I have hiked for years and never used trekking poles. I decided to give them a try on a recent backpacking trip on the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama. Mostly I used one pole, and let my son use the other. These BD poles worked great, providing much needed balance on descents over large rocks and during a stream crossing. Even when substantial weight was put on the pole, it never slipped from the length I had set it to, but it did flex some. The lock mechanism was very tight, even hard to open. I left it this way to insure the poles locked tight, but there is a screw to adjust the tension. I'm glad I got the standard size, instead of the compact. At 6'3", 135 cm was most comfortable for me.

I took my 2 young boys on their first overnight backpacking trip last week. It was our first chance to try out the Mutha Hubba. The set-up was easy since we had practiced at home, which is recommended with the hub-pole design-- not hard to do, just different. It started raining hard about mid-night and the wind picked up. The rain slowed, but never stopped. We were dry all night with not a drop of leakage and only minimal condensation. The fly never flapped in the wind since we guyed it out with the 2 cords included. For the record, I carried the tent/fly, poles/stakes and footprint in my pack, since I wanted to make the boys' first trip as enjoyable as possible. It was not as bad as I thought it would be, but I plan to divide the load next time.

I just bought the Gourmet Set and received it this week. I took it out today and used it in the backyard ahead of my upcoming backpacking trip. First off, the stove paired with the 1L PCS cup is just as advertised and boils water real quick. Had no issue with the piezo igniter, but plan to bring a back-up on my trip, since it looks pretty delicate and could be broken in pack/unpack. I used the coffee press to make a cup and was surprised how well the cozy insulated. The last sip was still warm. Totally impressed with this part of the package.

The stabilizer was easy to attach to the fuel can and really did stabilize. The pot support worked, sitting inside the flux ring keeping the fry pan from sliding too far to the side. My fried egg turned out great-- no problem turning it. I did pick the pan up a few times to keep it from cooking too fast. Even on the lowest setting, barely enough to maintain a flame, the pan heats very quickly. The foldable handles on the pan feel pretty flimsy, and kept folding in toward the pan while cooking. I will improvise a clip or bring a rubber band to hold them in place. The rivet that hold the handle assembly to the pan is the likely future failure point, but with care it will likely last many trips. The utensils were the biggest disappointment with this set. The spatula was functional for the egg and I plan to use it for pancakes. The spoon was fine for stirring coffee. The fork feels too flimsy to be of much use. I think I will leave the spoon and fork and opt for something more substantial. The best part is that the system is so well designed that fuel can, optional coffee press, stove, pot support and stabilizer all fit inside the 1L pot, with the utensils on the outside of the cozy. This neat package weighs 739g. The fry pan adds 294g more.

Overall, a great cook set.

2 "cool" features of this shirt: 1. the mesh vents on the sides, which don't get covered up by my pack, 2. the collar, which has a crescent-shaped fold underneath that can be unfolded to keep the sun off your neck, but is invisible when folded under in normal collar mode.

2 surprising aspects: 1. the soft feel of the desert cloth fabric is unexpectedly nice, 2. the shirt I received had a tag that said "pussywillow", even though I ordered the discontinued "curb" and curb is listed on the packing slip. Very pleased with the light-khaki appearance, which ever color it is.

I was surprised at just how little space this kit takes up and how light it is. I am planning to add some kid-specific items for overnight hikes with my boys. The reflective piping around the edges is a plus in case it gets mislaid in camp.

It's just a footprint, right? But if you make a substantial invest in a top-notch tent it would be a boneheaded move not to protect the investment. Gotta have it.

OK, so maybe I am getting old. Now that my boys are old enough for hiking and not just car-camping, we have started going on overnight trips. My old therma-rest was the weak link in my backcountry experience. I cannot fall asleep on my back, and so sleep on my side all night. Inevitably I wake up every hour or so with an aching hip. No longer. The BA pad is a lot thicker with more cushion between my bony hip and the hard ground. Of course you don't blow it up to 2.5" unless you want to sleep on a piece of lumber. For my taste, a little less than 2" is about right, which is about twice as much as the old therma-rest.