The Eno River’s Eagle Trail winds through lush North Carolina scenery, alternating between dense woodlands and open areas where you can take a minute to play around in the creek, if you feel so inclined.

Testing the Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 24L Hiking Backpack

On this particular adventure, the pack of choice was the Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 24L. One thing I like about MR is the build quality of their bags. Everything they make stands out as EXTREMELY rugged and resilient. Mystery Ranch started by creating packs for military use, and that durability still shows in their hiking line today.

The Rip Ruck features a unique “rip-open” front panel for quick access, ideal for grabbing gear on the go. Inside, it has a laptop sleeve, pencil pockets, and dual front compartments that open just as easily. For day hikers and photographers, these compartments work perfectly for camera lenses or small essentials.

The straps are thick and memory-foam padded, giving it that “turtle shell” look that stays put while moving. There are only a couple drawbacks with this one – being that there's no water bottle pocket—but tossing one inside works just fine. The other is that this pack may be overbuilt based on your individual needs. The extra weight doesn't bother me – and the backpack is still very comfortable. It’s versatile enough to take from the woods, to the office, and even to the gym, which makes it one of the best hiking backpacks for everyday use too. I use this one for pretty much everything.

Finding Joy in Local Adventures

The day wrapped up with a solid sighting of a great blue heron, a perfect moment that reminded us why we hike in the first place. I'm always trying to get good shots of these things.

You don’t always need epic mountaintop views or faraway destinations to reconnect with nature. Sometimes, the best adventures are close to home.

So next time you see an ordinary trail near your town, grab your hiking backpack, pack the essentials (read about my top must-haves for any hike), and head out. Whether it’s a quick afternoon escape or a full-day hike, you’ll find that being out there—anywhere—is what really matters.

The post Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 24 Day Hiking Backpack Review appeared first on Hazeadventure.

A Lightweight Powerhouse for Day Hikes

Gossamer Gear’s been killing it lately. You might’ve seen my review of the Mariposa 60, a backpack more geared towards long distance backpacking. But the Gossamer Gear Ultralight Loris 25 Daypack, its much smaller cousin, is going to be your little buddy on shorter day hikes.

Features That Actually Matter

The standout feature on Gossamer Gear packs tends to be it's tough, stretchy, mesh outer-pouch that holds your gear in tight while making access quick and easy. It's great for storing sunscreen, snacks, or anything you want without having to dig into your pack for it.

There's a removable sit pad up against your back for additional cushioning (classic GG move), dual bottle holders, strap pockets, and outward-facing zipper pouch that's just the right size for your phone/wallet/more snacks. The main compartment has two buckles and a cinch, and there’s even a zippered access down the middle, which allows you to get access to your things from a different angle.

All of these are nice touches, considering ultralight bags tend to be pretty bare-bones in most cases.

Inside the Gossamer Gear Ultralight Loris 25 Daypack, you’ll find a laptop-style sleeve (don’t actually put your laptop in it) and a zippered pouch that feels a little like a pencil-pouch.

Potential Drawbacks

The one sticking point I see here is going to be a common one in regards to ultralight packs, and that's durability. Ultralight bags tend to be a little thinner and less durable than their tankier counterparts. This bag built for fast, comfortable hiking—not bushwhacking through a war zone.

That said, the Loris 25 Daypack is stupidly light, surprisingly comfortable, and priced reasonably well for an ultralight option. You’re not going to find a heavy-duty suspension system here—but that’s kind of the point.

Could Gossamer Gear Loris 25 be your next go-to daypack?

Look, if you’re in the market for a slick, well-designed daypack that feels invisible on your back, the Gossamer Gear Ultralight Loris 25 Daypack is absolutely worth checking out. It’s ideal for day hikes, and honestly, if you’re a little nuts and want to go multi-day with it, I won’t stop you.

Until next time, Happy trails!

Mike

The post Gossamer Gear Loris 25 Daypack Review appeared first on Hazeadventure.

I wanted to see if I could get some essential gear at a substantially lower price. I'll walk you through the pros and cons of my experiences as they unfolded so that you can get an idea of how some common shopping priorities actually translate into backcountry realities. As you can also see from the title, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Let's get into it. 

Walmart Hiking Gear List

An hour and $195 later, I returned to my parking lot basecamp with 9 key pieces of camping gear. I ended up grabbing a 1-person tent, a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, a stove (plus gas), cook set (plus cutlery), a headlamp, and a technical hiking shirt and shorts. The one biggie that I ended up passing on was a backpack for all this stuff. They had one that was 45-liters, but I immediately sensed that it would be inadequate.

The other big question I had while humming and hawing in the camping aisle was about the sleeping bag. It came rated for 30-degrees Fahrenheit. The Walmart sleeping bag was larger than the other sleeping bags I have used. Also, despite my protests over the years, I bit the bullet and got a foam sleeping pad. So overall, with a few basic concessions and omissions, the initial shop proved quite fruitful.

Full Receipt:

Shirt: Wrangler Western $14

Shorts: WearFirst River Shorts $29

Sleeping Bag: Ozark Trail 30-Degree (3.5 LBS) $35

Tent: Ozark Trail 1P (also 3.5 LBS) $30!

Headlamp: Ozark Trail 300 Lumen Headlamp (incl. 3 AAA Batteries) $10

Stove: Coleman Peak 1 $10

Fuel: $6

Cookset: $15

Sleeping Pad: Ozark Trail Sleeping Pad $15

Walmart Overnight Camping Gear Test

I set out with my Walmart bounty, plus some socks, underwear, extra clothing, my Outdoor Vitals 45L backpack, and some standard camping food (all of which I already owned or purchased separately).

After a decent hike into the backcountry I was excited to set up my tent and see what 30 bucks could buy. Aside from accidentally plunking down on a cactus, the setup went well. I think about 2 out of the 3.5 pounds came solely from the steel pegs. They were beefy! The entrance of the Walmart tent isn't great, but once inside, I was pleased to find how spacious it was.

I was able to sit up comfortably and stow my stuff easily. There was a vent on top to keep things fresh and liveable (or so I thought). Other things I noticed were the thick floor, signs of proper sealing on the roof seams, and a little mesh cellphone holder. I used the Walmart gear on a standard dry/sunny Arizona Spring day.

I can't speak to this tent's ability to weather the elements. But in terms of what I saw upon setup, I was kind of amazed with what I got for this low of a price. 

Walmart Ozark Trail 1P Tent Review

The first con presented itself during the night. I stepped away from my tent (for unspecified reasons) and realized that it had no reflectivity, whatsoever. This made it difficult to spot on the return trip, especially when half-asleep. 

The night unfortunately brought further tent-based woes. The top vent was a bust. The inside gradually built up more and more moisture until I had to start reaching for my emergency layers. Even then, I still got pretty chilly and the atmosphere was noticeably stuffy. Both of these things led to a sub-optimal sleep. I'd probably give the tent a C- or a D. If they could improve the ventilation a little bit then it would be a different story. I know, you get what you pay for, but I'd easily pay another 10 bucks for a boost in air-quality. 

Walmart Ozark Trail Sleeping Pad Review

In fairness to the tent, my thin, lousy excuse for a sleeping pad definitely played its part in my restlessness. I've been spoiled. I noticed the lack of padding and tech as my back chilled and my hip bones ached. I would actually go so far to say that if you can splurge on one thing, make it the mattress. This will make the biggest difference in your overall comfort and enjoyment out of any other single piece of gear. Pinch those pennies elsewhere, but make sure you don't have to wrestle with the cold hard ground every night.

Walmart Ozark Trail 30-Degree Bag Review

The Walmart sleeping bag is rated to 30-degrees. It reached 32-degrees the night of my experiment. Usually, if the temperature matches the peak rating of the bag, the person inside can expect to be pretty uncomfortable. This was true in my case but I was still pleased that for just $35, this sleeping bag got the job done. I'd say that the inexpensive Ozark sleeping bag was the best bargain piece I bought out of the whole lot. It's bulky but it still fit in my pack and did what I needed it to do. 

Walmart Hiking Clothes and Headlamp Review

Other positive shout-outs have to go to my sweet $43 outfit and the $10 headlamp. I felt comfortable (and stylish) on my hike in, and I even went for a bit of a night stroll to test the torch. Other than not being able to spot my tent for a minute (fault of the tent, not the headlamp), I thought this cheap light, with multiple settings and batteries included, was a great find. 

Walmart Camping Cook Set Review

The cook set also got me through without any issues. The pots were a little big and I actually ditched the largest one. You'd only need a larger pot if you were making a stew for the whole family. I liked the little cup it came with and the cutlery was…well, it's cutlery, so it cut and poked my food without breaking. What more do you need? Definitely worth the 15(ish) dollars. 

Walmart Cook Stove

The stove cooked my breakfast without issue but it looked really cheap, which it was, but I mean cheap like it would also break in no time. Obviously there are trade offs to be had in exchange for a bargain. A bulky sleeping bag or poorly ventilated tent are two that come to mind. At least most of the other things will last for a while. If something is a good deal up-front but you have to replace it every few uses, then you'd be better off just spending more out of the gates and saving money in the long-run. 

So all in, I think I did pretty well. Like I said, treat yourself to a better sleeping pad/mattress (if you can). Everything else was somewhere between adequate and surprisingly good. Maybe you can make some tweaks to my example gear list, borrow a few remaining pieces from a friend, or utilize some of my other price-saving suggestions, and before you know it, you'll be all set to go camping/hiking for somewhere in the neighborhood of $200.

It shouldn't take a holiday bonus to get started in the great outdoors. It's nice to have quality gear, but that stuff can be added in over the years as you see fit. Know that you can totally get started with a quick and relatively inexpensive trip to your local big-box store. 

I hope you enjoyed this article. For more tips, gear-reviews, and backpacking adventures, subscribe to our newsletter.

The post Hiking Gear from Walmart: Full Gear for Under $200 appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Hiking Store Top 9 hiking gear picks that I'm stoked about.

Mystery Ranch Bridger 65L Backpack ($349 USD)

I first got a chance to check out Mystery Ranch's backpacks when I took the 55L across the trails of South Dakota last summer. I fell in love with the brand then and there, but all the more when I got my hands on the 65L upgrade. There is so much to talk about so please check out my full video review for more details, or go see how it compares to other badass backpacks. For now, I'll again highlight the unique, running-vest-style chest strap system.

This distributes the weight beautifully across my upper body, which makes carrying a full pack feel like an impossible dream. I also really appreciate the full-flay, front-open access points on this bag. It makes getting at specific gear much easier than in a bag with just a top-lid access. This bag is thoughtfully designed from top to bottom. I'm pumped to fully-use it on the trail now that it's on the market.

Big Agnes Lost Ranger UL 3N1 20 deg F ($549.95 USD)

This 3-in-1 sleeping bag system is mind-blowing. I had no idea I could be so excited about a sleeping bag – probably because this is actually 2 sleeping bags. The inner liner, on its own, is a 35-degree (fahrenheit) bag. The outer layer, which connects to any sleeping pad (and locks in your pillow!) is a 50-degree bag. Both are ultralight layers and can be used seperately, if that's all that's needed. However, when combined (i.e. sleeping in the 35 and using the 50 like a top quilt), the low-end temperature capacity improves to 15 – 20 degrees.

You can also sub in any sleeping bag you currently own to further enhance the comfort range. I've had some of my best backcountry sleeps lately using this system. It gives a nice bed-like feel, which is not something I'm used to while trekking. If you are traveling with a romantic partner, you can actually combine two of these systems to make one giant, shared sleeping set up. 

Coros Vertix 2 Watch ($699 USD)

In the past, I've been hesitant to use fancier watches. That all changed when I had the chance to test out the Coros Vertix 2. Ever since then, I haven't taken it off. The things that get me excited are its map function, the intuitive scrolling, which reveals helpful readings like temperature, the week's worth of sunset/sunrise times, and even though I'm not a huge texter while hiking, that's also an easy thing to manage if that's what you're into.

My biggest aversion to high-tech watches was that they usually require frequent charging. The Vertix 2 has a battery life of 60 days! That's a game-changer. It also has 140 hours of GPS functionality, which is another area where it stands above the competition. This means that for moderate backpacking trips, I can track my specs the whole time. 

Scarpa Rush Mid GTX Boot ($199 USD)

Many of these brands aren't official sponsors, but they do send me gear to test. I always do my best to give honest reviews, and that includes praise where it is due. Recently, I took these boots on a burly, 4-day backpacking trip through Utah canyon country.

I covered all kinds of challenging terrain and they were not only up to the challenge, but comfortable throughout. The one thing they weren't equipped for was the huge amount of dust that I threw at them.

Fine particles got stuck in between the first layer of mesh and the waterproof liner. It makes sense because these boots are Gore-Tex. That was a bit annoying, but this was also a highly-specific situation. I was still able to see their overall prowess in most other conditions. I therefore look forward to taking them on more adventures. The cushion was there, the grip was there, and the best part of all was I hardly ever thought about my feet. This is the best case scenario with any footwear. 

Packstack / Packstack Pro From Hillsound ($17 / $30 USD) 

One area I haven't touched on in my how-to/review videos yet is pack organization. One of the best places to start is with a pack that has a lot of compartments and intuitive features built into it. This is one of the reasons why my Mystery Ranch bag kicked off the list. That being said, a little extra organization never hurts. Lately, I have enjoyed using my weather-resistant Packstack for some of my clothes, and the waterproof Packstack Pro for my camera gear (much more packable than my standard carry case).

Both options are available in different sizes so that you can tailor to your backpack's volume. They are all made with a concave curve on one side. It contours to your back, and the Packstack are convex on the front. This is to strategically fill the space in your pack, with no wasted bulk or gaps. 

Seadon Helios Pants ($99 USD)

Every true backpacker needs a dependable pair of pants. I've gravitated to the Helios because they are lightweight, which makes them great for the typically warmer weather in my neck of the woods.

The fit is perfect, they make my butt look great, the minimal built-in belt is a thing of beauty, and the adjustable cuff is so sleek that I didn't even know it was there until I was diving deeper for this review (so something else to look forward to now).  I've also put the water-repellency to the test and I was happy to see that the water beads up beautifully.

If you accidentally go for a swim and do saturate these pants, their quick-drying nature will have you skipping along again in no time. Finally, Seadon uses recycled nylon and Bluesign approved spandex in the Helios. Each purchase helps fund the collection of discarded fishing gear in the oceans. I always appreciate when these outdoor brands demonstrate environmental awareness. A mutually beneficial exchange if you ask me! 

Appalachian Gear Company All-Paca Hoodie ($130 USD)

This is hands-down the best mid-layer I have ever worn. It's super comfortable (not itchy), and even though it's very lightweight, it is somehow still warm when it needs to be. I don't know how it pulls off such versatility, but this sweater is great for all-round temperature regulation. Also, after two trips filled with sweat and campfires, this thing doesn't stink at all.

The price-point may be a bit high for some people's liking. I promise you the quality makes it worth it. I love supporting cottage companies who specialize in small lines. This is what they do, and they do it very well. If you're sold, just note that these hoodies run big. I usually wear a medium and this time I had to go with a small. 

Hestra Ergo Grip Tactility Glove ($85 USD)

I have typically used simple, lightweight gloves for my backpacking trips. The problem there is that they get shredded up pretty easily and they don't have much of a response when things get wet and/or cold. The Tactility Glove is made with Gore-Tex and other robust materials for solid protection against the elements, while at the same time, they maintain a lightweight, low-profile, well-contoured feel.

They look a bit like a guiding / mountaineering glove, but they also get the job done for all things backpacking/camping (chopping wood, moving rocks around, scrambling, etc). The durability certainly justifies the cost. One pair that lasts a long time is worth several cheap, throwaway ones.   

Big Agnes Copper Spur MTNGLO ($549.95 USD)

Although this is not a new tent, it is new to me. This certainly qualifies it for this list. The MTNGLO has LED lights built-in to it, which at first I thought was a bit silly, until I went on two early-season trips where the sun set just after dinner.

Being in a tent for a few hours, in the dark but before bed, really shows the utility of a pleasant lighting system. The other standout feature of this tent is the 2-door (each with 2 zippers) system, which somehow still only brings the total weight to 3 pounds, 3 ounces.

The Copper Spur (available in the MTNGLO or standard option) is also easy to set up. It is intuitively designed and quite a spacious/luxurious shelter. These high-end benefits are reflected in the price-point. I understand that this might be more of a “someday” purchase. But if/when you get the chance, this is a special tent. I can't wait to log some more nights, and cozy up under those sweet LED lights. There you go Big Agnes, I just wrote you a little poem for your next ad. 

Those are the 9 pieces I'm most pumped about using this season. I hope some of these resonated with you too. Let me know if there's any other gear that you're stoked to try out this year (my goodness, I can't turn off the rhymes). 

If you enjoyed this article and want to learn more, check out all my gear reviews on BackpackingTV.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links in which Eric Hanson makes a small commission at no additional cost to you, but it is a great way to show your support. Thanks!

My favorite backpacking gear list

NOTE: These are affiliate links where I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, but it’s a great way to show your support. Thanks!

Backpack

Sleeping Bag

Satellite Communicator

Camp Stove

Cook pot

Freeze dried Food

Headlamp

Rain Jacket

Fleece Mid-layer | ALL-PACA Fleece Hoodie

Down Puffy Jacket (warm!)

Down Puffy Jacket (lightweight)

Hiking Boots

Hiking Socks

Gloves | Hestra Bike Ergo Grip Glove

Water Filter

Water Bladder

Camp Pillow

Folding Knife

Trekking Poles

Sunglasses

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