Despite the dumpster fire of the past year, I still managed to get out and backpack probably 600-700 miles. I hiked for write-ups for this site, gear testing, and to generally avoid losing my mind.
While my core gear stays mostly stable, I do switch up accessories, clothes, and even the main items from time to time. Over this past year, I was surprised by a few pieces of particularly standout gear, including a sleeping pad swap, a tent so light it could very well blow away, and $50 headphone that put my dumb AirPods to shame. Here are five killer pieces of gear from this year, and what I liked about them.
1) Sea to Summit UL Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
MSRP: $139.95
Weight: 15.8 ounces
R-Value: 3.5
Why It’s Great: At the beginning of 2020, I had three Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pads. At the end of the year, I was down to zero. One sprung a leak at the valve, the second met its demise on a cactus in Colorado. The third I exploded by sitting on a pair of tweezers on the Ouachita Trail. Sometimes, you have to just take the L and accept you aren’t the type of person who can have delicate gear. I thought I was doomed to sleep on closed-cell foam pads thanks to my flagrant disregard for the fragility of inflatable pads, but then I tried this women’s-specific Sea to Summit pad.
At a glance, specs don’t hold up to the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir. It’s nearly 4 ounces heavier, and has an R-value of 3.5 instead of the NeoAir’s 4.2 (5.4 for the women’s NeoAir). But! This sleeping pad is $50 cheaper than the NeoAir, takes 9-10 breaths to inflate instead of ~30, and thus far, the face fabric and materials seem to be more durable. I can’t speak for extended use past one season, but I have high hopes. It’s not as incredibly plush as the NeoAir, but I can easily sleep on my side, and for three-season camping, a 3.2 R-value is more than enough. I’m a big fan. More about R-value here.
2) Appalachian Gear Co All-Paca Fleece Hoodie
MSRP: $153
Why It’s Great: These are perpetually sold out (I’m still trying to get my dad one for his birthday), but I’d be remiss not to include it. They’ve exploded in popularity for a reason, including the incredible warmth-to-weight ratio of the natural alpaca fibers, the wicking properties that mean you can wear it when it would be too hot out for another mid-layer, and the fact that they stay incredibly stink-free. It insulates when wet, and can be worn on trail, at camp, or lounging around at home. Jeff can wear his without anything under it, and while it’s softer than other wools, I’m pretty sensitive to wool so I am more comfortable with a layer underneath. Also, these run big, so I recommend sizing down. Jeff included his fleece as well in his 2020 fave gear roundup.
3) Anker Soundcore Liberty Earbuds
MSRP: $39.99
Why These Are Great: I had a meltdown at the beginning of 2020 and bought AirPods because I thought they made me look cool, but A) they don’t and B) I hate them. These $40 earbuds have better sound, fit my ears better, block out external noise, and they last infinitely longer than the AirPods. I’ve lost them in my truck for months on end, and when I dug them out from the Goldfish crumbs, they still had full juice. The Bluetooth earbuds charge in the case, and the earbuds seem to last forever, as does the case. I think I’ve charged the case twice this entire year.
PS: I really loathe posting Amazon links, so if you can find these somewhere else, please do.
4) Zpacks Free Duo
MSRP: $699
Weight: 30 ounces (1.8 pounds)
Capacity: 2-person freestanding tent
Why It’s Great: There’s no tent that will do it all, and the more specialized your requirements, the more you’re going to sacrifice something or other. My requirements are 1) easy pitch, 2) versatile and stable, and 3) lightweight. Most of the ultralight tents are single-wall trekking-pole shelters, which I will have nothing to do with. This is one of the only entirely freestanding, single-wall tents out there, and it’s fantastic. What you’re sacrificing for the low weight and easy pitch is condensation, and some protection. In an effort to reduce more weight and also help keep condensation down, the two vestibules don’t touch the ground, and they don’t entirely zip shut. You latch them with little hooks, and they sit about 10 inches above the ground to increase ventilation. The floor space is a bit snug, but the shoulder and head room is great. This tent is very stable—I’ve used it on rocks, on beaches, slanted campsites, and really tight sites.
The tent is made from Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF), which makes it entirely waterproof. It has two doors and two vestibules, and also two separate H-pole hubs. It doesn’t need stakes to stand, but if you want to anchor the corners and stake out the vestibules, you can. We usually roll the doors up when weather allows. This is also very reasonable for one person to carry, fitting the sweet spot between lightweight, space, and easy pitch.
5) Brooks Method 7/8 Tights
MSRP: $88
Why These Are Great: There aren’t a lot of requirements to make a good pair of running tights, but for many models, the combination remains elusive. I feel like I speak for many women when I say we want a high, wide, flat waistband that doesn’t pinch, a (pants) butt that doesn’t sag, and a build that actually stays up while running or hiking and doesn’t do the whole droopy thing.
These pants are pricey, but they pass those marks with flying colors. They have a shaped top that stays up, light compression throughout, and are true to size. They also have patterned venting and deep side pockets where you can tuck energy gels or a phone. I will give the necessary caveat that you can find fantastic tights for less money at stores like TJ Maxx and Target, but if you are investing in one new pair of hiking / running tights this year, these are my faves.
