Winners. . . Top Gear of 2012!

Start using a speaker near to me in the wilderness and you may find your kitchen pot used as an outhouse. What an awful idea!

I like the revolutionary bike lights for the tires very much.
The bomb proof case for the phone is an excellent idea too!

I’d love the Petzl NAO! My wife freaks out when I run, because I’m always running at 4:30am. This headlamp would tremendously benefit my marriage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the light source best. I often have to work outside at night.

I like the bomb proof iphone case best due to it’s capability of protecting something very important to me. My iphone has become a major piece of equipment for numerous reasons and protecting it has become very important to me.
The Uber-Light Shell Jacket looks great as well.

The Uber-Light jacket! Because when you weigh 220# my trail friends will be so impressed I have anything Uber-Light. Or that I can even pronounce it correctly. Uber New Years!

I would love the win this Uber-Light Shell Jacket. Would definetly use it in cold winter here in CT. Looks nice and warm.

salomon minimalist: a haiku

salomon minimalist
functional outdoor function
red and white ultralight

I’d love the Quasar from Mountain Hardwear!

I can’t wait to use my Biolite on the trail! It’s a slick piece of gear…

Self-Adjusting Light Source would be great as i am often doing things in the dark.

really intrigued with the power pot. Have a friend that was trying to make something like this. Would really like to try it out.

The bomb proof I phone case. I use a Otter box and I hate how you can barely get it out of a pocket and its low waterproof ability.

The Winter Bike Boots are exactly what I need !

Im voting for the jacket. (though I like the minimal shoes too) My husband is hoping to do some serious fishing in Feb. in Michigan. And I think this jacket would be great in protecting from the elements.

I’d like to try the Uber-Light jacket. I used to run a climbing shop prior to Mountain Hardwares purchase in 2003. I absolutely loved the product at that time. I’ve not owned another piece since the buyout because of worries with mass produced quality. This is the first piece I’ve seen that makes me want to return to the “Nuts and Bolts” company I used to love. Maybe they’ll convince me with this jacket that they still have it.

I would love the Nao headlamp. I love to run trails, but I often have to hit them after work & it is dark. I’m using an older 50 lumen headlamp & this would be a joint saver as well as allowing me to actuall see & enjoy the forest at night.

I like the bike lights, bike boots, and the light shell jacket…all look really helpful and necessary.

I think I’m buying most of them as needed but I do like the NAO headlamp for myriad uses. I just wonder about the battery life.
TY

I love the Salomon shoes. Good protection without the cement feel is something i have been looking for.

The MH Uber-light jacket would be incredible to have. Taking part in multiple activities 12 months of the year in the Rockies when you never want to stay home because the weather may turn nasty would allow this jacket to be in my pack every trip. It would even replace one of the bulkier items I currently carry and make room for something else.

One of the Power Cooking Units would serve us well. A family of car campers with little kids to worry about, it would be nice to have the ability to wake up to some fresh coffee to keep us alert when looking after them and be able to charge our phones in case we need to make an emergency call.

I just purchased an inexpensive Kershaw assisted blade and love it. I would like to get a better one.

The headlamp, very useful on long dark winter days.

It’s gotta be the ultimate knife. With a good knife and some duct tape you can survive almost anything!

I could use the Quasar Jacket by Mountain Hardwear. i love their products. That would be a great way to start cycling in the new years outside..or just great to wear outdoors or to the gym.

The BioLite stove would be my pick! MANY times during the winter months the electric is out for days here so this would really come in handy!!!

I’d love it all.

I like the Uber-Light Shell Jacket because it is a light jacket that really sounds like it will keep you warm and do its job.

Lot of likes on this list but the most useful that I have nothing at all like would have to be the Quasar jacket, however a titanium Gerber could also be very very useful.

Me and my friends were talking just the other day about how we should attach a boombox to one of our bikes when we ride together so we could have our music without the safety risks of earbuds and the Braven sounds like the perfect candidate.

Sometimes you just need a little Eye of the Tiger to get you to the top of that next climb. ;)

Those running shoes would give more “sense“to my workout for sure ! Cheers from France

the Biolite is a by far the item I am drooling over Micro power generation items like this will be the I-Phones of the next decade

wow for the Wölvhammer bike boots. Just what I need for Winter Mtn Biking.

The über cool salomons makes sense when I’m going to run the über cool mt. Everest marathon on 29.05.2013

I read up on all of the items to try and pick one,but decided I would like them all,,,,but if I had to choose it would be the jacket or the light,,,they are all great items,,,,,Thank You

I’d love some Salomaon minimalist shoes. It’s hard to find a minimalist shoe that can handle the rigors of Disc Golf.

The revolutionary bike lights are pretty amazing. Easily my favorite because I can only imagine how WELL you’d be seen while riding at night.

I liked to have the GravityWorks filter. I currently carry a Steripen which I love but it is battery powered and the batteries did die on me. Of course I didn’t carry any spares, lesson learned, so I’d like to have the GravityWorks as my backup filter.

Petzl Nao!! My favourite running activity starts on 2nd of January at 5:30 and it consist only of nighttime races(5:30 am or 6:30 pm)! I dont know if anyone can speak Croatian, but here is the link: http://gelender.hr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=830:mk-vi-najava&catid=91:mk-vi&Itemid=76
Its ubercool, totally underground and very funny and brutal at the same time! Anyway, for this trail running/night-orienteering crazy thing I need a better light source than my Tikka XP :) It will be cool to get it from gear Junkie!

the filter would be perfect for my next backpacking trip!

The 45NRTH boots are a sorely needed addition to my winter gear. I ride religiously throughout the winter in the North East and usually rip through a set or two of the iP Barrier shoe covers. I was going to pony up for the Lake version, but now that they’re hard to find, I’ve got these in my sights. They seem to have everything I want and need in a winter boot and the Cordura puts them over the top. I’d love a size 43.

Yesterday, in a cave, 2 friends and I spontaneously started singing random old gospel songs to the other 4 cavers as they were ascending out of a slot. As oddly memorable as the moment was, I believe they would have preferred some quality music that I could have provided via the Braven Bluetooth Speaker; then, it could be used for music around the fire in the evening. On a more practical note, the Mountain Hardware Quasar jacket would be comfortable to have when coming out of a cave into cold weather, in addition to being a fantastic piece of gear in my Search & Rescue response pack.

gerber knife….i like knives not much to say…but the RevoLights are cool..that would give me reason to get a new bike

As a professional river guide, I look for new gear to make my customers' experience just that much better. Anything to boost moral on a dreary night during a two-week float trip is great. As a guide, it is my responsibility to cook and provide sustenance to my customers and make them feel as comfortable as possible. The last few nights of a two-week trip can be rough. I would have to say the PowerPot cook pot would get my vote for the best gear on this list and what I want most for my clients on the river.

8. Outdoor Audio we are always out doors. Camping, hunting, running, gardening, radio just went out in our car. This would be awesome to win right now. Thank you!

I do not like cold feet, so the Bike Boots are great.

I like the jacket but this would be used only occasionally on my treks. I really like the Gerber Venture knife, which could replace my current Gerber I’ve had (and abused) for several years. But I’ll take the Platypus filter. This will come in quite handy as I continue to take my kids on longer backpack trips!

I like the bike lights the best. I ride my bike more than anything else on the list, and in certain locations it just may be the most dangerous activity you can partake in outside. Legally. Well, mostly legally.

Platypus a water-purifying system sure beats all the time I’ve wasted in the backcountry pumping clean water!

I like the Salomon trail running shoes the best bcause they are so light.

The Wölvhammer would be a big improvement over the LUGZ I’m wearing to commute/ride single track on my new Pugsley. I look goofy enough as is, my current footwear doesn’t help!

The Salomon trail running shoes because I need all the help I can get in the Burning River 100!

The biggest gift lay behind the first logo in the article: The Gear Junkies! You guys have been a constant force to be reckoned with competitively and always a step ahead professionally. The rest of the gifts are sweet, but without the Gear Junkie company it just wouldn’t be as meaningful. Thanks for the great year from a satisfied customer.

I’d love the Self-Adjusting Light Source for my son – he not only hunts but he farms and irrigates

I love the Nao Light the best out of the bunch, the power stoves seem neat but I’m not sure about first generation products like that.

Petzl NAO – Petzl products never disappoint

The NAO headlamp from Petzl. As someone who is just starting out doing ultra running it would be nice to have this light in my arsenal, for early or late runs this time of year.

Revolutionary Bike Lights — for the big fact that they will save lives! Bonus is they look cool too!

Gravity water filter or power pot would be awesome since we live in a rural area with two young children. Would feel better going into the snowy/icey season with some backup. Thanks

The Quasar, because I’m hot for Ueli….

The Mountain Hardwear Quasar would be awesome on my adventures coming up in 2013. It’s light weight. waterproof, you can not go wrong there, plus I would like to see if the Dry Q can stand up to the claims.

The MH Quasar. Because everytime I buy a new jacket to add to my collection, my younger sister gives me crap. A “this one was free” comeback would be so sweet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I would love the 45Nrth winter bike boots for my son who bikes in the Minnesota winter.
He doesn’t win much, but he’s certainly not a loser.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mountain Hardwear Quasar. I want it because I spend a lot of time in the mountains and would love to shed some weight from my pack.

The petzl nao or salomon sense. I just refuse to spend that kind of money no matter how cool the gear looks.

I’d like the most expensive item, so I can sell it on Craigslist!

I’d like the winter bike boots because, honestly, I don’t think they’d be worth a damn where I live but I am curious to find out.

In mountaineering there is nothing more vital than a working and bright headlamp. The Petzl NAO headlamp looks like the best and most reliable one there is. See you later Black Diamond 20 lumens headlamp, there’s a new light in town!

yeah – the lifeproof case looks wicked awesome!

I could sure use the raven. There are way too few options for us non-iOS users out there.

So I was too eager to get a free jacket and so I didn’t read the directions. I want the Mountain Hardwear jacket because I’m too cheap to buy my own and I’m stuck with a cheap the North Face knock off I picked up in Bolivia. I’d blame my wife but for not letting me buy one, but we both know that I’m too cheap to spend the money I should to get something that I won’t get tired of in 6 months.

Nothing on this list really jazzes me. The bike lights are REALLY cool, nifty AND practical… for people who cycle in the dark, which I don’t. I love the water filter… but we already have that one, which leaves the headlamp, which would be useful for me… for when I leave the wood-fire-lit cabin with my hands full, taking my daughter to the dark closet of a pit toilet for the umpteeth time in the “wee” hours.

As soon as I read about the Petzl Nao I knew I needed one for street orienteering on winter evenings. Looking from distance to nearby to map 100s of times in an hour and not having optimal light for any of these is a constant source of frustration. Plus the straps look like they won’t slip when things get a bit sweaty!

My favorite here is the GravityWorks filter, most of the time keeping things simple is best. Platypus did an excellent job in simplifying a tool that provides key part of sustaining life, clean water.

Although I think the Power Producing cook units are the most practical since you can cook and charge phones with and produce heat, most of the things you need when camping, we can use the revolutionary bike lights every night during bike rides and when my son rides home from school it allows him to be seen easily by drivers and it lights his way

I like the Uber-Light Shell Jacket because it gets cold, windy, and rainy here and it looks like the jacket will keep me warm, wind-proof, and waterproof in style.

Liking the biolite product. Never that crazy about packing gas, so if I can burn any kind of fuel to boil water and charge my phone…that’s winning.

The NAO headlamp! Looking for one for mountaineering use and this looks perfect!

They are all good products and I could use all of them! However, that shell is what I could really use here in the PNW.

Uber jacket Sweeeeeeet.Ultra light Sweeeet.Packable Sweeet.

The NAO headlamp from Petzl because it would be awesome not having to manually adjust the light but I’m to cheap to buy it for myself.

all of the products are great, I would love to have any of them.

I would like the Power-Producing Cook Units. Friends would think I was Macgyver if I used one of these on our outdoor adventures. Even though my smart phone can do almost everything imaginable, it is useless without a charge. Now I can cook a meal and satisfy my hunger for portable internet all at the same time.

Light source. A true light source is what is needed for everyone in this coming year, which lights the mind especially

Great stuff. I love those bike lights or that sweet Mountain Hardwear jacket. The lights I could use for my winter bike commuting here in Boston. The jacket just because it’s awesome.

I Really like the ultra light rain jacket. I’ve been using a Marmot Precip for 10 years now (bought a new one 4 years ago), and I really like the fact I can just carry it around everywhere “just in case”. I’d love to try out a new, lighter, jacket.

I would love the petzel light, ultra light shell, or the bike lights! In my training for the STP bike race they would be a great help. Also I can help promote them at my job!

NAO headlamp from Petzl – Not only is it a fantastic new piece of technology, which would be both extremely helpful with a high output, but it would also be convenient in saving batteries and time.
What’s more is that it opens up a new sub-market for further development of the ‘self adjusting light’ and other variations. It’s just incredible!

The Uber-Light Shell Jacket from Mountain Hardwear would top the polls in my opinion. New fabrics like this are game changers in the outdoor world, and when they are a success, they spread like wildfire throughout the outdoor industry. They can really make a difference in terms of comfort and enjoyment to people doing just about anything from climbing and hiking to biking and paddling.

The Mountain Hardwear Quasar Uber-light shell jacket.
Because I’m tired of heavy and bulky jackets that are still heavy and bulky even when not being worn and are packed in the rucksack.

I’d choose the 45Nrth Wölvhammer Winter Bike Boots. Fantastic innovation and something I’ve needed for years.

I just love the BioLite stove and PowerPot cook pot. What a brilliant concept, being able to recharge SatNav, Camera or phone etc while boiling water or cooking.

Wow what a tough choice – but after difficult deliberations I’d go for the Mountain Hardware Quasar shell jacket. Does everything that an outdoors jacket is supposed to do and only weighs in at 261 grams.

The 45Nrth winter bike boots are what I’ve been waiting for. Ideal for winter mountain biking and cycling.

I like the Uber-Light Shell Jacket because its light and weatherproof and perfect for my trail runs, hikes or casual strolls.

I love all the gear on this site!! On this list, I think the coolest is the biolite stove but before i get my self into an adventure with the stove, i would need to get in shape!! I would go with the trail running shoes… Perfect way to start the year.

would love to have the Salomon Sense.i’m a teacher and i love to run on trails.i teach in a remote place.for my running,i really NEED this shoe.started running last year and 25KGs last year.looking to drop 10 more..

I love the Salomon S-Labs. Except for a few brief lapses in judgment, I have used Salomons exclusively for the past thirteen years. I would love for these to be the next pair.

I would love to win the power pot, as my family and I are looking forward to camping more often in 2013.

Salomon Sense. Shouldn’t the point of gear be to disappear and simply enable you to enjoy the outdoors that much more than before? That’s why I’ll be doing bigger and bigger mountain running and scrambling linkups here in Colorado and all I really need is a pair of shoes……

Id love to get my feet in some Wolvhammer boots!

With how batteries power can drain quickly while cold camping, I like the idea of not just cooking up a meal in the outdoors – but cooking up a call using the BioLite stove and PowerPot cook pot system.
You could say it’s the new hotline………. or, when you’re hungry you can recharge your own batteries as well as your phones………..
or, Hot food that can boost your phone or satnav’s energy levels as well as your own.
I’d love one

Got to be the 45Nrth Wölvhammer winter bike boots, brilliant piece of kit that’s certainly fit to tread the ground I walk on. It’s putting the pedal to the metal when it comes to new bike equipment

I love the Revo lights…one, because it’s an idea that was brought to fruition because of a group of people that believed in the idea’s awesomeness, and two: every bit of visibility counts!

It’s always great to get new gear, but what’s most important is to look after the gear you’ve already got.
That’s why I’d choose the Lifeproof Bombproof Case.

Definitely the Petzl NAO; I need to spend some more quality time on the trails in the winter – without breaking my neck!

The Petzl NAO for sure. I’m doing a couple ultras this yr and need to see the trail and my dogs and for work at the golf course early in the morning.

I’ve been looking for a simple water filter for a few trips I’ll be taking this summer, so I’d definitely go with the Platypus Gravityworks.

Cheers

I would love to try the Quasar Shell Jacket on my walks to work. It’s often too cold or wet for just a walk, but not chilly enough for a heavy coat. I’ve been looking for a great breathable shell jacket to get me there safe and dry!

The Gerber Venture

I am totally digging the Gerber Venture. With its titanium handle combined with the extreme sharpness and low weight I can see why this is the ultimate pocketknife.

Tough choice – I like both of the lights, in particular, the led bike rim lights. But I’ll go with the Mt. hardware ultralight jacket to keep me warm on the many hikes and outdoor events I plan to do this year. Compact ability and weight make it a superb take anywhere item. Happy New Year!

The Quasar shell…I’m always needing a light, packable rain shell.

for sure, the bio-lite stove!
so i can burn stuff in my backyard without breaking any bylaws :)
bye bye pinecones. bye bye leaves. hello warm cup of tea and charged up iphone :)

Power-Producing Cook Units
Great now I can take my tech camping

New year and new gears, thats what i looking for, i am working as a tour guide and some time ,i need energy to recharge my devide but im in middle of no where. so it is essential to have the Power-Producing Cook Units. Plus one more thing, when it come to survival, a little amount of energy can help you get through the trickiest situation.

Thinking logically… First, I would need clean water filtration. Secondly, the BioLite… I would hope I was prepared enough not to need the shell…

The Bombproof Case because being in the Navy, I drop my phone all the time on the ship, and when I have time off, I enjoy Geocaching, so it would protect it in the great outdoors. Happy New Year.

Wow! They are all great prizes!

Keen edged and open / Gerber Venture in my hand / Tonight we have squirrel.

The Uber-Light Shell Jacket IS JUST THE THING TO KEEP ME GOING ON COLD DAYS !

Gravity works…because you can never have enough clean water!

The GravityWorks filter from Platypus would probably be the most practical because when your hammock camping in the mountains of North Carolina there are plenty of water sources and it is so much more easier on a long camping trip to filter the water you have collected from a nearby source than it is to bring all that weight in water with you.

Minimal Trail-Running Shoe because I really need a sturdy shoe for the trails I use, thanks for the chance!

Upon trails in woods and vales and valleys across the land you’ll find me. I’m that 220 pound plodding specimen of homo sapiens finesse. Branches breaking, rocks skittering free, wildlife scattering for miles in every direction. Boom, crash, boom I go without a care in world excepting the thought of a steak on my grill and an IPA in my chilled beer glass back home. Those Solomon S-Labs could lighten my load by tens of grams, potentially saving the trails from erosion, tourists from fear, and by God, endangered species from the brink of extinction!

Here are my demands! (Do you hear me, Law-giver???) I demand the bombproof (we’ll see about that) iPhone case because my sticky rubber Otter Box really sucks and is falling apart. It also turns my pockets inside out in an unsexy manner everytime it is deployed! No more sticky rubbers in my pocket!!! Ok? Good! Now, my ancient Marmot Precip anorak is currently in a state of delamination and no longer makes me look sexy! (My crappy gear limits my sexiness!) I also demand the Mountain Hardwear anorak to keep me dry and restore my alpine sexiness quotient. Please send me the UPS tracking number so I may more efficiently count the days until restored sexiness! Holla.

Always looking for an easy and effective water filtration device, I think you guys might have found just the thing!

E sailor in me wants to pick the knife, the nurse in me wants to pick the water filtration tat looks like I.V. bags, and the minimalist in me wants the shoes but the winter biking commuter knows I must pick the boots because I like all my toes.

The knife, the Gerber Venture! I have several Gerber knives and all have been outstanding. I carry a knife everyday, using for a multipude of tasks. All of the other gear is great but the knife would be most useful and used!

Because outdoor doesn’t necessarily mean trail running 250k around the Everest or biking 5000k non-stop, up and down the Amazon under the rain.

Sometimes, outdoor, just means getting out for groceries in a small town, daydreaming under a happy blue sky…

With the Uber Jacket, it doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing. I’m always comfy!

Petzl Nao Headlamp is incredible. Having a super bright and self-adjusting headlamp would be perfect for rugged trail runs or everyday use with the many projects on my to-do list.

My wife will insist I do not need the petzl, I disagree; there is nothing better than inadvertently blinding her when she wakes me up after I pass out reading. She will, however, insist on the lifeproof case since I am proof that life (or my phone) needs a bit of added protection!

I’ll take the knife. Always hard to find a knife that does most things well. Pocket knives have so many uses.

I like Braven 625s Bluetooth Speaker as the best product of 2013 for two reasons. First of all it seems like an awesome product. I read that it has pretty good sound quality, it’s bluetooth so you don’t have to plug anything in, it seems rugged, it seems portable, it looks good AND tough which isn’t always an easy task, and I like it just for the cool factor. Secondly, the product is filling a niche where there isn’t much competition and not many products. Not only do I think this is a winning product, but I think it’s gonna jumpstart a niche of portable outdoor speakers. All in all Braven did an awesome job.

as a scoutmaster all these products would be great with all the outdoor activities we do each month…..I would say if I had to choose only one it would be the Power Producing Cook Unit to use on our New Mexico wilderness backpacking trips. Could teach & show the boys ‘hi-tech camping’.

Waterproof, windproof,breathable and light ? The Uber-light Shell jacket is definitely the type of gear I need as I try to travel as light as possible.

I would want either of the power producing cookers. When i go camping i would like an easier way to charge my phone and camera without having to walk all the way back to my truck. These products are multi functional.

The gear I would most definitely like to have would be the water filter. I simply need to test it using my own pee. Filter = $110, watching my friends’ face while I drink the purified water = priceless.

These all look cool but i’d be most excited about the lifeproof case

It’d be hard to pick between the powerpot and the gerber venture. On the one hand the powerpot provides all the juice for your hightech gear which is every growing. While on the other have the knife takes you back to basics where you rely on your wits, strenght and general luck to make it through what’s thrown at you. At this point I’m not sure I could pick between the two.

That mountain hardware quaser jacket looks like it is hard to beat. Could be huge for an adventure race or ultrarun where there is a possibility for bad weather, but the need to still pack light.

I realy like the bio lite stove for my wife. I very recently got married and trying to get Laura more and more comfprtable with backcoutry trips. This will greatly help her feel a little safer to be able to charge the phone or gps. Though I have never used a GPS I would by one to go with this stove. For the happiness of my marriage.

Über light she
L jacket

The reason I need the 45Nrth boots, is because i broke a bone in my foot earlier this winter, the doctor told me i would be unable to bike until, march. I didn’t buy the 45Nrth boots when i had chance because i thought I would miss the entire winter biking season. However the doctor has told me that i am healing fast and can be back on my bike by the end of this month! the only problem is i don’t have any winter biking shoes to keep my feet warm.

I would have to say the Salomon shoes. Though there are many cool developments, the Salomon have been on my radar since their release. I am new to trail running & the minimalist / trail responsiveness of the Sense shoes sounds perfect……………the price is somewhat prohibitive though. I would make great use of these shoes if I were selected as a winner!!
Thanks either way – Happy New year & Happy Trails

I´d take the Salomon Sense trail shoes ! I´m training to run Transalpine Run 2014 and those are by far the best shoes on the market !

I love the Power Pot! Its great for charging my GPS on long weekend trips.

Über-lite jacket – because I need a light weight, waterproof jacket.

i could use a great pair of trail runners- the Salomon Sense would fit the bill!

As an Explorer Scout leader I teach youngsters about knife safety and how to usr pocket knifes safely, so having a Gerber Venture pocket knife would be very useful.

My pick is the Uber-Light Shell Jacket. As a trail runner and someone who travels this light weight shell fills the bill in a lot of ways.

In times filled with electronic gadgets we became to rely on, the biolight stove deserves the best of the best award. Harnessing power for high tech by the use of low tech as old as fire. Need I say more?

The Wölvhammer has the potential to do away with the notion of an “off-season” — no more rides cut short by cold feet!

The bike light is the coolest thing on the list, and it’s potentially life saving! The rest are definitely neat but I can see why the light company is “revolutionary”.

I would love the 45North Wölvhammers. As a survivor of Lemierre’s Syndrome, I have a hard time keeping my feet warm when I’m out celebrating life, riding my bike. I would love to have boots like these!!

With the Petzl Nao, I could transition seamlessly between scanning the horizon for my dog and stooping over to pick up her poop.

I am currently bike commuting to two jobs in the over 14 inches of snow out here and the temps in the low teens! I live where the 45th Parallel crosses the northern, lower peninsula of Michigan, the 45Nrth bike boots would definitely make my commute a lot easier!

I would love the shoes but could really use the knife as I lost my last Gerber.

I have used my friend’s Platypus water filter several times and loved it. I have also been fascinated with the BioLite stove.

The Petzel NAO headlamp would be great for camping and hiking. I used Petzel headlamps for caving and liked there durability and reliability. This one would be a great addition for my outdoor activities.

I would want the “ultimate pocket knife”. 

I believe every man should carry a high quality knife with them. I am on a quest to find a handful of these truly quality knives that I would be proud to carry with me. I have an inexpensive folding knife that has been my go to knife for years. It is trusty and reliable, but a bit undersized. I have some larger folding knives that are great for fishing and camping, but are a little too bulky for everyday carrying…at least in my line if work. My recent favorite has been my 37g Baladeo that I consider my “gentleman’s knife” due to its sleek, lightweight, and slender design. It’s a knife that would not look out of place when I am wearing a suit and tie. The Gerber Venture appears to be exactly what I am looking for in a more rugged everyday carry knife.

I like the biolite stove. I think the idea of using what you find as fuel and benefitting from the power source makes this ideal in emergency situation and not only in the back country. I would also minimize weight and its environmental impact because fuel would not have to be carried, it would be fun. I would love to give one a try.

With the Revolutionary Bike Lights I might have not been hit on the road. I ride with lights, but being very visible is key. Its these or the Cyglo if they ever come out.

I like the winter bike boots,they would be ideal.
the hard sole would make walking in snow easy,seeing that I use a walker.

the jacket! protects me from everything! even from fear!

I live in Alaska and ride my fatbike to and from work everyday and my toes would be so much warmer with the brand new 45Nrth Wölvhammer boots!!! Please!

I like the Quasar Jacket. I may not be as fast as Ueli Steck, but I can certainly dress like him (and convincingly pretend I’m not dying halfway through a climb)

Salomon Sense…the Perfect gear for me to Join the H1(hundred Miles. fro its light wight and forefoot runner an its Fast.

The Mountain Hardwear Quasar Uber-light shell jacket would be my first choice. All the other items are innovative in their own way, but I like the idea of a lightweight jacket that has all the attributes of all the heavier models

I’d choose the Petzl Nao Self-Adjusting Light Source Headlamp.
Wearing something as intelligent as that on my head would probably double my IQ………. and my looks

If I won the boots of 45 degree,
my feet to wear them wouldn’t disagree.
For when this news to my ear get known
I would be the king, on the bike like a throne.

Just gotta be the 45Nrth boots for me. What a great idea and a clever concept, I’m always getting banged feet and ankles and wearing out flimsy biking shoes – so why’d no-one think of this before!

I love the Petzl headlamp. That thing will keep me running at all hours of the night.

Can’t decide between the jacket and the light! Love them both!

I just had to retire our trusty Katadyn Hiker after years of loyal service. I have been researching its replacement and would love to pick up the Platapus GravityWorks and give my arm a rest, and get the fire going, the dogs settled and dinner started that much earlier. With so much to do at the end of the day’s hike, who wants to pump water anymore anyway?

I would love to get the Platypus GravityWorks water filter for me and the hubby. I know how much he hates sitting at the waters edge pumping our water with the old pump filter. He won’t spend the money to upgrade until the filter gives up entirely (which it has in my opinion). I would miss the opportunity to see the mishaps he would get into with the old filter (pumping clean water into his own lap, slipping into the creek when his rock shifted…etc.)

I would love the Mountain Hardware jacket. I need this for my very early morning runs.

The Salomon shoe would be a great way to start off 2013! Barefoot running has become a passion of mine and feels great when you can find the right shoe. I believe that Salomon has done their research to find the correct balance between too much and too little cushion. :D

I’m very interested in the revo lights. Anything that makes night rides safer has to be a plus.

I think the camp stoves that generate electricity are an amazing idea! Typically I don’t bring a cell phone into the woods, because I’m usually trying to detach myself from the outside world. This product would be great for charging camera batteries and sport cams though!!!

The gravity filter by platypus is a great filter, had a Katadyn Base camp and the platypus last longer for filter use and you can use the filter for your water bladder as well. Awesome design and product support !

I would choose the bike lights. I ride to and from work and half the ride is on a dark highway. I’ve got a couple different lights but i have had a few close calls already so I don’t think they’re doing a sufficient job. Good luck everyone!

That Outdoor Audio would be perfect for my ice fishing trips. Listening to 5 smelly (and I mean these guys stink!!)dudes sip whiskey and eat jerky is awesome for a 2 days but gets old fast. This would literally save my life!!!!

RevoLights everytime. Not only are they beneficial to the cyclist but also to other road users too, a win-win situation in my opinion! These definitely have my vote.

The Mountain Hardwear Quasar jacket because my ten-year-old Marmot Precip jacket is ready for retirement, I want to see first-hand how well a nine-ounce shell really works, and, let’s be honest, it’s the most expensive item on the list.

The Wölvhammer bike boots. Because Northern California does actually get cold and I left all of my warm biking gear back east…

The lifeproof case. saved my phone many times! light, waterproof, drop proof

Petzl NAO. Because ever since watching ‘The Grey’, I’ve been terrified of being overrun in the dark by a pack of voracious, man-eating wolves.

Salomon Sense. If the Salomon Sense are good enough for Kilian, they are good enough for me.

The revolutionary bike light is amazing

The powerpot. 2 different uses at once and small enough to carry in backpack.

RevoLights are AMAZING! They may not have the most lumens, but I defy you to find a more eye catching form factor. Eye catching is exactly what I want and would be perfect for my commute bike.

Gotta love the Uber-Light Shell Jacket. Gear like this can make all the difference between a miserable or successful hike.

I think the Revolutionary Bike Lights is the most innovative gear that’s on the list. I believe it adds safety and it’s minimalist as it is part of the bike.

has to be the bike lights..and why give them to me? I have bike, and I live where there is nighttime and I like cool stuff that I would never use my real money to buy..simples

I absolutely love the lifeproof case. I’ve been able to take my iPhone into the ocean and the pool to record my 3 year old swimming for the first time and seeing the ocean for the first time from the oceans pov.

The NAO Headlamp for my adventure racing endeavors so I can take on the likes of Team Gear Junkie. Watch out or Lights out!

The NAO headlamp from Petzl is the obvious choice. When I’m out hiking, or camping the last thing I want to do is to worry about my headlamp brightness. It’s wasteful to have a lamp cranked up to high when you don’t need it, and useless to have it too low to work. This lamp would allow you to conserve battery life and the rechargeable battery adds to the value while keeping the landfills devoid of dead batteries. A big plus.
It’s a necessity, as most of the other items aren’t.

I would like the Uber Light Shell Jacket. Feather weight so I can pack it. Custom made with new Dry Q will keep me will keep me warm and waterproof too. I need this bad. That’s not a loada for I live in chilly Minnesota. I value good jackets and that’s not bunkie. I hope I win. Thank you Gear Junkie.

The Revo Lights would be perfect for my type of riding. As an aging ex-racer, most of my rides are now out and back on a rail-trail at sunset. The trail crosses busy roads about every mile, and I often find myself skidding to a stop because cars at speed can’t see me broadside, even though I have bright head and tail lights.The Revo Lights would be the perfect solution by making the bike visible as well as the trail. I was hit broadside many years ago by a Vista Cruiser only going about 10mph. A hole in the head and a totalled bike serve to remind me what might happen with a Ford Explorer going 55! Thanks, GJ.

The Biolite is a great example of multi function tool. I would love to show my two young daughter this stove during a camping trip. This is something young people need to be expose to, Innovation and multi-purpose item can be found and used everywhere. Beside the stove looks great in yellow.

I will definitely be dreaming of the Salomon Sense Shoes. Not just for the weight, but I am sure it fits good as well and THAT, is what I car about!

Ultimate pocketknife for everyday and on the trail. Its simple, elegant, titanium.

The BioLite. We have come a long way from rubbing two sticks together for warmth…

I would love LOVE the uber-light shell jacket – it would be perfect on those slightly chilly days when i already have to carry my baby-backpack. . . my little one will already weigh about 18 pounds on my next hiking trip – so anything to help me “lighten up” my load (and increase my comfort) would be GREATLY appreciated!

I would love those winter bike boots! When I pedaled off for work this morning, it was 14 degrees and my “winter” footwear was a pair of tennis shoes and two pairs of wool socks. The Vibram sole would also be great for the portions of the commute that are still covered in ice and snow.

The BioLite stove is my number one pick for two reasons:

1) To replace my camping/hiking/outdoorwoman daughter’s camp cooker that I ruined when we were out of power for 7 days last year when the tornadoes went through Alabama. I thought I could use my stainless carafe on it for a pot of coffee one very cold morning, but alas, I ended up ruining the pot AND the cooker in a spectacular moment when the pot hit the ceiling and the cooker ended up in pieces.

2) This would give me – mom – a small measure of comfort knowing on those frosty tent mornings she would not only have a hot cup of joe but also a charged phone in case a grizzly warranted a call for assistance.

I’d love to win a pair of Salomon Sense minimalist trail shoe. It will be best for my planned ultra trail races this 2013, and I bet this shoe will help me go a long way from training to race day.

I need NAO headlamp because I previous headset lamp was stolen! Therefore would appreciate new and NAO is the best choice!

Second, I would be very happy with the Uber-Light Shell Jacket, because I did not Santa bring this year, but has promised it: (

In the light of this post I would love to stay hydrated with a filtered cup of hot tea.

I would charge my phone whilst it lay protected next to me.

But alas I must run as it is time to go I have to bike to work in the snow.

I like the lifeproof case. I would use while riding my bike I always use a ziploc baggy now to keep my iphone from getting wet.

I love the 45Nrth boots. I mean, just look at them!

So AWESOME.

I can’t stand to be wet and cold. It totally drives me inside, the Uber-Light Shell Jacket would keep me in the outdoor activities longer.

The Mountain Hardwear Quasar Uber-light shell jacket. Any outdoor activity is no good if you’re wet and cold. Would you enjoy biking if you were shivering, would you enjoy cooking or re-charging your phone etc if you were wind-chilled. Would you like to wait for your water to filter while developing hyperthermia, would you be bothered which shoes you were wearing or what you were listening to while your teeth are chattering. Would you prefer your phone to be wearing a better protective shell than yourself and what’s the use of a nice headlamp if you’re in a coma.
So the Mountain Hardwear Jacket trumps all the rest when it comes to necessity.

The Petzl NAO Headlamp would be my choice. Perfect for camping and snowholing with that self adjusting technology.

Everything shown is innovative and worth choosing, but I’d definately get more use from the Mountain Hardwear Quasar Jacket. Windproof and waterproof when it’s on (and it looks good too), and it’s low weight and ability to be compactly folded means it’s no bother to be carried in a backpack.

I like the Biolite best. I think it’s the most innovative of the items shown above. Cook your dinner, warm your hands, and charge your phone all at the same time. I’m not sure if it’s the most practical of the items, but definitely innovative and cool. If I’m spending my money though, I would get the headlamp. Definitely nice to not be blinded by reading the map on the trail at night.

I like the GravityWorks, because its the best filter on the market, and it’s the best gravity filter on the market. Set up time is less than a minute, 30 seconds if you’ve done it a lot, and it filters 4 whole nalgenes in under 3 minutes, which is the time it took me to take out, attach, test, find slowed by dirt, and clean my pump filter(was using the Miniworks). There are better pump filters out there, but the GravityWorks surpasses them all.
This summer while at my summer camp, I spent a long time getting qualified to go out on longer canoe trips, and one of the trips I went on was 9 days long. Because of the length of our trip and how hard we had worked to qualify, our camp gave us a gently used MSR gravity filter, which when you compare it to the GravityWorks, seems very similar. After using it about 10 times in the next two days to get about 8 liters of water, it had already accumulated enough dirt to slow the purification rate significantly, and the water we were using was from lakes in Canada that have restricted boat access and have very few floaters. By day 8, the filter had gone from being as fast as the GravityWorks to a solid drip of clean water every few seconds, at best.
Later in the summer, we went on another extended trip, this one being much longer at 21 days. Before this trip I pressured my cabin mates to chip in some of their money so we could buy a GravityWorks at the local outdoor store. Only a few agreed, and our camp gave us the rest on the promise that they would get the filter for future use after we returned. After the first 3 days, everyone who hadn’t chipped in was regretting it. The GravityWorks churned out at least 10 liters per day, with regular backflushing. We even used it once in the canoe by hanging the Dirty bag on a spreaderbar and the Clean one sitting on the bottom. The decreased gravitational pull did effect the purification, but not drastically. Overall, the GravityWorks served us well, and was still functioning by the time we returned. Although we did make sure it was not our only source of clean water, as we also used Aquamira(takes forever), Iodine tabs(taste like shit most of the time) and a pump(can’t remember the brand, but it was slow as shit by day 10 and full on broke by day 15). All in all, the GravityWorks was certainly the best water purification system I have ever used or found, and it is light, portable, and not very expensive for how long it lasts.

Boy I sure do like that GravityWorks filter! I’m in desperate need of a water treatment solution: I’m so po’ I usually just bring a ton of water to last a whole trip… It sure would be nice to drop the weight!

The NAO headlamp from Petzl would be a great prize to win. I would love to try it out on my 2013 PCT adventure. Good luck to all who enter. DadinPain

I like the Revolutionary Bike Lights. I commute in the summer 17 miles (each way) to work by bike and sometimes leave in the morning before the sun comes up or head home late in the evening during dusk. With these lights, not only would I be able to see the road better, but motorists could see me better as well. After several near misses (gotta love Connecticut drivers) any help in being more visible would be great assist.

I’d love the Petzl Nao headlamp. It would be a great asset for my Rainier climb later this year and would be just as useful on the AT here in Maryland. Great piece of gear.

The NAO headlamp from Petzl is the way to go

The power pot for sure! That’s an awesome product! Cook and charge electronics with one item? That’s kick ass!

Uber-Light Shell Jacket…going to Mt Kalish and this jacket would be perfect all around rain, cold layer etc…style is nice too. For a basic jacket it is the one I’d pick for the adventure of a lifetime!

Salomon S-Lab Sense! I’m planning on running my first ultramarathon in 2013 and I want to run like Kilian…or at least look like him…or at least pretend.

Kudos for offering the contest and the web commitment to outdoor reviews and insights. My choice would be the Mountain Hardware Quasar since its been on my wish list for the last 9 months.

I love the mountain hardwear shell but I think on my wishlist would be the revolights, those are a dream

The revolights are cool and all, but they are only worth it if they keep me alive at night!

The Revo Lights are Awesome. I would love a set of them for my morning commute

I like the revolutionary bike lights for the tires, because safety is most important when on the road.

I would love the Quasar pullover jacket from Mountain Hardwear. 10 months and 28 days into my sobriety I’ve found that being outdoors has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of my recovery. Living in Minnesota the weather changes at the drop of a hat, so having a jacket small enough, and light enough, at all times, would be a huge help in handling the elements. With a new year this jacket would aid me in daily walks, weekend camping, biking, snowboarding and now scuba diving. Thanks

The Lifeproof iPhone case because, as much as I love leaving my phone, email, and the rest of the “real world” behind on my outdoor adventures, it does make for a good safety measure to bring the phone along. Also, in a pinch, the iPhone has a decent camera should I come across anything photo-worthy, which seems to happen a lot out there :)

Revo Lights! I don’t know if bike lights can get better after this! If so, Revo would lead the way and they get the idea of excellent visibility for the rider and the driver. On the road it’s be seen or be killed.

I would love to win the power-producing cook unit because it’s a cool unique design for cooking without fuel and is also great for charging your gear.

It would be amazing to win the Revo Bike lights due to their revolutionary design and as am now cycling to and from school, incorporating both roads and off-road trails and these lights would definitely be a load off my, and my parents’, mind! Thanks for the opportunity!

The RevoLights are awesome. I live in Arizona and am fortunate enough to ride my bike to school year-round. However, because of the short winter days it is dark for both ends of my commute (dental school often means long days). These lights would be perfect for my situation.

I could really use the bike lights, the headlamp, and the winter cycling boots. But, I’m too cheap to buy any of them! It’s a long, cold and dark winter here in Saskatoon.

I’d say that my favorite, as a bicycle planner and safety researcher, is the RevoLights. We’ve seen that only about 1/3 of cyclists in Baltimore use lights during winter riding and this looks like a great system to keep yourself visible and see the road conditions. But, due to the high cost of RevoLights and my current lack of employment, I’ll probably lean toward buying one of the LifeProof cases to replace my decaying and bulky OtterBox. Great set of products.

this is hard. all the items are great. but to me, i would say that the Minimal Trail-Running Shoe would be the best as it is the most practicable one for me as it can be used, that is worn everywhere. the design and review by others shows that it is a good/beneficial product to have.

Revolights hands down

Revolutionary Bike lights are the coolest way to go around city. Commuting can never be boring after installing these wonders.

The power pot is awesome. Would definitely make it into my Zombie apocalypse go bag. Not only can I use it to throw hot water in the face of an attacking zombie but also charge the batteries to the flashlight mounted to my shotgun. :-)

The Biolite stove and the Petzl Nao look like awesome technology. Why not charge my phone while I’m cooking dinner? Sounds great to me. When I wear my headlamp I use it for a lot of things (I use a Tikka XP as my go to unit currently). It would be nice to not have to adjust the brightness or open and close the diffuser. Maybe the Nao will even prevent me from blinding my friends when I look at them and forget to turn the light on my headlamp down…

Having that jacket would be perfect for my outdoor adventures and simply just working outside

I would really like the PowerPot cook pot that has integrated modules that turn heat from a fire into usable electricity that can then be pumped through a cord to recharge a device. Great Product!

I love the Uber-Light Shell Jacket. I’m always looking for a good rain jacket here in the Pacific Northwest.

I love the Bio Lite! It’s awesome in every way