outdoor gear review
For the past 6 months, I’ve spent more than half of my life camping.
Because conservation projects require us to stay in remote areas, I’ll spend 8 days at a time sleeping in a tent, hiking to the work site, and carrying my gear on my back.
And that gear is everything to me. My comfort, sleep, efficiency, and health all depend on the gear I use and how well it holds up to the rigors of the job.
Therefore, I’ve developed some strong opinions about outdoor gear since I’ve started my conservation corps job and I thought it would be fun write something a little different and provide a comprehensive review of the gear I’ve been using. Hopefully it gives you some insight when shopping for your own camping and backcountry gear.
Before I get into it, I want to note that outdoor gear is expensive. It is not necessary to purchase the newest, best, most lightweight gear to have a great experience in the outdoors, especially if you recreate casually.
There are also lots of places to buy cheaper, secondhand gear, including thrift stores, co-ops like REI, local recreation stores, and Facebook Marketplace. And many gear shops will have substantial sales throughout the year. I was lucky enough to buy a lot of my gear on sale and to receive some as gifts during the holidays.
Now for some gear reviews…
Tent: Stoic Madrone 2
Typical price: $120
What I paid: $0 (provided by my job)
Do I recommend? Sure. This is great budget tent. It’s roomy enough for one person plus gear and could easily accommodate two. I personally had no problem with weather, though some of my coworkers had their tents flood or their rainflies fail. If you’re looking to backpack, this tent is probably too heavy, but overall it gets the job done.
Sleeping bag: NEMO Disco 15 (Women’s)
Typical price: $320
What I paid: $175 (REI Labor Day sale)
Do I recommend? YES! I love this sleeping bag. It’s warm, packs down into a very small stuff sack, and – most importantly for me – it is not a mummy bag. The Disco is designed for side sleepers and has extra room around the legs that makes the sleeping experience so much better. I’m not sure if NEMO is making this exact style anymore, but I recommend their bags for both backpacking and front country camping.
Sleeping pad: NEMO Tensor Ultralight Insulated Pad
Typical price: $180
What I paid: $100 (REI Labor Day sale)
Do I recommend? Absolutely! I have slept in many beds that are less comfortable than this sleeping pad. It’s been great in the backcountry and on a hardwood floor, and it provided that much needed boost in R value for colder weather. However, it is a little narrow so if you are wider through the shoulders or you toss and turn a lot I would recommend the wide version of this pad.
Sleeping pad: Exped FlexMat Sleeping Pad
Typical price: $40
What I paid: $28 (REI Labor Day sale)
Do I recommend? Yes! For me, one sleeping pad is not enough. I bring this if I’m packing really light and it’s not too cold, or when I want extra insulation under my NEMO Tensor. It’s definitely not as luxurious as an inflatable pad, but it’s surprisingly comfortable for a piece of foam. It’s also a lot more budget-friendly than most inflatable pads and can be used as a makeshift seat or yoga mat in a pinch.
Backpack: Superior Wilderness Designs Wolverine 70L
Typical price: $400
What I paid: $0 (Generous birthday gift)
Do I recommend? YES 100%! I cannot speak highly enough of SWD packs. This backpack is extremely light but still manages hold up to the rugged conditions of my job and loads of 50+ lbs. It’s also extremely comfortable for an ultralight pack. The price is a little intimidating, but if you’re in the market for a high-quality backpacking pack, I cannot recommend this one enough. SWD also has several other designs and sizes to choose from. Just make sure you place your order a few weeks in advance – each pack is made by hand.
Hiking boots: LOWA Renegade GTX Mids
Typical price: $255
What I paid: $175 (REI rewards)
Do I recommend? Definitely! LOWA have really been proving themselves as the next big name in hiking boots. I have put these boots through it all – hundreds of miles of hiking, rocky terrain, rain and snow – and they’ve held up magnificently. They’re super comfortable, have a short break-in period, and grippy Vibram soles. I think it’s also fairly easy to find secondhand LOWAs for a cheaper price.
Work pants: Carhartt Utility Double-Knee Work Pant (Men’s)
Typical price: $70
What I paid: $70
Do I recommend? Yes. I stand behind the fact that men’s pants are more comfortable and durable than women’s. Carhartt makes great work pants and these have stood up to the rugged work of a conservation corps. However, they aren’t hiking pants and the inner thighs have worn down from miles and miles of walking. I bet other popular brands would hold up equally as well.
Rain jacket: North Face Jacket (Women’s)
Typical price: $110
What I paid: ???
Do I recommend? Yes, for sure! I’m not sure how much this jacket cost when I bought it because I’ve had it for over 10 years. While the cuffs are finally starting to lose their water resistance, this has been my go-to rain jacket and it’s held up remarkably well in all kinds of weather. I don’t think North Face makes the same jacket anymore, but I’m sure their current styles work well too.
Rain pants: REI Trailmade Rain Pants (Women’s)
Typical price: $70
What I paid: ???
Do I recommend? Yes! Much like my rain jacket, it’s been so long since I’ve bought these that I don’t remember how much I spent. But they are on sale right now! These are probably not the world’s best or most sophisticated rain pants, but they’ve held up well in a variety of environments, from Arctic tundra to desert monsoon. They’ve never leaked through and they’re pretty lightweight.
Socks: Darn Tough Hiker Boot Midweight (Women’s)
Typical price: $27
What I paid: $16 (with a pro deal)
Do I recommend? 100% yes. Your hiking boots are really only as good as your hiking socks and Darn Toughs are the best. They’re comfortable for long days, durable enough for hundreds of miles, and made of Merino wool to help wick moisture and keep them smelling fresh. Darn Toughs also have a lifetime warranty – they’ll repair your socks forever. These are the best hiking socks you can buy and I will die on this hill.
Pee Cloth: Kula Cloth
Typical price: $20
What I paid: $20
Do I recommend? Yes! This is very different from the other gear I’ve listed here, but the kula cloth is a gamechanger for everyone who squats to pee. It’s absorbent and antimicrobial on one side, water resistant on the other, and it clips discreetly to your backpack to air dry. This is so nice to have on the trail to stay clean and dry while also following Leave No Trace principles.
In addition to this gear, there are a few other items that I always bring with me on projects.
For hygiene, I always bring a tiny bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap and a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol. The soap is great for washing hands or face and rubbing alcohol can be used as hand sanitizer or to quickly disinfect items in the backcountry.
Camp shoes are also a must and my personal favorites are Chacos, although I know Tevas and Bedrocks are also popular options.
I’ve been lucky to have really good experiences with my gear (no major failures or disappointments!), but I am also excited to discover new and better pieces and refine my kit. And I hope that these reviews give you some insight and inspiration when looking for your own camping gear.
I tend to write about environmental issues and ecological concepts, but it’s also important to learn about nature by getting outside and experiencing it. And getting outside is much easier and more enjoyable with good quality gear.