I’ve been busy testing a lot of new gear on hiking trips as well as an end of the summer backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada mountains. There are several new gear reviews for you to check out!

• Mentor Storage Sacs: Convenient, durable waterproof stuff sacks made by the Canadian eco-friendly company Innate Gear.
• Brooks Range Alipini Ultralite Bivy Sack: Want to skip lugging along a tent on your next backpacking trip? For under 1 pound you can stay comfortable in below freezing alpine temperatures!
• Timberland Pinkham Notch Women’s Hiking Boots: This is a pair of extremely waterproof light hiking boots. Be sure to watch the Hiking Lady Video review with the waterproof test.
• PowerMonkey eXplorer solar charger: A pricey but handy device for backpackers and travelers who would prefer to rely on energy from the sun to power their phones and GPS’s rather than batteries.

Enjoy, and be sure to post your comments and questions about any of these items! Thanks.