Gear Review

Snow Peak Giga Power camp stove:
GREAT little stove. Super small and boils water in a blink of an eye. I found the auto-igniter very convenient. The unit needs level and secure ground as it is otherwise a little unstable due to its small size.

Lowa Renegade II hiking boots:
Love them! Light, comfortable, rugged, waterproof, and fits like a running shoe. Downside, expensive and they don’t breath as well as light hikers.

REI campware Sierra Cup:
I found this little cup as durable as it was useful. I only wish they made a larger model. Caution, the handle gets very hot.

REI half dome 2-man tent:
This tent is one of my prized possessions. I bit bulky for fast packing, but it’s worth it when you set up camp and have a spacious tent to benefit from. As much as I enjoy it, I will probably move to a one man tent to continue reducing the weight of my pack.

Nalgene water bottles:
I have a cabinet full of these bottles for a reason. They are durable with a wide mouth and secure lid.

Garmin Oregon 550t:
One of the coolest “techy” devices on the market. Seldom used on a well marked trail. Although, it came in handy when I needed to give coordinates to Andrea to pick me up. Good for emergencies, otherwise it is an overpriced gadget.

Kodak Play sport camera/camcorder:
I’ve put this little camera through hell and it never fails me. It’s waterproof, cheap, and small. Picture quality isn’t great, but I would highly recommend this to any outdoorsmen looking to capture pictures and small videos of their adventures.

Osprey Amos 65 internal frame backpack:
This is a big, spacious, and comfortable pack. I’m struggling with the fit due to my weight gain. The waist strap keeps slipping lower, below my belly, which puts more of the load on my shoulders. This isn’t an issue unless you’re on a long hike or have a heavy load. Osprey is on the expensive side, but the craftsmanship and attention to detail is worth the money.

Freezer bag cooking recipes:
Not too sure about this method yet. Agree it is cheaper and lighter. Since I don’t hike often, it might be easier for me to stick with commercial made foods made for hikers.

Therma-a-rest sleeping pad:
Lightweight, comfortable, and easy to deploy. I like the accordion fold which allows the pad to lie flat immediately, unlike the curving seen on rolled pads. I find the price mark expensive for “foam”. The pad is easily torn when brushed against trees, limbs, etc.

REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles:
Lightlight and durable. Nonessential weight on smaller hikes. Multi-use item. I frequency use them to clear areas around a tree before sitting, and clearing the areas behind downed logs before crossing over towards unseen snakes. Also useful when crossing creeks, both for stability and ensure water depth.

SteriPen Classic:
Smaller and cheaper than a water filer pump. I haven’t used the SteriPen water purifier yet, but I’m concerned about anything that I can’t fix in the field.

Things I need for my next hike;
Lighter camp shoes (flip-flops)
Commercially packed meals
One-man tent
Consider air sleeping pad versus foam pad