Home > Camping

‘Gear of the Half-Year’

Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

By STEPHEN REGENOLD

Each year, I test dozens of outdoors products for GearJunkie.com, Outside magazine online, and a network of newspapers that syndicate my column. The gear included are items from boats and bikes to tents, gadgets, apparel, and trail-running shoes. At the end of the year, my annual “Top 10 Gear Picks” article highlights and awards 10 products as the best-of-the-best items I’ve used over the year.

Well, it’s halfway through the year now, and after some major adventures and accompanying gear tests in places like Chile, Nepal, and Iceland, I have a few favorite things already. These products below are candidates for the 2010 “Top 10” awards. I am still testing them — no decision is final until the year’s end. But this is a preview of what I like so far. If nothing else, these products deserve some attention. They are some of the best gear on the outdoors market today.

Inov-8 Race Pro 30 Backpack. Awesome fast-and-light pack for endurance racing and day-long mountaineering! It has 30 liters of capacity, big hip-belt pockets, a lightweight (frameless) design, and a body-hugging fit that works when you’re running or climbing fast. The Inov-8 pack has accompanied me on a weeklong race in Chile, a two-week trek in Nepal, and a long mountain climb in Iceland last month. Bomber in all scenarios so far! $100, www.inov-8.com

Rab Xenon. This mid-weight, semi-puffy jacket employs 60 grams of Primaloft One insulation for loft to trap body heat. It has kept me warm in temps down near freezing worn alone — and much colder temps when used as a mid-layer under a shell. Did I mention its weight and packability? The Xenon weighs only 11 ounces and packs into its own chest pocket for storage. $225, https://us.rab.uk.com

Suunto Vector HR. A “wrist-top computer” for the adventure/fitness set, this watch has time, altitude, barometer, compass, and a heart-rate monitor built in. I’ve used it around the globe this year and almost daily at home during bike training and neighborhood runs. $329, www.suunto.com

Salomon WS II Tights. Running tights are my leg-wear choice on tough endurance events. These beefy — but breathable — tights held up to days of abuse in the Patagonia wilds. The secret is a Gore Windstopper soft-shell fabric on the front of the legs and a lighter material on the back. Fast, supportive, light, and good-fitting, even when worn for days on end. $110, www.salomon.com

Platypus Platy Bottle. These lightweight, flexible plastic water bladders (with screw-shut caps!) are wondrous for water transport in the backcountry. They hold a liter of liquid and roll up to almost nothing when not in use. $13, www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus

Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32. If you need a light, packable, and warm sleeping bag, the Ultralamina is hard to beat. I crashed out in this synthetic-insulation bag in temps down slightly below freezing and was warm (with a jacket and layers on, too). It weighs a scant 31 ounces and stuffs into a tiny sack the size of a small cantaloupe. $190, www.mountainhardwear.com

—Stephen Regenold is founder and editor of www.gearjunkie.com. A version of this article appeared on VentureThere.com

Subscribe Now

Get adventure news and gear reviews in your inbox!

Join Our GearJunkie Newsletter

Get adventure news and gear reviews in your inbox!