Gear I Am DONE With and What I am Using Instead

Justin Outdoors12 minutes read

The Aloft Pro pillow, Zen Bivvy quilt, Nitecore NU-25 headlamp, LifeStraw Peak filter, and MSR Freelate tent all have significant design flaws or shortcomings, making them less practical choices for outdoor gear. Opting for the Rovivon A5X flashlight, Sawyer Squeeze filter, and alternative tent options like the Plex solo, Derson X Mid 2 person, and Sea to Summit Helios three-person tents may offer more efficient and suitable alternatives for outdoor enthusiasts.

Insights

  • The Rovivon A5X flashlight, weighing only 16 grams and equipped with USBC charging, is a practical choice for three-season backpacking, making it a preferred option over the bulkier Nitecore NU-25.
  • Opting for backcountry bidets over toilet paper, using a cloth for drying, and exposing it to UV rays for sanitation offers a shower-like clean feeling, promoting enhanced cleanliness and hygiene during outdoor activities.

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Recent questions

  • What are the drawbacks of the Aloft Pro pillow?

    Discomfort due to wedged shape design.

  • What are the shortcomings of the Zen Bivvy quilt?

    Ineffective draft reduction, complex attachment system, heavy design.

  • What are the positive updates of the Nitecore NU-25 headlamp?

    USBC charging feature.

  • Why is the Rovivon A5X flashlight a practical choice for backpacking?

    Lightweight design, USBC charging feature.

  • What design flaw hinders the LifeStraw Peak filter?

    Water entering from one side causing clogging.

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Summary

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Outdoor Gear Reviews: Pros and Cons

  • The Aloft Pro pillow by Trichology, despite its promising features like supportive baffling and a pad strap, is rendered unusable due to its wedged shape design causing discomfort while laying on it.
  • The Zen Bivvy quilt, aiming to reduce drafts, falls short in effectiveness, complexity, and weight, with a cumbersome system of attaching the quilt to the sheet and a heavier design.
  • The new Nitecore NU-25 headlamp disappoints with bulkier and heavier features, uncomfortable headband options, but does offer USBC charging as a positive update.
  • The Rovivon A5X flashlight, weighing only 16 grams and equipped with USBC charging, proves to be a more practical choice compared to the Nitecore NU-25 for three-season backpacking.
  • The LifeStraw Peak filter, with a design flaw allowing water to enter from only one side, leads to clogging issues and slower filtration, prompting a switch back to the Platypus LifeStraw for faster and more efficient filtering.
  • The Sawyer Squeeze filter, with a 0.1 micron filter, offers effective water filtration, although not as fast as the Platypus Quick Draw, making it a reliable alternative.
  • The MSR Freelate tent, despite its promising features, falls short due to a short brow pole causing water leakage, a design flaw in the door allowing rain inside, and the lack of an all-in-one or fly-first pitch system, making it unsuitable for rainy conditions.
  • Opting for tents with all-in-one or fly-first pitches, the Plex solo, Derson X Mid 2 person, and Sea to Summit Helios three-person tents are preferred over the MSR Freelate for solo ultralight or couples' trips.
  • Embracing a backcountry bidet over toilet paper for cleanliness, using a cloth for drying up, and exposing it to UV rays for sanitation, provides a shower-like clean feeling after using the bidet.
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