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

You could say that Mountainsmith ‘has seen the light’ with the introduction of the Haze 50, a minimalist top loading backpack which weighs just under 2 pounds. With just over 3000 cubic inches / 50 L of storage capacity, the Haze 50 is ideally sized for overnight and multi-day backpacking trips with loads up to 25-30 pounds. Priced at just $129, …

The Mountainsmith Mayhem 35L backpack is a great winter and climbing backpack, well-suited for day-long hikes that require carrying heavy winter gear such as snowshoes, skis, a snowboard, an ice axe, and avalanche shovel. A top-loading pack, it has numerous external attachment points for lashing gear to the outside of the pack in addition to side water bottle pockets and …

While I haven’t completely given up on hiking 4,000 footers since finishing the White Mountain 4000 footers (in winter) last year, the main reason I hike the higher peaks is social, to hang out with my friends who are working on their own peakbagging lists. When I hike by myself, I enjoy exploring more remote destinations that are less traveled …

The big story last week was the accidental death of a solo hiker, Kate Matrosova, who died from exposure between Mt Madison and Mt Adams in New Hampshire’s Northern Presidential Mountain Range. A so-called “expert hiker”, she attempted to traverse Mt Madison, Adams, Jefferson, and Washington on a day when it was 35 degrees below zero with 100 mph winds. Her body …