Overview: Outdoor Vitals StormLoft Top Quilt

About the Outdoor Vitals StormLoft Top Quilt

Outdoor Vitals made several changes to its StormLoft quilt, including loops that keep the neck drawcord from flopping around in the face and extended neck closure tabs that are easier to grab. But the biggest change may be the moisture-fighting nano-particles of gold permanently bonded to down clusters, a technology that Outdoor Vitals says surpasses other dry down treatments.

Comfort

Draft Collar: The draft collar uses down box baffles, considered the best baffle construction for warmth.

Footbox: The footbox is closed, with enough room for my lower legs and feet to move around. I can even store small gear such as a phone or water filter inside the footbox on cold nights.

Neck Drawcord: The drawcord is in the center of the collar behind my head, with loops on the side that hold the cord and keep it from flopping around in my face. I find it best to slip the drawcord through the two loops before connecting the two neck collar snaps.

Neck Snaps: Outdoor Vitals says the corners of the quilt are extended to improve how it wraps around the neck and make the snap tabs easier to grip.

Warmth

Temperature Rating: 0F, 15F, 30F, and a new 40F quilt.

My Experience: I slept with the quilt attached by straps to my 4.5 R-value air pad and was warm at a low temperature of 39F, the lowest temperature during my testing period in an unusually warm fall. Sleeping with the quilt strapped like this uses the pad as insulation from the cold ground while the quilt surrounds me on top, insulating me from the cold air. Sleeping with a balaclava on cold nights is a must. The 15F rating is considered the temperature for sleeping comfortably, and though 39F is the lowest temperature I slept at I expect that with 17 ounces of 800-fill down the quilt will be warm at 15F.

Zipper vs. Closure Straps: A zipper on some quilts keeps them closed, and keeps cold air out. The StormLoft’s two closure straps do not fully close the quilt, which is OK on warm nights, but on cold nights I strap the quilt to my sleeping pad and pull the quilt over me. I can toss and turn on my sleeping pad while the quilt stays attaches to the air pad.

Storing Gear: I’m used to stuffing clothes, my phone, and even my water filter inside a sleeping bag on cold nights. I’m happy that when the quilt is strapped to my air pad I can store gear and clothes on my pad and they stay under the quilt.

Good to Know

Pad Straps: Two long pad straps connect to the quilt at about the chest and waist and wrap around a sleeping pad, holding the quilt against the top and sides of my body.

Closure Buckles: These short straps at the waist and chest pull the quilt mostly closed, but air still gets in through the gaps so I use these on warm nights. These are the same buckles the pad straps connect to.

Versatility: The StormLoft’s enclosed footbox provides warmth but rules out using the quilt as a blanket. And because the two closure straps don’t fully seal the StormLoft, I use the pad straps for sleeping on cold nights.

Storage, Warranty, and Cleaning

Roll-Top Dry Bag: The roll-top bag is not a true compression sack, but the quilt does pack small inside it and water rolls off the surface.

Storage Bag: Although Outdoor Vitals recommends hanging the quilt as the preferred way to store it, the StormLoft does not have a traditional hang loop at the foot of the quilt so I thread a small carabiner through the neck closure snap tabs to hang the quilt. The StormLoft does come with a large storage bag that holds the quilt without compressing it.

Warranty: Outdoor Vitals promises that its gear will meet or exceed expected performance levels, and if it doesn’t will work with consumers to ensure that it does.

StormLoft Care: Outdoor Vitals recommends using a mild detergent such as Dreft or Nikwax and setting the washing machine on low spin or delicate wash with cold water. Hang the quilt until it’s dry, then loft and redistribute the down by putting it in a dryer with three dryer balls for 10 minutes on low or no heat.

The Gold Standard

Outdoor Vitals, along with some other gear brands, have begun using Allied Feather’s ExpeDRY down, which uses nano-particles of gold permanently bonded to down clusters in a chemical-free process.

Allied Feather says the gold particles create an electrostatic shield that provides a small hydrophobic barrier and weakens the hydrogen bond that allows water to form. By attacking the hydrogen bond of the water molecule, Allied feather says, ExpeDRY helps keeps moisture from condensing into droplets and speeds up drying of any water that may still be present.

Outdoor Vitals says that in its testing and in testing done by Allied Feather, ExpeDRY performs better in almost all scenarios when compared with HyperDry DWR treated down, which has been at the top of industry standards for about the past 10 years.

About Outdoor Vitals

Tayson Whittaker started Outdoor Vitals in 2014 with the aim of making quality outdoor gear at an affordable price. The Utah-based company sells direct to consumers, and members get a 10 percent discount on gear. The $10 (standard) and $25 (peak tier) monthly membership fees are credited to members’ accounts each month and can be used toward purchases.

StormLoft Pros

Weight: 1 pound, 8.3 ounces for the 15F regular length bag that I tested. Light, but not ultralight.

Sleeping Pad Straps: These easy-to-connect straps hold the quilt to a sleeping pad, providing a warm top and side layer of insulation on cold nights.

Easy-to-Use Hood Drawcord: The drawcord has been repositioned to the back of the head, with loops that the cord can be threaded through to keep it from flopping around.

StormLoft Cons

Cold Nights: Closing the quilt with the two short straps leaves a gap for cold air to get in. Strapping the quilt to an air pad is my preferred method of sleeping on a cold night.

Weight: If you’re looking for an ultralight quilt, the StormLoft might not be the one for you. But the quilt’s weight of 1 pound, 8.3 ounces is still a respectable lightweight sleeping setup.

Overall Value

At $374.97, $337.47 for Outdoor Vitals members, the StormLoft is a good price for a quilt. It’s more lightweight than ultralight, but only by a few ounces. The closure straps rather than a zipper mean the best way to sleep in cold weather is to strap the quilt to a three-season air pad and lie underneath the quilt. Overall, the StormLoft is a solid choice at its price, especially for people interested in seeing whether a quilt is for them.

Similar Cold Weather Top Quilts

Enlightened Equipment Enigma

Feathered Friends Flicker UL

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Quilt

Therm-a-Rest Vesper

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Outdoor Vitals StormLoft Down Top Quilt Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Osprey Exos Pro 55 combines superb comfort and a light weight that make it a solid choice for ultralight hikers.

^{The Osprey Exos Pro 55 with the top pouch removed and the top flap covering the pack opening.}

Overview: Osprey Exos Pro

MSRP: $290
Weight: 2.077 pounds for S/M; 2.165 pounds for L/XL.
Capacity: 55 liters for S/M; 58 liters for L/XL.

Fabric: The main compartment and bottom of the pack use Osprey’s proprietary NanoFly fabric and a mix of 100D nylon and 200d UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) ripstop. The fabric’s durable water repellent (DWR) treatment is made without environmentally harmful PFAS.

Note: The pack is also available as the women’s Eja Pro.

_{The Exos Pro has 5 ladder-style slots for moving the pack up or down on the frame, and the mesh panel is extremely comfortable.}

About the Osprey Exos Pro 55

Osprey makes a successful dive into the ultralight market with the Exos Pro 55, cutting nearly one pound off the trail-tested Exos 58 without sacrificing comfort. The ventilated AirSpeed back panel is comfortable and puts cooling air between the pack and my back, unlike most ultralight packs that rest against my back with little ventilation and can get hot.

Exos Pro 55 Carrying Capacity

Main Compartment: The top-loading main compartment holds all my gear for a five-day hike: tent, sleeping bag, clothes, accessories, and bear canister with food. The bear canister fits into the pack horizontally or vertically, or it can be strapped to the top underneath the floating top pouch.

Front Mesh Pocket: Smaller than mesh pockets in other packs in the Pro 55’s weight category, but it still has enough room for my water filter, lunch, and a lightweight rain coat. Overloading the main compartment, creating a bulge, cuts into the storage capacity of the mesh pocket.

Side Pockets: A mesh pocket on each side of the pack can each hold two narrow water bottles or tent poles. There’s a large gap in the side of the fabric where the pockets attach to the frame, and I worry that small gear like a water filter could slip out through the gap.

Two Hipbelt Pockets: One pocket with a zipper can hold small items, in my case two granola bars and a small bottle of hand sanitizer. The other pocket is open, and I take care that anything I put in it doesn’t fall out.

Top Pocket and Flap: The Pro 55 has two top closures: a floating pouch with a zipper and a flap under the pouch. The flap can be tucked into the pack if you’re using the top pouch, or the pouch can be removed and the flap becomes the top pack closure. I prefer to remove the top pouch, reducing carrying capacity by 9 liters and the weight by almost 3 ounces.

Water Bladder: A clip inside the pack marked H20 holds an internal hydration sleeve.

Bear Canister: My BearVault 450 fits horizontally or vertically inside the main body of the pack, or it can be strapped to the top of the pack, held in place by the top pocket. I found that putting the bear can horizontally on top of my tent at the bottom of the pack was the most comfortable spot.

_{The top pouch gives easy access to gear and adjusts to fit over a bear canister. It can be removed for a weight savings.}

Exos Pro 55 Comfort

Fit: The Pro 55 comes in two sizes: small/medium and large/extra large. The frame has five adjustment slots to move the pack up and down 4 inches to accommodate different heights, and the hipbelt adjusts for different waist sizes. I’m 5 feet, 10 inches tall and have my pack on the second slot from the top.

Suspension: Osprey’s AirSpeed suspension provides superb comfort and ventilation. The pack rides comfortably on my back without any pressure from gear stored inside.

Load Lifters: Consistent with Osprey’s effort to keep features included on mainstream packs, the Pro 55 has load lifters that keep the weight close to my back.

How Much Weight?: The Pro 55 is extremely comfortable at about 20 pounds, the weight that I usually carry. Osprey recommends a maximum weight of 30 pounds.

External Essentials

Floating Top Lid: This is the classic top lid on most mainstream backpacks, with a key clip inside and adjustable straps to fit a bear can on top of the pack. The lid can be removed to save a few ounces and the pack’s top can be closed with a fixed flap.

Side Compression Cords: These cords do double duty to compress the pack and hold equipment such as trekking poles to the side of the pack. The straps are long enough to lash bulky gear to the sides of the pack, and though the buckles are small and the straps thin, the buckles are easy to connect and disconnect, and the straps slide easily and don’t slip loose. The straps also slide through small loops on the sides of the pack so they aren’t flapping around.

Shoulder Straps: The Pro 55 does not come with shoulder strap pockets, though it does have loops to attach pockets. Because the hip belt pockets are not large enough to hold my phone, I bought a shoulder strap pocket to store it.

Emergency Whistle: The sternum-strap emergency whistle has become ubiquitous on most packs.

Water Bladder: A hydration bladder fits between the pack and the frame, hung from a fixed strap.

^{Trekking poles or tent poles can be lashed to the side of the pack.}

Pack Material

Fabric: The UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) is a high-abrasion, water-resistant and lightweight fabric, while the NanoFly fabric adds durability and water resistance. I’ve done some light bushwhacking in the Pro 55 and didn’t get any tears.

Rainy Days: The pack’s fabric has a durable water repellent treatment, but the extent of the water resistance is limited. My pack was soaked through after hiking an afternoon in the rain, although my gear stuffed into water resistant bags stayed dry inside.

My Take

Osprey’s AirSpeed suspension is the key to the Exos Pro 55, providing back comfort and ventilation. I can’t say it enough: This pack rides like a dream. The outside mesh pockets aren’t as large as those on some other packs in this class, but I wouldn’t call that a deal breaker. I would worry about rough off-trail use or butt-sliding down rocks because the pack’s fabric is thin.

Exos Pro 55 Pros

Lightweight: The Exos Pro 55 weighs about a pound less than the trail-proven Exos 58.
Comfort: The AirSpeed mesh back panel is comfortable and ventilated.
Easy to Adjust the Frame: The Pro 55 comes in two sizes (small/medium and large/extra large) and the frame is easy to adjust for a comfortable fit.
Warranty: Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee is legendary, and the company says it 100% covers accidental damage: Any Pack, Any Reason, Any Era.

Exos Pro 55 Cons

Durability: Osprey uses a thin fabric for the Exos Pro 55, but so far it is holding up.
Exterior Storage: The outer mesh pockets are small, and their carrying capacity shrinks if the pack is loaded to the bulging point.

Overall Value

Why would I recommend buying the Exos Pro 55? Comfort, comfort, comfort. At the end of the day my back felt just as good as it did when I put on the pack in the morning. And though the $290 price is a lot of money, it doesn’t come near the price of other ~2-pound packs that use Dyneema and Ultra fabrics. The Exos isn’t highly water resistant and its outside pockets are small, but for someone entering the ultralight market—or even someone already going ultralight—the Pro 55 is a solid buy.

Similar Backpacks

Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50
MSRP: $275
Weight: 31.9 ounces (medium)
Capacity: 50 liters
Material: Robic

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction
MSRP: $379
Capacity: 55 liters
Weight: 31.2 ounces
Material: Dyneema

Six Moon Designs Swift V
MSRP: $275
Capacity: 50 liters
Weight: 2 pounds, 3 ounces
Material: Robic

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Osprey Exos Pro 55 Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

Region: Mid-Atlantic (Adirondack Park, New York)

Length: 30 miles (2 to 3 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

• The elevation gain is 3,418 feet over ~30 miles. The trail loops around the Seward Mountains, ascending and descending low ridges. There are no significant climbs.
• Mostly soft dirt trails, with several sections along old logging roads.
• The trail is wet and muddy, with wet crossings of a meadow that can flood during high water, Calkins Brook, and the Cold River if the river is low enough.

Logistical Difficulty: Easy

• Loop trail done in 2-3 days so resupply not needed.
• Plentiful water.
• Shelters well spaced.

Season: Spring, summer, fall.

Net Elevation Gain: 3,418 feet

How to Get to the Cold River Loop

The trail starts at the Seward Trailhead. The closest towns are Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake. Coreys Road leads from Route 3 (between the two towns) to Ampersand Road and the Seward Trailhead.

Coreys is a small settlement of year-round and seasonal houses with no stores or gas stations.

About the Cold River Loop

The Cold River Loop combines the Calkins Brook Truck Trail, the Northville-Placid Trail, and the Ward Brook Truck Trail for a ~30-mile loop around the Seward Mountains.

The trail is not well-maintained, and blowdowns block the trail throughout the loop. Some sections are heavily overgrown, especially the short, unnamed trail between the Calkins Brook trail and Cold River shelters 3 and 4 on the NPT.

This is also a very wet hike, so water shoes are a good idea.

When to Hike the Cold River Loop

Spring: Snow can linger, bugs can be bothersome, and spring rains can make a wet trail even wetter.

Summer: Buggy, wet, and sometimes uncomfortably hot and humid. But the sweet spot of summer hiking is swimming in the Cold River.

Fall: Leaves begin to change color, the bugs are mostly gone, and the temperature can be cool and comfortable.

Hiking the Cold River Loop

The centerpiece of the Cold River Loop is the Cold River, with four shelters that provide stunning views of the river and nights falling asleep to the music of the rushing water.

The loop follows the Northville-Placid Trail (NPT) for roughly 10 miles, about half of those along the river, through what is considered the most remote section of the 136-mile NPT.

Trail access is from the Seward Trailhead, a few dirt road miles from the small settlement of Coreys, NY. Trailhead parking can be at a premium on weekends and holidays as it is a popular launching spot for 46ers climbing the 4,000-plus-foot peaks of the Seward Mountains.

I hiked the loop counterclockwise, taking the Calkins Brook Truck Trail (10.6 miles) to the NPT at Shattuck Clearing, the NPT (10.4 miles) to the Ward Brook Truck Trail, and the Ward Brook Truck Trail (8.7 miles) to my car. I stayed at Cold River shelter No. 3 overlooking the river; Cold River shelter No. 4, a short walk downriver, also has a superb view of the river.

The hike from the parking lot follows an unnamed trail for 1.2 miles to the Calkins Brook and Ward Brook truck trails. I turned right at the trail junction onto the Calkins Brook trail and the going was easy along an old logging road for 6.5 miles to the Calkins Brook shelter.

Shortly after the shelter the trail crosses Calkins Brook, a dry crossing in low water and a wet one in high water. This was my first wet shoes water crossing. The trail becomes overgrown after this, almost disappearing in sections. Shortly before reaching the Cold River a marked side trail leads to Latham Pond, with a view of the Sewards.

The Calkins Brook trail ends at the Cold River, with two options for reaching Cold River shelters 3 and 4. If you take a left at the river, you’ll follow a trail that disappears among thick overgrowth and a beaver pond, eventually emerging from the overgrowth behind Cold River shelter 4. I could clearly see the trail from both ends, but lost it in the middle.

To the right is an easy path to the horse trail crossing at Shattuck Clearing, where there is a marked tent site. I found a shallow crossing downriver (my second wet shoes crossing of the day), and reconnected with the horse trail for a short uphill walk to the NPT. It’s important to note that crossing the Cold River is possible only during low water.

The NPT winds through the woods for about a mile, crossing two suspension bridges before reaching Cold River shelters 3 and 4. Both shelters have fire pits, a privy, and adjacent tent sites.

The next day I continued on the NPT, following the trail uphill from the shelters and along the river.

Once again the trail followed an old logging road, and the hiking along the river was easy to Seward and Ouluska shelters. The Seward shelter is a popular spot for swimming at Millers Falls, but the day I stopped was cold and threatening rain so I did not swim.

After the Ouluska shelter the trail heads uphill away from the river, leaving behind the flat, easy walking, and soon reaches a spot where Noah John Rondeau, the Hermit of Cold River, lived from roughly 1929 to 1950. The sign marking the location of his long-gone hermitage is a must-have picture for loop and NPT hikers.

The trail continues over ridges, climbing and descending before reaching the Ward Brook trail, which bears left at the junction. The NPT continues to Lake Placid, passing Cold River shelters 1 and 2 (.4 miles) and Duck Hole shelters 1 and 2 (1.5 miles).

Soon after the junction the trail crosses a meadow that can be dry, flooded, or something in between. It was flooded when I hiked through, and because my shoes were wet from rain that had been steadily falling for several hours, I waded through the nearly foot-deep water rather than testing the floating saplings intended as a bridge.

After 2.6 miles, steady rain, and many blowdowns, I reached the two Number 4 horse trail shelters , which were empty and in very good shape (dry inside, no roof leaks). A stream flows right behind the shelters, with easy access for filtering water. Shelter from the storm never looked so good.

The trail from the horse shelters to the trailhead (6.1 miles) continues on a flat grade, passing the Ward Brook and Blueberry shelters. Both shelters are popular launching spots for peakbagging the Sewards and because they often fill up are not good destinations for loop hikers.

After the Blueberry shelter the trail is very wet, and large blowdowns block the trail. At this point my shoes were so wet it seemed futile to try to avoid the mud and water.

But the hike went quickly, and I happily changed into clean clothes and dry shoes back at my car.

Suggested Itineraries

Two Days: Counterclockwise on the Calkins Brook Truck Trail to Seward shelter, Seward shelter to the trailhead. Or clockwise on Ward Brook Truck Trail to Ouluska shelter, Ouluska shelter to the trailhead.

Three Days: Ward Brook Truck Trail to Duck Hole, Duck Hole to Cold River shelters 3 and 4, Calkins Brook Truck Trail to the trailhead. Or the reverse: Calkins Brook to shelters 3 and 4, shelters 3 and 4 to Duck Hole, Duck Hole to the trailhead. Duck Hole is not technically on the loop, but it’s a nice side trip to a beautiful location.

The Cold River Loop Terrain

The Calkins Brook and Ward Brook truck trails mostly follow old logging roads, with slight elevation gain and loss. The Northville-Placid Trail is mostly flat from the Cold River shelters to Ouluska shelter, then climbs and descends ridges away from the river.

Logistics: Permits, Camping, Water

Permits: No permits are needed.

Shelters: Plenty of shelters with tent sites, picnic tables, and privies nicely spaced along the loop: Calkins Brook (2 shelters), Cold River shelters 3 and 4, the Seward and Ouluska shelters, Cold River shelters 1 and 2, the two Number 4 horse trail shelters, and the Ward Brook and Blueberry shelters. I do not recommend staying at the Ward Brook and Blueberry shelters because they get heavy use by 46ers.

Water: Water is plentiful. I carried a liter and filled up at the abundant water sources along the loop.

Route-finding: The three trails that make up the loop are easy to follow, although some sections are very overgrown. The Calkins Brook and Ward Brook trails are sparsely blazed with blue trail markers. The Northville-Placid Trail section has a confusing mix of NPT and two kinds of blue trail markers, also spaced far apart. But trail junctions are clearly marked with signs indicating distances to shelters and connecting trails.

Water Crossings: The Calkins Brook bridge just north of the shelter washed out years ago, and lumber to rebuild it has sat in the woods for years. I waded across the brook when I hiked because the water was too high for dry rock hopping. A meadow on the Ward Brook trail near the junction with the NPT can be dry, covered with water, or something in between. It was filled with water about a foot deep when I hiked, and I waded through it. The trail connecting the Calkins Brook trail to Cold River shelters 3 and 4 is extremely overgrown, and I lost the trail in the area of a beaver marsh. I backtracked and waded across the Cold River at a shallow spot downriver from the Shattuck Clearing horse trail ford, and hiked the horse trail a short distance to the NPT.

Know Before You Go

Solitude: In early September I saw one NPT thru-hiker and two loop hikers, and I was the only hiker at the two shelters I stayed in. About a dozen 46ers signed the trail logbook between the time I began hiking and my return.

Clockwise or Counterclockwise?: I hiked counterclockwise, mainly because I wanted to spend my first night on the river at Cold River shelters 3 and 4. The two loop hikers I met were going clockwise on the Ward Brook trail because they wanted to spend the first night at the Duck Hole shelters. So hiking direction comes down to personal preference.

The Horse Trails: Several horse trails cross and run alongside the loop trails, but they are rarely used and overgrown. Hiking on them is not recommended.

Parking: The Seward Trailhead is the only parking area for the loop, and Google Maps has directions. The trailhead is heavily used by 46ers hiking the Seward Mountain peaks, and often fills up.

Transportation: Driving your own vehicle is the only practical way to get to the trail.

Cell Reception: Random. At various times a text or phone call came through on my cell phone, but there is no consistent cell reception.

Trail Guides: I used the National Geographic Adirondack Parks Lake Placid / High Peaks map because it has the best trail markings, shelter names and locations, and mileages. The Adirondack Mountain Club High Peaks map has smaller print, making it hard to read, and does not name the shelters. The Northville-Lake Placid Chapter of the ADK has a trail book, but I didn’t consult it because only about 10 miles of the loop are on the NPT.

Bear Canisters: The New York Department of Environmental Conservation recommends using bear canisters, but does not require them in the Outer Zone of the High Peaks Wilderness where the Cold River Loop is located.

Peakbagging: Two herd paths marked by cairns leave the Ward Brook trail near the Ward Brook and Blueberry shelters, one climbing a herd path to the peaks of Seward, Donaldson, and Emmons, and another climbing Seymour, all 4,000-footers. A herd path off the Calkins Brook trail is marked by a cairn and old pot, also leading to Seward, Donaldson, and Emmons.

Cold River Loop Resources

Adirondack Mountain Club

Camping regulations: New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Northville-Placid Trail guidebook

Adirondack Park (Lake Placid / High Peaks) map

Adirondack Mountain Club High Peaks map

Weather

The post The Cold River Loop appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy is an appropriately named synthetic insulation, fast-drying sleeping bag that’s good for cowboy camping under the stars in warm weather.

Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy Specs

MSRP:

• Small: $199.95
• Regular: $209.95
• Long: $219.95

Weight:

• Small: 1 pound, 10 ounces
• Regular: 1 pound, 12 ounces
• Long: 1 pound, 14 ounces

Outer Shell: 100% recycled ripstop nylon with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating.

Lining: 100% recycled ripstop nylon.

Temperature Rating: Comfortable for sleeping to 52F; the lower limit is 45F; the extreme limit is 21F.

Insulation: The eraLoft polyester fibers are spun with a hollow channel at their core, trapping more heat than solid fibers and shedding weight.

About the Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy

The Space Cowboy is the sleeping bag I want to take for warm summer backpacking trips when I can spread it out under the stars and enjoy the shimmering lights above. (Space Cowboy is also the name of a Steve Miller song, but that’s for another story.) The eraLoft hollow fiber insulation holds in my body heat even on dewy nights, and dries fast in the morning sun. And the Space Cowboy has Therm-a-Rest’s trademark SynergyLink Connectors that keep my sleeping bag from sliding off my air pad.

Space Cowboy Features

Shell: 100% recycled nylon ripstop with a durable water repellent coating. The lining is also recycled nylon but without the DWR coating.

Insulation: Therm-a-Rest’s eraLoft synthetic insulation uses hollow polyester fiber that retains heat even when wet and keeps the Space Cowboy lightweight. The bag is insulation heavy on the top and sides, with less insulation on the bottom. The idea is that less insulation is needed on the bag’s bottom if it’s strapped to an insulated sleeping pad, which I’ve found to be true in Therm-a-Rest 0F, 20F, and 45F sleeping bags.

Anti-Snag Zipper: The two-way, three-quarter length zipper has beefy anti-snag protection, and can open at the bottom for ventilation.

Draft Collar: A draft tube runs the length of the side zipper and around the hood.

Hood: Large enough to fit my inflatable pillow inside. A drawcord on the right side tightens the hood around my face and shoulders while a snap keeps the hood closed and the zipper from sliding down.

Warmth: I slept comfortably in the low 50s, which fits with the sleeping bag’s temperature rating.

SynergyLink Connectors: I am sold on these straps that hold the Space Cowboy flat to my air pad. And they are important to use because most of the Space Cowboy’s insulation is on the top and sides. Does this mean you have to be a back sleeper to use the Space Cowboy and the straps? Not in my experience. I still toss and turn inside the bag while the straps keep the bag stable and flat on my air pad. Therm-a-Rest says the straps work best with air pads that are at most 3 inches thick, which I’ve found to be accurate.

Stuff Pocket: There’s no pocket in the bag to hold a phone or other temperature-sensitive gear, but because I sleep within the bag’s comfort limit of 45F—well above freezing—I leave my phone, water filter, and satellite communicator outside the bag at night.

Color: True to its under-the-stars theme, the Space Cowboy comes in one color: celestial.

Storage Sack: The Space Cowboy comes with one stuff sack that doubles as a long-term storage bag and a backcountry compression bag.

Warranty: Therm-a-Rest will repair or replace gear found to be defective within the first two years of purchase.

Space Cowboy 20 Pros

Weight: 1 pound, 12 ounces for the regular length bag that I tested. Light, but not ultralight.

Warmth: I’m warm sleeping to about 50F in the Space Cowboy.

Zipper: The anti-snag zipper slides easily, although it is not entirely snag-free. The two-way zipper provides good ventilation on warm nights.

Sleeping Pad Straps: These are one of my favorite features of Therm-a-Rest sleeping bags. The straps connect the sleeping bag to the pad, ending my sometimes nightlong struggles to stay on the pad. Plus they keep the bottom of the bag, which has less insulation, flat against my insulated air pad.

Easy-to-Use Hood Drawcord: I like the single cord that draws the hood close to my head.

Space Cowboy Cons

Stuff Sack: It’s not a deal breaker, but the Space Cowboy comes with a combined storage/trail stuff sack that tries to do two things without either being satisfactory. I hang my bag for storage and use a water-resistant, compressible stuff sack on the trail.

Rough for Side Sleepers: Less insulation on the bottom of the Space Cowboy means that side sleepers expose their backs to cold air if they don’t use the Synergy Link Connectors. I attach the straps to my air pad and toss from side to side inside the bag while it stays flat on the pad.

Overall Value

At $209.95 for the regular size, the Space Cowboy’s price is on the high side for a warm weather, synthetic insulation sleeping bag. The same goes for the sleeping bag’s weight, which is slightly more than comparable ~45-degree synthetic bags. If the slightly higher price and weight aren’t deal-breakers, the the Space Cowboy is a good choice for summer nights under the stars.

Similar Warm Weather Sleeping Bags

Big Agnes V Notch UL 40F

MSRP: $199.95, regular

Insulation: Primaloft Hi-Loft Ultra Silver

Weight: 1 pound, 6 ounces

Marmot Nanowave 45F

MSRP: $89

Insulation: Synthetic SpiraFil High Loft

Weight: 2 pounds, 1.5 ounces

Rab Solar Eco 0 Sleeping Bag

MSRP: $160

Insulation: Stratus synthetic

Weight: 1 pounds, 2 ounces

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy Sleeping Bag Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Stash is Jetboil’s smallest and lightest cooking setup, making it a serious option for ultralight backpackers.

Jetboil Stash Specs

MSRP: $149.99

Weight: 7.1 ounces for the stove and pot; add 0.9 ounces for the stabilizer legs that attach to the bottom of the fuel canister

Boil Time: 2 minutes, 30 seconds for 16 ounces of water

Ignition: Lighter or match; no integral ignition

About the Jetboil Stash Cooking System

The Stash is a lightweight, easy-to-pack cooking system for one to two people. The collapsible stove, stabilizer legs, and a 100-gram fuel canister fit inside the 0.8 liter pot, held in place by a snap-on plastic cover. All but the fuel canister come with the Stash. The Stash’s light weight and fuel efficiency make it a strong competitor among ultralight canister stoves.

Cooking With the Stash

Strengths, and Weaknesses: The Stash’s strength is boiling water for coffee and dehydrated meals; its weakness is simmering food.

Boil Time: I recorded boil times of about 2.5 minutes for two cups of water, which is excellent for a cup of coffee and water for dehydrated meals.

Simmering: Getting the Stash to simmer is tricky, and there’s a lot of heat even at the lowest fuel output. The flame requires watching and continual adjustment to keep it going, and the slightest breeze can put out a simmering flame. Using a 100-gram fuel container, I boiled two cups of water 11 times, and simmered one meal at higher-than-optimal heat for 10 minutes, adding a little extra water to avoid burning the food in the pot.

Meals for Two: The 0.8-liter pot is big enough for boiling water for drinks and cooking meals for two.

Lighting the Stove: The Stash does not have a built-in fuel igniter, which saves weight. There is room to pack a cigarette-type lighter or matches inside the pot.

The Setup

Weight: Eight ounces; 7.1 ounces for the burner, storage sack, pot, and plastic pot cover, and 0.9 ounces for the stabilizer legs that attach to the bottom of the fuel canister. Add 7 ounces for a 100-gram fuel canister.

Burner: Titanium, with three arms that collapse flat, making the burner easy to pack. The arms are notched and keep the bottom lip of the pot centered and snugly in place. Although the burner is designed to hold the Stash’s pot, other pots can be used.

Pot: The aluminum 0.8-liter pot has Jetboil’s patented FluxRing heat exchanger, which directs heat from the flame to the bottom of the pot, rather than letting the heat flow up the sides of the pot. The result, says Jetboil, is more heat with less fuel. Indented markings on the pot designate cup, cup and a half, and two-cup levels.

Stabilizer Legs: Cooking with a canister stove requires setting up on an almost-perfectly flat surface. While that’s still true with the Stash, the stabilizer legs keep the stove balanced on rough surfaces. And the pot is top heavy when using a 100-gram fuel canister, making the stabilizer legs even more important.

Pot Handle: The rubber grip lets me grab the pot handle without burning my fingers on hot metal.

Plastic Cover: The cover snaps onto the pot, and has a center hole for letting steam escape when the water boils and a side pour spot. The spout can also act as a strainer for larger food such as noodles.

Fuel Canister: 7 ounces for a 100-gram canister, which is the size that fits inside the Stash’s pot and is good for about five days. The Stash can use a 230-gram canister, making the stove suitable for longer backcountry trips, but the larger canister does not fit into the pot.

Fuel Type: Jet Boil recommends its JetPower brand of fuel, and says that in a pinch MSR, Primus, and Snowpeak canisters have the same fuel mixture as JetPower and can be used. I found that MSR fuel worked fine for the Stash.

Packing the Stash

Easy to Pack: Illustrated instructions on fitting the burner, legs, canister, and lighter inside the pot, and snapping on the cover are printed on the side of the pot.

But Pay Attention: I tinkered with packing everything into the pot before getting it right, and advise paying careful attention to how the stove unpacks from the pot so that unlike me you remember how to put it together.

• Fold up the orange plastic legs and put them at the bottom of the pot.
• Put the burner in the stuff sack and stand it upright in the pot, on the opposite side of the handle.
• Turn the canister upside down, nest a lighter or matches in the concave bottom, snap the pot cover onto the top rim of the pot, and fold the handle over the cover to hold it in place.

Jetboil Extras

Grande Coffee Press: Works with Jetboil Stash, MiniMo, SUMO, and SUMO TI cooking systems, along with 1-liter short and 1.8-liter spare cups.

JetGauge: Determine how much fuel is in your canister with the JetGauge’s digital display.

Stash Pros

Compact and Light: The Stash packs compactly into the included 0.8 liter pot, for a total weight of 8 ounces. Add 7 ounces for a 100-gram canister, which also fits inside the stove, and I have a complete cooking system for less than a pound.

Fast Boil Times: The Stash boils 2 cups of water in 2 and a half minutes, although boil times approached 3 minutes as the fuel canister neared empty.

Easy to Use: Attach the stabilizer legs to the fuel canister, thread the burner onto the canister, and light the stove. I’ve always been able to light the burner with one match, and the pot’s bottom lip fit snugly onto the notched arms so I’m always ensured that the pot is centered on the burner and won’t slide off.

Stash Cons

Hard to Simmer: The burner creates so much heat that it’s difficult to get the flame small enough to simmer while cooking. I add extra water to prevent food from burning to the bottom of the pot, although that makes for a soupy meal.

Susceptible to Wind: The flame burns strong when on full, but a slight wind can put out a simmering flame.

Small Fuel Canister: The 100-gram canister is good for a five-day trip that involves mostly boiling water for meals. Cooking meals that require simmering means packing a 230-gram canister, which does not fit inside the Stash’s pot.

Overall Value

The Stash comes as a package: burner, pot, pot cover, and stabilizing legs, at a price of $149.99. That might seem like a lot for a stove and accessories, but consider this: I put together my own stove setup with an ultralight burner and titanium pot that together weigh 6.8 ounces, for a cost of about $119. But my current stove setup doesn’t have the good-to-have features of the Stash: stabilizer legs that to me are essential when using the smaller 100-gram canister, a fuel-saving design, a pot that nestles firmly on the burner arms, and a setup that packs small and light. Those features make the well-designed Stash a solid choice at its price.

Similar Cooking Systems

Primus Lite

MSRP: $109.95

Weight: 12 ounces

Included: Burner and igniter that pack into a 0.5 liter aluminum pot.

MSR Windburner Personal Stove System

MSRP: $189.95

Weight: 16 ounces

Included: Burner, fuel canister stabilizer legs, and 4-ounce fuel canister fit inside the 1-liter pot. A plastic cover snaps onto the top and a plastic bowl covers the bottom of the pot.

Camp Chef Stryker

MSRP: $149.95

Weight: 19.4 ounces

Included: Burner with igniter, folding canister stabilizer, and lid that pack into the pot, which all go into a mesh storage bag.

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Jetboil Stash Cooking System Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Speed 2 are high-drop, high-cushion trail runners that are at home on moderate trails, good for running, day hiking, or backpacking. Their extreme padding ensures all-day comfort for any of those activities.

Moab Speed 2 Specs

MSRP: $140

Weight: 12.34 ounces per shoe

Outsole: Vibram LTC5+

Drop: 10 mm

About the Moab Speed 2

The Speed 2 are highly cushioned trail runners that absorb a pounding whether I’m running or backpacking. The 34mm-to-24mm stack height is an outlier in a world of low-drop shoes, but I appreciate the extra comfort and support for my flat feet that let me bounce from rock to rock without losing a feel for the trail.

Performance

Trail Ready: The Speed 2 are comfortable out of the box, at home on rocky trails, wet trails, and dry dirt trails. Merrell rates them good for moderate trails, which leaves out bushwhacking or steep rock scrambling.

GORE-TEX Lining: The Speed 2 have an optional GORE-TEX lining in the low-cut shoes, while the mid-cut shoes only come with a GORE-TEX lining. I prefer a low-cut without GORE-TEX because although they get wet quicker, they also dry faster. The Speed 2 stayed dry for me while hiking on wet and muddy trails. When the going got really wet through standing water the Speed 2 did a good job of shedding inside water and staying comfortable.

Outsoles: The Vibram TC5+ soles with 4mm lugs grip the trail, and I rock-hopped without fear of slipping on wet surfaces. The lugs are widely space to shed trail debris.

Midsole: My feet appreciate the thickly cushioned FloatPro midsole, with a stack height of 34mm to 24mm. The Speed 2 are stable through a variety of terrain, keeping my feet solidly planted on the trail.

Comfort

Mesh Uppers: Comfortable, breathable, and flexible. I like the padding that surrounds my ankles and keeps my feet firmly attached inside the shoes. The nylon ripstop and TPU uppers repel some water but aren’t waterproof. On the plus side, water that might get inside the shoes drains well through the mesh fabric.

Fit and Width: The size 12 Speed 2 are a spot on fit for my size 12 feet, with extra room in the toe box. The Speed 2 are available in medium width and wide width. The medium width Speed 2 are comfortable for my narrow feet, and my feet don’t slip around in the shoes.

Stack Height: The 34mm stack height with a drop of 10 mm provides a lot of cushion for my feet, and despite the thick cushion the shoes are stable on trail. I bounced along rocky trails without feeling a thud in my feet. And with flat feet and my heels striking first as I walk, I wear shoes with a high drop because low-drop shoes don’t provide enough support for me.

Good to Know

Sustainability: Merrell uses recycled material for the breathable mesh lining, the mesh footbed cover, and the EVA foam that cushions the midsole.

Warranty: Merrell’s warranty promises that footwear will be free of defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the verified date of purchase or delivery (if later than the date of purchase) by the original end-user purchaser.

Moab Speed 2 Pros

Grip: Solid traction through rocks, mud, and dry trail. Stable on trail despite the high stack height.

Comfort: Plenty of cushion and support for long trail days.

Stack Height: The 34mm stack height is a lot of padding under my feet, but I didn’t feel disconnected from the trail. And because I walk with my heel striking first I appreciate the thick cushion in the heel.

Moab Speed 2 Cons

Trail Limits: The Speed 2 are for moderate trail hiking, and aren’t intended for technical terrain.

Weight: Middle of the pack for weight, but still light.

Overall Value

I like that the Speed 2 have plenty of cushion for my feet, especially on long hikes with a ~20-pound backpack. The grip and stability are solid on muddy and rocky trails, and the 34mm stack height cushions my feet from the pounding of rocks without disconnecting me from the trail. The price is comparable to other trail runners in the Speed 2’s category. These have become my go-to shoes for all my hikes and running.

Similar Hiking Shoes

Brooks Cascadia 17

MSRP: $140

Drop: 8mm

Weight: 11 ounces per shoe

Salomon Speedcross 6

MSRP: $145

Drop: 10mm

Weight: 10.5 ounces

La Sportiva Wildcat

MSRP: $145

Drop: 12mm

Weight: 13.4 ounces

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Merrell Moab Speed 2 Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The updated Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 continues to be a solid, lightweight backpack that combines lots of space and plenty of features at an affordable price.

Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Specs

MSRP: $275

Weight: 31.9 ounces for a medium with a medium straight hipbelt

Capacity: 50 liters total; 32 liters for the main pack body, 18 liters for the outside pockets

Fabric: PFAS-free recycled Robic nylon

About the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50

The Gorilla 50 was already a standout among lightweight backpacks, and Gossamer Gear took that reputation further with a redesign focused on function, durability, and light weight. The Gorilla 50 frame has been redesigned and load lifters have been added to increase carrying comfort. The hipbelt comes straight or curved, and in multiple sizes. Through all the changes Gossamer Gear has stuck with one hallmark of its packs: strong Robic fabric that’s durable and much less expensive than the new ultralight fabrics that push backpack prices higher and higher.

Carrying Capacity

Main Compartment: The 32-liter, top-loading main compartment holds all my gear for a five-day hike: tent, sleeping bag, clothes, accessories, and bear canister with food. If I need more space the extension collar adds 2 to 3 liters more.

The external pockets add 18 liters of storage:

Front Mesh Pocket: This is a large pocket where I stash gear that I want to get at without digging through my pack. I put a rain jacket and rain pants in the expandable pocket, along with my water filter, lunch, extra warm clothes, and cat hole trowel. The pocket has a solid fabric bottom with a drain hole.

Side Pockets: One shallow, solid fabric pocket on each side of the pack, and each pocket is capable of carrying two one-liter Smartwater bottles or a Nalgene bottle. It’s also possible to put tent poles in the pockets and snug them against the pack with the side compression straps. These pockets also have drain holes for water.

Hipbelt Pockets: These pockets are big, and hold snacks, my phone, a small container of hand sanitizer, just about anything I want to get at quickly without taking off my pack. I like that the cords attached to the pockets’ zipper pulls let me me open or close the zippers while wearing gloves.

Top Flap: The over-the-top closure is a cross between a standard pack brain and a roll-top pack. It has a large side zipper that makes it easy to stuff maps, a phone, glasses, car key, and driver’s license inside the pouch. And there’s a small gap at the bottom of the pouch for a headphone cord to run from your phone inside the pouch to your ears.

The top flap snugs down with easy-to-connect green straps, making it simple to avoid trying to connect a green closure flap strap to one of the black compression straps. (Surely someone at Gossamer Gear has done they same thing as me on other packs: trying to connect a black side compression strap with a black top closure strap.) Gossamer Gear’s theme of different-colored straps shows me the company pays attention to small details.

Water Bladder: New in the redesign is a loop inside the pack’s main compartment that can hold a water bladder, replacing a bladder pouch. The bladder tube can run through the same hole in the top pouch that the headphone cord runs through. The tube and bite valve are held in place by cross-webbing on the strap, and an elastic part of the sternum strap can hold the bite valve.

Bear Canister: My BearVault 450 fits horizontally or vertically inside the main body of the pack, with clothing tucked between the canister and the frame pad for extra cushion against my back. A bear canister can also be strapped to the top of the pack.

Comfort

New PVT Frame: Gossamer Gear’s redesign includes the PVT (short for pivot) closed-loop frame that fits into a pocket on the hipbelt and pivots as you move. The new frame is comfortable and lightweight. The PVT frame and PVT hipbelt cannot be used on pre-redesign Gorilla 50 and Mariposa models that use a U-shaped frame. Gossamer Gear has a deeper dive into the pivot frame here.

Hipbelt: The hipbelt is available in straight or S-shaped configurations, depending on the pack’s size. The size small pack comes with a curved belt, and the medium and large packs have a straight belt. I have a straight hipbelt and it’s comfortable for my slim build. To get a different size hipbelt Gossamer Gear recommends including the belt you want in your order, swapping it out at home, and returning the belt that came with the pack for a $25 refund.

Shoulder Straps: The curved shoulder straps wrap around the chest and breasts, making them comfortable for men and women, unlike straight shoulder straps that are more comfortable for men with slim bodies.

Shoulder Strap Cords: Thumb loops at the end of the cords let you rest your arms with a bend at the elbows, avoiding so-called sausage fingers caused by arms hanging loose at your sides. The loops are new with the pack update and I’m not sold on them yet.

External Essentials

Side Compression Cords: These cords do double duty to compress the pack and hold equipment such as trekking poles to the side of the pack. The straps are long enough to lash bulky gear to the sides of the pack, and though the buckles are small and the straps thin, the buckles are easy to connect and disconnect, and the straps slide easily and don’t slip loose.

Shoulder Strap Rings: Two rings on each shoulder strap can hold Gossamer Gear accessories: a shoulder strap pocket, bottle holder, and umbrella clamp. The shoulder straps do not have daisy chains.

Emergency Whistle: The sternum-strap emergency whistle has become ubiquitous on most packs.

Additional Attachment Loops: Small loops on the sides and back of the pack can be used to add cords to hang gear. The loops are orange, making it easy to see them against my pack’s gray fabric. Gossamer Gear sells shock cords to attach to the loops.

Trekking Pole Cords: Slip the pole tips into a bungee cord—new with the redesign—at the bottom of the pack and tighten the cord to hold the poles in place.

Ice Axe Loop: Learn how to attach an ice axe to your pack here.

Other Features: Gossamer Gear has more information on the Gorilla 50’s other features here.

Weight and Fit

My Take: The Gorilla 50 rides comfortably on my hips, held securely by the straight hipbelt. The padded shoulder straps, with breathable mesh, hold the pack loosely to my back, and the back pad provides plenty of cushion. The load lifters keep the pack from pulling back on my shoulders.

Going Ultralight: The medium pack’s body weighs 16.3 ounces, and the frame (4.3 ounces) and back pad (2.3 ounces) can be removed to shed a few ounces. The medium pack and back pad, with the frame and hipbelt removed, weigh 18.6 ounces, compared with 31.9 ounces for the pack with frame, pad, and hipbelt. If you want a lighter hipbelt than the one that came with the pack, Gossamer Gear has a Fastbelt (3.3 ounces) that attaches to loops on each side of the pack’s bottom.

Removable Back Pad: The back pad can be removed to use as a sit pad during breaks.

How Much Weight: The Gorilla 50 is extremely comfortable at about 20 pounds, the weight that I usually carry. Gossamer Gear recommends a maximum load of 30 pounds, and 25 pounds for a comfort weight.

Fit: I’m 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weigh 160ish, and the medium Gorilla 50 is a good fit for me. Five feet, 10 inches tall is on the dividing line between wearing a medium or large pack for most brands, and it took wearing several large packs before realizing that a medium is a better fit for me. Gossamer Gear has a guide to finding the right size for you.

Pack Material

Fabric: Gossamer Gear uses recycled Robic nylon. The 70 denier main pack material and 100 denier bottom material are thick, and can be expected to handle heavy use.

Rainy Days: Robic nylon is not waterproof, but the DWR coating helps shed some moisture. Small holes in the bottom of the outside pockets let out water that might get inside and I line the main pack compartment with a trash bag.

Robic vs. Dyneema vs Ultra: Gossamer Gear stayed with Robic nylon for its updated backpacks because of its proven strength, weight, and cost. The Gorilla costs about $100 less than comparable backpacks made from Dyneema and Ultra.

Recycled Robic: The Gorilla 50 is made from recycled Robic nylon.

Pack Colors: Gray and yellow.

Warranty: Gossamer Gears warranties its gear to be free from manufacturing defects within one year of the purchase date, for the purchaser only.

Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Pros

Lightweight, But Not Skimpy: The Gorilla 50 rides lightly on my back but doesn’t scrimp on what I want: useful outer pockets, padded shoulder straps and hipbelt, and the right number of straps to hold it all together.

Comfort: The padded shoulder straps and hipbelt don’t bite into my shoulders and hips, while the cushioned back pad fits the contour of my back.

Pockets: Handy storage for lightweight gear I want easy access to.

Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Cons

Not Waterproof: If there’s one knock against the Gorilla 50 it’s that the Robic fabric isn’t waterproof. But spending pennies for a plastic trash bag to line the inside of the pack seems like a much better move than spending hundreds more for a pack with waterproof fabric.

Overall Value

The Gorilla 50 is an excellent value for a pack that’s comfortable and feature-rich, and won’t empty your bank account. I like Gossamer Gear’s attention to the small details: color-coded straps so I’m not trying to connect the wrong straps; orange cord loops that are easy to see; and a headphone cord portal in the back of the pack. And then there are the big details: comfortable S-curve shoulder straps; an improved pack frame; and lightweight and comfortable.

Similar Backpacks

Granite Gear Crown3 60

MSRP: $239.95

Weight: 2 pounds, 4 ounces for a regular size

Capacity: 60 liters

Material: Robic

Gregory Focal 48

MSRP: $229.95

Weight: 2.8 pounds

Capacity: 48 liters

Material: Nylon

REI Flash 55

MSRP: $199

Weight: 2 pounds, 13 ounces, medium

Capacity: 55 liters

Material: Robic

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Backpack Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

Region: Northeast (Pachaug State Forest, Connecticut)

Length: ~31 miles (3 days)

Physical Difficulty: Easy

• The elevation gain is 2,848 feet, and two sections account for the bulk of the elevation gain: Mount Misery (441 feet) and about 2 miles of steep up and down scrambling through rocky ravines north of Beach Pond.
• Mostly soft dirt trails and forest roads. Some short, paved road walks.
• Water crossings can be tricky after heavy rain, but bridges, some in poor condition, span the deepest crossings. I had to take off my shoes and pants to wade across one deep crossing, but I suspect the deep water was because of torrential rains in the days before my hike.

Logistical Difficulty: Easy

• Loop trail done in three days, so resupply not needed. Only two sites where camping is allowed: Dawley Pond and Dry Reservoir shelters. Permits are required.
• Plentiful water. Late-winter rainstorms before my hike left trails covered in water.
• Some forest roads leading to trailheads are closed for the winter so it’s a good idea to call Pachaug State Forest headquarters to find where you can park in the off-season.

Season: Year-round

Net Elevation Gain: 2,848 feet

Hiking the Pachaug State Forest Loop

The ~31-mile loop that I hiked combined parts of the Pachaug and Nehantic Trails in Pachaug State Forest, Connecticut’s largest state forest at 26,477 acres.

Horses are permitted on sections of the trail, and I saw two men riding horses and a fair amount of horse poop on trails. The trails also cross sanctioned dirt bike tracks.

Trailhead parking (shown on this interactive trails map) is scattered throughout the forest, but if you’re planning the off-season loop that I did I recommend parking on Fish Road, which has year-round access. The hike from Fish Road to the Dawley Pond Lean-to is ~14 miles, ~11 miles to Dry Reservoir Lean-to, and ~6 miles to Fish Road.

I parked at Fish Road and hiked south for 2 miles on the Nehantic Trail through mountain laurel stands before reaching Green Fall Pond. Water covered low-lying trail sections, a harbinger of wet trails to come for the rest of the hike.

I stopped for lunch at Green Fall Pond, a seasonal recreation area with swimming, picnic tables, outhouses, grills, and camping. This is the southern terminus for the Nehantic and Pachaug Trails.

Heading north from Green Fall Pond on the Pachaug Trail the route follows a low and mostly dry ridge for 4 miles to Route 165, crossing Route 138 along the way. The trail turns right onto Route 165, a state highway with narrow shoulders and fast-moving vehicles, for a short hike skirting the southern end of Beach Pond. The road walk enters Rhode Island at the bridge over the pond outlet, then crosses the road and heads back into the woods as the trail winds north along the pond’s eastern shore. The trail hugs the shore through the Arcadia Management Area in Rhode Island before veering away from Beach Pond and back into Connecticut and Pachaug State Forest. This is a nice stretch of the hike that offers waterfront access for hikers, unlike across the pond where the Connecticut shore is crowded with mega houses.

After leaving Beach Pond the trail begins a roughly 2-mile stretch through rocky ridges and ravines that were filled with water after late-winter rains. The trail becomes a scramble up and down the low but steep ridges, and is the most difficult section of the loop.

After the ridges the trail flattens out, and the hike to the Dawley Pond Lean-to is fast and easy. Although it’s called the Dawley Pond Lean-to, the three-sided structure is north of Dawley Pond, on Great Meadow Brook Pond.

The map here correctly shows the shelter’s location on Great Meadow Brook Pond. The Connecticut Walk Book, a comprehensive guide to Connecticut’s blue-blazed trails, mistakenly shows the shelter on Wickaboxet Marsh.

The shelter was clean when I arrived, but because it is so close to a road the shelter apparently can be a trashy party spot.

I filled up with water at the Great Meadow Brook Pond outlet just before reaching the clearly marked shelter side trail, and recommend filling up at one of the streams north of the pond if you’re coming from that direction. The pond shore is weedy and shallow at the shelter, making it difficult to get water.

The trail heading north from the shelter to Cedar Swamp Road passes stone walls and cellar holes, remnants of long-ago farms. An apparent gravesite for a 3-year-old girl who died in 1891, with fresh remembrances left at the site, sits along the trail through this section.

Emerging from the woods onto Cedar Swamp Road, the trail heads west for a short road walk. The road climbs easily to a wide-open hilltop farm—at 600-plus feet the highest point on the trail—where the wind blew fiercely from the northwest during my hike, pushing against me as I pushed back.

The trail crosses Route 49 to Hell Hollow Road, and the road walk isn’t well-blazed. But a sign does indicate the trail’s return to the woods, which loops north off Hell Hollow Road before heading south and crossing the road again.

The trail stays in the woods for several miles, crossing and following forest roads. The trail passes the Lowden Brook Cascades, and several deep pools in the brook below the falls look like promising cooling-off spots on a hot summer hike.

The walking continues to be easy to the Pachaug Trail junction with the Nehantic Trail. At this point the Pachaug and Nehantic Trails merge and head west through a recreation area popular for exercise walking. The trail soon veers left into the woods and begins ascending Mount Misery, supposedly named by European settlers for the area’s miserable farming soil. The hike to the 441-foot summit is easy and fast, and the main view is to the east and the forests I passed through on the first day of my hike.

The trail descending Mount Misery is blue-blazed but it’s easy to mistakenly follow—as I did—a herd path rather than the marked trail. At the base of the mountain the trail again follows a forest road before re-entering the woods.

A short distance later the Pachaug Trail heads south while the Nehantic Trail continues west to the Dry Reservoir Lean-to. The trail crosses a stream just before the shelter, and this is the water source for the shelter.

The Dry Reservoir Lean-to is clean, but small. I couldn’t stand up without bumping my head.

Although there’s no outstanding view at the shelter, I did see a stunning sunset and sunrise through the bare trees.

The final leg of the hike is ~6 miles, backtracking over Mount Misery and then south on the Nehantic Trail from the junction where the Pachaug Trail splits off to head north. The hike from that point back to Fish Road is flat and easy, with a short road walk on Route 49. Although blazes are few on the state highway the turnoff into the woods is clearly marked.

How to Get to Pachaug State Forest

Norwich and New London are the closest cities in Connecticut, each about a 30-minute drive to Pachaug State Forest. TF Green International Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, is about an hour drive away.

Trailheads: Fish Road, Green Fall Pond Road, Shetucket Turnpike, Brown Road, Hell Hollow Road, Fire Tower Road, and Headquarters Road.

About the Pachaug-Nehantic Loop

The trails are mostly flat, with easy vehicle access to trailheads. Because camping is allowed only at shelters, the loop I hiked requires at least 14 miles to a shelter the first day, and about 11 miles to a shelter the second day.

But there are opportunities for shorter loops using the many interconnecting trails in the state forest. And two shelters on the Narragansett Trail make a point-to-point hike possible on that trail, or possibly putting together a different loop hike.

Here’s the route I followed on my hike:

Day 1: Park in the parking area for about 6 cars on Fish Road in Voluntown, CT, at the Nehantic Trail trailhead. Hike ~2 miles south on the Nehantic to its southern terminus at Green Fall Pond, and at the pond take the Pachaug Trail north to Dawley Pond Lean-to. Total mileage, ~14 miles.

Day 2: Continue north on the Pachaug Trail to Hell Hollow Road, then veer south and after several miles connect with the Nehantic Trail at the recreation area. Hike west on the Nehantic-Pachaug Trails over Mount Misery, then head north on the Nehantic Trail when the Pachaug splits off to head south. The Dry Reservoir Lean-to is a short distance north on the Nehantic Trail. Total mileage, ~11 miles.

Day 3: Backtrack on the Nehantic Trail and Nehantic-Pachaug Trails to the junction where the Nehantic heads south and the Pachaug goes north. Follow the Nehantic Trail south to Fish Road. Total mileage, ~6 miles.

When to Hike the Pachaug-Nehantic Loop

Spring: April can be a good month for hiking as trees begin budding and wildflowers bloom; May is warm and still mostly bug-free. March is iffy. During my hike in early March streams were swollen—one required knee-deep wading—and trails were filled with water in low spots after a week of heavy rain. Temperatures for my hike were 29 to 45, but a few days later they reached the upper 60s.

Summer: Buggy, humid, and hot.

Fall: My favorite time for backpacking. The days begin cooling off in September, and October brings peak New England foliage. November can continue to have good weather good for hiking, but hunting season begins in the state forest.

Winter: Snow is rare, and when it falls usually melts within days, making the Pachaug a good winter hike if you have cabin fever.

The Pachaug-Nehantic Loop Terrain

The trail is mainly flat as it meanders through pine and hardwood forests. The Pachaug Trail follows low ridges north of Green Fall Pond and then rocky, steep ridges north of Beach Pond.

Mount Misery is the only significant climb on the Pachaug-Nehantic loop.

Ponds, marshes, and streams are plentiful, some next to the trail, others visible in the distance through the trees.

Logistics: Permits, Camping, Water

Permits: Permits are required to stay at the four shelters in Pachaug State Forest. Dispersed camping is not allowed. Information on obtaining permits from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection can be found here.

Shelters: Dawley Pond and Dry Reservoir shelters are on the loop I hiked; Peg Mill and Legend Wood shelters are on the Narragansett Trail, which connects with the Nehantic and Pachaug Trails at Green Fall Pond. The shelters do not have bear boxes or privies.

Water: Streams and ponds are close enough along the trail that I didn’t worry about running short of water. I carried a liter and never ran dry.

Route-finding: The Pachaug and Nehantic Trails are marked with solid blue blazes; side trails use different-colored blazes and most are marked with signs. Blazes are sparse on road walks but signs mark trail turnoffs into the woods.

Know Before You Go

Clockwise or Counterclockwise?: It’s personal preference. I hiked the Pachaug-Nehantic Loop counterclockwise to get the longer-mile days out of the way on the first two days, with an easy hike to my car on day three.

Private Land: Parts of the loop pass through private land, making it important to follow the camping guidelines to preserve trail access.

Parking: The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, which maintains the 825-plus miles of blue-blazed hiking trails in Connecticut, has an interactive map on its website showing trails, shelters, and trailhead parking, with directions to the trailheads.

Transportation: Driving your own vehicle is the only practical way to get to the trail.

Cell Reception: Good throughout the forest.

Trail Guide: The Connecticut Walk Book is the ultimate guide to Connecticut’s blue-blazed trails. The book is compiled by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, which maintains the trails, and can be purchased from the CFPA or through Amazon.

Trail Updates: Trail information such as reroutes and damaged bridges can be found here. But the information does not appear to be updated online to indicate whether problems have been resolved.

Ticks: Lyme disease was first identified in Connecticut, and the ticks carrying the disease can be active year-round. I spray my clothes with permethrin and do careful tick checks of my body after every hike in the woods.

About the Forest: At 26,477 acres in six towns, Pachaug is the largest state forest in Connecticut. The word Pachaug derives from the American Indian term meaning bend or turn in the river, referring to the 9-mile Pachaug River. The forest was inhabited by Narragansett, Pequot, Wampanoag, Nipmuck, Pocumtuck, and Mohegan peoples, most of whom were driven from their lands by European settlers.

Tree Damage: Gypsy moths heavily damaged oak and maple trees in the 2010s, evidenced by swaths of clear-cut forests and the number of dead trees on the ground in the Pachaug State Forest.

State Campgrounds in the Forest: The Green Fall Campground and Mount Misery Campground in the forest are car-camping sites that offer base camps for hiking.

Pachaug State Forest Resources

Pachaug State Forest

Interactive Map of Trails, Trailhead Parking, and Shelters

Backpack Camping in Connecticut

Weather

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Jack Wolfskin’s Highest Peak 3L Jacket is a full-featured raincoat with pit zips, Velcro cuffs, a high collar, taped seams, and hood adjustments. And by using its proprietary fabric recycling process Jack Wolfskin has created a water resistant, windproof, and breathable coat made from 100% recycled and PFAS-free fabric.

Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak 3L Specs

MSRP: $239.95

Weight: 13 ounces for a women’s medium; 15 ounces for a men’s medium

Fabric: Texapore Ecosphere Pro Stretch 3L, Jack Wolfskin’s proprietary three-layer fabric that’s waterproof, windproof, and breathable.

About the Highest Peak 3L

The Highest Peak 3L jacket is a solid three-season rain and wind outer layer that doesn’t skimp on features. The two hip pockets are large enough to hold a phone and gloves, and have a solid inside lining. The hood has an easy-to-adjust tightening cord in the back of the hood, and two draw cords adjust the hood’s front opening. All the zippers have pull cords, making them easy to use while wearing lightweight gloves. The coat kept me dry and warm during hikes on several rainy, windy, and cold March hikes.

Highest Peak 3L Features

Weather Resistance: The Highest Peak 3L uses Jack Wolfskin’s Texapore technology to create a waterproof, windproof, and breathable rain jacket. All of the coat’s outer layer, membrane, and inner layer are made from recycled fabric without creating any waste, and are free from PFAS (so-called forever chemicals).

Why Three Layers?: Three-layer rain jackets provide the highest level of protection again rain and wind, and are more durable than two- or 2.5-layer coats. They also tend to be stiffer, heavier, and more expensive than two- and 2.5-layer coats.

Zippers: Robust zippers with pulls that can be grabbed while wearing lightweight gloves. The main zipper has an inner storm flop, and the pit zippers and outer pocket zippers have overlapping storm flaps.

Pit Zips: The 10-inch-long openings provide good ventilation, and the cord on the zipper pulls makes them easy to open and close.

Cuffs: A three-inch strip of Velcro gives the cuffs a wide range of adjustability.

Hem: Drawstrings inside the coat’s hem seal the bottom of the jacket against my hips.

Pockets: The two hip pockets are big enough to hold a phone, lightweight gloves, or trail snacks. The inside chest pocket can hold a car key, lip balm, or ID card, but not much else.

Hood: The cord at the back of the hood is easy to tighten and release, and when combined with the collar pull cords at the front of the coat, I can seal the hood around my head to keep out rain and wind.

Layers, Layers, Layers: What do the numbers used to designate coat layers mean?

• Two Layer: Typically an outer fabric that’s paired with an inner water resistant, breathable membrane. A hanging mesh liner is often added to protect the membrane against wear and tear. The two-layer design is mostly used for lower-priced coats, with limited water resistance and breathability.
• 2.5 Layer: Similar to two-layer coats, a water resistant, breathable membrane is bonded to the inside of the outer fabric. Then a printed or sprayed-on layer is applied over the membrane. These coats are lightweight, packable, and have a wide price range.
• Three Layer: Again, the membrane is attached to the inside of the coat’s face fabric. Then a full inside liner is attached to the membrane. Three-layer coats provide premium weather performance and durability, with a stiff feel.

Sustainability: Jack Wolfskin takes its commitment to the environment up a notch with the Highest Peaks 3L, the company’s first jacket sold in the U.S that is made from recycled fabrics.

Instead of recycling single-use plastics such as water bottles for fabric, Jack Wolfskin takes used polyester textiles and factory scraps, removes non-textile material such as zippers and Velcro, and spins the discarded textiles into new fabric.

The result is what Jack Wolfskin calls a Textile to Textile recycled jacket.

Warranty: Jack Wolfskin’s clothing comes with a limited lifetime warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship; equipment has a limited two-year guarantee; and footwear carries a limited, one-year guarantee.

Highest Peak 3L Pros

Weather Protection: The three-layer configuration of the Highest Peak 3L is top of the line for durability, and rain and wind protection.

Pit Zips: 10-inch-long ventilation zips that are easy to open and close.

Hood: The drawcord at the back of the hood is easy to grasp in order to tighten or loosen the hood.

Pockets: The two side pockets are deep and hold an array of gloves, snacks, or a phone.

Taped Seams: Extra protection against rain and snow.

Highest Peak 3L Cons

Inner Chest Pocket: Good size for a car key or ID card, but too small for gear accessories I would like to stow there. A larger inner pocket would make up for lack of an outside chest pocket.

Overall Value

The Highest Peaks 3L is a robust hardshell jacket for three-season use, possibly crossing over into winter adventures in moderate conditions. Everything about the coat speaks to its versatility, from rainy days to wind-swept summits. And the price is low compared with many similar coats.

Similar Rain Jackets

Arc’teryx Beta LT

MSRP: $450

Weight: 13.9 ounces

Patagonia Torrentshell 3L

MSRP: $179

Weight: 12.4 ounces

Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell

MSRP: $449

Weight: 10.8 ounces

The North Face Terrain Vista 3L Pro

MSRP: $270

Weight: Not available

Mountain Research Premonition UL

MSRP: $430

Weight: 11.2 ounces

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak 3L Jacket Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The wood-fired Titan stove cooks hot backcountry meals for two to four people using thumb-sized wood collected at campsites.

Titan Stove Specs

MSRP:

• Just the Stove and Stuff Sack: $89.99 (on sale for $79.99)
• Stove, Cook Pot, Windscreen, and Tripod Kit: $194.99 (on sale for $179.99)

Weight: 16.5 ounces for the stove alone

Measurements: 5.1-inch diameter, 7.9 inches tall

Materials: Stainless steel

About the Titan Wood Stove

I tested the Titan Gear Kit, which includes the stove, cook pot, windscreen, and pot-hanging tripod. The windscreen and tripod are nice accessories, but not essential for cooking. Lighting the stove is easy using thumb-sized dry wood. I put finger-thick wood at the bottom of the fuel box, fire starter on top of that, and twigs on top. The fire starts quickly using dry wood and burns down to the thicker wood at the bottom, where it creates a bed of coals. I feed the stove as the flames lessen and have an 8-cup pot of water boiling in 9 minutes. I continue adding small amounts of fuel if I am simmering food that needs time to cook.

Titan Solo Stove Features

How It Works: The Titan and other Solo stoves are known as gasifier stoves because they have secondary combustion. The stoves’ base is a double-wall stainless steel cylinder with air holes around the botom and smaller holes at the top. Air sucked in through the bottom holes fuels the fire while heated air rising between the double walls causes a secondary combustion so the fire burns without smoke. Once a hot fire is going I see little smoke, but if the fire is struggling to burn wet wood there is a lot of smoke.

Two-Part Design: Build a fire in the base, then place the cooking ring on the lip of the base. The cook pot sits on top of the ring’s legs, and a gap in the legs allows wood to be fed into the fire. When I’m ready to pack up the ring flips over to fit into the stove base and they both fit into the pot.

Best Pot Size: The 1800 (1800ml/60 ounces) pot is plenty big enough to cook meals for two to four people. The pot can be purchased alone without having to buy the gear kit.

Storing the Titan: The stove and inverted cooking ring fit inside the 1800 pot, and together they fit inside the stuff sack that comes with the stove.

Best Use: Gathering wood and lighting the stove fire is easy in dry weather, a challenge when the woods are wet. This is definitely a stove for thick woods, not meadows or high elevations with scrub trees.

Stock Up on Wood: I collect enough dry wood to cook a meal before lighting the stove. That way I’m not searching for more wood while my meal cooks. And it’s a good idea to collect enough wood at night and store it in a dry spot so it’s ready for breakfast. Two to three handfuls of wood is enough for cooking.

Rainy Days: I spent about 30 minutes getting a fire going after a day of rain. Once I had a bed of coals built up the fire was easy to maintain.

Practice, Practice, Practice: It’s a good idea to light the stove before taking it into the backcountry. I lit the stove on a dry day and after a day of rain to hone my fire-lighting skills.

Fire Starters: A commercial or homemade fire starter makes lighting the wood much easier.

Cold Weather: I had a liter of water boiling in 9 minutes when the temperature was 34F.

Other Fuel: An alcohol burner is available for the Titan and Lite stoves.

Cleaning the Pot: I put the pot inside the stuff sack so soot doesn’t get on gear in my pack, and clean the pot when I get home.

Flexibility: The Solo stoves can be purchased as a kit with accessories included, or the stove alone with a pot, tripod, or windscreen added. Solo also sells fire starters, roasting sticks, a pellet adapter, and replacement parts.

Other Solo Stoves: The Lite weighs 9 ounces, fits in the 900 pot in the Lite Gear Kit ($154.99 MSRP), and is probably the best choice for backpacking. The Lite Gear Kit comes with a windscreen, an alcohol burner for an alternative fuel source, and a fire striker. The Campfire is more of a car camping stove, and weighs 2.2 pounds. The Campfire Gear Kit comes with 1.5 and 3 liter pots, and a tripod ($204.99 MSRP). Pots can be bought separately if you’re buying only the stove.

Windscreen: Because air drawn in through holes in the bottom of the stove feeds the flames, I wait until I’ve built a hot bed of coals before using the windscreen. The windscreen holds in the stove’s heat so if my bed of coals is large enough food in the pot continues cooking without having to add wood.

Environmental Considerations: Using a woodburning stove means no metal fuel tank that may or may not get recycled when it’s empty. Woodburning stoves are banned in some areas because of fire concerns, and campsites already stripped of wood can be harmed even more by collecting wood for the Titan.

Titan Pros

Easy to Use: Lighting the Titan and keeping the fire going require minimal attention as long as you have enough dry wood gathered.

Free Fuel: I live in the heavily forested Northeast and finding wood near my campsite is not a problem.

No Fuel Anxiety: I don’t worry whether my stove canister has enough fuel to cook supper, nor do I have to carry two partially filled canisters to ensure I have enough fuel.

Titan Cons

Weather Dependent: Finding dry wood in rain-drenched woods and starting the fire is difficult.

Limited to Forest Campsites: The Titan isn’t good at campsites with no trees or scrub trees. And some heavily used forest campsites may be stripped nearly bare of dead wood, making it difficult to find fuel for the Titan.

Overall Value

The Titan’s $89.99 price is on the high side when compared with other stoves, but it accommodates a pot that can cook meals for up to four people. The smaller Lite stove is a better choice for a backpacking trip with one or two people, and costs $69.99. Unlike folding stoves, the double-wall design in Solo Stoves is fuel efficient and good at keeping the fire and heat inside the stove, not spilling over onto the ground. And if the weather is wet the alcohol burner is a good option to ensure you’ll be able to cook a meal.

Other Woodburning Stoves

Toaks Titanium Stove

MSRP: $59.99

Material: Titanium

Vargo Hexagon Stove

MSRP: $59.99

Material: Available in titanium and steel

Emberlit Original Stove

MSRP: $44.99

Material: Stainless steel

This product was donated for purpose of review.

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