Episode 24 | Gear We Love (2020 Edition)

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Summary

In this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, Ryan and Andrew talk about some of the BPL staff’s favorite gear from 2019. From there they transition into a larger discussion of Backpacking Light’s gear philosophy.

Also in this episode:

• What’s new at BPL
• Andrew and Ryan’s favorite new gear
• Public lands news and headlines
• Interesting conversations in the forums

And tons more!

Outline

• Introduction
  • Today’s theme – what gear we like right now, why we like it, and how we choose it.
• Catching Up
  • Ryan’s upcoming trip to the Pecos Wilderness
  • Andrew’s upcoming thru-hike of the Benton MacKaye Trail
• Staff Picks
  • Shelters
    • Locus Gear Djedi
  • Sleeping Pads
    • NEMO Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad
    • Therm-a-rest Neoair Uberlite
  • Sleeping Insulation
    • Feathered Friends Tanager 20 CFL
    • REI Co-op Magma 30 Sleeping Bag
    • REI Co-op Magma Trail Quilt 30
  • Backpacks
    • REI Co-op Flash 55 Pack
    • Mountainsmith Zerk 40 Pack
  • Jackets and Shirts
    • Arc’teryx Proton LT Hoody
    • Patagonia Airshed Pullover
    • REI Co-op 650 Down Hoody 2.0
    • Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody II
  • Footwear
    • Topo Athletic Ultraventure Trail Runners
      • Note – in the podcast we said these were 4mm drop. They are actually 5mm drop!
  • Cooking, Hydration, and Food
    • MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
    • Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System
    • SnowPeak Titanium French Press
    • Kuju Coffee
  • Misc
    • Hyperlight Mountain Gear Pods
    • Sony RX100
    • Tenkara USA Iwana Fishing Rod
    • Northern Lites Elite Snowshoes
    • Madshus BC 55 Backcountry Ski
    • Kokopelli Nirvana Packraft
• BPL’s Gear Philosophy
  • Core Values: Do Meaningful Work, Create with Excellence
    • Trust
    • What is BPL’s purpose?
  • Separating journalism and marketing
    • Why we don’t write listicles
  • Gear Review Ratings
    • The types of ratings
    • How we choose gear to review
    • The Guides Gear Award
  • How we research and write reviews
    • Ryan’s in-depth process
• What’s New at BPL?
  • The Unlimited Member Video Podcast
  • Wilderness Trekking Program Sign-ups open to the public on February 29, early enrollment is happening right now for Unlimited Members
  • Web development
    • BPLTrac has navigated to Trello
    • New site search engine – Unlimited Members will be able to test starting around Feb 29th, 2020
• Skills
  • Handling snakebites in the backcountry
• Public Lands Headlines
  • The Coyote and the Porcupine
  • New National Park – White Sands National Park
  • Alaskan Rescue
• In the Forums
  • Snowshoe Training (when you don’t have any snow)
  • Intermittent Fasting
• New Favorite Thing
  • Andrew – Ditching trekking poles
    • Kelty Strider Hiking Staff
    • Zpacks Carbon Fiber Staff
  • Ryan – Enjoying a custom-built fastpacking pack from Atom

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ryan Jordan (@bigskyry) on Nov 28, 2019 at 6:30pm PST

above: Ryan’s custom Atom for fastpacking.

Other Links

• The Staff Picks Article
• Our review of the NEMO Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad
• Our review of the Therm-a-rest Neoair Uberlite
• Our review of the REI Co-op Magma 30
• Our review of the REI Co-op Magma Trail Quilt 30
• Our review of the REI Co-op Flash 55 Pack
• Our review of the Mountainsmith Zerk 40 Pack
• Our review of the 2018 model of the Arc’teryx Proton LT Hoody
• Our Upright Canister Stove Gear Guide
• The Backpacking Light Podcast: Backcountry Coffee
• Our blog post on Kuju Coffee

Feedback, Questions, Tips?

• Submit them via email or Twitter and get featured on our next podcast!

Credits

• Backpacking Light – Executive Producer
• Ryan Jordan – Director and Host
• Andrew Marshall – Producer and Host
• Brian Rigby – Guest Interview
• Look for Me in the Mountains – Music
  • Written by: Chris Cunningham and Ryan Jordan
  • Performed by: Chris Cunningham (acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals, harmonica), Chad Langford (upright bass), and Tom Murphy (mandolin).
  • Produced by: Basecamp Studios in Bozeman, Montana
• Featured Image Illustration by Mike Clelland, commissioned by Backpacking Light.

Sponsors

• This episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast is supported and kept advertising-free by Backpacking Light membership fees. Please consider becoming a member which helps support projects like this podcast, in addition to a whole slew of other benefits!

Contact

You can contact us at [email protected], or follow us on social media –

• Backpacking Light – Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
• Andrew Marshall – Instagram | Twitter | WWW
• Ryan Jordan – Instagram | Twitter | WWW