Gear Review: 10 under $10
Ten dirt-cheap items to make your next hike more enjoyable.
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MSR’s CamRing Cord Tensioners were made for the knot-challenged. Easily lace up the cleverly designed rings at home, then tension tent corners securely without fiddling (even with gloves on). $10 for 4, .2 oz., cascadedesigns.com
Stick a Black Crater Cordlock Light on your sleeping bag’s drawcords and you’ll never fumble for a light again. Replaceable twin lithium batteries hide under the cap, three modes give you options for brightness. $6, .25 oz., blackcratergear.com
The Innate Doppio Espresso Travel Mug with 6.5oz. capacity is just big enough for a double shot of espresso and a squirt of frothy milk. Double wall stainless steel construction holds heat, and the press-fit lid stays put. $9, 3.7 oz., innate-gear.com
Forget the fancy torch lighters and grab the el cheapo Jet 1300-C Mega Pocket Torch. Fill it with stove canister fuel for great results at high elevations. Clear body=easy-to-check fuel levels. Not great in high wind. $3, 1 oz., dealextreme.com
The Smith Pocket Pal packs 3 blade-sharpening tools in one compact unit. The replaceable carbide stone sets an edge, and the replaceable ceramic stone and diamond-coated rod hone it. The rod also works on serrated blades. $9, 1 oz., smithsedge.com
The 1.25 oz. capacity GoToob keeps viscous liquids at bay with a burly silicone body and no-drip spout. A wide mouth makes filling a cinch, and it all comes apart for cleaning. Caveat: Silicon is a dirt magnet. $6, 1 oz., humangear.com
Repair nearly any piece of gear on the fly with Tenacious Tape. It goes on clear, doesn’t leave residue, and is removable. This tape’s so tough you’ll need scissors or a razor blade to cut it. $3 for a 3 x 20″ piece, .8 oz., mcnett.com
Adventure Medical Kit’s Ultralight /Watertight .3 provides all the basics for owies, blisters, and splinters for just $9. The proprietary DryFlex bag is watertight. 2.6 oz., adventuremedicalkits.com
The PackTowl Nano is great for cleaning up after a dusty day on trail. Its peachy texture feels soft against windburnt skin. At 18 x 23″ it can absorb twice its weight in water and still wrings dry. $8, .9 oz., cascadedesigns.com
Photos and text by Allison Woods