http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/ Backpacking gear reviews and links, gear lists, new, and resources for backpackers. en-us Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:06:27 -0500 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:06:27 -0500 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/47-Win+gear+from+Backpacker.com Backpacker.com is giving away free gear each week and you can enter every day to win. Backpacker is giving away the gear that their editors have tested and reviewed. So it's slightly used - it's still cutting edge gear. Each week they are going to give away a different item. Read more, and enter the contest, at backpacker.com. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:41:45 -0500 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/47-Win+gear+from+Backpacker.com http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/46-Im+A+Backpacker+Get+Me+In+Here Here's an interesting new game show from Austrailia. I’m A Backpacker… Get Me In Here! is just like I'm a Celebrity... Get me out of Here, but with 6 backpackers facing off on the Gold Coast of Australia. The selected six backpackers will compete in bush tucker trials just like the celebrities. I'm hoping the trials more be a bit more challenging, and the camp site a lot less dramatic. Kind of funny though, backpackers will be competing just to get a chance to camp out in Australia. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:12:33 -0500 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/46-Im+A+Backpacker+Get+Me+In+Here http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/45-537+off+at+Masseys+Outfitters Massey's Outfitters just sent me the coupon code ALOSA5 good for 5% off on every purchase of any non-sale item. Handy to know in case you need any new toys. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:23:57 -0500 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/45-537+off+at+Masseys+Outfitters http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/44-Backpacker+GPS+Trails Backpacker.com has updated their GPS Trails Android app. The new version has higher resolution photos, more trails, and a streamlined interface. You can download GPS Trails Pro from the Android market. It's free if you downloaded the previous version, otherwise $4.99. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:16:29 -0500 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/44-Backpacker+GPS+Trails http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/43-Outdoor+Research+Sensor+Gloves I was lucky enough to upgrade to a new Android phone for Christmas this year. And it didn't take me long to learn that cold weather and touch screen phones don't play nice. Trying to use a touch screen phone outside when its below freezing isn't very pleasant. Enter the Outdoor Research Sensor Gloves. The lightweight fleece gloves haveTouchTec leather finger tips that work better with a touch screen that most touch capable gloves. These gloves are also editor's choice winners from Backpacker Ma Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:56:48 -0500 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/43-Outdoor+Research+Sensor+Gloves http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/42-Stoic+Wrath+Rain+Jacket Backcountry.com has their own private line of clothing called Stoic, and among these is the Wraith Shell rain jacket. This thing is so thin that it's semi-transparent, but it gets good reviews for its ability to handle the weather. Breathability seems to be a point of contention, but it's worth mentioning since it only weight 2.5 ounces (that's for a medium). Backpacker.com says the fabric seems flimsy, but it takes a beating. Right now, it's on sale at backcountry.com for ~$48. That's a pretty Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:04:19 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/42-Stoic+Wrath+Rain+Jacket http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/41-Making+Your+Gear+Last+Longer Backpacker.com has a post with 11 tips to make your gear last longer. It's mostly about storing your gear so it can breath, and cleaning regularly. If you've been backpacking for a while, probably not much for you to read, but it's good info for folks still learning. It does mention that "DEET eats through nylon, polyester, and waterproof linings", which I was not aware of. I've got a closet dedicated to my gear - though most people probably don't have that luxury. Having a whole closet to s Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:05:49 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/41-Making+Your+Gear+Last+Longer http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/40-12+Step+Ultralight+Makeover Backpacker.com has posted a 12 Step Ultralight Makeover list. It's worth a read, though if you are already packing ultralight you won't learn anything new. It's more a quick start guide. Its hard to argue with their twelve steps, although they recommend not packing emergency food. It's tough for me to get my head around that - even when I know I'm in a safe area I have trouble not packing a little extra food. 15 pounds is their cut-off for a weekend trip- more than that and they say you need to Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:27:58 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/40-12+Step+Ultralight+Makeover http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/39-Hardcore+Thru45hiking Jennifer Davis, an Asheville hiker and author broke the speed running record this weekend by completing the 2,181 mile long Appalachian Trail in 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes. She broke her previous record set in 2008 of 57 days, 8 hours and 35 minutes, and also broke the male record, set by Andrew Thompson in 2005 of 47 days 13 hours 31 minutes. So let's see, that's 1,115 hours total and just short of two miles per hour total. Or, that's ~46 miles per day average. That's just crazy. Con Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:03:46 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/39-Hardcore+Thru45hiking http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/38-Superlight+Bivys If you are looking for an ultralight bivy to combine with the Inertia sleeping pad, look no further than the Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight Bivy. Weighing in at ~7 ounces, you won't go much lighter for a full fledged bivy. Add the 9 ounce Klymit sleeping pad and an ultralight bag and you're talking about one to two pounds for shelter/sleeping gear. It's hard to complain about that. The Superlight Bivy starts at $159, and can be customized using different fabrics, sizes, and left or right zip Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:44:01 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/38-Superlight+Bivys http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/37-Inertia+X+Frame+Sleeping+Pads These are new to me, and really seem bizarre. Kylmit.com is selling new sleeping pads with "body mapping technology" called the Inertia X Frame. It's an inflatable pad, but its basically just connected tubes that are supposed to be positioned to be under your pressure points while sleeping. While they say the space between tubes allows your sleeping bag to spread out and provide better insulation, I don't think you will get much in the way of R-value from this sleeping pad. It is only 9 ounces t Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:53:33 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/37-Inertia+X+Frame+Sleeping+Pads http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/36-Bear+Grylls I've got to admin that I enjoy watching Bear Grylls' show on Discovery. It offers a chance to see some impressive scenery - from the mundane like trips to the south east US to Costa Rican rainforests and Patagonia. It's entertaining - while I don't enjoy watching him kill any animal I know its necessary and his reactions are just hilarious sometimes. Not to mention, my financee gets a kick out of his 'how to survive hypothermia' bits. And, it's a chance to learn a few tricks along the way. He ju Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:46:10 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/36-Bear+Grylls http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/35-Osprey+Hornet+46 I was just looking at a review of the Osprey Hornet 46 pack at Backpacker.com. It holds 45 liters (2746 cubic inches if you don't want to do the math) and weighs in at 1 lb 8 ounces. It gets great reviews as long as you are planning to go sub 30 pounds. It isn't completely frameless, but close to it. Packs this light used to be a rarity, I even considered making my own at times. Now though, more and more manufacturers are getting on board with ultralight. I love it because you never know what ki Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:18:27 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/35-Osprey+Hornet+46 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/34-Survival+Bracelets Survival bracelets seem to be the rage lately. It's a bracelet made of paracord that you can unwind in case of emergencies. Having anywhere from 10-20 feet of paracord could be useful, and they don't look half bad. Survivalstraps.com offers a wide variety of survival bracelets, but buying one can be pricey and it's just too easy. Instead, there are instructions on how to make a shorter version at instructables.com- it uses about six feet of paracord. I wonder if I can get Carolina blue paracord Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:12:58 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/34-Survival+Bracelets http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/33-Gear+Makeover+Contest Backpacker.com is running a gear makeover contest right now. Send them the best letter in one of three categories - "I want to eat better!", "I want to go lighter!", or "I want to dress better!" - and the winner for each category will get hooked up. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:02:51 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/33-Gear+Makeover+Contest http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/32-Android+Backpacking+Apps Backpacker.com recently released an app for finding and posting hikes. There are quite a few other backpacking apps available for Android now at the Android Market. You can download the US Army Survival Guide for free. It's arranged like a book with embedded videos on everything from making a fire to foraging for food. Another app called Backcountry Navigator costs $10 but it turns your phone into a full fledged GPS including downloading trips, creating tracks and waypoints, etc. My Tracks is Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:32:00 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/32-Android+Backpacking+Apps http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/31-New+Lightweight+Sleeping+Bags I was just reading about some new sleeping bags at Backpacker.com. It kind of crazy how light sleeping bags have gotten now. The Terra Nova Laser 300 weight in at 11.6 ounces and is rated to 50 degrees. It retails for $270. I use an old Marmot Pounder that's rated to 40 degrees, and weighs an extra four ounces. If you're a warm sleeper, saving an extra four ounces might be worth it. Any sleeping bag a pound or less is a great option for ultralight, unless you don't even bother with a sleeping b Mon, 16 May 2011 14:57:00 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/31-New+Lightweight+Sleeping+Bags http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/30-Freeze+Dried+Food+in+Bulk Ilike to pack freeze dried food for many of my backpacking meals - because boiling water is so easy and some of them are quite tasty. They can also be quite expensive though. Many of the prepackaged meals are $5-10 per package. Sometimes that 2 serving package is enough for two people, but normally I can polish off one by myself without any problem after a long day. So $5-10 per meal can get expensive very quickly, and the sodium is normally ridiculous in those things. Luckily there are sites Wed, 11 May 2011 14:17:58 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/30-Freeze+Dried+Food+in+Bulk http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/29-Candle+Stoves This may be old news if you read backpackinglight.com regularly, but I was surprised to read about the efficiency of candle stoves there. Explorations into Candle Stoves is a very good analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of candle stoves. My first thought was about how efficient wax really is as a heat source. I use a UCO candle lantern at times, and I really do enjoy it as a light source, but i didn't think it produced that much heat. UCO makes a larger candle lantern that is designed Tue, 03 May 2011 14:07:31 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/29-Candle+Stoves http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/28-Backpacker+Trails+App Backpacker Magazine has released an app for viewing trails and recording your own. The GPS Trails Lite app lets you take advantage of the GPS features of your phone to navigate over 3500 trails downloaded from their site, and record and post your own. You can view maps, navigate with a digital compass, and take photos of your hike. Use it in remote places where you don't have a signal, and it will save your data to post later when you do. Their app will also calculate calories, speed, distance, Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:51:00 -0400 http://www.cleverbackpacker.com/blog/posts/28-Backpacker+Trails+App