Gear Update: Revisiting My 2018 Wishlist

One of The Northeast Hiker’s most popular posts of 2018 was my Backpacking Gear Wishlist.  Now that the year has come to an end, I think it’s time for a gear update!  Today, I am revisiting my wishlist to let you know which items I actually added to my pack, which ones I didn’t, and how it’s all working out.

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Wishlist Item #1: Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Gear

Last spring, my rain gear was well worn and in need of replacing and I had my eye on the Helium line from Outdoor Research.

I ended up purchasing the Helium II jacket and, so far, am pleased with its performance.  I love how small it packs down and the brim on the hood that helps keep water off your face.  Although I am female, I usually wear men’s jackets because I need the longer sleeve length. I typically wear a men’s small but, based on the sizing reviews I read, decided to go with the medium.  The fit is as expected except for in the hip area which is slightly snug despite sizing up. This is something to keep in mind if you like a looser fit at the bottom of your jacket or plan on wearing heavy layers underneath.  

It is also worth noting that the Helium II jacket has only one zippered chest pocket (no hand pockets) and no pit zips.  These are features that I miss more than I thought I would. I plan on sticking with the Helium II for the time being. If I were to replace it, however, I would seriously consider the Helium HD which weighs a few ounces more but has both pit zips and hand pockets.

Originally, I had considered the Outdoor Research Helium II rain pants but I ended up purchasing The North Face Venture pants.  They weigh only two ounces more than the Helium pants and I was able to get a great deal on them so I decided to give them a try.  I’ve had the Venture pants for about nine months and haven’t gotten enough use out of them to give a full review but so far I like the fit and packability.

Wishlist Item #2:  MSR Pocket Rocket

When I made my wishlist last year, I was thinking about switching from liquid fuel to a canister stove.  I have been pleased with the quality of my MSR WhisperLite and considered trying their popular Pocket Rocket II.  I finally decided to pull the trigger on a canister stove, however, when I found a great deal on the Primus Express Stove.  I found the Primus Express on sale at REI and was able to combine the sale price with an extra 20% off coupon to get the stove for about $12.

I loved cooking on the canister stove this past summer.  Operation is simple and the stove is less fiddly with fewer moving parts than my WhisperLite.  At first, I was concerned about the waste created in the form of empty fuel canisters. Because I cook mainly using the freezer bag method, however, my fuel consumption is fairly low and I don’t feel like I am producing an unacceptable amount of trash.  My liquid fuel stove is great and will definitely be kept in my gear stash in case of colder weather or camping with a group.  For fast and light summer backpacking, however, canisters are now my fuel of choice.

If you are interested in a Primus canister stove, The Express Stove has, unfortunately, been discontinued (which is the reason I was able to get such a great deal).  I linked to the Express on Amazon above but I don’t know how much longer it will be available. However, Primus has released two new compact canister stoves, the Power Trail and Micron Trail.

Wishlist Item #3: Tarptent Stratospire 2

The Stratospire 2 was by far my favorite new piece of gear in 2018.  It’s hard to beat a double-walled shelter with the impressive floor space and ceiling height of the two-person Stratospire for under three pounds and $400.  I also love the huge vestibules that allow plenty of room for packs and shoes without having your gear touch the walls of the tent. I initially had some concerns about pitching a non-freestanding tent in tricky situations such as rocky ground or on a tent platform.  With a little creativity, however, this Tarptent can go anywhere a freestanding tent can go. The only real struggle may be finding a spot to accommodate the huge footprint of the Stratospire 2.

Wishlist Item #4:  Western Mountaineering Astralite Quilt

I had been considering a quilt for a while when Western Mountaineering caught my attention by releasing their Astralite and Nanolite.  Ultimately, due to budget, I decided to stick with my current three-season bag.  

I am using the Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed which is sort of a bag/quilt hybrid.  It has a lot of features that I love such as the foot vent and integrated quilt.  I am an active sleeper so I also like that it has a pad sleeve and a hood large enough to keep my pillow in place.  My biggest complaint about the Backcountry Bed is weight. I have an older model 32 degree bag that weighs in at about 2 pounds 12 ounces on my home scale.  The advertised weight of the Astralite is one pound. This means that making the switch would reduce my pack weight by about a pound and 12 ounces for a cost of $420 which unfortunately did not fit into my backpacking budget this year.

Wishlist Item #5: Sawyer Squeeze

Switching from my bulky pump-style filter to the easy to use, 2.5 ounce Sawyer Squeeze was a no-brainer.  My only complaint so far is about the bags that come with the filter.  The Sawyer bags are made of a stiff plastic that is loud and doesn’t pack down well. While I haven’t had any problems yet with the bags breaking or leaking, I don’t have much confidence in their durability.  I am also not a fan of the popular practice of pairing a disposable water bottle with the Sawyer filter. I find it inefficient and difficult to squeeze because the water bottle does not collapse as you squeeze the water out.  I am definitely sticking with the Sawyer Squeeze filter but am on the hunt for a better container to hold my dirty water. Be sure to comment below if you have any suggestions!

What was your favorite new piece of gear in 2018?  Is there anything you had high hopes for, tried, and didn’t like? Remember to share in the comments below!