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Tag Archives: backpacking gear reviews
December 14, 2014
5 Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent
By Michael Lanza
There are a lot of tents out there. How do you choose between them? Backpackers come in different sizes and have different needs and preferences in a tent. In testing scores of backcountry tents over the past two decades, for reviews in Backpacker Magazine and this blog, I’ve seen the best and the worst—and gotten a sense of what to look for in a tent and how to help people pick out one they like. Here are my five simple tips for finding a tent you’ll love. Continue reading →
My 10 Most-Read Gear Reviews
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket
By Michael Lanza
Other than my home page, the page viewed most often at The Big Outside is my Gear Reviews category—and individual gear reviews consistently rank among the most-viewed pages at my blog. This made me wonder: Which reviews are the most popular with you, The Big Outside’s readers? After going through my blog’s analytics data, I produced this top 10 list of the most-read gear reviews at this website, listed in ascending order (with the product name linked to my original review). I think you’ll find this list helpful whether you’re shopping for a gift for someone, or just looking for specific items and wondering what’s popular with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts and fans of The Big Outside.
December 7, 2014
Gift Guide: My Top 25 Picks In New Outdoor Gear and Apparel
By Michael Lanza
It’s that time of year again, when you’re shopping for the right something for a special someone… or you want to give a special someone the right suggestions for a gift for you. Either way, check out my annual list of top 25 favorite new pieces of outdoor gear and apparel, with links to my original reviews of these jackets, packs, boots, tents, and other gear. Continue reading →
December 4, 2014
Ask Me: What Gear Do We Need for Backpacking in New Zealand?
Hi Mike,
My buddy Nolan and I are backpacking the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand starting in January, and I’ve got a few gear questions I’d like to ask you. We’re just graduating high school and will be selling ourselves into slavery for the next six months to make money for this trip, so we’re certainly on a budget but I think we can still afford the middle/lower end of the high-end gear spectrum. We’ll be in hostels/huts about a quarter of the time. Continue reading →
Gear Review: Kelty PK 50 Backpack
Kelty PK 50
Backpack
Kelty PK 50
$200, 50L/3,050 c.i., 3 lbs. 8 oz. (S/M)
Sizes: men’s S/M (fits torsos 14.5-18.5 ins.) and M/L (fits torsos 17.5-21 ins.), women’s S/M (fits torsos 14.5-18.5 ins.)
kelty.com
A cursory glance at the PK 50 tells you this may be the most unusual backpack you’ve ever seen, with its zipper-less design that’s laser-focused on how the user accesses its contents. It’s certainly one of the most unique packs I’ve ever tested and reviewed, so I felt intrigued enough to take it out on a three-day, 41-mile backpacking trip on the Timberline Trail around Oregon’s Mount Hood—to see whether hyper organization would persuade me to recommend a backpack. Continue reading →