparently you can even run the engine to use the vehicle as a generator to power equipment in remote locations if needed, not unlike that new F150.
Nice Jeep Dean. I have a 2016 JKUR with a 6 speed manual that I love. It is a pretty decent daily driver. I’d been a Jeep guy for years but moved to trucks for more kid room, but the 4 door Jeep works great with kids. When they start driving I plan on getting a 2 door.
That is of course assuming that I can still get a manual transmission. If I can’t I’ll keep what I have until it can’t be fixed anymore. I’ve been driving manuals since I was 16 and have no plans to change.
Become a member to post in the forums.