We spent 5 days drinking nothing but tablet-purified water to find out which brand of water purification tablets truly works best. Ultimately, we discovered that Katadyn Micropur MP1 is the brand to choose. It has decent flavor, combats against cryptosporidium and the smell won’t burn your nose hairs.

It was a long journey to discover that Katadyn Micropur MP1 was the right choice to go with. It started way back when I was a little girl playing the virtual Oregon Trail game.

After my 7th fatal strike with dysentery that week, I promised myself something: I would never die of dysentery again.

More importantly, I’d never let any of my family or loved ones go through that awful death again. That’s why, among other arguably more realistic reasons, I carry water purification tablets when I go backpacking.

There are lots of water purification tablets to choose from on the market, plenty more than there were in the 1800s. But which brand tastes the best? Which ones kill cryptosporidium? Which one will ensure your wheels and axles don’t snap during river crossings?

We set off to find out.

Top Pick: Katadyn Micropur MP1

I’ll be honest with you.

I really wanted to give this award to the Aquatabs, given its flavor and easy instructions.

But the top water purification tablet should kill all microorganisms, including cryptosporidium. Functionality over flavor. These tablets do that, while the Aquatabs only kill bacteria and viruses.

For that reason, the Katadyn Micropur MP1 took home our Top Pick award.

The Katadyn Micropur MP1 tablets have the best taste of all the crypto-fighting tablets and come in a durable package that is still fairly easy to open. Water purified with these tablets didn’t irritate my skin or throat at all, but know that I’ve been using tablets for a few years now. Irritation and side effects are different for every person. These tablets are also fairly cheap comparatively, which gave this option bonus value points as well.

Runner-Up: Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide

I consider the Potable Aqua Chorline Dioxide tablets to be your average, safe water purification tablets. They’re not too strong in smell or taste, and the packaging is fairly durable.

This brand is very similar to Katadyn, except for one small thing: water purified with one of these tablets may have given me a scratchy throat.

Admittedly, this was the first tablet that I sampled for a full day. It’s possible that my body was just getting used to adding chlorine back in the diet. However, know that the score was so close between these tables and the Katadyn Micropur MP1 tablets that that one side effect became the deciding factor in me choosing this as the Runner-Up instead of the Top Pick.

Best Taste: Potable Aqua with PA+Plus

After a few days of chugging chemicals, I was curious what this two-part powerhouse could do.

I put in the iodine tablet and let it do it’s job. Before even using the second-step tablet — whose only purpose is to neutralize the iodine after-taste and color in the water — I smelled and tasted the treated water.

It smelled like water. It even tasted like water! I was impressed that the chemical taste was nearly nonexistent.

I then put in the neutralizing tablets. I’m not sure how big of a difference they made, but I was already pleased. Water treated with these tablets was the best tasting water I drank all week, and it posed no irritation whatsoever.

Note: Potable Aqua sells their iodine tablets with or without PA+Plus. PA+Plus tablets are neutralizing tablets for use after water has been treated with Potable Aqua. They neutralize the iodine after-taste and color in the water. If you don’t want the PA+Plus tablets, you can buy just the Potable Aqua tablets.

Best Value: Aquatabs

Although Aquatabs do not combat cryptosporidium, they would probably keep my Oregon Trail family safe.

I was impressed by the bang for the buck on this one. We found them for fairly cheap online.

The taste is good, while the smell is only mildly chemical. These tablets are lightweight and don’t take too long to purify — only 40 minutes.

The only problem with the Aquatabs is that the packaging isn’t very durable. This was the only brand that didn’t pass the durability test. The tablets just crumbled into dust. But, on the other hand, the package is easy to open, something I can’t say for all tablets we tested.

Best Nose Hair Burner: Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets

The Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets — like all other crypto-combatting tablets — take four hours to purify water.

I had heard that this stuff is extremely potent so, out of curiosity, I took a big whiff of the Aquamira-treated water around the 2-hour purification mark.

Big mistake.

I coughed. I wheezed. It burned my nose hairs. It had me double checking that I got the dosage right.

After the purification process completed 2 hours later, the water no longer smelled like pure bleach, but it was still certainly the strongest smelling of the products. The flavor was decent but chemical. My lips tingled every now and then throughout the day, but that may not have been related to these tablets (I eat lots of jalapeños).

I found it interesting that the Aquamira tablets were so strong, because before this project, my favorite water purification method was the two-part Aquamira water treatment drops.

Summary

Here are the best water purification tablets:

• Katadyn Micropur MP1
• Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide
• Potable Aqua with PA+Plus
• Aquatabs
• Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets

How to Choose the Best Water Purification Tablets for Your Needs

Beyond looking for water purification tablets that “just work”, here are the important specs to consider before buying.

Time to Purify/Ease of Preparation

Are you somebody who always forgets to do things on a schedule? Then a 4-hour wait time probably isn’t ideal. Go with the Aquatabs or the Potable Aqua with PA+Plus. Both of these purify your water in less than an hour.

Note: Despite their convenience, neither Aquatabs nor Potable Aqua with PA+Plus combat against cryptosporidium, a protozoan known to be present in North America.
Otherwise, if you can afford to wait 4 hours for your water to purify, our Top Pick and Runner-Up are the two options we liked best.

Weight

Weight is, of course, a crucial consideration for any backpacking gear. The packages of all the brands we tested weighed less than an ounce, but some were more durable than others.

If you want your pack to be as light as possible, go with the Potable Aqua tablets. They were the lightest tablets we tested.

If you prefer a package that is more durable, the Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide tablets and Aquamira tablets are both extremely difficult to open without a camping knife or backpacking knife but keep your tablets intact.

Taste & Smell

How much of a chemical taste and smell can you handle in your water?

If you’re highly sensitive, we recommend you get the Potable Aqua with PA+Plus since the PA+Plus tablets neutralize the iodine after-taste and color in the water.

Alternatively, if you like a strong chemical smell that leaves you 100% confident that any living organism that once lived in your water is certainly dead, then pee-yew, Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets are right for you.

Microorganisms the Tablets Are Effective Against

All the water purification tablets we tested kill viruses and bacteria when used correctly. However, not all kill cryptosporidium.

Make sure to choose a brand that kills all the microorganisms you might encounter on your backcountry trip. We’ve indicated which of the brands we tested are effective against cryptosporidium in the table at the top of this article.

Alternatives to Water Purification Tablets

Here are two alternative ways to purify water:

• With a backpacking water filter. In our experience, this is the most popular method employed by hikers and backpackers.
• By boiling water on a camping stove or backpacking stove. It’s good to have the necessary supplies to boil water should your primary water filtration method fail. Our testers like carrying an ultralight backpacking lighter with them to light stoves. We also know some backpackers who like taking fire starting rods to help them start a fire.

How We Tested

Our testing process was three-fold.

1) Taste Test

First and foremost, we wanted to test the actual taste of the purified water. To do this, we drank water purified with each tablet. We then scored the waters on how badly they smelled of chemicals and how much the taste reminded us of water at a public pool.

2) Side-Effect Test

Secondly, we wanted to ensure that there wouldn’t be any side-effects from consistently using each brand. For five days, we exclusively drank water purified by these tablets — whether it came from streams, rivers or sketchy-looking park faucets.

Each day, we focused on a different brand and then measured how we felt throughout the day. Did anyone get a sore throat? Did anyone experience eye irritation or, at worst, chemical burns?

3) Packaging Test

Lastly, we scored each brand on its packaging. We threw each package of tablets in the bottom of backpacks and suitcases, stepped on them, you name it. If the tablet exploded into a powder, it lost points.

While durability was important here, for the next part of this test, we measured the opposite. How easy are the packages to open? Do I need a knife (because if I do, that really blows because I don’t always carry one of those) or will my teeth suffice?

Notes

No matter how well the tablet scored in taste, smell and packaging, 10 points were deducted from the final score of any tablet that is not effective against cryptosporidium. We hope that, by doing this, we can bring extra awareness to this spec, in cases where this may jeopardize your health.

All products tested are certified and meet EPA microbiological water purifying test standards. We’re not working from a lab here, so we just had to trust that if these things are on the market, they won’t kill us. Nobody died of dysentery during our research, so we call that a win.

The post 5 Best Water Purification Tablets appeared first on 99Boulders.

I was at a rather large house party with friends when I made an interesting discovery. We were all wearing Chacos — the climbers, runners, cyclists, river rats and backpackers.

I mentioned it out loud and we all looked fondly down at our feet. Some of us were wearing the Z1s and others were wearing the Z2s — the main difference between the two models is that the Z2s have a toe strap while the Z1s do not.

Then I made the mistake of asking Aidan what he thought of his Z2s.

Katie interjected before he could answer, “F#*! the toe strap!”

“Whoa! What? I love the toe strap!!” Travis defended.

“You can’t hike without the toe strap,” insisted Aidan.

Suddenly, the entire room erupted.

“You can, but you’ll never get those straps adjusted the way you want.” “What if I want to wear socks with my Chacos?” “Just flatten the toe loop!!” “No! Then it’s impossible to pull back up!”

I left that party with more questions than answers. How big of a difference could one toe loop really make? I set out on a mission to find out.

Z1 or Z2: Which Is Right for You?

Are you a river rat or a mountain bum? That’s mostly what it boils down to.

If you want to use your Chacos more for water activities, go with the Z1. If you want to use your Chacos more for hiking and scrambling, go with the Z2. If you just want a pair for daily wear, either will work.

For me, I own both pairs of Chacos and I use both of them pretty equally. When I hit the water, I wear my Z1s. They have firm enough traction that you don’t bust your butt on slippery river rocks (most of the time) and they are loose enough that they don’t catch too many small pebbles underneath.

When I’m going for a hike, I wear my Z2s. They hug my feet tighter due to the toe loop. They are snug and form-fitting, making the arch support more appreciated. I even feel comfortable running short distances in them.

When it comes to other adventure sports, skiers love the Z1s because there isn’t a toe loop. After a long day of skiing and after finally removing those boots, its nice to be able to keep your socks on. But, my cyclist friends like the Z2s because they are easy to throw on but snug enough to wear for quick commutes. As for climbers, many I know prefer the Z1s as a shoe for short approaches because it’s easier to take on and off at the crag.

Notes about Camping with Chacos

Because of the ease with which the Z1s come on and off, and because they are so easily worn with socks, they are my go-to camp shoe as well. In the world of car camping, these shoes are a delight. They are like awesome rubber slippers.

Our verdict: The Chaco Z1 is the best for camping

Z1 vs. Z2: Which Is Best for Hiking?

To test the Chaco Z1 sandals on the trail, we hiked the classic Mist Trail loop in Yosemite National Park. It is a 6.7 mile trail with a total elevation gain of 2,437 feet.

For the Chaco Z2s, we hiked the 5.7 mile out-and-back Engineer Mountain Trail near Durango, Colorado. The route summits the peak of Engineer Mountain at 12,968 feet and is more technical than the Mist Trail. The total elevation gain is 2,333 feet.

Hiking in the Chaco Z1s

It was a bit brisk outside so I donned a pair of hiking socks with my Z1s. Being able to do this is one of my favorite perks about these shoes.

Most of this trail being granite rock and well-packed dirt, the walking was easy and I had no problems with traction. However, more times than I’d like to admit, I stumbled over various rocks and obstacles. Even with a proper fit, I find that the fronts of the Z1s stick out further than your typical pair of sandals. It take some adjusting in your hiking form to get used to.

During this same hiking trip, my boyfriend Taylor wore his Z2s, which I believe to be more stable. He never tripped and made sure to giggle-snort when I did.

My socks were able to prevent any rubbing or blisters, despite the moderate trail length. I felt slight discomfort only during the descent of the hike. Taylor did not wear socks, nor did he receive blisters. Taylor has weird, gnarly endurance runner feet.

Hiking in the Chaco Z2s

I knew this would be a tricky climb so I threw my Salomon trail runners in my backpack just in case. That’s right, O ye of little faith. I really wasn’t certain if I could hike this entire trail in my Z2s.

However, I chose this hike in the Z2s for a reason. I knew it was a stable shoe, but I wanted to know what it could really handle. The Engineer Mountain trail is highly trafficked and hard-packed, but the final pitches of the ascent are very slick and vertical.

I did not trip once during the approach up to Engineer Mountain, despite our brisk pace and the fact that we began our hike before sunrise. The presence of the toe strap makes a significant difference in stability.

Once I reached the base of the mountain, there were difficulties. The traction on this shoe just wasn’t cutting it on the steep and slick gradient. I was rolling over the loose scree like they were marbles and working significantly harder than I normally would wearing my trail runners.

Eventually, the trail became too slick and the consequences of a fall too high. For the final pitch, I paused the Chaco experiment and threw on my pair of Salomons. Ahhhhh. 

I did throw the Z2s back on for the descent, and they performed fantastically, flexing underfoot and comfortably supporting my arch. The Chaco Z2 is the go-to hiking sandal, but I’m not interested in summiting any more mountains with them.

Our verdict: The Chaco Z2 is the best for hiking

Z1 vs. Z2: Which Is Best for Water Activities?

The river section of our testing took place on a section of the lower Animas river. The river was running at around 800-850 cfs for both days, perfect conditions for tubing.

Floating in the Chaco Z1s

I tested the Z1 sandals first and it started off pretty rough. Before tightening the straps, I lugged my tube into the river and immediately bust my butt. So much for optimized wet traction. 

From then on, however, the experience was all uphill. The shoes performed well throughout the day’s activities, loosening only a few times in the heavy current. The most impressive moment came when it was time to scout a more technical rapid. We eddied out and climbed a moderately steep ridge while lugging the tubes. The shoes performed fantastically, gripping the slick, mossy rocks better than I anticipated they would. Even without a toe strap, the shoe kept me stable over the wobbly terrain.

Occasionally, I experienced what I refer to as the Lego Effect. This describes the incredible ease with which a pebble can painfully wedge itself between your foot and your Chacos. The Lego Effect is unavoidable with both the Z1 and Z2 models, but much easier to fix with the Z1s.

The rest of the float went on without a hitch!

Floating in the Chaco Z2s

After the learning curve of floating with the Z1 Chacos, I set out on the same route with the Z2s. At the put-in, I avoided descending the slick rocks and climbed down a more sandy patch, with the straps firmly cranked down. We set off with ease and the general activity of floating was without problems.

However, the few times that we were required to scout or stop at a beach, the Lego Effect was fierce. The current would suck a pile of rocks and gravel underfoot. Since the Z2 is so form-fitting, I almost always needed to remove them to dump out the rocks. I’d rather go barefoot than battle this all day.

The nice thing about the floating with the Z2s on the river was that the straps never needed adjusting. These things were staying on my foot no matter what.

Our verdict: The Chaco Z1 is the best for tubing and other water activities

Similarities & Differences: A Closer Look

Beyond the presence or absence of the toe strap, there are very few differences between the Z1 and Z2.

Shoe Material

Both of the shoes we tested are part of the Classic Pro model, though you can now purchase the Z1 and Z2 with ChacoGrip or EcoTread (see below). Both possess a polyurethane midsole and both are part of the Yampa traction series.

What does all of this mean? Berne Broudy from Backpacker Magazine described the Pro series well as:

“A sole that bites into micro nooks and crannies underfoot—in and out of water—almost as well as a climbing shoe, and is even more durable than previous models.”

At the time that both of the tested pairs were purchased, this was the best sole available. It is made from a sticky Vibram MegaGrip rubber, which is a fancy way to say it has great traction for a sandal.

Now, Chaco has started to make their own rubber sole, the ChacoGrip. It is said to be the most optimized sole engineered to date, designed for extreme conditions and wet traction. It’s supposed to be more durable and versatile.

The EcoTread is a fairly new one as well, named for its sustainability and quality as a “lightweight rubber compound made from 25% recycled rubber content for performance that’s hard on the trail and easy on the environment.”

Foot Width & Arch Support

Both the Z1 and Z2 possess a polyurethane midsole that give each that significant arch support that you want out of a hiking shoe. Likewise, both Chacos can be custom ordered to fit a wider foot.

The Break-in Process & Finding the Perfect Fit

When you first try on a pair of Chacos, you may hate them. It takes a certain amount of patience, commitment, grunting and tugging to achieve your perfect fit. These straps do not move easily and this is intentional. This is referred to as sticking and is the reason why once you achieve your perfect fit, it will stay that way.

The quickest recommended way to get them adjusted to your perfect stickiness is to get them wet. Walk in them, sweat in them, run through a stream or two. Let the straps flex, stretch and pull.

Because of the toe strap, it does take longer to achieve the perfect fit with the Z2. However, once you do, it is more secure.

Blisters & Callouses

The first month of owning a pair of Chacos may not be very fun. There will be blisters, hot spots, and sunburns. Skin will slough off and blood blisters will pop at inconvenient times. But hey, you’ve broken in a pair of hiking boots before! Consider it a rite of passage to achieve those epic Z tan lines.

If your feet sweat a lot, they will around in these sandals. I’ve received the worst blisters on days where I hike long distance with wet or sweaty feet. But bonus – They will probably form fit to your feet a lot quicker!

Un-sticking Straps

As you could imagine, the Z2’s more complex straps are more difficult to un-stick. Here are instructions on how to un-stick your Chaco straps if they get stuck.

If you are unsuccessful in un-sticking your sandals’ straps, Chaco can do it for you. Just mail in your pair using the Repair Authorization form. Voila!  

What Other Chaco Owners Are Saying

• “I bought the Z2s since they’re more stable and better for hiking. They work great, but what I didn’t realize is that, with all the straps involved, you really have to get a good fit if you want to avoid getting blisters. I can’t walk but a couple miles in mine before I start getting hot spots.” — Alex Beale, owner and editor of 99Boulders
• “The Z2 Chacos are solid for a day on the river. The sole is sturdy enough for sections where we need to walk and the shoe doesn’t feel too heavy. I dig the strap system because it’s fairly easy to adjust once you do get them broken in. I keep my toe strap flattened down but it’s nice to have it accessible.” — Travis Crafton, recreational river rat

How We Compared

In order to truly test the Z1 and Z2 Chacos, the plan was simply to go out and do.

As a longtime Chaco wearer, I had already walked hundreds of miles in both pairs. The first trip I took my Z1s on was a 16-day sailing trip through British Columbia. The first trip I took my Z2s on was a 14-day whitewater kayaking trip on the Green River in Utah. It’s important to note that both of the shoes tested for this article had been extremely well broken in.

To test how the sandals performed for hiking, I spent two days hiking exclusively in Chacos. For the first hike, I wore only the Z1s and for the second hike I wore only the Z2s. I then compared both experiences, analyzing what differences existed in functionality, versatility, traction and comfort. Terrain included mud, sand, granite, concrete, and soft gravel.

To test how the sandals performed for water activities, I spent two separate afternoons floating on the water. I wanted to compare how well the Chacos would perform over slippery river rocks, on loose terrain and with a swift current. The flow of the Animas river where this testing was performed ranged from 800-850 cfs.

Shout-out

I’ve got to give mad love to the riotous group that started this debate. Hundreds of hours went into the “research” of these Chacos and hundreds more will be logged in the future, no doubt.

The post Field Testing the Chaco Z1 & Chaco Z2 Sandals: Which Is Right for You? appeared first on 99Boulders.

Much to Smokey the Bear’s chagrin, we lit a lot of stuff on fire this week. But don’t worry, it was all Leave No Trace-friendly.

We field tested 10 of the best fire starters and judged them on their ease of use, compactness, and the size and strength of their spark. We found the UST Strikeforce to be the best overall for its reliability and ease of use, though good options abound.

Read on for our full reviews. Or, if you’re interested in alternative ways to start a campfire, check out our articles on the top backpacking lighters, stormproof matches, and waterproof matches.

Top Pick: UST Strikeforce

The UST Strikeforce is the bulkiest and one of the heaviest starters we tested. So why is it our Top Pick?

Though it’s certainly not for ultralighters, the Strikeforce is incredibly easy to use and makes great use of space.

Unmatched reliability aside, the flint-based starter is housed in a durable waterproof case. The case doubles as a handy storage compartment for tinder and comes with a lanyard as well.

Though it’s flint-based, the length and width of the rod makes for lots of big, happy sparks that ensure a quick switch fire. The fires we lit with the Strikeforce were consistently instantaneous, making this a great tool for both beginners and emergency situations.

Best One-handed Starter: UST Blastmatch

“Why,” I snorted, “are these one-handed things so popular? Are people really this short on hands?”

Then I thought back to the infamous Aron Ralston, the author and firsthand experiencer of 127 Hours and shrugged. Yeah, I bet Ralston would have liked a good one-handed fire starter.

If you’d also like a good one-handed fire starter, look no further than the UST Blastmatch. It’s the best of its kind.

The Blastmatch is extremely effective, comfortable and easy to use. It does not require a hard surface to work. Just find yourself a heavy log, build your tinder and plunge right into your future fire den for a quick and easy heat machine. It also folds back onto itself for easy, waterproof storage. Handy and simple enough.

Best Sparker: Überleben Zünden

Oh, man! This baby lights up like a Christmas tree.

The Überleben is slick-looking, with its natural, handcrafted handle and ferrocerium rod. Without being a chemist, this fire starter convinced me that ferrocerium can vary widely in quality, and the ferrocerium in this rod is top notch.

Of the ten fire starters we tested, four rods claimed to be made of ferrocerium. Three didn’t light up so well. The Überleben on the other hand sent some of the longest, brightest and most consistent sparks, despite being comparative in size to the smaller Sparkforce, Bear Grylls, and Light My Fire fire starters.

The brand claimed to produce a “molten metal shower of sparks,” and it delivered.

The Überleben is also a multi-tool of sorts, coming with a bottle opener, hex wrench, map scale, ruler, and both scraper and serrated edge for sparking. Not to mention that the lanyard is long enough that you can wear it as a necklace, which is kinda fun. Of all the starters that included accessories like this, this one was my favorite.

Best Value: Survival Spark Magnesium Survival Fire Starter

The Survival Spark is a small, multi-tool of a fire starter with some extra handy gadgets to go along with it.

It lights up well and works exactly as promised — all at a fraction of the price of most of the others. With the added compass and whistle, this is a well-priced addition to any emergency bag.

The only claim that really makes me snort is that this fire starter is “windproof.”

To get a good crackle going on a magnesium starter, you must carve off a bit of the outer coating and make a pile of shavings. Magnesium shavings are obviously lighter than a feather and can blow away with the slightest waft of your hand. It is not easy to use under windy conditions, but then again no striking fire starter really is.

Reviews of the 6 Other Fire Starters We Tested

There are very few things I dislike about the UST Sparkforce, Bear Grylls, and Light My Fire fire starters. They just didn’t match up to the competition. That being said, the problems I have with the nanoSTRIKER, Sparkie, and Coghlan’s are definite dealbreakers.

UST Sparkforce

The UST Sparkforce is a mini version of our Top Pick, the Strikeforce. It’s effective and while the boxy design is far from ergonomic, you won’t be using it long enough to notice.

This is a quick strike starter, able to light fires just as fast as its big brother. Like the Strikeforce, the detachable cap can store a bit of tinder and the case itself locks up for easy pocketability.

While it doesn’t have any versatile gadgets to go along with it, at 1 oz, this would make for a simple, lightweight edition to your backpack.

Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter

You may expect a celebrity-endorsed product to fall short when pitted against the big dogs, but TV survivalist Bear Grylls has put his money where his mouth is with this easy to use, beginner-friendly rod and striker.

The sides have been painted with helpful distress graphics in case of emergency and the rubber handle makes it easy to hold in your hand — an ideal feature for the practicing survivalist. The rod is made of ferrocerium and produces a hearty dose of sparks when used correctly.

I’d recommend this starter for beginners or as a holiday gift for the camper who already owns everything.

Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel 2.0

One of the only fire starters to boast ergonomics as its elevating trait admittedly isn’t the most comfortable to hold.

Still, the FireSteel, with its ferrocerium rod and steel striker, is in the mid-quality range. Though I can’t attest to it, the FireSteel claims to last through 12,000 strikes. That’s 4,000 more than the Bear Grylls fire starter, which may be plausible given its longer rod.

If you’re having a hard time deciding between the Bear Grylls and the FireSteel, given their similarities in every way, including price, consider that the FireSteel may live a longer life. Plus, it comes with a whistle.

Exotac nanoSTRIKER XL

The ultimate keychain companion, the nanoSTRIKER. It’s tiny size makes it an easy addition to your pocket, for those in-a-pinch situations.

But its high price point is definitely something to guffaw at, especially since small size equates to difficult usability and a shorter lifespan. Surprisingly, despite its size, it’s not even the lightest striker we tested.

While the nanoSTRIKER is cute and ultimately does make sparks fly, unless you’re looking for a base for your car keys or a good gift for a survivalist aficionado, I don’t recommend it.

UST Sparkie

Picture the UST Blastmatch. Now remove all the unnecessary weight, gut it and make it as light as possible without entirely obliterating functionality.

You now have the UST Sparkie.

Although the Blastmatch is a much better fire starter than the Sparkie because of its size and the length of its rod. The Sparkie is a one-handed wonder that requires either a) hard surface or b) two hands.

I get the concept and I’m exceptionally impressed by the 0.8 oz weight, but the ease of use and functionality fell short on this one and I can’t recommend it. I’d much prefer a simple two piece striker.

Coghlan’s Waterproof Flint Striker

I don’t recommend this striker to anyone, unless you’re on a budget and this is the cheapest option you can find.

Technically it does work, but the Coghlan’s Flint Striker is small and difficult to wield. I had to really dig into the outer coating to even get an initial spark, with something like 20 of the first strikes not producing anything.

That being said, once it was broken in a bit, it did seem to work better. The strike takes a bit of finesse, best maneuvered more as a switch than a striking motion. Compared to all the other dummy-proof strikers, I had the hardest time with this one.

How to Choose the Best Fire Starter for Your Needs

When choosing a fire starter, consider first your skill level, how and why you intend to use it and the general specs and makeup of your various options.

Skill Level

You may be reading this article because you want to buy your very first fire starter. If so, you want something beginner friendly that you can practice on for long periods of time and that is really reliable. That’s why the Strikeforce won out in our tests. It is easy to use and effective, no matter your skill level.

Weight

If you’re a man (or woman) after my own heart and really just want to shave down weight and size, go for the small stuff. The sheer thought of the 3.7 oz Strikeforce, however reliable it may be, may make you shutter. Instead, you could opt for the nanoSTRIKER or wear the Überleben as a necklace just to shave weight off your pack.

Though if you’re really going lightweight, do you even need a striker? or will you just use the fuel from your Jetboil for an emergency light?

If emergency situations, rather than weight, are your primary concern, get something that will really perform during panic mode. That 0.8 oz striker sounds nice for now, but won’t be as easy to handle under pressure. Under these circumstances, prescribe to ‘better safe than sorry‘ and go for the reliability.

Magnesium vs. Flint vs. Ferrocerium

A quick lesson:

Ferrocerium is a pyrophoric alloy containing metals that include iron, magnesium, lanthanum and cerium. It’s a firecracker on a stick.

Comparatively, flint and steel starters will naturally send fewer and smaller sparks.

Magnesium requires a pile of shavings to really get a light, which can be difficult to near impossible in windy conditions.

Consider that of the ten starters we tested, the top four use three different materials. In short, any materials will work. Don’t get intimidated or impressed by the specs. Just because ferrocerium lights brighter doesn’t always mean that it is a higher quality starter.

A good deal of design goes into making a quality striker as well. Take into consideration the size and comfort of the handle and the length and thickness of the rod.

How We Tested

Cotton balls, alcohol, and ferrocerium make for a pyromaniac’s dream. We put these fire starters to the test with rigorous, repetitive use and carry.

Cotton Ball Test

First thing first, let’s make sure these babies actually work. What better way to ensure a flame than to dose a cotton ball with alcohol? This quick and ease way to identify how each starter handles allowed us to get a good feel for their ease of use and functionality.

Along with this, we did a preliminary gauge and comparison of the spark production. How big, bright and far do sparks fly from each strike rod?

Spark Test

As we’ve mentioned, ferrocerium is a sparkler of an alloy that produces firework-quality shavings. Magnesium creates shavings in the same way but with less spark. Flint works entirely differently.

When apt, we built up shaving piles to create and judge firecracker displays. We set the sparks to tinder and determined how various types handled our flames.

Every Day Carry (EDC) Test

I am a backpacker first, so EDC is important to me. How practical is it to lug a bulky or heavy fire starter around? Depending on your needs, probably not very.

We spent time lugging around each of the fire starters, tucking them in various bags, clipping them to keychains, living with them like we would a potential new pet.

You’d be surprised how much this can matter. You may adore that 8″ dream starter at first use, but once your thru-hiking pack is swollen with other gear and it’s the last piece to cram in, your thoughts change very quickly.

The post 10 Best Fire Starters appeared first on 99Boulders.

We tested six of the best hiking socks on the market by putting them through the ringer of nonstop wear with no wash. We hiked with, slept with, worked with and even sniffed each pair for a total of one week each.

Of them all, Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion came out on top. It was the most durable sock we tested, and it’s moisture-managing abilities help keep sweaty feet dry. Plus, all of Darn Tough’s socks come with an unconditional lifetime guarantee.

The Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew was a close second for its versatility, and the Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro offers the best bang for your buck.

Read on for our full reviews.

Top Pick: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion

I don’t know what else you would want out of a hiking sock. Darn Tough is durable, comfortable, moisture-managing and smells like roses, sort of.

This brand has developed the perfect fabric blend for ideal versatility. Even my sweaty feet managed to stay relatively dry during high activity. The sock doesn’t wear and maintains its fit and shape over long periods of activity.

The moment I knew I loved Darn Tough Light Hiker above Smartwool, I was on a day hike on the Colorado Trail. On a stream crossing, both my socks and shoes got soaked. This was around 11 AM, but I kept them on. By the time it was ready for bed, these socks were bone dry and ready to go.

As a brand, Darn Tough is a clear winner. However, this specific sock won because of its light cushioning. Cushioning is predominantly a personal preference and many folks, especially with less sweaty feet hiking in colder climates, may find this particular sock a little thin. Luckily, Darn Tough makes its Hiker sock in a variety of thicknesses.

Women’s version: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion Women’s

Full review: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion

Runner-Up: Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew

Smartwool is one of the most well-known sock brands because of its versatility and countless different styles and specializations.

They’ve covered every section of the market and offered a variety of awesome color patterns to go along with it. Most everything they produce is great, but in this case their socks weren’t the best.

Darn Tough beats out Smartwool because of its higher durability, effectiveness in keeping its shape and superior moisture-managing ability. Still, I enjoy wearing Smartwool for high-exertion activities like trail running more than anything. There is minimal cushioning, meaning it won’t impact how my foot sits in my shoe. Plus, merino wool continuously wicks sweat away from the skin, meaning that even during high activity, your feet stay precisely the perfect temperature.

I have Smartwool socks that are over a year old that already show wear on the ankle and heel. Likewise, these things can really, really produce a stink. But who cares about that?

Women’s version: Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew Women’s

Full review: Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew

Best Value: Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro

One of my favorite things about a Wigwam sock is the initial snug fit on the crew cut.

However, after wearing these socks without wash for extended period, the fabric does stretch. I like the fit around your calf on the Wigwam and the material is fairly comfortable, especially given the moderate price.

When considering why a product earns ‘Best Value,’ you must consider the durability, comfort and price point. The price point is the best thing about these socks, followed by comfort. Though they are durable, when compared to other brands, they don’t always match up.

I do love Wigwams for sleeping. This is the kind of sacred pair of socks I would keep at the bottom of my sleeping bag and for use around camp.

Women’s version: Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro Women’s

Full review: Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro

Reviews of the 3 Other Hiking Socks We Tested

In a market where hundreds of different socks compete for the spotlight, when you narrow the choices down to six, it gets really nitpicky. Of the six socks we tested, all are reliable and viable choices. Here’s how the other three pairs compared.

Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion

There are few differences between the Darn Tough Micro Crew and the Darn Tough Light Micro Crew. I’m a big fan of minimal cushioning, but that’s not to say this isn’t a fantastic sock.

Most of my hiking time is spent in southwestern Colorado, which can be warm, cool and freezing. I would use the Darn Tough Micro Crew for sleeping more than I would hiking.

Ideally, I’d carry two to three pairs of socks on a 30-day backpacking trip: Two pairs of our Top Pick, Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion, and one pair of this sock, Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion.

Women’s version: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Women’s

Smartwool Hike Light Crew

To be honest, personal preference largely drove me to rank the Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew above this pair, the Smartwool Hike Light Crew.

It’s a very similar sock but, as you’ll notice, the greater the cushioning, the lower the score tended to be.

Some folks appreciate the extra support that comes with cushioning for long treks, but I’ve found that for my sweaty feet, the excess warmth negatively affects my overall comfort. If I were mountaineering in drastically colder conditions, that may be a different story.

Women’s version: Smartwool Hike Light Crew Women’s

Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool

I like Injinji for its unorthodox take on the hiking sock. Toe socks, in most cases, should always be acceptable.

However, when hiking with the Injinji, the extra fabric feels incredibly weird and takes some getting used to. Mostly, its a comfortable set-up when you do but the separation between the toes makes it difficult to retain warmth when not in motion.

They were fine socks, but when compared with the competition they ended up being our least favorite.

Full review: Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool

Summary

Here are the best hiking socks:

• Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion
• Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew
• Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion
• Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro
• Smartwool Hike Light Crew
• Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool

How to Choose the Best Hiking Socks for Your Needs

Though there are some definite winners to show in our research, socks are, like any other article of clothing, a matter of preference. You may disagree with our rankings simply because of the thickness of a certain sock.

When choosing your go-to pair or brand, consider where you intend to hike, how long you intend to wear them and what length and thickness you prefer.

Preferred Thickness

As REI experts have attested, “a bit of cushion can protect your feet during high-impact activities like running and backpacking, but…thicker socks are warmer and can cause your feet to sweat.” It’s all about balance. If you naturally sweat more than the average person, you may want a thin to medium thickness, despite cold conditions.

Here are the most common thicknesses with the explanations of who or what each is best suited for:

• Lightweight — Trail running, mountain biking; high-exertion activities where you expect to sweat a lot
• Midweight — Hiking, cross country skiing; a more versatile thickness that can handle fairly most any condition
• Thick weight — Mountaineering, winter skiing, snowshoeing, sleeping; for those instances where you really need to keep your feet warm and cushioned

Preferred Length

All the socks we tested had a crew cut, which is ideal if you hike in boots with strong ankle support. There is a lot of debate on whether hiking shoes or trail runners are better for thru-hiking, and there isn’t a correct answer.

However, if you are on the team of trail runners, you may want an ankle length sock. Consider what style of sock you wear in your day to day and if that preference will cross over into your hiking activity.

Here are the most common length options along with the scenarios they are designed for:

• Ankle Length — trail running, mountain biking; great for hot to mild climates
• Quarter Length — trail running, mountain biking, hiking with trail runners; a versatile length great for mild to moderate climates and conditions
• Crew Length — Bushwhacking, hiking with boots, mountaineering, winter skiing, snowshoeing, sleeping; for those instances where you need extra insulation or protection on the calf.

As a rule of thumb, with the arguable exception of trail running, keep your socks at least half an inch in length above the top of your shoe or boot. This reduces friction and the chance of blisters.

Duration of Use

These socks were worn multiple days straight without wash. Though we couldn’t spend years testing the long-term durability, we were able to see which ones maintained their comfort from day one.

If you care or are looking for socks that stand the test of time without too much stink, Darn Tough has been recognized countless times for its darn toughness. Consider how long you plan to wear a pair between washes and how long you want them to last. Opt for quality over quantity.

Climate & Weather

When your feet get cold, the first things to go are the toes. This is your body’s natural way of pulling all your heat into the core and away from the extremities. How warm and how thick the fabric feels in the toes is crucial. The colder the weather, the more valuable a thick pair of socks is.

Growing up in the lower south, I rarely ever hiked in socks with more than a thin layer of cushion. In the Chihuahuan Desert, high cushioning will just equate to extra sweaty, wet feet. BUT: You’ll probably really appreciate a dense pair on your summit attempt of Mount Rainier.

In rainy or wet conditions where it can be challenging to keep dry, fabric matters. Merino wool is renowned for its moisture-managing properties, and that’s one reason Darn Tough and Smart Wool are held in such high regard.

How We Tested

You really have to put a pair of socks through the ringer before declaring true love. Something that feels comfortable for a few hours may make you so irritated by day seven that you throw them in the campfire (not that I’ve done that).

For that reason, we took a lifestyle approach to testing. AKA: devoting five days of nonstop wear, no matter the schedule, to each pair of socks, without wash. That meant working, hiking, sleeping and everything else in between.

Hike Test

A day hike is a quick way to identify everything you love or hate about your socks. Sticking your wool-bound feet in hiking shoes for long periods of time risks blisters, slippage, wear, and stink. Each pair of socks was worn for a number of day hikes and trail runs, which allowed us to identify everything wrong with each pair.

Sleep Test

The importance of the sleep test is predominantly testing moisture control. “Never go to to bed with the socks you hiked in,” is a backpacking mantra for a reason. Sweaty socks equate to freezing feet under most conditions. If the socks can’t handle moisture or don’t retain warmth, this is where you’ll most notice it.

Smell Test

And what do you do after five days of nonstop wear? You take a big ol’ whiff. I have a strong stomach and frankly think I smell like roses all the time, but even I couldn’t handle myself after this.

The post 6 Best Hiking Socks appeared first on 99Boulders.

The temperature is dropping, wind speeds are climbing, and snow is expected to fall in the highlands. Yet I refuse to retire my tent to the gear shed. Sure, winter is coming, but that never means it’s time to stop camping.

Trust me, I spend half the year in Durango, CO. I summit 14ers at night. I know a thing or two about how to stay warm in a tent.

Stop shivering yourself to sleep. Follow these 11 tips and feel as cozy as a flame-engulfed marshmallow all night long.

1. Take Care of Yourself While on the Trail

Our bedtime experience is directly correlated with how we treat ourselves during the day. Stay hydrated, keep your body fueled and don’t get sunburned. While it’s easy to neglect personal care for the sake of a few extra miles, all that wear and tear is going to catch up with you, in the form of a freezing cold and bad night’s sleep.

2. Get a Good Sleeping Pad

Your sleeping pad is all that is separating your body from the cold, hard ground. If you skimp on your pad you could wake up in the middle of the night shivering cold — that is, if you’re able to fall asleep at all.

In particular, get a sleeping pad with an R-value (or temperature rating) appropriate for the temperatures you’ll be camping in. For our recommendations, check out our guide to the best backpacking sleeping pads.

3. Choose Your Campsite Wisely

Knowing how the weather behaves in certain areas is the foundation to keeping warm while camping. Cold air sinks and hot air rises, so the valley floor (which also can act as a wind tunnel) is going to feel like a patch of the arctic.

What’s more, the highest points are often exposed to windy and potentially dangerous weather conditions. Avoid the windchill and pick a protected mid-elevation point.

4. Fill a Water Bottle with Hot Water

The crotch bottle, or belly bottle, is a classic warm body trick. Right before you go to bed, boil water on your backpacking stove, fill your Nalgene and shove it inside your sleeping bag. This makeshift heating pad can be tucked right up against your belly or shoved inside the front of your long johns. It’s an easy way to generate instant heat in your bag that will last all night.

Does sticking a water bottle against your crotch sound gross? Great! Now nobody will ask for a swig from your bottle during the day. Win, win.

5. Eat a Hearty Dinner and Drink Warm Liquids

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things about backpacking is the amount of rich, fatty, butter-filled foods I can consume without guilt. Hiking in winter temperatures means that your body may need up to 6,000 calories per day.

Plan meals high in fat, which provides more than double the amount of calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates. They’ll warm your body like an internal furnace.

6. Keep Your Head and Feet Covered and Dry

Most heat escapes your body through the bottom of your feet and the top of your head. To prevent this, wear a dry, thick pair of hiking socks and a warm hat to bed for extra insulation right where it matters. Don’t sleep in the socks you hiked in, though, as sweaty socks are a night ruiner.

To reduce the temptation of wearing the same socks, designate a pair of sacred sleep socks that never leave the bottom of your sleeping bag. In the morning, just roll them up and pack them in with the sleeping bag. Having a permanently dry pair of socks will also give you something to look forward to at night.

7. Prep Your Tomorrow Clothes

Make it easy to start the day warm.

If the clothes you plan to wear tomorrow are dry, shove them inside the bag with you. It’ll add a few extra insulating layers to your sleep den. Plus, having warm clothes to change into will make the whole getting-ready-for-the-day thing more bearable.

If your tomorrow clothes are damp or wet, avoid balling them up in a corner where they will retain that moisture and possibly freeze stiff. Fan them out on the floor of your tent or hang them if possible.

8. Actually Use Your Mummy Bag

If you’re complaining about the cold and I can see more than your little nose and mouth poking out of the mummy bag, you will receive no sympathy from me.

I get it, you’re bunching up the extra fabric of the hood to create a pillow for your head. It’s a great way to ensure you wake up to the sound of your own teeth chattering.

Conquer your fears of claustrophobia and use your sleeping bag as it was designed. Wrap your face with the insulated hood and be amazed at how big of a difference it makes. But don’t burrow — keep both your nose and mouth outside the bag to avoid creating excess moisture on the inside via your breath.

9. Change Out of Your Day Clothes

When you’re exhausted from a full day of hiking, it’s easy to get lazy about hygiene. I’ve skipped teeth brushing in the backcountry more times than I’d like to admit.

Even still, I make it a rule to never sleep in the sweaty, wet clothes that I hiked in. Besides being gross, it’ll drop your core body temperature and make it difficult to fall asleep.

10. Fluff Your Sleeping Bag

When your sleeping bag is squished into a compression sack for 16 hours a day, the insulation will quickly flatten. This can make even a -30F rated bag feel cold in 60F weather.

As part of your bedtime routine, take time to fluff your sleeping bag and shake up that internal insulation, also checking to make sure it’s evenly distributed. If you have time in the morning or on sunny rest days, it can also be a good idea to let it dry out in the sun.

11. Play the Naked Game

No, not that one. 

While many people recommend a set of 50 jumping jacks before launching under the covers to heat your core body temperature…I think jumping jacks are stupid. Plus, getting yourself sweaty before bed is the exact opposite of what you want to do.

Instead, play the Naked Game!

How to play: Hop in your sleeping bag wearing what you intend to sleep in. Zip the sleeping bag up all the way and, from the inside of your sleeping bag, strip down to your birthday suit. Once that’s done, try to put all your clothes back on. All that squirming around in your bag will generate heat (and good laughs) in the exact place you need it to be — your sleeping bag.

For added fun, race your friends and challenge the comfort level of all your relationships!

The post How I Stay Warm in My Tent: 11 Tips from a Colorado Backpacker appeared first on 99Boulders.

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect backpacking pillow, it’s time to look past the inflatables. After field testing 9 popular options over the course of a month, we think the Therm-a-Rest Trekker Pillow Case is the best ‘pillow’ for most backpackers.

Unlike an inflatable, the Trekker Pillow Case gets its cushioning from whatever clothes you take with you. It simplifies outdoor sleeping, and — if you stuff it with the right clothes — is the most comfortable and reliable of all the pillows we tested.

If you want an inflatable, though, or are tired or making pillows out of your clothes, our favorite is the Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow. It’s lightweight and incredibly soft and won’t slip or slide during use.

Our testing judged each pillow on its comfort, support, durability and practicality. We used them in the car, in the tent, at home, and on planes. Read on for the full reviews of our winners and losers.

Top Pick & Best Value: Therm-a-Rest Trekker Pillow Case

Before testing for this project, I rarely ever used pillows when backpacking. I just stuffed all my extra clothes in my sleeping bag’s compression sack and used that.

The Therm-a-Rest Trekker Pillow Case follows the same philosophy, but in a much softer and more comfortable package — when filled and fluffed with the right clothes, it’s comfier than anything I have in my home (Is that sad?).

What’s more, because it’s not inflatable, it’s guaranteed to never pop. That reliability is reassuring, especially when stories of leaky inflatables abound.

At the time of publishing, the Trekker Pillow Case also has the lowest MSRP of all the options we tested. This means our Top Pick is also the option on the list that offers the most bang for your buck. It’s a great value all around.

What’s the catch?

The pillow’s comfort and support are reliant upon the clothes you stuff into it. If you want a soft pillow, you’ll need to bring soft or puffy clothes. If you want a firm pillow, you’ll need to fill it with multiple articles of clothing. If you stuff it with clothes that have lots of buttons and zippers, the metal parts could uncomfortably press against your face.

I stuffed my puffy jacket inside each night and loved it for the squishiness. However, Taylor, my boyfriend, found that a puffy alone wasn’t firm enough for his liking. And he actually prefers to sleep in his puffy jacket, meaning that he didn’t have many squishy clothes to spare for filling. If you’re like him, opt for an inflatable instead.

Is it the lightest option we tested? No. (That would be the Exped Air Pillow UL.)

Will I be carrying this pillow case with me on all future trips? Yes.

Best Inflatable: Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow

The most comfortable inflatable backpacking pillows are the ones that feel the least like an inflatable. If the only support they offer comes from the air from your lungs, you’re resting your head on a glorified balloon.

To that end, the Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow uses both an inflatable “air core” plus polyester fiber fill to create its support. Along with the soft nylon shell, these features make this pillow the most comfortable inflatable we tested.

The Cocoon inflates quickly, sits snug and even fits in the hood of most sleeping bags. With most pillows, the comfier the fit, the more slippery it is on the ground. Not the case here.

I also appreciated the Cocoon’s simplicity. Unlike many options, it’s a simple rectangle. There are no scalloped edges or neck contours.

If I had to change anything, it would be the inflation valve. While I haven’t yet had a problem with it, I don’t completely trust the twist seal style. I preferred the multi-functional flat valve on Sea to Summit’s pillows.

If you’d like to know more about this pillow, check out our full review.

Honorable Mention: Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Ultra Light

You likely picture the S2S Aeros line when you think of backpacking pillows. They’re so classic there are even Chinese knockoffs.

They’re feature-heavy with high price tags to match. Overall, I liked both of them, but not for their flashy specs.

Weighing in at 2 oz, the S2S Ultra Light was the third lightest pillow we tested. However, the two lighter pillows — the Klymit X Pillow (1.95 oz) and Exped Air Pillow UL (1.6 oz) — didn’t perform as well overall, nor were they as comfortable.

This well-executed balance of weight and performance makes the S2S Ultra Light great for ultralight backpackers. For most, the weight difference of 0.3 oz between this pillow and the Trekker Pillow Case will be negligible, but if you count ounces (or, in this case, tenths of ounces) we highly recommend it.

I love the two-part valve system on the S2S pillows. It allows you to quickly and effectively inflate and deflate and proved to be durable during testing. However, reviews online suggest that this is not always the case. Both the S2S Ultra Light and Premium have been known to pop and the valve has reportedly given out for multiple people.

In spite of my ruthlessness towards gear, I experienced no such misfortune. That’s a good thing too, since the two-layer pillow would be nearly impossible to patch.

The Ultra Light model, despite being larger in size than the Premium when inflated, packs down much smaller and is 0.8 oz lighter. It’s also softer than its counterpart, slightly cheaper and doesn’t hold a static charge.

Honorable Mention: Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium

The S2S Premium, the Ultra Light’s upgraded cousin, was also great overall. It has the same durable and effective valve system and was one of the comfiest pillows we tested.

That comfort comes with a slight weight increase, though — at 2.8 oz, it’s the heaviest pillow on this list. It also doesn’t pack down nearly as well as the S2S Ultra Light.

It fits comfortably inside a sleeping bag hood, which can be preferential for some people, and doesn’t slide or slip.

It would work well as a car camping pillow and, while I personally wouldn’t carry it into the backcountry, Backpacking Light gave it a rating of “Highly Recommended,” saying that “this is the luxury choice of [the whole bunch of pillows we tested]. Enough thickness for most side sleepers.”

Reviews of the Other 5 Backpacking Pillows We Tested

Trekology Pillow

I died laughing after first inflating this thing. I call it my second mattress. Why is this pillow 16″ long?

According to Trekology, it’s because it’s “a proper size as a pillow or for back support.” Well, then!

Though you might be tempted to by its size, I don’t recommend using this pillow for two people. One night, Taylor and I shared it between the both of us. It was alright…for a few minutes.

That being said, I like the Trekology. It’s the underdog next to all these big brands. For one person it’s pretty comfortable. The valve system is unique, using a button to open and seal the airway, and actually works well.

This is one of the biggest and most durable pillows we tested, but it’s heavier than most and — at full retail — not worth the price. Our favorite inflatable, the Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow, retails for a just a tiny more as of this writing.

This pillow appears to be on sale often, though, so if you can find it for a reduced price (and don’t want the Trekker Pillow Case) then it might be worth it.

Exped Air Pillow UL & Exped Air Pillow

The Exped pillows are fine. They are fairly on par with the rest as far as specs go.

Here’s the problem — Despite their “anatomically shaped” design and ultralight material, both crinkle.

I have a 0% tolerance for waking up in the middle of the night to what sounds like my tentmate munching on Lay’s potato chips. No.

For those who can stand the crinkly material, though, the Exped Air Pillow UL isn’t such a bad option. It isn’t the most comfortable or durable backpacking pillow, but — at a mere 1.6 oz — it is the lightest on the list. Backpacking Light also gave it a rating of “Highly Recommended” and said it’s a “good choice for back and side sleepers.”

Klymit Pillow X

Based on specs alone, the Klymit Pillow X seems great. It has an intriguing design. It’s super lightweight. And Klymit touts its durable 75D polyester bottom that “resists abrasion and punctures.”

In reality, it feels like a poorly stitched together dromedary bag. While awesome that it weighs only 1.95 oz, that doesn’t really matter if it’s less comfortable than my sleeping bag’s compression sack. I couldn’t get comfortable using it unless I was sleeping on my back.

Taylor had high hopes for this pillow and defended it passionately before the first night. Then, he slept with it and didn’t argue much after that.

Oh, and the Pillow X’s twist seal valve is the only valve I had durability problems with.

Full review: Klymit Pillow X

InstantCamp Pillow

Feb 2020 Update: It appears the InstantCamp Pillow has been discontinued.

InstantCamp, the only pillow that took 4 full breaths to inflate. It’s made of nylon and it’s huge, so — with a surprisingly high retail price — I’m not really sure what the makers are proud of here.

It slips, it’s bulky and it just wasn’t pleasant to use. Sure, it’s durable and could be easily patched if there was a problem.

But you can patch a pool float too, which is what this reminds me of.

Summary

Here are the best backpacking pillows:

• Therm-a-Rest Trekker Pillow Case
• Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow
• Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Ultra Light
• Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium
• Trekology Pillow
• Exped Air Pillow UL
• Exped Air Pillow
• Klymit Pillow X
• InstantCamp Pillow

How to Choose the Best Backpacking Pillow for Your Needs

How do you find the perfect balance of comfort, durability and quality? It depends on what you plan to do with it.

Weight & Size

When choosing your ideal pillow, consider first where and for what you will be using it. Backpackers must take weight and size into account much more than a weekend car camper.

Personally speaking, unless the product is really remarkable, 2.5 oz is my weight limit for a backpacking pillow. It may not seem like much, but when you’re carrying your house on your back, every ounce counts.

Where will you be storing your pillow when not in use? Your purse? A briefcase? A tiny compartment in your pack? While a larger pillow may seem like a taste of the good life, it’ll be heavier and bulkier. In my experience, a packed-down backpacking pillow should be no larger than the palm of your hand.

Slipperiness

As a general rule, you don’t want a pillow that has a slippery texture. While extremely comfortable, these are prone to sliding out from under you (which is the worst).

Stay away from fabrics like silk or rayon. Only under one condition is slippery fabric excusable — if the pillow is small enough to fit securely in the hood of your sleeping bag.

Frequency of Use & Durability

You will also want to consider how often you will be using the pillow. The more frequently you use it, the more important durability and comfort become.

If there are any particular features that bother you in the beginning, you won’t get used to them. The more you use the pillow, the more a leaky valve will drive you nuts. It’s always better to buy one higher-priced product once than buy multiple cheap replacements.

Comfort & Support

To state the obvious, comfort and support are some of the most important things to take into account when searching for your next backpacking pillow. We’ve indicated each pillow’s comfort level throughout the article to help.

For side sleepers, as you likely already know, support is paramount in making sure you don’t wake up with a sore neck the next morning (or during the night). A well-stuffed Therm-a-Rest Trekker Pillow Case or a more supportive inflatable — such as the Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow or Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium — are the most supportive pillows we tested.

Back sleepers who need a supportive pillow should also consider the options listed above. If you don’t prioritize support you likely could make do with less supportive options such as the Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Ultra Light, Trekology Pillow, or Exped Air Pillow UL

Inflatable vs. Pillow Case

There are two main types of backpacking pillows: inflatables and pillow cases.

Inflatables need to be blown up. Pillow cases need to be stuffed with clothes. We tested eight inflatables and one pillow case.

Pillow cases are usually cheaper and are at no risk of popping. However, their level of comfort and support depends entirely on the clothes you stuff into them. If you don’t have the right clothes or the right amount of clothes for your desired levels of comfort and support, it’ll be hard to make the pillow case comfy.

Inflatables, on the other hand, are usually more expensive and there’s always a chance they could pop or leak air. Their levels of comfort and support are more consistent — a good thing if you find them comfortable, a bad thing if not. You can also try customizing an inflatable pillow to your needs by inflating or deflating it as you see fit.

How We Tested

First, we researched the pool of available backpacking pillows and narrowed our options by instituting an upper weight limit of 4 oz. We then purchased the 9 options that had received the best ratings and reviews. Once they arrived, we started testing.

Some people (me) love soft pillows. Others (Taylor) love a more firm package. Because of this, Taylor and I each took turns sleeping with the pillows, making snarky remarks and sassy notes along the way.

We tested them in the car, tent, plane, and at home. We also inflated and deflated the pillows each day of testing, forcing the inflation valves through as much wear and tear as possible.

Pillows lost points due to valve malfunctions, long inflation times, uncomfortable fabrics, slippery fabrics, and the worst sin of all — crinkly materials.

Pillow Party

Each night, we inflated every single pillow. It was fun…and colorful. Before retiring to bed, we’d switch out between them all and take notes until both of us eventually settled on a new brand we hadn’t tried yet.

Each pillow was tested under a full night’s sleep. There were immediate and obvious favorites, but after each pillow was given a chance under multiple conditions, there were a few surprises.

Tent Camping Test

Sleep is sleep, no matter where you are. Still, camping in a tent occasionally poses challenges you won’t find elsewhere — such as a tilted stage, moisture, or a slippery floor.

We slept with the pillows under these conditions to see how they’d fare. If any pillows were slippery or awkward to use, we found out here.

Car Camping Test

By car camping with the pillows, we tested the pillows’ durability and quality and judged them for their size. It was cramped. This was the first time that pillows ever made me feel claustrophobic.

Inflation Test

We counted the number of full breaths it took to inflate each pillow. The InstantCamp inspired this test, as the number of breaths required to inflate it wasn’t so instant.

I was disappointed that none of the pillows inflated on a single breath. Maybe I have sissy lungs?

The post 9 Best Backpacking Pillows appeared first on 99Boulders.

In the words of author Brendan Leonard, “Anything can be a taco if you have a tortilla and you believe in yourself.”  Truer, more beautiful words have never been spoken.

We’re always searching for new and creative ways to prepare our food in the backcountry (or new weird food ideas), which has led us to talk about tacos a lot.

“Why tacos?” you may ask.

1. Tortillas are durable
2. Tortillas have a longer shelf life than bread
3. Tacos are delicious, and…
4. Why am I explaining tacos to you?!

A regular PB&J isn’t very feasible on a backpacking trip, so it’s time to put a Mexican spin on this American classic. This recipe is incredibly simple (made entirely of staple backpacking foods), is easy to prepare and makes for an awesome summit snack.

Peanut butter, jelly — meet taco.

Prep Time: 2-3 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1 tortilla
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (if you don’t want to carry a jar of peanut butter you can use peanut butter from a pouch or powdered peanut butter)
• 1 tbsp jelly
• 1 banana (optional — really only viable for day hikes)
• drizzle of honey (optional)

Instructions

1. Place your tortilla on a flat surface. This step is optional if you feel like making a mess.

2. Slather your tortilla with a hearty helping of peanut butter. Hoorah, protein.

3. Please, for the love of God, wipe your camping knife off. Nobody likes a PB&J double dipper. Do not get peanut butter in the jelly jar or your friends will hate you.

4. Repeat step 2 with a clean knife and your jelly. Hoorah, sugar.

5. If you brought a banana, peel it and lay it directly on the edge of your tortilla. No need for chopping. Just slap it on there.

6. Get artisanal and drizzle some bee vomit (honey, whatever) down the length of the banana.

7. Carefully roll your honey banana up in the tortilla. Don’t rip the tortilla or you’re going to have a bad time. If you didn’t bring a banana, just fold the tortilla in half.

8. nom, Nom, NOM.

Recipe Notes

If you have peanut allergies, this recipe will work with just about any type of similar butter product…except actual butter. That’s weird.

You get bonus points if you slather a packet of Justin’s hazelnut butter on it too. Oh baby.

The post How to Make a PB&J Taco: The Best Trail Snack Ever appeared first on 99Boulders.

Stove

Jetboil Zip

Jetboil Flash

Image

Best for

1-2 people, backpacking trips

Bigger groups, camping trips

Weight

11.75 oz (333 g)

15.25 oz (432 g)

Liquid Capacity

0.8 L (27 fl oz)

1 L (33.8 fl oz)

Pros

Lightweight, packs down small, easy to set up and take apart, secure cup clip attaches pot to burner to prevent spills, cost-effective, detailed inside measurement markings (200-500 ml/8-16 oz), insulated pocket for utensil storage

Push-button igniter (does not require a lighter), color-changing heat indicator, easy to set up and take apart, improved design on heat regulation valve, secure cup clip attaches pot to burner to prevent spill, great and convenient for large parties, insulated pocket for utensil storage

Cons

Requires a separate lighter, risk of water boiling over, poorly designed heat regulation nob, lower fill capacity

Takes up more space in pack, push-button igniter not always reliable, no inside measurement markings (only reads MAX FILL – 2 CUPS/16 oz), more expensive

Avg Boil Time

2 min 30 sec claimed, 1 min 44 sec tested

2 min 30 sec claimed, 2 min 12 sec tested

While the extra features of the Flash may seem gimmicky at first, a field test proved that this cooking device is an overall better and more convenient product than the Zip. However, if you’re looking for a more bare-boned, minimalist camp stove with the same bottom-line functionality, the JetBoil Zip may be for you.

To put these products to the test, we planned a four-day backpacking expedition through southwest Colorado. At first, I wasn’t thrilled to abandon my usual MSR Whisperlite.

Carrying the Jetboils without other cooking accessories required me to limit my meals to dry and dehydrated goods. How would I make my famous camp pizza? 

Yet, over the next four days, I fell in love with the convenience of these stoves. I used both Jetboils equally to boil water for everyone and everything — water for MREs, water for tea, water for my backpacking coffee maker, water for the portable shower bag.

Since the cooking process went by so quickly, I found myself with much more free time at camp than usual, free time to spend with my friends. The memories I made on that trip convinced me that the added convenience of the JetBoil makes it a worthy replacement to your traditional stove, at least for short expeditions.

Flash or Zip: Which Is Best for You?

For those looking for a quick answer to whether you should buy the Flash or the Zip, here you go:

• Best Value: Jetboil Zip
• Best Overall Stove: Jetboil Flash
• Best for the Lightweight/Solo Backpacker: Jetboil Zip
• Best for the Social Backpacker: Jetboil Flash

There is nothing that the Zip does poorly. Ultimately, it is an effective product that serves its purpose. However, anything the Zip can do, the Flash can do better.

Does Size Matter?

The Jetboil Flash is capable of carrying 0.2 more liters than the Zip but weighs 3.5 ounces more.

This extra fill capacity makes the Flash a better choice for larger camping parties (3+). But, if you are camping in a party of less than three, the extra capacity doesn’t make up for the extra space the Flash takes up in a pack.

I love the Flash for its extra features and accessories, not for the extra amount of water it can hold.

What would be perfect is a Zip-sized Flash.

Functionality of the Flash’s Push-button Igniter

Before the trip, I was warned multiple times by multiple people to pack a spare lighter for the Flash. Many friends claimed that the push-button igniter was unreliable, especially in high wind or poor weather conditions.

But isn’t the whole point of the push-button igniter that I don’t have to bring a lighter with me?

We packed the lighter just in case, but never ended up needing it.

In 5-10 mph winds, there were no problems with the igniter. In rain and hail, there were no problems. While we heard claims that wind could blow out the flame, we never experienced this issue.

Rarely did it take more than two flicks of the button to get it going.

As for the Zip, it requires a lighter and ours always started up like a dream. We even tested, with success, lighting the Zip by using the flame from the Flash. This proved convenient, especially after our Zippo went out.

Over periods of extended use, the Flash igniter might wear out and stop working. According to Original Outdoors, “the piezo push-igniter can be a little temperamental after extended use, and will probably stop working altogether eventually for most users.”

I’ve heard of it lasting multiple years before this happens, however. Know that the igniter can be fixed. Jetboil also sells a Replacement Igniter Maintenance Kit.

Is the Flash’s Color-changing Indicator a Gimmick?

Before the trip, I was convinced that I would hate the Flash, for unfair reasons.

A color-changing heat indicator? Really? This screamed ‘gimmick’ to me. I doubted it would even work.

Midway through the Flash’s first boil, a friend saw that I was biting my lip and asked how it was going. I believe my exact quote was:

“Honestly, this is kinda stupid. Why would you need a color-changing label to tell you when something is boiling. Our society is getting too soft and reliant on these gimmicky, flashy…HEY, THAT’S NEAT!”

Right on cue, the Jetboil logo turned orange and the water started to boil. It was pretty neat.

I liked it. It’s a cool feature and it’s fun to watch.

I especially fell in love with the Flash’s color indicator after I forgot to check on the Zip and it promptly boiled over in a fit of jealous rage.

The Heat Regulator Valve

The most important difference between the Flash and Zip is not emphasized enough.

While neither are that effective at regulating the exact internal temperature of the container, the regulation valves on both are designed very differently.

That being said, I hate, hate, hate the regulation nob on the Zip.

It is small, awkward, made of plastic and looks like it would break if it ever made contact with a hard surface. In order to adjust the heat on the Zip, you must pinch a little black nob very tightly and adjust your grip repeatedly as you twist.

Not only that, the nob is inconveniently close to the heat source. If my hands were ever sweaty, I couldn’t effectively twist this thing.

The Flash has a much more effective valve made from metal. The valve itself flips out from the stove and is located far from the heat source. It seems much more durable than the Zip’s nob and twisting this big wire piece is much easier.

I felt much more in control of this device than the Zip.

Notes about the Plastic Parts on Both Zip and Flash

I’ve read several reviews of both the Jetboil Flash and Zip that express concerns over the plastic lid. Some people mention smelling or tasting plastic in the water that is boiled.

I occasionally tasted this plastic flavor. However, Jetboil claims that their heat-resistant plastic lids are “BPA free, and quick to cool.” This quote comes from a generic article on their website. I could find no exact literature from their site regarding the lids of the Zip or Flash.

But I’m admittedly not the best person to talk to regarding health and safety concerns.

Top Alternatives to the Jetboil Flash & Jetboil Zip

We’ve tested and reviewed plenty of other camping and backpacking stoves. If neither the Flash nor the Zip strikes your fancy, check out our buying guides for our top alternatives:

• Best camping stoves
• Best backpacking stoves

How We Compared

We compared these two stoves side-by-side in three main ways.

Field Test

We firmly believe that the best way to test a product is to go out and do. The doing part is what we live for.

As such, we took both the Flash and Zip on a 4-day backpacking expedition through Chicago Basin in Colorado.

Amidst peak-bagging and trail blazing, our team of 7 exclusively used the Jetboils for all breakfast and dinner needs, from Eat-a-Bowls to Mountain House meals. During those 4 days, we prepared meals in all kinds of weather — rain, hail, snow, sun and wind (because Colorado weather, right?).

Our base camp was set somewhere above 10,000′ in elevation.

Through our field test, we wanted to know:

• How varying weather elements impact functionality
• Pros and cons of the Zip’s smaller size
• Quality of the Flash’s unique features: the push-button igniter and color-changing heat indicator
• What difference the design of heat regulator makes
• The ease of set-up and use of both stoves and if any unspecified differences are present

Boil Test

According to Jetboil, both stoves boast rapid boiling times thanks to the FluxRing technology and insulated container system. Rather than take these claims at face value, though, we wanted to test them for ourselves.

At 7,000, 10,000 and 12,000 feet in elevation, we performed a boil test, timing how long it took both the Zip and Flash to boil 16 oz of water.

Our results, based on an average of 3 boils, indicated that although water takes longer to boil at altitude, the overall average boil time is less than what is indicated on Jetboil’s website.

Note: We did not perform this experiment through the entire lifespan of the fuel canisters as Jetboil does in their own testing. However, we did use both fuel cans equally. We also conducted this test with 16 oz of water — or 0.47 L — while Jetboil used 0.5 L according to their website.

Value Test

Finally, for grins, after we returned from the trip, we also performed a similar boil test of the MSR Whisperlite at 7,000′ in elevation.

The MSR Whisperlite boiled 16 oz of water at 7,000′ in elevation at an average of 3 minutes, 22 seconds — 1 min, 59 sec slower than the Jetboil Zip and 1 min, 34 sec slower than the Jetboil Flash.

H/T to the incredible photographer Shaianne Ganey for her support during this project.

The post Jetboil Flash vs. Jetboil Zip: Which Camp Stove Is Right for You? appeared first on 99Boulders.

One time, I packed a giant bag of bagels for a two week backcountry trip. They were bulky and awkward, and they immediately smushed in between my camp stove and pan. Bagels aren’t the most common backpacking fare, but dammit was I craving them that trip.

The first few days, it was awesome. Delicious, fluffy and crumbly carbs. Then it rained and the inside of the bagel bag got wet. Seven days of moldy, soggy, questionable bagel breakfasts…whatever, I’d do it again.

Backpackers eat weird stuff. We cut the mold off of things, ignore refrigeration labels and ask questions like “Would I be able to dehydrate this?”

Unless you rely exclusively on Mountain House meals, carrying a kitchen on your back will force you to get creative, especially if you are particular about any kind of food.

So, since we’ve talked at length about the more standard backpacking foods, here are 12 of my favorite ‘weird’ foods to take backpacking so you can mix things up next time you’re on the trail.

Jump to a Category

• Meats & Proteins
• Snacks & Chips
• Fruit Squeezes
• Powders

Meats & Proteins

1. EPIC Meat Bars

EPIC Meat Bars — a mix between an energy bar and a piece of jerky — are definitely unique. But what makes them weird? EPIC has somehow managed to infuse them with incredible, creative flavors. And, it actually works. Lamb flavored with currant and mint? Turkey with almonds and cranberries? It’s a pouch-sized thanksgiving!

EPIC is very focused on bringing naturally and organically sourced meats to your camp table. They produce the only energy bars on the market (that I know of) made of 100% animal-based whole protein.

For more beef jerky ideas, check out our guide to the best beef jerky brands. For more bar ideas, check out our guide to the best energy bars.

2. Private Selection Beef Snack Bites

We’ve all packed summer sausage on the trail. Come on, what could be better than gnawing on a delicious meat stick after a primal day of backcountry exploration? If anything, it’s popping a few of these bite-size beef snack bites instead! They’re a fun alternative to drab sausage. People on the trail always end up asking me about these.

Note that this bag is pretty heavy. Split the weight between you and your friends. Its; okay to share sometimes for the sake of a lighter pack.

3. Gopal’s Italian Power Wrap

No longer do you have to be a carnivore to enjoy the pleasures of a backcountry meat stick. This thing is sausage for vegans! Gopal’s Italian Power Wrap is 100% organic and the most delicious vegan wrap in my book. With its cheesy, meaty taste, you would never guess that its made out sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast and raw nori — a mild and sweet sea vegetable typically used for sushi.

It comes in six other flavors, including Masala, Texas BBQ, Curry, Honey Curry, Mexican and Japanese.

Snacks & Chips

4. Dang Onion Chips

Did you ever have a sibling or cousin dare (force) you to take a full bite out of an onion like it was an apple? Was it horrible? Are you scarred? If not, Dang makes onion chips straight from the slices of an onion, and they’re actually pretty okay. They come in a variety of flavors from Salt n Pepper to Chipotle Garlic to Applewood Barbecue!

5. Chinook Dill Pickle Sunflower Seeds

There’s nothing weird about sunflower seeds. They’re an awesome, easy way to replenish your body of salt and keep your mouth entertained at camp. Not to mention that the shelling process means the snack will last a long time. What’s weird about this option, then? The variety of flavors you can now find. If you ask me, dill pickle seeds are a staple.

6. Chirps Chips

Move over steak, chicken, turkey, lamb and bison! Cricket energy is where its at. As seen on Shark Tank, Chirps Chips are definitely the weirdest snack I keep in my bag. They are made from cricket powder (yes, like the bug) and apparently for good reason. Cricket powder has 15% more iron than spinach, 2x more protein than beef and as much vitamin B12 as a slab of salmon.

They come in fairly normal flavors like BBQ, Cheddar and Sea Salt. (Bonus — Chirps makes chocolate chip cookie mix too!)

Fruit Squeezes

7. Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeeze

Let’s see, how long would it take you to make some instant oatmeal on the trail? You need to set up the stove (1-2 minute), fire it up, boil some water (5-6 minutes), cook the oatmeal (1-2 minutes), clean the pot (1-2 minutes), pack the gear up (1-2 minutes) and…oh yeah, eat (1-2 minutes).

Or, you can crack the cap on a Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeeze. It’s a pouch of perfectly made oatmeal, with probably more nutrition than the Quaker stuff you packed. Enjoy your breakfast — suck oatmeal out of a straw.

8. Mamma Chia Chia Squeeze (Green Magic & Cherry Beet)

Chia squeezes are so fun to eat! They’re made of a mixture between fruit and vegetable purees and hydrated chia seeds, which produces a slimy, gooey and fruity experience. Because of the unique texture, you will either love or hate these products. Some people equate the experience to sucking down a snot loogie. Actually, that’s pretty accurate. Regardless, I will always pack these.

Mamma Chia’s Chia Squeezes are gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, USDA certified organic and contain around 1200mg of Omega-3s. That’s the most nutritious snot snack I’ve ever heard of!

9. Ella’s Kitchen Apples, Carrots and Parsnips

What better way to get your daily vegetable intake than to eat baby food. Baby food comes in a variety of squeezable, mess-free packages and is packed with nutrition, even for adults. Sneak in a dose of carrots and parsnips with this sweet apple goo from Ella’s Kitchen.

Powders

10. Nutritional Yeast

Nothing sounds more gross than consuming yeast. But, if you’ve been around the trail a few times, you’ve probably heard of this awesome cheese substitute. You can throw this powder on just about any cooked meal to give it a nutty, creamy, cheesy flavor. This is a staple for all backpackers.

11. Coconut Milk Powder

Taking powdered milk backpacking isn’t anything new. After all, turning your boring granola into a morning cereal with some NIDO will always be a nice backcountry treat.

What is new, though, is how many different types of powdered milks you can now find: soy, goat, almond, malted, low-fat, coconut…the list goes on. Powdered coconut milk is my favorite because of its faint sweetness, which can be a great addition to any camp soup, hot chocolate, or camp coffee.

For more powdered milk options, check out our taste test of the best powdered milk brands.

12. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer

Powdered eggs, anyone? Seriously, they are made the same way as powdered milk and they’re awesome! Once you master the ratio of water to egg powder, they’re almost as delicious as the real thing. Fun fact: powdered eggs (aka dehydrated eggs) can be found in camping literature as early as 1912. How’s that for classic?

The post 12 Weird Backpacking Food Ideas for Your Next Trip appeared first on 99Boulders.

“I hate my Chacos.” Why. “They don’t fit my feet right.”

I swear, if one more person tells me that, I’m going to have to write an instructional article about it…

Here’s the thing — your Chacos will fit. You’re just having a hard time pulling at those straps. Somebody has either lied to you about 1) the incredible adjustability of your new favorite adventure shoe or 2) your “impressive” finger strength. I’m not in any place to say which.

Chaco straps are incredibly easy to adjust when you first get them. But then they stick.

What is sticking? It’s the reason that you just threw your shoe across the room in frustration. They won’t move. They won’t loosen. They’re stuck.

Luckily for you, there is an easy fix to loosen them right up.

How to Un-stick Your Chaco Straps

For the sake of this demonstration, I took my Chaco Z2 sandals and flattened the toe loop, conveniently turning them into a makeshift pair of Chaco Z1s (because the main difference between the two is the toe loop). I then sat them out in the sun, rain and darkness. The straps got stuck and were cranky when I tried to make any adjustments.

How do I bring my toe loop back to its proper form?

Materials

• Squirt bottle
• Liquid fabric softener
• Water

Instructions

1) Fill a squirt bottle with a solution of half water/half liquid fabric softener

You won’t need much here. A couple of ounces will do the trick. We didn’t have any fabric softener on hand, but we did have Tide Pods, which come with fabric softener in them. If using Tide Pods like me, pop that sucker like a zit and mix it in your squirt bottle.

2) Squirt your solution down into the footbed of your stuck Chaco strap

3) Wait 1-2 minutes

You can use this time to clean up the incredible mess you made with the squirt bottle.

4) Pull with moderate effort on the strap in question

If you’re grunting like you’re maxing out in the weight room, you’ve gone too far dude. You should take a look at the next step.

5) If that doesn’t work, try twisting the strap as you pull

Tada! Adjustable Chaco straps. (If the strap still doesn’t release, repeat steps 2-4.)

6) Give your Chacos a good rinse and let them sit out in the sun to dry

FAQs

1) Why did my Chaco straps stick in the first place?

The idea behind the Chaco sandal is that once you find your perfect fit, they stay at your perfect fit. The straps sit very tightly in the foot bed and for whatever reason, they may snag or catch and get “stuck”. Squirting in the fabric softener will allow them to release. Sort of like that time when you were a kid and you stuck your head in the stair banister even though everybody warned you not to…and then it got stuck so your mom coated your head with butter to get you free. It’s almost exactly like that.

2) I feel like I’m going to rip the strap if I keep tugging. Should I keep pulling?

No. Stop. You’re done, Hulk. If your straps still won’t move after you’ve squirted in the solution and waited, repeat steps 2-4 until they loosen up. If they STILL don’t loosen up, read the next question and answer.

3) I still can’t get it. Can’t somebody else un-stick my straps for me?

Actually yes, you can send those bad boys right back where they came from by heading over to Chaco’s website and filling out a Repair Authorization Form. Just indicate that your Chaco straps are stuck and maybe let some of your frustration tears drip on the hand-written letter you’ve included with it.

The post Are Your Chaco Straps Stuck? Here’s How to Un-Stick Them appeared first on 99Boulders.

Have you ever been so exhausted after a long day of backpacking that you just want to skip dinner, curl up in the sleeping bag and worry about all that food stuff tomorrow?

Yeah, me neither.

Today, backcountry cooking has never been easier. Thanks to the growing popularity of MREs, also known as Meals Ready to Eat, you can now skip the shopping, chopping, dicing, sautéing, boiling, seasoning, all of it. Just add boiling water and in five to ten minutes impress your tent mates with culinary genius.

Mountain House has been making MREs in the form of freeze-dried meals for nearly 50 years, and what once started as a project to serve meals to US Special Forces has boomed into a massive enterprise that the backpacking world now loves.

Today, Mountain House offers nearly 30 different breakfasts, entrees and desserts. But, how on earth do you know which ones are any good? Luckily, you’ve got us.

We challenged Mountain House to send us their 10 bestselling meals, and they accepted! We put their meals to the test, guided by a focus group of five very different individuals (and two food-enthused doggies), and we’re ready to give you the results of our experiment.

Note: If you’d like to see how these Mountain House meals compare to freeze-dried meals from other top brands, check out our guide to the best freeze-dried food for camping and backpacking.

How We Tested

Our testing process was two-fold. It included:

1. A side-by-side taste test of all 10 meals
2. Research into the important product specs of each meal

Part 1: The Taste Test

For the first part of our testing process, we assessed the actual taste and flavor profile of each meal. We focused on three specific criteria:

• Visual appeal and smell
• Flavor and aftertaste
• Texture

But here’s the thing — you don’t need to be a hardcore backpacker to judge things like your journey to flavortown.

In fact, what I’ve learned over the years is that most hardcore backpackers will eat pretty much anything. As a general group, we’re not that picky.

That’s why we wanted to set up a focus group for our taste test. We brought in five very different individuals with very different palates and forced them to study, smell, taste, and judge MREs until the sun went down. (Don’t worry, we rewarded them all with beer.)

The personalities of our focus group testers were critical to this step in the study, and we hope that, by understanding the individuals involved, we can provide some relatability to you as a reader and future MRE consumer. The personalities of our five focus group participants are as follows:

1. Little Dirtbag: Female, age 22. Willing to eat anything with calories, but patient enough to cook and prepare her own backcountry meals. Generally avoids MREs because she thinks she can do it better. Weirdly proud of her record of 18 days without showering. Often found in mountains and on rivers.
2. Kale Eater: Female, age 31. Fitness fanatic who judges everything on its nutritional benefit. Will not go camping unless an air mattress and Airstream is involved. Requires beauty sleep and protein shakes. Finds the smell of a campfire to be unpleasant. (???)
3. River Rat: Male, age 30. Likes the outdoors and recreational activity but generally goes with the flow. Served as our neutral, most unbiased judge.
4. Mountain Man: Male, age 52. Long time backpacker and backcountry adventurer, with very seasoned and particular food opinions. Relies heavily on MREs while adventuring, but always carries his spice kit to dress them up. Attempted to force all other participants to only sample MREs with hot sauce. That’s not how this works, Mountain Man.
5. Den Mother: Female, age 51. Highly averse to backcountry hiking, climbing, and salt. Has supported a family of backpackers for years. Always makes the best from-scratch frontcountry meals and works magic on a Coleman stove. Expert glamper.

Little Dirtbag and Mountain Man served as our backpacking professionals and their opinions on the meals helped us develop the Backpacker’s Choice award. The Backpacker’s Choice award was awarded to the meal we believed to be best suited for the backcountry adventurer.

Kale Eater and Den Mother served as our camping/glamping professionals and their opinions on the meals helped us develop the Camper’s Choice award. The Camper’s Choice award was awarded to the meal we believed to be best suited for camping and frontcountry activities.

River Rat served as our most neutral judge, with the least bias invested into the process. His opinions supported equally both the Backpacker’s Choice and the Camper’s Choice awards.

Once our taste testers were all together, we:

1. Followed the preparation instructions found on the back of each MRE precisely and waited exactly the recommended cook time before sampling the meals.
2. Analyzed how successfully cooked the meals were based on the instructions. Meals that were undercooked, too soupy or overcooked ranked lower than those we found to be cooked properly.
3. Rated each meal on its initial appearance, smell, texture and flavor profile, as well as “how close to the real deal” it actually tasted.
4. Ranked the meals on a scale of 1-5. Then we opened the floor to discussion and debate regarding our rankings and opinions. Never before have we worked with a more quotable group.

Part 2: Product Specs Research

The second section of our testing was less fun and involved researching the product specs for each meal. We focused on:

• Amount of water needed
• Preparation time
• Weight
• Calories
• Nutritional content
• Number of servings

We then developed a ranking system to support our awards process.

The Backpacker’s Choice award was more highly influenced by specs than our Camper’s Choice award. Meals high in protein and calories that required less water and preparation time ranked more highly for backpacking than they did for camping. Meals that ranked highest in smell, taste, and texture, regardless of weight and water required, scored higher for the Camper’s Choice award.

Top Pick & Best Breakfast: Breakfast Skillet

The Mountain House Breakfast Skillet, by far, offers the best taste.

From a first look, the Breakfast Skillet is the most colorful of all the meals, a hint at its higher nutritional content. Coupling our first look with a sniff, the meal genuinely smells fresh despite its packaging and shelf life.

It’s made with hash browns and scrambled eggs, mixed with pork sausage patty, peppers and onions. Nothing we sampled competed with the Breakfast Skillet for “how close to the real deal” it tasted.

Mountain Man mentioned that he possesses at least five of these packages in his gear closet. “It’s simply a staple,” as he says. Kale Eater agreed and mentioned that she’d like to “keep at least one in the car.” You could probably convince your friends you actually possess cooking talent by serving this at camp.

Unlike some other Mountain House meals, the amount of water required and preparation time were ideal both for camping and backpacking. For the price, and with 800 calories per package, it’s also a great value.

The hash browns make the meal incredibly filling and fueling, but the vegetable content will give you the morning boost you need. The sodium content — while scary to read at a whopping 920 mg — is pretty typical and actually fairly low for meals like this.

Those with food allergies, take caution. The Breakfast Skillet contains eggs, milk, wheat and soy.

Camper’s Choice: Biscuits and Gravy

Everyone dreaded the opening of the Biscuits and Gravy package.

“I am very particular about my biscuits and gravy,” Den Mother noted.

“Seriously? How are you going to package biscuits and gravy?” Kale Eater commented.

Somebody else made a gagging noise.

Eager to please our growingly biased audience, we told them all supportively to “Shut up and eat it.” Kale Eater smelled the bag and immediately changed her tune.

Nobody expected to love the meal as much as they did, but after our initial sampling, our judgmental campers wouldn’t stop raving about it, ultimately acknowledging that they would eat it for any morning breakfast, on or off the trail.

Biscuits and Gravy ranked highly on the smell, taste and even texture scale. However, its lower calorie and protein content, coupled with its higher amount of required water, prevented this meal from being awarded our Backpacker’s Choice award.

This meal predominantly received its award for the flavor profile, and would work best as a morning treat at camp. Its lower nutritional benefits and the expansive, bloating power of rehydrated biscuits in your stomach mean lower energy on the trail.

“This is a meal that I immediately want to take a nap after consuming,” Little Dirtbag acknowledged.

Great for camping, not great for challenging days on the trail. Mountain Man required that we mention that Biscuits and Gravy is really, really great with hot sauce.

Backpacker’s Choice: Beef Stroganoff with Noodles

“Yessssss,” screamed the Little Dirtbag. Clearly, there were predisposed opinions among our backpacking community. We had to remind folks to taste the thing before giving the review.

When they did, the meal ranked highly for all participants, but was especially adored by backpackers.

Why does the Beef Stroganoff especially stand out for backpackers?

If you ask me, beef stroganoff will always be a classic backpacking meal. It’s a warm, hardy, stick-to-your-insides kind of meal, and that is something you’ll really appreciate when the temperature hits single digits.

It’s made of beef, noodles, mushrooms, milk, onions, and is seasoned with even more beef and lots of garlic. Noodles mean high carbs and beef means high protein, and remember, we backpackers like those things. The net weight of the entire bag is only 4.8 ounces, making it both easy to pack and light to carry. With 2.5 servings in the entire bag, you get more beef for your buck, as well as ooey, gooey, goodness.

Since we followed the back label instructions precisely for each meal, one thing we wanted to know was how soupy the meal would become. There are some foods that you simply can’t tolerate being soupy, like eggs (*gag*). But luckily, beef stroganoff is hard to screw up. Even if you do end up with a little soupiness — which you won’t because the instructions work out really well for this one — the meal will still prove to be delicious and hardy.

The one and only downside to eating Mountain House’s Beef Stroganoff may be its aftertaste. I find that most rehydrated meals that utilize milk can cause a filmy aftertaste in your mouth. And like most freeze-dried meals, the sodium content of one serving is 33% of your daily value. Keep these things in mind.

Camper’s Choice Runner-up: Beef Stew

Full disclosure, I’m not a huge fan of Mountain House’s Beef Stew. Then again, I’m not a huge fan of beef stew any time.

However, our campers loved it and with good reason. It’s made with carrots, potatos, green peas and corn oil, which makes it fairly nutritious.

This is one of those warm meals that you can gorge on and then immediately go to sleep, a major plus for anyone who is car or frontcountry camping. Plus, because its a stew, you can get away with it being mildly soupy.

The meal would work well for backpacking, too, if you like beef stew.

Out of curiosity, we sampled the beef stew as a dry mix first, before cooking it. Don’t do it. It’s gross. Always be sure to have a complete backpacking cookware set with you to cook your meal.

Backpacker’s Choice Runner-up: Chili Mac with Beef

Since most hiking and camping trips typically last more than one day, we wanted to add a section for our 2nd place meals, our runners-up.

(While we did gauge how willing our participants would be to eat each meal multiple night in a row, that certainly doesn’t mean you need to.)

Mountain House Chili Mac was our Backpacker’s Choice Runner-up because it’s just dang delicious. We love backpacking meals that have lots of calories and multiple servings. A package of the Chili Mac contains 2.5 servings at 230 calories each. 50 of those calories are from fat, a good source of long-term energy while on the trail.

Chili Mac has similar product specs to Beef Stroganoff, but it ended up being the runner-up because of taste. It’s just not as tasty. Regardless, Chili Mac is still a backcountry staple.

Reviews of the Other 5 Mountain House Meals We Tested

Rice and Chicken

Rice and chicken is such a simple meal that we recommend you pack your own goodies and make this yourself. The Mountain House version is plain and the rice is difficult to cook all the way through. It smells nice and probably tastes as intended, but ultimately is not worth it in our opinion. Mountain Man assured us that this could be fixed with a little more onion and hot sauce.

Scrambled Eggs with Bacon

What’s worse than flavorless eggs? Watery, flavorless eggs.

As described by our Mountain Man, the scrambled eggs with bacon has a “really tough visual.” It’s not pretty to look at, nor is it delicious to eat. The eggs fluff up a decent amount, so the texture is not half bad if you can get past the fact that the eggs are literally swimming in water by the time you reach the end of the bag.

The only significant flavor in this meal is bacon. As Den Mother noted, “I have nothing against this but there is no flavor. No spice.”

Macaroni and Cheese

How did the Macaroni and Cheese not make the cut and earn an award?

Honestly, mac and cheese will always be one of my favorite camp foods, but the Mountain House Mac and Cheese is nothing to call home about. Following the instructions on the package exactly, the meal ended up a little undercooked and slightly watery.

For the price, it’s probably easier to package and prepare your own. My recommendation? Go a little gourmet and melt down some cheddar and mix it with some cooked pasta in your camp bowl. Simple perfection.

Chicken Fajita Bowl

I have nothing against the Chicken Fajita Bowl. I wanted to enjoy the Chicken Fajita Bowl. I couldn’t enjoy the Chicken Fajita Bowl.

Mexican food needs to taste fresh, and this just barely makes the cut on the freshness scale. Our taste testers met this meal with shrugs. Would they eat it? If they had to. Do they have to? Absolutely not.

Chicken Teriyaki with Rice

Ah, our lowest scoring MRE from Mountain House. What happened?

It’s gross. It smells bad. The flavor is way too sweet. There is something wrong about a synthetic Asian flavor, especially when followed by a poor aftertaste. I would never take this camping, hiking or backpacking. Plus, the nutritional stats don’t make up for the poor flavoring. Opt out of teriyaki.

How to Choose the Best Mountain House Meals for Your Needs

There are lots of different reasons why you may be purchasing a Mountain House meal: backpacking, taking a weekend camping trip, living out of your vehicle, starting a road trip or simply taking a break from cooking.

Here are the important things to consider before choosing which ones to buy.

Your Palate

What flavors do you love? What seasonings do you most often cook with?

Don’t overlook your real-world taste preferences when deciding which Mountain House meals to purchase. Think of what meals and flavors are important to you in your everyday life.

Try a few of these meals for yourself and see what you think. You may have a very different palate than our five taste testers. Either way, I bet you can find a Mountain House meal that you will enjoy. If not, though, then check out our list of backpacking food ideas or our favorite Backpacker’s Pantry or Good To-Go meals instead.

For car campers and glampers, this is by far the most important consideration. For backpackers and other backcountry explorers, though, there are other things besides taste that you should take into account.

Nutritional Content

When meal planning for a backcountry trip, you’ll want to ensure you’re properly nourishing your body. Before purchasing an MRE, take a gander at the Nutrition Facts label and note the amounts of:

• Sodium
• Macros (fat, carbs, and protein)
• Calories per serving and per bag
• Vitamins & minerals

Compare these numbers to your daily calorie goals, sensitivity to salt, and other nutritional needs.

Weight

Of course, weight is always an important consideration for anything you carry with you in your pack. For any backcountry food, calories per ounce is a good measure to pay attention to here.

Calculating the calories per ounce of any food can be done easily by dividing total calories by overall weight of the package in ounces. (When calculating total calories, don’t forget that many MREs contain multiple servings.)

Calories per ounce = Total Calories / Overall Weight (oz.)

Lightweight backpacking foods tend to be in the range of 120-130 calories per ounce.

Water Needed

Mountain House meals need water to rehydrate — often around 2 cups. When deciding which MRE to buy, consider whether you’ll be able to carry or have access to enough water to prep your meal.

Some locations have scant amounts of water and ask backpackers to filter only as much water as they need. In locations like these, it’s better to bring along foods that don’t call for lots of water to prepare.

Diet Friendliness

Like most packaged foods, many freeze-dried meals have more ingredients than you’d expect if you simply read the name of the meal. Double-check the ingredients list to make sure a meal meets your dietary requirements before buying.

The Mountain House Meals Other Experts Prefer

Lots of other folks have done similar taste tests of top Mountain House meals. We’ve rounded them up here so you can have a variety of opinions.

Dave over at Clever Hiker actually believes Chicken and Rice is a “classic” from Mountain House. Likewise, he is also a fan of Biscuits and Gravy, Beef Stroganoff and Beef Stew. One product that we did not test is the new Chicken Fried Rice. Dave had his expectations “blown away” by this one. We might be giving that a shot later!

Griffin Post, a sponsored athlete from Backcountry, showed Beef Stroganoff some love, saying that, “Of all the Mountain House meals I’ve had the privilege (or punishment) of eating, this is my favorite. It’s tasty enough that you might actually forget you’re eating freeze dried food.” But he also mentioned that although the meal is hearty, the serving size may be deceiving: “I mean 12g of protein and 310 calories, for dinner? On a hiking trip? There’s no way that keeps you going. I usually eat one to myself, or bring some instant rice and beans to stretch the meal for two people.”

A long-time hiker known as Shutterbug on White Blaze also shared our love of Chili Mac, but acknowledged that with older age came less of an appetite. “When I was younger, I would eat the 2 servings for one meal. As I have aged, I have found that 2 serving are too much. If my wife is hiking with me, we share a meal. If not, I split the meal into two packages and only fix 1/2. I use my JetBoil Stove to replace the Mountain House foil package. I heat one cup of water in the Jet Boil, put the Chili Mac in the Jet Boil and seal it. It cooks just like it was in the foil pack.”

Ultimately, we think Mountain House is a staple, no matter what your goals on the trail. Of the 10 meals we sampled, we are certain that there is a Mountain House for everybody.

Dig in, campers, and happy hiking!

The post 10 Best Mountain House Meals appeared first on 99Boulders.

Several years ago on an extended kayaking trip, one of my tent-mates forgot to pack his camp spork.

Quick to be creative, he sharpened the end of his toothbrush into a food skewer, and the end result was something of serrated beauty and detail. We all told him to patent that nonsense at the time, but in reality, he ended up eating with his hands a lot that week.

The spork is a camping essential on your gear list, so don’t make light of it when it comes time to shop. While it may be small and easily forgettable, the idea of getting your hands covered in rehydrated beef stroganoff every night can be a major emotional breaking point in the backcountry.

Don’t get covered in beef stroganoff. We’ve done the dirty work for you and put six of the most popular sporks to the test in a head-to-head competition. We tested their durability, functionality and versatility as a kitchen utensil, and I’m here to tell you exactly which is the best spork for you, based on your individual camping needs.

Buckle up — this is the Ultimate Spork Showdown.

Table of Contents

1. How We Tested
2. Top Pick: Snow Peak Titanium Spork
3. Best Value: Light My Fire Plastic Spork
4. Best for Ultralight Backpackers: Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long
5. Best at Being Worst: CRKT Eat’n Tool

6. Reviews of the 2 Other Sporks We Tested
7. How to Choose the Best Spork for Your Needs
8. The Sporks Other Experts Are Recommending
9. Giveaway
10. Shout-outs

How We Tested

We determined that there are three main performance aspects to a camping spork:

1. Functionality
2. Durability
3. Versatility

We devised tests to help us determine each spork’s performance in these three key areas.

The Functionality Test

The goal of this test was to determine how well each spork works for its intended use as a camp utensil. Specifically, we tested each spork with four common trail meals:

1. A freeze-dried backpacking meal
2. Awkwardly shaped couscous
3. Hot and soupy soup
4. Spaghetti noodles

We don’t all eat the same thing when we go on the trail, nor do we want to. Some of us like the packability of grains like couscous. The beauty of the MRE is that you can eat it straight out of the bag without the mess. And I’m not willing to sacrifice my carby spaghetti goodness for the sake of convenience.

You shouldn’t be limited by your spork on what types of food you can buy and eat on the trail. We tested four of the most popularly consumed trail foods to make sure that the spork truly performed, because nobody wants to play “here comes the airplane” by themselves at the campsite.

Researcher’s Note: Human garbage disposals were standing by to make sure little to no food waste was created.

The 2-Part Durability Test

We decided to test durability in two main ways:

1. Boiling the sporks
2. Intentionally trying to break the sporks

Boil test: What happens when we boil the sporks?

I once bought a cute and lightweight camp spatula for a week-long trip on the Colorado Trail. I was so proud of my little kitchenette set-up, until Night 1 when I attempted to make quesadillas. I left the spatula on the stove and it promptly melted into a goop in the pan. Don’t buy a spork that melts into a goop in your pan, and certainly don’t waste quesadillas in the backcountry.

That story inspired this durability test. We dumped all the sporks in a pot together and boiled them on a stove on high heat for 4 minutes. After boiling them, we drained the water and let the sporks stay on high heat at the bottom of the pot. (We repeated the experiment inside so we could guarantee our pot got extra, extra hot).

Pressure test: What happens when we intentionally try to break the tines and the handle before boiling? After?

Shortly after completing this experiment, one of my colleagues asked:

“Why didn’t you just throw the sporks into a backpack and rough up the backpack? Ya know, recreate a real-life scenario?”

To that, I say nay! We didn’t just want to rough up the sporks (we were already doing that by towing them between different testing sites in our own packs), we wanted to literally break the sporks if possible.

We put all our natural force into snapping the handle or the prongs like a twig. We performed this both before our boil test and after, because if these sporks are breakable, we wanted you to know exactly how and where.

The Versatility Test

For this test, we wanted to answer the following questions:

How efficiently does the spork serve as a stirring device? A scooping device? A serving device?

For the stirring portion of this experiment, we used Frontier Chicken Noodle Soup (obviously) because

1. It’s a hot, thick, heavy liquid, and
2. Chicken noodle soup is always a good idea

We let the soup get as hot as possible and got to stirring, testing each spork throughout the entire cooking process and observing if steam ever became too hot to bear. The fear was that a spork with too short of a handle could put you at risk of getting burned, and that’s really no good in the backcountry.

Following the stirring process, we used each spork to scoop and serve both chicken noodle soup and couscous. (Why didn’t we attempt to scoop the spaghetti? Because I’m a monster and I use my hands).

Each spork was used with the intent to scoop 5 of the happiest, hardiest helpings into the camp bowl and camp mug. We compared which sporks were able to scoop most efficiently and the most in quantity.

Then, for good measure, we used each spork to scrape out the remaining contents of the pot. An efficient scraping spork will reduce waste and improve the kitchen cleanup process.

Top Pick: Snow Peak Titanium Spork

The Snow Peak Titanium Spork is my go-to for any and every food consumption related activity. It’s lightweight, arguably indestructible but still bendable, and comes in a variety of colors. Hallelujah, Titanium!

It will scoop, stab and stir as effectively as you’d hope any multi-functional kitchen tool could. Your hands only get a little bit sticky when eating out of an MRE, but you will have no problems scooping up the last bits of ooey, gooey goodness before licking it clean.

Pick the Snow Peak Titanium Spork if you want a spork that will do it all and get it done for a long, long time.

Best Value: Light My Fire Plastic Spork

The Light My Fire Polycarbonate material is a rad upgrade from fast food cutlery, and the price is evident of that. You can buy and break five Light My Fire Plastic Sporks before you’ve spent as much money as the price of one Light My Fire Titanium Spork.

It worked the best as a scooper/server because I wasn’t worried about scratching up the bottom of the pot, yet its flexibility means the Light My Fire Plastic Spork can’t carry heavy things very well. Not to mention, I think the mildly awkward spoon-on-one-side and fork-on-the-other design is kinda cheating as a spork.

It was the only spork that we successfully damaged in some way through our experiments, and reviews elsewhere suggest that this is moderately commonplace. The heat from the pan left small warps in the material and a tine eventually broke after our second Pressure Test (womp womp).

Researcher’s Note: If your tent-mate is a notorious spoon biter, gift them the Light My Fire Plastic Spork for minimal mid-meal noise pollution.

Best for Ultralight Backpackers: Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long Spork

Out of all the sporks we tested, the Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long will always hold a special place in my heart.

It’s lighter than the Snow Peak by .2 oz but sacrifices durability a small amount. Because of its long handle, it acts as the perfect stirring spoon and makes eating out of a plastic bag seem like something humans should always do.

It’s not made out of titanium, but unless you’re trying really hard to break it, I think the StS Long will have your back. Not to mention, the StS Long scooped the most impressively hefty ball of spaghetti and boasted a dandy spoon to fork shape ratio. The adorable carabiner that comes with it may prevent me from forgetting it on future endeavors.

Best at Being Worst: CRKT Eat’n Tool

Adding this spork to the research list left me with more questions than answers.

It fascinates me because it is so wildly different and rogue. The CRKT Eat’n Tool is heavy, short, awkward, comes with a bottle opener and is probably indestructible.

Why does it come in four colors? Why does my spork need hex wrenches? Why is it more than 3x as heavy as the average spork? And WHY does it appear not to be designed with the left-handed individual in mind? Seriously guys, because of the placement of the bottle opener feature, I can’t effectively hold it with my left hand.

Because of the humiliation I faced trying to choo-choo train food into my mouth with this device, I’m going to chalk this one up as a gimmick. Yet, I almost want to keep it and convert it into a keychain…

Reviews of the Other 2 Sporks We Tested

Light My Fire Titanium Spork. The upgraded counterpart of our Best Value pick, the Light My Fire Plastic Spork, the Light My Fire Titanium Spork is not to be underestimated. Its ability as a soup scooping, food stirring, durable camp kitchen utensil was near on par with the Snow Peak Titanium Spork.

Why isn’t it our Top Pick, then? It’s 0.1 oz heavier than the Snow Peak and more expensive. That’s a lot of money for something that can’t cut through my chicken teriyaki. The design is actually more impressive than the LMF Plastic but not worth the price difference in my opinion.

But, if you’re a mega-soup lover and interested in upgrading your camp experience, it’s worth mentioning that the LMF Titanium boasts the best soup spoon design of the six. It mimics the classic Chinese duck spoon shape, and I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t take it with me in my purse text time I go get pho. If somebody gifted me this spork for Christmas, you wouldn’t hear me complain.

Sea to Summit AlphaLight Spork. Ah, the regularly sized sibling of the Best Spork for Ultralighters, the AlphaLight Long Spork.

Why didn’t it win any awards? Admittedly again, the stats of the StS spork were on par with a few of the others. It’s 0.1 oz lighter than the StS Long, but I think the multi-functional benefits of the StS Long are worth the extra tenth of an ounce.

It’s a decent spork with decent durability, and comes with the same cute carabiner as its sibling. However, I had LOTS of trouble scooping spaghetti with it and I’m too much of a carb lover to make that sacrifice.

Summary

Here are the best sporks for camping and backpacking:

• Snow Peak Titanium Spork
• Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long Spork
• Light My Fire Titanium Spork
• Light My Fire Plastic Spork
• Sea to Summit AlphaLight Spork
• CRKT Eat’n Tool

How to Choose the Best Spork for Your Needs

If you’re on the hunt for your first, second, third or forever spork, I’m so happy that you’ve found yourself here! Like most gear purchases, the most important thing to consider is what is important to you. Yet when it comes to sporks specifically, there are three main considerations:

• Durability
• Functionality
• Weight

You want some level of durability in a camp spork. It needs to be functional and actually perform. It also needs to be lightweight and not ridiculous to lug around. There are inevitably trade-offs, though, which I explain with this little graphic I made:

Durability

There are three prominent types of material used to make sporks:

• Titanium
• Aluminum
• High-performing plastic (e.g. polycarbonate)

Titanium is the strongest of these three. Plastic is usually the cheapest and lightest. Aluminum offers a happy balance of mid-weight with mid-durability.

If you are purchasing a spork for a weekend backpacking trip, you may be willing to sacrifice some durability for ease of carry (polycarbonate). If you are purchasing a spork for your first big car camping trip, weight may not be as important (aluminum/titanium). If you’re looking for something you can throw into a pack or even purse or briefcase during the workweek and forget about, you probably want something indestructible and lightweight (titanium).

Some sporks come included in mess kits, camping cookware sets, or backpacking cookware sets. These may be metal or plastic depending on the kit.

Functionality

After you know which material will truly suit you the best, then you can begin to study other important features. Consider questions like:

Is it comfortable to hold in my hand? Does it seem like the prongs may scratch the roof of my mouth? Is the spoon too wide to fit in my mouth or too narrow to actually scoop? How long is it and where will I be storing it? Will it serve any multi-functional purposes if necessary (kitchen serving spoon, bottle opener, spatula, knife)? These are all important questions you will need to ask yourself.

As a good rule of thumb, once you think you’ve chosen the right spork, ask the most important question: Would I be willing to replace my entire home utensil set with this spork? If you’re uncertain the answer is yes, you’ll probably hate the thing by day three on the trail.

Weight

Unless you’re car camping, you should carefully consider the weight of every piece of gear you’re carrying. Plastic sporks are lighter but not as durable. Aluminum and titanium sporks are heavier yet more durable.

We’ve listed the weights of all the sporks included in this test in the comparison table at the top of the page so you can easily compare them.

2 More Minor Considerations

A spork is one of the very few pieces of gear where you can splurge without breaking the bank. Prices range anywhere from $1 to $15, so don’t feel bad if you’re paying double digits for a utensil that boasts specs as absurd as aerodynamics.

Remember that a spork is still a piece of gear, and it’s replacing both your everyday fork and spoon, and sometimes your camping knife or backpacking knife. Buy something you like, because you’re hopefully going to have it a very long time.

Lastly, treat every potential gear purchase like a first date. Hold it, feel it, identify how much it weighs, how long you’ll have it…and wait to stick it in your mouth until after you buy it. (I’m just kidding.)

The Sporks Other Experts Are Recommending

The folks over at Expedition Portal and Outdoor Gear Lab have performed similar-ish tests in the past.

Outdoor Gear Lab concluded that the Snow Peak Titanium Spork was the best overall backpacking spork (obviously). While I didn’t chat up “mouth pleasing textures”, they make some pretty impressive points to consider. I’m pleased to say we had relatable findings.

At Expedition Portal, they tested a number of less mainstream sporks that we didn’t include in this test and ended up declaring the Sea to Summit AlphaLight Spork the “Value Winner”. I can’t attest to any of the sporks I didn’t test, but I certainly agree when they wrote, “the more you mess around with a classic design, the more likely you are to screw it up.” Yeah, settle down Eat’n Tool.

Giveaway

If you’re reading this, our sporks giveaway has ended.

Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to the 7 lucky winners! Hope you all enjoy your snazzy new Snow Peak Titanium Spork.

We’ll be doing more giveaways in the near future, though, so like our Facebook page to be notified of the next one! We plan to make them bigger and better from here on out!

Shout-outs

Shout-out to my partner Tay for taking on the role of ‘Instagram Boyfriend’ for the photography section of this research (per usual). Seriously, look at that champ. Thank him for the beautiful detail and his gift for capturing a bounty of facial expressions.

The post 6 Best Camp Sporks appeared first on 99Boulders.