Protozoa, Bacteria, Virus Free Water. Sounds Delicious.

The last thing you want is Giardia.

When you go hiking how clean is your water? More importantly, how heavy is it? At around two pounds a liter, water is one of the heaviest things in your pack, but you never want to underestimate what you’ll need out there. So next time you hit the trail lighten your load and bring a Katadyn Hiker water filter and fill up at any stream on or off the trail.

At eleven ounces, the Swiss made Katadyn Hiker is perfect for back country. It will filter out all the nasties in any water you come across, even the dreaded giardia. I used it on a recent hike up Half Dome in Yosemite National Park (photo from my trek after the jump), and I’m glad to report an issue free trip, if you know what I mean. Too much information? Perhaps, but hey it worked and it saved my ass from getting dehydrated when my party ran out of water.

Cost: $52
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21st Century Breadcrumbs

The BackTrack is required directional gear for outdoorsmen and parking-lot goers alike.

Let’s face it. Some people are directionally challenged. Hell, one of the guys here can’t even make it to the golf course, even with a navigation system (Eric: I resent that.). So you can imagine the relief when Bushnell agreed that they’d equip the GP team here with BackTracks and give us the chance to get ourselves lost, and more importantly, un-lost.

Equipped with a high sensitivity SiRF Star III GPS receiver, the BackTrack can store and locate up to three locations. Simply push a button and the BackTrack will remember your current location. Whether it’s finding your car after a football game (post-beer) or hiking back to base camp on your latest excursion, the Backtrack will guide the way. The digital interface even provides distance and directional cues. Throw in a built-in self calibrating digital compass and the BackTrack is now standard issue at GP.

The BackTrack comes in camo, orange, white and even pink… Just in case you’d like to not-so-subtly give your significant other a hint about her aptitude for losing the car at Whole Foods.

Cost: $74

Also See: Colibri Xtreme II High Altitude Lighter | Pelican 2480 ELS Emergency Lighting Station | Osprey Stratos 18 Daypack

Burn Baby Burn

I have serious doubts that many of you spend a regular amount of time 13,000 feet above sea level. Well, this is Gear Patrol so maybe you do.

If so, then I sincerely hope you’ve got a Colibri XTREME II High Altitude Wind Resistant Butane Lighter packed with your gear. According to the manual that came with my Colibri, the Xtreme II is the first lighter specifically designed for high altitude conditions. It’s also perfect for those outdoor excursions I know you love taking and using an excuse for overengineered gear.

The Xtreme II uses Colibri’s Quantum ignition system that produces a damn-near scary single column flame that won’t falter - no matter how much wind or how little oxygen you have. Its metal encasing has threaded caps that seal each end of the lighter and the bottom camp even has it’s own integrated compass. Pretty handy.

Cost: $55

Yeah, it’s a saw. We’re posting a hand saw and this is why. A guy needs to know his way around tools and being able to saw through a piece of wood is a necessary skill set.

The Lynx saw by the Garlick Saw Company of Sheffield England has a heritage of over 150 years. Each piece is handcrafted one at a time by an English craftsman. The steel alloy blade’s teeth are taper ground to a straight tooth line ensuring proper geometry (no binding = no strained shoulders). The handle is made of gorgeous American Black Walnut.

This saw is often backordered wherever you look so buy and plan accordingly.

How to: Proper handsaw basics article at Popular Mechanics.

Cost: $180 @ Traditional Woodworker

From the Sahara to the Adirondacks there’s nothing quite like going on a camping excursion in a Land Rover (substitute Toyota’s Land Cruiser, GM’s Hummer or any Jeep depending on preference). Why mess with a ground tent when you can loft yourself to the roof of your truck? Avoid wet ground, critters, and bears (we hope not) with a Hannibal Rooftop Tent mounted on a Hannibal Rooftop Rack.

Originally designed for South African safaris, hunting and adventures the rooftop rack offers a lot more advantages than something cool to outfit your ride with. The safety advantages, storing and ease are just a few reasons why. Hell, the view alone is worth the price of admission.

What this means to you: This might be the single best justification for wasting so much of your hard earned cash on gas for your SUV. “Oh yeah, you’ve got 300 horsepower? Well, my Rover’s got a patio.”

Full list of features after the jump.

Cost: Rack+Tent $2500 @ Hannibal

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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