JetBoil
The JetBoil is a self-contained cooking unit that uses fuel canisters instead of liquid butane or denatured alcohol. One the main advantages of this stove is its simplicity. With a push of an ignition button, the stove is ready to use. Also, you cook in the same pot from which you eat. And, when you're finished, the canister and the stove mechanism upon which the pot rests can all be slid into the pot itself--thereby freeing space in your pack. One disadvantage is the relative scarcity of the fuel canisters and the high impact such canisters have on the environment once discarded.
Western Mountaineering Ultralite Sleeping Bags
Western Mountaineering is the leader in down camping equipment. Its best-selling items are lightweight sleeping bags. These sleeping bags, rated from minus 40 degrees to 45 degrees, are made from lightweight nylon and best goose. They are extremely warm and very light--attributes that a long-distance hiker seeks. The disadvantage of the bags is their fragility. Hikers and campers must be careful when packing and unpacking these bags because the lightweight materials can tear easily.
MSR Hubba and Hubba Hubba
MSR, a leading outfitting brand, offers two of the best shelters on the camping market: the Hubba and the Hubba Hubba. These shelters are both freestanding, two-walled structures with a rain fly and bug net. Both have side vestibules (one on the Hubba and two on the Hubba Hubba) that are large enough to store shoes and a pack away from the elements. Also, inside the tent it's possible to sit up and move around considerably--a feature often not found in lightweight camping shelters. The disadvantage of these products is the price--the tents cost well over $300 each.
Article Written By DB Jenkins
DB Jenkins is a professional freelance content provider. He has been running a successful freelance business for two years, and contributes regularly to many publications. His articles have appeared in "The Portland Alliance," "Portland Monthly Magazine," "in\ur Magazine," and The Tallahassee Democrat and Chronicle. He has a bachelor's degree in English from Clark University.
