Safety Gear

Featured review by Brian Sells

This emergency blanket/tarp is the best bang for your buck, hands down. Tough and durable at a price that anyone can afford.

The UST Survival Blanket is one piece of equipment that is a must have for anyone. I have purchased several of these to keep in the emergency kits in our vehicles, a BOB at home, and I have two of them in my pack when I am out in the woods. I am not a typical backpacker, making long treks cross country. I typically go in and set up a base camp and then spend the next few days hunting and fishing for my food. These UST blankets have been a part of my gear for a couple of years now. First of all, the price is unmatched.

Read more: UST Survival Blanket 2.0 reviews (3)

Featured review by Elizabeth McCoy

I am so glad I found this item! I love the Kula Cloth. This has cut down on toilet paper immensely on the trail. Easy to use, easy to wash.

I found out about the Kula Cloth when I was on the Gnara website ordering my Gnara "Go There" hiking pants (read my review). I splurged and bought the Kula Cloth too, not knowing what to expect. I brought it on a hiking trip and was pleasantly surprised with it.  Description picture from the Kula Cloth website  What a great way to decrease the need for toilet paper when peeing in the wilderness. I brought the Kula Cloth on the last three thru hikes, and I love it! It has snaps on it that make it easy to attach anywhere on your backpack.

Read more: Kula Cloth reviews (2)

Featured review by Mike Mineart

This is a very light, durable, and functional camp shovel with the added benefit of being very useful for a number of other applications around camp that might not be so obvious.

I want to first knowledge that I received my Deuce of Spades as a gift for being a past Reviewer of the Month here on Trailspace and I also want to confess (and I hate to admit...) that I was really excited to be receiving this "potty" shovel as a gift. I have always been interested in gear and equipment and when I first saw the Deuce of Spades I thought it looked like a really cool shovel, but more importantly also thought that it could be very useful for a number of other applications which would make it a great addition to my pack.

Read more: TheTentLab Deuce of Spades #2 reviews (7)

Featured review by PhilNC

I have used DEET and other products since the early 1980s, but Permethrin treated clothes are much more effective in tick prevention based on my experience in tick-infested areas. Sawyer Permethrin can keep ticks from landing and biting, and can actually kill them on your clothes. It is the repellent I depend on for work and recreation—effective and easy to apply.

A recent forum thread reminded me I hadn’t reviewed bug protection products that I planned to write up last year.  With today being excellent gear-treating weather for the spring Permethrin application, I decided to finish this review while my clothes dry. My Reviewer of the Month prize last year included Sawyer Permethrin and Picaridin, both of which I have been using for a while before that. I have posted a separate review of Sawyer Picaridin, but wanted to mention it here as it is an integral part of my overall bug defense system in combination with Permethrin.  Usage: I have consistently used Sawyer Permethrin for the last 5 years as my primary defense against ticks.

Read more: Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent Treatment for Clothing, Gear, and Tents reviews (5)

Featured review by G00se

Adventure Medical Kit’s Ultralight & Watertight .7 is a nice group first aid kit when hiking in the backcountry, paddling down the river, or car camping near home. Plenty is offered in this 6oz (178g) kit. Its waterproofing allows you to store it in the top of your pack without concern for rain or rapids.

I have been carrying the Ultralight & Watertight .7 on various day hikes with my family during the summer. I am fortunate to say that I have not needed to actually use any of the materials inside, and my hope is that it stays that way. The kit is waterproof, primarily through an inner zip-locking dry bag. I have noted the inner bag can unzip without careful attention to closing it firmly. It would be nice to see a slider tab on this inner bag to ensure closure. A secondary layer of protection is the outer bag, which is seam sealed, siliconized, and possessing a “water resistant” zipper.

Read more: Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight & Watertight .7 reviews (4)

Featured review by PhilNC

I have used DEET and other products since the early 1980s as mosquito and tick prevention for work and play, but now am a full convert to Sawyer Picaridin and Permethrin combination to keep the bugs away. Picaridin has similar effectiveness to DEET without the worries about plastic degrading and other effects on gear.

A recent forum thread reminded me I hadn’t reviewed bug protection products that I planned to write up last year.  With spring coming on and today being excellent gear-treating weather, I decided to finish this review.  My Reviewer of the Month prize last year included Sawyer Permethrin and Picaridin, both of which I have been using for a while. I will deal with Permethrin in a separate review, but wanted to mention it here as it is an integral part of my overall bug defense system in combination with Picaridin.

Read more: Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent reviews (2)

Reviewed by Sean Van Cleve

The Adventure Medical Kits Hiker is a 2-person/2-day first aid kit that is designed to be lightweight, water resistant, and streamlined for quick excursions. This kit is recommended for the outdoor enthusiast that plans on day hiking or an overnight either solo, or with another individual.

New Hampshire-based Adventure Medical Kits is a company that has been providing first aid materials to the consumer since 1973. Their products have been on the shelf in most camping and outdoor shops for over 40 years, helping people take care of wounds as well as providing peace of mind for outdoor enthusiasts around the world. Although well suited for day hikes, this kit IS NOT recommended for backcountry use; Adventure Medical Kits offers a ‘backcountry’ line of first aid kits that include additional necessary items.

Read more: Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit review (1)

Featured review by David Drake

The "tied" and true, Bear discouragement, food containment system, the Ursack Spectra 29 AllWhite, may very well be your best available option for food containment, food protection, and food safety, as well as, ease of use, weight and volume consideration, while on the trail.

The "tied" and true, Bear discouragement, food containment system, the Ursack Spectra 29 AllWhite, may very well be your best available option for food containment, food protection, and food safety, as well as, ease of use, weight and volume consideration, while on the trail. Update May 13, 2014… April 11, 2014… The IGBC test of the S29 passed. April 18, 2014… “We are still awaiting the official certification letter and number from the IGBC, but can share some of the details. At IGBC insistence, we baited an Ursack S29 AllWhite, knotted it securely and placed it on the ground with no aluminum liner and not tied to a tree.

Read more: Ursack Major reviews (2)

Featured review by Bheiser1

This is a review of the Bearikade Expedition MKII model by Wild Ideas. As bear cans go (especially for one of this capacity) it's lightweight. As a result it is the canister of choice for long-distance through-hikers on trails like the PCT and JMT. I borrowed one and used it for a 30-day John Muir Trail through-hike in 2012.

This is a review of the Bearikade Expedition MKII by Wild Ideas.  As bear cans go (especially for one of this capacity) it's lightweight.  As a result it is the canister of choice for long-distance through-hikers on trails like the PCT and JMT.  I borrowed one and used it for a 30-day John Muir Trail through-hike in 2012. Background: In many parts of the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere bear cans are required for food storage while in the backcountry. This is to not only protect hikers' food supplies, but to protect the bears themselves.

Read more: Wild Ideas Bearikade Expedition reviews (3)

Featured review by JRinGeorgia

The Bearikade line of bear canisters from Wild Ideas are by far the lightest weight for the volume you get. Bearikades are the only carbon fiber bear canisters approved for use where canisters are required. The Weekender can hold enough food for two people for 3+ days, or up to 7 days for solo use.

This is a review of the Bearikade Weekender bear canister by Wild Ideas. The Bearikade, available in three standard sizes plus custom sizes, is the only product they make and/or sell. You can find them at www.wild-ideas.net. I am not affiliated with Wild Ideas in any way. Bear canisters are required in many wilderness areas, so even though they are heavy they are a necessary evil in order to visit during at least some of the year at all or parts of places like Yosemite and much of the Sierra Nevada, Glacier, Grand Teton, RMNP, Olympic, Denali, and increasingly in the East like in the Adirondacks (there’s even a section of the Appalachian Trail here in Georgia where bear cans are seasonally required).

Read more: Wild Ideas Bearikade Weekender reviews (3)