Gear Patrol

Earlier this year, we told you about the innovative new BioLite CampStove, which promised to not only cook your wieners but also charge your smartphone using only firewood. This summer, I had a chance to take one camping to see how it worked in the wild. I took it on a road trip to northern…

If you’ve avoided enjoying the great outdoors because you can’t stand being cramped into a stifling claustrophobic tent, check out Stoic’s Arx Xl2 ($188), a tall camper 2-person tent that’s as lightweight as it is spacious. Although the entire structure takes up just 28 square feet of ground, the long and wide dimensions allow for campers…

For outdoorsy types who still want the indoorsy amenities of a fine hotel, consider the Resort at Paws Up, a lux-ranch in Greenough, Montana, about 25 miles from Missoula. Amid scenery straight out of A River Runs Through It (literally — the movie was filmed nearby), you can choose daily activities including ATV riding, fly-fishing,…

That Costco folding-chair special might have seemed like a good deal at the time, but summer’s in full swing so it’s time for an upgrade. The Alite Mantis Chair ($120) is made from breathable 210D ripstop nylon and 7075 aluminum — the stuff used in rock climbing equipment and hang glider frames — weighs only two…

With a design based on the crystalline structure of the diamond, the Heimplanet Cave inflatable tent provides a stable structure with a large square footage. Seating six and sleeping three adults, the five air chambers make raising the tent fast and easy. No fumbling with poles or pins — just unroll and inflate, and let…

REI’s Camp Table XL ($100) knows its place — out of sight and out of your way until it’s called out for action. The aluminum / steel legged heat-resistant slat top unfolds into a large-surfaced table perfect for all the pots, plates, grills and whatever else you need for that campsite party. The individually adjustable…

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…

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,…

“Open Road” is an ongoing series of dispatches written and photographed by guest correspondent, Foster Huntington, during his epic cross-country adventure for his upcoming book by Harper Collins. Foster is the creator of Arestlesstransplant and The Burning House. Check out previous parts of the series here. My alarm went off at 2:15am on Thursday, the…

Surprise the chip off the old block or just re-connect with your inner child by picking up the Summer Camp Care Kit ($145) from Best Made Company. Jam-packed with a horde of nostalgic treasures including Latex slingshot tubing, a four way vintage Swiss army flashlight, a three blade whittling knife, an engineer’s compass, a 45x…

Drive three hours south of Sydney to New South Wales’ Jervis Bay and tucked away on preserved land you’ll find Paperbark Camp. Founded in 1998 by Irena and Jeremy Hutching, the eco-friendly glamping upscale camping lodge touts everything from white-sand beaches with secret coves to pre-breakfast kangaroo spotting. Canoeing and torch-lit night hikes through eucalyptus…

This is not the KFC spork of yore, so dispel those flash backs of middle school field trips and cellophane packaged cutlery. Made entirely of titanium, the super light Triple Aught Design Titanium Folding Spork ($39) reduces arm fatigue as you stuff your face with last night’s left overs. Plus, it has a bottle cap/can…

I’ve preferred air mattresses over sleeping pads for as long as I can remember, but when it came time to buy a lightweight alternative, I immediately turned to the Z Lite by Therm-a-Rest ($30). Many folks who spend a good deal of time sleeping on the ground swear by them, so I wanted to give…

Head lamps have come a long way since we were on our last scouting trip. No longer do you need to have a glorified Mag Lite strapped to your head, bobbing around and weighing your head down. Petzl’s new Tikka Plus 2 has opened our eyes and become quite a convenient piece of gear to…

At Gear Patrol, we look for excuses to be outdoors. Any weekend we can steal away from the comforts of home are welcomed and testing gear is always a bonus. On our weekend adventures, hot water is an absolute necessity. With a splash of hot water, coffee and food can be conceived in no time….

Clean, drinkable water is critical to life on this planet and is a resource that those of us in first world countries often take for granted. That is, unless you’ve traveled far enough to know otherwise. In the past, though, portable options for purifying fresh water while traveling have been pretty dismal. Boiling, of course,…

You might call us latter day Boy Scouts, but we at Gear Patrol have been riffing on a certain theme of late: Be Prepared. It’s just that you never know in what situation you might find yourself, and, when the unexpected strikes, a man wants to be able to be decisive and take charge, knowing…

The Marmot Essence Jacket is just that – the essence of what you need in a rain jacket and nothing more. It keeps you dry, is light and breathable, and you’ll find it eminently packable. The Essence gets a sound GP recommendation in the rain jacket department.

Odd no one thought of it before, but that’s the glory Kershaw Knives gets for having patented the five-in-one carabiner tool. An AUS6A grade stainless steel partially serrated blade, flat-head and Phillips-head drivers, a bottle opener slide right into a carabiner clip made of 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum. You can attach it to a vest, outerwear,…

Camping doesn’t always have to be so rough. The Eureka N!ergy 1210 tent brings you the ability to sleep eight in two rooms with two doors and a gear loft. It has 4 windows, 2 mesh roof vents and sidewalls to let in light and air. Even more interesting is it’s ability to use the…