Electronics Reviews
All electronics gear reviews.
ACR Bivy Stick Review
A hands-on look at the ACR Bivy Stick, a 100g Iridium satellite communicator that trades a built-in screen for a lower price and phone-based messaging.
Amazon Kindle (2024) Review
A hands-on look at the 2024 base Kindle: a light, cheap e-reader that barely changes the formula from 2022 but still nails the basics.
Black Diamond Cosmo 350-R Headlamp Review
A rechargeable, IP67-rated headlamp with 350 lumens and red night vision — solid all-around value, though not the lightest or brightest option for weight-focused hikers.
FLEXTAIL ZERO POWER 10,000C Review
A 145 g, 10,000mAh power bank that claims to be the world's lightest and thinnest of its capacity class — here's how it holds up on trail.
Kobo Clara BW Review
A compact, waterproof e-reader with the best E Ink screen in its class, though storage and battery specs haven't budged from the previous model.
Petzl NAO RL Review
A hands-on look at Petzl's flagship reactive-lighting headlamp for night running and backpacking, weighing in the real-world trade-offs of brightness, battery, and price.
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Review
A field-focused look at whether Google's IP68 foldable makes sense as a hiking companion, or whether it should stay in the glovebox.
Nitecore NB20000 Gen2 Review
A carbon-fiber-shelled 20,000mAh power bank that's light for its capacity class, with 45W output and IPX5 protection — here's how it holds up on trail.
Quechua Camping Lamp BL 200 USB-C Rechargeable Review
A budget-friendly, IPX4-rated camping lantern with solid runtime, but its 315g weight puts it firmly in car-camping territory rather than backpacking gear.
Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review
A hands-on look at Garmin's flagship handheld GPS and inReach satellite communicator — is the 165-hour battery and full topo mapping worth $599?
RAVPower RP-PB165 Slim 10000mAh Power Bank Review
A compact, no-frills 10,000mAh USB-C power bank that covers the basics well but won't wow anyone with charging speed.
Duracell Coppertop AAA Alkaline Battery Review
An honest look at the Duracell Coppertop AAA for backpackers — solid shelf life and universal availability, but cold weather and weight are real trade-offs.
Suunto Vertical Review
The Suunto Vertical is a premium expedition GPS watch with dual-band GNSS, free offline topo maps, and class-leading battery life — built for backpackers and endurance athletes.
Anker PowerCore 20100 Review
The Anker PowerCore 20100 packs serious capacity into a slim, durable form — but its dated port selection makes it a harder sell for modern hikers.
Anker Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) Review
The Anker Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger (A2669) packs three ports and laptop-capable power into a compact block. Here's how it holds up for backpackers and travelers.
Petzl e+LITE Review
The Petzl e+LITE is a 26g emergency headlamp with a 10-year battery shelf life — the definitive ultralight backup for backpackers and hikers.
Anker 533 Power Bank (PowerCore 30W) Review
The Anker 533 PowerCore 30W is a reliable 10,000mAh power bank with fast 30W output and a useful LCD display, but a slow recharge rate and average weight hold it back for ultralight use.
Garmin eTrex 32x Review
The Garmin eTrex 32x is a rugged, button-operated handheld GPS with preloaded TopoActive maps, 25-hour AA battery life, and a tilt-compensated compass — a reliable backcountry navigator showing its age.
Anker Nano Power Bank (22.5W, Built-In USB-C Connector) Review
The Anker Nano A1653 is a 100g, 5000mAh power bank with a built-in foldable USB-C connector — a smart one-to-two night trail companion, with real efficiency caveats.
Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD Review
The Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD is a durable, affordable 10,000 mAh power bank with 18W USB-C PD, but it's the heaviest in its class and lacks pass-through charging.
Petzl TIKKINA Review
The Petzl TIKKINA is a no-frills, 300-lumen flood headlamp for camp use and casual hiking — excellent value, but too basic for serious trail work.
Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Review
The Garmin Instinct 2S Solar is a compact, rugged GPS smartwatch with solar charging, built for multi-sport adventurers who want long battery life in a 43g package.
Petzl REACTIK+ Review
The Petzl REACTIK+ is a 300-lumen, Bluetooth-enabled headlamp with auto-adjusting Reactive Lighting — a capable trail runner's light that's now discontinued but still worth knowing.
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Review
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is a rugged, solar-charging GPS smartwatch built for multi-day adventures — strong on durability and battery life, but skips topo maps and a color screen.
Petzl TACTIKKA® + Review
The Petzl TACTIKKA+ is a compact, 350-lumen headlamp with a mixed beam, red lighting, and HYBRID CONCEPT battery system — solid value for casual backpackers and weekend hikers.
Anker PowerPort III Nano (20W) Review
The Anker PowerPort III Nano (A2633) is a 20W GaN USB-C wall charger weighing just 30g — a near-perfect town-stop charger for ultralight hikers with one well-known caveat.
Anker PowerCore 5000 Review
A compact, cylindrical power bank at 136g, the Anker PowerCore 5000 is a budget-friendly option for short trips — but dated Micro-USB and a weak mAh/oz ratio limit its appeal.
Garmin fēnix 6S Pro Review
A full-featured GPS multisport watch in a compact 42mm form factor — with onboard topo maps, music, and multi-constellation GPS, but battery life that demands careful management.
Petzl ACTIK Headlamp Review
The Petzl ACTIK is a 450-lumen, AAA-powered headlamp with mixed-beam lighting and hybrid battery compatibility — a reliable all-rounder for three-season backpacking.
Black Diamond Moji Lantern Review
The Black Diamond Moji Lantern is a compact, 200-lumen camp lantern with Dual-Fuel flexibility and IPX4 weather resistance — a no-frills workhorse at $25.
Hammerhead Karoo 2 Review
The Hammerhead Karoo 2 is a discontinued Android-based cycling computer with a standout touchscreen, excellent navigation, and a frustrating battery ceiling.
Anker PowerCore 13000 (A1215) Review
The Anker PowerCore 13000 packs solid dual-port capacity into a compact form, but its Micro-USB-only port setup and missing pass-through charging feel dated in 2026.
Nitecore NB20000 Gen3 Review
The Nitecore NB20000 Gen3 is a 20,000mAh carbon fiber power bank weighing just 291g — one of the lightest 20K banks available, but with real-world capacity caveats worth understanding.
Petzl SWIFT RL Review
The Petzl SWIFT RL is a 92g, 1200-lumen rechargeable headlamp with Reactive Lighting technology — a strong pick for trail runners, alpinists, and multi-sport adventurers.
Anker 523 Charger (Nano 3, 47W) Review
A compact, dual-port GaN wall charger delivering 47W in a 2.86 oz body — a smart town-stop tool for hikers juggling multiple USB-C devices.
Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp Review
The Black Diamond Spot 400 is a reliable, dual-fuel headlamp delivering 400 lumens and IPX8 waterproofing — a top pick for backpackers who value versatility over sheer weight savings.
Google Pixel 6a Review
The Google Pixel 6a packs Google's Tensor chip and exceptional computational photography into a compact 178g frame — but inconsistent battery life and a nearing end-of-support date demand scrutiny.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review
The AirPods Pro 3 deliver class-leading ANC, a genuinely accurate heart rate sensor, and 24-hour battery life — all at the same $249 price as their predecessor.
Apple iPhone 13 Review
The iPhone 13 is a capable trail companion with solid battery life and an excellent camera, but the lack of satellite SOS and imperfect GPS under canopy are real trade-offs to weigh.
Nitecore CARBO 10000 Review
The Nitecore CARBO 10000 packs 10,000mAh into a 5.54 oz unibody carbon fiber shell — a compelling ultralight power bank for thru-hikers, with a few real-world caveats.
Nitecore NU20 Classic Review
The Nitecore NU20 Classic is a 38g USB-C rechargeable headlamp with 360 lumens, IP66 waterproofing, and a dead-simple two-button UI — a strong pick for ultralight campers.
Anker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore 20000) Review
A capable, durable 20,000 mAh power bank held back by USB-A-only outputs, slow recharge times, and a 369g weight penalty.
Anker PowerCore 10000 (A1263) Review
The Anker PowerCore 10000 A1263 is a compact, affordable 10,000mAh power bank — but a CPSC recall and outdated ports limit its appeal for new buyers.
Anker 313 Power Bank (PowerCore 10K) Review
The Anker 313 PowerCore 10K is a budget-friendly, durable 10,000 mAh power bank beloved by thru-hikers — but its USB-A-only output and missing features hold it back for serious ultralight use.
INIU B5 Power Bank Review
The INIU B5 is a 20,000mAh, 22.5W power bank that punches above its price for multi-day backpacking trips — with real trade-offs in weight and weatherproofing.
ThermoWorks ThermoDrop Zipper-Pull Thermometer Review
A 14.3g zipper-pull thermometer with NIST-traceable accuracy, IP67 waterproofing, and max/min logging — built for backcountry data nerds.
Petzl Tikka XP Review
The Petzl Tikka XP is a 180-lumen, dual-beam headlamp with Constant Lighting tech — a reliable workhorse for hikers and campers, but not a featherweight choice.
Petzl Bindi Review
The Petzl Bindi is a 35g rechargeable headlamp with 200 lumens and a full feature set — ideal for ultralight backpackers, trail runners, and anyone needing a capable backup light.
Nitecore NU25 UL Review
The Nitecore NU25 UL packs 400 lumens, dual-beam optics, IP66 weatherproofing, and USB-C charging into a 45g headlamp that's become the de facto standard for ultralight hikers.
Nitecore NB10000 Power Bank Review
The Nitecore NB10000 packs 10,000 mAh into a 150g carbon-fiber slab — a compelling choice for ultralight backpackers who refuse to compromise on device power.
Nitecore NU25 MCT Review
A detailed review of the Nitecore NU25 MCT ultralight headlamp, featuring multi-color temperature LEDs, 400 lumens, and a 700mAh built-in battery — all in a 50g package.