Pros:     Inexpensive, works well, small and light weight

Cons:     Uses butane tanks that you have to dispose of, may not work in cold weather.

I got this stove kit from Amazon for under 40 bucks and it is as good a stove as I need. It has a built in lighter and the flame easily adjusts from low to high. It will boil a pot of water faster that the time it takes to prime and light my Svae stove which is nice on a cold raining morning when you just want a coffee fast. The cookware is good quality and a small butane bottle fits inside the cookware with the stove for compact travel. The downside for me is I end up with some  almost empty fuel bottles that don't have enough fuel to take on a trip but too much to get rid of. Also it is difficult to dispose of the bottles as they usually need to be taken to a recycle centre. I have seen on line an adapter that will transfer fuel from one bottle to another but have not tried one yet.

Pros: Carries large heavy loads, comforatable, convertable, useful lower shelf

Cons: Heavy, noisy, bulky, poor build quality ( stitching, zippers)

It's  actually a hunting pack designed to carry a riffle and haul out up to 150 lbs of meat as the sack is removable. It does everything an external frame pack should do. It has a lower shelf that is good for dirty boots, bag of ice, firewood, and resupplying at stores.  It has 5 pockets on the outside of the pack and two on the hip belt. I like to have a pockets just for things like first aid, bug gunk, rain cover, rain gear, water and filter, and sunblock. One downside to the hip belt pockets is they are slightly too small for my Samsung s10 phone.

The quality of the pack is less than other packs in the same price range as the zippers are not top quality and  there was two obvious stitching defects that should have been found durring the manufacturing process. One defect was cosmetic only but the other needed to be restitched before using to keep it from falling appart. Even with the lesser quality I have over packed it and the zippers and pack have not failed yet. The frame itself is strong and the straps and hip belt do not show any wear yet either.

I really like this pack, I bought it online using only pictures and reviews to make a choice and it's been a three  years now and I am still happy with it.  It is not waterproof and does not come with a rain cover but I bought an 80 litre cover for 15 bucks that fits well.  I have carried up to 75 lbs for several kms and it will comfortably carry anything my legs can handle. At 7.4lbs/3.4kgs it is heavier then most packs and is more than most people need and not much use if you only carry light loads.

This pack is quite noisy and although it does not bother me it is loud enough to annoy your hiking buddies and there is no way to adjust the noise away. The pack has cotter pins holding the sack on that are sharp and can cause cuts (I cut my hand in the first two hours of use). I replaced them all with the key chain style rings that were supplied with the pack and I find are much better.

Pros: it is definitely high quality. just over 4 lbs

Cons: sternum strap rides up while hiking.

I have been using a much larger external frame pack for the past three years and wanted a smaller (normal) pack. I tried a few on from TNF as well as Gregory and Osprey and this was the best fitting for my body (6'2" , 180 lbs) of the bunch.  The pack adjusts to suit different size people.

Most people consider this a bit too large for an overnight trip and even for multi day trips However, I will have to really trim down some extras to make this one fit and not sure if I could camp at a site that requires carrying all my own water. I have used this pack twice now and  I loaded it up with a total weight of 37 lbs and did a couple of hikes now including one overnighter for about 45 km  and  I like it so far. It was comfortable and the back ventalation was good. The pack frame has a nice solid feel to it and holds weight well with most of the weight transfered to the hip belt.

The removable top lid has a large enough pocket to hold all of my clothing for a weekend trip with a separate small pocket on the inside to hold keys(with a clip), wallet and an e reader. There are two large side pockets for water bottles, a large back pouch that I use for rain gear and jacket, and two belt pockets for phone, glasses and snacks. 

One downside to this pack is that the sternum strap slides up when hiking and I need to keep pulling it down.

In the picture there is a TNF accessory pouch mounted on the left that did not come with the pack.

Pros: Lasts forever, built tough/high quality/made for extreme weather, two doors one with vesibule.

Cons: Heavy, hot in warm weather even with both doors open

I bought this over 20 years ago for $595.00 plus $50.00 for the footprint. Besides using it a lot, it was stored in a damp boat for 5 years then several years in an uninsulated attic and still looks brand new.  I suspect it will outlive me. It is heavy for a tent of its size at 9lbs/4kgs but this is due to it being tough and ready for anything

The tent breaths moisture quite well and usually the inside of the fly is wet every morning with the inside of the tent dry. I remove the fly in the morning and flip it upside down durring breakfast to dry it a bit before packing.  Even with the two doors open it can still be hot to the point that I rarely use it in the summer anymore. 

It has two doors and one vestuble that is big enough for two packs and even just enough room to to change out of wet clothing.

Pros: light weight, packs small, High Quality, lots of room

Cons: Heavier than other 1 person tents,

I just bought this tent at the TNF outlet store in Mirabel Quebec for half the regular price of $230.00 and have not used it yet. I could not see it set up in store so had to wait to get home  to see how much room it had. Happy to say that if has enough room for me (6' 2'') to lay down and also to sit up. The vestuble is big enought to hold my 65 litre pack, boots and camp stove.  There are two large storage pockets inside as well as loops in the ceiling. It is just over 3lbs and although heavier than other 1 person tents it is of very high quality. I also purchased the matching footprint that adds a bit of weight but I want to keep this tent forever. The tent is tapered and if I lay with my head to the narrow part I can squeeze my pack inside the tent by my feet. It came with (as did my stormbreak 3) poor quality pegs for some reason and I have upgraded them with some higher quality aluminum pegs instead.

This is a stove you can buy anywhere under different brand names starting for about 20 bucks and uses butane canisters that are cheap and easy to find. It has a built-in lighter and lights easy and has  an adjustable burner that works very well.  It is too heavy for backcountry camping but is great for car camping and for a backup during power outage at home. Each can of butane runs for about an hour. The cheapest place to buy the fuel cans is in Asian grocery stores and the last time I bought a 4 pack for around 7 bucks.

Pros: two doors, two vestubles, lots of mesh, 2.3 kgs

Cons: not for cold weather, 

I found this tent at a thrift store for $5.00 and it had never been used. It would go for about $200.00 new. It is a MEC tent from when it was still called Co-op so the tent would have to be at least 12 years old.  This is the tent I use for solo backpacking as it is the lightest tent I have  at 5lbs/2.3kgs and lots of room for gear inside. The vestibules are big enought to be useful however not enough to fit a large pack. I have used it in weather down to -5 deg celcius on a 10 day trip but would not want to go much colder than that. Easy and fast one person set up as it only has two poles. The last time I took it out for a multi day trip I noticed that the inside of the floor is now degrading and flaking and it may soon be time to replace it.  

Got this 12x12 bug tent at a SAIL store for $95.00 and it easily fits over a picnic table to provide bug free cooking, eating and a place to hide when things get bad. It is easy to set up and take down and can take a bit of rain with the option of throwing a tarp over it if needed. The white mesh makes it difficult to see out of and ruins the feeling of being outdoors so make sure to get one made of black mesh that is more transparent.

Pros: Easy setup, 

Cons: bit heavy for backpacking

Comes with easy to use adjustable straps and stays in place once set up. Although it is a bit heavy for backpacking I still take it with me if I am staying in the same spot for a couple of nights. Built in pocket that is good if you remember it is there, otherwise you could do like me and spend a lot of time looking for it among the rest of the gear only to realize it is attached. 

Pros: small, light weight, easy to inflate

Cons: takes about 5 min to deflate,  not rated for cold weather, like any inflatable is usless if it leaks. 

I have a couple of inflatable mattresses and also some self inflating ones too. The inflatable  Unigear (the green on in the picture) is the one I use the most and have used 30 + times and still like new and no leak.  Works well to -5 deg C but below that I would use another or put a closed cell foam mat under it. 

Pros: Everyting is ready to go all the time, good for car camping, Picnics and in hotel rooms.

Cons: Too heavy and large for backpacking

You can find these for around $80.00 that will last for years and has all the basics included. I have added extra items like beer coosies and replaced the coffee mugs with insulated travel mugs instead. It is perfect for car camping and I also take it on car trips when staying in hotels as well. It has a front pocket I keep full of ziplock bags and napkins and a large back pocket large enough for food 0r any larger items to bring along.

Pros: nice shelter for beach, picniks 

Cons: Heavy for backcountry camping

Meant to be used on a beach for shade and also zips up completely for privacy. It  can fit two camp chairs and a cooler to be used as a bug tent with three windows to escape those little guys and can also can take a bit of rain.

Pros: Inexpensive, portable and easy to store, fast setup,

Cons: Not for serious kayakers,

I was expecting this to be a toy but was very impressed with it. It is more stable than a standard kayak  and is easy to paddle. It is for two people and would also  be good for one person  to load up camping gear and paddle out to a remote campsite.  Takes about 10-15 min to inflate and a bit longer to deflate.  I usually lay it out for a couple of days when I get home to completly dry everything out before packing it away. It came with a poor quality bag so I have been keeping it in a hockey bag that is large enought to fit it with all accesories and two life jackets. It is a good deal at $199.99 including pump, paddles and delivery included  and will last for years.

Pros: long battery life (about a week in regular mode) works well with android, good health functions, map function , 

Cons: No touch screen, not intuitive, difficult to learn to use.

There are newer more advanced versions of this watch including solar features that with enough light will keep the battery charged forever.  I bought this watch online on a whim with no research or thought for $200.00 cdn. I am very happy with it and will eventually upgrade to the newer solar version.  Once you learn to navigate, you can go through the menus quickly and the map software for the phone shows every trail I will probably do and is useful even without the watch.  I wear it to work and have banged the screen quite hard a few times and not even a mark. It has a nice weather screen however often times it just displays "waiting for data" and is of no use.

The main reason I bought this watch is to download maps into it for trail use, and it does this well. Once the map is  loaded from your phone it will guide you along the way and it will alert you if you take a wrong turn. The image of the map is very basic however, If you pull out your phone and open the app you will get a nice full colour map showing the trails and you current location.

It works well with android and notifications like text msg and emails show up on the watch face and even gives the option to give basic replies.

I bought this watch 3 years ago and the battery still lasts more than a week.

I have two solar panels each useful in different ways. the Ks2 solar panel wieghs  224gr/.4lbs and at 7 watts works well in full sun and will charge my samsung S10 to 100% in about the same time it takes to charge from the wall plug. It will not charge a phone in indirect light like in the woods or through glass although it will for small items like a watch or headphones. It comes in a carry case with a pocket for cords and is easy to tie to your pack for use when hiking.

The iEsafy panel has a built in battery that when new (3 years ago) would charge my phone from 20-100% 5 times on a charge without sun. I took it on a 10 day hike and it kept my phone going the whole time. The built in light is perfect for inside the tent and will run for 24 hours and only reduce the battery by 25%. Even three years later, the battery is still strong and useful as I recently used in on a trip and it kept my phone charged the whole week. It does charge in the sun however with its 26800mAh/99.16wh battery I don't know if it would ever fully charge itself on sun power alone.

Many campers don't have the need to carry a heavy knife but I always take this one on every trip. This knife is solid enough to split/Baton firewood for kindling  and wide enough to dig a cathole ( for pooping). I like that it has a hard sheath and the blade clicks into it and won't fall out.  I bought this one at Sail for around 35 bucks  and although I would like a lighter knife I would have a hard time finding anything better.  At 200grams/.44lbs it is too heavy for anyone going lightweight but works for me.

When chosing a water filter it is important to go with a known brand name as you can't really see if it works or not. At least when you go with a good brand you can be sure that  when new it is working and providing safe water. Be sure to dry it out before storing and don't let it freeze. The Saywer filter is small and lightweight at 45 grams  and works well. To use it you fill the provided bag with water and screw in the filter and simply squeeze the water through. The screw fitting is standard so that you can use other brand water bags as well as regular disposable water bottles. It comes with a syringe to back flush the filter to remove any clogs.

I bought this set at the Dollarama for 4 bucks and has been used for about 30 days camping so far and is still like new. Sets like this go for 20 or more dollars in outdoor stores with no weight savings over this set. Maybe the more expensive set is made with less toxic plastic and will last longer but I am good with this set. 

You can get a small spatula at any oudoor store but for a lot less you can get one at the dollar store and pull the handle out and leave it at home. On a recent trip I realized that the butt of my knife fit in perfect.

I never go on any overnight hike without a pair of hiking poles. There are times when I store them on the side of the pack or only use one, However sometime it makes a huge difference on the enjoyment of the hike. At 560 grams and around $40.00 this set was the best deal I could find and have done a few hundred kms with them so far.  Hiking poles can also be used to hold up tarps to make a nice shelter for extra indoor space.

I got this foam pad in the garden section of a dollar store for 2 bucks. It is light, easy to pack, comfortable for back country camping as well as car camping. Even when car camping with full size chairs these are nice to use on the picnic table especially when wet. 

This is a fan that uses the Ryobi one+ batteries and is a good choice if you already have these batteries for your tools. It also works on 110v and on low speed you can get a good 8 hours of run time on a charge. Good for car camping on hot nights, but far to heavy for backpacking.

I got this pillow at a thrift store for a couple dollars and don't know what it would cost new, however it is the one I now take everywhere. It is very small and on its own not fully useful so I usually roll up a fleese jacket or some other clothing item and then place this on top to make something that works. It is also good for air travel.

I bought this rain cover for $15.00 and if fits may large external frame pack well. Years ago when I upgraded to new camping gear I just assumed that my new backpack was waterproof and soon found out that it was not and most are not. You can find pack covers in any outdoor store for around fifty bucks, but I like this one just fine and the more expensive covers don't have any weight savings to justify the extra expence for me.

For me, the only choice of flashlight is leds as they are brighter and have much longer battery life that any other type. They start at a dollar and for 20 bucks you can get thousands of lumens of lighting with the option of rechargable battery packs as well with some being able to  charge your cell phone. 

I got this latern at Costco for 30 bucks and it is almost too bright on the highest setting so it is a good thing that it is dimmable.  The lamp is rechargable with the included usb power cord and can also be charged with the built in solar panel although I have not tried to charge by the sun yet. It also can be powered by regular C cell batteries. 

This lamp is a new version of the old Colman lanterns that used white fuel and needed to be pumped up and is much easier to use and store.

It is too bulky for backcountry camping but it is good for car camping and power outages at home.

This is an inflatable solar light that I have had for about 10 years now and the battery life is still good enough that I still take this on every trip. Just set it out when you set up camp and it will charge up to give a couple hours light and is really good for a small tent. It is small and compact (125grams) and inflates to use and deflates to pack small. 

Something that can be considered a luxury when back country camping is a binocular or monocular as even at 60 grams can be too much to carry if you don't plan to use them. The pic has a Tasco binocular on the left and a Tasco monocular on the right and the monocular in the center of the pic is a Nikula. They are all 7-10 times magnification and compact and can be useful as well as just something to pass the time. 

This usb rechargable fan is 6 inch high including the stand and at 260grams or 9 oz is light enough to take into the backcountry for an overnighter. It has three speeds and on low will last for hours and even at low speed can keep you comfortable in a warm tent. It is also quite quiet and feels solid. It has led lights that indicate the fan speed and a they were thoughtfull enough to have the lights time out after a couple minutes so you can sleep in the dark with the distraction.

At 920 grams or just over 2lbs including the case  I find that this chair was a great bargan at $45.00(was on sale). It sets up fast and easy and folds down to a compact size small enough take back country camping and fits inside my pack. It comes with a well made carry case with loops and a daisy chain sewn in. 

It is nice to sit on and I expect to get years out of it. 

Not really made for backcountry camping when you are counting the grams, but for car camping or taveling in general this could be just the thing for any cheese fan.