Marie G. from United States, WA Public Profile

I had been searching for a lightweight, packable puffy for an upcoming PCT trip and found this jacket, an absolute steal on sale for around $50. Roomy enough for a couple of layers underneath, but trim enough to wear under a rain or wind jacket. Not sure it would be warm enough for temps much below the high 20's, but should do the job for most 3-season trips.

I purchased the Stratos 26 pack to replace a decade-old Black Diamond daypack that'd seen plenty of action. After researching dozens of daypacks, I settled on Osprey because of the hiking pole stowing feature and specifically the Stratos 26 for its volume. After using it once for a short (6 mile) hike, the most positive feature for me is the pack's fit and suspension system - it carries much like my ultralight multi-day pack, with weight properly distributed to hips and little to none on shoulders. Cons: because of the pack's curved shape, it's a little challenging to pack and makes it seem to have less volume than specified. I haven't found side pockets on any pack that I really like (they all seem to have a weird shape) and the side pockets on this pack don't do anything to change my mind on that score. But overall I really like its suspension and it seems to be well made with extremely durable materials.