Outdoor Research completely redesigns its Transcendent Down Hoodie with 800-fill down, making it a warmer and lighter choice for cold-weather outdoor adventures.

Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Hoodie Specs

MSRP: $279
Fabric: 100 percent recycled 20D nylon shell and lining
Insulation: 800-fill responsibly sourced down
Weight: 13.3 ounces for a medium men’s coat; 11.6 ounces for a women’s medium

About the Transcendent Hoodie

The totally redesigned Transcendent Hoodie has 800-fill down and weighs 13.3 ounces, making it warmer and lighter than the old Hoodie and its 650-fill down and 16.2-ounce weight. The baffles are narrower to keep the down from shifting and the coat uses 100% recycled face and lining fabrics. It’s light and warm, but not stripped down. There are two outside zippered waist pockets, a zippered chest pocket and a deep stash pocket inside, and a hem drawcord. The collar is high on my neck for wind protection and the hood wraps comfortably around my head.

Transcendent Hoodie Features

Materials: Bluesign approved 100% recycled 20D nylon shell and lining.

Fit: The redesigned coat is slimmer than the old version, so take that into account when deciding on size. I’m 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weigh 160 pounds, and the medium size fits me. Because of the slim fit the coat is snug at the waist, so I recommend going with a large if you’re taller or heavier than me.

Wind Resistance: Good at handling light winds.

Water Resistance: Although water beads on the outer coat shell I wouldn’t wear it in the rain.

Warmth: The 800-fill down provides plenty of warmth for cold-weather adventures, with only a short-sleeved T underneath for temperatures above 30 and light to midweight base layers for lower temperatures.

Cuffs: The elastic cuffs are snug at my wrists, and expand enough to slip liner gloves underneath.

Zipper: The large main zipper is easy to pull without snagging, there’s a wind flap inside the coat that’s the length of the zipper, and a zipper garage at the hood.

High Collar: Zips over my chin, with a snug fit to keep out wind and cold air and a soft fabric strip that doesn’t scratch my chin and neck.

Waist Closure: A drawstring inside the coat draws the hem closer to my waist, sealing out wind and cold air.

The Hood: Wraps snugly around my head, with room for a hat underneath. But unlike the previous version there is no hood drawcord.

Two Side Pockets: The two side waist pockets are lined with tricot, a soft fabric that’s durable and moisture wicking. Both pockets have zippers and can hold gloves, a hat, or any other small gear I want quick access to.

Inside Pockets: OR moved the zippered chest pocket inside the coat and now there’s only one deep stash pocket. The coat has to be unzipped slightly to get at the chest pocket, so I don’t keep anything in it that I need to get to often. The pocket is more useful for keeping gear like a phone or satellite communicater safely enclosed inside the coat. The stash pocket, without a zipper, holds larger items such as liner gloves or snacks.

Stuff Pocket: The coat stuffs into the left pocket and has a cord to attach it to the outside of a pack.

Cleaning: Machine wash alone in cold water and tumble dry on low or line dry in the shade.

Transcendent Hoodie Pros

Lightweight: At 13.3 ounces, the coat is respectably lightweight.

Warmth: Good as an outer layer in subfreezing temperatures.

High Collar: Seals in the heat at my neck and keeps out the cold wind.

Pockets: The two outside and two inside pockets provide plenty of storage space.

Transcendent Hoodie Cons

No Hood Drawcord: The hood fits snugly around my head, but a drawcord would go a long way toward keeping out a strong wind.

Overall Value

The Transcendent Hoodie is a warm, lightweight coat that doesn’t doesn’t skimp on features. The coat’s four pockets—two inner and two outer– provide plenty of space for stashing small gear that I don’t want to keep taking my backpack off to get at. The collar zips up to fully cover my chin, although the hood would be better with a drawcord. The redesigned Transcendent Hoodie is more expensive–$279 compared with $225 for the older model—but packs more warmth and a lighter weight. And the price is a great deal compared with comparable coats, making the Transcendent a good choice for cold-weather adventures.

Similar Hoodies

Patagonia Down Sweater Hoodie
MSRP: $329
Insulation: 800-fill down

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody
MSRP: $360
Insulation: 800-fill down

Mammut Taiss IN Hooded Down Jacket
MSRP: $399
Insulatation: 850-fill down

This product was donated for purpose of review.

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Overview: Brooks Cascadia 18

About the Cascadia 18

The Cascadia 18 are a beast on trail, gripping rocks and mud while providing a stable cushion. The comfort where foot meets trail is superb, and the neutral support means my feet don’t rock and roll when landing. The 18s have been upgraded from the Cascadia 17 with softer midsole foam, improved outsole traction, and a reinforced upper for increased durability. I’ve worn the Cascadia 16 for years and am beyond happy to find that the 18s are just as comfortable and trail-worthy, and maybe a bit more durable.

Cascadia 18 Comfort

Fit: Comfortable out of the box, with no break-in needed. The Cascadia 18 come in medium and wide widths, and the size 12 medium width are a good fit for my slightly narrow size 12 feet.

Stack Height: 33mm at the heel, 25mm at the toes. Enough cushion to absorb the pounding of rocks under my feet, but not so much that I’m disconnected from the trail.

Foot Support: Neutral. My feet hit the ground with a stable stride.

Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm is a lot of drop in a world dominated by zero-drop shoes, but for someone like me with flat feet a higher drop with arch support is more comfortable. And the Cascadia 18 arch support is just right for me.

Cascadia18 Trail Performance

New Outsole: Brooks’ TrailTack Green outsole rubber grips the trail on mud, rock, and wet surfaces. I hiked through all those conditions without slipping or sliding.

More Durable Mesh Upper: Breathable and quick drying after hiking on wet trails. The mesh has been upgraded from the Cascadia 17 with overlays in high-wear areas, which is good to know because my 16s have a small hole in the mesh after years of use.

Updated Midsole: Brooks says its Trail Adapt System, with what it calls DNA LOFT v2 cushioning, combines a rock plate and strategic zonal pods to provide stability on uneven surfaces. That’s a lot to digest, but the result is a stable shoe on rocky trails.

Lugs: 4.5mm. Deep enough for a good grip on the trail.

Good to Know

GORE-TEX Lining: The Cascadia 18 GTX have a GORE-TEX lining with water resistant protection. The GTX are $170, $30 more than the basic Cascadia 18.

Gaiter Connection: Velcro strips at the back of the shoes to attach gaiters.

More Sustainable: The Cascadia 18 are made with recycled materials equivalent to 10 plastic water bottles. And Brooks says the PrintDyed uppers save 66 percent of the energy and 75 percent of the water required for the traditional dye process.

Cascadia 18 Pros

Grip: The Cascadia 18 perform well on wet rocks and through mud.

Stable: My feet stay balanced while on trail or striding from rock to rock.

Cushion: A moderate level of cushion, with 33mm under the heel and 25mm under the forefoot.

Foot Protection: A rock plate to buffer my feet from rock-pounding.

Arch Support: The right amount of support for my flat feet.

Cascadia 18 Cons

Durability: My Cascadia 16 have a small hole in the upper mesh after years of use, but Brooks says it strengthened the mesh in the 18s.

Overall Value

The Cascadia 16 were my go-to shoes for years, and I’m pleased that the updated Cascadia 18 don’t mess with the shoe’s comfort and on-trail stability. They shine for all trail conditions when I’m carrying a backpack. The shoes I tested aren’t water resistant, but I found that they dry quickly, and a GORE-TEX version is available. The shoes also comes in medium and wide widths. The price is comparable to similar trail runners.

Similar Hiking Shoes

Salomon Speedcross 6
MSRP: $145

Merrell Moab Speed 2
MSRP: $140

HOKA Speedgoat 6
MSRP: $155

This product was donated for purpose of review.

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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. The quilt is narrow at the neck for a better seal with the draft collar.

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 three-season pad and 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 attached 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 with the quilt threaded through the straps it’s held firmly to the pad, and 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 quilt packs small inside the bag and water rolls off the surface. Outdoor Vitals recommends sitting or kneeling on the bag to get the air out and further compressing the quilt, then rolling the top of the bag and sealing it.

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 and 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.

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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.

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.

The post Titan Woodburning Solo Stove Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 hits a sweet spot for a three-season sleeping bag, combining a nearly unbeatable light weight with warm 900 fill down.

Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 Specs

MSRP:

• Small: $469.95
• Regular: $549.95
• Long: $579.95

Weight:

• Small: 1 pound, 3 ounces
• Regular: 1 pound, 4 ounces
• Long: 1 pound, 6 ounces

Shell: 10 denier nylon ripstop with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating.

Temperature Rating: Comfortable for sleeping to 32F; the lower limit is 20F; the extreme limit is -9F.

Insulation: The Hyperion is packed with 900 fill Nikwax hydrophobic goose down, water resistant down that follows the Responsible Down Standard certifying that waterfowl in the food supply chain are treated humanely.

About the Hyperion 20

The Hyperion 20 is a stripped down, ultralight sleeping bag good for three-season backpacking. Therm-a-Rest achieves ultralight status with the Hyperion by giving it high warmth-to-weight 900 fill down, a small half-zip, a slimmer width, and a small hood. Even with the smaller dimensions I find that the bag is comfortable. And the smaller size leaves less dead air to warm with body heat.

Hyperion 20 Features

Shell: Lightweight and thin 10-denier nylon ripstop with a durable water repellent coating. Ten denier is a thin fabric shell, but I have found that it holds up if given care and attention.

Insulation: The Hyperion uses 900 fill Nikwax hydrophobic goose down that Therm-a-Rest says dries three times faster than untreated down, absorbs 90% less water, and maintains loft 60 times longer than untreated down.

Box Baffles: The Hyperion uses box baffles—lightweight material placed between the shell and liner to form a box—that eliminate gaps that could create cold spots.

Draft Collar, Draft Tube: The draft collar snugged tight across my forehead and neck prevent cold air from getting inside the bag, and a draft tube runs the length of the side zipper.

Hood: Small. I can’t fit my inflatable pillow inside the hood, and use my backpack laid flat under the bag as a pillow. A drawcord on the right side (when lying on my back in the bag) tightens the hood around my face and shoulders. A snap keeps the hood closed and the zipper from sliding down.

Warmth: I slept comfortably while wearing lightweight thermal pants and shirt when the temperature was about 30, and began feeling the cold when the temperature dropped to 25F. Any lower and I would have put on a midweight shirt. That jibes with the Hyperion’s EN lower temperature limit of 20F, the temperature at which a warm sleeper (though not me) might still sleep comfortably. The comfort level is 32F, and the EN extreme limit is -9F.

SynergyLink Connectors: I am sold on these straps that hold the Hyperion flat to my air pad. And they are important to use because 70% of the Hyperion’s insulation is on the top and sides, while 30% is on the bottom. Does this mean you have to be a back sleeper to use the Hyperion and the straps? Not in my experience. I still toss and turn inside the Hyperion while the straps keep the bag stable and flat on my air pad.

Stuff Pocket: There’s no pocket in the bag to hold a phone or other temperature-sensitive gear, presumably to save weight. I put my phone and headlamp inside the bag when it’s cold at night.

Zipper: The half zip changes the way I get in and out of the bag. I slide in from the top, rather than rolling in as I do with a three-quarter-length zipper. The zipper is small and has inner and outer string pulls, and slides easily without snagging. The two-way zipper provides ventilation at the midpoint of the bag.

Fit: The unisex Hyperion cuts ounces with a slimmer profile, which also means there’s less empty space for your body to heat. I’m 5 feet, 10 inches, and weigh 160 pounds, and find that the 57-inch shoulder girth is good for me, but if you’re about my height and much heavier, you might consider a long bag with a wider 58-inch girth. The bag is very slim from the knees down, but with enough room that my legs and feet aren’t pinched. The Hyperion’s slim fit does not leave room for storing clothes inside at night.

Stuff Sacks: The storage stuff sack is large enough to hold the Hyperion without compressing it, and the bag has a hang loop, which is my preferred way of storing sleeping bags. The compression sack gets the Hyperion down to a small size.

Warranty: Therm-a-Rest will repair or replace gear found to be defective within the first two years of purchase. Sleeping bags are covered under the Better Sleep Guarantee, which means that if you are not completely satisfied with your bag, return it within three months with the original receipt of purchase for a full refund. No questions asked.

Hyperion 20 Pros

Weight: 1 pound, 4 ounces for a regular length. It’s hard to find another 20F down bag at this weight. The 900 fill down is warmer per square ounce than 800 or 700 down down fill, which is one of the factors in the Hyperion’s low weight.

Warmth: I’m warm sleeping to about 30F in the Hyperion, but begin to chill at 25F unless I put on extra clothing.

Zipper: Although the zipper is small, it slides easily without snagging.

Sleeping Pad Straps: I’m sold on the removable straps that connect the sleeping bag to the pad, ending my sometimes nightlong struggles to stay on the pad. Plus they keep the underside of the bag, which has less insulation, flat against my insulated air pad.

Easy Hood Drawcord: I like the single cord that draws the hood and neck draft tube close to my head, rather than struggling with one cord for the neck draft tube and another for the hood.

Hyperion 20 Cons

Small Hood: This is my biggest con. I can’t fit my inflatable pillow inside the hood, so I use my backpack as an outside pillow, stuffing my inflatable pillow inside the front mesh pocket.

No Stuff Pocket: I usually keep my phone within reach inside my sleeping bag, so the lack of a stuff pocket doesn’t bother me. But it’s a feature some people might miss.

Zipper: I’ve had to adjust to sliding in and out from the top of the bag because of the half zip, rather than rolling out with a three-quarter zip. But it’s an adjustment I’ve easily made.

Rough for Side Sleepers: Less insulation on the bottom of the Hyperion means that side sleepers expose their backs to cold air. I attach the Synergy Link Connectors to my air pad and toss from side to side inside the bag while it stays flat on the pad.

Overall Value

At $549.95 for the regular size, the Hyperion’s price is on the higher end for a three-season sleeping bag. It’s a comfortable, well-made sleeping bag that has ultralighters in mind: weight-saving 900 fill down, a slim cut, a half zip, and no stuff pocket. So if shedding weight without giving up comfort is your goal, the Hyperion is a good choice for a sleeping bag.

Similar 20F Sleeping Bags

Western Mountaineering AlpinLite

MSRP: $695, regular

Insulation: 850 fill down

Weight: 1 pound, 15 ounces

The North Face Trail Lite

MSRP: $250

Insulation: 600 fill down

Weight: 2 pounds, 4.2 ounces, regular

Big Agnes Torchlight 20F

MSRP: $329.95

Insulation: 600 fill down

Weight: 2 pounds, 11 ounces

Rab Neutrino 400 20F

MSRP: $435

Insulation: 800 fill down

Weight: 1 pound, 11 ounces

This product was donated for purpose of review.

The post Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 Sleeping Bag Review appeared first on Backpacking Routes.