Hiking Highlights

TOP TRAIL-TESTED TECHNOLOGIES

Delorme Earthmate PN-60w No cell service? No problem with the new Delorme Earthmate PN-60w, which combines handheld GPS navigation capabilities with a SPOT emergency locator beacon for emergency situations. It also gives you the ability to send text messages via satellites, so you can keep your family updated on your whereabouts during your month-long thru hike or trek through the Congo. You can even use the device to update your Twitter or Facebook page, because we know the entire world wants to know how great the sunrise is from Kathadin. $549 for the device, plus $100-$160 annually for the SPOT service; delorme.com

Klymit Inertia X-Frame Talk about trimming the fat. Klymit mapped a variety of body styles and gutted the standard sleeping pad to only include the essential pressure points needed for a good night’s sleep. The open parts in the pad allow your sleeping bag’s insulation to fully expand for proper warmth. Plus, the ultra-lightweight pad (9.1 ounces) packs down to the size of a soda can. $100; klymit.com

Ergodyne Flip-Top Glove Simply flip the top to switch from a mitten to a fingerless glove. A windproof, water-repellent micro fleece inside keeps your hands toasty and comfy, and the double-layer palm increases its durability. $23; ergodyne.com

Patagonia P26 To develop the P26, Patagonia shoe designers asked thru-hikers what they wanted to see in a long-distance hiking shoe. The result is one of the greenest and meticulously constructed backpacking shoes ever made. The name comes from the 26 bones in the human foot. Patagonia’s goal in creating the shoe was to find the most comfortable and responsible way for those bones to interact with the ground. Constructed with an unprecedented amount of recycled materials, the P26 mixes the durability of a leather boot with the lightweight flexibility and cushioning of a trail runner. $185; patagonia.com

Mountain Hardwear Flip It’s no secret that Appalachian backcountry temperatures are diligently unpredictable. Be ready for a wide range with the versatile, synthetic Flip. One side of the broad semi-rectangular bag is thicker for chilly nights down to 25 degrees. In the warm seasons, flip it over for a thinner 40-degree temperature rating. Look out for a lighter down version this coming spring. $120; mountainhardwear.com

Sierra Designs Herald 30 This is the first line of packs Sierra Designs has produced since the 70s, and they’ve given some serious thought to the details. The fulcrum suspension moves naturally and fluidly with the body, and the pack is big enough for an all-day hike or an ultralight overnighter. The pack is loaded with goodies: waist belt pockets, trekking pole loops, hydration sleeves, even an integrated bottle opener. It comes in two sizes for men as well as a women’s specific version. 3pounds, 2 ounces; 1850 cubic inches). $160; sierradesigns.co

Black Diamond Axiom Pack 40L Feel the relief of unrestricted motion on the trail. Black Diamond has developed an innovative new suspension system that moves with your body, so you don’t get the jerking resistance of a backcountry load. The breathable shoulder straps independently move with your stride, so you can shuffle through a rock scramble without the back burn. $150; blackdiamondequipment.com

Easton Mountain Products Kilo Eastern Mountain is revolutionizing the tent world again with their new Carbon Ion poles with Air Lock technology. The carbon and aluminum poles use a monofilament to keep the individual pole pieces in order (instead of the traditional shock chord) and snap together with pressure fit connectors. The result is a stronger pole that’s 56 percent lighter than standard tent poles. Cutting so much pole weight allowed Easton to put more durable materials into the tents themselves. The Kilo is a two-person, three-season tent with a 20D Ripstop fly and 30D nylon floor. Even with the thicker materials, the Kilo comes in at a svelte 2pounds, 2 ounces—the lightest freestanding two-person tent on the market. $399; eastonmountainproducts.com

Steripen Sidewinder The newest offering from Steripen still uses their UV technology to purify drinking water on the go, but the Sidewinder needs no batteries. Instead, fill the reservoir, attach it to the sidewinder, and crank the handle to activate the UV stick. You can purify 32 ounces in 90 seconds, so it’s as fast as other Steripens, but the process is a little more involved than just pushing a button and waiting for 90 seconds. However, not having to pack extra batteries on a long backpack is worth the extra “work.” Weighs 16.6 ounces and the lamp lasts for 8,000 treatments. $100; steripen.com EXPERT PICK “The one piece of gear I can’t live without would be a generic plastic coffee drip filter holder. I haven’t arose without coffee in a long time and don’t intend to any time soon. Put a paper filter and coffee in it and place it over your cup, pour hot water in, and presto, fresh java! I’ve had it for more than 20 years and it is easily the longest continuously used backpacking item I own. One downside: all my camping buddies expect me to make the morning coffee!”

—Johnny Molloy, the Tennessee native and veteran guidebook writer, who has written 37 books about hiking, paddling, and camping. He is approaching his 700th cumulative night backpacking inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.