This is a must have for the traveler who likes to explore off the beaten path. The InReach Explorer is the Delorme upgrade to the InReach SE (also an amazing) 

What makes this such a great all around navigation tool are several upgrades: The ability to create waypoints allowing you to log your trip and find your way back or create waypoints ahead of time, Navigation using topographical maps. (when paired with a smart phone) You can still send and receive text messages, track and share your journey, and of course the SOS devise. This devise has 100% global coverage. Is very rugged and fits in the palm of your hand. 

there are several plans you can choose from: Seasonal or occasional use. You can suspend your service. They even have an annual freedom program that allows you to change your usage month to month.  There really is something for every lifestyle.

This is a must for me as a solo backpacker, mountaineer and just an all around person on the trail most of the time.  It gives me piece of mind and gives my friends and family piece of mind knowing they can track and keep in contact with me at any time. The upgrades are perfect for my lifestyle and off trial, peak-bagging trips.

The Just Ahead: Audio Travel Guide is the newest must have app for all your National Park travels. What sets this apart is the detailed, play by play audio guide. At every turn the app lets you know what to look for, whats coming up next and points not to miss.  The best part once the app is downloaded you don't need GPS or WiFI for it to keep you on track. Bonus! In my mind this is perfect! It elevates the need for lots of books (although I do love my books) Fits in your pocket and can be downloaded before your trip for ease of use.

Using GPS, the app pinpoints your location on the road and delivers stories about the sights you’re seeing out the window, plus maps and turn-by-turn directions, including suggestions for what to check out around each corner.

The destination guides are produced and narrated by road-seasoned pros--editor Bob Howells has won Society of American Travel Writers awards for adventure reporting twice--and after you download the free app, you can purchase individual guides for $8 to $10. (Just be sure to do so before you hit the road so you can still access the information even if you're offline.)

Just Ahead has you covered for Yosemite, Zion, Cedar Breaks, Bryce Canyon, Joshua Tree and Death Valley so far, and 12 additional park guides--including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone--will be rolled out by June 30, just in time for that big summer road trip.

Love my Lowa's! I hike miles and miles a week and a great boot is key. These were ready for a long weekend right out of the box! My first adventure was a 28 mile backpacking trip. Great fit, great comfort, exactly what I was expecting. These boot have it all. While I love the color, I got this boot primarily because it is a fantastic boot!

• Renegade Pro uses comfortable, high-quality leather in the ankle cuff in place of the nylon band used in the regular Renegade
• Waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® liners keep your feet dry when you're stepping in shallow streams and hiking hard
• Durable nubuck/split leather uppers resist scuffs, abrasion and water; polyester linings wick moisture to keep feet dry inside
• Full-length nylon shanks offer lots of support for long days on your feet; polyurethane midsoles absorb shock
• Footbeds have comfort perforations for breathability to help keep your feet dry
• External polyurethane Monowrap® frame offers lateral stability while reducing weight
• Lugged Vibram® Evo rubber outsoles provide exellent traction on rough trails

If your like me and want to look good on the trail but also know you've got a great boot then the Lowa Renegade GTX is your boot!

I've recently discovered the Chroma Sun Gloves™ by Outdrro Research.  Spending many days a week in the outdoors even sunblock on my hands could not protect them from burning until I started using these hiking gloves.

What makes them a must have on all my trips: They provide 3/4—length which allows me to open maps and bottles with ease. They have back-of-hand UPF 50+ protection with stretchy, breathable polyester fabric. The durable, perforated synthetic leather palms ensure a solid grip and easy, effective venting in hot weather.

            Now that I have started using these on warm weather days I can't imagine my hands without them.

First let me just tell you that I pulled out my original headlamp for yesteryear and boy have times changed!

The Princeton Scout (small headlamp in foreground) I've had and use on my entire JMT (32 days no battery change)

The Princeton Tec Scout weighs 1.4 oz (40 g) with its 4x2032 coin cell batteries. It is a 2-LED headlamp with the battery housing in the front (same compartment as the lamp housing). The headband is a single strap, wrap-style with 3/4" elastic webbing.

The Princeton Tec Scout offers three brightness modes ('high', 'medium', and 'low') plus two blinking strobe modes (30 Hz, 120 Hz). Modes are toggled with a single push-button switch, designed to be pushed with your index finger while your thumb and index finger 'pinch' the lamp housing.While with heavy gloves it can be a challenge to work the little button,  thin gloves worked fine for me.

What I really like about this headlamp aside from its small size is the fact that the on/off button when stowed properly can not get mistakenly engaged on.  So you never have to worry about dead batteries. Its also nice and small, fits into the palm of your hand.

This headlamp is a great compact and light weight item. Great for the ultra-light backpacker. After 32 nights of consecutive use it still had enough power for summiting Mt Whitney at 1:00am, working 5 hours getting me to the top from Trail Camp. That is a winner!  As was the sunrise that morning at the end of a very long and amazing JMT adventure!  (smile)
 

The Omni-Heat® is one of Columbia's trademark fabrics. I have two of there winter hats that feature this technology. I've used both hats in varying climates and both have stepped up big time with the added warmth factor.
My beanie I used 30 days consecutively in the Eastern Sierra's with temps as low as 22°. My Trapper Hat I use on all snow backpacking trips. Temperatures varying from 50° - 0°. What makes these hats and this technology work so well for me is that I never over heat,  but it really does keep the heat in when I am being active on the trail and not just sitting at camp.
About Omni-Heat:
The Omni-Heat® thermal reflective interior adds more warmth without adding bulk by using reflective fabrication to capturing and retaining your body heat.

The little kid in me loves the look and styling of both these hats. The adult in me appreciates the warmth factor in the technology. Its a win win for both of me. (smiling)