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Ok, I admit it, I'm a gear junkie of sorts! I love my old tried and true gear but I do fall prey to the newer, lighter gear all the time. In an effort to help you with your gear purchases I've decided to tell you what pieces of gear have really impressed or really disappointed us. Hopefully you can glean something from it and perhaps make better gear choices of your own. We have many more pieces of gear to be reviewed here so be patient and check back often!

A word about out ratings: Five "camps" is the highest rating we give!

Lowa Tempest Lo

Type of Gear	Light Hiking Boots
Manufacturer	Lowa
Price	$89.00
Weight	2 Pounds for mens size 9
Intended Use	Day hiking
Misc Info	Designed for narrow to medium width, low to mid volume feet
Key Features	All leather construction
Greatest Strength	Lacing system
Greatest Weakness	Lacing system: See below
Purchased At	Kittery Trading Post
Other Reviews	Backpacker Magazine
Overall Rating

I began hiking back in the '60s when just about everyone I knew wore either work boots or sneakers to hike in. Then came the '70s when I joined the "real" hikers and wore 2 ton, heavy duty, all leather, hiking BOOTS! A few years ago I broke down and tried some of the new mid cut, fabric and leather boots and was impressed with the comfort and weight. Well, this past spring I decided to go all the way and try a pair of low cut boots like these. I chose these for the single most important reason to choose any boot...FIT! I tried on countless pairs of boots over a few months and was just so impressed with the way these boots fit that I had to give 'em a try.

As it turns out after several hikes...I am amazed at how comfortable these boots are! Due to the fact that they are not as light as some of the fabric and leather boots and have a surprisingly stiff shank, I have found them quite suitable for loads up to 20 pounds or so and plan to test them with heavier loads as soon as I get a chance. As far as I'm concerned it will take some doing to get me to go back to heavier boots even if I'm doing a weekends worth of backpacking!

The only possible trouble I can see with these boots is the eye lets for the laces don't seem too impressively strong. I did have one begin to pull away in the slightest possible way. But Kittery Trading Post gave me a new pair, no questions asked. The funny thing is, I would also consider the lacing style to be one of the boots real strong points. Being simple eyes it allows a very controlled fit when lacing the boots.

Mountainsmith Wraith

Type of Gear	Day Pack
Manufacturer	Mountainsmith
Price	$129.00
Weight	2 Pounds 2 Ounces
Intended Use	Day hiking
Misc Info	Designed for torsos ranging from 15 to 21 inches. Volume = 1700 cubic inches
Key Features	Padded valuables pocket. Mesh bottle pockets that are usable even when the compression straps are tightened. Waterproof zippers. H2O compatible. Fits long torso.
Greatest Strength	Versatility and Weight
Greatest Weakness	Price. I find it a bit steep for a day pack.
Purchased At	Kittery Trading Post
Other Reviews	N/A
Overall Rating

For an all around day pack I don't think this one can be beat! I was initially lead to this pack for two reasons. First was that it is designed to fit up to a 21 inch torso and though I may not be too tall I do have a long torso. I have found too many day packs simply too short to allow me to carry the weight on my hips rather than my shoulders and with the back problems I suffer, this is essential. Second was the name. We have another Mountainsmith pack, the Approach, which has been nearly as impressive. Their packs may be a bit on the costly side but I feel their well worth it if you're looking for a quality pack!

Some of my favorite features are...The weight! Though this may not be the lightest of ultralight packs, I find two pounds pretty impressive for this size pack! I love the waterproof zippers and the large zipper pulls. I think that Mountainsmith has come up with a great system of "wings" that allow you to pull the pack right into the lower part of your back. They also allow you to use the mesh water bottle pockets even when you have the compression straps tightened. But, the primary thing I've enjoyed about this pack is it's comfort! I've long been searching for the "perfect" pack. A pack that I can take on most short to medium day hikes, that's light enough that I don't mind carrying it even when it's nearly empty and that's always comfortable. This is as close as I've come and I own a dozen or more packs!