Osprey Hornet 32 Backpack

www.ospreypacks.com, one pound, five ounces
We love light comfortable packs in the 30-liter range, because the size is ideal for clothing- or gear-laden day trips, and just big enough for hut trips and ultralight overnights. Osprey’s Hornet 32 (the middle of three sizes in their Hornet series) fits those criteria perfectly, staying light and easy to load, yet not scrimping on the features that fastpackers and ultralighters appreciate. It has twin hipbelt pockets, energy gel/iPod/sunscreen pockets on both shoulder straps, and a mesh shove-it pocket on the front.

The single compartment top-loading backpack, and a two-compartment top pocket, maximize space while providing just enough organization to avoid chaos. A large hydration sleeve, located between the packbag and foam back panel, can be easily refilled with the pack loaded, or take a folded foam pad for bivvy use and increased load support.

The Hornet really shined during a three-day round trip to climb the northeast ridge of 14,130-foot Capitol Peak in Colorado. “It was light and flexible enough to fold into my 45-liter load-carrying pack for the approach,” that tester wrote. “Then it carried ropes, technical, clothes, and helmet comfortably for 2,000 feet to the technical section.” Once he collapsed it down using the narrow side compression straps, he “barely knew it was there, during all the knife-edge straddling and scrambling. It hugged my back like a scared koala.”

The Hornet was also serviceable, if a bit flappy and strappy, for trail runs and mountain bike rides, and carried a 20-pound overnight load just fine for quick desert overnights. It’s not very rain-resistant, but it’s close to an ideal one-quiver pack for hikers, ultralighters and peak-baggers, as long as you keep loads under 30 pounds, because back panel support and shoulder strap comfort degenerate quickly beyond that.
-Steve Howe

$139

Search for Product on Backcountry.com

Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Convertible Bike Jacket

shop.pearlizumi.com, six ounces
Most of us suffer from having too much stuff. But this two-in-one jacket has zip-off sleeves, allowing it to double as a light weight vest. The result? Greater versatility and fewer items to crowd your gear closet. We like the jacket for commuting, after-work rides, and anytime you need lightweight protection. The sleeves zip off easily, and can be stored in the back pocket when not needed. The lightweight polyester fabric is wind and water resistant—in common parlance that means you can ride in light rain and breezy, cool conditions while staying warm and dry. Our testers report that the fabric has decent breathability—on the long ride from Ft. Davis to Marfa, TX, our tester said that despite high humidity and warm temperatures, she didn’t feel like she was trapped in a sauna. The design includes two hand warmer pockets, a rear pocket, and a zip chest pocket—plenty of room for energy gels, a money clip, and even a soft-sided water pouch. A full-length front zipper lets you vent when you need wind and water protection and extra breathability. Our testers loved the silky feel of the jacket—and the fact that the zippers are covered by wind-blocking flaps, decreasing the dork factor that often accompanies zip-off apparel.

$110

Search for Product on Backcountry.com

Mission Workshops R6 Arkiv Field Backpack

missionworkshop.com
We became big fans of the Mission Workshop bags when we tested out their Sanction Backpack (which is still meeting our high standards), but the R6 Arkiv really hits the sweet spot. This backpack is built around a modular system that lets you add on various weatherproof bags to boost your carrying capacity. The system is anchored around a main backpack, and comes in two sizes: small (1,200 cubic inches) and large (2,200 cubic inches). Then you select from eight individually-priced accessories, which run the gamut from a laptop case ($86), to an utility cell pocket ($28), to a vertical roll-top or zippered pocket ($48 and $52, respectively). You can add a waist belt ($34) or a messenger bag shoulder-strap ($24). Each component attaches to the main packbag via a clever rail system; you slide the accessories onto the pack and secure them with a narrow Velcro strap. The main packbag has six rails anchored by highly durable steel, allowing for a variety of configurations. The backpack itself—like all the accessories—is made of waterproof, durable Cordura fabric with a roll-down top flap and a burly, secure buckle. We love the Folio addition ($68), which includes two zippered pockets, pen slots, space to hold a U-lock, and two more rails for more add-ons like the tool pocket ($58). The R6 also makes for a versatile carry-on; after boarding the plane, just slide off the laptop or folio attachments (pre-loaded with all your in-flight essentials) and the stash the big pack in the overhead without exceeding the max limits for carry-ons. As you’d expect, the pack weighs more than a traditional backpack. But that’s a minor drawback considering the bag can be custom dialed to fit your needs in pretty much every scenario.
For even greater waterproofness and style, add $30 for the waxed canvas version of the packbag.

Starts at $209

Search for Product on Backcountry.com

REI Sahara Convertible Pants

www.rei.com
Converting from pants to shorts (when you’re wearing a two-in-one combo) typically means sitting down, unzipping the legs, and then wrestling them off over your hiking shoes. And if your kicks have gotten muddy, the pant leg interiors will get muddy, too—unless you add another step and remove your footwear. REI’s Sahara Pants have a simple, ingenious solution: they’ve run side zippers up the full length of the lower leg, providing both an easy method to cool off and an efficient way to remove the legs without so much as sitting down. Just unzip vertically, then unzip the loop at the thighs and you’re in shorts mode, no muss, no fuss, and no dirt or mud (the color-coded thigh zips also make it easy to put them back on). The lightweight nylon fabric has a UPF 50+ rating and has been treated with a DWR finish to help shed moisture and stains, and the elastic waist helps dial in the fit. We love the travel- and trail-friendly profusion of pockets, including side cargos, front hand, a zippered coin pocket, and two rear pockets (one zippered). The gusseted crotch also allows for freedom of movement on the trail. Sizing, however, might prove tricky; the inseams come in two-inch increments (which is great as the pant’s can’t be easily hemmed), but the S, M, L, XL designation could leave some between sizes.

$65

Search for Product on Backcountry.com

Interbike 2012: Barry Bonds Raids Five Ten

We spotted Barry Bonds outside the Five Ten booth, picking up a pair of the Freerider Pro Green Zebra shoes (pictured below). For the record, he got size 13. Let us know if anyone sees him screaming on the downhill flow tracks this fall.

$130

Search for Product on Backcountry.com

See More Gear »