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Gear Roundup: Tiny Gear

Good things DO come in small packages, and these little widgets are too useful to leave at home in the gear closet.
Text and photos by Allison Woods
«
  • So small, yet so effective! With the Brunton Echo Pocket Scope, a 7 x 18 monocular, I spotted a juvenile bald eagle (thankfully the bright orange hue made it easy to find in camp). Bonus: tiny cleaning cloth, and great optics for the price.
  • It also comes with a wrist strap and handy pouch, seen here, attached to my pack's shoulder harness for quick access. <br><b>The Specs:</b> Brunton Echo Pocket Scope, $34, 1.6 oz., comes in 3 colors, plus black, bruntonoutdoor.com
  • MontBell's Crushable Lantern Shade slips over any headlamp and converts it to a lantern. The white ripstop fabric and bottom reflector kick out enough light for a quiet read on a stormy night. Grab your copy of <i>The Help</i> and batten down the hatches.
  • Be careful not to lose this little gem; the slightest breath of wind and it's gone. <br><b>The Specs:</b> MontBell Crushable Lantern Shade<br> $14 <br>0.18 oz.<br> montbell.us
  • Nite Ize Gear Ties are like twist-ties on steroids (green tie pictured above). Get the 3" and 6" lengths for most versatility. <br><b>The Specs:</b> Nite Ize Gear Ties<br> $4-8, 2-and 4-packs, depending on size<Br> 3" .04 oz., 6" .1 oz.<br> niteize.com
  • The Vapur Element is a collapsible BPA-free bottle with a carabiner clip, flip-top/threaded lid, and an antimicrobial liner for a flavor-free drinking experience. Empty, it rolls up to candy bar size and weighs way less than standard bottles.
  • Clean it like you'd clean a Camelbak--fill with water, drop in a denture cleaning tablet, fizz, rinse. Two sizes: .7L and 1L.<Br> <b>The Specs:</b><br> Vapur .7L Element<b> $12<br> 1.5 oz.<br> .7 liters/23 oz. capacity <br>vapur.us
  • The Outdoor Research Ultra Trail Gaiters kept dirt, and mud off of my socks and shoes on a chilly spring romp on Washington's famously damp Olympic Peninsula. Double hooks up front and a drawcord top made them stay put.
  • Included adhesive Velcro sticks firm to the back of your trail runners. The stretch-woven Cordura fabric fits close, so go up a size for the best fit. <br><b>The Specs:</b> OR Ultra Trail Gaiters, $45, 2.7 oz., Unisex medium/large, orgear.com
  • Sea to Summit's Ultra-Sil daypack gobbles gear like a hungry climber at a Vegas buffet. It's great for summit days with the Ten Essentials, plus it doubles as a stuffsack for your sleeping bag. Has: A roll-top packbag. Lacks: A sternum strap.
  • The siliconized nylon packbag sheds water and wears like iron. But I'd trade the lacing system for a mesh water bottle pocket. <br><B>The Specs:</b> Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Daypack, $55, 3.2 oz., 22 liters/1343 cubic inches, One size, seatosummit.com
>
»
So small, yet so effective! With the Brunton Echo Pocket Scope, a 7 x 18 monocular, I spotted a juvenile bald eagle (thankfully the bright orange hue made it easy to find in camp). Bonus: tiny cleaning cloth, and great optics for the price.
Image 1 of 11

So small, yet so effective! With the Brunton Echo Pocket Scope, a 7 x 18 monocular, I spotted a juvenile bald eagle (thankfully the bright orange hue made it easy to find in camp). Bonus: tiny cleaning cloth, and great optics for the price.

READERS COMMENTS

Page 1

Very cool. One addition I would like to see is a lightweight filter, like the LifeStraw. It's listed here, among others: http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw
— Mike

If you're going for a stowaway backpack, skip the uber-sil expense and go for one that costs less and has outside pockets since you'll *always* be using these for sightseeing/picnics/raingear+snacks/kid implements etc. Our favorites are the REI Stuff Travel Pack (sturdy and water resistant) or the Hammock Bliss Daypack but there are many others.
— Scott

Does anybody else notice how consistently slowly the Backpacker.com site loads? Makes sitting and waiting for slideshows, etc. kind of maddening.
— Dave


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