Tools Reviews
All tools gear reviews.
Fizan Compact Trekking Poles Review
The Fizan Compact are arguably the lightest aluminum trekking poles on the market at 158g per pole — and they cost around $70 a pair. Too good to be true? Mostly, no.
Leatherman Bit Kit Review
The Leatherman Bit Kit packs 42 driver tips into two slim plastic sleeves at 113.4g — a logical companion for any Leatherman-toting backpacker who actually needs to fix things on trail.
DutchWare DAC 32 Inch Spreader Bar Pole Review
A lightweight 98g DAC aluminum spreader bar for hanging two hammocks side-by-side or as a bridge hammock foot-end pole. Compatible with DutchWare's Beetle Buckle and Double Whoopie Hook systems.
Primus PowerLighter Review
The Primus PowerLighter is a refillable butane jet lighter for backpacking and camping — a clever concept let down by recurring reliability concerns.
LEKI Makalu Trekking Poles Review
The LEKI Makalu is a burly, 3-segment aluminum telescoping pole built for durability and all-day trekking comfort — not ultralight speed records.
Zpacks 6" Sonic Stake Review
The Zpacks 6" Sonic Stake is a 9g aluminum Y-beam tent stake that delivers solid holding power for ultralight shelters — with one firm rule: don't hammer it.
Bahco Laplander 396-LAP Folding Saw Review
The Bahco Laplander is a 200g folding saw with bi-directional XT hardpoint teeth that punches well above its price class for camping, bushcraft, and trail work.
Opinel N°08 Olive Wood Review
A review of the Opinel N°08 Olive Wood folding knife — a French icon with a stunning handle, razor-sharp Sandvik 12C27 blade, and real-world limitations for wet-weather backpacking.
DAC J-Stake Review
A deep dive into the DAC J-Stake — the ultralight TH72M aluminum tent stake that ships with some of the best lightweight tents on the market.
Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles Review
The Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles deliver durable, no-frills performance at an accessible price, making them a dependable choice for hikers and backpackers who don't need ultralight bragging rights.
Leatherman Wave+ Review
The Leatherman Wave+ packs 18 tools into 241g — an honest look at whether it earns its weight in your pack.
Sea to Summit Nylon 66 Pocket Trowel Review
A balanced review of the Sea to Summit Nylon 66 Pocket Trowel — a 87g collapsible cathole trowel with hollow handle storage and LNT depth gauge markings.
Locus Gear Carbon Fiber Trekking Pole CP3 Review
The Locus Gear CP3 is a 155g/pole full-carbon telescoping trekking pole from Japan, prized by ultralight thru-hikers for its flip-lock reliability and impressive durability-to-weight ratio.
Opinel No. 06 Stainless Steel Folding Knife Review
A 28g ultralight French folding knife with a 70mm Sandvik 12C27 blade — hard to beat for trail food prep at any price.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles Review
The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles weigh just 280g per pair and collapse to 40cm — a top pick for trail runners and fastpackers who want to move fast and light.
GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Repair Tape Review
An honest look at GEAR AID Tenacious Tape — the go-to field repair tape for backpackers — covering real-world performance, key limitations, and who should carry it.
FLEXTAIL Tiny Pump X Review
The FLEXTAIL Tiny Pump X is a compact 3-in-1 rechargeable pump and camp light that inflates sleeping pads in under a minute — at 80g, it's a legitimate trail luxury.
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles Review
A durable, comfortable all-season trekking pole with carbon shafts and cork grips — built for serious backpackers who want longevity over minimal weight.
Durston Z-Flick Tent Pole Review
The Durston Z-Flick is the world's lightest adjustable folding tent pole at 88g, designed for bikepackers and non-trekking-pole users who need a dedicated, compact pole for trekking-pole shelters.
Gerber Dime Review
The Gerber Dime is a 62g keychain multi-tool packing 12 functions into a 7cm frame — a solid budget-friendly EDC and trail companion for light-duty tasks.
Victorinox Classic SD Review
The Victorinox Classic SD packs 7 tools into just 21g, making it the definitive ultralight multitool — if you understand what it can and can't do.
Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles Review
A durable, comfortable aluminum pole with a unique 15° ergonomic grip angle — but at 510g/pair, ultralight hikers should look elsewhere.
FLEXTAIL ZERO PUMP Review
The FLEXTAIL ZERO PUMP is a 33g cylindrical electric pad inflator that genuinely earns its place in an ultralight kit — with a few real-world caveats worth knowing.
Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool Review
The Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool is a 36g dual-purpose trowel and tent stake that excels in hard, rooted soil — a smart upgrade from flimsy plastic trowels.
BIC Classic Lighter Review
The BIC Classic is a supremely reliable, affordable pocket lighter—but at 20.5g it carries a real weight penalty over the Mini BIC that most backpackers will struggle to justify.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Poles Review
The Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Poles offer a rare blend of ultralight carbon construction and semi-adjustable length in a remarkably packable Z-fold design.
Leatherman Squirt PS4 Review
A discontinued but beloved keychain multi-tool at just 56.4g, the Squirt PS4 packs spring-action pliers, scissors, and 7 more tools into a trail-ready package.
MSR Mini-Groundhog Stakes Review
The MSR Mini-Groundhog Stakes offer the trusted Y-beam holding power of the full Groundhog at 9.4g per stake — a smart, lightweight upgrade for most backpacking shelters.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife Review
The Opinel No.08 Inox is a 45g French-made folding knife with a Sandvik 12C27 blade — an unbeatable camp kitchen tool at a sub-$20 price point.
BoglerCo Ultralight Trowel Review
A 13.5g aircraft-grade aluminum cathole trowel from a US cottage maker, with a standout ergonomic end cap that sets it apart from the flat-handled competition.
Fizan Compact 3 Trekking Pole Review
The Fizan Compact 3 delivers ultralight aluminum performance at a budget price — 158g per pole, Italian-made, and proven across thousands of trail miles.
TheTentLab Deuce #2 UL Trowel Review
A 17g, 7075-T6 aluminum cathole trowel that's earned its place in thousands of packs — if you're willing to learn how to use it properly.
MSR Mini-Groundhog Tent Stakes Review
The MSR Mini-Groundhog is a 9.4g Y-beam aluminum stake that punches well above its weight class on firm soils — with one meaningful caveat.
BIC Mini Lighter Review
The BIC Mini Lighter is the ultralight backpacker's default fire tool — 11.5g, ~2,200 lights, and available at virtually every gas station on earth.
MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes Review
The MSR Groundhog is the gold-standard Y-beam aluminum stake for backpackers—excellent holding power in most soils, but heavier than ultralight alternatives.
TheTentLab Deuce #2 Review
The TheTentLab Deuce #2 is a 17g ultralight cathole trowel made from aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum — a cleverly designed LNT tool with a real learning curve.