• Trial by the Fire. 2011’s Newest Camp Tech Tested by the Backcountry Crew.

    Four of our gear experts traveled to the foot of the Eastern Sierra to test 2011’s newest camping gear. What follows is the result of three days of pitching tents, stuffing packs, and zipping into sleeping bags while the mountains dished out four seasons of weather.

    Bishop, CA. — Buttermilk Country
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    “It served the purpose that I was looking for really well. It’s got just a couple pockets and you can keep everything you need for a short to medium ride.” – Pip

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    “This is pretty much the bomb pack for any of your alpine climbing-type adventures. It looks and works equally well out in the park or up in the ”pine.” – Ben

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    “This new bag is super compact and lightweight, but inside it is incredibly soft and comfortable. Its baffled 850-fill down insulation and hood seal you up like a baked potato.” – Jeff

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    “This simple, two-person backpacking tent is easy to assemble with its no-fly clip design, and its simplicity doesn’t take anything away from its ability to fend off raging wind and rain.” – Re

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    Backcountry.com athlete Pip Hunt can’t be more than one place at a time, but if she could she’d be skiing perfect Wasatch powder, riding dusty single-track, coaching kids on the AltaBird Freeride Team, and sniffing out gluten-free bakeries. When she’s done doing her downhill thing, she spends nights camped out in the desert or cramped in crowded RVs, so she knows what she likes when it comes to staying comfortable in the backcountry.

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    As a climber and expedition photographer, Ben Ditto’s lifestyle finds him on big walls, icy peaks, and traveling everywhere in between with a camera or two in hand. Throughout his 23-year climbing career, he has developed an intimate knowledge of gear and what it takes to outlast the harsh, vertical world. In April he and his team won climbing’s highest honor, the Piolet d’Or, for ten big wall first ascents around the coast of Greenland that they scouted from the deck of a 33-foot sailboat.

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    Writer for Backcountry.com and Southern-bred trail-head, Jeff Miesbauer, followed his love for the mountains from the muggy Appalachians to the rugged Wasatch. After a few hundred miles of trail and too many powder days to count, he knows what works and what doesn’t work in the backcountry. To him, wandering out into the unknown with just enough gear to get by, crammed into his pack, is what it’s all about.

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    Odds are that as you read this, Backcountry.com photographer Re Wikstrom is driving somewhere rad, and when she gets there she’ll be snapping cover shots. Only the willingness to get dirty, snowy, and sunburned can propel an artist toward her level. This equates to many nights under the stars, relying on quality gear to keep her sensitive tools, mind, and body sheltered so she’s primed for the next chance at good light.

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    The North Face Phoenix 2 Tent

    A single-walled clip tent for bedding down in the backcountry. View Detail

    “This simple, two-person backpacking tent is easy to assemble with its no-fly clip design, while it still guards against rain and wind with twin zippered vestibules. Mesh walls provide plenty of ventilation during sunny mornings, and glow-in-the-dark zippers are a nice touch at night. The solid pole design creates ample headroom and a super sturdy shelter during stormy weather.” – Re

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    Black Diamond Speed 40 Backpack

    Fast push. View Detail

    “This is pretty much the bomb pack for any of your alpine climbing-type adventures. It looks and works equally well out in the park or up in the ‘pine. This model has a roll-top, but also features a large expandable collar for that emergency bivouac situation or perhaps you just throw in the kitchen sink. It’s got the reActiv Black Diamond shoulder harness-the shoulder strap connections are connected all the way through so when you’re swinging your arms the pack and shoulder harness move with your body.” – Ben

    Osprey Verve 10 Hydration Pack

    The not-too-big, not-too-little choice for lady single-track junkies. View Detail

    “It served the purpose that I was looking for really well. It’s a women-specific pack so it’s got a shorter back length, which I really like, because I’m not very big and I often run into moments where the back of the pack is hitting my helmet and it’s really uncomfortable. This fit perfectly. I could hardly even feel that I was wearing it the whole time. It’s got just a couple pockets and you can keep everything you need for a short to medium ride.” – Pip

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    Sea to Summit XtII 12 Degree Sleeping Bag

    Warmth, comfort, and versatility all rolled up into a solid bag. View Detail

    “This new bag is super compact and lightweight, but inside it is incredibly soft and comfortable. Its baffled 850-fill down insulation and hood seal you up like a baked potato. During warmer nights, the versatile, full-length zip system lets you open the footbox for venting but allows you to open the entire bag for use as a quilt. Its tough 3D NanoShell fabric resists moisture and features a membrane that protects the down from condensation build-up.” – Jeff