Category: gear

I’m seriously looking at this one.

… we were ecstatic to find out about MSR’s two-man Carbon Reflex 2 (pictured at right). Similar to the popular Single Hubba tent (which is only for one person), they’ve done away with the hubs and are using carbon fiber poles. What does this one weigh in at? Two pounds, thirteen ounces. One ounce heavier than the Single Hubba, but for double the campers.

Outside – Outdoor Retailer: The Shows Lightest and Brainiest Tents

It’s not yet on the MSR website, as I write.

(via The Adventure Blog)

I gots to get one of these.

For the past month, rumors have circulated among the outdoor-gear cognoscenti about a new minimalist air mattress that’d pack to the size of a one-liter Nalgene bottle while providing nearly as much warmth as a bulky pad stuffed with goose down.

Indeed, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Mattress, announced officially on July 17, is now touted as the “world’s lightest, most advanced three-season air mattress.” Manufacturer Cascade Designs Inc. cites the inflatable pad as being approximately three times warmer than any other un-insulated air mattress on the market.

While the pad isn’t yet available for testing — and it won’t ship to stores until April 2009 — …

WHAT! … WHY so long?

NeoAir pads will come in four sizes, but the smallest iteration — which measures 20 x 47 inches unrolled and packs to the size of the aforementioned Nalgene bottle — will weigh a scant 9 ounces, or less than the average trail-running shoe. …

NeoAir debuts next year for $120 – $170, depending on size. If all is as the company claims, this pad could be a panacea for backpackers looking to cut bulk and save weight while still sleeping cozy in a bag on the cold hard ground.

The Gear Junkie Scoop: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir – Outside

I’m loving my ExPed 7 — but it weighs 27.9oz (790gms). I usually leave it at home.

George bought a solar power charger over the winter. So far, he’s very impressed.

The official weight listed is 1.4lbs. But that’s with EVERY piece. If you are only hiking with an iPod and a phone, it would be far lighter than 1lb.

You hang the solar charger anywhere on your pack. It stores a charge for later juicing your camera, phone and other electronics.

I’m convinced. I’ll get one for longer trips this summer. Cost is $130 from Amazon. George got his for less than $100.

Powermonkey Solar Power Portable Charger – Amazon