Gear Reviews

Sea to Summit Alto TR2 ultralight backpacking tent.

Review: Sea to Summit Alto TR2 Ultralight Backpacking Tent

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Ultralight Backpacking Tent
Sea to Summit Alto TR2
$549, 2 lbs. 9 oz./1162g (rainfly, tent, and poles)
backcountry.com

Backpacking five days in September through some of the northernmost mountains in the Lower 48 in Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness—sharing the trails with Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers finishing up their 2,650-mile walk as well as backpackers on shorter journeys—we wanted a shelter that could protect us from the wildest, late-season weather possible. It would also be nice if it wasn’t too heavy, given the rugged terrain there. Sea to Summit’s Alto TR2 fit the bill and demonstrated its cred as an outstanding ultralight tent.

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Mammut Meron IN Hooded Down Jacket.

Review: Mammut Meron IN Hooded Down Jacket

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Down Jacket
Mammut Meron IN Hooded Down Jacket
$479, 14 oz.397g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

As gray clouds hovered low overhead, the air still carried the dampness of the day’s rain, and a chilly wind whipped through our campsite by a lake in the Wind River Range, I zipped inside the Mammut Meron IN Hooded Down Jacket, pulled the hood up—and felt warmth immediately surround me. Fat but exceptionally light and packable, this puffy vaulted to the top of my list of insulated jackets. Here’s why.

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Arc'teryx Aerios 30 hiking daypack.

Review: Arc’teryx Aerios 30 Daypack

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Daypack
Arc’teryx Aerios 30
$190, 30L/1,831 c.i., 2 lbs. (men’s regular)
Sizes: men’s and women’s regular and tall
rei.com

Even in the context of how much continued, impressive innovation has occurred in the category of hiking daypacks in recent years, the Arc’teryx Aerios 30 raises the bar for versatility and sheer ingenuity. Marrying the best elements of traditional daypacks and running vests, this comfortable sack combines a reasonable weight with bountiful capacity, a smart feature set, and top-shelf durability. It also has one flaw, though not one that constitutes a dealbreaker.

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Patagonia Altvia 22L daypack.

Review: Patagonia Altvia 22L Daypack

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Daypack
Patagonia Altvia 22L
$129, 22L/1,343 c.i., 1 lb. 8 oz. (S/M)
Sizes: unisex S/M and L/XL
backcountry.com

For many dayhikers who hit the trail for anywhere from a few hours to a long day carrying just food, water, adequate layers, and a few extra items like a camera, a daypack of around 20 liters with a basic feature set does the job. And dayhikers carrying a load under 15 pounds—commonly true with many—don’t need a heavily engineered and heavy pack. Enter the Patagonia Altvia 22L, which marries good capacity and easy access in a light package.

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Deuter Speed Lite 24 daypack.

Review: Deuter Speed Lite 24 Daypack

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Daypack
Deuter Speed Lite 24
$120, 24L/1,465 c.i., 1 lb. 11 oz.
One size
backcountry.com

With the Speed Lite 24, Deuter set out to make a pack that does it all. Weighing well under two pounds—low for a pack with this much capacity—it’s marketed as an ultralight, all-around daypack for long trail days, technical rock climbing, and even snow climbing. I wanted to see if such a light pack could fill all those roles, so I tested it extensively, including a 4500-foot, eight-mile hike up Ferguson Canyon and a 3,000-foot scramble up the South Ridge of Mount Superior in Utah’s Wasatch Range.

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