To Quilt or Not to Quilt

To quilt or not to quilt? That is the question.

There's something new in the state of sleeping bags. It isn't a revolution. It's a revelation.

Quilts save weight, compared to sleeping bags, by eliminating insulation beneath the sleeper. It only gets compressed by your weight, anyway, rendering the insulating properties useless. Quilts pack smaller, open up fully into a blanket on warm nights, and their versatility means they work over a wider temperature range.

To make sleeping on an air mattress more like sleeping in bed under a duvet, manfacturers are introducing all kinds of closure innovations to wrap you up like a burrito at night. Some quilts use zippers; some use bottons and snaps; some use straps and pull cords.

The bottom line: quilts are a game changer for people like me who toss and turn at night. No more rolling off your sleeping pad. No more getting twisted up in the hood you cinched around your neck. If you are a side or stomach sleeper, are you willing to trade the cocoon-coziness and "draft security" of full enclosure for a roomier, more comfotable night's sleep?

Last year I reported my first summer quilt experiences with the Nemo Siren 30 and Western Mountaineering EverLite 40, both in the ultralight sleeping bag category. Both are built for warm weather or even tropical trips with nights, ideally, in the 60s. In a pinch, both bags should weather dips into the 40s, as long as you're wearing everything in your pack. I found the Siren warmer, quieter and more comfortable, even with its "bare back" design that requires you to slip your sleeping pad inside. The EverLite is more versatile. Its full length zipper lets you open the bag up for a great car quilt or travel duvet.

Three Season Use

Now for upgrading the three season bags in our household. Since Wee Sprite is suddenly taller than I am, it was time to retire her favorite REI kids' model. While at it, I reluctantly decided to part with my trustworthy Western Mountaineering 15 degree mummy bag. Still in great condition, I knew it would fetch a good price. But the zipper was on the wrong side, which had always bothered me, and the GoreTex Pro shell had always semeed a tad too stiff and noisy. I recycled both sleeping bags through Roanoke Mountain Adventures.

Folks at my local shop Back Country Ski & Sport (serving AT hikers in the Roanoke Valley since 1979) helped me choose another innovative model from Nemo to replace Sprite's sleeping bag.

Nemo's Jam 15

Nemo's Women's Jam 15 down sleeping bag,
only available in right zip right now. The
ingenious vertical zippers allow heat to vent
on warm nights through the baffles.

Not Mummy's Mummy

The Jam 15 has a lot going for it--including the same blanket fold feature I'd enjoyed with my Siren. It far outperforms any draft collar I've ever had to strangle myself with in order to keep cold air off my neck. Tuck it in around your shoulders on a cool night, push it out on a warm night--this single design feature almost makes you feel like you're sleeping in a bed.

For my new three season sleep system, I'll be experimenting with a very warm version of the Revelation 20 quilt that has taken thru hikers, touring cyclists and paddlers by storm. Enlightened Equipment of Minnesota sells the Revelation off the shelf in limited lengths, widths, colors and configurations. Their custom-made quilts offer a dazzling array of options.


My Revelation

In the life cycle of an adventurer, I've entered the Mature Phase. I sleep colder now. So I heeded user advice and ordered a quilt with a warmer comfort rating. EE's published ratings are for survival, not comfort, so went TWO steps warmer. This should compare favorably with my old WM alpine mummy bag. I chose a wide width (best for side sleepers) and a compromise shell weight between light and durable (20D ripstop fabric on the outside, 10D on the inside).

My virtual Revelation 0 quilt,
as pictured on the clever EE web site. 

Mind-boggling customization1
Here's my configuration.

A note about what I see as the major drawback of sleeping quilts vs. sleeping bags. Quilting means that you will be sleeping directly on your sleeping pad or air mattress. When's the last time you checked in the dictonary under Exped, Sea to Summit or Thermarest for "breathable" or even "comfortable against the skin"? Luckily, there's a solution to this problem. But it won't win you street cred with the ultralight brigade.

Ever since lighter down with greater loft became available, I've been using a sleeping bag liner as part of my sleep system. Not only is a liner softer next to the skin than any nylon shell, it keeps skin oils and moisture away from your expensive, fragile 800+ goose down. Now, with a sleeping quilt, your liner can be used for that cocoon-like feeling of enclosure on a cold night. On warm nights, slip your pad into the liner and it's almost like sleeping on a bed sheet.

So light weight is not the primary reason why I'll test drive a premium down quilt this year for three season use. It's comfort. And versatility. And adventure.

Is 2018 when you'll make the switch from sleeping bag to quilt? Let me know!

With this model, Enlightened Equipment makes a donation to Texas hurricane relief.

New Rule on Ultralight Tents

New rule: don't stuff your ultralight tents any more. You've got to fold 'em or roll 'em. 

I've come to this conclusion after a few seasons of endless tent repair on my BD Hilight, a single wall.

Dainty ultralights (made from fabrics lighter than 10 denier) have their appeal, but toughness isn't one of them. The micro holes seem to be caused by abrasion inside the pack. This is being confirmed all over the web by other ultralight tent testers. And it's something that none of us can fully prevent.

It spells good news, though, for pricey footprint sales. Buy one for all your ultralights, then wrap them up inside like burritos for travel. You've got a backup in your tent floor, after all, in case the footprint tears on a rock or a root.

Don't be wet. Just buy a footprint.

This season I'm comparing two double-wall 2P tents with double doors: the Copper Spur UL from Big Agnes and the Nemo Hornet. I'll let you know how it goes.

New Ultralight Summer Sleeping Bags

Global warming means I never know what season I'm in any more.

But I can say this for sure: summer is when you're only willing to carry a 500 gram sleeping bag.


This year I've been sleeping better with an ultralight wrapped around me. It's the down Siren from Nemo Equipment. It's as pretty as a backless dress and designed like one too.

At 530 grams of 850-fill power down, it's rated below freezing if you cinch it up completely. The bag has a wide temperature range if you drape it loosely like a duvet and layer up or down underneath.

I tested this versatility recently on the AT, on nights ushered in by warm winds, followed by cold storms that cleared 'round midnight. Near dawn, it started to rain again.

At bedtime I slipped my insulated Exped DownMat into the foot of the bag and drew in the drawstring beneath the sleeping pad to wrap it loosely around the sleeping pad. I snuggled into a Thermax liner and wiggled in, drawing my covers up loosely around my chest. During the night, there were always plenty of covers to burrow beneath.

The Siren is luxuriously quiet. Its wraparound design meant that I never once slid off the pad. The quilt concept offers near boudoir-quality freedom of movement. I drifted awake almost certain I was in a bed, not in a tent.

Western Mountaineering makes an even lighter summer quilt (411 grams), rated to 40F, that practically disappears in your pack or pannier bag and unzips fully for hostel use. It's not as pretty, not as soft and not as quiet as Nemo's Siren. What is? But the Western will be my low-elevation summer bedmate after May day.

Down insulation: still warmest for its weight.
Still the most packable. Still the most comfortable.
Pricey and high maintenance, but worth it.
I wish all manufacturers certified their down like Patagonia does....

Modern Poncho

Climb high and dry in Patagonia's Post Foamback
Cagoule. Plus it's got that cool William-of-Baskerville
look in The Name of the Rose. 

AT, CDT and PCT thru-hikers, check it out! Barbour people, this compares favorably:

Patagonia has sent their limited edition, retro classic Cagoule (a long, pullover rain shell) to the Dillon outlet store. Prices have been slashed by a third, and soon there won't be any more left. Who knows if they will ever make this amazing piece again?

GoreTex Packlite provides waterproof/breathability over a wide temperature range with a soft, quiet hand. Perfect for walking in the rain all day with very little else worn beneath. The jacket folds into its own pocket (you can clip it to your harness). In driving rain, for grace under pressure, pull the long skirt down over your knees and sit out the storm.

I started coveting this elusive garment as a student learning to navigate icefall on the Roosevelt Glacier on Mt. Baker, years ago. I awoke on Day 2 to rain pissing down at 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and it never stopped for the rest of the week.

My instructor, on the star-spangled team at the American Alpine Institute (the best climbing school there is, in my view, which puts me in agreement with Jon Krakauer for once!), spent the week shouting encouragement at the base of various seracs, totally dry under an umbrella in a Scottish cagoule from the 1960s or something, and I've never been so jealous. He just rolled it up and cinched the drawcord waist when he needed to tie in. Today's Patagonia version even has side zips for kangaroo access.

Expensive, but worth every penny.

If there's only one gift you ever give the long distance hiker in your life, this is it.  But hurry, because they'll soon be only just a dream once again.

Sideways: check. Climbing? Not. This is an ass-kicking
17th century downpour from
Brotherhood of the Wolf.
The Patagonia Cagoule protects from these, too.

How Many Packs?

Springtime in Virginia: almost time for my annual service project in memory of my childhood friend, Lolly Winans, who was murdered in Shendandoah National Park on Memorial Day weekend back in in 1996, four years after I spent my year on the trail. Time to pack the overnight gear, shoulder the burden and head up to the Appalachian Trail to commune with this year's crop of thru hikers on their way north from Springer Mountain, Georgia. They'll be hungry; it has been a very cold spring.

Photo: Chad, trailname "Stick,"
courtesy sticksblog.com.

Like most outdoorsy types, I've got a few rucksacks. People ask how many. Here's what I carry on my back and what they're for.

Just remember that, as with clothes and shoes, packs are designed with model users in mind, and not all packs fit everyone well. Torso length, back breadth and the cut of the shoulder straps are the three main fit issues in backpacks.

Sometimes you have to rule out an entire manufacturer. Doesn't mean they don't produce tricked-out, high quality soft goods. Cold Cold World make some terrific alpine rucksacks, for instance, but they don't fit my body. Same with the super rugged crag packs by Mountain HardWear and Marmot. Obsessed with ultralight, I carried big heavy winter loads with an ultralight MontBell pack for a few years until I simply got fed up with the poor fit. I remember the day I had to give away my expensive, off-the-rack McHale Dyneema pack because it had been hell to carry on a couple trips in the Sierras. (Custom is the only way to go with acclaimed McHale, who are superb craftsmen, just like Feathered Friends who have the happy hand with custom down bags and apparel, and so I look forward to trying out a McHale rucksack again someday.)

Other times, certain lines just don't' feel right, while others fit like a glove. I've had this issue with both Patagonia and Black Diamond. So there's no substitute for trying on a fully weighted pack (loaded with your own gear) before you buy. And since this is such a hassle, just accept that you'll make a few mistakes before you settle on the perfect rucksack.

Packs and their uses are best laid out by size. Back when I trekked the Appalachian Trail, the standard volume measurement was cubic inches. The world has switched to liters now:

9 L Black Diamond Flash

The Patagonia Ascenionist
ready for Chamonix.
I bought the light grey
version because I like to
see what's inside.
Choose bright colors for
alpine routes. 

Basically an adventure racing or trail running pack. Barely enough room for water, snacks, essentials and a windbreaker or safety blanket. Light as a feather and disappears into your travel luggage. Great for running up the Sky Meadow blue blaze to the AT, cycling around the Mall, half days along the Hudson or rollerblading in Santa Monica.

20 L Black Diamond Bullet 
The breed standard climber's pack, this goes inside my crag pack or approach pack on rock and ice climbs. It has two haul loops, a whistle on the sternum strap, works with a water bladder and carries everything you need for a long day. Rugged, reliable, intuitive enough to give to your partner, stripped down. A bottomless pit. Can never work out why trad leaders need the bigger size.

32 L Black Diamond Sphinx 
My crag pack. Carries a full rack, rock & ice gear, helmet and a rope to the bottom of your route in addition to all your personal gear (stuffed inside the 20 L lead pack). The stiff lower back pad anchors the heavy 45 lb loads you'll carry in winter. 

35 L Patagonia Ascensionist 
The new kid on the block. Perfect for fast approaches, warm weather overnights or winter day trips where you keep moving. Ice tools attach easily but there are no haul loops, no floating lid and not even a place to secure your keys: this is a seriously minimalist design aesthetic. Flexible fabric suspension, tensioned by a light aircraft aluminum grade rod, moves with you and the shoulder straps/hip pads are comfortable. Don't overload it, and this will be an ultralight joy to carry.

The Osprey Variant 52 and a paddle
gets you to your route in Norway.

52 L Osprey Variant
Short winter alpine trips are no problem for this lightweight, full-featured workhorse. I can pull a sled from the gear loops on the waist belt (no harness needed), carry skis, haul the pack, and lug all the climbing and camping gear I need for a couple days in the backcountry. Side pockets accommodate pickets and wands. Has a similar suspension system to the Ascensionist's, only this one is burlier, extending through the lumbar  pad. Also features my favorite detail: a whistle on the sternum strap. (Dude, no not separate from your pack when you are cold, injured and lost!) Easy and secure ice tool attachment system. I love the dedicated med kit pocket in front of the shovel pocket. Everyone on your trip can get to it in an emergency. Plus this pack fits me like a glove and carries great even without back stays. (BTW, I've noticed Ospreys dominate on the Appalachian Trail. Great mix of quality, value and intelligent design.)

The Astra 62 by Canadian
quality masters, ArcTeryx.
Hi tech with thoughtful details
like helmet compatibility
and a jointed hip belt.
The color is tasteful enough
for trekking.

62 L ArcTeryx Astra
People say it's over designed and maybe it is. I take this on trips of 3-5 days, on shoulder season trips when I need a warm bulky sleeping bag, and on all deluxe backpacking trips where extras like big tents, chairs, lanterns, wine, whiskey, camp shoes, cooked breakfast and French Press coffee are non-negotiables. Friends tell me it's the best trekking pack they've ever owned, with a horseshoe zipper that makes it easier to play Town & Country. It's not the lightest, at just over 4 pounds, but it organizes and carries 50 lb. loads like nothing else. If you've ever had to play superhero, camp with kids or haul somebody else's gear off the mountain, you know what those bulky, unexpected loads can feel like. The hip belt is jointed at the lumbar attachment point--a bit high tech (requiring silicon lubrication)--but the pack moves with you, and you feel very agile under the weight. Beautifully designed down to the last detail, although the side water bladder pocket is a bit skimpy; only big enough for a 2 liter platypus bladder.

115 L Dana Designs Astralplane
Old faithful. Highly customized fit. Most reparable in the field. Very useful for field medicine and search and rescue: side zips allow you to carry out a sick or injured person in this pack. Alaskans and military types swear by this thing. Carried one in winter on my 1991 AT hike after my trusty old Mountainsmith blew out. For hunters and white gas stove people fearing leaks, the separate fuel pockets are worth the weight. NOLS people: this is the kinda thing you want for those trips. Big enough to pack the kitchen sink. Heavy at like 8 pounds but carries 60-100 lb. loads like a porter. (Some smartass on the internet writes, "if you have to ask how heavy that is, you won't be able to pick it up." Not true. There's a trick to it.) Dana Designs are now manufactured by Mystery Ranch in Bozeman, Montana.

These packs keep their place in my gear loft because they all add to the pleasures of self-sufficiency off the grid. So experiment with rucksacks of different styles and volumes and get out there!

Best Romantic Glow

Until last week, all I knew about Portland-based Snow Peak was the popular ultra-light stove that I don’t carry. (I use the GSI Soloist instead.)

This micro lantern by Snow Peak
won the Travel + Leisure Design Award

Then I got wowed by a Mini Hozuki.

That’s the packable lantern by Snow Peak that really does light like a candle. No more harsh LED glare in your tent at night. The mini Hozuki hangs from a gear loop and fills your cozy nest with a soft, warm glow. 

Why shouldn’t the light on your table or inside your tent compare favorably with full moonlight?

I had the chance to bask in them both the other night in Death Valley, and there’ll always be a place in my pack for this nifty little 1.9-oz. lantern from now on. It packs a punch of 60 lumens and strobes when needed, then dials down for quiet conversation.

Never pack out without a headlamp, but for solo trips you might want to consider leaving your BD Apollo behind and taking this along instead.

How many tents do you need?

About a year ago, a motorcyclist returned from her maiden cross-country tour with stars in her eyes. She handed back the tent I’d loaned her (she’d kept it in pristine condition) and told me stories about the highlights of her trip.

The most wondrous nights, by far, were the ones she’d spent camping. The silence. The solitude. The color. The wide horizon. The pleasures of self-sufficiency. The freedom of the journey, wherever your road takes you.

She was hooked on the backcountry. She started peppering me with questions about trekking, backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, the lot. Finally she worked her way up to the big question, “How many tents do I need?”

That’s the same question my wife just asked me, with our checkbook in hand and a slightly different tone in her voice, after I replaced my old Garuda single-wall solo tent with a new Black Diamond HiLight.

The answer is five tents and a bivy sack, if outdoor adventure is your life’s calling. And if you climb big walls, you’ll need a portaledge—a tent that anchors you to a rock face.

Romantic portaledge

Epic portaledge

But let’s leave the portaledge for another post.


Five tents and a bivy bag

Build your inventory of tents over time, beginning with your most immediate need for shelter. The first couple of purchases may vary, but here’s the typical order: 


Two person, three season backpacking tent

Two-person tents come in lots of shapes and sizes

This is the tent you will be spending the most quality time in with another person, so don’t skimp here. Designed to split the weight between two people on backpacking trips, the best tents in this category are not the lightest. They weigh in at about 5-8 pounds. Double wall design gives you weather protection, breathability and ample vestibule storage for your gear so you can enjoy all the space inside. These tents should be strong and comfortable, with all the bells and whistles that make it a pleasure to sit out a storm in spring, summer or fall. Pay attention to details like:

• Length, width and height: are you really comfortable? Can two people sit up and face one another? 
• Wall color: is it soothing? Depressing?

  

  It's nice to be able to check
   the weather without having to
  leave your tent in a storm

• Fabric and netting pattern on on the ceiling: will condensation roll off or drip onto your face? 
• Big, wide doors: two are always better than one 
• Ventilation pattern: can you visualize airflow from bottom to top and from one end of the tent to another? 
• Fabric windows that cover the mosquito netting and roll back on hot nights
• Skylights in the fly 
• lots of handy storage pockets 
• Fly that rolls back for stargazing and extra ventilation
• and even gear lofts. 

Solo ultralight tent with vestibule

Mountain Hardware Sprite is my solo summer tent

This is the tent you take on solo treks and short trips in spring, summer and fall. You may even travel with this tent in your airline luggage, so there is no reason for excess weight or bulk. You will find a lot of variety in this category, so pare down your requirements to the features that are most important to you. Some people want a fee-standing tent at all costs. Some people want the shortest setup time. Others care most about a huge vestibule that keeps their gear dry for an early start, yet still has room to fire up the stove for breakfast from their sleeping bag. Some people need to be able to fully sit up. For others, maximum netting is required for summer trips.


Alpine tent: ultralight, single wall

Big, burly, expensive alpine tent that sleeps two

This is your climbing tent, your alpine tent, your “Long Way Round” moto touring tent that packs down small and weighs next to nothing, and the weight-shaving, single-wall design means that it will work best in dry climates or at altitude. It should be a palace for one but a tight squeeze for two people who may need to share body heat in winter. Cross-ventilation is a must.




Family camping tent

Go ahead--bring the kitchen sink

Your off-the-grid hotel room. The joy you’ll get from this tent is, fortunately, inversely proportional to its price. You don’t need to spend a fortune these days for great “car camping” tents that sleep four to six in a pinch (often with two rooms) and deliver luxury accommodation for two on trips where you don’t have to carry their 20-pound bulk to the campsite. Just don’t expect these tents to hold up well in heavy rain or against wind gusts of 25 mph or greater. Always stake them out completely, using guy lines to bolster stability. Look for:

Pockets: more is better

• High ceilings: can you stand up inside? 
• Width: will your big, honkin’ air mattress fit with room for you to walk around it? 
• Two big doors 
• Gigantic vestibules, front and back, where you can store gear and cook & eat meals in the rain if necessary. Always buy the vestibule, even if it costs extra. These tents are rarely waterproof without the vestibule. 
• Double windows (netting and fabric) 
• Roll-back fly for scenic views and “air conditioning” on clear days and nights 
• Storage: lots of “closet space” and ceiling hooks for lighting and storage 

Winter tent 

Generally the last thing to add to your inventory, this is a 3-4 person tent made for winter camping. Great winter tents are expensive but definitely worth the money. Strength is important, both in the fabric and in the poles. A two-wall design will be heavier to carry but warmer at night, offering the added bonus of more vestibule space. The steep sidewalls are designed to shed snowfall. Make sure you can set up this tent wearing gloves. Make sure the stake loops are big enough for skis. Look for some or all of these extra features:

• Retro reflective coating so that you can find your tent in a whiteout using a headlamp 
• Cross-ventilation that lets you cook inside during a storm 
• Trap door that covers a “sink” beneath the floor 
• Two big doors that you can open easily with gloves on, and access on both sides of the vestibule 
• Vestibules that shelter you while your putting on and taking off your boots 
• Gear loft for drying socks, hats and gloves 

Bivy sack

This bivy sack lets you tie in
from your harness to an anchor

From the lightweight, heat-retaining safety blankets that go in your med kit to sophisticated waterproof/breathable bivy bags that will let you sleep on a ledge while tied in to an anchor, there is a broad array of emergency solo shelters. On my Appalachian Trail trek, I slept in a bivy bag every night to insulate my sleep system from the wet dog who shared my tent. My winter alpine rucksacks have bivy features built-in: foam pads, snow skirts and emergency whistles.

The main point here is that you should always plan for darkness and/or injury when traveling alone off the grid. Buy an affordable solo shelter that you can crawl into and zip up when injured, wet, lost and tired. Make sure it’s roomy enough for your fattest sleeping bag. The most important question to ask yourself about this purchase is: “Will I really carry this in my day pack?” It can’t save your life if it’s not in your rucksack.

Final words of wisdom when building up your tent inventory: Never buy a tent you haven’t set up and struck down yourself. Never buy a tent you don’t love. Proceed slowly, on the lookout for bargains and clearances. And always buy the footprint that goes with the tent—it protects the tent floor.

Time to start logging in some unforgettable nights out!

Moonlight Hikes

I’m off tonight under the full moon. Well, it's as close to a full moon as the mother of a preteen can get. Can't wait for a midnight swim under a waterfall and a naked dip into a moonlit pool or two.

What’s not to leave behind?

My towel.

And thanks to microfiber, I can now afford the weight and bulk of something that will feel cozy and really dry me off for a cool, comfortable descent.

The truly luxurious choice is still the big, honkin’ Tek Towel from Sea to Summit. The photo shows the thick nap that’s got a spa-quality feel. But be warned. These towels soak up a lot of water, and even wrung out they’re slower to dry than the worthy competitor, PackTowel. At night, no way. These towels want full sun to dry in an hour or two.

But tonight I think all I’ll need is my bandana-size, go-to travel and climbing towel, CamPack from N-Rit. It’s the silkiest pack towel made, light and absorbent, and it dries in the breeze. Better yet for midnight hikes, it clips to its pouch. Nothing more irritating than losing the handy pouch for a travel towel.

When’s the last time you went skinnydipping? Maybe I’ll see you out there.

P.S. On midnight hikes, don’t forget your flask, your med kit, an ultralight bivy sack, some insulation in case you need to sit it out till dawn, maybe some pepper spray, and your SPOT tracker. Tell your friends or family where you’re headed. Make sure your car keys are clipped in. Don’t forget to turn off the cabin lights in your car. Know how the land lies. Know your way. And see if you can keep your headlamp in your pocket!

Best Clothes Line

Next stop: Spain.

Laundry the old fashioned way

My Napoleonic drama is up for best unproduced screenplay at the Madrid International Film festival. Pretty cool.

So what’s tucked away in my carry-on roller this time? 

The Lite Line Clothesline by Sea to Summit.

This thing changed my life in camp. No more ants in my pants from underwear left to dry on a stump. No more disappearing dish towels, socks, bandanas. No more putting on soaking wet, freezing cold sports bras at six in the morning. No more dew-soaked sleeping bags meant to be airing out while I’m striking camp. 

Now try it the hi-tech way

Face it. The para-cord clothesline has its limits. Wind blows stuff off it. The same wind you need for drying your clothes.

For no extra weight, try this. It’s a 1.3 ounce valet’s assistant with sliding beads that grip your drying items. It sets up easy and sturdy in 30 seconds between any two objects anywhere from 12-20 feet apart. It tightens itself. And it disappears in your luggage or your pack.

Sea to Summit, you’ve done it again. Clever, beautiful gear that works every time.



I have a Lite Line for every traveler in the household.

Lite Line Clothesline by Sea to Summit

So get out there and don’t worry about getting wet. It’ll dry.

Good little speakers

Here's what I travel with when I want to listen to music off the grid. It's got perfectly good sound given its ultralight weight and extreme packability. It's the size of a golf ball. I can almost always find a place for it on the moto, in my pack or in my luggage. The pop-up design feature delivers "vacuum bass." And it's energy-efficient. There are several brands to choose from, and I haven't tested them all.

Jawbone's Big Jambox

It's not strong enough for parties, though. For really good sound that's bluetooth compatible with our smartphones, laptops and iPad, we love the Big Jambox by Jawbone. Looks like prices are all over the map for this, so caveat emptor. This hi fi system totally likes living near an electrical outlet.

Z Poles

Never leave your poles behind again

Go no farther in search of trekking poles. Twenty years of walking with sticks has finally led me to perfection: Z Poles by Black Diamond Equipment.

They’re strong, light and comfortable. Details include ergonomic hook and loop wrist straps and 3M reflective patches so you can find them at night wearing a headlamp.

Most important, they fold up small and fit easily into your travel luggage.

Buy the right size; they come in different lengths. You’ll never be tempted to leave these sticks behind. I took mine across the Atlantic recently for the pleasure of a single day’s scramble along the Cornish coast.

Best Cuppa Joe

When Starbucks introduced micro-ground coffee packets a few years back, accompanied by a major drumroll on the part of Outside magazine and other "industry watchers," I assumed my French press days were over.

And good riddance, I thought, because even my lightweight plastic Bodum press wasn't holding up well to field use. It was as bulky as a thermos. And I was getting bored with my coffee tasting like yesterday's sweaty socks.

Then I suffered through a few trips with the fancy micro grind. I've noticed this strange phenomenon. For every kilometer away from civilization, the microground coffee (formerly known as freeze-dried) tastes twice as much like Nescafé.

Life is just too short for bad coffee.

I've traded in the cracked Bodum French press for a nifty setup from Spokane based GSI Outdoors. A company that has consistently impressed me in the camp kitchen with their thoughtful, efficient, lightweight designs from one-pot cook sets to cutlery. On any given trip these days, I've usually got two or three of their products in my pack. Not only that, but HQ is staffed with friendly, courteous mountain guides and other lesser mortals who love what they do and like answering questions about the stuff they make. Just like at Moosejaw, these are authentic folks who love the madness.

Personal Java Press from GSI

For a little extra weight, the Personal Java Press is put together better than my old Bodum. It's insulated with neoprene and packs down small. The standout feature, for me, is the nesting carafe. Nothing's worse than cold, bitter, overbrewed coffee (unless its coffee from a packet). With this system, you brew your pot for four minutes, then transfer it to the insulated carafe to halt brewing and keep all four 6-oz cups warm til you're ready to drink.

This comes in handy on winter mornings, when you want to fill your thermos with tea or broth for the day. Brew the Java Press way and you'll still get plenty of hot coffee for breakfast.

Bonus tip: Before you head out, mark a fill line on the outside of your pot with a Sharpie marker. You can tell where it is by removing the sleeve and inserting the plunger. Mark just below the bottom of the filter ring. That's the maximum amount of grounds the pot can take. Forget the tablespoon.

Grind your beans just before you leave on your trip. If you've got a burr grinder, much the better. You're aiming for the coarsest grind you can get. Follow the excellent instructions that come with the Java Press, and you're on your way to a great cup of camp coffee.

Best Air Mattress

I’m getting a great night’s sleep now that I’ve switched to the DownMat UL by Exped.

The definition of a good night's sleep.

At 580 grams, it’s half a pound heavier than my Thermarest NeoAir. They pack down to about the same size. Compare the gain in insulation and decide for yourself if it’s worth it. The NeoAir has an R value of 2.5. The DownMat: 5.9. That’s twice as warm. 

And, as one Himalayan guide had promised me, the DownMat is by far the most comfortable sleeping pad I’ve ever tested. 

 The stuff sack doubles as the pump.

Never take the DownMat on a trip without a good repair kit. Like all air mattresses, it’s useless uninflated. But unlike most air mattresses, you can’t fill this up with the humid air from your lungs. You'll wet out the down.

So you need the roll-top yellow pump, which is quite cleverly designed, but if that gets a puncture, you’re s**t outta luck. If you've been doing the math, your odds of a puncture that will leave you sleeping on the bare ground have just doubled. Bring the repair kit! I'm thinking about buying a second pump bag as backup. It’s as light as any other stuff sack on the market. And the UL air pillow that inflates with the same pump takes up less space than my face towel. 

Who needs an air pillow? Who needs a down insulated sleeping pad? Isn't this all just over the top?

That’s what I was mumbling before I spent a month’s worth of freezing nights in Idyllwild during a cold snap. I was “luxuriously” bunked on a twin-bed size, 9-inch Kelty base camp mattress that leaked every night. It was cold as f***. I’d brought along my NeoAir for the peaks, and I froze my ass on that, too.

So fibers and feathers do make a difference. They block cold spots. They’re warmer and more comfortable than foam (whether closed cell or open cell). If you can stomach the ticket price, splurge on an Exped and don’t look back. The DownMat is filled with IDFL certified down that's humanely sourced.

Here's a great shot of Exped in use by the UK blogger Robin. I like his helpful gear reviews. And I'm often jealous of his camp sites in the Fells, Wales and Scotland.


Down or synthetic? 

I compared the DownMat UL to its synthetic counterpart on Cumberland Island, Georgia, not known for its dry climate. They were equally warm and equally comfortable on nights that dipped down to about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

The SynMat, filled with fairly eco fibers, inflates a bit stiffer, and the fabric feels a bit warmer to the touch. Paddlers might not want to test what happens if too much damp air is repeatedly pumped into the DownMat. But for trekkers and climbers, the hefty weight and the burly size make the SynMat a purely base camp mattress. I’d never carry it on a multi-day trip.

Exped MegaMat: base camp heaven

Some day, though, I’ll want that twin bed back. Think I’ll try the MegaMat. By then, maybe they'll make a double. That's down filled. Ahhh. Zzzzzzz.

My Favorite Wallet

The re-sealable snack bag. AKA my favorite wallet. Hands down. Even factoring in all the teasing I get from Fair Spouse and Wee Sprite.

Reusable. Watertight. Ultralight. See-thru.

What’s not to like? Only wish they lasted forever.

Inspect for punctures and get out there!