My outdoor adventures combine a love of innovative equipment, and a desire to have the most fun possible outside. That’s why we go outside, right? On most of hiking, biking, camping and paddling trips, I like to bring a little liquor to the toast the pleasures of a day spent outside. But, an ordinary, heavy flask isn’t a good fit for me. I like newer, cooler gear, and I don’t like anything...read more
Titanium is great for many outdoor gear applications—but it especially shines in the world of stoves. Camping and hiking stoves must endure tremendous heat, must be durable enough rattle around in your pack and have to handle extreme shifts in temperature in short periods of time—all while maintaining the lowest possible weight. Thankfully, titanium excels at all of these tasks! Here’s a great primer to buying the best titanium stoves for outdoor...read more
An ExoTi 50 between its two evolutionary predecessors, an internal frame pack on the left and an external frame pack on the right. Image credit: Edwin Durning @old_man_grom Evolving over millions of years, human locomotion has become a highly efficient process. However, carrying a backpack requires us to deviate from our natural upright walking posture. The more we, as backpackers, can maintain our natural upright posture while walking, the more comfortable and...read more
A properly dug cathole. Okay, we’re coming clean now about our overwhelming bias that there isn’t a better way to dig a cathole than with a trowel, and there’s no better trowel than the titanium Dig Dig Tool™. Here’s why… As ultralight backpackers ourselves, we understand and live by the ultralight backpacking philosophy and seek to incorporate it into everything we make. It’s truly the better way to enjoy the backcountry with more fun,...read more
Ahhh…the grandeur of thru-hiking… 5,000,000 steps. That’s roughly how many steps it takes to thru-hike a major trail like the Appalachian Trail. And while most people take vacation for a little R&R (rest and relaxation), some instead choose to attempt to thru-hike a major trail like the Appalachian Trail with their vacation time–a grueling endeavor at the total opposite end of the R&R spectrum. Thru-hiking is simply completing a trail from beginning to...read more
It’s finally here!!! For those who know what we’re talking about, REJOICE! For those who don’t, read on… For years backpackers have had to choose between two styles of framed backpacks for their trips—internal or external frame. The Vargo ExoTi™ 50 bridges the gap between the two types by combining a full size internal-style bag and compression system on a torso sized titanium external frame. In doing so, the ExoTi™ 50 offers...read more
The New Triad Multi-Fuel Stove. TOP ROW: (top) larger filling hole, (bottom) indentation for fuel tab/gel BOTTOM ROW: use with alcohol (left), fuel tab (middle), fuel gel (right) After 14 years, 10s of 1000s sold, and a dedicated legion of users the world over, we decided it was time for a change. But how do we improve a classic? Simple. We listened. You’ve either told us or shown us what you wanted...read more
The Most Versatile Mug The BOT – 700 is a 700 ml titanium mug with a watertight titanium lid. As such, it’s a multipurpose item extraordinaire! What might you use it for? How about to: soaking foods before cooking to reducing cooking times and fuel usage while improving taste! scooping water or foods cooking single entree meals or boiling water for beverages measuring liquids or ingredients storing an entire cook kit or other gear...read more
“Okay…so what is it?” Fire starters come in a plethora of different styles, shapes, and sizes. Some create hot sparks while others generate flames. Others even use electricity to generate enough heat to cause combustion of any flammable material. However, they all have one major flaw. And to understand this flaw, we need to go back to our handy dandy Fire Triangle. What’s the Fire Triangle? Glad you asked. The Fire Triangle:...read more
