Gear » Reviews

The Mega Light is a solid, well designed pyramid tent, but the weight-conscious should leave the bug liner behind. Read More...

Lightweight eVENT multi-sport jacket with a terrific fit and feature set, but its appeal depends on whether you need a helmet-compatible hood or not. Read More...

This showshoe lets you climb like a mountain goat, but needs more flotation and some weight reduction. Read More...

The Montane eVENT Quick-Fire Jacket offers great features such as a full coverage hood, drop tail, excellent sizing, dual vent pockets, and super-breathable eVENT fabric, all at a lightweight 11.9 ounces (size large). Read More...

Gossamer Gear offers an ultralight spinnaker fabric catenary-shaped tarp for one or two people that weighs just 8 ounces! Read More...

Durable, loads of flotation, and less than 3 pounds per pair – a lightweight snow traveler’s dream. Read More...

This fixed-length carbon fiber trekking pole is not as elegant or lightweight as our top choice Gossamer Gear Lightrek pole, but it’s a strong performer and is the value champ at only $72/pair. Read More...

A feature-rich, heavy load carrier, but it tries to be a bit too much for too many people. Read More...

A one pound, three-season bag with top quality materials. Read More...

Stiff, light, reasonably priced fixed-length pole with contoured grip and wrist strap. Read More...

A roomy, comfortable, lightweight framed backpack with lots of pockets, good load control, an adjustable torso length, and a few weak spots. Read More...

While not the lightest around, this simple pressurised alcohol stove is remarkably robust. Read More...

A reasonably light and very effective means of purifying water to EPA purifier standards. Read More...

The lightest hooded synthetic fill jacket on the market. Read More...

GoLite makes some significant improvements on an old favorite – without increasing the weight! Read More...

Right on target for the lightweight backpacker: 70-liter, 3-pound internal frame pack with the right load-carrying capacity and feature set. Read More...

High performance sub-2-pound, 2000 ci frameless pack for active light pursuits. Read More...

User friendly and useful as an outdoor navigational aid – if you master its functions and keep it calibrated. Read More...

Ultralight mountaineering boots that are great on rock and ice as well as long approaches on the trail. But are they durable and warm enough? Read More...

Hooded, down mummy bag rated to freezing that weighs a mere 19 ounces. Read More...

Small volume (1600 ci, 26 L) adventure racing pack that is ideal for biking and adequate for hiking. Read More...

Durable and adjustable, but initially confusing to set up. Read More...

One ounce of fresh innovation: rotary switch, white-and-red LED array, modular form, storage capsule, waterproof. But not perfect - our tests reveal some weaknesses. Read More...

Waterproof, four-LED headlamp with a wide, regulated beam. Read More...

The Icebox does the igloo engineering for you, but you still have a steep learning curve. Once you master the technique, you may discover a new and fun wintertime activity. Read More...

A lightweight double-wall three-person tent with full storm protection and great views - but is it really sized for three? Read More...

Introduces some major advancements in single wall tent design and provides user friendliness not seen before in a single wall tent, but there are a few details that could be refined. Read More...

Ultralight (just over 2 1/2 pounds) single wall tent with a bathtub floor and plenty of space for three adults - or maybe the whole family. Read More...

A four season bag that offers excellent loft for the weight. The center zip has advantages, but is it the right solution for you? Read More...

Lightweight single wall, two-person shelter with lots going for it: quality materials and construction, ease of set up, interior space and headroom, and storm worthiness – but it has one major problem. Read More...

Tarptent introduces the 1+ person Contrail, a throwback to the original minimalist Tarptent, but loaded with refinements and new design elements. Read More...

At just over 1 ½ pounds, the Squall Classic improves on the original Tarptent Squall design with bathtub floor, spinnaker cloth construction, Easton aluminum stakes, and guyline adjusters. It drops significant weight from the Tarptent Squall 2 but does it go far enough to justify the cost? Read More...

Fibraplex carbon fiber tent poles can save ounces of tent weight - are they durable enough? Read More...

Lots of nice features, climbs like a goat, and would be near perfect if they were lighter. Read More...

Radically different snowshoes using an injection-moulded flexible deck with all-over grip, a fast webbing binding and tough crampons, claiming great agility on all slopes. Read More...

If you can fit your gear into 30 liters, for 1 pound 5 ounces you get a bomber pack with almost every conceivable feature (except a frame). Read More...

The Gatewood Cape has the same dual functionality as a poncho/tarp, but promises better shelter. Read More...

Beautifully constructed, lightweight, and highly-efficient mummy for three-season conditions. But does it have the versatility you need? Read More...

These two outstanding tents vie for the title of best two-person ultralight single-wall shelter – which one has the edge? Read More...

Possibly the finest 2-pound two-person shelter on the market - providing you don't intend to use it above tree line in intense winds. Read More...

Winner of the 2005 Lightitude Award for best single wall shelter, the Squall 2 improves on the classic Squall with several important updates. Read More...

Amazingly light and compact sleeping pad. Just be prepared for giggles from your friends. Read More...

If you’re looking for a lightweight backpack to carry 25 to 35 pound loads, this is one you gotta check out. It rocks! Read More...

With a massive total area of 58.3 square feet and a weight of less than 6 pounds, the Hilleberg Kaitum delivers serious livable space for the weight. But how does it stand up to the rough alpine and winter environments it was designed for? Read More...

Treat your water using this robust, 3.9-ounce, ultraviolet light based, water purifier. Read More...

While the Komperdell C3 Airshock poles are not the lightest trekking poles around, they pack adjustability, grips with comfortable straps, and an antishock system into a very lightweight pole. Read More...

Strong, light, fixed-length carbon fiber poles with one useful extra feature - the ability to break the poles down into two sections for easy transport. Read More...

The first carbon trekking pole from Leki - top quality and very expensive. Read More...

Stiff, lightweight, and reasonably priced, the Alpkit Carbonlite poles are the carbon trekking pole value leaders. How did they stand up to months of abuse? Read More...

The lightest poles on the market, now with stiffer shafts and more contoured grips. Are the shafts stiff and durable enough for serious trail usage? Read More...