Gear » Reviews

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...

Three-watt collimated LED headlamp with rear-mount battery pack that misses perfection by just a couple of features. Read More...

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Petzl has been busy upgrading and gives us two new versions of an old stand-by. Read More...

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This zipperless down mummy-style 23 F rated sleeping bag is elegant for its simplicity, light weight, and high loft-to-weight ratio. Read More...

The ultimate down jacket for ultralight backpacking and lightweight cold weather pursuits. Read More...

Featuring 900 fill-power down, baffled construction, high loft, and a nearly waterproof shell, the Yukon Pullover is a well-balanced four-season down parka. Is this the ultimate ultralight down garment for cold weather pursuits? Read More...

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The Photon ReX looks like another one of those little button-cell LED lights, but it has a couple of very nice surprises - and it even works well. Testing it presented some difficulties, but these were generally easy to overcome. Read More...

We know plain air mats tend to be rather cold, but can this be alleviated by including a very thin layer of synthetic insulation inside the mat on one surface? This is what Pacific Outdoor Equipment have attempted to do with this very light Ether Elite 6 air mat. Read More...

An integrated stove from Primus similar to the Jetboil PCS, with a few design improvements but similar performance. Read More...

A good remote canister stove, heading in the lightweight direction. Read More...

Innovative multi-fuel stove for canisters, white gas and kerosene that performs well with canister fuel but is difficult to use with the other fuels. Read More...

Product performance review of the Primus Micron ultralight backpacking canister stove. Read More...

Product performance review of the Primus TechnoTrail lightweight backpacking canister stove. Read More...

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Eight-LED array powered by three AA batteries. Read More...

Product performance review of the Princeton Tec EOS 1-watt LED headlamp. Read More...

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

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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...

A fully featured hard shell at a minimal weight. Read More...

Rab's new baselayers blend merino wool and synthetic fabrics - do they achieve the best of both worlds? Read More...

Trim-fitting ultralight three-season down jacket with a great shell and basic feature set, but its numerous horizontal seams allow down fragments to leak out. Read More...

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

An old favorite gets some important upgrades and stands out as a great value for an ultralight 30 °F sleeping bag. Read More...

New and evolving technologies necessitate a reexamination of the conventional wisdom of down versus synthetic fill insulation. Read More...

Reviews of the Revelate Designs Viscacha and Porcelain Rocket Booster Rocket Read More...

RBH Designs Vapor Barrier Hand & Footwear Read More...

A heavy, all-purpose snowshoe with an excellent crampon system. Read More...

Lightweight snowshoes at a great price, but there are issues. Read More...

A well designed and capable lightweight internal frame backpack from REI with a great feature set, and it’s an excellent value! Read More...

Three-pound internal frame backpacks with great fit, features, versatility, and value. Read More...

Mini-review for the 2010 State of the Market Report on Internal Frame Backpacks. Read More...

There's a lot of bang for the buck in this roomy, lightweight, double-wall tent! Read More...

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Product performance review of the Rhino Alcohol Stove, a lightweight alcohol stove for backpacking. Read More...

Has Timberland found a niche the lightweight market? Read More...

This is one of the more impressive jackets in our ultralight down jacket roundup, but it has a few shortcomings and uncertainties. Read More...

Ultra-warm, ruggedly-built, waterproof, lightweight boots insulated with Aerogel. Read More...

This single-wall, three/four-season, tipi-style shelter is the largest tipi in the VersaShelter line. A significant amount of the weight savings comes from the use of an all carbon fiber pole. Read More...

A very attractive multi-purpose down jacket suited for a wide variety of outdoor activities... does that include backpacking? Read More...

This four-season, one-person, single-wall tent is made of a fabric claimed to be more breathable than eVENT. Read More...

A 29 oz sleeping bag featuring vertical baffles and Insotect technology... is it worth the weight? Read More...

Excellent ventilation and fit, but a poor DWR and zipper durability issues. Read More...

Packed with 30 ounces of 800-fill down and other heat-retaining features, this lightweight bag earns its 0 °F rating but its snug fit and curved half zipper are its nemesis. Read More...

Coming out in fall 2010, the Gnar is a good balance of sizing and fit, features, and overall light weight, but it could be a little warmer. Read More...

Spacious, durable, wind-stable 4.5 lb tent - while very light for its size, it still can't match the area to weight ratio of our highest rated double wall tent. Read More...