Other
SPOT X 2-Way Satellite Messenger
Tough and long-lasting with good open-sky check-ins, but messages stalled or failed under Quebec forest cover.
Find the best gear for your next adventure.
Other
YETI Trailhead Field Chair
A supportive, steady camp chair with a comfortable carry bag. I missed armrests and an included cup holder.
Other
NEMO Stargaze EVO-X
Superb suspended comfort, smooth reclining and a five-second setup, offset by nearly 15 pounds of bulk and spill-prone cup holders.
Shelter
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2
Generous solo space, two doors and useful storage, with a cramped fit for two wide mats and poor comfort in strong wind.
Cooking
Camp Chef Everest 2X
Exceptional power, wind protection and stability make it a strong car-camping stove, offset by weak simmer control and a failed igniter.
Cooking
Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System
Superb simmer control and compact nesting survived countless trips, though both igniters failed early and the plastic lid warped.
Footwear
LOWA Renegade Evo GTX Mid
Exceptional loaded support, waterproofing and durability, with summer heat and non-resoleable construction as the tradeoffs.
Footwear
Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof
Comfortable and capable on dry trails, but poor wet grip and premature sole separation make it impossible to recommend for hard use.
Footwear
Hoka Kaha 3 GTX
Plush comfort, excellent waterproofing and a stable loaded platform make long days easier, with heat and bulk as the price.
Knives & Tools
Leatherman Surge
Massive pliers and brilliant T-shank versatility proved durable through a boat refit, with serious weight and refinement tradeoffs.
Knives & Tools
Leatherman Signal
A great carabiner, useful hammer and aggressive saw cannot fully rescue its compromised combo blade and gimmicky inserts.
Knives & Tools
Benchmade Mini Bugout
Exceptional 1.5 oz carry and superb blade geometry, undermined by flexible scales, inconsistent tuning and a difficult price.
Knives & Tools
Kershaw Bel Air
Outstanding MagnaCut geometry, smooth DuraLock action and rigid 2.9 oz carry, offset by poor traction when wet or gloved.
Apparel
Helly Hansen Odin Ultimate Infinity
Exceptional weather protection and initial durability in a stiff, warm and substantial mountain shell.
Flashlights
Black Diamond Distance LT 1100
Exceptional stability and a beautifully blended beam make this a serious running tool, despite awkward controls and charging.
Shelter
MSR Hubba Hubba HD 2
Warm, spacious and impressively stable in rain and high wind, with a weight and ventilation tradeoff.
Other
COROS Nomad
Accurate GPS, full offline maps, 20-22 day battery life and useful Voice Pins for US$349, offset by a muted display and bulky case.
Other
YETI Tundra 65 Cool Box
Five to six days of useful ice and excellent durability through a Mediterranean summer, held back by punishing loaded weight and no wheels.
Other
Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus
Fast satellite messaging and near-two-week low-power tracking across three months in Quebec, with basic mapping and some two-app friction.
Shelter
NEMO Roamer Mattress
Two linked Singles delivered near-home comfort through 90 nights in Quebec, with excellent warmth and clear limits when the route required carrying them.
Bags
The North Face Base Camp WP Duffel 95L
Nine months of salt spray, wet dinghies and rough quays proved its durability and weather protection, with clear limits in carry comfort and organisation.
Cooking
Coastal Range The Backpacker Stove
A complete 260 g stove with unusual 1.2 L capacity, fast measured boils and excellent nesting, held back by a hot cozy and limited simmer control.
Other
Seeed Studio SenseCAP MeshTracker X1
A polished 45 g Meshtastic tracker with excellent dual-band positioning, five-day endurance and an 8 km direct result, but no standalone messaging screen.
Shelter
Marmot Wraptor 30 Synthetic
Bed-like zipperless comfort and excellent temperature control after 90 nights, offset by synthetic bulk and a looser seal near freezing.
Bags
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40
Three months across Quebec proved the Unbound 40 is comfortable, exceptionally well organised and impressively durable, with limited ventilation and a firm load ceiling.
Other
Renogy 200W Portable Solar Panel
A month as the only camping power source and a Mediterranean cruising season revealed excellent 177W peak output, fast setup and clear shade and weather limits.
Flashlights
Nitecore EDC37
Three months of Quebec hiking and night sailing showed how well the flat body carries. Heat, IP54 protection and a sealed battery limit the otherwise powerful design.
Apparel
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L
Three months in Quebec proved the Torrentshell 3L is a tough, well-cut storm shell with dependable rain protection and sensible value.
Cooking
Jetboil Flash 1.0L
Ninety days of coffee stops in Quebec showed how useful a 100-second boil can be, plus why the Flash remains a specialist rather than an all-round stove.
Footwear
Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX
Eighty hikes across Quebec showed excellent grip, low weight and useful midfoot support, plus the heat and durability compromises to know about.
Bags
Osprey Atmos AG LT 65
Three months across Quebec showed why Osprey's AntiGravity suspension remains so comfortable, and where the lighter LT design asks for compromise.
Shelter
The North Face Wawona 6
Thirty nights with two adults and two children reveal generous space, excellent ventilation and a highly practical vestibule, at the cost of weight and setup time.
Knives & Tools
Leatherman ARC
Premium MagnaCut blade, brilliant one-handed FREE access and a useful 20-tool set, with softer wire cutters and a steep price.
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