The WildeBeat

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Autumn Gear 2008

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents the first of our new series of gear reviews. Now, more than ever, our gear programs depend on your participation.

Steve talks to Backpack Gear Test founder and publisher Jerry Goller about the new relationship between Backpack Gear Test and the WildeBeat. Richard Lyon reviews the Ryders Eyewear Intersect sunglasses.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

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Thu, Aug 14, 2008

Summer OR 2008

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is a report on the 2008 Outdoor Retailer's Summer Market. What gear will BackpackGearTest be reviewing for next summer?

Volunteers Rick Allnutt, Christopher Nicolai, and Ken Bigelow report on the most interesting gear they hope to test for BackpackGearTest.ORG. They comment on products by: GoMotion, Ultimate Survival Technologies, Gerber, Bushnell, Sigg, Insect Shield, and the Therm-a-Rest division of Cascade Designs.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

WildeBeat Members can download the entire reports from the BGT testers from our WildeBeat Insider web pages.

• Edition 151 [MP3 format; length 9:55; 2,384,412 bytes]
• Edition 151 transcript

Thu, Jun 12, 2008

Modern Rain gear

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of two rain jackets and a poncho. An important part of keeping warm is keeping dry, and the first part you want to protect is your torso.

Steve Nelson reviews the Antigravitygear Poncho Villa. Gail Staisil reviews the Outdoor Research Celestial Jacket. Jim Sabiston reviews the Integral Designs eVENT Cruiser Jacket.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

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Thu, May 15, 2008

Light Lights

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of LED lanterns and headlamps. In the past few years, the one piece of outdoor gear that's improved most dramatically in performance versus weight is lighting.

Larry Kirschner reviews the Coleman 4AA Pack-Away Lantern. Roger Caffin reviews the Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp. Tim Tessier reviews the Black Diamond Icon Headlamp.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

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Thu, Jan 31, 2008

Winter OR 2008

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is a report on the Winter 2008 Outdoor Retailer's Expo. What's cool in next year's winter gear?

Jason Boyle and Christopher Nicolai report on the most interesting gear they hope to test for BackpackGearTest.ORG. They comment on products by: GoLite, Rab, Patagonia, Mountainsmith, MontBell, Cilogear, Aspen Aerogel, Easton, Garmont, and Teko Socks.

As a wrap-up, Backpack Gear Test founder Jerry Goller tells us that they get more gear to review than their reviewers can keep up with. You might be able to get free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Dec 27, 2007

Year in Gear '07

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is a wrap-up of Backpack Gear Tests's reviews of 2007. Steve asked the volunteer editors and moderators from Backpack Gear Test to talk about their most memorable reviews. Memorable reviews might be about their favorite gear; but they might instead be about especially thorough or innovative approaches to reviewing outdoor gear. These four people responded: Thomas Vickers¹, Ralph Ditton², Rick Allnutt³, and Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd⁴.

Out of more than a thousand reviews published on BGT this year, they were impressed by these:

1. Black Diamond One Shot Tent¹
2. GoLite Odyssey Pack²
3. Trail Designs Caldera Cone Stove System²
4. AntiGravityGear Poncho Villa³
5. AntiGravityGear TarpTent³
6. MontBell UL Super Stretch Hugger 2007⁴

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Dec 06, 2007

Three Three-Season Bags

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of three-season sleeping bags. Three-season bags are those that you would typically use in spring, summer, or fall.

Edward Ripley-Duggan reviews the Valandre Mirage. Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Montbell UL Alpine Burrow Bag. Andrew Buskov reviews the Big Agnes Lost Ranger.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

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Thu, Oct 04, 2007

Bags for the Cold

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of winter sleeping bags. Winter camping is cool. But it isn't cold if you have a warm sleeping bag to crawl into.

Michael Wheiler reviews the Sierra Designs Cirque. Jennifer Koles reviews the Sierra Designs Electra. Andy Henrichs reviews the Sierra Designs Echo.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

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Thu, Aug 16, 2007

Summer OR 2007

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is an overview of some of the new gear exhibited at the 2007 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Steve intervews testers from BackpackGearTest.ORG in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Andy Mytys comments on the SPOT Satellite Messenger, new tarps by Go Lite, and new products by Sea to Summit. Jennifer Koles comments on the Magellan Triton GPS receiver and National Geographic Topo! maps. Jason Boyle comments on a new eVent® jacket by Rab, new drinks by Cliff Bar, and jackets by Mont-Bell. Andy talks about the green trend he saw in new gear this year.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can get free gear, and help your fellow wilderness travelers evaluate what gear will work for them.

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Thu, Jul 05, 2007

Wool-Blend Socks

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of wool-blend socks. You probably don't think much about socks, until you find yourself wishing you had different ones.

Andrew Buskov reviews the Bridgedale X-Hale Socks. Pam Wyant reviews the Defeet Blaze socks. Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Defeet Classico socks. Ray Estrella reviews the Wigwam Wool/Silk Hiker socks.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

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Thu, Apr 05, 2007

Base-Layer Shirts

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of three base-layer shirts. A lot of us don't give much consideration to those layers we wear closest to our skin.

Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Drimove L/S Top by Go Lite. Coy Starnes reviews the Outdoor Research Men's Sequence LS Tee. Kathy Waters reviews the women's version of OR's Sequence shirt, the Outdoor Research Women's Essence LS Tee.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test, read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide too much gear for the reviewers they have.

Steve announced that we need to take a break to make some changes in what we're doing. Please watch our web page for updates.

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Thu, Feb 08, 2007

Winter OR 2007

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is a report on the Winter 2007 Outdoor Retailer's Expo. When the outdoor industry gathers, it's a major expedition for the folks at Backpack Gear Test; but it isn't all about the toys.

Jason Boyle¹, Raymond Estrella², and Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd³ report on the most interesting gear they hope to test for BackpackGearTest.ORG. They comment on products by: GoLite¹, Snow Peak¹, MSR¹, Primus¹, Fox River¹, Injinji¹, Sierra Designs², Osprey Packs², Blue Desert³, MontBell³, and Go Pro³.

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You might be able to get free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

As a wrap-up, we invited Kurt Repanshek to comment on a larger issue facing the outdoor industry. His commentary includes a statement by Peter Metcalf, president of Black Diamond Equipment. More of Kurt's commentary is available on his web site, National Parks Traveler.

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• Bonus segment, original reports from BGT [MP3 format; length 14:22; 1,724,628 bytes]

Thu, Dec 28, 2006

Year in Gear '06

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is a wrap-up of Backpack Gear Tests's reviews of 2006. Steve asked the volunteer editors and moderators from Backpack Gear Test to pick their favorites; three replied: Ray Estrella¹, Rick Allnutt², and Jim Sabiston³. Out of more than a thousand reviews published on BGT this year, they recommended these:

1. Nunatak Skaha Plus Down Sweater¹
2. Nunatak Back Country Blanket¹
3. Kershaw Rainbow Leek Knife²
4. SureFire L1 LumaMax Flashlight³
5. Trail Designs Caldera Cone Stove System²
6. Suunto Vector Wristop Computer Watch³
7. Six Moon Designs Essence Pack²
8. Exped Wall Creeper Sleeping Bag³

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Dec 07, 2006

Light Lofty Jackets

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of two lightweight synthetic-insulated jackets. These jackets can serve as lighter, more compressible replacements for the ubiquitous fleece jacket. The reviews are provided by volunteer reviewers from Backpack Gear Test.

Pamela Wyant reviews the Big Sky Products Convertible Sweater. Christine Korhonen reviews the Integral Designs PLQ Jacket.

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Oct 05, 2006

Lightweight Solo Shelters

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of two lightweight solo shelters. The reviews are provided by volunteer reviewers from Backpack Gear Test.

Jason Boyle reviews the TarpTent Rainbow. Andrew Buskov reviews the Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape.

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Sep 07, 2006

Two Two-Person tents

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of two two-person backpacking tents. The reviews are provided by volunteer reviewers from Backpack Gear Test.

Kathryn Doiron reviews the Coleman Cloudview Two tent. Raymond Estrella reviews the MSR Fling tent.

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Jun 08, 2006

Rain Pants Reviewed

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of three different rain pants models. The reviews are provided by volunteer reviewers from Backpack Gear Test.

Brian Tannehill reviews the Red Ledge Full Zip Rain Pants. Pam Wyant reviews the Big Sky Products Warm-n-Cozy Epic Pants. Kathy Waters reviews the Integral Designs eVENT Rain Pants.

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Feb 16, 2006

Winter OR 2006

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is a report on the Winter 2006 Outdoor Retailer's Expo. Jerry Goller, Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd, and Steven Nelson of Backpack Gear Test report on the show in general, and the gear they saw there in particular.

They commented on gear made by Heat Factory, Jetboil, Arc'teryx, Osprey, Mountain Hardware, Pacific Outdoor Equipment, Kahtoola, Java Juice, Ursack, Icebreaker Merino, and Injinji.

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Dec 08, 2005

The Year in Gear

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program might give you some holiday shopping ideas. Steve asked three volunteer editors from Backpack Gear Test to pick their favorites: Rick Allnutt¹, Jim Sabiston², and Edward Ripley-Duggan³. Out of thousands of reviews published on BGT this year, they recommended these:

1. Orikaso Fold Flat Picnic Set¹
2. Outdoor Research Airfoil Gloves²
3. Princeton Tec EOS Headlamp³
4. Vargo Jet-Ti Stove¹
5. Bozeman TorsoLite Sleeping Pad²
6. MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoe³
7. Tilley TH4 Hemp Hat¹
8. Black Diamond Lighthouse Tent²
9. Western Mountaineering Antelope Sleeping Bag³
10. Gossamer Gear Lightrek PLUS Poles¹

You can provide gear reviews as well. You'll start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

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Thu, Nov 10, 2005

Lightweight Stove Reviews

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of three lightweight camp stoves. The reviews are provided by volunteer reviewers from Backpack Gear Test.

Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd reviews the Jetboil Personal Cooking System. Will Rietveld reviews the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove. Leesa Joiner reviews the Brunton Raptor stove.

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