Category Archives: Reviews

The Ultra, Ultralight iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation

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Your favorite music to help you sleep or to give you inspiration during an uphill slog can be a welcome backpacking companion.  As long as it doesn’t add a lot of weight.The new iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation weighs all of .38 ounces — that’s right, just a tad over one-third of 1 ounce. Holds 1,000 songs with a 10-hour battery. Only 1.8 inches tall and .7 inches thick. And, only 79 bucks. I can’t think of a better trail companion.Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Backpacker ’09 Gear Guide Touts Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 Tent

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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 pounds, 3 ounces with everything (stakes, poles, fly, tent, sack, instructions – under my 3-pound limit), has a 38-inch high pitch (you can sit up) and a fly that allows space for boots, pack, etc. I’m not crazy about the front entrance, mainly because  side entrances allow you to easily “roll” into the tent. Add 4 ounces for a footprint ground cover.  If you have the money, I give this thumbs up. A word about price. In my experience, the lighter the equipment the more it costs. For example, my Sierra Design Light Year is about 3.5 pounds and cost (five years ago) about $149. To get titanium poles, instead of anodized aluminum, that knock off another eight ounces, the tent cost would have been $349: $25 an ounce or $100 per pole. But if light is what you want and you can afford it, why not get the best and lightest. Chances are, you’ll have it a long time.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

It’s a Croc – Ultralight Water Shoes An “Optional” Essential

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Pulling off your hiking shoes or boots to cross water is literally a pain. A pain in foot and toes. One solution: Crocs Beach Clog Sandals.

I jettisoned my heavy boots years ago, in favor of waterproof tennis shoes. But any water crossing more than a few inches deep requires you to unlace and walk barefoot. I’ve done this many times and I’m almost always sorry I don’t have sandals or water shoes of some kind to protect my feet. Slipping and sliding on rocks in a stream in bare feet can also result in pulled muscles, falls, and injury.

Although I had tried a couple of options, including surf booties, all were too heavy. Storm socks are an option at about 2-3 ounces, but don’t provide much protection. On the other hand, Crocs, those odd slip-ons with lots of holes drills in them, are only six ounces each, provide relief from trail shoes after a long day and can function as a second pair of hiking shoes if necessary.

I think the comfort and safety benefits make them worth the extra 12 ounces.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

miniTISSUE: Ultra Ultralight Backpacking Towels

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minitissue.jpgMy regular readers know I’m a gearhound. And I’m always looking for the latest and greatest ultralight backpacking “thing” to include in my pack.

My latest find is the MiniTissue. Comes eight in a pack for $1 (1 ounce total weight). Individually wrapped like peppermint candies, you splash them with water making them instantly rehydrate, creating a very sturdy 8 by 9 inch face/hand towel. The company website sells them 96 to a box of 12 packages for $13.95, but I purchased mine at a kitchen store.

They contain no preservatives, alcohol or anti-bacteria solution and are environmentally friendly, 100% biodegradable and self decomposing. Individual compressed tissues don’t even register on my postal scale.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

The SteriPEN: The Ultimate Ultralight Backpacking Water Purifier

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As someone who loves gear and is always looking for the next greatest ultralight backpacking gizmo, I strongly recommend you consider the SteriPEN Adventurer.

SteriPEN by riverThis is Hydro-Photon, Inc’s newest iteration of its proven water purification system, which was first introduced in 2000. I own the first and second generation models, and if you look at an earlier review on this site, you will see that I really love them.

As an ultralight backpacker, the only reservation I’ve ever had has been the size and weight of the earlier versions (about 7.5 inches long and 7.2 ounces with four batteries).

Compared with other water purifiers this is not exactly “heavy,” but in my quest for everything ultra, ultralight, I always wished for a smaller, lighter version. And the Adventurer is it: 6.1 inches long and just 3.5 ounces (on my postal scale) with two lithium batteries; 4.5 ounces with carrying case. The carrying case is only necessary if you want to attach the Adventurer on your belt or the outside of your pack.

The SteriPEN uses ultraviolet light (UV) to purify water. You push the button once, immerse the UV lamp, stir continuously, and you’ve got one liter of pure, safe water in 90 seconds. For a half liter you push the button twice and wait only 48 seconds. You don’t need to remember whether to push once or twice because the instructions are printed above the activation button.

Adventurer and Second Generation SteriPEN What it Kills

The UV light destroys viruses, bacteria and protozoa (such as giardia and crypto), and according to company literature, exceeds U.S. EPA standards for microbiological water purifiers. The company also notes that numerous independent labs have proven its effectiveness (and it has been on the market for eight years).

Something Lighter?

The only water purification system I’ve ever seen that is lighter or smaller is iodine drops or tablets. Problem is, depending on the water temperature, you need to wait 20-30 minutes to drink after treatment and there is no guarantee that chlorine or iodine will kill cryptosporidium. Besides, who wants to wait? When you’re thirsty, you’re thirsty. Of course, you can always boil and wait. With the SteriPEN, you scoop up the water, give it a 48 or 90 second blast of UV and you’re on your way.

I’ve owned pumps, used iodine, tried in-line filters connected to water bags and none of them stack up to SteriPEN, especially the new ultralight backpacking and hiking model.

Field Testing

Since I haven’t taken it into the field yet, I can’t attest to the durability of the case and UV light cover, but it appears to be made of water-proof, high-impact plastic. I’ve dropped both of my other SteriPENs and have never had them break, so I assume they’ve made the Adventurer just as sturdy. The company notes that the U.S. military is using the Adventurer in various locations.

A Downside?

Disadvantages? Well, the company reports that like all pumps or chemical treatments, UV has a problem with treating murky or turbid water and recommend pre-filtering (with a bandana perhaps). However, the Hydro-Photon states that even with turbid water, two doses of UV light (perhaps three minutes worth) will make the water safe to drink.

Another option: Hydro-Photon has come up with a new product: a Nalgene bottle pre-filter. The Pre-Filter filters out particulates and debris. Fits on Nalgene® & wide-mouth water bottles. Water bottle pre-filter: $12.95. Weighs just 1.5 ounces.

As for battery life, my query to the company, drew this response: “In terms of the batteries, the CR123 disposable batteries will provide roughly 100 of the 0.5 L doses and the rechargeable CR123 batteries provide 60 0.5 L doses.”

adventurerinsolarcase.jpgThis is right in line with my second generation model, which I personally tested in my kitchen over two days. (I’ve also used it on dozens of backpacks over six or seven years). It produced 60 1-liter treatments before discharging, which should be adequate for a week-long backpack or more. For longer trips — say the AT, JMT or PCT — you’ve got an optional solar charging case at $49.95. The weight is more than 7 ounces. For an ultralight backpacker concerned about every ounce, this could eliminate the need for taking extra batteries which means extra weight. You would need to balance battery weight versus solar charger wait.

One last thing: the customer service is outstanding. My first generation had a “child lock” which I didn’t want and they immediately fixed it. And responses to my questions have been really fast.

Price: $99 suggested retail with carrying case and non-rechargeable batteries

Options to consider: solar charging case – $49.95

Video Demonstration: follow this link.

In the meantime …

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Backpacker Magazine 2008 Gear Guide Lists A Whopping 480 Bags

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That number — 480 — is a bit overwhelming at first glance. But if you apply my 1-15 rule (your bag should not be over 1 pound, 15 ounces), you trim the choices to 129 sleeping bags.

To help pair this list down further, you need to consider temperature rating.

I own a Western Mountaineering Highlite, a 16 ounce, 38-degree bag. Inside the protection of a tent with a jacket, thermal bottoms and socks, I can get that bag down to a 20-25 degree rating. And my bag gets me through three seasons pretty nicely.

Honestly, there have been a few nights when I wished I had something a bit warmer, but I was only “chilly” at worst. You need to ask yourself if you really need a 20 or 30 degree rated bag, 0r if a higher rated, lighter model will do.

You’ve got to balance lightness versus comfort (and safety). There’s nothing worse than a cold, restless night on the trail. If you’re a warm sleeper you can probably get by on a higher temperated rate bag. If you get cold easily, then go for a lower rated bag.

Backpacker Magazine listed 45 bags with a temperature ratings of 30 degrees or less that meet the 1-15 rule. Only 13 bags on this list are rated at 20 degrees or below and still 1 pound, 15 ounces or less. Four of those are made by one company: Nunatak Gear LLC. The quest for lightness often comes with a hefty price tag as well with the 20-degree rated “Alpinist Nunatak” selling for $384.

Because bags are so well made and so light these days by comparison with just five years ago when I purchased my Highlite, I think I might consider a 20-degree bag for seven or eight extra ounces.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Ultralight Backpacking Headlamp Built into Cap

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LED CapI love gadgets. The latest, from a newspaper clipping my wife dropped on my desk, is a cap with four LED lights built in (sample at left has only two, but the Amazon.com version below has four). One of the reasons I became a ultralight backpacker, besides the weight reduction, was the elimination of stuff from my backpack. It would take many paragraphs to describe all the items I carried when I first started backpacking in 1998. Let me assure you, you can put huge amounts in a 5,800 cubic inch, 7.5 pound Dana Design Terraplane: 60 pounds or more, in fact. As they say, less is more.  Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Apple iPhone: The Ultimate Lightweight Backpacking Tool

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iphone.jpgThe Golden Rule of ultra light backpacking is that every piece of equipment has multiple uses. For example, a bandana is a sweat band, wash cloth, water or coffee filter, a napkin, a tourniquet and sling.

The new iPhone is the ultimate backpacking tool. It weigh just six ounces and includes a phone, digital camera, music player, DVD player, Palm pilot, photo library with a web browser, email program and Google maps. How long before it adds GPS? You can buy a 1/2 ounce, 1.5 inches square iPod shuffle if you just want music. But during storms when your confined to your tent for a dozen hours or more, it’s a great companion.

Originally priced at $600, it is now only $400. For all you get, it’s a deal. I love mine.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

LifeStraw Could Save Millions of Lives, Backpacking Next

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In the July 18 issue of Newsweek is an article about LifeStraw, a new $3 portable water filter created by a Danish company to protect people in Third World countries from waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera and dysentery.

The LifeStraw website notes: “Sharing a passion to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of ‘reducing by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water’ by the year 2015, we recognize the immense sense of urgency. At any given moment, about half of the world’s poor are suffering from water-related diseases, of which over 6,000 – mainly children – die each day by consuming unsafe drinking water.”

The device is 31 cm / 12-inches long and weighs 140 grams / 4.9 ounces dry and 160 grams / 5.6 ounces web. It requires no parts or maintenance while producing up to 185 gallons of before replacement is needed.

While its humanitarian value is what is most important (an the main focus of the company), the article does note that LifeStraw is working to create a version for backpackers, which will fix one current failing: it doesn’t filter out Giardia lamblia.

It appears to be a great future choice for ultra light backpacking, hiking or camping. A note: I couldn’t find any place on the website to buy one. But you can make a donation and buy the devices for poor people in other parts of the world.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

‘Don’t Bug Me’ Patch – Something New

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I was checking out the weblog at Campman.com and came across a review of a new anti-mosquito patch. Campman says it’s ideal for kids. But when he says the patch kept the bugs off him as well, I knew I needed some. Especially, after my miserable backpack recently to Emigrant Wilderness where we were swarmed almost non-stop for three days.

Check out his review.