OutdoorGearLab voted #1 Outdoor Gear Blog by Outside Magazine.

OutdoorGearLab voted #1 Outdoor Gear Blog by Outside Magazine. Thanks everyone for the support, feedback, and user gear reviews!

The Insulated Jacket Awards announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the Insulated Jacket category, listing this year’s best and best value for insulated jackets. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in the High Sierra, Southeast Utah and The Cascades. These ten insulated jackets were run through the gauntlet of climbing, skiing, hiking, stuffing into packs, and battling the winter elements around town. They varied in thickness, warmth, and weight but they each functioned well in different ways. We paid close attention to the performance in the following categories: warmth, insulation type, layering and packing ability, breathability, and water resistance. Each underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate these key performance metrics. View the complete Insulated Jacket Reviews


The winners are:


Arcteryx Atom SV winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 . According to Gear Editor Chris McNamara, "The Atom SV is a warm and well-made jacket and is comfortable as a layer or even for climbing in. The fabric is water and abrasion resistant even though it feels very light and soft, so this jacket is durable even though it is pricey."

Montbell UL Thermawrap Jacket winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Chris McNamara, "The Montbell Thermawrap jacket was one of the lightest, least expensive and most versatile jackets we tested. It layers well in just about any temperature; don't be surprised if you wear this 100+ days a year."


REI Revelcloud Jacket winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Chris McNamara, "Of all the jackets we tested, this was one of the least expensive and best suited for everyday use. It gets our Best Buy award because it layers well in just about any temperature and is incredibly functional. Don't be surprised if you stop wearing fleece jackets and reach for this instead"


Mountain Hardwear Zonal Jacket winner of the Top Pick award for 2011. This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Chris McNamara, "If you are looking for a jacket to wear while doing aerobic activities in the cold, or a jacket to use as an extra warm layer under a shell without suffocating, then this is the jacket you should buy."

Just got solar panels on my house

SuperTopo, OutdoorGearLab and my house are now powered by the sun!

Many thanks to SolarCraft in Novato for hooking it up!

Fleece Jacket Awards for 2011 announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

Here is another press release for a review I just published. More adventures soon.



CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the Men's Fleece Jacket category, listing this year’s best and best value for Men's Fleece Jacket. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in the High Sierra, Southeast Utah and The Cascades. We took eleven men's fleece jackets and put them to head-to-head tests to figure out what was the best in the following categories: wind resistance, water resistance, breathability, comfort and cozyness, warmth, layering over, layering under, ease of movement, eco-groovy, and ease of care. We think some of the most important aspects of a fleece jacket are that it is warm and comfortable, and that you would use it as an extra layer. Even though all the fleeces we reviewed were of high quality, we did find that some fleeces are better for certain applications than others. Each underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate these key performance metrics. View the complete
Fleece Jacket Reviews


The winners are:


Patagonia R2 Jacket winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011. According to Gear Editor Chris McNamara, "The Patagonia R2 Men's Jacket seems to be the perfect midweight polar fleece for people serious about getting out there and going for it. It's not too heavy or bulky, plenty warm, and even looks good around town. Made of US-sourced recycled materials and backed up with a great warranty, this was a tester favorite voted most likely to be "lost" during the course of our review."

North Face Khumbu Jacket winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Kevin Swift, "A good inexpensive go-anywhere fleece, the North Face Khumbu Jacket is your basic meat-and-potatoes wardrobe addition."

Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man Jacket winner of the Top Pick award for 2011. This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Kevin Swift, "The Mountain Hardware Monkey Man emerged as a favorite fleece due to outrageous comfort and a flattering cut coupled with solid construction and appealing fuzziness."


OutdoorGearLab LLC is a company headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming dedicated to creating world’s best outdoor gear reviews. The company’s website, is a free resource for people who love the outdoors and participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping. The company performs side-by-side testing of outdoor gear and publishes the results in comparative reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted categories, competing products are ranked, and awards are provide to top performing products.



Media Contact: Chris McNamara - 307.509.0188 - outdoorgearlabpr@gmail.com



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The Best HD Helmet Cam Awards announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

Best Wearable HD Camera Review announced by OutdoorGearLab.com for Editor’s Choice and Best Buy.

November 9, 2011

CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for helmet cams category, listing this year’s best and best value for wearable HD cameras. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing. Matt Gerdes set them both up on his helmet and went straight to 21,000 feet over the Swiss Alps for some wingsuit flying in -5 C temps. He then repeatedly wingsuit BASE jumped off many of the biggest and baddest cliffs in the world. According to Matt, “Our testing focused on the most basic and oft-used features of each camera, with the goal of determining which of the two cameras yielded the highest quality footage with the least amount of effort and hassle. The cameras were compared using criteria such as image quality, mounting versatility, durability, tech features, and general ease of use. Each underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate these key performance metrics. View the complete Helmet Cam Review


The winners are:


GoPro HD Hero2 – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 . According to Gear Editor Matt Gerdes, "The GoPro HD Hero2 is a big improvement over the original Hero and winner of our Editors' Choice award in the helmet cam category. We frequently used the Hero2 and the HD Hero attached on us at the same time for POV angles. The Hero2 performed noticeably better than its predecessor and the Contour+. The low-light conditions were challenging, to say the least, and the Hero2 consistently delivered richer colors and seemed to cut through the haze better than the Hero. In short, the footage looked a good bit nicer on the Hero2. Given the choice, I would not hesitate to spend the few bucks extra to get it instead of the original Hero."


Contour Roam - winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Matt Gerdes, "The Contour Roam is one of the least expensive helmet cams out there, along with the GoPro Hero 960. It was a tough call to decide which one got the Best Buy award, but ultimately it went to the Contour because of the better image quality. It uses the same awesome lens as the $500 Contour+. It also comes with laser alignment and is waterproof to one meter without needing an extra case."

how to bannish catalog junk mail

Found a cool free site for unsubscribing from catalog junk mail http://www.catalogchoice.org It is pretty fast, free and saves the trees.

Messenger Bag Awards Announced

We just finished an exhaustive messenger bag review. here is the press release


CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the Laptop Messenger Bag category, listing this year’s best and best value for laptop messenger bags. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in the High Sierra, Southeast Utah and The Cascades. We tested eight of the best laptop specific messenger bags in an eight-week head-to-head competition that assessed comfort, storage, versatility, laptop security, aesthetics, water resistance and durability. Our ranking and awards- which reflect the average of eight testers who used each bag for a week- identify the best overall messenger bag, the best value messenger bag, and the best messenger bag for transporting a computer and documents. Each underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate these key performance metrics. View the complete Laptop Messenger Bag Reviews


The winners are:


Mission Workshop Rummy – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 . According to Gear Editor Max Neale, "The Rummy is the Bentley of messenger bags. It’s large, luxuriously comfortable, and surprisingly nimble. A cavernous 27 Liter main compartment swallows a computer, books, and packages like the champion of a pie-eating contest. On the whole, the Rummy provides a great balance between comfort, durability, water resistance, and features."


Timbuk2 Classic Messenger - winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Max Neale, "The Timbuk2 Classic Messenger is a well designed, reasonably comfortable, durable, and waterproof bag for those who do a lot of biking and want quick access to their belongings. The bag is constructed of durable, waterproof materials, has logical and easy to use storage for small and large items, and costs only $90. This is the updated version of the bag that kicked off the Messenger Revolution I.E., explosion of messenger bag use by non-messengers. It’s a great value."


Rickshaw Commuter 2.0 - winner of the Top Pick award for 2011. This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Max Neale, "The Rickshaw Commuter 2.0 is an innovative, fully featured, and well-made laptop bag best suited to those who commute directly to and from an office environment. The bag offers excellent storage for all office essentials: documents, loose papers, and a 15” laptop are well protected; pens and pencils are easy to access and organize; and the bag opens and closes silently with a removable magnetic closure (one of three five features). Of the sixteen laptop backpacks and messenger bags reviewed here this is our favorite for office work, meetings, and conferences. It’s highly functional, waterproof, durable, and looks good."

The Laptop Backpack Awards announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

Here is another review we just finished and the official press release. Please tell a friend!


Best Laptop Backpack Review announced by OurdoorGearLab.com for Editor’s Choice, Best Buy and Top Picks.


October 17th, 2011


CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the Laptop Backpack category, listing this year’s best and best value for laptop backpacks. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive bike commuting, international travel, and just using the packs in everyday use. Each underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate these key performance metrics: comfort, storage, versatility, laptop protection, professional look, water resistance, durability. View the complete Laptop Backpack Review


The winners are:


Timbuk2 Swig – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 . According to Gear Editor Max Neale, "The Timbuk2 Swig is a highly versatile and simple messenger-inspired laptop backpack with logical storage and a design that fits both men and women. The bag has a 21 Liter main compartment with a well padded “laptop hammock.” An open front compartment and zippered pocket provide easy access to everyday essentials while a U-lock pocket keeps your bike lock readily accessible."



Cilo Gear Pack - winner of the Top Pick award for 2011. This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Max Neale, "The Cilo Gear City Pack is a large (30 Liter), fully featured, and highly versatile laptop backpack capable of everything from grueling commutes and long bicycle rides to trips to the grocery store and day hikes. The pack has a large central compartment that engulfs objects of all shapes and sizes. Three strategic zippered pockets provide ideal storage for small items and a side access laptop compartment allows you to whip out a computer super fast."

The Best Sleeping Pad Awards announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the sleeping pad category, listing this year’s best and best value for sleeping pads. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in the High Sierra, Southeast Utah and The Cascades. Whether these pads came out of a pack or out of a car, we exposed them to everything from the jagged High Sierra to soft sand beaches, and every campground in between. As reviewers who enjoy a variety of overnight activities in a host of inclement conditions, we were searching for the lightest, smallest, warmest, and most comfortable full length sleeping pad on the market. Each sleeping pad underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate key performance metrics such as warmth, comfort, durability, weight and pack size. View the complete
Sleeping Pad Reviews

The winners are:
Therm-A-Rest Pro-Lite Plus – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 for sleeping pad. According to Gear Editor Max Neale, "Like Philippe Petit, the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus turns a difficult balancing act into an artful performance. Scoring high in all categories: size, comfort, weight, warmth, and durability, this sleeping pad will keep you comfortable anywhere, anytime. Guaranteed.

Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Max Neale, "The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite is the go-to sleeping pad for anyone with a high priority on price, durability, and weight. It works in just about any camping situation, whether on a big wall, in Yosemite, or backpacking. There is no setup time or need to worry about packing it up. This is also the most compact closed-cell foam pad. "

Therm-A-Rest Pro-Lite winner of the Top Pick award for Best Sleeping Pad. This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Max Neale, "The Therm-a-Rest ProLite is the finest minimalist sleeping pad on the market. It weighs a scant one pound, packs down to a size no one can complain about, and employs a durable time-tested design."

Best Down Jackets of 2011 Announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

I just finished this review on down jackets. Official press release below.


Editors’ Choice Awards for Best of 2011 Down Jacket Category Winners from OutdoorGearLab

September 18, 2011

CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the down jacket category, listing this year’s best and best value for down jackets. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in the High Sierra, Southeast Utah and The Cascades. Each down jacket underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate key performance metrics such as warmth, wind protection, water resistance, comfort, durability, compactactness and lightweight. View the complete Best Down Jacket Award Reviews for full details.

The winners are:
North Face Catalyst Jacket – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 for down jacket. According to Gear Editor Chris McNamara, "All in all, the North Face Catalyst has the best combination of features and they work well while wearing a pack or harness. It has zippered hand pockets, conveniently stuffs into a hand pocket, and the Pertex Quantum fabric is slightly more durable and water resistant compared to other fabrics used on these jackets."

Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka - winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Mckenzie Long, "The MontBell Alpine Light wins our Best Buy award because it is the least expensive of the light alpine down jackets and has nice features like particularly large hand pockets with a soft fleece lining, and a wind resistant outer fabric that is a bit more durable that the fabric used in the Nitrous and Down Sweater"

Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Men's Down Jacket - winner of the Top Pick award for 2011 for Best This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Ian Nicholson, "If you need a serious jacket for extreme cold, this is the one. The Mountain HardWear Sub Zero SL wins our Recommended award because of the many functional features that make this a desirable jacket for mountaineering, such as a longer fit, a large hood, very water resistant material, and clever ways of sealing out wind and keeping in warmth."

Crazy weird funny mouse video titled "SuperTopo!!!"

I was searching "supertopo youtube" and came across this video. I have no idea why it is titled supertopo. i wish i could take credit for it...

The Best Rain Jacket Awards

Best Rain Jacket Review is done! This week I finished our best rain jacket review with Robert Beno. Official press release below.


Best Rain Jacket Review announced by OurdoorGearLab.com for Editor’s Choice, Best Buy and Top Picks.
September 9, 2011

CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the rain jacket category, listing this year’s best and best value for rain shells. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in the High Sierra, Southeast Utah and The Cascades. Each tent underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate key performance metrics such as ease of comfort, water resistance, durability, breathability, zipper design, weight and looks. View the complete rain jacket review

The winners are:
Marmot Oracle – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 for rain jacket. According to Gear Editor Robert Beno, "We liked all the features that Marmot packed onto this jacket and we felt like we were actually wearing a jacket when we put it on. Many of the shells that we tested just felt like a tent rain fly with sleeves and didn’t have any of the extra comforts that we wanted from a jacket. The Oracle was the closest thing we tested to a lightweight coat that could be used for a wider range of applications, instead of a single function rain coat. Additionally, the jacket performed very well in all of our testing, and it just simply became the jacket that we reached for the most when heading out on a rainy day jog, or a jaunt around town. "

Marmot Precip - winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Robert Beno, "The Marmot Precip is best value in rain jackets and winner of our Best Buy Award. If you want the most rain jacket for your money, get this. Any jacket that we have tested that costs less generally has poor ventilation and much lower performance. If you seek a highly functional rain jacket that will get the job done at a great price, this is it."

Patagonia Rain Shadow - winner of the Top Pick award for 2011 for Best Lightweight Rain Jacket (and best looking). This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Robert Beno, "The Patagonia Rain Shadow is an attractive option for someone who needs a rain shell that looks good, is super light, and doesn’t like to be overrun with extraneous features."

OutdoorGearLab LLC is a company headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming dedicated to creating world’s best outdoor gear reviews. The company’s website, www.outdoorgearlab.com, is a free resource for people who love the outdoors and participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping. The company performs side-by-side testing of outdoor gear and publishes the results in comparative reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted categories, competing products are ranked, and awards are provide to top performing products.

Media Contact: Chris McNamara - 307.509.0188 - outdoorgearlabpr@gmail.com

The Best Backpacking Tent Awards announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

Best Backpacking Tent Review just finished on my site OutdoorGearLab.com. Here is the official press release below.


CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the backpacking tent category, listing this year’s best and best value for 3 season tents. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in the High Sierra, Southeast Utah and The Cascades. Each tent underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate key performance metrics such as ease of set-up, versatility, livability, packed size, strength, quality, and value. View the complete backpacking tent review

The winners are:
Black Diamond Mesa – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 for backpacking tent. According to Gear Editor Max Neale, "The Black Diamond Mesa represents an excellent balance between strength, weight, and comfort in a backpacking tent. It’s our favorite all-purpose three-season tent; if we were to have just one tent it would be this one. The Mesa has been an award winner since its inception in 2007."

REI Half Dome 2 - winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Max Neale, "The REI Half Dome 2 tent is a well-designed, strong, and comfortable backpacing tent. The Half Dome’s best attribute is its absurdly low price- only $180- which makes it the unquestionable winner of our Best Buy Award. It continues to impress, however, with good quality poles, fabrics, a spacious interior, and an efficient and easy to setup pole design. The Half Dome is also stronger than most other tents reviewed here; it’s plenty capable of handling gusty winds and torrential downpours."

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 - winner of the Top Pick award for 2011 for Best Lightweight Backpacking Tent. This award is given to a product that excels at a specific application. According to Max Neale, "The Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 tent is an aggressive looking and high performing ultralight backpacking tent. It barely tips the scales at 2lb 10oz packed weight, making it one of the lightest self-supporting tents in the world. This is our favorite tent for three-season multi-day trips."

Best Portable Solar Panel Awards announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

Portable solar panel review done! Hey friends and fam, i just finished a review on solar panels I have been working on for 7 years... phew. I am trying to get the word out about it. so if you could "like" it on facebook here it would be awesome... thank you!!

Here is the official release

The Best Portable Solar Panel Awards announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

Best Portable Solar Panel Review announced by OurdoorGearLab.com for Editor’s Choice, Best Buy and Top Picks.
August 23, 2011

CHEYENNE, WY—OutdoorGearLab.com revealed today the results of the 2011 Editors’ Choice Awards for the portable solar panel category, listing this year’s best and best value for portable solar. The OutdoorGearLab Review Editors chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in Yosemite, Napa and The Bay Area. Each panel underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate key performance metrics such as ease of set-up, versatility, quality, disassembly Safety, and value. View the complete portable solar review

The winners are:
Goal Zero Sherpa 120 Kit – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2011 for portable solar. According to Gear Editor Chris McNamara, "The Goal Zero Sherpa 120 portable solar kit wins our Editors' Choice award because it is the best relatively light and durable portable solar kit that can charge just about anything. If you have a lot of electronic devices to charge and spend a fair bit of time away from a power source, this is the device to get."

Goal Zero Nomad 7 - winner of the Best Buy award for 2011. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Chris McNamara, "The Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar panel is by far the best deal in portable solar panels. No other tiny panel came close to matching its versatility, ease-of-use and price. If your main need is to charge a cell phone or small electronic devices, get this panel."

OutdoorGearLab LLC is a company headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming dedicated to creating world’s best outdoor gear reviews. The company’s website, www.outdoorgearlab.com, is a free resource for people who love the outdoors and participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping. The company performs side-by-side testing of outdoor gear and publishes the results in comparative reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted categories, competing products are ranked, and awards are provide to top performing products.

Media Contact: Chris McNamara - 307.509.0188 - outdoorgearlabpr@gmail.com

Best Slackline Review is now live!

The Best Slackline review is now live. Damian Cooksey tested the lines so hard he was able to break many of them. We handed out many awards including best beginner slackline to the Gibbon Slackline Classic Model

Here is how the tests went down: We pulled together nine kits from the most active slackline companies on the market today, plus we rigged one the old-fashioned way with a few carabiners and some webbing. We rigged the lines at Bridges Rock Gym, in local parks, as highlines, longlines, trick lines – every way possible for each kit. We rigged them, walked on them, tore them down, rigged them again, bounced on them, tightened them to near failure, rigged and walked them again.

After a multitude of testing environments and over a mile of slackline webbing, we rounded out the best uses of each of these slackline kits. We timed how long it took to rig, making all the mistakes possible following sometimes complicated rigging instructions. We rated each product for its versatility, ease of setup, speed of setup, safety of setup and take-down, quality, durability of materials and price. We used these criteria in order to select our Editor’s Award winners.

Just did an interview on Breaking into Big Wall

Here is an article i contributed to "Breaking in Big Wall" that I did with CampTheSummit.com

Brazil Granite Bouldering By The Ocean

I went to Brazil for six days of surfing and six days of a wedding party for Corey and Marina Rich. I didn't think there would be much if any climbing but I threw in my climbing shoes just in case. Turns out, there was bouldering 30 feet away from the surf break! Read my Brazil Climbing trip report.

Help Access Fund Unlock Jailhouse

The Access Fund is pleased to announce that it has secured permanent access to Jailhouse Rock, near Sonora California, through the Access Fund Land Conservation Campaign.

However we need your help!
The current parking lot and approach trail still cross private land, which is up for sale. The Access Fund has secured a route to the cliff through a different access point, but we need your help to raise $40k in the next 12 months to build a new parking area and trailhead, cover insurance and closing costs, and build a stewardship fund to protect Jailhouse for years to come.

You can help protect access to one of the best sport climbing destinations in the country! Please give to the Access Fund Unlock Jailhouse Campaign today!

Thanks for your support,

Your Friends at the Access Fund

Camping Stove Awards announced by SuperTopo.com Gear Reviews

Camping Stove Awards announced by SuperTopo.com Gear Reviews for Editor’s Choice, Best Buy and Recommended.
November 1, 2010

MILL VALLEY, CA--SuperTopo.com, one of the most popular climbing web sites in the world, revealed today the results of the SuperTopo 2010 Editors’ Choice Awards for Camping Stove category, listing this year’s camp stoves and best value for camp stoves. The SuperTopo.com staff chose the following winners after extensive field testing and road trips in Yosemite, Squamish and Smith Rocks. Each pad underwent extensive side by side tests to evaluate key performance metrics such as packed size, weight, speed, control, versatility, set up time, stability, durability and wind resistence. View the complete camping stove review

The winners are:
MSR Reactor – winner of the Editor's Choice Award for 2010 for camp stoves. According to gear tester Max Neale, "The MSR Reactor is the fastest, easiest to use, and most stormproof camping stove we tested. It’s designed to provide all-conditions performance for one to three people, but lacks the ability to simmer and functions poorly on low. Regardless of how inclement the conditions, this stove is insanely fast at boiling water, but remains incapable of doing much else. Get this if you voyage to harshest of climates with two to four people." Full MSR Reactor review at

MSR Whisperlite - winner of the Best Buy award for 2010. This award is given to a product that balances an extremely high score in our tests and a very reasonable price. According to Max Neale, "Since its introduction in 1982, the Whisperlite has proven itself as the most versatile and dependable, lightweight, liquid fuel, portable stoves on the market. If we were to have one stove this would be it."

JetBoil Flash- winner of the Recommended award for 2010. This award is given to products that scored very highly, and offered unique capabilities. According to Max Neale, "The Jetboil Flash takes fast, light, and efficient to a whole new level in this updated version of a revolutionary camping stove. Whether you’re melting snow in Alaska, making coffee on a big wall, or boiling water for dehydrated food on a backpacking trip, this stove will be your smallest and warmest backcountry friend. Key features include a 1L insulated pot, piezo auto ignition, water temperature indicator, and a lock that secures the stove and pot in one stable unit. This is our top pick for minimalist activities."

MSR DragonFly- winner of a Recommended award for 2010. According to Chris McNamara, "Bringing you as close as possible to a professional range, the MSR Dragonfly is a luxuriously well handling stove. Its stability and ease of use make it our top choice for base camp. Unfortunately, a large and heavy frame makes it cumbersome for those who are primarily concerned with size and weight. We believe the smaller, lighter, quieter, cheaper, and slightly faster MSR Whisperlite is a better choice for backpacking."

Soto OD-1R winner of the Recommended award for 2010. According to Max Neale, "The Soto OD-1R is the best small canister portable stove we reviewed. It’s not only tiny and super lightweight, but also includes a piezo igniter and pressure regulator that allows you to cook at high altitudes and in cold temperatures."

SuperTopo Newsletter - November 1, 2010

REMEMBERING JOE PURYEAR
Just received this from Mike Gauthier: I received one of those dreaded phone calls early this morning with the news that my good friend Joe Puryear died while ascending Labuche Kang (7,367 meters, 24,170 feet) in a remote region of Tibet. Joe was a former climbing ranger on Mount Rainier and one of America’s elite alpinists. >>Read More

GEAR REVIEWS: CAMPING STOVE AWARDS AND BIG WALL GEAR
Essential Aid Climbing Gear
Clean Aid Protection
Haulbags, Hauling and Bivy Gear
The Best Camp Stove Review
MSR Reactor Win's Editor's Choice
JetBoil Flash Winds Recommended Award
20+ new gear reviews videos to YouTube

THE FORUM
Leo Houlding Climbs New Free Route on El Capitan
Exciting Deep Water Comp in Spain with Chris Sharma
Climber loses thumb on The Nose - El Capitan - Yosemite
New Book on Yosemite Climbing History -
El Cap Storm Photos with links pics and vid of climbers caught in waterfall



TRIP REPORTS
North America Wall, El Capitan
9-Year-Olds First TR
Cloudveil Dome/Fall Ice Stoke/Climbing with old dudes
I Love The Desert (a Puryear Great)
North Face Middle Teton--Robbins and Breashers routes... Stoke for fall ice
My Up And Down Life, Disaster Master


NEW FIRST ASCENT DVD BOX SET + FREE SUPERTOPO BOOK OFFER
The first ever ropeless climbof Yosemite’s sheer 2,000 foot wall of Half Dome. The longest BASE jump achieved, from the infamous Eiger Nordwand. A tragic expedition to the lost peaks of Western China. These are just a few of the amazing feats and personal journeys featured in the First Ascent Box Set. And you get a free SuperTopo book >>Read More…