Section Hiker

1 week ago | sectionhiker.com | Philip Werner

Backpacking tarps are a great camping option if you want to significantly reduce your backpacking gear weight while experiencing a deeper connection to the outdoors, by sleeping under a shelter without walls. Backpacking tarps come in two basic flavors: shaped, catenary cut tarps that have curved sides to reduce weight and flapping in the wind, and square, flat tarps with 90-degree corners which can be pitched in many different configurations but take more skill to use.

1 week ago | sectionhiker.com | Philip Werner

The Argali Owyhee 1P Tent is a pyramid-shaped tarp that can be purchased with an insect-proof insert: this is a review of both. Who is Argali Outdoors? They’re a backcountry hunting gear company that manufactures and sells ultralight backcountry and backpacking gear. There is a lot of overlap between hunting and backpacking so this is a great fit, even though most hunters stay well away from trails and travel cross-country to scout game.

1 week ago | sectionhiker.com | Philip Werner

Kahtoola Instagaiter SLs are a low gaiters designed for use with trail runners. They’re differentiated from other popular gaiters, including those from Dirty Girl, in that they have side zippers, so you can put them on and take them off without having to remove your shoes. They’re available exclusively from Kahtoola for $35/pair. Kahtoola makes a lot of gaiters for a variety of hiking footwear, but all of their other gaiters have straps that run under your boots or shoes, through the arch.

2 weeks ago | sectionhiker.com | Philip Werner

The REI Traverse 35 is a versatile daypack with an adjustable torso length that is designed for extended day hikes and short overnights, with features that lend themselves to four-season use. It is a top loader with a floating lid, a front stretch pocket, a side zipper the provides access to the main compartment, and two tiers of side compression straps that can be used to strap a foam pad or snowshoes to the outside of your pack.

2 weeks ago | sectionhiker.com | Philip Werner

The number of ultralight double-wall backpacking tents with a trail weight of 3 lbs or less that are available today has grown significantly, driven by consumer demand and advances in fabric and material technologies. If you prefer a double-wall tent over a single-wall tent because it’s more spacious, warmer, less drafty, and has a separate inner tent and rainfly to prevent internal condensation transfer, you can have it with just a slight weight penalty compared to a single-wall tent.