The Hoo-Rag: The Ultimate Multi-Use Ultralight Gear

Wearing the Hoo-Rag around my neck on a hike
Wearing the Hoo-Rag around my neck on a hike

One of the most important doctrines of ultralight backpacking is the principle of multi-use. If an item can be used for more than one purpose, it means carrying less single-use gear. Simple.

I want to talk about an item that I think best exemplifies this principle, the Hoo-Rag. Hoo-Rag sent me one of these to try out and it’s been a lot of fun finding unique and undocumented ways of using this simple yet versatile item.

The Hoo-Rag is a lightweight, seamless tube-style soft bandana. It comes in tons of different patterns and there are more ways to wear it than I can count. Hoo-Rag shows off their product primarily as wearable (and hop on over to their site to see the numerous ways you can wear it), but I want to focus on how this has become the ultimate multi-use item in my backpacking kit.

Read more

Havasuper Time at Havasu Falls: Part 1

Checking off the bucket list

The optional extension to the Columbia Sportswear event last month was a three day trip to Havasu Falls, home of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, towering red cliffs, and deep turquoise waters. It is a destination that has been on my backpacking bucket list for several years so I absolutely jumped at this opportunity, especially with someone else taking care of all of the planning and bureaucracy.  Because I didn’t have to deal with the permitting and payment myself I’m not going to go into the details of how to visit, you can find that out for yourself.

Read more

#1 2011 Gear of the Year: Big Agnes Copper Spur 3

Big Agnes Copper Spur 3
Big Agnes Copper Spur 3

Coming in at the #1 spot: The  Big Agnes Copper Spur 3.

This is the second of the two new 2011 purchases to make the list. Many of you are familiar with my love for my solo tent, the Tarptent Rainbow. Because I love that tent so much I purchased the Double Rainbow for the times when MrC is backpacking with me. But that tent has never been comfortable for us – there are a lot of issues with the 2 person version that I simply don’t have with the single version. So before our longer backpack this summer I decided I wanted to replace it. After a lot of research I settled on a favorite brand of many of my backpacking friends, Big Agnes. We chose the larger 3 person version for the space and comfort and it was a great choice.

Of all the items on this year’s list this probably has the least use, but I’ve been so happy with it that I had to include it. The reasons I love it?

  • Super quick to set up and take down
  • Breaks down into multiple pieces (body, fly, poles, stakes) so it is easy to split up into relatively even loads
  • The interior space is huge. We can both fit in there with all of our gear with plenty of room to spare. We can sit up, play cards, and move around without annoying each other. It’s a tent that I would be comfortable in for a long time, which is nice when you have to wait out storms.
  • The side walls are high enough to keep out blowing dust, rain, or snow.
  • Sleeping without the fly is possible and the mesh ceiling of the inner part is fine enough to allow for star gazing.
  • We have had little to no condensation issues
  • It has doors and vestibules on both sides so we don’t have to crawl over each other to get in.
  • It weighs about 4.5 lbs. That’s 2 lb heavier than the Double Rainbow but in our opinion it’s worth it. It’s one of the few sub-5 lb double walled 3 person tents on the market.

 

Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 with Fly
Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 with Fly

 

#4 2011 Gear of the Year: Jetboil Sol Ti

Jetboil Sol Ti
Jetboil Sol Ti

This is one of my 2011 additions. I go through a lot of cook gear combinations and I think I’ve finally found the right one (okay, until the next greatest thing comes out).

I wrote about the Jetboil Sol Ti back in July. The expectations that I had going into the summer backpacking season were met and even exceeded by this handy cook system. It’s quick, efficient, and packs down well.

I’ve been a Jetboil user for years but on many backpacks chose against it in favor of lighter, more compact systems. Now I’ve found a solution that has the same weight and size benefits as my other systems, while maintaining the efficiency and ease of a Jetboil. It’s  great! Definitely one of the best purchases of 2011.

#5 2011 Gear of the Year: Packit Gourmet Foods

Tortilla Soup. Mmm.
Tortilla Soup. Mmm.

Another reappearance!

I tend to cycle through backpacking food favorites. I’ll latch on to something for a while and then get sick of it, moving on to something new when I’m bored.

However, I’m still not sick of that PackitGourmet Tortilla Soup. Holy heck it is good. I still love everything else of theirs too – the smoothies, the gumbo, the spreads. I look forward to my meal every night when I’m carrying their stuff. They include just the right touches to make the meal delicious – in the case of the tortilla soup there are tortilla chip crumbles and freeze dried cheese. Mmmm.

Honorable mentions in the food department include Kind bars and Larabars – my latest trail bar favorites.