Updated 9.22.06
Everyone wants to know what the best gear is and where the cheapest place to buy it is. The following posts are meant to be suggestions of where to research and/or purchase quality gear.
Personally, I am of the mind set of finding gear by researching the manufacturers, and then once you have chosen the product, finding it for a good price through good retailers.
These are JUST suggestions and are not advertisements for any certain company. If you have other suggestions for gear Manufacturers or retailers, please PM me.
(check back at this post for updates - I add stuff all the time)
Gear Manufacturers:
(US, Canada, & Europe)
Cascade Designs
www.cascadedesigns.com
Parent comany of MSR,
Therm-a-rest, Platypus, & SEAline. See info on MSR below. Therm-a-rest is the leading edge in sleeping pads. Platypus in one of two major water "bladder" makers (see Camelbak below). SEAline makes water proof storage cells (dry sacks).
MSR Corporation
www.msrcorp.com
MSR makes tents, stoves, Pak Towel, and other gear. Trust this brand.
Sierra Designs
www.sierradesigns.com
Sierra Designs are primarily makers of sleeping bags and tents, as well as clothing. Their expeditioning and 4 season tents are world renound. If you want a great tent look no further.
The North Face
www.thenorthface.com
North Face are makers of tents, packs, sleeping bags, and other accesories. They are most well known for their clothing, which they truly make as gear.
Marmot
www.marmot.com
Marmot has quickly become the leading US pack maker as well as a top sleeping bag maker. They were recently fully merged (under the parent K2) with Dana Design; by combining the two pack tecnologies, these have become the packs to trust on your back for design, durability, comfort, etc. Also clothing and other gear. (Dana Designs
www.danadesigns.com)
Snow Peak
www.snowpeak.com
Stoves, cook wear, and other accessories.
Vango
www.amg-outdoor.co.uk/vango
Under the parent company of
AMG, who also make Teva (see above) as well as others. VANGO make amazing lit wieght sleeping bags, as well as packs, tents and other gear.
Vaude
www.vaude.de
Leading European mountian sports company, they make everything: tents, packs, sleeping bags, bivys, stoves, clothing, biking accessories, ect.
Kelty
www.kelty.com
Tents, packs, sleeping bags, etc.
Mountain Hard Wear
www.mountainhardwear.com
Packs, tents and more.
Eagle Creek
www.eaglecreek.com
Eagle Creek makes packs, travel accesories, toiletry units, etc.
Gregory Backpacks
www.gregorypacks.com
Gregory is makes primarily packs.
Coghlan's
www.coghlans.com
Think accesories!
Sea to Summit
www.seatosummitusa.com
Gear accessories such as pack towls, sleeping bag liners, Dry sacks, etc.
Camelbak
www.camelbak.com
Camelbak is the leading makers of water storage commanly know as "baddlers".
Gerber
www.gerbergear.com
Gerber creates blades, pack axes, saws, headlights, flashlights and other such accessories.
Katadyn
www.katadyn.com
Make water purifing systems (also see MSR for the same).
Lewis N. Clark
www.lewisnclark.com
Travel Accessories from clothes lines to packable pillows and alarm clocks.
Teva Footwear
www.teva.com
Teva is known for versitile sandals. These things can go anywhere!
Lowa boots
www.lowaboots.com
Top of the line hiking boots and shoes.
Merrell Footwear
www.merrell.com
Some of the best hiking boots, all-terrain sandals and shoes around
PacSafe
www.pac-safe.com
Concerned about security? These are the guys that make that wire mesh net for your pack, as well as slash-proof gear for traveling.
Any suggestions? PM me!
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