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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The PAKA Mountain Crew is a comfortable midweight alpaca sweater that’s at home on and off the trail.

Mountain Crew Specs

MSRP: $145
Fabric: 60% baby alpaca, 15% fine Merino wool, 25% nylon
Weight: 12.3 ounces

About the Mountain Crew

The PAKA Mountain Crew is a midweight layer that’s good as an outer layer in the 50s and 60s and as an under layer when the temperature dips lower. The stretchy alapaca/Merino/nylon fabric is soft against my skin and blocks a light wind. And it’s comfortable and stylish enough for everyday use off the trail.

Mountain Crew Features

Materials: The Mountain Crew’s alpaca wool is good at wicking moisture and resisting moisture.

Comfort: The fabric keeps its shape while allowing easy movement. Flatlock seams rest comfortably against my skin, with no itch or chafe.

Moisture Management: Alpaca fiber is naturally water-resistant and highly breathable, but don’t expect to wear it in the rain.

Odor Resistance: Because of alpaca fiber’s breathability, sweat passes through the material and away from my body. I’ve worn it over and over for outdoor activities without washing and have yet to notice a dirtbag smell.

Warmth: I wear the Mountain Crew as an outer layer with a lightweight layer underneath when the temperature is in the 50s and above. If it’s colder than that I put on a layer over the Mountain Crew.

Collar: The crew neck collar is comfortably loose around my neck, but a high-collar outer layer is a good idea if the wind is cold and biting.

Pockets: None.

Fit: I’m 5 feet, 10 inches, 160ish, and a size medium is a good fit for me. PAKA has a fit guide to determine your size.

Cleaning: Paka says hand washing with cold water is best, but if washing in a machine set it at delicate with cold water. Lay the Mountain Crew flat to dry.

About PAKA:. The company sells a wide range of clothing made sustainably and ethically, woven by Peruvian artisans using Peruvian alpaca fur. 1% of sales supports regenerative agriculture and farming families and another 1% funds the education of young Peruvian women. Each woman signs the clothing she makes; my sweater was signed by Leonor P. Read more about Paka’s story here.

Mountain Crew Pros

Simple and Light: The Mountain Crew is a lightweight layer without frills.

Comfort: The lining is soft against my skin and doesn’t itch or chafe.

Warmth: Good for a base layer in low temperatures and as an outer layer when the temperature climbs.

Peruvian Sourced and Made: PAKA clothing is sourced and woven in Peru, and PAKA’s sales help support Peruvian families.

Mountain Crew Cons

Collar: The crew neck collar lets in cold air when it’s windy, making it necessary to put on a top layer with a high collar.

Durability: The Mountain Crew snagged on branches and pulled a thread when I was clearing a trail blowdown, so I’m sticking to clear trails when I wear it.

Overall Value

The Mountain Crew has become my layer of choice because of its soft feel, warmth, and versatility for a range of temperatures. It’s a quality sweater that’s good for everyday and on-trail wear. (My wife says it’s stylish enough that I should wear it only off-trail.) But the price is higher than comparable wool sweaters, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for the least-expensive wool sweater.

Similar Wool Layers

Smartwool Sparwood Crew Sweater
MSRP: $105
Material: Nylon, Merino wool mix

Ibex Woolies Pro Tech Crew
MSRP: $115
Material: Merino wool

Royal Robbins Westlands Crew
MSRP: $130
Material: Wool, polyester mix

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 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

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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.

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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.

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This product was donated for purpose of review.

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