Tarp, bivy and tent footprint Back when I bought my first backpacking tent at REI, I bought into the hype that by god if you put all this money into your backpacking tent, you need to protect that investment by…
Gear
REI Hoodoo 3: a backpacking tent for tall people
by tom • July 9, 2009 • 2 Comments
Anybody over 6-foot-2 has a heck of a time squeezing into most backpacking tents. This “three-person” tent from REI could be an option, assuming you’re taking a friend along. While cruising for bargains at REI I noticed they’d sliced 20%…
Cool Bay Area mapping tool for iPhone owners
by tom • June 12, 2009 • 3 Comments
Armor for your iPod OtterBox Armor Series case at backcountry.com AccuTerra terrain maps for hikers, bikers, campers and outdoor travelers are coming soon to the iPhone (the big Version 3.0 upgrade is June 17). Free “lite” versions of the software…
Rare deal on a sightly used Western Mountaineering sleeping bag
by tom • June 5, 2009 • 2 Comments
Walt Underwood sent along this thread at BackpackingLight.com, where somebody’s selling a Western Mountaineering Ultralight for $250. Here’s the spec page on the bag, which normally sells for $370 to $400.
Sleeping bags for summer Sierra backpacking
by tom • June 4, 2009 • 8 Comments
MontBell U.L. Super Stretch Hugger #2 Sleeping Bag: 25 Degree Down I like the looks of the Montbell Super Stretch bags (check out Backcountry.com’s lineup) which have elastic stitching to provide a roomier night’s sleep. While I haven’t actually slept…
Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat: Coolest thing I ever lost on the trail
by tom • May 26, 2009 • 0 Comments
A fanny-sized Therm-a-Rest pad called the Lite Seat was my constant companion for my first few years on Bay Area trails. Small, durable, not too expensive (sub $30), a passable backpacking pillow — it was one of my favorite pieces…
Best hiking gear brands: my faves
by tom • May 7, 2009 • 9 Comments
Who do I like? Vasque and Keen for shoes/boots. Gregory Mountain Products for backpacks. REI for backpacking tents. Columbia for pants. Wigwam for socks. MSR for stoves. I’m all about promoting the folks who build cool gear in their garages,…
Hiking staffs and medallions from Redwood City
by tom • May 7, 2009 • 2 Comments
Roy Klebe sells hiking staffs and medallions to affix to them at HikeAmerica.com. I happened upon his site this morning. Here’s the back story. In 1988, Roy Klebe discovered a long standing tradition in Europe of collecting medallions on hiking…
How to fit a Gregory backpack
by tom • May 6, 2009 • 0 Comments
Wayne Gregory, founder of Gregory Mountain Products, sheds light on getting all your straps in order on this video from the company’s blog: Notably, he recommends fitting the shoulder straps first, then snugging up the hipbelt. I’m interviewing Gregory this…