Best Stuff for Hiking and Camping

The season of spring is one of renewal. A time for people to get back in touch with nature and all of its beauty. Amateur hikers and campers are now beginning to “come out of hibernation” and are starting to gear-up with the stuff they’ll need to optimize their hiking and camping trips planned for the upcoming season. Here is some of the newest stuff to hit the trails.

CELESTRON Outland 10 x 25 Binoculars
These high-performance binoculars offer great magnification (10x) while keeping size and weight (only 14 ounces) in consideration for the novice and serious hiker. The Celestron Outland’s offer extreme durability and reliability thanks to a dent resistant rubber covering, waterproof body and fog proof optics. The “long eye relief” feature is ideal for eyeglass and sunglass wearers. Includes a moisture-resistant neoprene carrying case. Price: $60. www.celestron.com

HIGH GEAR Fit Ware PR Pedometer
This one-ounce wonder reads your pulse, counts your steps, records distance, calculates calorie burn, and offers a plethora of timing data. Just place your index finger on the sensor to obtain your pulse. The step counter uses Motion Sensor Technology to record up to 99,999 steps (over 6000 miles!). The calorie counter allows you to monitor your fat burning progress. Other data monitoring features include: a countdown timer; time and date; alarm, and chronograph. This pedometer also includes a belt clip for convenient application. Price: $45. www.highgear.com

CAMELBAK Catalyst Hydration Fanny Pack
Whether on the road, the trail, or the treadmill, the lightweight and super-stable Catalyst supplies runners with enough water (28 ounces) for an hour or more of hard effort. Leave the water bottle at home! The light Weight, easy filling Camelbak Fanny Pack model delivers a comfortable alternative to personal hydration. The Vevetex cloth is comfortable next to bare skin and stable enough for long runs. The Camelbak has A fully reflective surface for low-light visibility. Price: $35. www.camelbak.com

Native Eyewear “Dash” Sunglasses
Different outdoor light environments require specific eyewear protection. All Dash SS sunglasses include 4 sets of lenses for any light conditions. Polarized for superior glare reduction. Orange lenses are medium contrast lenses that are ideal for low to medium light conditions. Yellow lenses are high contrast lenses that are ideal for low light conditions. And clear lenses are ideal for night time conditions. Native's unique interchangeable lens design system allows you to switch lenses without having to put your fingers on the center of the lens. Price: $115. www.nativeeyewear.com

GERBER Nautilus Multi-Tool
Multi-function devices like this one allow you to cut down on cluttered pockets and backpacks while offering a variety of blades appropriate for most hiking and camping situations. This nifty tool adds a 4-mode LED lighting unit to an ergonomic multi-tool. The multi-purpose lighting unit springs open at the push of a button, illuminating the area in front of the tool so you can actually see what you're doing in low light. Tools include: one-handed opening stainless-steel knife blade, flat-tip screwdriver, cross-point screwdriver, bottle opener, Fiskars scissors. A carry sheath made of ballistic nylon is included. Price: $59. www.gerberblades.com

EMS Aluminum Arm Chair
This rugged nylon chair folds up and packs into a durable carry bag. Easily carry it along camping, hikes and to games, convenient even in your own backyard. Constructed with UV resistant polyester, the metal frame is strong and will not corrode. The Armchair offers a cup holder in each arm and comes in blue, red, black. Maximum weight capacity: 250 pounds. Price: $29. www.easternmountainsports.com

EMS Techwick Zip Mock , For Men and Women
Wear it on power runs, adventure races, epic paddle trips, rock climbs, mountain bike trips, and any other hard-charging activities. The secret to Techwick's anti-odor virtue is the embedded silver particles that naturally inhibit bacterial growth. Techwick clothing is light and silky soft and packs away into an extremely small bundle. It absorbs moisture away from your skin for rapid evaporation and is treated to provide sun protection equivalent to SPF+30. Price: $35. www.easternmountainsports.com

EMS Adventure Zip-Off Pant , For Men and Women
Convertible cars allow us to enjoy the great weather days of spring and summer. Now Zip-Off pants offer the same flexibility for our outdoor activity wardrobe! Built for traveling in a variety of conditions, this pant is made of soft, lightweight Tactel® nylon. It is a breathable, quick-drying material and is strong and easy to care for. The legs zip off, converting the pants to shorts when the weather gets warmer. An elastic waist with adjustable belt offers a versatile fit and the pants features back panel pockets, front slash pockets and two cargo pockets on front thighs. These hiking pants fold to a small size when packed away making them great for travel. Price: $49. www.easternmountainsports.com

OUTDOOR RESEARCH Deluxe Bivy Sack
Call it a sleeping bag with a built in tent. The Outdoor Research Bivy Sack will definitely lighten the load for those short camping trips. The Delrin overhead pole keeps the fabric off your face while providing better air circulation. An overhead awning can be closed fully or adjusted back to expose the no-see-um netting. The nylon canopy is made with 3-layer Gore-Tex® for waterproof, breathable protection. Extra room under the roof is a great place to store boots and other supplies. The base is made of nylon taffeta with a coating that is impermeable to water and soil. Price: $235. www.outdoorresearch.com

Garmin Rino 130 GPS/Two-Way Radio Combo
Given their unpredictable reception, cell phones are not the most reliable way to communicate in the wilderness. The Garmin 130 not only solves the problem of reliable communication it also helps you find your way to boot! The Rino 130 provides two-way radio communication with a transmission range of up to five miles with GMRS. The integration of a two-way radio and GPS enables users to transmit their position with a simple button press, allowing others to navigate to their position. The Rino 130 also has a polling feature, which allows a user to manually request GPS location information from other Rino units. The model 130 offers a detailed basemap of North and South America, displaying cities, highways, railways, rivers, lakes, and borders. This model also delivers a built-in electronic compass, barometric sensor, weather receiver for seven NOAA weather channels, and 24 MBs of internal memory in order to add more map information. Price: $350 each. www.garmin.com