Gear - Pack & Trail https://packandtrail.com Outdoor Gear Reviews Sat, 07 Feb 2026 18:19:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://packandtrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-PackandTrailIcon-Cropped-32x32.png Gear - Pack & Trail https://packandtrail.com 32 32 Editor’s Choice Gear https://packandtrail.com/blog/editors-choice-gear/ https://packandtrail.com/blog/editors-choice-gear/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://packandtrail.com/?p=9571 There’s a lot of good gear out there but some of it stands out as the best of the best. Out of everything I review, it’s the stuff that I reach for first and take out all the time. It stays permanently packed in my bag. This list is in no particular order, mostly the… Read More »Editor’s Choice Gear

The post Editor’s Choice Gear first appeared on Pack & Trail.

]]> There’s a lot of good gear out there but some of it stands out as the best of the best. Out of everything I review, it’s the stuff that I reach for first and take out all the time. It stays permanently packed in my bag.

This list is in no particular order, mostly the date it was reviewed.

Smith Guide’s Choice Photochromic Sunglasses

The Smith’s Guide Choice sunglasses are photochromic category 2 to 3 and polarized, making for an ideal fishing lens. ChromaPop filters crossover colours making red, green, and blue pop.

The glasses lenses are on the heavy side but they are the clearest and brightest lens I’ve ever used.

Full Review

Check price of the Smith Guide’s Choice

OnX Backcountry GPS App

GPS apps have overtaken dedicated GPS as the go-to for navigation. OnX is one of the best.

It’s easy to use on any kind of phone. Your saved info goes back and forth to a full-screen map on the computer. It’s light on the user-generated tracks in BC, but has a lot already baked into the included maps.

Full Review

Check prices and plans for OnX Backcountry

REI Wonderland Camp Chair

Not all chairs are built equal. Some aren’t comfortable. Some fall apart. Some are hard to carry.

The REI Wonderland Camp Chair is pretty much my dream camp chair. The wide seat is comfortable without being hard. The back is tall and slightly reclined. The cupholder is somehow still attached. And the carry strap is permanently attached and holds it closed while carrying.

Full Review

Check price on REI

Yeti Rambler 532 Mug

I went on a cleaning spree after getting this mug. Some of the complicated lids had never been cleaned and were black inside.

The Yeti Rambler has just 2 pieces to the lid that twist apart. And it’s totally water-tight. And it’s bombproof.

Full Review

Check price on Amazon

EXPED MegaMat Max Sleeping Mat

Poor sleep ruins camping or any adventure. It’s hard to enjoy the trip when you’re dead tired. What you’re sleeping on impacts sleep greatly.

The EXPED MegaMat Max is 15cm thick and filled with foam core. The foam expands and almost inflates itself. It also holds the sides vertical instead of sloped down so you get more surface area to lay on. And instead of just laying on a bouncy balloon it structures it more like a bed.

Full Review

Check prices on the MegaMat Max

LowePro Tactic 45 Camera Backpack

Right off the bat, I loved the look of this camera pack. I did assume it would not be comfortable with out square it is. Turns out it’s more comfortable than most backpacks I’ve ever worn.

The top opens for quick access or the whole back for all your camera gear. Tripods fit easily on either side. Velcro organizers can be moved around anywhere inside.

Full review

Check price on Amazon

Helly Hansen Verglas Down Insulated Jacket

I don’t really think of down jackets when I think of Helly Hansen but their Verglas down jacket is easily my favourite from the last couple years.

The Verglas isn’t bulky so it works well on any cool day (of which there are many in the Pacific Northwest). If it is raining AND cool, then it can fit under a shell. The pockets are big and the lining soft.

Full review

Check the price on HellyHansen.com (2.0 version)

Julbo Arise Photochromic sunglasses

My test for sunglasses is how often I forget I’m wearing them. For the Julbo Arise, it was a lot. They are ridiculously light. The photochromic lenses tint so light you can wear them at night. The gentle curve and soft surface on the arms keeps them in exactly the place you put them.

I beat the daylights out of the first pair I had and I’m on to my second pair.

Full Review

Check out Julbo’s other photochromic sunglasses

Check out Julbo sunglasses on REI

Osprey Talon 33 Backpack

The Osprey Talon 33 may be the best backpack I’ve ever used. I have a few other Osprey Backpacks and can’t say enough good things about them.

It’s travelled around the world and on too many adventures to count. It’s light, it’s packable, it’s comfortable, it’s bombproof.

The 33 is such a flexible size. I’ve used it for overnight nights or just a daypack travelling. Mine is 17 years old at this point and still going.

Full Review

The post Editor’s Choice Gear first appeared on Pack & Trail.

]]> https://packandtrail.com/blog/editors-choice-gear/feed/ 0 Garmin Basecamp: Send a track to your GPS https://packandtrail.com/blog/garmin-basecamp-send-track-to-gps/ https://packandtrail.com/blog/garmin-basecamp-send-track-to-gps/#respond Tue, 05 Jan 2021 15:07:00 +0000 https://pureoutside.rosscollicutt.com/?p=781 After you have created a GPS track on your computer, this is how to get it onto your Garmin GPS.

The post Garmin Basecamp: Send a track to your GPS first appeared on Pack & Trail.

]]> One of the first things you’ll want to do with Garmin Basecamp is send a track to your GPS. This means you’ll have a GPS track on your computer, the ones showing how to get from point A to point B, and then you’ll send it to your GPS, so you can see it out on your hike.

This tutorial applies to Mac version 4.4.6-4.8.11 and Windows version 4.7.3. It will be similar for other versions.

How to send a GPS track to your GPS with Garmin Basecamp

Plug your GPS into your computer with the USB cord. It will show up in Basecamp on the left in the “My Garmin Devices” or “Devices” section.

Find the GPS track that you want to put on your GPS in the “My Collection” folder on the side of the screen. Drag the track from “My Collection” to the GPS. On Mac just drop the track (or tracks) on the GPS name. On Windows drop them into the Internal Storage folder.

GarminBasecamp-SendTracktoGPS.png

The track will still be on your computer but will now be on your GPS as well. Eject your GPS from Basecamp (Right click on your GPS in the menu > Eject) and then turn it on to make sure the GPS track is in your track list on the unit.

One warning. Sometimes it take a couple tries to get it to show up on the GPS. If you don’t see it in the list on your unit, plug it back into he computer and run through the process again. For some reason it might take a couple runs through to stick.

Always double check the track is there before going out!

The post Garmin Basecamp: Send a track to your GPS first appeared on Pack & Trail.

]]> https://packandtrail.com/blog/garmin-basecamp-send-track-to-gps/feed/ 0