PNW Trekker 56 from United States, WA Public Profile

Super lightweight utensil. Well made and great design. Folding handle locks with sliding tab. These are the short version, so not ideal for dehydrated food pouches. These are much shorter than I expected, hence 3 stars. Guess I'll have to cut food pouches to accommodate.

Ordered one in black and very surprised with the quality of materials. The pack is a heavy canvas duck which should wear like iron. The shoulder straps are extremely well padded, and very comfortable even under load. I packed a spotting scope, tripod and various gear and despite the heavy load it was very comfortable. The hip belt is small webbing, but the shoulder straps more than make up for that. Since this is a moderately sized day pack the hip belt really doesn't transfer load anyway.

I also liked the retro snap opening for the main compartment with the toggle tightener to close down the opening. It makes access easy and opens up fully. In addition, this pack also has a side zipper to access the main pocket and allows you to do so by removing only one shoulder strap and swiveling the pack in front of you. That's a great feature when you're on the move and want to get something out without removing the pack from your back.

I'm still working on finding the right straps for attaching the tripod or trekking poles on the side. The leather thong has 1" openings so plenty of possibilities once I find the right straps. Finally, there are connection loops on the opening straps and one on the front bottom of the pack. This is one well thought out and well built pack!!

Want to save a tree, or reduce plastic waste? On the pricey side, but this does the job well. The Snow Peak tote compacts down and comes with a biner, so easy to have on hand when shopping. This tote will carry a good heavy load and is easy to pack. I especially like the zip pocket to store shopping list, cell, wallet or whatever. When using this for camping or outing you could store fire starting or other essentials too. Looks well made and should last.

When you combine easy set up with quality material and design it's hard to say anything negative. This table is rock solid and a breeze to open up and secure. The table comes with a nylon carry case that makes transporting and storage a snap. The table top is a quality bamboo material that looks great and very rigid. I'd have no hesitation saying it would support a huge feast, or plenty of camping gear. The table folds open and closed very easily, with a simple locking mechanism for the supports.

Excellent!!

Great idea, less than stellar design.

I have a Snow Peak fire pit and cooking grate. These looked to be a good answer to handling items on the grill without having to take full size tongs, but not entirely impressed with the engineering.

The idea is very good, but these are spot welded at the base of the tongs. The spot welds don't appear sufficient to last. Additionally, the metal these are made of does not maintain the separation when you use them. Each time you use them to grab something the tongs do not spread back out to the distance they were at. You're forced to spread them back out manually each time and this will create metal fatigue at the bends near the base. I don't expect them to last long as the metal will eventually fail.

Purchased this set for a wall tent stove. Went solo camping in Idaho last fall and these tools are perfect for tending a wood stove. Having a pick, shovel and tongs made adjusting coals and maintenance of the fire easy. I set up a chair inside the tent next to the stove and was able to tend the fire and relax knowing I was able to monitor and adjust the fire.

The handles are comfortable, the metal heavy enough to move quartered wood inside a stove and the case makes packing away neat and clean. You can even keep some fire starting supplies inside the small net pocket. These are quality, through and through and should last my lifetime. Excellent purchase!!

By day, a half sized cutting board. By night, a gourmet chef's knife and a cutting board with non-slip feet. You could call it a super hero for camp gear. The cutting board even sports a magnet to help the knife stay in place in the designated slot. Very well thought out piece of kit.

Is it sharp, you ask? Yes, oh yes, so be thankful for the protection for the blade during travel, and your fingers when grabbing utensils out of the camping gear.

When hiking in the mountains, or fishing the rivers in Alaska, I wear two pair of socks. A thin liner and a heavier pair over that. These are the first liner socks I've had that are made with wool. The fit is great with no bunching or heavy seams. They are warmer than synthetic liner socks, so I'll likely be using these for colder days and activities. They breath well, and dry super fast, so a great all-around sock.

Merino wool, in my opinion, is the ultimate base layer. Instantly warm, never itchy, breathes when you're active. I usually buy a size larger and never worry about machine washing and drying (on low to med heat). Smartwool makes a variety of weights for different activities (or lack of), so you can tailor your layering to what your plans are.

There is nothing that compares with a merino base layer for warmth and comfort. On below-freezing days and nights. Or when it's raining for days. Merino is instantly warming and never itchy. I buy a size larger than I would normally wear, and never worry about machine washing and drying (on low to med. heat).

The warmth to weight ratio of merino wool is amazing. It weighs little, but warms better than anything else I've tried. I fish the rivers in Alaska and merino is the best insulating base layer for wading cold rivers. Hiking and climbing the mountains in Idaho...merino breathes well and still keeps you warm. Highly recommended!!