Gear fails. Not always, not dramatically — but in ways that matter. A jacket delaminating at mile 300. Hip belt stitching pulling loose on a long day. A zipper seizing at 5 AM when it’s 28 degrees. I’ve been putting 1,000+ miles a year on gear for over a decade and have worked through enough of these failures to have opinions worth sharing.
I only write long-form reviews for gear worth writing about. “Adequate” doesn’t make the list. What does: gear that genuinely stands out, gear that a lot of people use where I think there’s a meaningfully better option, and gear I destroyed in interesting ways that tells you something useful.
Gear Reviews
Ultralight Backpacking Gear List (2026): The Gear Ultralight Backpackers Actually Use
The ultralight backpacking gear list most hikers actually carry, from 345 r/Ultralight LighterPack lists: the modal kit with…
Sawyer Squeeze vs Platypus QuickDraw: Who Are You Sleeping With?
Sawyer Squeeze vs Platypus QuickDraw: integrity testing, flow rate, weight and sleeping-bag use, plus what Sawyer's 0.1 micron…
Hoka Challenger Review for Backpacking: 20 Pairs, Thousands of Miles
Hoka Challenger review from around 20 pairs worn on the PNT, CDT and Hayduke: how long they last,…
Best Hiking Watch for Backpacking: Why I Wear a Garmin Fenix
The best hiking watch for backpacking: real GPS battery numbers, why I wear a Garmin Fenix, which Fenix…
How to Set Up a Backpacking Tarp: Ultralight A-Frame Pitch & Guylines
How I set up a backpacking tarp for ultralight tarp camping: A-frame pitch, pre-cut guylines, bowlines and stakes,…
Ultralight Backpacking Gear: What over 300 Reddit Gear Lists Show
I’ve been a member of r/ultralight for long enough to have spent far too much time reading r/ultralight…
Smartphones for Backpacking: Phone Setup and Battery Strategy
Best smartphones for backpacking in 2026 — battery strategy, offline maps, and whether you actually need a dedicated…
T-Satellite for Backpacking
My Prior Experience Last July I had been added to the open T-mobile Starlink (T-Satellite) Beta Test. This…
Gear Review: Good Shorts for Hiking (and Running)
A good pair of shorts for hiking or running may sound like a daunting task. Honestly, though, you’ll…
Best Convertible Hiking Pants: 5 Zip-Off Pairs Tested Over 15,000+ Miles (2026)
I tested 5 pairs of men's convertible (zip-off) hiking pants over 15,000+ trail miles. The Outdoor Research Ferrosi…
Backpacking Solar Panel Setup: My 7.2 oz System, Tested Over 2,000 Miles
The best solar panel setup for backpacking: my 7.2 oz solar charger system after 2,000+ miles of hiking,…
Columbia OutDry Ex Featherweight Jacket
Update — 2026: Columbia has discontinued the OutDry Ex Featherweight (and Gore-Tex killed ShakeDry over PFAS), so this…
Granite Gear Crown2 38L Review (vs. the New Crown 3 40L)
My Granite Gear Crown2 38L review after thousands of trail miles, plus what changed with the new Crown…
Sea to Summit Head Net
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra…