California hike from United States, CA Public Profile

I love this Snow Peak double-walled mug for backcountry trips; perfect size and with the optional lid it keeps hot drinks hot for a long time, allowing for leisurely morning or evening sipping.

Just got the Helinox Chair One, to replace my older-model REI Flexlite chair. The Helinox is a few ounces heavier than the Flexlite (32 oz. compared to 26.65 oz. for the Flexlite). The Helinox is a bit wider and the seat is mostly fabric with some mesh parts on the sides (the Flexlite seat is mostly mesh). Because of these two factors the Haelinox is the more comfortable chair, feels more solid. However, I struggled to get it set up for a few minutes because there are no loops on the upper pockets; the Flexlite chair has these loops and they make it MUCH easier to pull the upper pockets over the pole ends. I finally reversed how I usually set up the Flexlite and the Helinox Ground chair I also own (at 22.75 oz. it's the chair I take backpacking), putting the top pockets on first and then the lower pockets. Possibly the fabric of the brand-new chair will stretch a bit with use and it won't be so difficult to set up, but a set of loops such as the REI chair has would make this a non-issue, though it would add another ounce or so to the weight. Note to Helinox: add those loops and this would be the perfect lightweight camp chair. As it is, it's still a great chair!

Lightweight, comfortable (no break-in), great traction. What more could one want in a 3-season GTX hiking boot!

I've owned several Big Agnes tents over the years and recently upgraded to this 2014 edition of the Copper Spur UL 2, after having gotten several years' use out of my older model. I've tried several other brands of lightweight backpacking tents but I'm staying with Big Agnes, due to their excellent quality. The CS2 is a generously proportioned 2-person tent, lightweight considering the side door (a must for me), and a snap to set up/take down. My Big Agnes tents have kept me dry and protected in hours-long Sierra rainstorms, held up well in harsh winds, and handled being pitched on gravel, rock, duff, sand, etc. with no damage (I always use a footprint). I expect to get many years of happy camping from this newer version of the CS2.

This is my second Copper Spur UL 2, replacing one I've used for several years, which has held up well--just wanted to upgrade to a later version. The CS 2 has kept me, and sometimes me and my dog, safe, dry, warm, and pleasantly sheltered through all kinds of Sierra weather and conditions. It's roomy, nicely designed, easy and quick to set up, and has served me well as my home in the wilderness. I have seen many other tents when backpacking with others but none better.

Bought this as a companion to my much-loved Mont Bell Thermawrap jacket, and it delivers the same excellent quality. Very lightweight, reasonably compressible into the included stuff sack (doesn't stuff down as small as down would, but unlike down it will retain its warmth even if it gets a bit wet), It has excellent warmth-to-weight ratio--kept me warm enough to hang out on a 9,100K peak recently