2011 Gear of the Year

The Gear Closet

Due to popular demand: the annual Calipidder Gear of the Year List is back!

Over the next ten days I’ll post an item a day, counting down my top ten gear of 2011. I originally had it all written out in one blog post but holy HECK it was long. I don’t want to punish my readers like that.

When I look at a lot of end-of-the-year lists they usually reflect back only on the calendar year that is wrapping up. But as I look back at the gear I most appreciated throughout 2011, I find that it doesn’t much reflect 2011′s greatest gear; rather, it reflects the gear that has withstood the test of time. There are only two items that I added to the kit in 2011 that have made the list.

This year’s list is quite a random selection. In addition to the two 2011-acquired items, four items are making a reappearance, and four older pieces of gear are small yet indispensable items that have survived many seasons of year-round backpacking and hiking.

What criteria did I apply when picking out my top ten?

• The item is a ‘no brainer’: although I may have many options for a particular need, I’ll always  reach for one specific piece of gear.
• Reliability: I know that it will do what it does well
• Items of any age: not restricting it to 2011 gear only
• Frequent use: something that I use often enough to reliably judge usefulness and quality.

I’m interested in your top gear choices from the past year. Something old and trusty or something new and novel? A little of both (like me)?