Wham.

That’s the sound of your toe jamming on the door.

Don’t let a lights-out situation render you blind. Get a dependable light resource like the Pelican 2480 ELS Emergency Lighting Station.

Comprised of a Pelican 2440PLB MityLite housed in a photoluminescent body that’s visible in the dark. The MityLite uses a 5-LED array to illuminate the dark and powered by alkaline/titanium cells giving it an extended burn time and long shelf life. The case, made of polycarbonate (Ed: I know… I like polycarbonate) case is durable and tough.

The Pelican 2480 ELS can be mounted anywhere. Mine is mounted in the utility closet.

Cost: @ $55 SWPS

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A. The North Face Mountain 25 2-Person Winter Tent |
B. Clif Bar’s | C. Mountain Hardwear 3rd Dimension Sleeping Bag | D. Benchmade D2 Steel Mini-Griptillian Knife | E. Cabela’s WindShear Trek-Tech Wool Fatigue | F. The Outback Oven | G. MSR MIOX Water Purifier | H. Counter Assault Bear Deterrent Spray

By: Terrence Keller - Alrighty gents, winter is finally past an unbearable temperature. Backpacking and camping aren’t far fledged ideas and I’m pretty stoked to hit the trails again. I’m writing this piece for Gear Patrol because they asked me to share with you a nuts and bolts list of what it takes to get ready for winter camping. First, you gotta know it ain’t easy. If you think it is then you’re an idiot. But if you plan ahead, gear up and follow some simple rules it’s fun as hell and can possibly make for the best weekend of the year.

1. Plan. You’ve got to have a plan. Going camping in the winter without a plan is idiotic, at best. Give yourself a route, weather contingency plans and timing. Know where you’re going to be and how you’re getting there. Know what your party is capable of doing and always underestimate. That good buddy of yours you thought was a rugged sonofabitch may turn out to be a complete pansy when the tides are tough. You don’t want that when the weather is dropping one degree every ten minutes. Make sure people know where to find you using something unobtrusive, yet life saving, like SPOT personal satellite tracker.

2. Gear up. Of course we’re going to say that, but no gear = ill equipped. Ill equipped = frostbite on extremeties. No extremities due to preventable frostbite = dumbass. Layering is the way to go. Boots, wool sweaters (no cotton), jackets, and insulating socks.

2.5. Gear up more. Get your pack, sleeping bag, pads, and tents or shelter in order or get ones appropriate to your level of excursion. Listed are recommendations for gear you can buy for both winter or three season camping.

3. Food & Water Cooking over a fire? Fine. Got the right equipment to cook with? Cooking over a stove? Got a stove? Oh, and food - that’s an entirely different matter. Keep in mind that if you’re eating on a winter camping or backpacking trip you’ll need anywhere between 4,000-5,500 calories. Keep it a mix of simple sugars to get you rolling, complex carbs folowed by proteins and fats. Ever wonder why trail mix has peanuts, M&M’s and raisens in them? Not to mention it’s a good excuse to eat food you wouldn’t otherwise just sitting at the desk. Plan your meals in advance. Here’s a list of recipes you can start with. Of course, you can always get a kit too. As for water, take a look at this guide for different sources for water. Don’t skimp, plan on having more than you’ll need. Don’t eat snow, you’ll burn too much energy doing it. Let it melt in a tarp you sink into the ground.

Obviously this isn’t comprehensive. You should study in far more detail, but it should give you a general start to one damn good and cold time.

Gear and prices after the jump.

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The Osprey Stratos 18 is a daypack perfect for quick hikes, mountain bike rides or cross country skis runs. It’s also perfect just to toss some gear into and take to the gym - doing double duty as a daypack and an extension pack with it’s stretch side pockets that carry extra gear.

The 2/3 panel zip access keep your gear in check while it’s open while providing quick entry accessibility. The Aircore backpanel cavity provides hydration options with a top-exit hydration port on the left or right.

What this means to you: We’ve had our eyes on this bag since it’s been around since 2007 but after a few runs on the slopes we can attest to it’s versatility and function.

Cost: $99 @ Moosejaw

SPOT’s premise is simple: it’s the difference between having something that will save your life and something that won’t. It will work where cell phones won’t. It uses GPS to acquire coordinates and constantly update data to Google Maps - always keeping track of where you are. You can keep updates by sending a pre-programmed message via commercial satellite network. It never loses signal so you’re never lost.

In the unlikely instance that there simply is no GPS network, SPOT will still attempt to send out a distress signal even without exact location and runs a self-diagnostics test every time it’s turned on.

A SPOT plan includes unlimited 9-1-1 Alert, or 1-1-2 (in Europe) service via the GEOS Alliance.

What this means to you: If you’re a solo mountaineer, casual hiker, cross country skier or just out on a jaunt, SPOT’s GPS tether can mean the difference “between coming home in coach and coming home in cargo.”

$170 @ Find Me Spot

Simply put the North Face: Solar Flare sleeping bag is a hard core sleeping bag. It’s trapezoidal baffle construction, vaulted oxford-cloth lined footbox, goose down filling, breathable laminate shell make it one of the top bags out there. It will take you to -20 degrees (F) and take you there in comfort.

Features:

• 7-chamber sculpted hood with dual cord adjustment
• 800+ Eastern European goose down
• Weighs 4 lbs 2 oz (1875 g) Long: 4 lbs 4 oz (1915 g)
• Down-filled draft collar
• Glow-in-the-dark zipper pull
• Ground-level side seams
• Head-level watch pocket
• No-Snag stiffener in zipper column
• Nylon taffeta lining
• One nylon mesh storage sack and one stuffsack included
• One-hand pull cord for easy hood adjustments
• Oversized down-filled draft tube and face comfort tubes
• Polarguard pads in compression zones
• Shadowlite HyVent shell
• Trapezoidal baffle construction with side box baffles

What this means to you: You. Will. Be. Warm.

Cost: ~$500 @ Various Retailers

This winter give those boots and shoes a welcome relief from the elements by putting on a pair of Sorel Timerwolf boots. You’ll save your shoes and your own feet from the harshness of winter and be comfortable while doing it.

Sorel’s brand is known for their well priced and comfortable boots. Having owned two pairs of my own including the Caribou Reserve boots this writer can attest to how well these hold up. Now if only there were more snow…

• Timberwolf boots offer renowned Sorel quality, with a comfort rating of -25°F
• Waterproofed, heavy-duty split-grain leather and nylon uppers sit atop rubber shells for superior protection against the elements
• Seam-sealed construction minimizes leakage and lace-up design with barrel-lock closure at collar seals out snow; midfoot lace lock customizes the fit
• Insulated with 200g Thinsulate® insulation for warmth and moisture management
• Removable 6mm EVA footbeds and EVA inserts at heels and forefeet cushion your every step
• Injection-molded, waterproof rubber shells provide flexibility and traction in cold temperatures
• Rubber lug outsoles deliver dependable traction on wet or dry surfaces

What this means to you: These shoes aren’t just for protection. Give them a go when you camp, hike or just need something a little more rugged than leather.

Cost: $100 @ REI

Buck Knives are no joke and neither are their multi-tools. The Buck 760 Summit Knife is a lockback knife with a partially serrated drop point blade made of 420 HC stainless steel. Basically, it takes a lot to lose it’s edge.

The multi-tool includes a screwdriver, corkscrew, bottle/can opener, lanyard loop, and weighs 3.5 oz. Offered in blue, red, black and medium green (read: lime).

What this means to you: Think “tough as nails yet flexible.”

Cost: $40 @ Sierra Trading Post (on sale)

How do you know when your vacation’s going to be interesting? Well, a good start is when they say it takes the first two days to become acclimated to the height of, oh, 13,000 feet above sea level. Then when you’re on to four days and three nights exploring the 28 mile Inca Trail running/hiking (or walking if you so feel inclined) to your final destination of Machu Picchu. The best part of all this is that you’re only tasked with carring your drinking water and a snack. The rest is handled by the provisioners. We might suggest wearing a pair of these Salomon XA Pro running shoes if you are. Broken in of course.

We won’t waste your time with details, check out their site for the full details.

What this means to you: Stop sitting around letting life pass you buy. Use your next vacation and do something guaranteed no one else in the room will ever trump. Ever.

Cost: $495 (all inclusive) + Airfare to Lima, Peru @ Run The Inca Trail

More crazy photos of the trail itself after the jump.

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Feather-light aluminum is the basis for the Sigg water bottle: a high performance alternative to plastic water bottles for sport and leisure.

The body of the bottle is extruded form a single piece of seamless pure aluminum with a taste-neutral internal coating. The screw top features an integrated seal that is leak-proof, even for carbonated drinks. 100% recyclable.
If all this isn’t Swiss enough for you, the graphic treatment should do the trick. [from product page]
Features

• .60 liter capacity
• Leakproof Top
• Dimensions: 3″L x 2.75″W x 9″H

What this means to you: Drop the Nalgene and upgrade to Sigg. Also available in other colors.

Cost: $19 @ Canoe

Made from a high-strength machined aluminum alloy, this rugged, water-resistant torch can be hand-carried or easily weapon-mounted for search, inspection, or target identification. The single Luxeon Star 1-Watt LED produces an amazing 30 lumens of light — 10 times brighter than standard LEDs — and a collimator in the lens provides a more focused and smoother beam of light. The DC-DC regulated circuit ensures that you’ll get maximum output throughout the entire battery life. Two Duracell alkaline “AA” batteries are included.

What this means to you: Gear up gents, 1-watt never meant so much light and sounded so much like an assault rifle.

Cost: $45 @ Essential Gear