Backpacker Magazine – May 2008

Field Notes: The Latest Word from Our Testers

The green truth behind bamboo, a hyper-efficient cookpot, and a bargain three-person tent.

by: The Backpacker Editors

Tags:
• Gear
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• Gear Guide
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• Backpacks
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• Tents
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• Baselayers
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Tech4o Traileader | Under Armour Cold Gear Base 2.0 | Crazy Creek Backpacker Lite AIR | Bridgedale Ventum Light Hiker | Primus EtaPower 1.7L Pot | High Sierra Explorer 55 | ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 3 | Green Scene

ALPS MOUNTAINEERING ZEPHYR 3 TENT
Gunning for McKinley? The Zephyr ain't your bunker. But for typical summer weekends, this lightweight, three-season tent is a bargain. The two-door, double-walled wedge pitches fast: Just feed the two aluminum poles through short, two-foot-long sleeves on the tent body and clip the ends into place. The high ceiling (41 inches at the center) makes changing clothes and playing cards comfortable, but floor space is tight for three adults–it's best for two big guys or parents with a child. The two vestibules manage a full load of gear for three. The floor and fly fabrics withstood sandpapery canyonlands in Utah, and the all-mesh walls minimized condensation even with a trio inside. In typical three-season conditions, the Zephyr kept testers dry and sheltered, but in gusty winds the high, steep walls flapped like sails. $160; 5 lbs. 7 oz. (800) 344-2577; alpsmountaineering.com.

Tech4o Traileader | Under Armour Cold Gear Base 2.0 | Crazy Creek Backpacker Lite AIR | Bridgedale Ventum Light Hiker | Primus EtaPower 1.7L Pot | High Sierra Explorer 55 | ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 3 | Green Scene

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