Gear we liked for 2024

Another year and some more gear.

We did gear ourselves up for bikepacking this year, but the opportunity never materialized for various reasons. That was our most considerable gear change; otherwise, we used a mix of replacements and tried some new things.

I hope to try bikepacking in the coming months, as it works well here. We don’t want to take our Tacoma on slow-going tracks that beat up the truck or walk along dirt roads. More to come on that topic.

In the meantime, here’s what we liked in 2024 –

Joan’s Picks

Joan is very handy with a sewing machine, which is excellent for repairs, modifications, and MYOG projects. Two of her favorite picks reflect this handiness. Two cottage gear picks round out what she liked in 2024.

• Lightheart Gear Alpha Fleece

Joan wears her Alpha Direct 90 Hoodie frequently during the summer months. This lightweight, compressible, and warm layer is well-suited for static use in less brushy terrain, like the tundra in the high country of the mountains. Compared to 60 or 120 gsm fabric, the 90gsm fabric balances weight, warmth, and durability.

• Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker

The lighter version of a budget gear pick (the SMD Skyscape Scout), the SMD Skyscape Trekker, is a shelter Joan liked because, at 28oz, it is reasonably light, very spacious for her 5’10” height, easy to set up, and did exceptionally well in heavy rain and side-blowing winds. The hybrid double-wall shelter allowed a lot of ventilation. At sub-$300, it is not cheap, but it has a better price-to-performance ratio than more expensive shelters.

• Tall gaiters (homemade)

Joan’s homemade gaiters replace a pair she’s worn for a while. They are practical and offer sun and brush protection when worn with a hiking skirt.

• Sun gloves (homemade)

Joan also made another MYOG item that provides good sun and brush protection and even a little warmth. The photo above illustrates the sun gloves; more details are below. Joan used the following free pattern for her gloves: https://www.patternsforpirates.com/product/fingerless-gloves/.

She also used the same fabric for her sun gloves and gaiters.

Our Picks

Our picks reflect a mix of practical, and inexpensive, and how we use camping as an adjunct to our backpacking trips.

• Flexible Regulator Kit (camp stove hose)

It’s such a simple item that adds a lot! Rather than the yellow metal hose that juts out an awkward angle, this flexible hose makes it much easier to place a propane tank and less likely to fail. Pair it with an adaptor to use a standard propane tank rather than those 16 oz green bottles California plans to ban starting in 2028. (And where CA goes, so goes the country)

• 1-liter Arizona Tea bottle

Light, inexpensive, wide mouth, and a full liter vs. similar bottles’ shrinkflation. A winner!

• Squak Woolies

It was a layer that quickly became a favorite of mine for winter use. Though Joan did not initially like it for backpacking due to her wool sensitivity when sweating, she loved it as a layer for at night.   I love the half-zip for ventilation and the hood, and I wear mine almost every week during the winter months.

• Utah’s Canyon Country Place Names by Steve Allen

It’s a bit of a cheat, as we loved this pick last year, too. But we have started using it to get backgrounds on places we like to see. With each passing year, we enjoy this phenomenal two-volume set more and more.

• Coghlan’s Map Compass

An $8 compass branded with a cheap gear company but made by a Taiwanese company that’s made navigation aids fo over 40 years. It works, is easy to read, is not expensive, and can be found in many places. Joan bought one as a replacement for a compass that got crushed, too.

Paul’s Picks

• Six Moon Designs pack liner

As I packraft more, I find the highly water resistant and more durable alternative to a compactor bag that’s not as heavy as a dry bag. At only $20, it’s not expensive, either. It’s a compromise vs. a genuine dry bag, but all of packrafting seems a compromise!

From SMD

• The Squak Mountain Co The Swell sun hoodie

I find sun hoodies too hot to wear when the temperature reaches ~65F, but I’ve grown to like them quite a bit for temperatures below this range and as lightweight tops for cooler weather at night.

The Men’s Swell is comfortable and light, and I breathe well when I wear it for active hiking in my preferred temperature range.

• Salomon X Ultra Pioneer hiking shoes

I always wear all-purpose shoes for my day job, when I go on SAR calls, take occasional quick hikes, and bikes around town, and travel. I’m on my third pair, which I just bought this past month.

• Topo Terraventure 4 Trail-Running Shoes

Although not as wide as Altras, the Terraventure 4s still has an ample toe box. Thus, it is an excellent shoe for backpacking in rougher terrain and scrambles and comfortable enough for on-trail jaunts.

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I can write (almost) the same thing as last year –

And that’s the gear we liked this past year. We’ll see what 2025 brings. I suspect a continuing replacement trend, trying new techniques, and repairing current stalwarts. 

I hope to add more about bikepacking as that will open up the Coloraod Plateau a bit more for us in some ways.

Here’s to a great 2025!