At GearJunkie, we test, use, and rely on all manner of gear — for all seasons and conditions. Take a peek at the products we love this month!
Favorite Gear We Tested in October
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 3400
Tested by: Zach Burton, Projects & Partnerships
Designed with tough backpacking and thru-hiking in mind, the Junction 3400 is made “specifically for adventures that would rip most other packs to shreds.”
Ultralight and built with all the features you need and nothing you don’t. The Junction 3400 is a go-to for multiday missions off-grid. Hyperlite Mountain Gear has built this pack to handle anything Mother Nature throws at it, without adding extra bulk.
At just over 2 pounds, the pack is extremely light. And, with 55 L of internal volume and 9 L of external volume, you don’t have to skimp on layers to stay warm.
The Junction 3400 offers three easily accessible external pockets for gear and is water-resistant. When combined with the handy and versatile Stuff Sacks or Pods, you can have a nearly waterproof kit (and extra added organization).
Finally, we love that for quick excursions, you can easily roll the bag down to a size that is similar to the smaller Junction 2400 to save space. The flexibility is awesome.
Ibex Shak Jacket
Tested by: Adam Ruggiero, Editor in Chief
The brand that helped usher merino wool into the mainstream is back in a new and improved way! With the Shak Jacket — part soft stretchy shirt, part warm fall jacket — Ibex sees a hero product that can help regain its spot among the outdoor brand greats.
Over the summer, GearJunkie Editor-in-Chief received two Ibex pieces to test: a wool T-shirt (which his dog eagerly ate), and the Shak Jacket. This stretchy wool zip-up has taken the edge off of fall mornings and nighttime walks. As you’d expect from a premium merino brand, the Shak Jacket is soft, not scratchy, and as warm as any wool out there.
But beyond its construction, he loves the Shak Jacket for its versatility.
As a standalone piece, it’s as warm as a jacket but comfortable enough to keep on once you get where you’re going. And when winter arrives, he says he will wear it as an extra layer of warmth under a coat for, especially cold nights. What’s more, Ibex goes easy on the branding, so you won’t feel like a walking advertisement — the garment speaks for itself.
Reebok Nano X1 Froning Men's Training Shoes
Tested by: Chris Potter, Community Manager
Created with Rich Froning, the Fittest Man on Earth — Reebok’s Nano X1 Froning Men’s Training shoes step up to some serious challenges. With a sock-like fit, a forefoot bungee cinch strap to lock in your foot, and cushioning for comfort — the Nano X1s hold up to the toughest of workouts.
For someone like our community manager who likes a good HIIT session three times a week, the Nano X1 Fronings were more than capable for his needs. Before testing these, he was working out in his running shoes. From jumping rope to squat jumps to burpees, these shoes gave him a level of responsiveness he has not felt before with other less Crossfit-centric shoes.
The wide toebox gave him the room his feet needed throughout workouts, and the bungee strap offered a quick and secure in-and-out. If you’re looking for a thoughtfully designed, good-looking, and well-constructed training shoe that will support intense workouts, check out the Nano X1 Froning.
Arc’teryx Delta LT Fleece Jacket
Tested by: Mary Murphy, Editor
This ultra-packable, borderline-ultralight (LT is Arc’teryx-speak for lightweight) fleece layer is one we’ve been wearing almost on the daily this month.
Recently in Colorado, one GearJunkie Editor wore this packable zip-up fleece in 35-degree early-morning weather, up to an overcast 60. Whether she’s walking, hiking, or running, heck, even just sitting in a drafty office — this “jacket” has kept her warm.
The Arc’teryx Delta LT ($149) is made with an air-permeable, synthetic 100-velour Polartec microfleece. Also, YKK zippers and an articulated design. (Specifically, the gusseted arms lend to plenty of stretch — especially great for running.)
She found the Delta LT perfect in terms of breathability, warmth, and fast-wicking powers. And quality touches like smooth mesh-backed zippered hand pockets, a brushed polyester collar, and sleeve pocket just add to its greatness.
She wouldn’t call this a jacket though. Its most valuable features — high warmth-to-weight ratio, packability, and soft microfleece nods her brain toward the term midlayer. Some might even consider it a base layer. Call it what you want: The Arc’teryx Delta LT is worth every penny.
Our team loves the Arc’teryx Delta LT Fleece Jacket and even chose it as one of the Best Fleece Jackets for Women of the year.
Garmin inReach Mini
Tested by: Zach Burton, Projects & Partnerships
Garmin’s inReach Mini has a two-way satellite communication device that has long set the standard for off-grid communication. With global off-grid communication available in the palm of your hand, the inReach Mini offers SOS alerts, two-way messaging, location sharing, weather updates, and more all on the Iridium Satellite Network.
The inReach Mini comes in clutch for off-grid missions. Most recently, one GearJunkie Staffer backpacked into a new (to him) area of the Gros Venture Wilderness in Wyoming. There was zero cell reception.
Being able to track his progress with breadcrumbs, check weather conditions, and generally stay connected brought him peace of mind while venturing into the unknown.
Throughout the trip, he was able to keep loved ones updated with text messages on his progress — something he hadn’t been able to do before. Messaging was seamless, and it added a layer of connectedness without taking away the fun of being unplugged and off-grid.
Whether you are a climber, backcountry skier, hiker, or traveler, the inReach Mini is a must-have piece of equipment.
Simms Fishing Flyweight Wader
Tested by: Jake Ferguson, Marketing Director
Simms launched the Flyweight stockingfoot wader for anglers who need a lightweight, flexible, and durable wader. The waders use a stretchy GORE-TEX Pro fabric to give more freedom of movement. A four-layer GORE-TEX Pro from the knee down adds durability where you need it. And a three-layer fabric throughout the rest of the wader helps keep the weight down (36 ounces for a medium) and helps it breathe well.
The 5.11 HEXGRID attachment system on the chest is a first of its kind in fly fishing. It allows you to attach Simms Flyweight Pods to carry fly boxes, tippet, nippers, and other essentials. If you want to forego the pod, there is a mesh pocket behind the grid as well as a zipper pocket.
One GearJunkie editor tested the Flyweight Waders all summer in Alaska, Wyoming, and the Midwest. They are his go-to waders for travel, as they are lightweight and more compressible than others he has reviewed. He initially wondered if the lightweight fabric would hold up, but he has had zero issues in 20+ outings plus all the travel in between.
His favorite features are the highly packable Hex Air Gravel Guards and the roomy mesh chest pocket. Simms nailed the minimalist design and comfort on these.
There are a host of other items in the Flyweight collection that pair well with the waders so you can customize what you want to bring to the river and how you carry it.
Garmin Rally RS200 Power Meter Pedals
Tested by: Kurt Barclay, Marketing
Power meters aren’t new to cycling, but the Garmin Rally pedals are a big step in making data more accessible across a stable of bikes.
Gone are the days of buying expensive hubs or cranks that are not cross-compatible. Now, moving your power meter is as simple as swapping pedals!
And if you want to use them on your MTB on the weekend, and crush a group road ride on Tuesday evening, you can swap over the pedal cages with the conversion kits to run them on all your bikes.
The list of features with these pedals is long and includes power, cadence, left/right balance, seated versus standing time, power phase, and more. The pedals send this suite of data in real time to Garmin Edge cycling computers and sync with the Garmin Connect App.
Over the first couple of hundred miles, the data has given me many places to improve my cycling. And I’ve found that the live data on my Edge 1030 has even allowed in-the-moment changes that have an immediate impact on results.
One of the coolest data points that wasn’t quite expected, but that provided immediate improvement, was the platform center offset. This feature ensures proper cleat position by keeping track of where you apply power on the pedal.
Swapping out the pedals only takes a minute (and an inexpensive Allen key). If you’re looking to improve your performance, or just like to nerd out on data, these pedals are worth it!
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Camera Pod
Tested by: Kurt Barclay, Marketing
Looking for a light, durable, and water-resistant case for your camera that can handle virtually anything you can throw at it? The new Camera Pod from Hyperlite Mountain Gear is the answer.
The Camera Pod is as simple as it comes. It’s available in two sizes — regular for smaller mirrorless cameras with smaller or prime lenses and large for larger mirrorless bodies with longer lenses.
The case has one tapered pocket with a single-hinged zipper door that allows for easy loading and removing from virtually any angle. The pod clips onto virtually any backpack in a variety of positions, making it incredibly versatile.
A GearJunkie staffer tested the Camera Pod while squeezing through tight slot canyons and hot hikes in the desert. The mix of durable Dyneema Composite Fabrics protects the camera even when scraping against sandstone rocks or abrasive sands and dirt.
There are more rugged protective cases, but this is his go-to case for most outdoor pursuits. Knowing his camera is protected allows him to focus on the shot and not worry about his gear.
SMITH Leadout PivLock Sunglasses
Tested by: Chris Potter, Community Manager
Versatility is the keystone of SMITH’s Leadout PivLock Sunglasses. With photochromic technology for varying light conditions, changing lenses may be a thing of the past. But if flat light calls for more polarization, the PivLock interchangeable lens system makes changing your lenses a breeze.
The frame is sturdy but malleable when it needs to be. You never had to worry that you might break something when changing lenses.
The convenience factor of the transition lenses in these shades makes them an ideal adventure companion. From dawn patrol rides to forested runs that end in the alpine, a GearJunkie team member says, the SMITH’s Leadout PivLocks has been a pleasure to bike and run with, as the photochromic lenses reliably sorted all the light transitions every time he went out.
Performance sunglasses can often look a bit extreme or niche, but the Leadout PivLocks have a versatile style that’s at home on the trail or in town. Give them a look if you want a pair of shades that are masters at adapting to changing light conditions.
QALO TraQ Bluetooth Dog ID Tag
Tested by: Jennifer Hansen, Affiliate Marketing
One GearJunkie team member brings her pup along with her on every adventure, and the QALO TraQ Bluetooth Dog ID Tag gives her peace of mind that her dog won’t get lost.
The QALO TraQ tag has a built-in Bluetooth tracker that you can pair with the Tile app on your smartphone. This pairing allows you to see where your dog is located on a map, as long as your dog is within a 200-foot range. You can even set up the tag so that it makes a noise when you ping it from the app, allowing you to hear where your dog is.
QALO created the TraQ ID tag to keep up with an active dog. The tracker has a silicone shell around it to provide protection from bumps and scratches. Plus, the brand claims it’s waterproof for up to an hour and up to one meter deep.
Though her dog hasn’t gotten lost yet, she has played with the app’s tracker for fun. She has always been able to locate her dog and sound the noise on the tracker. However, keep in mind that because the tracker relies on Bluetooth and an app, it won’t work when cell service is bad, or if your dog wanders out of range.
