There is something very appealing about a camping headlamp. Maybe it is just knowing there is this compact source of illumination in your backpack to help keep away the scary unknown of the dark, but for me there is some gadget lust there as well.
This summer, heading out into the field I was unable to track down my old faithful headlamp, so I stopped at The Elephant's Perch here in Ketchum, ID and picked up a new one. The Perch is one of Ketchum's oldest and best outdoor stores, if you are ever in town I recommend you check them out. I picked out the Petzl Tikka Plus which is just an updated version of my old Petzl. This version has: (more...)
The Freeplay Xray LED hand crank flashlight is a great emergency light for your daypack or glove box. It only requires a small amount of cranking to power up - approximately 30 seconds for 20 minutes shine time. It also comes with an adaptor for charging it from the wall and the battery can hold a charge worth 20 hours.
The Squishy Bowl & Cup is fun and colorful camping item by hip company Guyot Designs. Made from food grade silicone these appealing little items are completely flexible & lightweight. They pack small by squishing them down and spring back into shape for use. Heat and cold have little effect and it is doubtful you will encounter any temperatures so extreme they will create any issues.
I've used Sweetwater water filters for years but when my last one wore out I decided to try something new and picked up the Katadyn Hiker Pro.