Winter Blues: Black Friday and Beyond

Some brave souls face the fourth season with the heart of lions, while most backpackers are three season types. So what do three season backpackers do during winter?

Shop!

Gear Review: Items Worn - Essentials

Through smoldering heat or frigid winds, the items you wear vary based on your comfort level. There is a line, however, that backpacker’s cross- a line of basics they will always carry.

This article is about that line.

LUXURIES: What do YOU carry?

After each trip, I look through my gear to see what was needed, and what wasn’t. Inevitably there would be areas that could be trimmed down, but there is one area I believe is a necessity- Luxury.

Luxury is simply that- an item you don’t need, but certainly want. So, if you don’t need it, why is it a necessity?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Thoughts on Food.

While backpacking and exploring the country-side, there is a piece of gear I refuse to compromise on- food. Leaving the comforts of civilization behind does not mean you have to eat bland foods every day.

While I may not have the lightest of packs, I am on the lighter side compared to half the people I meet on the trail. I spend time, money, and effort in cutting out extra grams from my gear, but not just to carry less weight. I do it because for every gram I cut from my pack is another gram of food I can bring. Since my recent indulgence on getting lighter gear, I felt I could splurge even more on food, allowing me to experiment some. In my most recent trip to Yosemite, I decided to try some new foods out.

GEAR REVIEW: SHELTER- Tarp/Bivy/Line/Stakes

Disclaimer- I will never review an item I have not personally used on a trip.

BUSHCRAFT OUTFITTERS SILNYLON TARP

MSR GROUNDHOG STAKES

KELTY TRIPTEASE GUYLINE

MOUNTAIN LAUREL DESIGNS BUG BIVY

Many of these items did not merit their own review, so I simply combined them into one.

GEAR REVIEW: Osprey Exos 58 Backpack

Disclaimer- I will never review an item I have not personally used on a trip.

OSPREY EXOS 58 BACKPACK

After constant trimming to shed weight, it became inevitable I’d have to switch from my bombproof Atmos 65. The pack was stout, it fit everything well. I didn’t want to leave it, but it was time to say goodbye.

There was a reason for my infidelity, though. The Exos 58 was offering the same suspension and comfort, with near equal capacity, all for over a pound lighter. How could I resist such temptation?

GEAR REVIEW: Big Agnes Mystic SL 15 Sleeping Bag and Q-core SL Sleeping Pad

Disclaimer- I will never review an item I have not personally used on a trip.

BIG AGNES MYSTIC SL 15 SLEEPING BAG

& BIG AGNES Q-CORE SL SLEEPING PAD

After backpacking Yosemite with the Big Agnes Mystic SL 15 and Q-core SL together, I have fixed feelings. The comfort is amazing, but the system is heavy for what it should be.

GEAR REVIEW: Jetboil Sol Ti Premium Cooking System

Disclaimer- I will never review an item I have not personally used on a trip.

JETBOIL SOL TI PREMIUM COOKING SYSTEM

Being one of the first pieces of gear recommended to me, I felt it deserved my first review.

Design: The design is very interesting. The system includes the cup section and the stove section. The cup section is a titanium cup wrapped in an insulated stove and spot welded onto a thermal heatsink. Smart design, but overpriced for what it is. I had seen a video where they had flipped the insulation around, leaving a much more appealing matte black look. There is an aluminum version available, but for the added price you can drop a solid three ounces. Also included: optional stabilizer platform, measuring cup, lid, and pot support.