Gear Patrol

Our collective taste buds have been maturing at a rapid rate, and no longer will charcoal laden processed meats satisfy the hunger achieved after a long day of hiking the wilderness. The Primus Firehole is the essential tool for any outdoor enthusiast who also knows the secret to a great meal is a controllable, consistent…

We all get to the point where we just want to be alone. For those who use camping excursions as that outlet, rejoice. The Easton Kilo 1P ($348) is here. Weighing in at a hair over two pounds with short folding poles, it fits in nearly any pack perfectly and unnoticeably. It’s time to replace…

Make like Lady MacBeth when you get tagged for KP during your next foray into the “wild” with the Coleman All-in-One Portable Sink ($50). This camp cleaner sports a pressurized spraying system, powered by either the included battery cartridge and four “D” batteries or Coleman’s CPX 6 rechargeable battery pack (sold separately) that provides a…

Perfect for remote work sites, camping, a day at the beach, or after muddin’ on your favorite trail, the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower will have you smelling like a rose on your birthday deathbed (end lyrics). The Helio shower boasts an 11 liter (2.9 gal) capacity, good for 5-7 minutes of steady water pressure, and…

One look at Poler’s product line which includes phenomenal names such as the Duffaluffagus ($80), and items like the Napsack ($130), a wearable sleeping bag with sleeve holes and a hood, and you’ll quickly understand this is no Patagonia in the making. Instead, they’d rather focus on creating some hard-hitting camping gear with a pinch…

There’s nothing like the great outdoors, and for your money, that first cup of coffee on a cool wilderness morning is as good as it gets. But such serenity is easily undermined by a flat, bitter cup of instant coffee. Your delicate French press doesn’t really fit in the woods, but that shouldn’t keep you…

As any seasoned backpacker will tell you, charging electronics while far from electrical sources is not yet a perfected task. With solar technology getting more efficient, and external batteries getting more powerful, the solutions are growing. However, the options are still bulky and heavy – the biggest adversaries for outdoorspeople. Enter the PowerPot, the most…

Did you know that more people die from drinking contaminated water than all forms of violence? What if you could help those people simply through your gear acquisitions? Now you can, with the exceptionally stylish and sleek-looking Miir Waterbottle ($15+). For every bottle you purchase Miir’s one4one initiative donates one full dollar to those who…

The Stormfront Pack ($279) is any simple outdoor adventurer’s dream. Its beefed-up backpack form is made of 840-denier double polyurethane-coated nylon fabric (that’s science-speak for “super waterproof stuff”) and features a waterproof zipper system, an internal custom-fit padded gear case complete with adjustable divider, and even a separate zippered mesh pocket. The Pack’s backpack harness…

It’s a pretty safe bet that a backpack designed to haul 45 pounds of gear into debris-spewing, quadruple-digit infernos can also handle muling a shovel, miscellaneous clothes and tools up a sleepy peak. That’s the way Nargear figures, anyway. The company has been manufacturing burly backpacks for parachuting firefighters for more than a decade and…

Now that summer’s just around the bend, it’s time to start thinking about making the most of your weekends again. But, if your idea of car camping is heading for the nearest KOA with a Honda Civic jammed full of Sports Authority clearance rack tents, it might just be time to rethink your strategy. Instead,…

Journals have always played a prominent and intimate role in the history of great adventurers. In spite of the seemingly endless proliferation of i-madness, even Steve Jobs couldn’t duplicate the tactile joy of putting pen to paper. While we’ve recommended many options for this gear staple in the past, the hand-made Tanner Goods Clay Notebook…

The great outdoors is both something to fear and something to cherish. While exploring, one of the most frustrating challenges can be sleeping comfortably. This renders a good tent a truly valuable asset, and a lot of details contribute to that quality. As comfortable as it is beautiful, the NEMO Equipment Losi ($450) is a…

Looking good should never be your first priority when trekking, but that doesn’t mean feeling dirty is fun. The Scrubba Portable Wash Bag ($30) is a new project started by Ashley Newlandon on the Kickstarter competitor IndieGoGo. The idea came to her while prepping for her summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. As she saw it, soaking…

At first glance, the Doubleback looks like your average VW Transporter van. Pushing a single button, however, completely transforms the popular European passenger carrier into a home away from home in just under a minute. Thanks to the extra room provided by the extendable pod, the central cabin serves as a fully functioning kitchen, complete…

The 24-hour news cycle can keep your head spinning if you don’t take some time to escape. Heck, the fact that we know who Justin Beiber is upsets us. Viscerally. Nonetheless, when the time comes for a relaxing weekend get-away, think about packing the Hammock Compatible Sleeping Bag from Grand Trunk ($180) next to the…

The antithesis of ultralight backpacking? Hauling your own oven to bake 12′ frozen pizzas in the great outdoors. We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with the drag-your-home-into-the-bush mentality (we’ll wolf down a DiGiorno as fast as the next desperate soul after days of dehydrated meals), but at 41 lbs, Coleman’s new outdoor portable oven and…

Who doesn’t love car camping? All the benefits of the outdoors without having to forego some vital creature comforts. But it can still be a royal pain setting up and breaking down camp. Plus, moving from tent to eating/sitting/chillin’ areas can be not so seamless. The Holtkamper Kyte tent trailer can change all that and…

KEEN is the master of versatile footwear (though they have yet to make a killer pair of wingtips), shoes that effortlessly go from trailhead to casual Friday to happy hour. And just when we thought they couldn’t possibly make another cool day hiker, they come out with a new one – the Ambler. Rather than…

Stanley’s classic all steel vacuum bottles have been a fixture of campsites and worksites for decades, thanks to their durable design and excellent sealing. The Adventure Multi-use Bottle ($10) is a natural progression from those classic roots. The versatile screw-off body makes the bottle easy to clean and also pulls double duty as a 24…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…