Gear We’ve Tried Gear the Experts Use Two gearheads trade notes on the stuff they can’t live without of my career. I put my foot through the UV-weakened canopy about five years ago and graduated to an REI Quarter Dome UL (one of my newer efforts). I find it perfect, though tight, for two good friends (editor’s note: under 6 feet) at 3 lbs 11oz. Two doors and two vestibules make it convenient for two people. The two-pole structure is really strong in the wind and quick to pitch. When Dave Mydans wants to hike light, he packs a Minimalist Bivy from REI. It’s waterproof, breathable and has a mesh screen to keep the bugs out. By Allison Woods and David Mydans As Gear Editor for WT, I have the opportunity to try out more hiking and backpacking equipment than the average consumer. It’s fun when the gear is good, less so when I’m three states away from home using a backpack with ill-fitting straps. Testing gear has made me extremely picky about my personal gear. This got me thinking about my gear closet, and what’s in it. Me, I’m Allison Woods, Washington native, and hiker/backpacker since childhood. I also asked David Mydans, REI gear designer, to share the contents of his closet with us. Here’s what David has to say about his background: “I’ve designed gear for REI for the past 20 years, so while I’m your honest broker, I’m by no means impartial. Most of the gear I use is from REI, is a special sample that never got into production, or is something I sewed up myself. I do more than half of my adventuring with my wife and partner, Tracy. We’re both pretty fanatical about weight, but we’re not part of the lunatic fringe. To provide an idea of what kind of gear we carry means in terms of pack weight, you might note that we carry a dry weight of 15 lbs. (excluding food, water, or fuel) for a typical 3- to 8-day adventure.” AW: I own several tents, but the ones I use the most are an MSR Hubba Hubba, when there are bugs, and a Black Diamond Beta Light, when there are no bugs. The Hubba Hubba is a standard three-season backpacking tent, freestanding, two doors. It’s not the greatest tent in the wind, but ask anyone and they will tell you that I’m a complete weather wimp and prefer DVDs and a warm cup of tea on a blustery January day to cowering in my tent. For late-season or snow travel, or when I’m doing something really serious, out comes the Beta Light. It’s a shaped tarp, sets up with trekking poles, and weighs in at just 20 ounces. Not bad for a two person tent, eh? Tents DM: For years I carried a Chouinard Comet, a tiny, 40 ounce, 2-person (tight) single wall tent that I designed at the start January/February 2007 Allison really likes Mountain Hardwear’s Ventilator t-shirts, made of breathable and comfortable fabric. WASHINGTON TRAILS Gear We’ve Tried AW: I’m not a big fan of bivy sacks. I’ll just pitch a little tarp over my sleeping bag in that situation. I will say I’m mighty impressed that Dave can sew on silnylon. That stuff is so slippery I’d rather buy a tarp than fight with the fabric. few times late in the summer this year, and I was really impressed with the convenience and lack of aftertaste. When I think I’m going to need a water filter, out comes the Katadyn Guide. It’s on the heavy side, but it has a monster flow rate. If the water’s swampy, it’s nice to use a filter to get the greeblies out. Stoves Sleeping Bags Bivy Sacks DM: Often I just leave the tent at home. Then it’s time for the REI Minimalist Bivy and a small fly. The Minimalist is really a waterproof/breathable sleeping bag cover. It has zippered mesh and room for a pad inside. The little triangular silnylon fly I made myself. DM: I’m a no-cooking, water-boiler type of hiker. We do some freeze dried (ugh!) and a lot of freezer bag stuff (much better, do a search on the Internet!). We bring one titanium pot, sized to the trip, a speck of aluminum windscreen, and either a mini iso-butane or alcohol stove. AW: I avoid freeze-dried food like the plague, instead preferring to fancify grocery store food. Most of this involves some cooking, yet I also use a butane stove. Most of them perform about the same, though I personally prefer the MSR Pocket Rocket. My pot’s an Evernew titanium jobbie, as is my cup. The cup is anodized pink and has folding handles, and everyone covets it. Water purification DM: For those of us who go high and light, I use the mantra: “Friends don’t let friends pump.” Unless you plan to be drinking out of a sewer, leave the dumb pump behind and get AquaMira (from McNett). It takes care of all of the bad bugs. I got an MSR Miox a couple of years ago. Impressive technology, but Tracy doesn’t trust it! AW: Frankly, I don’t like any of the options. I own and use every type of water cleaning that’s available, but I got Giardia last summer drinking purified water, so nothing is fail-safe. I finally got around to using AquaMira drops a WASHINGTON TRAILS DM: I’m still sticking w ith my ow n brand. I’m a down guy—it’s been years since I carried a synthetic bag. I lust after Western Mountaineering products, but I really think the textile performance on REI’s Kilo series of bags is superior. In damp conditions, nothing is more reliable than synthetic Primaloft. Both our experts agreed that Osprey makes some of the best lightweight overnight packs available. The Osprey Aether 60 weighs just under 4 pounds. AW: I think Dave’s been drinking a bit too much of the green Kool-Aid in this case. The REI bags are a great value, but if money’s no object, nothing beats a Feathered Friends bag. I’m not going to lie to you, the bag I own, the Egret (20-degree, women’s down-fill bag, with full zip and optional EPIC shell fabric) runs $404, but I will have it for many years, and nothing else I researched or tested came close in quality. The bag was custom made just for me in a factory right here in Seattle. Sleeping Pads DM: Tracy won’t be parted from her Crazy Creek chair. It weights 13 oz. and goes with her Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3 Sleeping Pad. I’m not proud, so I joined her. Now I’m phat too! (Editor’s Note: This is how DM talks in real life) January/February 2007 AW: Usually I pack a Therm-a-Rest Womens’ Prolite 4, but if weight is a concern, I’ll go with a Prolite 3. I like the Prolite pads, but I still think the perfect sleeping pad is yet to be invented. Packs DM: I sewed my pack myself: It’s an early sample that evolved into our UL (ultralight) pack line. What I like about this pack is the suspension. Most lightweight packs either have no structure or they’re little more than a washboard strapped to your back. We designed a lightweight suspension that actually moves with you and supports the load at the same time (no easy thing to do!). My sample has a roll-top and a waterproof side zip that never made it into production, but all our production pieces have the same, patented ‘ActiveMotion’ hip belt that Gear We’ve Tried told me it makes me look like a Russian gymnast. He didn’t mean it as a compliment, maybe that’s why hoodies for men are hard to find? It has foldover hand covers and a wonderful wind resistant stretch fabric. How about I suggest leaving the fleece at home with the water pump? Sacreligious? No way, just go with a Patagonia puff ball pullover (the original) or any one of its many copies. I use REI’s version, the Gossamer jacket. Lofty (but compactable) Primaloft insulation sandwiched between two layers of windproof nylon. This is Forget the fleece. A lightweight, down-filled Mr. Cozy talkin’! jacket, such as the REI Gossamer, will keep you Now here are the sewarmer and compress into your pack nicely. crets. I’ll share two. One, there’s a company in Canmoves with you. ada, Valhalla Pure, that makes the best If you’re a bit flush with cash burning trekking pant around. Lightweight and a hole in your pocket, though, take a look well patterned, very (very) water and at Osprey. They’ve been around a long stain resistant. Durable as all get-out time, they’re about the only independent and it looks good in civilized society. outdoor company left, and they do, withThe other secret is SealSkinz, waterout a doubt, make the best lightweight proof/breathable socks. If you’re going packs in existence. The Osprey Atmos lightweight, you’re probably using light50 or 65 is your ticket. weight, breathable trail shoes that get AW: This is another area where I soaked in an instant. Put your Sealskinz think the best is yet to be invented. I on over your socks and inside your shoes own several packs, and like Dave, my for dry, toasty feet from morning dew to favorite is one you can’t buy. It’s a little afternoon slush. You might think they’d silnylon confection of a daypack made be uncomfortable and bunch up in your by Vaude. My regular overnight pack shoe, but they don’t. is an Osprey Aether 60. We will be testing and reviewing the Atmos as part of our annual pack test, so stay tuned. Pack technology is probably the hottest sector in the industry right now, so packs change and improve every year. Apparel DM: My absolute favorite piece is my Sugoi hoody. It’s really hard to find a technical hoody for men. Sugoi now calls it the ‘Speedster’ and my buddy AW: I really like the Mountain Hardwear Ventilator t-shirts. They were discontinued in 2006, but will be back in stores this spring. Wears like iron, doesn’t feel “plasticky,” looks stylish. Jackets? I’m with Dave on this one. Fleece is great for around town and for day trips, but I stick to puffy coats for backcountry travel. When the weather’s moderate, it’s a Montbell Thermawrap jacket, when it’s cold, the REI Davos. It’s 750-fill down and a toasty hood keeps January/February 2007 me happy. I had to go through the often-difficult process of buying new hiking boots this year. I was looking for something that would provide a lot of ankle support and were sturdy enough for off-trail use and crampons, and am the proud and happy owner of a broken-in pair of La Sportiva Glacier Evo boots. I have tried about a zillion socks, and find I generally reach for the Teko or Dahlgren woolies. No itch, no droop, quick dry time.  Where to buy items and find more info: REI: www.rei.com MSR: www.msrcorp.com Black Diamond: www.blackdiamondequipment.com McNett: www.mcnett.com Katadyn: www.katadyn.com Western Mountaineering: www. westernmountaineering.com Feathered Friends: www.featheredfriends.com Crazy Creek: www.crazycreek. com Therm-a-Rest: www.thermarest. com Osprey: www.ospreypacks.com Sugoi: www.sugoi.ca Patagonia: www.patagonia.com Valhalla Pure: www.vpo.ca SealSkinz: www.sealskinz.com Mountain Hardwear: www.mountainhardwear.com Montbell: www.montbell.com La Sportiva: www.sportiva.com Teko: www.tekosocks.com Dahlgren: www.dahlgrenfootwear.com WASHINGTON TRAILS