Camping
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Überleben Stoker Flatpack Stove
I needed a way to cook birds in the backcountry that didn’t consume burner fuel and also didn’t add weight or bulk to a pack. The Überleben Stoker comes in under a pound, flattens to a 6” square canvas pouch and is barely noticeable in the gear until you need to grill. The smart, minimal…
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Zenbivy Light Bed – 10°
I have a difficult time sleeping in traditional sleeping bags and mummy bags are out of the question. Most mornings after a bagged night I would wake with shoulders so stiff they could barely function from holding an unnatural position all night long. When I saw that Zenbivy had redesigned the traditional “bag” from the…
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Eddie Bauer Alchemist 40/55 Pack
When you’re headed into the backcountry bird hunting, it’s always a balancing act between how much gear you can carry yet still have enough legs left once camped to follow dogs in pursuit of birds. I was able to easily pack four days and three nights worth of gear and food in Eddie Bauer’s Alchemist….
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Camp Chef Rainier Campers Combo Stove
Small and portable, the Camp Chef Rainier Campers Combo Stove ($153) is complete with a one-burner stove, and a non-stick griddle and grill. The griddle and grill are easily switched for making pancakes in the morning, to grilling venison for dinner. Complete with a matchless ignition for ease of use, the Camper’s Combo is the perfect stove for hunting…
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Gerber ComplEAT
Alex and I were huddled around burners staring at cookpots waiting for water to boil on the inaugural night of a backcountry trip. It was my first opportunity to pull out the Gerber ComplEAT — I saw the look of derision on Alex’s face. I can’t really blame him because these utensils don’t look like…
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Thule AllTrail 45L Hiking Backpack
I own lots of backpacks and I’m always hesitant to get a new one. But I’ve had pack envy for awhile because innovation in backpacks seems to outpace other gear. The piece of equipment that carries all your other equipment into the backcountry just might be the most important. So, I took the leap into…
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Camp Chef Ranger II
I wasn’t happy with the under-powered cooktop that came standard with my camper. Standing around waiting for water to boil on cool camp mornings when coffee can’t come quick enough wasn’t going to cut it. The compact Camp Chef Ranger II was able to drop right into place and give me more than double the…
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Good To-Go Dehydrated Meals
On the eve of heading into a new season, we taste and rank all the camp meals from Good To-Go. Dehydrated meals are a camp staple for tons of backcountry adventure seekers. Good To-Go uses the standard cooking, add an amount of boiling water to a pouch, stir and rest — most for around 20…
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UST Wetfire Tinder
A human can survive without food for three weeks. Hypothermia and exposure are the real killers in the wild. I’ve added the UST WetFire™ Tinder ($7) to my vest as part of my mobile first aid and survival gear. In the event I can’t make it back to the truck due to weather, injury or poor navigation skills…
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The Brute Cooler
The Brute Cooler is appropriately named — hard core, roto-molded, large handles, rubber latches — it’s got it all. Made in America by Brute, a family run company with excellent customer service. The 50 qt. ($319) will keep your birds chilled for at least five days, but go with the 75 qt. ($369) if you want…
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Thermacell Backpacker
Biting bugs can ruin a backcountry trip. Since most of our hunting occurs after the frosts of fall, insects are rarely a nuisance. But when training in the off-season or even hunting in early-season those bugs can be absolutely maddening. I was one of the original testers of the Thermacell Backpacker at high elevation. The…
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Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Pit
When you roll into an unimproved camp after dark (improved road my ass) scavenging rocks for a fire pit is on the bottom of your list. Fireside Outdoor’s Pop-Up Pit has you covered. The lightweight, modular design allows for quick setup with no tools or hardware required. In fact, it was so lightweight that I…
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Nite Ize Runoff Waterproof Cubes
I knew when we hit the trail this season that we had multiple river crossings in our future. There was a good chance I’d get soaked from the waist down, but I had to keep my gear clean and dry even if I became completely submerged. Nite Ize Runoff Cubes offer a great solution for…
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Coleman EasyStay Airbed & OneSource
During the early season, I broke out my backpacking tent and lightweight sleeping pad for a few nights camping in the backcountry. It had been a hot second since using that pad and after night one my back was convinced I needed a better solution for the Way Upland journey this season. The nearby town…
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Big Agnes C Bar 3-Season Tent
On the eve of a big trip into the backcountry, time to make sure we know exactly how to assemble the tent. This Big Agnes is new to us this season, so we’re excited to put it to the test on this camping trip with the dogs.
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NEMO Equipment Dagger Tent
The NEMO Equipment Dagger 2 Person Tent weighed in a full 2 lbs. lighter than my old backpacking tent. That may not sound like much but when you’re talking about hauling a crammed backpack miles up a mountain over 9,000′ above sea level, those couple pounds are fairly pronounced. We’ve become fans of NEMO’s equipment which is well thought…
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DUDE Shower Wipes
Though I was cutting as much weight as possible for an overland trek, I allowed for two luxuries: a toothbrush and a pack of DUDE Shower Wipes. Call me a prima donna, but it’s just reinvigorating to be able to wipe away the dirt, grime and sweat of trail toils prior to tucking into…
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BigBlue 63W Portable Solar Charger
Phones, cameras, watches, navigation devices, satellite messengers — our trips require a lot of power. Normally I don’t even talk about our plugin requirements because it’s one of the necessary yet annoying distractions from the wild when documenting trips to share with others. But the performance of the BigBlue 63W solar panel was so good…
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Cabela’s Alaknak Tent
Backcountry bird camp isn’t complete without a wall tent. But ditch the heavy canvas tent and opt for the Cabela’s Alaknak instead. Made of waterproof 250-denier polyester, the tent features 10 perimeter poles and one center pole for durability in harsh weather. The 12×12 Alaknak withstood a powerful thunderstorm at 11,000 feet in Colorado while…
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NEMO Equipment Moonlite Elite Chair
“Until this year I’ve never carried a chair into the backcountry. And quite frankly it’s just because at 3, 4, oreven 5 lbs it’s not worth the weight tradeoff to get it there. But enter this year NEMO’s MoonlightElite 1 lb 2 oz, that’s right 1 lb 2 oz, I weighed it. Makes it…
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Seek Outside Tipi Tent with Stove
What do you get for someone that already has everything, goes on extreme adventures into the backcountry, regardless of the weather? A gift for someone who practically lives outdoors. An apartment in the mountains? Well it may as well be. The Seek Outside 6 Man Tipi Hot Tent is like a portable apartment for your…
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Katadyn Hiker Pro
Water. It’s proven to be one of the biggest challenges of our Way Upland trips. I’ve tested multiple solutions, but I’ve been most impressed by the performance of the Katadyn HIker Pro in our latest season. I’ve used Katadyn water filters in the past and they have always been solid gear. The biggest difference with…
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Helio Pressure Shower
Hunting in Alaska this year I went 20 days without a shower. Never again. NEMO makes the Helio Pressure Shower ($99) specifically for these backcountry adventures. It’s also a great solution for hosing off bird dogs that have rolled in mystery stench. Honestly, in Alaska I may have smelled worse than the dogs. The Helio packs up…
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ThermaCELL
There is a lot of down time during the season. Early on when the weather is still hot, that down time brings a whole host of annoying biting bugs to camp which make getting rest a challenge. We have to admit that we had our doubts with the plastic appearance of the ThermaCELL ($26.99). At our wit’s…
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Big Agnes Dirt Dagger Tent Stakes
I own lots of tents for lots of different backcountry scenarios. I’ll be replacing every tent stake I have with Big Agnes 10” Dirt Dagger UL Tent Stakes. These stakes use a unique design that helps prevent bending in rocky surfaces and also promotes grip in soft soil conditions. Lightweight with high-vis color, they are…
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Coleman Steel-Belted Portable Cooler, 54 Quart
Yes, I know, everyone and their brother has a roto-molded, armageddon-proof cooler that costs more than their actual freezer. There are umpteen companies now competing in the space, basically making the same heavy cooler with thick walls leaving minimal room for actual cooler contents. But, I had a space problem. I needed a cooler that…
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NEMO Equipment Kunai 4-Season Tent
“I’m out here packing up my NEMO Kunai three-person four-season tent. I used it extensively this fall. I’ve had it sitting out to dry but, really hands down the best tent I have ever owned. And I’ve owned a lot of them. Now there’s a lot of reasons for that and I’ll go over…
