Andrew McManama

Just Like the jacket, water just bounces off of these pants. I went into this purchase blind because I love the jacket so much. As it turns out these were a great buy! They seem like they might run a tad bigger than the jacket, I got a Medium, and am wondering if the Small will do. But they are made to be worn over something, so not a huge deal.

I do a lot of review reading before I buy any gear. That's how I ended up with this awesome jacket. It's everything you need in a rain jacket for hiking. It's light, compressible, waterproof, and had drawstrings and straps in all the right places. I like the fact that you can stuff it into the left pocket as well. Also, won Backpacker Magazine 2011 Editors Choice for Green product (environmentally sound, not color!). They use a natural oil, not petroleum product to seal it. i would get this again!

When I use this in my osprey daypack (Osprey Daylite), it gives the whole pack more structure. I rally like the magnet clipping system and the bite valve. I am a bit leery about the stitching though. It seems that the stitching is just a place for possible failure. I have had mine out a dozen times or more and have had no issues. It also hold more than it looks like it can. i remember thinking that there was no way it would fit 3L of water. To my surprise, it does!

I was very impressed with this unit. It boils water very fast, and packs up very small. I use homemade meals on the trail for the most part and they would be a pain in the butt to clean out of this. If all you do is boil water and pour it into a bag, this is perfect. If you do ,ore complicated cooking, you might want a regular pot and stove. I find this works best when a friend carries it and I carry my Pocket Rocket and Snow Peak Pots. This way We use the pots for cooking and the Jetboil for boiling.

I bought this primarily for the hanging system because I was tired of fussing with the drying process. after an hour my hydraform was dry as a bone! I have plenty of brushes and the ones that come with this kit are as good as any. Definitely a must if you have the Osprey Hydraform bladder..

These are very lightweight gloves. They fit just fine and have a very soft lining. I could feel how warm they were instantly. My fingers remain usable as well! Good glove for moderate cold conditions. I have not had the chance to test them in the wind or rain yet, but It seems that they would do just fine.

The Airspeed vent system is second to none. It doesn't even feel like it's there! The pack carries the load very well, the straps are comfortable and they really form to your body. I would definitely encourage a friend to get this pack. It is versatile and well built. Plenty of pockets for organization of your gear. And Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee can't be beat.

This tent is very easy to set up. It is light weight and packs down quite nicely. On dry nights you can omit the rain fly and look up at the stars. Very breathable, no condensation issues to speak of. Plenty of room to move around inside as well. The poles are a tiny bit awkward, but not bad at all.

I was just looking for a simple pair of trail running shoes. I saw this deal on BC and couldn't pass it up. I happen to be a size 9.5 and the only size left was 10. The previous reviews say to buy a half size up because these run small, which is true. The 10's fit me perfectly! They are nothing too fancy, but they are comfortable and light. i like the drawstring laces, they hold the shoes on just right. I took these on a short run and they felt great instantly. Can't wait to use these some more! I may even try some day hiking in them to preserve my mid weight boots that I use for backpacking.

The kestrel is a great series. I really like the way they fit and distribute the weight of the load. I dry camped with mine, so I was carrying 14 pounds of water alone and it held the extra weight great. My total pack weight was 45 pounds including water and food, and I had no issues at all.
There are plenty of compartments for very easy access to your gear with tons of space inside the main section as well. The side pockets stuff to the inside, so they are a bit of a pain to pack once the main compartment is full, but not too bad. I really like the hydration sleeve being on the outside. You really don't notice that the bladder is even there (I use the Osprey Hydraform). It is a bit of a pain to pull in and out with a full pack though.
Lot's of places to clip on gear if you need to, including a very convenient place for your trekking poles. This pack really has everything I would need in a backpack. And you have got to love the integrated rain cover! All in all this is a great pack that will do well on an extended trip.

Very light, inexpensive and comfortable. Great insulator for sure. I've heard complaints from side-sleepers, I had no comfort issues on my side. It is a little bulky, but no issue putting it on an external strap. The best part is IT WON'T POP!

I have the 2011 model of this pack, but I've seen the 2012's at the store and tried them out. They are pretty much the same as the 2011 with a few minor changes (i.e, the location of the bottom compression strap). he kestrel is a great series. I really like the way they fit and distribute the weight of the load. I dry camped with mine, so I was carrying 14 pounds of water alone and it held the extra weight great. My total pack weight was 45 pounds including water and food, and I had no issues at all.
There are plenty of compartments for very easy access to your gear with tons of space inside the main section as well. The side pockets stuff to the inside, so they are a bit of a pain to pack once the main compartment is full, but not too bad. I really like the hydration sleeve being on the outside. You really don't notice that the bladder is even there (I use the Osprey Hydraform). It is a bit of a pain to pull in and out with a full pack though.
Lot's of places to clip on gear if you need to, including a very convenient place for your trekking poles. This pack really has everything I would need in a backpack. And you have got to love the integrated rain cover! All in all this is a great pack that will do well on an extended trip.

These are wind proof, but not water proof. The stitching is coming undone after a few years which is an easy repair. I am going to be shopping for a better pair. They are dexterous enough and the material is sturdy.

This is one of the few redundant items that I bring. I have a headlamp as well, but I use this lantern at camp and in my tent. It has a very nice hanging system so you can keep it hung and ready to light in the middle of the night. I like the fact that it has a dimmer. The battery seems to last for a long time as well. As with any AA or AAA battery item I use Lithium for the extended life and lighter weight.

This bear barrel has a lot more room then many of the others, It takes up more room as well though. It is lighter than some of the smaller models. The opening is nice and wide as well, making putting a cook set inside easier. I can fit 10 days of food in here with nothing else. As long as I make sure to bring some very lightweight items (couscous, oatmeal, clif bars, etc.). I also like the fact that you do not need any other tool besides your hands to open this barrel. I also use it as a seat in camp. Just be sure it's 100% closed.

I generally wear just a synthetic t-shirt when I am hiking, but I like to keep this with me if I need the pocket space, extra layer, or something that fits nice and loosely. This is a very comfortable shirt that feels nice and light on the skin. I do like the way the sleeves roll up and secure with a button. The back vent is a nice feature. Although not my favorite hiking shirt, it is one of my hiking shirts.

Although I like the cut of the boxer brief better, these are awesome. They clean easily and dry fast. I never notice them while they are on. I would highly recommend these to other travelers.

These are the Muhammed Ali of Boxer Briefs. They are easy to clean and quick drying. They are the perfect backpacking boxer. I have worn these on every trip I've been on and I will continue that trend.

I do a lot of review reading before I buy any gear. That's how I ended up with this awesome jacket. It's everything you need in a rain jacket for hiking. It's light, compressible, waterproof, and had drawstrings and straps in all the right places. I like the fact that you can stuff it into the left pocket as well. Also, won Backpacker Magazine 2011 Editors Choice for Green product (environmentally sound, not color!). They use a natural oil, not petroleum product to seal it. i would get this again!

This cook set is light and strong. I use the smaller pot as a mug and the larger for cooking. I like the idea of frying pans as lids, but I have yet to use it this way. I usually stick to easy, boil water and add to food methods of cooking while in the backcountry. These clean easily and can fir a fuel can in the small pot. If you have the snow peak LiteMax it will fit in the small pot as well.

This is a great stove for backpacking. Light, small, and compact. I like how it screws to the fuel canister, using it as a base, thus eliminating the need for one built on. It doesn't seem as stable as other stoves, but I have yet to knock it over. It flared up on me once so be careful if you choose to use it in a tent or vestibule. If you are looking to do anything else besides boil water and BASIC cooking, look elsewhere. If you are a minimalist, this product is awesome!

I endured too many hikes with the stock insoles for my boots. I had tried a few different pairs including Superfeet and Dr. Scholls. Neither was very good for me. They just seemed to poke my feet and feel awkward in my boots. I got a pair of these and was instantly happy. I tried them without molding at first, but that had too much arch support even for me. I went ahead and molded them and they are perfect now. The balls of my feet are feeling great now. I will never even try on a pair of boots with the stock insole ever again. These are the only insoles that exist as far as I am concerned.

I like the ceramic filter, simple to clean and tastes good. It's a tad bulky and heavy compared to some brands and it is not the fastest draw in the west. It does seem to speed up though by the second or third bottle. I have read some horror stories about the filter breaking, but to issues here for 5 years. Even if you don't use wide mouth Nalgene bottles you can use this filter. I got an extra hose and I just attach it to the nipple on the output and fill my Platypus or my Hydraform reservoir.

All in all this is a good, long lasting water filter.

I use this pack for day hiking around Southern California. It is big enough to hold anything I need and compresses quite nicely when not fully loaded. I like the external sleeve for the hydration system. I have always been a tad paranoid about putting water in with my pack so this system works great for me. You do have to adjust the pack as you drink water from the bladder, but it's really not a huge hassle. The compression straps are a bit funky, I wish they had a clip or something. The cinch cord comes in very handy for a jacket, map, or sleeping pad. This pack could even sustain a true minimalist over a night or two where bear can are not required.

I have seen this used as an add on for the Aether series. It looks a bit awkward, but it seems to attach nicely and stay secure to your main pack. Definitely a good attachment if you are doing a lot of base camping or peak bagging. I won't be using it as an attachment because I can fit 10 days worth of stuff into my Kestrel no problem but I can see it's uses for this purpose.

This headlamp is very bright! I love the flood feature, it keeps camp lit up quite nicely. I really like the ability to toggle the light down so my hiking partners don't go blind. This is a great product!

I love these boots! They were comfortable instantly. I love the support they give and they are 100% waterproof so far. I was not impressed with the stock insoles, but I can't remember the last time I was. They have been very durable over about a hundred miles. I have heard some people say that they fell apart right away, and this is not the case for me and I am very hard on shoes. There is a spot on one of the seams near the sole that MAY be coming undone, but It has looked like it has for a while and nothing else has happened to them.

These are great poles. Lightweight, durable and comfortable. They holt to the size you set them to. My only complaint is that they did not come with the tips, those are sold separately. I would get these again.

I love this down! it has been a great top layer on cold mornings and an under layer at camp or in cold conditions. It seems to keep me at the perfect temperature while hiking on a cold day, not too hot or cold. I love how light and compact it is as well.