stg-sectionhikercom-buttons.kinsta.cloud Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs

The Granite Gear Virga 2 is a 54-liter ultralight backpack that is lightweight even by today’s standards. Weighing just 1 pound and 3 ounces (19 ounces) it is truly frameless, without even a foam back pad behind the shoulder straps. Despite its low weight, the Virga 2 is a fully-featured Granite Gear backpack with all of the standard amenities that …

Garnet Mountain and Lewis Hill are two trailless mountains just outside the quaint town of Bethlehem, NH. Both are on the New Hampshire 500 Highest peak list that my friend Ken and I are working through. As he says, “There are 2000 mountains in New Hampshire. Why would you climb the same ones over and over?” That’s why we’re working …

The Hults Bruk Bjork Splitting Axe is a lightweight axe with a 30″ long handle that’s good for splitting softwoods or dry wood with a straight grain. It’s perfectly good for around the house and splitting seasoned wood, but doesn’t cut it for splitting freshly cut green wood or wood with knots and twists in it. Think maple. I spend …

There’s no doubt that Kahtoola Microspikes revolutionized winter traction and opened up winter hiking to a much wider audience. Before microspikes came along, most hikers had to purchase mountaineering boots and crampons if they wanted to hike on icy trails, which required proper training to use safely not to mention a lot of extra expense. But there are limits to how …