Our Gear Picks
These are the pieces of gear we personally reach for trip after trip — from the well-known workhorses to a few obscure favorites most people have never heard of. Not affiliate links, just what's actually in our packs.
Descriptions below are a starting point — drop in your own notes on why each one earns a spot in your pack.
Water
- Katadyn BeFree 1L — ultralight squeeze filter, our go-to for solo and small-group trips.
- Platypus GravityWorks — no pumping, no squeezing; hang it and walk away for group water.
Cooking & Fire
- MSR WindBurner Duo Stove System — boils fast even in wind, great for two.
- Svante Fredén Reflector Oven — a bit of an obscure pick, hand-made in Sweden, folds flat and turns a campfire into an actual oven.
- Pocket Bellows — collapsible fire bellows that turns damp wood into a real fire fast.
- Silky BigBoy 2000 Folding Saw — the saw that makes camp firewood processing almost enjoyable.
- Gränsfors Bruk Small Forest Axe — hand-forged in Sweden, the axe that lasts a lifetime.
Shelter & Sleep
- Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 — our pick for a lightweight 4-person tent that doesn't feel cramped.
- Cooke Custom Sewing Tarp with Ridgeline — Minnesota-made, built for real Boundary Waters weather.
- Cooke Custom Sewing Screened Tarp — bug-proof shelter without hauling a full tent.
- Helinox Lite Cot — off-the-ground comfort that still packs small.
- Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft — the closest thing to a mattress you can pack.
Packs & Canoe Accessories
- SealLine Pro Dry Pack 120L — our go-to portage pack for keeping everything bone dry.
- Cooke Custom Sewing Thwart Bag & Bow Bag — keeps maps, snacks, and small essentials within reach on the water.
Fishing
- Ugly Stik GX2 Travel Spinning Rod (4-piece) — nearly indestructible and packs down small for portaging.
Lighting
- Luci Original Inflatable Solar Light — packs flat, charges off the sun, no batteries to pack out.
