Matthew Brown (Olympia, WA)

I bought mine about 7 years ago. It has been on many backpacking trips and is still in great shape. I consider it somewhat of a luxury item so I don't bring it on every trip. I DO bring it when I know the ground is going to be wet or if I am camping in snow. It is also super-handy when filtering water out of a creek. I took away one star for weight but I would buy another one if I had to.

I have used my eTrex while hiking, snowshoeing, in my car, and while boating on Puget Sound. I get the most use out of it in the winter when trails are covered in snow. I've had trouble getting a good signal in foul weather. I also wish I had gotten the one with the color screen. You can buy a National Parks CD and download trail maps to your GPS which is a pretty cool feature. It's nothing fancy. It has all the basic features and it works just fine for me.

When I get to camp, one of the the first things I do is get water. Out comes my Platypus 2 liter which I have had for years. My MSR Sweetwater's bottle adapter screws right on. To clean it, fill it with water and drop in a couple of Efferdent tablets.

I have a couple of these. They are tough as nails and I take one on every trip. I use mine for water, wine, gatorade. Once, while on the trail, I filled it with huckleberries (used the next morning for pancakes).

I got the 775ml (next to smallest) pot about 4 years ago. Yes, stainless steel is heavier than aluminum (which leaves a bad taste on food) and titanium (which is really expensive), but this pot is bullet-proof plus I can stow my MSR Pocket Rocket inside it along with some aluminum foil (wind screen) and matches. Then I can lock it all up and forgetaboutit. I took away one star for the weight but I still love this pot.

Freeze-dried ice cream? I tried it and it's actually good. A little weird feeling in your mouth until it starts to melt. Then it tastes just like, well...melted ice cream. Kinda cool and always a conversation starter.

What else is there to say, Mountain House is the best! And my all-time favorite meal is their Lasagna. I have not met anyone who has tried it who has not liked it.

After years of trial and error, I only pack Mountain House. I don't know what it is, but their meals are the best tasting and easiest to prepare. Just add hot water (cold in a pinch) to the pouch, wait, and eat. The Pasta Primavera is one of my favorites and I take one on every hike.

I've had my Sweetwater filter for about 5 years now and I have filtered plenty of water with this beauty. It is a "must-have" in my pack. I really like the double action pump (pumps on the up and down stroke). There are other systems that are smaller but they filter slower (I prefer not spending all day pumping water). When you get home from your trip, put the filter canister in the freezer to prevent mold and to kill any bacteria.

I have had my pocket rocket since 2003. My all-time favorite stove for summer hiking. Uber-small with a blow-torch-like flame. I really appeciate the large flame control that flips out from the body. Mine came with a hard case. Don't use in winter (unless you feel like warming up the canister under your shirt). Don't use at high elevation. I would buy another one without hesitation.

We bought this pack for our 9-year-old daughter's first "big" overnight hike (A 10-mile out-and-back on Olympic National Park's Hoh River Trail). We are really pleased with Deuter's Fox 30. First, the adjustability is super. Right out of the box, it took only a few moments to fit the pack to her torso length. Second, the pack has all of the little features you would find on adult-sized packs just smaller. Third, the 30L/1800 cu in. volume was just right for our little hiker. Obviously, kids won't be hauling any of the heavy stuff, but we got all of the essential "kid gear" inside (small sleeping bag, water bladder, some clothes, snacks, flashlight...etc.). Fourth, and the most important test in my opinion...comfort. She wore the pack all day hiking in and all day hiking out with no complaints of discomfort (trust me we asked). Bottom line, if I had to buy another kids pack, I would buy the exact same one.

It has been a particularly wet winter this year in the Northwest, and I bought these primarily so I could continue biking to work. At about 1/3 of the price of some, I am very pleased with the performance of these rain pants. I have had no problems keeping dry in even the wettest conditions. When it stops raining, they come with a stuff sack about the size of a soda can, which makes hiding them in your pack easy. When the legs are unzipped, the sheath makes taking them off/on while wearing shoes more difficult. However, considering the price, it is something I can live with.

For years I used a closed-cell foam pad or a self-inflating pad. I finally decided to get an InsulMat Max-Thermo to see if would make a difference. Wow, I never knew how much sleep I was losing. A good night's sleep means I have more energy on the trail and a more enjoyable hike if I’m out there for a several days. It's a bit narrower than I was hoping but I have no complaints. It stuffs to about the size of a small loaf of bread and weighs far less than my self-inflating pad. Inflating it only takes a few min which I make up for by sleeping all night.

I got by without a rainshell for awhile but I finally got caught in a 3-day rain storm on ONP's wilderness coast this year. The wind made my emergency poncho useless. So, I decided that I needed a light-weight, compact rain-shell that didn't cost $200. I couldn't be happier with Sierra Designs' Hurricane LT. You can vent under the arms and through unzipped pockets to keep cool. The short hem keeps the jacket out-of-the-way while climbing rocks or on more difficult trails. The hood could use a stiff brim and the fabric could breathe a little better, but for the money, it's a great coat.

I like the loose fit and the super-soft fabric on the El Cap. It works great as a lone piece during those cool summer mornings here in the Northwest.

This is a great baselayer. It works equally well alone or under a jacket. It fits close to your body so you never know it's there.