They don’t seem to have a website, which is rather surprising these days, but Alaska Bear seems to have a good product with their 100% Pure [Mulberry] Silk Glove Liners ($12.99). Heading to Olympic National Park <link> with potentially cold conditions, I picked up a pair to supplement my regular gloves in case extra warmth was required, and certainly wasn’t disappointed (or cold).
DexShell is a relatively new player in the breathable waterproof apparel market, currently offering a variety of waterproof socks, gloves, and hats. With cold weather possible and wet conditions guaranteed, I purchased a pair of DexShell Hytherm Pro Socks to use on a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Carrying a firearm while hiking can be a challenge for a variety of reasons – options for accessibility, comfort, concealment, and weight balance quickly diminish with a full pack strapped on. Fortunately, Hill People Gear has created an effective solution for carrying handguns of all sizes with their line of Kit Bags.
After a short search for a small, very light knife to take backpacking, I landed on the CRKT Minimalist series and decided to give one a try. The CRKT Folts Minimalist Wharncliffe (MSRP $39.99) is a small fixed-blade knife of Alan Folts’ design, seemingly intended for easy everyday carry (EDC), and at a weight of 1.44 oz, it sure looked promising.
Part of Western Mountaineering’s aptly named ExtremeLite series, the down-insulated SummerLite (MSRP $395 for 6’0” Length) mummy bag sports a 32°F rating at an impressively light 1 lb 3 oz (19 oz). Western Mountaineering’s product page states, “Our goal in designing this bag was to make it as light as possible without eliminating key features or function.” This certainly appears to be the case on paper, as the SummerLite incorporates features such as a water resistant finish, full length zipper, draft tube, and continuous baffles.
One of Zebralight’s latest LED headlamps, the H302w ($69.00) is powered by a neutral white Cree XM-L2 and single CR123 for a manufacturer-reported output of up to 446 lumens. This light is a ‘pure flood’ version with a 120 degree cone per Zebralight’s specifications.
After quite the hiatus, I’ve decided to bring back the Blue Ridge Armory site for reviews of camping/hiking equipment, firearms-related gear, and the like.