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Nature's Finest

New outdoor gear lets you hike faster and farther—and then get a good night’s sleep

By Berne Broudy Posted 7.7.08 at 5:19 pm 4 Comments

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High-Beam Hat
Greg Neumaier
Hike at night—or find your way to the outhouse—with the strongest headlamp yet. Its six LEDs yield 350 lumens, which shine about 400 feet. Petzl designed circuitry that ekes the most power out of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery, letting the 12.2-ounce lamp burn on its highest setting for two hours.
Petzl Ultra Headlamp $425; petzl.com
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Diamond Back
Greg Neumaier
This light coat won’t tear or wear out under friction from your pack. Mammut imprints the shoulders, elbows and back with hundreds of dots made of hard-as-diamond ceramic particles. At a quarter-inch wide, the nearly flat dots are small enough that they don’t make the coat feel stiff or affect breathability. Mammut Qogir $300; mammut.comdiamond back This light coat won’t tear or wear out under friction from your pack. Mammut imprints the shoulders, elbows and back with hundreds of dots made of hard-as-diamond ceramic particles. At a quarter-inch wide, the nearly flat dots are small enough that they don’t make the coat feel stiff or affect breathability.
Mammut Qogir $300; mammut.com
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4 Comments

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BNicholson

07/17/08 at 7:46 pm

On the Apallachian Trail, you recommend this four pound synthetic sleeping bag? a 2.5 kilogram pack? ceramic backpacking jackets? ufo-like headlamp? and thin-soled hiking shoes? I'm sorry but maybe there is a place for that stuff, but not on a real hiking trip.

Instead, try a 1 lb goose down Marmot Atom sleeping bag, a sixmoondesigns.com Essence or Comet or at 1 lb., some 20 gram small LED button cell lights from gossamergear.com, and Rockport hiking boots off eBay. You'll be a lot better served.

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tazdude

07/20/08 at 8:41 pm

I love to camp and hike so this will keep me thinking about getting some new gear. They should have included a tent and camp stove though

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tazdude

07/20/08 at 8:41 pm

I love to camp and hike so this will keep me thinking about getting some new gear. They should have included a tent and camp stove though

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joenz

07/31/08 at 1:38 pm

I used to go backpacking a couple weekends a month for about 3 years, and even went on a couple 150+ mile treks. I used an external frame, a heavy (but fast) water pump, some $50 nylon sleeping bag, a 3 man tent, non-cotton (but relatively inexpensive) clothes, and dehydrated meals. People spend way too much money on this fancy equiptment that isn't necessary. Cutting weight is important, but I bet they could market a $50 toothbrush with holes drilled in it and some idiot would buy it. If you only bring the essentials and dress smart, there is no need for a $400 jacket or $350 flashlight. (By the way, a 2 hour charge on a flashlight wouldn't serve you very long....and why is it rechargeable anyways)