I guess this is the place where we tell you about a piece of gear that really works. Not just because we have too but because we really like it.

We have spent a great deal of time, and money, trying out all kinds of stuff and these are some of our top picks for the basic kit. So far none of the products or companies represented here have given us one red cent or a single piece of gear, this is stuff WE bought with our own money. If you have a product you want us to torture test, drop us a line, but it better be good if you want us to recommend it.

Gear You Gotta Have! (buy it at R.E.I.)

My personal favorite, the Petzl Zipka Headlamp. don't leave home without one. It's small powerful and the batteries last forever. The perfect camp and night trail light. (buy it)

At number two is the Victorinox Camper. A knife is a must and this one is the perfect balance of bulk and features. I would only recommend adding the extra eyeglass screwdriver which should be available from your dealer. (It screws into the corkscrew). (buy it)

I guess this one ties at number two. The Swiss Tool is the highest quality multi-tool I've ever seen. They are so handy you won't know what to do without it if you ever lose it! (buy it)

Nalgene bottles are worth their weight in gold. Spend the extra money on the Lexan one's. They don't develop any taste and are virtually industructable. the wide mouth bottles will also screw directly onto my next recommendation. (buy it)

MSR WaterWorks water filter. One of my all-time favorite water filters (I own probabaly 10 different brands) I have carried one for about 10 years and I like it even more than some I have that are three times the price. Easy to use, easy to maintain, easy to clean, very relaible. (buy it)

Space Blanket, get one. This thing has saved more than one life that I personally know of. It takes virtually no space and last's forever. Super versital. (buy it)

These water purification tablets are a wonderful last resort. I have never needed them but I have tried them and they work. The first tab kills the bad stuff (virus and bacteria), the second tab kills the really bad stuff (the taste of the first). I ALWAYS carry these, and in unopened bottles (they only last 6 months once opened). (buy it)

The Mountainsmith Day Pack. This pack will carry a severe load and do it in comfort. It works around town or around the world. I actually had an outfitter in Peru try to buy mine from me and I refused. It is just to valuable to me. (buy it)

Titanium Silverware. Yea it seems a little excessive but it really is light, comfortable to use and if you spend $20 on a fork and spoon you will be less likely to leave them behind. I also have chopsticks I carry that work well too. (buy it)

And For Camping

Sierra Designs Nightwatch Tent. It is a little small but it is very sturdy, priced right, and barely used. We spend more time in a bivy than a tent but when the snow won't allow a cave or we don't mind the extra weight, this one is the lightest in it's class without breaking the bank and I can set it up in under 2 minutes. (buy it)

Care to have a sit? This is one comfortable stool. It's light, packs small and saves your dirty butt. It's called the Roll-A-Stool, accept no immitations. (buy it)

MSR XGK Stove. This isn't the prettiest stove out there but it will burn just about anything you want and will do it in extreeme cold or altitude. I have a friend who guides in Mexico and he said it would even burn Tequila but not Rum, I didn't ask why he carried more liquor than fuel. I will warn you, the 1200 degree flame is not quiet, it is called the unsociable stove for a reason, while cooking you can't hear anyone else speak. Second runner up is the MSR Dragonfly. (buy it)

Titanium fuel bottle for MSR stove. Isn't that an oxymoron, put liquid in a titanium bottle? Not a must but it is certainly a very nice size and when it's empty it's really light. (buy it)

Ok so you car camp, this is a great stove. The Coleman Dual Fuel Stove. Burns white gas or gasoline. (buy it)

Well you got the stove, might as well get the matching lantern. The Colman Duel Fuel Lantern will burn for a long time. I have the smaller one. I also bought the metal screen to protect the glass. (buy it)

The MSR Stowaway pot is a great singular cooker. I have the 775ml one. If you need more then get the MSR XPD cookset. (buy it)

The MSR XPD Cookset. This was my first cookset. The heat exchanger works like a champ and the stainless materials are very durible. I once dropped my large pot and lid from about 600ft (don't ask) and all I lost was the little tabs on the side of the cook lid. If you bought the MSR Dragonfly stove, the legs of the stove fit inside the heat exchanger and make a very stable cooking setup. Those MSR engineers never stop thinking! (buy it)

The Petzl Arctic head lamp with it's halogen bulb will light the way for many hours, even in extreme cold. (buy it)

It is the camp soap by which all others are judged. Dr. Bronner's is my favorite (especially the peppermint) (buy it)

A handy little signal mirror. Comes in handy for other things too. (buy it)

Here is a really loud whistle. They claim it works underwater too but I haven't tried it yet...yet. (buy it)

We have tried and purchased more gear than I can think of so if you have a question about something or want a recommendation don't hesitate to write us.
Sad Moments of Gear

June,2002
Lost my Victorinox Swiss Tool while getting on a Taxi to take the train to Machu Piccu, Peru. If those damn night clubs weren't so much fun we would have gotten to sleep at a decent hour and not have to get dressed while running down the street after our taxi. Anyway, I guess I forgot to put it on my belt and left it on my lap. When I got up it must have fallen off onto the floor of the cab to be lost from me forever. My dad gave me a new one for christmas and now all is right with the world.
-Noah
July,2002
I was coming home from my second trip in South America when I put my daypack through the X-ray machine at the Lima airport. They told me that there was a knife in my bag, I told them that it can't be, I checked my bag to make sure there weren't any knifes in it. Of course all of this was in Spanish. I opened it up and sure enough I had left my Swiss army knife in it and a 2" knife from my mom that I kept with my SAS hand book, MAN.. I've had that blade for ten years, and they took it, they also took my Titanium fork, COME ON!! I said. And after all that when I did get on the plane they gave me a metal fork to eat with of all things. I learned a hard lesson that day. 
-Phoenix
Gear Trivia

Do you know the difference between the two Swiss Army manufacturers?
Victorinox knives will have the silver crest imbedded in the plastic

and Wenger made knives will have a cross sticker placed on them

The other major difference, Victorinox inspects EVERY SINGLE knife by hand while Wenger only inspects one out of a thousand or so.