Gear » Reviews

For those with short torsos, this is a lightweight and durable pack, with some clever design features. Read More...

Tough, tiny (1525 ci) frameless daypack or overnight pack for minimalists. Read More...

A poncho/tarp is a good choice for SuperUltraLight backpacking. With this one you get a good shelter, rainwear, and pack cover for only 7 ounces. Read More...

Why use a silnylon poncho/tarp when spinnaker is lighter? The answer may surprise you. Read More...

Improves on the classic (now discontinued) GoLite Breeze, and cuts the weight by a third. Read More...

It’s made of spinnaker fabric and must be "handled with care," but the volume to weight ratio will knock your socks off! Read More...

A well-designed, low volume 4.4-ounce pack for dayhikes or SuperUltraLight overnights. Read More...

A comfortable and lofty 14-ounce jacket with some nice features, but missing ultralight appeal. Read More...

We found a “sleeper” - the Feather-Lite has 1.5 inches more loft than specified. Read More...

Minimal features and prone-to-abrasion-damage spinnaker fabric make this the lightest 2000-cubic inch backpack on the market. Read More...

Full three-season (non-bomber) weather protection for one person for only 11.2 ounces including guylines and stakes. Read More...

A waterproof sleeping bag may sound like overkill, until you think about the possibilities – like sleeping under the stars without getting damp or wet insulation, and leaving the bivy sack at home. Read More...

The lightest down jacket on the market. Read More...

The MontBell Down Inner Jacket is only $139, but lacks the loft of the leading jackets. Read More...

What a conundrum! The upgraded pack has some great improvements, and is now an outstanding value, but (darn it) it's also heavier. Read More...

Lofty, light, warm, and durable for its weight - although it does lose a few feathers at the seams. Read More...

Not the lightest snowshoes we tested, but wonderful performers. Read More...

Nice innovations including a shape that allows a more natural walking gait, but heavy. Read More...

Durable, resistant to compression, and very comfortable for the weight, but a couple of extra inches would be nice. Read More...

The lightest snowshoes on the market, but with less traction than heavier shoes. Read More...

This upgrade to the classic Virga is a quarter pound heavier and includes some nice improvements, and some changes that need more tweaking. Read More...

Clever, simple, user-friendly, and durable; but heavy. Read More...

A sprinter's dream with lightweight - although less durable - materials, narrow tapered tails, and an aggressive toe cleat. Read More...

Modular design allows you to customize these snowshoes to the person and snow conditions, or upgrade instead of buying new snowshoes. Read More...

Puffy down quilt/underquilt/poncho - so nice! Just trim the footbox please. Read More...

Two accessories to add utility to your Jetboil Personal Cooking System. Read More...

Innovative, with traction - and weight - to spare. Read More...

An asymmetric frame and lightweight durable materials - like titanium crampons - give these racing shoes a lot of attitude, but they're not cut out for general backcountry use. Read More...

A durable small volume pack for SuperUltraLight backpacking or day hiking that would benefit from load control features. Read More...

A mantleless canister lantern is breakthrough technology, but how does it compare with a conventional mantle-type lantern? Read More...

Wide pot supports and rugged - but heavy - stainless steel construction, for only 40 bucks. Read More...

A good value for a sturdy, but heavy canister stove at approximately $27 US (where it’s available). Read More...

Titanium stove - identical twin to the Markill Peak Ignition, and sister to the Vargo Jet-Ti - that has some problems in wind. Read More...

Compact and lightweight but sensitive to wind. Identical twin to the Kovea Camp 3, and sister to the Vargo Jet-Ti sold in the US. Read More...

The original top bag is state-of-the art in some ways, and an antique in others. Read More...

Lightweight alcohol stove cooking system with great fuel economy that needs a pot stand redesign. Read More...

Full-featured multi-purpose eVENT rain jacket that weighs less than 13 ounces, but what's the deal with the wire brim on the hood? Read More...

This waterproof/breathable polyurethane laminate pullover is light, but could lose more weight by eliminating extra features. Read More...

A full featured rain shell with pit zips that weighs only 11.2 ounces (size L), but how does the fabric - MontBell Breeze Dry-Tec three-layer waterproof/breathable - perform? Read More...

Silnylon rain chaps that are freakishly light but limited in application and best paired with a poncho or cagoule. Read More...

The lightest waterproof/breathable rain pants available: nearly perfect, with one glaring problem - that we show you how to address "easily enough" without adding a lot of weight. Read More...

Just because Skurka and Coup chose this raingear/shelter for their record-setting thru-hikes, that doesn't mean it will work for you. Here's the scoop on a tough poncho that makes a great shelter but suffers a little in raingear mode. Read More...

A functional and lightweight waterproof-breathable rain hat that becomes a performance liability in warm conditions. Read More...

Bushwalkers take note: these chaps are tough, breathable, and weigh less than six ounces. Read More...

Two-pound down bag rated to freezing with a foot section that can be opened, armholes, and full front zip to convert it into a vest. Read More...

Innovative variable girth top bag that weighs under a pound and is rated to freezing. Read More...

Warm weather, full-length center zip, PrimaLoft insulated sleeping bag. Read More...

Down blanket that completely surrounds a hammock and sleeper, along with a narrow down top blanket designed specifically for hammock use. Read More...

Removable stays, an internal pad pocket, and adjustability over a wide torso length range make the Comet unique. Read More...

Simple, rugged, top entry hammock with large silnylon canopy. Read More...