Great for base camp. Especially if it is a hike to the water source. I have a 6L so that I can have enough water to cook dinner, breakfast, heat water for tea, have drinking water, brush my teeth, and fill my camelbak reservoir for the next day's hike. It only weighs a couple ounces and folds up, so it is very convenient to have.

I see the other reviewer's complaint, and maybe my striker will suffer the same fate. But for now, it works great. Throws a BUNCH of good sparks. Starts fire. Great to have in the pack as a primary source of fire or as a backup.

I wasn't sure how much I would like this shirt, I am a merino maniac when it comes to mid-layers, but I quickly found it to be indispensable. It is a great layer because it is versatile. Provides a little warmth on a cool morning, and keeps the sun off you in the hot afternoon, keeping you cool. If it gets too hot, roll the sleeves up using the convenient button and loop attached to the sleeve. It handles sweat well, and dries out lightning fast, even after a complete soaking (much faster than my merino layers, I must admit). This (along with my Smartwool midweight) has become a layer that I take on every backpacking trip, regardless of the season. The fit is good, go by the sizing chart.

For some reason, in the gear world, Columbia is considered somewhat of an ugly stepsister to the elite Arc'Teryx, Patagonia, Marmot, etc. I don't understand this. I have several Columbia products and all are first rate pieces of gear which cost much less than similar pieces from the elites. This vest is no exception. It is an essential backpacking piece. Its 700 fill is very warm, yet it weighs a mere 8 ounces, and packs to the size of a softball with the included stuff sack (could get smaller with a compression sack). It could be a life saver in an emergency (such as when I got caught in a thunderstorm in near freezing temps above treeline in Glacier NP and only had this and a merino mid-layer dry to stave off hypothermia) or just worn around the fire on a car camping trip. And if you care about that sort of thing, the reversible function is kind of nice. Bottom line: buy it put it in your pack and be thankful later.

I've seen a lot of people's stoves on the trail, and am always glad that I bought the WindPro. Most canister stoves have two modes, off and jet engine (both in noise and power output). The WindPro has the full range from simmer to blazing heat. It boils water lightning fast, and then turns down to simmer so I don't char my broccoli cheese rice. I am usually eating before my buddies with alcohol have their stoves up and running (seems like you have to perform a seance to get those things to work right). The stove is sturdy as a rock, so you don't need to worry about spilling your dinner. And it is aptly named, because the wind does not faze it.

Have used the Z rest as my only sleep pad for years. Its main advantage is that it VERY light, which I appreciate when going up 2000ft gainers. Also, I love the hassle free accordion style. It is always ready for a quick rest on the side of the trail without having to dismantle my whole pack. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is its thinness. I am a side sleeper, and I have to switch sides several times a night because I feel pressure on my hip bones, not enough to be seriously uncomfortable though. I will stick with the Z rest for years to come though, because the ease and weight savings are too good to pass up.

These shoes are amazingly comfortable, and completely unique. I hate wearing shoes, but sometimes going barefoot or wearing sandals just wont do, so I wear these. The canvas conforms to your foot, so your feet don't feel constricted. And they are light and breathe well. I was a little concerned with durability since they are made from all natural materials, but I have been wearing them almost daily for 6 months with no apparent wear. Whenever they do wear out, I'll be getting another pair. The sizing is right on, order your normal street shoe size.

After obsessively researching 0 degree bags for the upcoming winter backpacking season this past fall, I finally settled on the TNF Snowshoe for 3 reasons: warmth, weight, price. There are plenty of light and warm bags out there, but I couldn't bring myself to spend $400 on a sleeping bag. This is a great winter backpacking bag, 3.5 lbs, packs small, and is toasty into the teens. It is the best value out there. I came across a lot of minor complaints in my scouring of user reviews and I will address them here. "Zipper dangles in face". Saw this one a bunch, but I did not find it to be an issue. While it was in the area of my face, i did not notice it during the night. "Hood is shaped weird, hangs over eyes". In my experience, covering some of your face when it is friggin cold out is a good thing. "Hood draw cords difficult to adjust". My Kelty 25 is like a nailed coffin in this area so the Snowshoe cords seem like a breeze to open. "Not warm enough". Have only tested it down into the teens, but was plenty warm. "Synthetic not as good as down". I disagree, while down is very light and packs small, it loses some of its warmth when wet, where synthetic doesn't. A couple nice additional features are the glow in the dark zipper and the draft shield. Overall, a very nice buy. I recommend completely.

I love merino, and when this sweater came up on SAC, it was a no-brainer. It was my first horny toad product so I didn't know what to expect. The first thing I noticed is how soft it is, not like a brushed wool, more like a smooth cotton. The fit is right on (I am 6'3" 180lbs and got a Large), and though the cut is not as athletic as my ibex shak, it is far from baggy. It seems delicate, more like a cotton knit than a dense wool, so I don't take it backpacking (my shak occupies that distinction), but it is great around town. Very soft, warm, doesn't pill, and has a nice look (can wear it with slacks). Its a great merino sweater, just not very technical, but I recommend it 100% as a casual piece. Footnote: the phantom color is hard to see in the pic, but it is a really interesting color. Somewhere between navy and black, but lighter and with a bit of smokey gray. Phantom is actually a perfect name for it.

I have used this as my primary backpacking tent for about 4 years, including a 550 mile section hike of the AT. The rain fly design keeps the weight under 5lbs and provides boatloads of ventilation, which keeps condensation at a minimum. This is one of the roomiest 2-person tents out there. I am 6'3" and my feet have yet to poke a hole in the end, and I can sit upright with plenty of head clearance. I have used it in all seasons and weather. Holds sturdy in severe thunderstorms with no leaks. In the winter, I don't stake the fly out so the sides hang over the tent and cover the vents. This adds a few more degrees of warmth. On clear summer nights, leave the fly off and since half the tent is mesh, you get a panoramic starry night view. If it starts to rain it takes about 5 seconds to clip the fly on. I can set up the whole freestanding tent and fly in less than a minute. After 4 years of use, never using a footprint, there is almost no wear on the tent. Sierra Designs has made a great product, and at a price less than the other guys, its a must buy.

I wore a synthetic base layer for years. I never considered wool in hot weather. But since I love my smartwool midweight crew so much, I decided to switch my out my synthetic base layer for this guy. WOW! It does a much better job regulating temperature then my old plastic shirt. It wicks, breathes, resists odor, is much softer then that old synthetic (no itch at all), and resists chill when that cool evening breeze picks up. My old synthetic was worse than useless in camp, whereas this guy will provide some warmth, even when wet. I have worn it in 90+ weather with a full backpack and I wasn't any hotter than I would have been with my old synthetic. Merino wool is a miracle fabric, and it is natural and renewable! And it performs better than synthetics. And Smartwool makes the best merino base layers around.

This is the most important piece of clothing that I own. If I am heading out, this smartwool is in my pack. Its greatest strength is temperature regulation. I am continually amazed at its ability to keep me warm and cool at the same time, year round. No matter where I am going or what I activity am doing or what time of year it is, this is part of my layering system, or the only layer I need. The construction is very durable. I have had mine for over 2 years with no signs of wear. Merino wool is king. It is softer than synthetics (sometimes I wear this around the house just because it is so darn comfy), allows multiple wears before you notice any odor, regulates temperature, wicks sweat, keeps its warmth retention even when wet, and on and on. And this midweight smartwool is the best merino piece I own (and I own shirts by ibex, icebreaker, and horny toad). The fit is true to size and athletic. I am 6'3" 180lbs, and the large has a perfect snug fit. It is meant to be worn next to skin, but sometimes I will sneak a short sleeve base layer under it. I really can't say enough about this shirt. It would be well worth it at twice the price. Just get it, you wont regret it. 5 stars is not enough!

Moleskin is essential for backpacks of any length. Blisters can ruin a hike real quick. This pack contains pre-cut forms of different sizes, which allows you to just slap it on and get back on the trail quick and pain free!

Wore it on a winter backpack through the smokies. It was cold, windy, and rainy, and I stayed warm and dry. I was skeptical about its ability to breathe. I thought it would keep rain out only to soak me from sweat. I was wrong! This is the best possible jacket to have in cold, wet weather. And it costs MUCH less than that A brand. And its made in Canada, A brand is made in China.

Took these on a 2 day winter hike up mount mitchell and the black mountain ridgeline. Snow reports were 6-8 inches on the ridges so I knew I needed some extra traction. I wore these the entire time, with conditions ranging from slush to ice to deep snow. The yaktrax performed extremely well in all conditions. In 2 days I did not slip once, including going up a stairway of rocks that were covered with 2 inches of smooth ice with a 45 pound pack on. My only complaint on functionality is that wet snow will clump up very quickly and needs to be broken up. Other than that, these perform beautifully. But by the end of the 2 day trip, the rubber straps on each crampon had broken, which caused the metal coils to fall off. With only two days of use, these are basically disposable, one time use, which is not ideal.