Camping gear reviews, dirt included.
I'm Alden. I buy this stuff, take it on real trips, and write down what held up and what let me down. If something isn't worth buying, I'll tell you.
Featured review
TOAKS Titanium 750ml Pot Review: The Ultralight Pot I Make Summit Coffee In
My review of the TOAKS Titanium 750ml pot after three months of backpacking. Weight and specs, why 750ml is the right size for boiling water and coffee, how it nests my stove and fuel, and the two easy fixes for its downsides.
More reviews
How Long Does Ice Last in a Cooler? 1 to 4 Days
How long ice lasts in a cooler: about a day in a soft or cheap cooler, three to four days in a good hard cooler. What I actually get, and how to make ice last longer.
Hoka Speedgoat Review: One Shoe for Hiking and Running
I've hiked and trail run in the Hoka Speedgoat for over a year. Here's the honest review of grip, fit, comfort, durability, and who it's for.
RTIC vs Yeti in 2026: Is RTIC Really as Good?
I've used an RTIC 20 hard cooler for two years. Here's how RTIC compares to Yeti on ice retention, durability, and price, and whether RTIC is as good as Yeti.
The Best Budget Sleeping Pad I've Slept On: The Klymit Static V
The best budget sleeping pad I've found is the Klymit Static V, about $40. Real weight, R-value, and honest comfort notes: who it's perfect for, who should spend up for a Therm-a-Rest, and when to get the insulated version.
How to Keep Food Cold While Camping (Up to 4 Days on Ice)
How to keep food cold while camping, the exact ice setup that gets me about four days out of a cooler. Bagged ice, frozen meat as an ice pack, draining the melt, and when an electric cooler is worth it.
Hard Cooler vs Soft Cooler: Which Should You Get
Hard cooler vs soft cooler, from someone who owns both. Real ice retention numbers, the pre-chill trick, when to use each, and why I'd tell you to buy the hard cooler first.
Stanley French Press Review: Camp Coffee for the Whole Group
My Stanley French Press review after a year of car camping. How I brew 3 to 4 cups in it, the pre-boil grounds trick, the overfill fix, and the stove that keeps the handles cool.
Wise Owl Hammock Review: A Cheap and Easy Hang
My Wise Owl DoubleOwl hammock review after 3 months: what it weighs, how it packs down smaller than a Nalgene, why setup takes no knots, and who should buy it.
My Camping Knife Setup: a Cheap Gerber and a Leatherman Surge
My camping knife setup is a cheap Gerber Bear Grylls Scout for the basics and a Leatherman Surge I use 90% of the time. What each is good at, what it weighs, and which one to actually buy.
How to Make Cowboy Coffee: My Go-To When I Want Coffee Fast at Camp
How I make cowboy coffee with just my cook pot and coffee grounds. The exact steps, the cold-water trick that settles the grounds, and why I take it over instant every time.
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Review: Are the Socks Worth It?
My honest review of the Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew after a year and a couple hundred miles: durability, the merino stink test, drying, and whether the lifetime warranty makes the price worth it.
The 10 Hiking Essentials: What I Actually Carry (and What I'd Upgrade)
The ten hiking essentials with my real gear for each one: what I carry, plus the upgrade I'd make. Navigation, sun, insulation, light, first-aid, fire, repair, food, water, and emergency shelter.
BRS-3000T Stove Review: A Year and a Half With the $15 Ultralight Backpacking Stove I Still Carry
I've backpacked with the BRS-3000T ultralight stove for about a year and a half. Here's how it handles wind, the tinfoil trick I learned in Zion, and whether a $15 titanium pocket stove is worth it.
My Camp Kitchen: A Coleman 2-Burner Stove, Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, and Cheap Utensils
A year of burgers, steaks, walking tacos, and banana walnut pancakes on a Coleman 2-burner propane stove and a Lodge cast iron skillet. Including the time we cooked burgers in a blizzard.
Osprey Talon 26 Review: 18 Months In, I Don't Want Another Pack
I've day-hiked with the Osprey Talon 26 for about eighteen months, from desert slickrock to mountain ridgelines. Specs, sizing, how it's held up, pros and cons, and whether it's worth buying.
LifeStraw vs Sawyer Squeeze: Why I Switched and Haven't Looked Back
I started with a LifeStraw, then upgraded to a Sawyer Squeeze after one gross pond. Here's the real difference between drinking from the source and seeing your clean water first.
Portable Power Station for Camping: My Cheap 4-Day Setup
How I power a camera setup while camping with a budget power station. A GoPro Hero 11 and the group's phones for 4 days, real battery numbers, and the charging habit that makes it last.
Is a Popup Tent Worth It? The C6 Rev vs a Regular Tent
I own a C6 Rev convertible popup and I've pitched a Costco Core 6 pole tent. Here's whether a popup tent is worth it, and the honest tradeoff between three-minute setup and paying six times as much.