Gear Room

PIONEER 22 KIDS BACKPACK We took our 5-year-old backpacking for the first time last summer and wish we would have had this pack. The 22-liter, Jack Wolfskin kids pack includes many of the same features as adult packs. It has a main compartment with a cord closure and lid to keep gear in place. And there’s a water bladder pouch, straps

OUTDOOR RESEARCH JANU SHIRT

I’ve spent some time staring at the pattern on this organic cotton blended shirt because it looks cool and draws you in, yet the hidden story the pattern tells still eluded me until I did my research. The Janu pattern that this shirt was named after was created by the artists of the Godnas Tribe of rural India and was leased by OR from Roots Studio.

PRINCETON TEC RECHARGEABLE HEADLAMP

This rechargeable, made-in-the-U.S.A., 450-lumen, LED headlamp covers the bases with all the features you want from a headlamp and then some. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery gives you a burn time of up to 15 hours. And the flood beam and spot beam for trekking poles, stretchy external mesh pockets for water bottles and snacks, and an integrated rain cover. The pack is fully height adjustable, well ventilated, and has adjustable sternum and waist belt straps to fit little bodies snuggly. MSRP: $99.99. Us.jackwolfskin.com (Derrick Knowles)

When you buy this Roots Collaboration product shirt, you support a sustainable livelihood for these talented artists and get to wear a comfortable, cool-looking shirt that you and others won’t be able to stop staring at while you contemplate its beautiful design and mysterious meaning. MSRP: $32.50. Outdoorresearch.com (Derrick Knowles)

options plus red LED provide specific lighting for different camp tasks with a push of the button. The one unique innovation that I really liked is the addition of a dial to more easily control the brightness of both light modes. MSRP: $59.99. Princetontec.com (Wil Wheaton)

JACK WOLFSKIN MOSQUITO-PROOF PANTS, SHIRT & JACKET

I hate mosquitos even though they evidently love me to no end. And I’m not down with spraying DEET all over myself. So to say that I was stoked to put Jack Wolfskin’s Lakeside collection of mosquito-proof pants, shirts, and jacket to the test in a swarm of the little blood sucking bastards is an understatement. Take that Upper Priest Lake in June and mosquito-hell lake in the Selkirks in July! The shirt, pants, and jacket all use a proprietary fabric technology of tightly-woven organic cotton that is breathable yet impenetrable to mosquitos and other unsavory, biting insects. And unlike pesticide-treated bugproof clothing, Jack Wolfskin’s Lakeside Collection of mosquito-proof technology is biocide free, sustainably made, stays effective through endless washings, and provides protection from UVA and UVB rays (UPF 40+). MSRP: $79.99-99.55. Us.jackwolfskin.com (Wil Wheaton)

SKIDZ KIDS MTB APPAREL

Skidz gloves, shorts, and shirts are mountain bike clothing for the next generation of riders. They're designed in California by DH Racer Justin Schwartz, who is also the founder of the iconic Marin County, Calif., brand Mount Tam Apparel. Crafted with the lightest, most breathable fabrics, this apparel will wick sweat, breathe, and maintain the comfort kids ages 6-15 need. It’s awesome for little riders to have mountain biking gear that looks like mom's and dad's, and my son Remi concurred when we pulled his new riding gear out of the box: “That’s so cool!” MSRP: $25-50. Skidzmtb.com (Derrick Knowles)

ORCA WALKER 20 COOLER

This soft-sided cooler is your everyday cold food-and-beverage hauler. It’s perfect for day trips and short outings where portability, durability, and bomber insulation is more important than volume (even though it still fits up to 20 beverage cans). With proper ice packing, the Walker 20 can keep nearly a case of cans of your favorite beverages or up to 50 lbs of food cool for days. In addition to some super-tough construction, there are some innovative features that make this cooler stand out: an easyopen handle on the zipper, magnetic closure handles for easier carrying, padded shoulder strap, and a mesh pocket and bungee straps for added storage on each exterior side. For a soft-sided cooler, this one is the most burly one I’ve had the privilege to put to the test. MSRP: $219.99. Orcacoolers. com (Derrick Knowles)

JACK WOLFSKIN EXPEDITION DUFFEL

Tough, feature-filled duffels like this one made by German outdoor gear brand Jack Wolfskin are a dream for road trips, dirtbag expeditions, and international travel alike. Standout features include super strong construction (Ballistic 1680D abrasion-resistant fabric with waterproof coating) that will withstand regular use and abuse, from the back of your gear-overloaded truck to baggage handling abuse at international airports. It also has a plethora of pockets, which are critical for gear organization. The inside of the 65-liter duffel has three large zippered, mesh storage compartment, and there’s one zippered pocket built into the lid exterior. Multiple transport options are made possible by two attached handles and two adjustable or removable shoulder straps that allow for over-the-shoulder gear schlepping or wear it as a backpack. MSRP: $149.95. Us.jackwolfskin.com (Wil Wheaton)

WATERCELL X WATER STORAGE BAG

If you spend multiple days or longer living out of your tent, vehicle, or camper on public lands, you know that being able to carry large amounts of clean water with you is key. Even for campground camping where walks to the water spigot over and over become a pain, a large-capacity water storage bag like the Watercell X from Sea to Summits (they come in 4-, 6-, 10- or 20-liter sizes) makes camp life so much better. The lowercapacity sizes are light enough that they're perfect for backpacking. The Watercell X is packable, tough, versatile, and BPA and PVC free, and the shower head feature is great for cleaning everything from dishes to your own stinky self. I also love the adjustable strap around the bladder that gives you multiple options for hanging it for filling and use. MSRP: $39.95–69.95. Seatosummitusa.com (Wil Wheaton)

VOITED OUTDOOR PILLOW BLANKET

When I pulled this blanket made from recycled polyester out of its stuff sack, words to the effect of “wow, this thing is freakin’ awesome!” jumped out of my mouth. I have the CampVibes 2 in Legion Blue, and the design has some of my favorite color combinations (multiple blues, orange, red, and white) along with trees, mountains, and an arch of different phases of the moon. Voited’s Pillow Blanket will add some sweet style to your camper or carcamping sleeping set up, and there are heavy-duty snaps that allow you to transform it into a sleeping bag. Finally, it can be worn as a warm, waterproof cape with a hood and transformed and zipped up into a pillow. This 4-in-1, machinewashable Pillow Blanket is made with 100% recycled 50D Ripstop REPREVE® fabric and is my favorite piece of new gear this year. MSRP: $99.90. Voited.com (Derrick Knowles)