1.     Polartec NeoShell

The NeoShell represents the biggest leap forward in waterproof-breathable technology since the initial introduction of Gore-Tex. Unlike Gore-Tex products, though, the NeoShell membrane moves moisture – or “breathes” – faster and in greater volumes than traditional shells, even in frigid conditions. The membrane is air permeable so air may flow freely through it, rather than requiring an interior heat to ‘push’ through the membrane like Gore-Tex breathable products. As a hiker who tends to produce sweat easily and in great quantities, I seldom resort to wearing traditional hardshell rainwear unless caught in a true downpour. I tend to get clammy too quickly, thus minimizing the benefits of keeping the rain out. NeoShell, though, lets me shed excess heat and moisture as it develops, regardless of my activity level. That the membrane can be used in a variety of fabrics and shell styles greatly increases it’s worth. See the next two of my 2011 Favorites. For more information, visit polartec.com/shelter/polartec-neoshell/ and bit.ly/neoshell2

 1a.     Marmot Zion Jacket

The Zion bonds the NeoShell to a soft face and a brushed tricot backing to create this stretchy softshell that beats back violent storms like the best hardshell. Any sweat generated during anything from skiing black diamonds to shoveling your driveway will zip through the fabric as it forms.We found the modest stretch in the Zion’s fabric made this a gem of a jacket for active outings such as climbing, backcountry skiing and even steelhead fishing – the jacket flexed and moved with us as we fought those chrome missiles in the icy rivers of the Northwest. Small rubberized nodules on the shoulder yolks add a nice visual element, but also add functionality by keep pack straps from slipping during gnarly descents. A fleecy inner backing helps move moisture, too, but also provides a bit of warmth in more mellow times. Available in men’s and women’s sizes. $375. Visit bit.ly/Marmot-Zion

1b.    Westcomb Apoc

Forget breathing. This puppy pants! The Apoc’s use of NeoShell in a lightweight jacket helps transports sweat so efficiently we briefly worried about its waterproofness. Torrents of rain pounded our team during testing, though, with not a drop penetrating the shell. Even during those drenching downpours, though, sweat smoothly evaporated through the shell. The 340-denier shell material is heavy enough to be durable and tough, yet light enough o keep the total jacket weight to a respectably light 1-pound, 1 oz (men’s medium).The sleek Apoc sports just a few frills – a nice interior iPod pocket, and four deep exterior slash pockets to keep gadgets handy, but dry. An ideal jacket for general outdoor use regardless of weather conditions. $480.www.westcomb.com

2.     Sage One Fly Rod

Trying to toss a bit of feathers and fluff 100 feet upriver and hit a spot no bigger than a fist got much easier this year. The Sage One series fly rods use new carbon-fiber technologies, dubbed “Konnetics,” to allow the rod to bend and flex fluidly while suppressing secondary vibrations. The result is unmatched casting accuracy. The fast-action rod takes a little getting used to, since it does load so quickly and fires line so accurately. But after a few casts, it feels like a natural extension of your arm. Field testing in British Columbia (grayling), Washington, Idaho and Montana (trout) supported the claims. The 9-foot, 5-weight rod comes in a 4-piece version only, weighting just 2.75 ounces.

This truly is The One we like best! $725. www.sageflyfish.com

3.     Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS

Water and fine electronics don’t usually get along. Sometimes, though, wet and digital gadgets go hand in hand. The Pentax WG-1 GPS camera offers outdoor enthusiasts a handy means of documenting their adventures in pictures in wet weather and even underwater. Fully waterproof to 33 feet, the WG-1 sports a 14-megapixel sensor behind a 5X optical zoom lens (equivalent to a 28-140mm zoom). The 2.7-inch LCD screen is bright enough to be viewable underwater for clear framing of submerged shots. It also offers enough contrast and clarity to be usable in bright sunlight. For trail enthusiasts, the camera’s rugged body is designed to withstand impacts and falls of up to 5 feet with no damage. Despite that sturdy structure, though, the camera retains a slim profile that fits comfortably into shirt pockets and the narrow pockets frequently found on new backpack belts.  We tortured the WG-1 GPS in the wettest, most rugged locales we could find in the Northwest.  The camera’s controls are large and easy to operate, and Pentax offers a host of options to assist in framing and exposing images properly. One unique feature, though, really helps the Pentax WG-1 excel as an adventurer’s camera: the integrated GPS function. The GPS chip built into the WG-1 GPS allows users to automatically embed exact location information into the metadata of every picture taken. In short, every picture included an embedded GPS waypoint, so you can quickly and easily pinpoint your pictures on digital maps and online sharing sites such as Google Earth. $399. www.pentaximaging.com

4.     Dahlgren Socks

Technically, these aren’t “new” for 2011, but the brand is “new” to far too many of you. If that’s the case for you, you’ve been missing out. There are a LOT of great outdoor sock brands. Many will serve you well. But after 20 years of field testing socks while stomping up and down trails, tracks and unmarked terrain, one brand stands apart as the makers of the best hiking socks I’ve ever worn. Our testers especially praised the Dahlgren’s Hiker alpaca-wool socks. Dahlgren actually blends the highly insulating alpaca wool with denser merino wool to create a moisture-controlling sock that provides great cushion in the heel and instep, while allowing good breathability and venting. Even better, the small family-owned business makes their socks right here in the Northwest to further ensure excellent production quality. Dahlgren’s Hiking Socks are available in Mens and Women’s sizes. $19.50.  www.dahlgrenfootwear.com.

5.     Fishpond Pawnee Gear Bag

Designed specifically for fly fishers, the Pawnee Duffle offers the best means of keeping your angling gear organized and ready to go. A heavy-duty zipper around three sides of the lower compartment allows the top three-quarters of the Pawnee to swing off the lower section, revealing the flat storage perfectly sized to fit a pair of wading boots and waders. A tough nylon mat folds out from the bottom of this section to provide a clean, dry place to stand while pulling on your waders and boots. The upper compartment sports a wide anvil-style zippered opening that reveals a bag big enough to hold your vest, a wading jacket, small landing net, reel cases, etc. A clear-faced zippered pocket on the outside of the main upper compartment is a perfect place to stash spare tippets, leaders, tools and assorted small gear. We’ve tried other gear bags, and liked many of them, but none were as perfectly matched as the Pawnee Gear Bag to the needs of river-wading fly fisher. $130. www.fishpondusa.com

6.     REI Endeavor Pants

Everyone I know prefers to hike in shorts when at all possible. But shoulder season outings in the Cascades can be a bit chilly on bare legs. So pants are needed. REI’s Endeavor Pants are the latest and greatest we’ve found that address the needs of cool weather trekkers without looking too teched out. With a relaxed fit, contoured legs and gusseted crotch, the Endeavor Pants allow smooth, natural strides without binding or rubbing. The polyester-spandex material gives the pants great 4-way stretch for additional mobility and comfort during strenuous activities like scrambling and climbing. That material also sheds water efficiently and dries almost instantly – in fact, I wore these will wet-wading on a fly fishing adventure in northern BC, and the legs didn’t absorb more then a few drops of water despite hours of immersion in the clear, cold rivers. Zippered pockets on the back and sides keep small items secure, and deep front pockets provide good storage for essentials close at hand.  Available in men’s and women’s sizes. Bottom line: The best performing, and best looking, mountain pant we’ve found. $79.50. www.rei.com

  Next up: The Best yet to come – Top Spring 2012 Products

That’s a lot of people and a lot of money. Still, many of those animal lovers want to hold onto as much of their paycheck as they can — which explains the emails we’ve received asking for suggestions on the best affordable binoculars available today.

After checking out several binoculars, we found a couple that have crystal-clear optics at a reasonable price.

At the top of the list stands Brunton’s Echo Compactseries. We recommend the 8-power version (8×25) since 10-power compacts can be difficult to hold steady (the extra magnification also magnifies any vibration/hand shake, creating an unstable image).

The Echo 8×25 glasses proved remarkably comfortable in the hand, and the lenses were sharp through the field of vision — we noticed just a hint of fuzziness at the extreme edge of the field of view. The light transmission was very good, presenting a bright view, even at dusk and dawn when wildlife is most active. We used these while watching young bighorns scamper in the twilight above Umtanum Canyon in Central Washington, and to spy on ospreys hunting trout in the Yakima River Canyon.

The Echos even earned praise from our hardest-to-please binocular tester: Donna has a small face, and frequently finds she can’t bring binocular barrels close together enough to allow easy viewing. The Echos, though, fit her well, while also working wonderfully for our bigheaded, wide-eyed lead tester (yours truly). The Echo 8x25s weigh 38 ounces and sell for $120. More info: www.bruntonoutdoor.com.

For a smaller, lighter pair, we recommend the Pentax Papilio 8.5×21 binoculars. These compact optics fit comfortably in the hand, adjust to fit a wide variety of faces (including Donna’s) and weigh a mere 10 ounces. The optics are sharp and clear — not as bright as the Bruntons, but nearly as sharp. What’s most remarkable about the new Papilios, though, is the focusing range. These binoculars have a close-focus distance of just 19.5 inches, meaning you can zoom in on that bee sitting on the flower right in front of you. You can examine the patterns of pollen on its legs, and count the hairs on its back as it flies over to sting you! No other binoculars we’ve found — or even heard of — offer this ability to act almost as a microscope on your wilderness adventures.

The Pentax Papilio 8.5×21 binoculars sell for $149. See www.pentaxsportoptics.com.

Despite this growing affinity for dogs as pets, canines on trails continue to be a contentious issue. Some hikers feel domestic dogs have no place in the wilderness, citing cases of dogs attacking or molesting other hikers, harassing wildlife, and fouling trails and campsites. Yet, as with any trail user group, a small segment of the group creates the problems. With some care, understanding, and education, dogs can be tremendous trail users.

♦ Hiking with Dogs Clinic ♦

FRIDAY, JULY 22^nd

6pm-8pm

It’s A Dog’s  World Training and Agility Center

16024 60^th. Street E., Sumner, WA 98390

The key is education not only for the dogs and the dog owners but also for the general hiking public who will surely, at some time or another, encounter dogs on trails. People with sentiments against dogs on trails will successfully push for dog bans if dog owners continue to let their canines run freely up the trails, chasing wildlife (which, depending on the species pursued, could be a state or federal offense, punishable by sizable fines and/or jail time for dog owners) and harassing other hikers. And any unwanted approach of a hiker by a dog can be considered harassment.

Yet hikers create a dangerous precedent when they start advocating for the ban of some users—even canine trail users—merely because some of those users are behaving badly. With dogs already banned from some trails, trail “purists” are setting their sights on other bothersome uses. There are calls to outlaw trail runners on some trails, to ban certain styles of climbing (e.g., eliminate the use of fixed anchors anywhere in designated wilderness, and limit the amount of chalk used on big wall routes), and to severely limit the number of day hikers in some wildernesses.

The question is whether dogs are harmful to the natural environment, and the answer clearly is “no more so than hikers.” Just as there are responsible and irresponsible hikers, there are responsible and irresponsible dog owners. Dogs who are well controlled by their owners and picked up after by their owners can be among the least intrusive types of trail users. Animals restrained by leash or by good training stay on the trail, and they do no damage to the hard-packed tread (at least, far less than their two-legged friends). They don’t trample vegetation at campsites (to the degree humans tend to do). They are no more of a threat to water quality than other hikers (dogs should be led at least 200 feet from water sources when they need to defecate, and their waste should be buried—in other words, dogs should adhere to the same guidelines as humans). Done right, dogs can actually help hikers see more wildlife with less impact to those wild critters.

That has been my own experience hiking with dogs. A well-trained dog—one who doesn’t bark, who stays at heel or walks calmly on a short (less than ten feet) leash, and who obeys my vocal and hand-signal commands—increases my wildlife viewing opportunities substantially. That is, after all, why many dog breeds were created: to increase the likelihood of seeing animals during a hunt.

That’s not to say dog owners should just rush out and hit the trail. Indeed, some wild areas are off limits by regulation to dogs, such as national parks and monuments. Know the land management rules before you set out. The hikes in this book were chosen because dogs are allowed. However, trail regulations and trail conditions can change. Hikers should contact the land manager before every hike to find out the current regulation status and condition of the route. But what I would like to focus upon here are special considerations that dog owners must always bear in mind when traveling with their four-legged friends. Hiking in the Cascades is one of the most enjoyable pursuits you’ll ever experience, but it can also be one of the most deadly. All that beautiful, natural wilderness poses great danger to ill-prepared and unsuspecting hikers and their canines. A stroll through a sunny wildflower meadow at 6000 feet in the North Cascades can become a nightmare struggle through a slippery, sodden field of mud in a matter of moments. Thunderstorms can develop and blow in with little or no advance warning.

Hikers who plan to spend a day on the trail may twist an ankle while crossing a talus slope and end up having to the spend the night, waiting while someone makes the long hike out, summons medical personnel, and then leads them back to you. Dogs many sprain a knee or elbow, tear a pad, encounter a porcupine, or fall off a ledge.

The key to having an enjoyable and safe hike is being prepared—both you and the dog—not just for the conditions you expect to encounter but for the unexpected conditions, as well.

Petzl’s popular Tikka 2 series gets a refresh this year thanks to a new rechargeable — and programmable — battery pack. The Tikka XP2, with CORE battery, brings backcountry lighting into the 21st century.

The star of the new system is the CORE battery pack. Users charge this lithium ion polymer battery via a USB port on a computer, or through a wall outlet using the available adapters. The USB charging cable doubles as a data cable when plugged into your computer, though, allowing you to utilize the “OS by Petzl” software (available in Mac and Windows versions).

With the battery pack/headlamp plugged into the computer, the Petzl software allows users to program their CORE battery to match their needs. For instance, hikers who need only moderate-intensity light to guide them up well-maintained trails can program the batteries to allow only 75-percent output, thus greatly extending the life of the battery. Climbers, though, can force the battery to give 100-percent output for as long as possible. This gives a consistent maximum light intensity, but for a much shorter period of time. Or you can set the battery to slowly lower its output as the battery charge drops, much like a normal alkaline battery. The software presents the settings in chart format, illustrating your output levels and life of the charge at that setting.

While snowshoeing around Stevens Pass, I programmed the CORE battery to a steady (regulated) 70-percent output since a nearly full moon provided substantial light on the snow. At that setting, the battery threw a steady beam for nearly 12 hours — far longer than I needed for my night hike.

Petzl packages the CORE battery with its Tikka XP2 headlamp for those wanting the best of the new technology. In this headlamp, once the battery is charged and programmed, you can then tweak the program in the headlamp using three different lighting modes (maximum, economic and strobe) and two beam intensities (wide angle and focused beam).

Petzl also offers the CORE battery as a retrofit option for users who already have a Petzl Tikka Series 2 headlamp. This option gives you all the features of the programmable battery with whatever options exist in your current headlamp. The Tikka XP2 with CORE battery sells for $110 and includes the headlamp, battery pack, USB charging cable and wall-charging unit. The CORE battery upgrade kit sells for $40 and includes the CORE battery pack and USB cable only.

For more information see www.petzl.com.

Camelbak, a leader in the hydration business, recognized a largely untapped market and promptly tapped it. The new Camelbak Groove bottles target users who buy bottled water simply because they don’t like the faint taste of chemicals in their tap water.

The Groove bottles sport a carbon filter element in the drinking-tube system. That activated charcoal filter strips chemicals and impurities out of water, though it doesn’t touch pathogens (that is, it’s not a purifier). The bottle works great at taking chlorine taste out of tap water, and our testers found it equally useful in stripping the aftertastes of iodine or chlorine out of our chemically treated water in the backcountry. In short, it’s a perfect bottle for use around town, or for backpackers who prefer to use the lightweight convenience of chemically purifying their backcountry water, but who don’t want the chemical aftertaste.

The 20-ounce bottle includes a spill-proof, flip-up drink valve that draws from the near the bottom of the bottle, so you can comfortably sip without having to elevate the bottle above your face. The carbon filter fits into a cylinder on that drinking tube. The carbon filter is effective for upwards of 50 gallons of water and is easily replaced.

The Groove is available in a stainless steel version (a favorite of our male testers) and colorful BPA-free plastic (preferred by most of the women — it’s brighter, lighter and cheaper). The stainless steel version sells for $35, the plastic for $25. Replacement filters sell for $25 for a 6-pack. More information:www.camelbak.com.

Another novel bottle comes from Seattle-based Stanley. Its Nineteen13 1-Handed Water Bottle pairs a fairly typical stainless-steel bottle with a unique push-button cap. The push-button mechanism on the screw-on cap opens a valve on the lid, allowing the fluids inside to flow out.

Personally, I loved the bottle for use on road trips. In the 24-ounce size, the narrow bottle fits easily in most vehicle cup holders. The cap is completely leakproof, unless the button is pushed, so it won’t slosh water on you as you bounce along a washboarded mountain road. And its one-handed operation means you can keep one hand on the wheel instead of having to steer with your knees while wrestling a screw-top off the bottle. It sells for $20 for the 24-ounce size, or $24.95 for a 34-ounce version. See www.stanley-pmi.com.

Lots of hikers, hunters, skiers and snowshoers lose their way in the woods each year, but only a few are truly lost.  There is a world of difference between being lost and simply not knowing exactly where you are.

For instance, frequently hunters and hikers who venture off-trail don’t know exactly where they are. The very nature of their sports requires them to the leave the well-trod trails behind and venture out into the unknown. But just because they can’t pinpoint their exactly location, doesn’t mean they are lost. At the same time, a novice hiker who missed a trail junction, can feel lost and confused even when standing on a well-maintained backcountry trail.

“Everyone will react differently to various situations,” said Tim Williams, chairman of Seattle Mountain Rescue. “But once they are ‘lost’ and in need of assistance, there are some simply, common things anyone should do.”

First off, Williams says, stop where you are. Have a  snack and something to drink, and calmly check your map, consider your options, and figure out what needs to be done.

The difference between not knowing exactly where you are and being lost generally comes down to this: panic. As anxiety and panic creeps into the mind, rationale thought fades away, and this is when bad decisions are made.

“Typically, it’s not one bad decision,” William notes. “It’s incremental. Little mistakes that build on one another until you are find yourself in trouble.”

So, according to wilderness survival experts, the first rule of “staying found” is staying calm.

“Its important to stay calm,” said Tim Williams, chairman of Seattle Mountain Rescue. “Once you get that uncomfortable feeling that you don’t know where you are, stop and assess your situation.”

If you truly are lost, stay put, Williams emphatically said. “Find yourself some shelter from the elements, but stay in one place. It is much easier for us (Search and Rescue) to find a stationary object than a moving target.”

The hiker lost in the North Cascades in late September violated this rule, trying to hike out. She reportedly left notes along her path, but later seemed to have changed her mind, so while her notes said she was traveling down valley, she later decided to change direction and hike uphill. Searchers found some of her notes, and later found her. But her rescue could have been much quicker if she had stayed at the location of her first note!

Williams said the important things folks can do to insure quick rescue should they get into trouble include:

• Leave a detailed itinerary with someone before heading out.This should include such details as: the trailhead you plan to use, the destination of your hike and your estimated time of return. It should also include some possible contingency plans. For instance:
  • Though you may expect to back at home by 6 p.m., you might explain that seasonal conditions could prevent you from getting back to your car until after that time, so you shouldn’t be reported missing immediately – wait until morning.
  • Road and trail conditions may force you to choose a different route. Have your secondary plans detailed in your notes as well, so searchers will have a second – or even third – trail to check should your vehicle not be found at the first trailhead.
• Be Prepared. Any dayhike, snowshoe trip, or even out-of-bounds ski trip can easily turn into an overnight adventure. Be prepared to spend the night, if not in comfort, at least in safety. An emergency blanket, a light source, extra food and water, and extra warm clothes can help you get through an emergency overnight bivouac safely.
• Stay Put. Once you are sure you are lost or in need of help to get out, stay put. It is much easier for searchers to find a stationary target than a moving on. If you are in a group, stay together! Separating just doubles the work the searchers will need to do get you all safely off the mountain.
• Carry a Cell phone and GPS,but don’t rely solely on them.
  • Cell phone coverage is spotty at best in the mountains. If you do get a signal, it is vital you be able to tell the responding agency (usually the county sheriff’s department) your location, and a GPS can provide pinpoint locations for the searchers to use. Note, however, Williams’ warning: “If you do get through to 9-1-1 and initiate a rescue, it will likely be several hours at least before those folks get to you, so you need to be prepared for a long stay regardless.”
• Mark your location. A brightly colored tarp or jacket (bright orange is best) can stand out against the dark landscape of the forest. If you are traveling in snow, Williams suggests carrying a couple packages or cherry or strawberry flavored Kool-Aid. If lost, find an open area and sprinkled powdered drink sparingly over the snow in an X shape – the color will bleed out into the snow, creating a bright red marker that can be seen from helicopters.
  • High tech solutions are available to help mark your location. See sidebar.

Everyone who plan the possibly of getting lost or stuck out overnight (or longer) but they should also plan ahead to avoid the need for rescue in the first place. Some of the things they can do:

• Carry and know how to use a map and compass. These items should be used during your hike or snowshoe outing so you are familiar with the area you are passing through. In this way, it will be easier to navigate out should you become disoriented later.
• Carry and use a GPS device. Familiarize yourself with the unit’s operation before heading out. This is one “high tech” solution Williams endorses, he said. IF you mark the location of the trailhead before starting your hike, its easy to use the “track back” feature that’s built into the device to find your way back to your car from any location.
• Familiarize yourself with the area before heading out. If you don’t know the specific region you plan to travel, study maps before heading out, and if possible, talk with the Forest Service rangers or other users to get specifics about trails and possible navigation hazards/difficulties.

At times, technology enhances the wilderness experience. Today’s smartphones, for instance, allow me to carry in my pack a wide range of nature guides so I can quickly identify birds, beasts, wildflowers and stars — with minimal weight.

Readers seem to agree, with many e-mailing suggestions of apps for me to try, or asking for my recommendations of best apps for their outdoor adventures. Here are a few of the apps that I turn to at times while playing outside. Note: These apps were all tested on my 2-year old iPhone 3G.

iBird Explorer (Western)

There are a number of good bird-watching guides, including a nice one from Sibley’s. But iBird offers some great features not found on other packages. First off, iBird’s Western edition includes more birds (828) than Sibley’s full North American version (811), but at a fraction of the cost. The iBird Explorer Western app also features a comprehensive search feature, letting you find birds by primary and secondary colors, as well as body size, wing shape, tail shape, flight pattern and more. You also get drawings of each bird species, photographs, range maps and even audible calls/songs. This is a great birders’ app, which is available for both iPhone and Android devices. $9.99; see www.ibird.com.

Audubon Wildflowers

Audubon offers most of their nature guides as e-book/apps today but the one that really shines above the competitors is Audubon Wildflowers — A Field Guide to North American Wildflowers. The database includes more than 1,800 plant species, covering all of North America. The app features an efficient search engine, a broad database of color photographs, and detailed descriptions of each plant species. A wonderful trail tool for hikers. Available for iPhone and Android. $9.99; see www.audubonguides.com.

Scats and Tracks

Hikers know that encountering wildlife generally enhances wilderness travel. Sometimes, though, your only encounter will be with the trails left by passing critters. Being able to understand the signs left behind helps you enjoy the virtual encounter. FalconGuides’ most useful digital guide is the Scats & Tracks: North America app. With this iPhone app, you can identify the tracks and droppings left by 150 different animal species. There’s even a “ruler” page so you can accurately measure track lengths. $6.99; see www.falcon.com/scatapps.

Star Walk

Backpacking offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the night sky without the distraction of city lights. But as I lay in camp, gazing at the heavens, I’ve frequently wondered what stars and galaxies I was watching. No longer. With Star Walk, I have a star map in hand. Star Walk uses current location (using the iPhone’s GPS chip) and date/time to show you exactly what’s in the sky above you. Best astronomy app I’ve found. $2.99; www.vitotechnology.com.

M-Hikes

When you want to get out on a trail at a moment’s notice, turn to M-Hikes, from The Mountaineers Books. Using your phone’s GPS, this app will point you to a trail near you. You can specify how close you want the trailhead: 0.5 miles, 5, 15 or up to 50 miles from your current location. This inaugural app from The Mountaineers offers routes from the Washington “Day Hiking” series, so it’s purely a Western Washington app at this juncture. But if you’re visiting friends in Port Angeles (or Olympia, or Tacoma) and you want to know where to go for an afternoon hike, this tool will tell you. $5.99; www.mountaineersbooks.org.

Spring in the Northwest can be great for outdoor adventures. Or it can be miserable — cold, wet and windy. In the event of the latter, you’ll want some bombproof bags to carry your gear to warmer, drier climes. Enter Fishpond.

Though designed by and for fly fishermen, Fishpond’s rolling duffel bags are ideal baggage for all outdoor enthusiasts. After my test team and I field tested a wide array of gear duffels for a national magazine, one bag stood out: the Fishpond Rodeo 31 Rolling Duffel. This cargo-carrier swallows all the gear you’ll need for a weeks-long backpacking adventure or a month of day adventures overseas. We toted it to the French Alps, the Escalante region of southern Utah, and out across the Columbia highlands into the rural deserts of Eastern Washington. At 31-inches long, it is sized perfectly for checked baggage — big enough for all your essentials, without going over the size limits for checked luggage.

Currently, I’m hauling it around North Carolina, with a mixed load of paper for an EPA communications conference, and outdoor  gear (used in the later afternoons/evenings so I can stay sane after spending all morning and early afternoon in government policy discussions).

The Rodeo features a spacious main compartment to hold clothes, gear and essentials. That big duffel sits atop a separate bottom compartment, accessed by a heavy-duty zipper around three sides of the bag. That bottom compartment is deep enough to hold ski boots, wet fishing waders and/or muddy hiking boots. Mesh sidewalls line the lower compartment so your wet gear can breathe and dry, rather than mildew and stink. During a trip to Escalante, I stored my full-size backpack, all my clothing and gear into the top, with my boots and tent in the lower. On the way home, the wet and muddy boots and tent traveled all the way home without leaching any moisture into my dry gear in the section above.

Top to bottom, the Rodeo features stout zippers with enormous teeth to ensure there is never a snag or busted tooth. A heavy 100-millimeter wheel assembly proved plenty tough enough for any obstacles we threw at it, from cobblestones in Chamonix to gritty sands in Utah. Stout handles at each end allow you to grab, drag and carry the bag a variety of ways.

The stylish and seemingly indestructible Rodeo 31 Rolling Duffel sells for $349 — not an insignificant sum, but this is a bag capable of serving you through a lifetime of adventures. See www.fishpondusa.com.

It seems spring has arrived early in Western Washington this year, which means we’ll have a longer hiking season in the Cascades.

Folks who want to get an early jump on the hiking season need to be prepared for cold, wet conditions. Fortunately, a couple Northwest companies know how to deal with Northwest springs.

Seattle-based REI offers one of the best bets for staying warm and dry during the transition from winter to spring. The outfitter’s newly redesigned Taku series of outerwear delivers an ideal blend of weather protection, comfortable fit and breathability.

The Taku jacket and matching pant utilize both hard shell and soft-shell fabrics in a hybrid design. The use of REI’s proprietary Elements waterproof/breathable fabric in the shoulder yokes and arms blocks even the hardest rain and wet snowfall. Panels of four-way stretch soft-shell material through the underarms and sides of the jacket, and around the knees and hips of the pants, provide great breathability with excellent mobility.

We used the Taku jacket and pants while hiking through ankle-deep snow during a cold rainstorm along Gold Creek Valley near Snoqualmie Pass, and while trekking up the Quinault Trail in the Olympics during a drenching downpour. In both instances, we stayed warm and dry. We also scrambled through fog-shrouded rimrock above the Sun Lakes area of Central Washington and found the Taku gear not only flexed and moved with us during that rigorous activity, but also breathed well enough to prevent sweat buildup.

The Taku jacket, available in men’s and women’s sizes, sells for $209, while the pants — available in several lengths for men and women — sell for $159. More details: www.rei.com.

For more serious snow or cold conditions, Boise-based Core Concepts offers its Powder Play Bib for women. Though the bib is designed for snow, our testers found this a great option for cold, wet spring outings. Made from a four-way stretch soft-shell material, the bib provides great freedom of movement as well as weather protection. The bib section can be zipped off to leave just the high-waisted pants for moderate conditions. Our testers snowshoed around Paradise and scrambled Umtanum Canyon during a wet snowfall wearing these pants. The fit is slim and athletic, and both testers said the bib section is especially snug, making it difficult to wear insulating layers beneath. They suggest buying a size larger than you’d normally wear if you want to layer for colder, true-winter conditions. The bib runs $220 (though on sale recently for $199). See www.coreconceptsoutdoor.com.

Coleman’s new LED Quad lantern and Brunton’s Profile Duo range-grill combo add modern touches to camping gear.

The days of finicky pressurized stoves and smelly old kerosene lanterns hanging in canvas tents are gone. Car-campers today have new appliances for clean, carefree camp cooking and for pushing back the dark of night.

We’ve looked at many new stoves and lanterns while exploring Washington from Kalaloch to Colville. After multiple days and nights spent in the wildest parts of the state, we’ve identified two of the best new pieces of camp gear we’ve seen in a long time.

Let’s start with light. Lanterns still provide the most efficient source of light, and the best camp lantern today, like those of years gone by, comes from Coleman. But that’s where the similarities end. The Coleman LED Quad Lantern uses LEDs and batteries, not liquid fuels. The lantern throws out bright-white light that illuminates a wide camp, or fills a family tent without smoke or odors. The lantern uses 8 D-cell batteries but draws from them slowly, so you’ll get as much as 80 hours of light from that pack of batteries.

That’s impressive enough, but the real “wow” feature of the LED Quad is its modular design. When nature calls and one camper needs to wander off for some alone time, he or she can simply pop off one or more of the four LED panels to use as a portable light source. The remaining panels continue to work on the main base. The individual panels have built-in rechargeable batteries that draw from those 8 D-cells when connected to the base. Each panel will stay illuminated for up to 50 hours on its own, while throwing light a full 25 feet out in front of you.

For six weeks we used the lantern, venturing out 15 or more nights to camp, using the original eight batteries for every outing, and the lantern was still going strong. The LED Quad Lantern sells for $69.99. See www.coleman.com for more information.

When dinnertime rolled round, we found the new Brunton Profile Duo range-grill combo to be the best way to crank out a hot meal. The two-burner cooker splits the difference between a propane grill and stove. One side features a 12,000 BTU cooktop burner, and the other side is a 10,000 BTU grill. With that setup, we could grill up a couple steaks while sautéing mushrooms on the other side. By laying a large flat griddle on the grill side, we could turn out flapjacks while frying eggs on the other burner.

The flexible connector between the propane bottle and the stove made this an easier-to-use stove than other models that feature a rigid gas tube. The electronic ignitions and easy-to-clean stainless-steel design complete the features on this powerful cooker. List price: $137.95. See www.brunton.com.