Make It a Light
If you're fretting that a "lightweight" backpack entails a trade-off in comfort and durability, check out the 4.5-pound Mountainsmith Specter 5600 ($280)—among the best in the gear world's weight-conscious family of packs. Its weight-cutting Dimension Polyant fabric, developed as sail cloth by the boat industry, offers twice the tear strength and abrasion resistance of standard pack fabric, plus the stuff's waterproof. The lean-but-tough framesheet and aluminum stays handle loads of about 50 pounds, and we love the huge zippered front panel that lays the pack open for uncomplicated gear grabs and stashes. Contact 800-551-5889; www.mountainsmith.com.
SUVs for Feet
When trails become routes, you need a dependable boot to handle scree, rock, ice, the works. Exhibit A: The new lightweight Lowa Mountain Guide GTX ($250), a hybrid technical approach boot that's crampon compatible for the tough stuff but has enough rocker and flex to comfortably handle flatland schleps under big loads. The split leather uppers and Gore-Tex lining make the four-pound pair exceedingly durable and weather-resistant, while the Vibram Ice-Trek outsole is as clingy as a mountain goat. Contact 888-335-5692; www.lowaboots.com.
Warming Trend
Forget synthetic sleeping bag fills. When it comes to unadulterated warmth, down remains the gold standard. And the new Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Superlight ($385) sets the bar highest with 800-fill-power goose down in a bag that's just two pounds, ten ounces—a flyweight considering its 7.5-inch loft and zero-degree rating. Cold-blooded ounce-counters will welcome the newly designed ergonomic draft collar, down-filled face gasket, and a more tapered mummy cut, all bumping up warmth without adding weight. Contact 800-953-8375; www.mountainhardwear.com.
Freedom of Information
GPS scaredy-cats take note: the new Brunton Atlas GPS ($199) doesn't require memorizing a phonebook-sized instruction manual. Hit "Easy Mode" and you'll see basic GPS functions to get from points A to B, and back again. "Advanced Mode" pulls up altitude, travel time, and other relevant stats. Intuitive? Yes, but the Atlas is no simpleton. It receives additional WAAS, aka Wide Area Augmentation System, signals for accuracy good to within three meters, and built-in maps provide the beta on every major city and geographic landmark in North America. The addition of a MapCard plug-in will add stratospheric map and information storage capabilities. Contact 800-443-4871; www.brunton.com.
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