Skip to content

Gear to be prepared for anything.

One manufacturer at a time — who owns them now, what they actually make, and who each one is not for.

one hundred thirty-one brands rated · eighty-one guides · twenty journal entries

Guides

Questions people actually ask

All eighty-one guides →

Battle Born Elite 120W vs 230W: which solar panel fits your camper?

Choose between the Elite 120W and 230W by roof fit and the energy your system needs to replace. The 120W is smaller and lighter; the 230W offers more rated output per panel. Neither wattage is a promise of daily harvest. Check roof clearances, mounting and charge-controller compatibility before ordering.

Read the guide →

Black Diamond Moji R+: a rechargeable lantern for small camp spaces

The Moji R+ is a compact rechargeable lantern to consider for a tent or small camp space. Its diffuse light and placement options serve a different role from a trail headlamp. Check the exact model before ordering: the current page gives conflicting brightness figures and identifies Micro-USB charging.

Read the guide →

Boker Atlas Backlock Big vs Multi SW: which pocket tool fits the task?

Choose the Atlas Backlock Big if you want a locking blade in this steel-handled family. Consider the Atlas Multi SW if integrated scissors are more useful and you accept its non-locking slipjoint. Both use 12C27 steel, but their blade shapes and mechanisms differ. Compare the exact SKU rather than buying by family name.

Read the guide →

What goes into a Battle Born camper power system?

A camper power system needs storage, suitable charging, distribution and protection, plus an inverter when AC loads require one. Battle Born sells batteries and supporting components, including a 2000W inverter/charger. Select them as a compatible system: a matching brand name alone does not establish electrical compatibility or installation requirements.

Read the guide →

Product guides

A closer look at the gear

Browse all product photos →

Battery systems, camp lighting and everyday tools. Explore the products, compare the details, and find what fits your next trip.

Brands We Love

Who makes gear worth owning

All one hundred thirty-one brands →

Petzl

Fifty years of French vertical-safety engineering, and the spine of most rope access kits — including ours.

Premium · France · est. 1975

  • Rope Access
  • Fall Protection
  • Technical Rescue

Battle Born Batteries

Lithium batteries and power-system components for life and work away from shore power.

Premium · United States

  • Batteries & Charging
  • Overlanding & Off-Road

ACR Electronics

Fort Lauderdale, since 1956 — the rescue beacon that talks to a government satellite system and never asks for a subscription.

Mid-range · United States · est. 1956

  • Marine & Boating
  • Satellite Comms
  • Signaling & Distress

Sterling Rope

Maine-made life-safety cordage since 1992 — the rope the other five brands' hardware runs on.

Premium · United States · est. 1992

  • Ropes & Cordage
  • Rope Access
  • Technical Rescue

Harken

Pewaukee, Wisconsin, since 1968 — two brothers, a plastic ball-bearing block, an Olympic sailing habit, and the employee-owned company that now owns SMC.

Premium · United States · est. 1968

  • Rigging Hardware
  • Technical Rescue
  • Rope Access

CAMP Safety

From a blacksmith's forge in Premana, 1889 — the brand that made professional PPE light enough to forget you're wearing it.

Premium · Italy · est. 1889

  • Rope Access
  • Fall Protection
  • Technical Rescue

The Journal

Notes from the trail

All twenty posts →