Big Agnes Insulated Core Mattress

DECEMBER THIRD-PLACE CONTEST ENTRY
www.bigagnes.com, 16 ounces
I purchased a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core mattress last year to reduce space and weight in my backpack, and to replace the larger, heavier, aging, and leaky pad I have used for over 20 years. I was curious about the thickness and warmth it might provide. I took it out on the North Platte River in Wyoming, and had an amazing night’s sleep. Before my next trip, I got the Sleeping Giant memory foam cover for my BA mattress, and also picked up the matching pillow. I figured the added comfort would be great, and I’d cut weight somewhere else if necessary to get a great night’s sleep. I have since picked up a Big Agnes sleeping bag to complete the whole integrated sleep system, and I just can’t say how much better I sleep in the backcountry. I’ve been backpacking now for over 40 years, and have tried all kinds of products. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve definitely focused more on quality and comfort. These BA products are the bomb. They’re well thought out, and perfect for my spring-fall forays into the mountains and floating rivers in Colorado. The company is local, hailing from Steamboat, their products are very detail-oriented and made with attention to purpose, and they incorporate several “green” elements into their offerings. I’m so happy I tried something new for a change.
-Jeff Wylde

Jeff in Colorado

Tested in:

$80

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Deuter Race X Backpack

DECEMBER SECOND-PLACE CONTEST ENTRY
deuter.com,1 pound, 4 ounces
My can’t-do-without gear item is the Deuter Race X backpack. I live in Boulder, Colorado, and love trail running. The Deuter Race X is the only backpack that I can use for 20 + mile runs without getting chafed or soaked in sweat. The mesh shoulder straps and back give my skin room to breathe and move freely with me while I run. I have various other fanny packs and backpacks, but all of them bother me after a few miles. I often end up using the Deuter Race X for mountain biking too, because it is so airy and light. Plus it has nice reflective detailing if I end up running or biking after dark, which often happens when I go out for a loop that is just a little longer than I planned. The pack is simple and well-designed, stripped down to the essentials rather than burdened with extra bells and whistles, and the 12 liters of storage space is perfect for carrying all I need.
-Tom Volckhausen

$69

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Bushnell Powerview 12×25 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular

DECEMBER GRAND PRIZE CONTEST-WINNING ENTRY!
bushnell.com, 11.3 ounces
A raven sits on a tree stump on the forested ledge above me, cocking his headas I imitate his graaking noises. For all I know, I’m saying something ridiculous or excoriating his lineage, but he looks at me bemusedly, the way we politely listen to a well-intentioned foreigner stumble along in our language. I raise my Bushnell binoculars to get a closer look at his eyes and gleaming feathers. As a roving documentarian who specializes in following ravens, I pack lightly—water bottle, pencils, notebook, camera, sunscreen, and Bushnell portable binoculars. In the high desert, the badlands, or the aspen-covered mountains in New Mexico, the compact Bushnell 12 x 25 affords me a light (11.3 ounces), sturdy (rubber housing), and inexpensive (under $30) way to focus on quick movement that is otherwise just a rustle in the leaves or a flash in the corner of my eye. I can see the snow dusting far-off ridge lines as well as a Cooper’s Hawk surveying his territory. A more powerful scope would mean more weight, longer adjustment time, a tripod, and planting myself in one place instead of walking through this glorious landscape. However close the raven allows me to be when we converse, the binoculars show me the intricate details that I incorporate in my drawings and stories of this iconic bird that flies through time and world cultures.
-Beth Surdut

$27

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Kombi Downy Gloves

kombisports.com
Ever sit on a chair lift, hands freezing, fingers numb, only to look up at a flock of extraordinarily comfortable geese, flapping overhead. Question: Why are you so cold when you’re bundle up with multiple layers, and they don’t have a care in the world? Answer: Down. Thankfully, Kombi’s new Downy Gloves level the difference between man and animal. They sport toasty-warm goose down insulation, encased in a waterproof/breathable layer and goatskin leather shell for day-long comfort in the most frigid of temps. Inside, a soft wicking lining with an antimicrobial finish keeps the gloves from getting sweaty and sticky once you push off the cornice and start warming up. During a frigid winter weekend, one tester was stuck on a broken chair in 15-degree temps for nearly an hour. Her cold companions had to be treated for frostbite, but she (and her fingers) emerged unscathed, thanks to the Downy Gloves. For super-cold conditions or people who just need a little extra warmth, the Downy’s also come in luxe puffy mittens. Wrist straps are adjustable, with cuffs that fit nicely under most jacket sleeves.
Available in men’s and women’s sizes in a glove or mitten

$95

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Ibex Long Trail Sweater

shop.ibex.com
In this testers’ early days, the love of the sport preceded love of gear. After all, all the gear used was inherited from previous generations, from gloves covered in duct tape to an older cousin’s hole-filled wool sweater. Unfortunately for the next generation of the gear-obsessed, the Long Trail Sweater will never become part of the hand-me-down collective. A long staple in Ibex’s line of merino wool products, the textured Long Trail offers an old-school sweater comfort straight out of the box—except this one includes the all-natural benefits of merino, like wicking and odor management, and it stays warm even when wet. A three-quarter zip and a loose mock neck allow for a nice degree of temperature management, while the long, somewhat baggy cut affords the freedom of movement needed for skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, snowshoeing, or whatever other cold-weather activity that is your latest obsession. Better still, the subtle vertical stripe of color down the back means it’s also at home at your local watering hole. This is designed to be a warm, sport-specific sweater; it’s a bit thicker than some of the other midweight layers on the market, and fits loose. so size accordingly.

$175

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