Category: gear

I tried.

I tried to embrace the highly touted Katadyn Combi water filter.

But it is simply too “fussy”.

Something always goes wrong with this filter. It won’t pump. It won’t open. It needs cleaned too often.

I give up.

Many like the Combi, but I agree with this review:

I bought this because of its flow capacity, the dual filtering through carbon and ceramic elements, and its rugged appearance. I have taken it on three heavy-duty backpacking trips into the Adirondaks and the Laurentians of Quebec. The filter was quickly clogged by the dark waters in these regions. I was constantly scrubbing the ceramic element. Replacement elements are quite expensive. On the trail, its weight becomes noticeable. The casing of mine eventually broke. Maybe it works well on the kitchen tap, but it’s too expensive, too heavy, too much work, and not tough enough for the wilderness. I believe there are better values available.

rkylepalmer from Cranbury, NJ, USA – on OutdoorReview.com

Just bought a SweetWater – Microfilter on the advice of a local expert.

I’ll report back on how well it works after my next major hike.

My favourite hiking footwear is made by Dunham. The last store selling Dunham in my city of a million people dropped the line.

Why are the excellent Dunham products so poorly distributed?

Their “store locator” web page has been “under construction” for as long as I can recall.

When I phoned the customer information line I was surprised to get an immediate answer.

But was then directed to the “Canadian number” (877) 738-6426 where I was left hanging.

Dunham seems to have been acquired by New Balance. I hope retail distribution improves with new management. I like to try on new footwear, not buy it online.

We love the new Exped mattresses despite the one with the leaky valve that failed on Mt. Whitney last summer.

One of our few (minor) complaints, they’ve answered:

Exped’s down-filled mattresses are ingenious, but they took so long to inflate that you always end up just calling it good enough when you’re halfway done.

Now Exped is making a pillow filled with open cell foam that makes blowing up your sleeping pad a lot easier. From this angle the pillow looks like it would be as comfy as sleeping on a piece of firewood, but you’ll have to trust me that it’s not too bad.

Written by Rocky Thompson

Backcountry.com: The Goat