Field Notes: North Face Propel Sleeping Bag, Asolo Power Matic Boot, Lanterns, and Vargo Titanium Sierra Pot

The North Face Propel (Courtesy Photo)

Asolo Power Matic 500 gv (Courtesy Photo)

Black Diamond Apollo Lantern (Courtesy Photo)

Vargo Titanium Sierra 750 (Courtesy Photo)

Sleeping Bag | Boots | Lanterns | Multitasking Pot

Sleeping Bag

The North Face Propel
This lightweight synthetic 40°F bag is the choice for no-nonsense hikers who want a summer sack that’s compact and versatile. The Propel’s Climashield Neo fill compresses almost as well as down–stuffed, it’s the size of a volleyball–but dries quickly. For that reason, our tester chose the Propel for a sea-kayaking trip in Baja, when an unplanned dunking was a daily possibility. Features are spare but smart: A shortie zipper saves weight and bulk; the minimalist hood closes with scratch-free hook-and-loop patches; and a zipper at the foot allows you to vent the lower bag on warm nights. The wispy 15-denier nylon shell is light, showed no wear, and sheds condensation. The cut is roomy across the shoulders, which is great for roll-around comfort and big guys, but our 150-pound, 5′ 10″ tester found it made the Propel a few degrees shy of its temp rating. Consider it a 50°F bag if you’re a cold sleeper. $209; 1 lb. 10 oz. (regular); 2 sizes. (866) 715-3223; thenorthface.com. Reader service #107

Sleeping Bag | Boots | Lanterns | Multitasking Pot

Boots

Asolo Power Matic 500 gv
Go ahead and shoulder the heaviest pack on the roughest terrain: These boots can handle it. The Power Matic is one of the burliest hikers we’ve tested, with soles that are so protective and stiff you could walk on a bed of roofing nails and not feel a thing. Underfoot, Asolo uses three layers of polyurethane: a full-length bed for protection, an underheel cup to absorb shock, and a two-thirds-length shank to support the arch. After a big-load trek on Vermont’s Long Trail, our tester said, “These full-grain leather hikers provided more ankle support and sole stiffness than I’ve ever experienced in a hiking-specific boot.” Soft leather between the upper and lower tongue panels and at the ankle laces enhances forward flex, and the high ankle cuff is made from a supple leather that never chafes. Pulley-style laces cinch tightly, a Gore-Tex liner kept out all moisture, and the Vibram sole gripped well in wet and dry terrain. High rubber toe and heel rands protect the leather from off-trail bashing. These bomber boots take time to break in–give them at least a week of dayhikes–but after that you’ll be set for years. Best for hikers who weigh more than 200 pounds and who have medium-volume to medium-width feet. $280; 4 lbs. (pair of men’s 8.5); men’s sizes 7-12, 13, 14. (877) 888-8533; asolo.com. Reader service #108

Sleeping Bag | Boots | Lanterns | Multitasking Pot

Lanterns

Deluxe: Black Diamond Apollo Lantern
Meet the smartest LED lantern on the planet: Its dimmable light conserves batteries, and its folding legs make it compact. In our tents, the frosted globe emitted a warm glow that was perfect for playing cards. Our tester’s only quibble: “When you turn the light on, it blinds you in the high position; I wish the adjustment started low and let you ratchet it up from there.” In our tests, batteries (four AAs) lasted close to a week at the lowest setting. At the highest setting, however, batteries averaged 7.5 hours–half of the listed lifespan. $50; 11.2 oz. with batteries. (801) 278-5552; bdel.com. Reader service #109

Bargain: Coghlan’s Micro Lantern
This tiny lantern is the size of a D battery and costs little more than a deli sandwich. It’s not as bright as the BD Apollo for camp duty, but it’s a good tent light at a fraction of the price. $8; .8 oz. (877) 264-4526; coghlans.com. Reader service #110

Sleeping Bag | Boots | Lanterns | Multitasking Pot

Multitasking Pot

Vargo Titanium Sierra 750
If you’ve ever had the privilege of camping with your grandparents, chances are they packed Sierra cups–those bowl-shaped aluminum vessels that hold cowboy coffee or chili equally well. This updated version–made of superlight titanium–is appealing to ultralighters looking for a stovetop pot that doubles as a cup/bowl. It holds 25 ounces and comes with a knobbed lid that has tiny straining holes on one side; our tester cooked his single serving of Ramen and strained out the water without spilling anything or burning his fingers. The handle folds away for streamlined packing. Caution: The rim gets hot in cup mode. $40; 4.5 oz. (877) 932-8546; vargooutdoors.com.