Patagonia is known for making high quality products and the wool base layers uphold that reputation. The base layers are made from ultra fine Merino Wool which is processed using a chlorine free process to make the wool as soft as cotton. In addition to being extremely soft, Merino Wool is naturally anti-bacterial which makes it almost odor free. Even after a week of backpacking the shirt hardly gave a whiff of an odor. The raglan sleeves kept the shirt from chafing even after hours of hauling packs up and down mountains, and the long cut in both the sleeves and the torso make tucking in and wear under jackets extremely comfortable. As if that wasn't enough, the wool has a self regulating property to assist you in keeping warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. It also works well very well in wicking moisture away from your skin. The one downside we found is the fine properties of the fabric make it rather susceptible to snags. Other than the few burrs the shirt sports, it continues to hold up quite well despite the abuse we put it through. Patagonia makes four different weights of the base layer from wool 1 (silk weight) t-shirt for summer pursuits to the wool 4 shirts for the coldest weather, as well as pants to match in weights 2-4. Though the wool base layers may not be cheap, they will fulfill most, if not all of your base layer requirements.
Quick Review
Design: Ultra-fine Merino Wool base layer Weight:- 5.125oz. (Mens small Wool 2 crew)
- 5.375oz. (Mens small Wool 2 pants)
- Soft
- Odor free
- Long cuts
- Raglan sleeves
- Durable
- Temperature regulation
- Susceptible to snags
- Price
Suunto is a leader in navigational tools. So, needless to say, when I heard about the Suunto Core I was anxious to get my hands on one. Sometimes things are easier said than done. Apparently these things are selling like bottled water in hell so most places are out of stock. So, you ask yourself, is it worth it? Well, after briefly owning a Casio Pathfinder I feel that the Core is miles ahead in both features and ease of use. The Core offers numerous features that any adventure enthusiast will find useful. In addition to everything you would expect to find on a watch (such as stopwatch and countdown timer) the Core also features second time zone, sunrise/sunset, barometer, altimeter, water depth (good to 33 feet), thermometer, and compass. The functionality of the compass, altimeter, and barometer as well as their related features make this watch a winner. You're not likely to leave this watch home on your next trip.
When my search for a new ultra-light backpacking tent began, I poured through copious reviews and buying guides and spent countless hours at my local REI. A friend who owns the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 suggested that I take a look at the Seedhouse SL series of tents. And, first impressions of the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 were favorable. With a weight of 3lb. 6oz. I had expected something roughly the size of a coffin, but what I found was a tent that provided sufficient space for two. The vestibule is a little smaller than I would have preferred, but I guess that's the tradeoff for all that is saved in weight and space. The tent consists of a nylon and polyester mesh canopy that offers about as much ventilation as is possible in a tent and an almost unobstructed view of the night sky that is sure to remind you why you head to the backcountry in the first place. The bathtub floor and fly are constructed of a silicone-treated nylon ripstop with a waterproof coating. The fly buttons up securely to create a safe refuge even in the worst of weather.
All seams are waterproof taped to ensure you stay dry. To save weight and make setup a snap Big Agnes used super light DAC Featherlite pole system. This system uses aluminum poles all attached to two hubs and plastic press snaps to hang the canopy. The stakes included with the tent may be some of the best tent stakes ever created. Extremely light and X-shaped ensue they hold well under almost any placement. Here's a trick I like to use on nice nights (when rain is not threatening) -- stake out only the bottom half of the rainfly so you can view the stars and get a nice breeze. If rain starts during the night you can just pull the top portion of the fly over the tent. When traveling in areas where bugs are not a problem the fast pitch option can be used -- pitch only the fly over the footprint (or nothing) reducing the weight to 1lb 12.22oz (800g) (1lb 6oz (626g) without the footprint). My preferences for a large vestibule aside, there is one technical problem with the small size of the vestibule. When left open during a rain storm the water from the top of the vestibule door drips into the tent. So, take care to avoid this and you should stay nice and dry. All in all, this one gets a thumbs-up. I have yet to find an ultra-light tent that beats the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2.
Quick Review
Design: Free Standing, Double Wall Capacity: 2 Retail: $319.95 (Buy) Weights:
- fly 1lb. .625oz (470g)
- canopy 1lb. 3.125oz (543g)
- footprint 6.125oz (174g)
- poles 12.25oz (348g)
- stakes .375oz (12g) each
- total (13 stakes) 3lb 12.5oz (1kg 715g)
Why it's hot:
- Stakes
- Weight (light enough for one, big enough for two)
- Mesh canopy
- Weather resistance
- Size
Why it's not:
- Vestibule size
- Upper vestibule can leak into tent when open
Looking for a ultralight sleeping bag? Well, then look no further. The 900-fill down TNF Beeline +30 weighs in at 1 lb. 3 oz., but don't let the light weight fool you. In this case, warm things really do come in small packages. When packed, this bag takes up only slightly more space than a Nalgene bottle, but thanks to the 900-fill down European goose down (the highest down quality available) and impressive loft when unpacked, this bag is surprisingly toasty. The shell is constructed of HelioLite HD fabric, which is lighter and more compressible than other fabrics. Room inside the bag is (as Goldilocks would say) just right -- allowing enough room to move around (they even include added a little extra room for your feet with the 'vaulted footbox') yet not excessively roomy and thereby tough to keep warm. I found the the Beeline to be comfortably warm even below it's temperature rating.
Anytime Nixon sees his Approach pack from Ruff Wear he becomes instantly excited. That's because he knows we're off to the trails. The pack is made of reinforced Nylon that doesn't hold shape that well, but does not seem to reduce the durability. The only wear showing on the pack is from where Nixon tried to extricate some food from the closed pack. Otherwise it has held up great to his wild wondering against rocks, trees, and whatever else may be in his way.
Quick Review
Design: Super light down jacket Retail: $240 (Buy) Weights: 1lb. .5oz. (medium) Why it's hot:- Weight
- 800-fill down
- Quilted construction
- Short cut
This jacket has kept me warm on more frigid days than I can remember. Cloudveil doesn't have the name recognition of many of the larger companies, but the quality of their gear suggests that this may change very soon. The Down Patrol jacket gives you the warmth you need without feeling bulky or hindering your movements. Designed as a down jacket that can also be used for skiing, it's got plenty of pockets, pit vents, and a removeable powder skirt.
The interior chest pocket has a small hole perfect for your iPod headphones. The jacket has a longer cut in the back, meaning that when you sit down you're not going to suddenly have a draft against the small of your back. One of my personal favorite features is the drawcord on the back of the hood which allows your to tighten the hood against your head without sacrificing your peripheral vision. If you're looking for a good down jacket for skiing, belaying on a cold day, or just running around town, this is a great jacket I would highly recommend. Very versatile, and very functional.
Quick Info
Design: Down Jacket Retail: $375 (Buy) Why it's hot:- Long cut back side
- Hood cinch mechanism
- Weight
- Price
Quick Info:
Design: Windproof glove or glove liner Retail: $50 (Buy) Weight: 3 oz. (medium) Why it's hot:- Quality construction
- Versatility
- Leather Palm
- None
The Osprey Talon 44 ended my search for a new pack. I had gone through about three others in the span of about a month when I tried the Talon 44. From my very first day on the trail the Talon 44 promised to be my go to pack and solidified that fact on the second day. Reinforced lightweight materials allows the pack to be light while offering an acceptable level of durability.
The Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4 is the latest lightweight offering in a long line of self inflating sleeping pads from Cascade Designs. Designed for four season backpacking and trekking and features a tapered design to reduce weight and rolled size. Weighing in at just under a pound and a half, while not exactly ultra light, the Prolite 4 is quite light compared to other pads. Another benefit is the pad will roll down to about the size of a football. The pad is coated on the underside with a non-slip coating that works marginally well at best especially on silicon coated nylon commonly found in most tents. The top is coated nylon that allows your sleeping bag to slide at will. Adding a few dots of silicon can help to fix this. Being 1.5" thick, the Prolite 4 is quite warm providing a manufacturer claimed R-factor of 3.2 (if you are concerned with such things). Also available are the Prolite 3 for warmer weather camping and womens version of each. All pads are available in short (3/4), regular, and long. The price of the Prolite 4 is a little tough to swallow but factoring in the many years of service it will provide it makes a worth investment. [UPDATE: Feb-2009]: Therm-a-Rest seems to be changing the lineup. Beginning in March of 2009 the Prolite 3 will be know as the Prolite and the Prolite 4 will be known as the Prolite Plus.
Quick Review:
Design: Light weight sleeping pad Weight: 1lb 7.875oz. Retail: $99.95 (Prolite Plus, Regular) (Buy) Why it's hot:- Durability
- Warm
- Packs relatively small
- Pad slides during the night