Backcountry.com Newsletter Articles

As the seventh employee ever hired by Backcountry.com, Robert Bethke has seen this company go through some major changes. He started when the whole show was run out of a garage and now is the controller for the finance department. Robert is a key player in determining and implementing Backcountry.com’s financial goals, so given our continued success, we have a lot to thank him for.

Having a great time with his four-year-old son Kenyon is the driving force in Bob’s life, and the two of them have been on several adventures together. We’re not talking watching birds in the park—their next planned trip together: Belize. With so much experience in the outdoor industry, Bob has tried more gear than most people have ever seen. Here he tells us about some of his favorites in his own words.

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  • Black Diamond Firstlight Tent: Love this tent for backpacking. It only weighs 2-pounds 11-ounces, and it kept me dry in what could have been one of the most horrific desert storms ever down in Grand Gulch (6-inch deep streams became 6- to 8-foot deep raging rivers).
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  • Garmont G-Ride G-Fit Alpine Touring Boots: Great ski boots for this Randonee skier. Most comfortable boot liner I have used. Strong and stable for confidently accessing the goods.
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  • Marmot Hydrogen Sleeping Bag: Perfect for backpacking. Only weighs 1-pound 8-ounces. Packs really small. Light is right.
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  • DAKINE Poacher Backpack: I use this pack for both winter and summer backcountry tours. Well designed and very functional.
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  • Montrail Vitesse Trail Running Shoes: Awesome shoes for local trail runs, backpack, hiking, or a moonlight walk around the lake. Never blisters my feet, good stability, excellent tread, and still light too!
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  • Silvretta Pure Performance Touring Ski: I used to have Fritschi Diamir bindings, but the Pure saves weight without sacrificing performance. Easy to click out of binding with a ski pole when you have a big heavy pack on. These have held up nicely, even though I am 200 pounds.