Category Archives: Backpacking Gear

Champ Chef Ranger III Stove: Almost Perfect

Backpacking Gear

We’ve had this stove for only a couple years, so I can’t call this a review. Not enough years to determine is reliability and durability. Let’s call this a short term or quick review.

Yesterday I posted an article on how to choose a camp stove. Using the same criteria, let’s see if the Camp Chef Ranger III meets the attributes we need in a camp stove:

  • Fuel: I want the stove to connect to our camper’s low-pressure propane system using a quick connector.
  • Wind Worthy: It has to work well in windy conditions.
  • Ample Burner Power: This is measured in BTUs.
  • Compact: It has to be easy to store.
  • Size: It has to be large enough to fit a decent size pot(s).
  • Light: As light as possible.
  • Griddle Compatible: Big enough for a decent sized griddle.

Continue reading Champ Chef Ranger III Stove: Almost Perfect →

How to Choose an Outdoor Stove for Your Camper or RV

Backpacking Gear

One advantage of camping over backpacking is the camper usually has more time to cook. I mean the time to really cook a meal that is simply wonderful to eat. And if you own a car or even a camper or RV, you have the space to bring real cookware, and of course, a real stove.

Camping is about spending time outdoors. A camper itself, for many who own one, is just a huge traveling tent meant only for sleeping and shelter in poor weather. Not only is it more fun to cook outdoors, it prevents stinking up the small interior of the camper by cooking inside the contraption. Which leads to the question, what is the best outdoor stove for camping?

In this post I will discuss what we need a camping stove to do and then compare our requirements agains our Camp Chef Pro 60D stove, which does not meet these attributes.

This does not mean the Camp Chef is a poor stove. Continue reading How to Choose an Outdoor Stove for Your Camper or RV →

Cascade Designs (Therm-A-Rest NeoAir) for the Win!

Backpacking Gear,

Nine days ago I posted an article about my several years old NeoAir mattress which had developed a leak. Late that afternoon, June 18, I shipped it to Cascade Designs. The return authorization form had this message, prompted by the ongoing pandemic:

So the wait began. The company’s repair service had been shut down for a couple months and had just opened three days earlier. To be honest, I just forgot about it. Continue reading Cascade Designs (Therm-A-Rest NeoAir) for the Win! →

I Need a Decent Backpacking Drinking Cup

Backpacking Gear, , , , , ,

(L to R): Sierra Cup, Rocky Cup, MSR Titan Cup, REI Double-Walled Insulated Cup

I’ve been doing this backpacking thing for over 50 years and have never owned a cup that did what I wanted (or needed) it to do. This fact is my fault. My drinking cup choices have been focused on the wrong attributes. The main purpose of this post is to review my approach to drinking cups over the years — that is, the thought process. I might have finally found a cup that may tick off all four of these attributes. But I haven’t used it long enough to really evaluate it as a solution.  Continue reading I Need a Decent Backpacking Drinking Cup →

Thoughts on Boots and Boot Care

Backpacking Gear,

The main purpose of this post is to discuss how to maintain leather hiking boots.

First, I’d like to talk about boots in general. For the past eight years, ever since I started this blog, I have been an outspoken advocate of running shoes for backpacking. Not, trail running shoes in particular, but even lighter more gossamer shoes.

I am beginning to change my mind. Continue reading Thoughts on Boots and Boot Care →

Nalgene Oasis Water Bottle

Backpacking Gear

This isn’t a review. Reviews should entail dozens and dozens of days of use. It would be even more preferable to use a product for ten years before reviewing it. Long-term usage can discover faults or weaknesses in a product.

On the other hand, I’ll be 70 years old in November, so I won’t have many (or maybe even one) ten-year blocks of time remaining. So let’s call this post a first impression. Continue reading Nalgene Oasis Water Bottle →

Camping Gaz Globetrotter Stove: 35 Year Review

Backpacking Gear,
Camping Gaz Globetrotter stove

I haven’t reviewed this stove because it is no longer made. More importantly, if you have one or buy a used one, you can’t buy the canisters anymore either. However, for several reasons, this has always been my favorite canister stove. I liked it so much; I bought a second stove in case the stove was discontinued — which it was. What I didn’t anticipate was the fuel canisters would also become obsolete. Given all of this, I was able to re-work the stove and make it compatible with the common IsoPro canisters that are popular today. So, it is time to review the stove, because it can be updated, and actually made lighter. Continue reading Camping Gaz Globetrotter Stove: 35 Year Review →

Repairing Gear with Tenacious Tape

Backpacking Gear, Hiking, Tents
Two holes in one of my down jackets.

Overall I am pretty careful with my gear. Most of my repairs are due to age — things that have just plain worn out — such as my Chouinard Pyramid Tent. Once in a great while, I do damage something due to carelessness or unavoidable situations, such as traveling cross country in deserts through area lush in such wonderful environments that can be packed full of cacti or catclaw. Continue reading Repairing Gear with Tenacious Tape →

EZYDOSE Pill Pouches to Organize Your Backpacking Life

Backpacking Gear
My gear for a trip on the Buckeye Trail in Ohio, including the clothes and shoes I would be wearing. Note that there are few stuff sacks.

Staying organized in the backcountry takes planning. Some people struggle with this and their night campsite is strewn with gear as the try to find things, and one would think a tornado might have hit them. Some people repack everything single item into individual stuff sacks, creating little packing modules that are inefficient at maximizing space.

And then when they need to find small items, such as spare batteries or an Advil, they have to dig through their gear. There is an easier way. Continue reading EZYDOSE Pill Pouches to Organize Your Backpacking Life →