Backpacker Magazine’s test crew says there is a lot of hype about great breathable rain gear so they put four to the test: Mammut Felsturm Half-Zip, Westcomb Apoc, Mountain Hardware Jovian and Columbia Peak 2 Peak / Peak Power. Check out the review. Two that meet my sub-1 pound “ultra light” test: the Mammut and [...]
Most ultralight tents are pretty durable, so I look at weight, roominess and price in deciding whether I think a tent is in my ultralight backpacking ballpark. The Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 gets Backpacker Magazine’s top rating in its annual gear guide as best all-around. My take: Big Agnes is $300 (pricey), 2 [...]
On my last two backpacks, I carried my new Flip Ultra Video Camera from Pure Digital. Runs on two A A batteries, weighs just 5.5 ounces and is compact at 2 x 4.25 x 1. Takes 60 minutes of video, which you download using the built-in USB plug. Included software lets you grab photos from [...]
I discovered a “green” spork (combination fork and knife) made of corn, totally biodegradable and about a half ounce. In our recent trip into the Granite Chief Wilderness, ultralight backpacking companion Wild Bill and I ate two breakfasts and two dinners with the corn sporks. They were sturdy and held up to heat and washing. [...]
A few months back I wrote a review of Hydro Photo, Inc’s new SteriPEN Adventurer water purification system — innovative ultralight backpacking technology that uses ultraviolet light to give you a liter of virus and cryptosporium-free water with a single 2 1/2 – minute dose. My comments were based on my positive experience with earlier [...]
