Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

Heat your meals, charge your phone

They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks — but the same axiom apparently isn’t true for the wood burning camp stove — the oldest camping gear dog of all. Like any other timber burnin’ stove, the BioLite CampStove is great for cooking, since there’s no risk of fire-starting chemicals flavoring your grub. Lugging [...]

Lite a fire

For grilling in the great outdoors, lightweight construction and portability are a must, but without durability and a flexibility, there’s really not much point (or culinary joy) in lugging one around. Oddly, there aren’t that many great options out there. Newcomer SlatGrill ($110), designed by Chris Weyandt of St. Paul Minnesota, offers up a solution [...]

What down side?

The next time you think Mother Nature has lost her edge to science, consider this fact. Despite all of the advanced synthetic insulators on the market today, no material boasts a better warmth to weight ratio than down. The trouble is that down’s got a serious achilles heel. As most outdoor enthusiasts know, its thermal [...]

Gourmet kitchen in nature's motel

Just because you can’t (or won’t) lug your Calphalons along with you doesn’t mean your bivouac has to be barren of cookware. At least not with a set of GSI Outdoor cookware like the Pinnacle Base Camper ($110). Built with durability and easy stowability in mind, the set includes everything you need for your next [...]

One glove that works better than two

Most winter gloves force adventure seekers to choose between protection and dexterity. If you’re sick of dealing with mummy-like hand skills for the sake of keeping warm, then take a gander at the G-Comp Wind Glove ($80) from Italian outdoor brand Camp. The medium weight base glove features a durable, synthetic leather palm and Grip’R [...]

Light Trail

Taking the road less more traveled, Adidas Outdoor (think: an athletic approach to getting outside) has unveiled a lineup of gear for 2012 that has us ready to shed the parkas and hit the trails. Namely, the Terrex Fast R Hiking Boot ($195). Featuring a high-tech Traxion sole developed in conjunction with Continental — yup, [...]

Chuck the plastic, toast the steel

If you weren’t one of our eagle eye readers that spotted them in yesterday’s Tasting Notes feature (there’s a hint after the jump), this should make things a bit more obvious. A collaboration between Nau and the BPA-free boffins at Kleen Kanteen, these stainless steel ($39) chalices are made from food-grade stainless steel and feature [...]

Hot pocket

After a long wait and numerous teaser posts, GORUCK Field Pockets ($85-$110) are finally up for grabs. While there are plenty of excellent MOLLE pouch options out there, we’ve been holding out for GR’s option, and it’s been worth the wait. In the lineup are three pockets of varying sizes from 1.6L to 4.2L, each [...]

New school waffle stompers

When you’re hauling a week’s worth of gear on rough terrain, nothing beats a heavy duty pair of thick leather backpacking boots. But let’s face it, most of the time, it’s a day hike to see some fall colors or a romp in a muddy dog park with man’s best friend. Then you don’t want [...]

Zen and the Art of Carrying Whisky

Titanium, the wonder metal, is used for a variety of things, from surgical screws to watch cases to bicycle frames. It is known for its resistance to corrosion, its incredible strength to weight ratio and its bio-compatibility. It is also difficult to machine and fairly expensive. But forget all that. Titanium just looks cool, which [...]

Enemy of the Stake

That killer new tent you bought might snap together in mere minutes, but it won’t take care of the fact that those plastic stakes will yank right out of any soft ground, sand, or snow at the slighest gust or accidental trip. Luckily, a solution exists. Toughstakes ($30, pair), bestow bedrock-like anchoring for your tent [...]

Adjustable Toughness

Wolverine boots need no introduction. Founded in Rockford, Michigan in 1883, Wolverine has been manufacturing Gibralatar-like footwear since before your granddaddy was born. But this doesn’t mean they aren’t ahead of the footwear technology game. Their new Wolverine Fulcrum ICS boots are infused with the Individual Comfort System that provides an adjustable gel disc in [...]

Ahead Lamp

We’ve seen headlamps and we’ve seen hanging lanterns, but worthy combinations of the two? Not as many. Usually because of cumbersome operation. The Snow Peak SnowMiner ($50) headlamp solves that problem through its patent pending design, which involves a unique lens that quickly removes to transform the headlamp into a wide, 180 degree ambient light [...]

Pyre Strikes Back

Starting fires with a lighter is quick and easy, but there’s still magic in the old school. Flint aside, a magnesium striker can make kick-starting a fire a simple affair. The fact that magnesium ignites regardless of damp conditions, is lightweight, and also remains stable when packed make it a camping staple. This magnesium starter [...]

Mountain Inspired, Man Approved

Mountain Khakis has quickly become one of our favorite outdoor apparel purveyors. While we’ve been busy wearing their pants during most of our outdoor pursuits, Mountain Khakis has been re-imagining a broader line of clothing. Newly released as part of their Fall collection, the Teton Flannel Shirt ($80) caught our eye. I know what you’re [...]