Most gear is full of compromises鈥jackets that are feathery light but don鈥檛 have enough pockets, hiking boots that are bombproof but breathe like plastic bags, and rooftop tents that are comfy but a total pain to install. Sometimes, however, you come across gear that鈥檚 perfect from the get-go: no tweaking necessary. After years of testing, here are five of our favorites that fit into that category.
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 60 Liter ($130)
The Black Hole bags are not the most exciting or feature-rich duffels on the market but they make this list for the following reasons. First, they鈥檙e absolutely bombproof, thanks to a 900-denier polyester ripstop outer that鈥檚 at home on top of your truck. Second, the Black Holes are weatherproof (though not submergible) so your gear won鈥檛 get wet sitting on your roof. Next, many of the Black Holes fold into their own pockets for easy storage. And finally, the Black Holes, especially , are affordable. You don鈥檛 need to throw down a month鈥檚 rent to have a travel companion for at least a decade to come.
Black Diamond Iota Rechargeable Headlamp ($40)
Ten years ago, headlamps sucked. Nowadays we鈥檙e living through a headlamp renaissance. For me, is a perfect illustration of how far we鈥檝e come. It鈥檚 tiny鈥攋ust about an inch long and about two ounces鈥攂ut throws 150 lumens, or enough for an evening trail run, an 鈥淥h shit, we hiked too far and need to get聽back to the car in the dark鈥 moment, or reading in your tent before bed. It鈥檚 also rechargeable, so you never have to throw down for AAAs, switches聽between low and high聽beams with a tap to the side, and will never leave you in the dark thanks to a battery-power meter on the front.
Electric Knoxville XL Sunglasses ($150)
OK, one confession: are absolutely perfect for larger faces. Prefer to go smaller? The聽聽are your jam. Regardless of your size, the Knoxville design looks smashing on any face thanks to a surf聽influence with clean lines. There鈥檚 plenty under the hood, too. Polarized lenses add visual clarity and cut glare, strong hinges won鈥檛 fail if you accidentally sit on the glasses, and the frames are made from a bendy but nearly indestructible Grilamid plastic, the same stuff companies like Dynafit use to make your favorite聽ski boots.
Peak Design Camera Leash ($40)
The highest compliment I can pay is that it quickly becomes an afterthought. In other words, it does its job so well I never have to think about it. My favorite part: the quick-release that lets me snap the strap off in seconds so I can throw the camera on a tripod. Strap-length adjustments are buttery smooth thanks to an aluminum clasp that can be manipulated with one hand, and the seatbelt-style nylon webbing slides easily over my clothing and will take plenty of abuse. I prefer this ultra-skinny version, but Peak Design makes wider versions if you want more girth for a bigger camera.
Flint and Tinder Staywax Camp Shirt ($170)
is one of the few pieces of gear I can wear in the mountains and to a morning meeting. Made from a British-manufactured waxed cotton, it鈥檚 tough enough to put up with chopping wood, warm enough for cold, high-alpine nights, and water-resistant so I don鈥檛 have to worry in a drizzle. At the same time, it has a slim, simple cut that goes well with a pair of jeans and leather boots at the office. I know $170 is a lot of pay for a simple shirt, but once you see the versatility of this piece, and wear it everywhere for a year straight, you鈥檒l gladly make the investment.