We like to get the most out of our gear at Trailspotting, and there are certain items of equipment, tools and clothing that we've come to depend on and would like to recommend to our readers. You can find all of these items and more over at the Trailspotting Store.


Kata T-214 CDG Torso Pak
Great sling-bag for your DLSR camera and lenses.
- Trailspotting Review
- Buy from Amazon.com*


Canon Rebel DSLR
The king of budget digital SLRs, the Canon Rebel XTi is one of the few we'd feel comfortable lugging around the mountains with us. The model has recently been replaced by the XSi - check out the following link to compare cameras.
- DP Review: XTi & XSi side-by-side
- Buy XTi from Amazon or Buy XSi from Amazon*


Garmin eTrex Venture HC
The best value handheld GPS out there is the eTrex Venture HC and it's packing all the features we need for a 2-3 days in the wilderness. If you're uncertain whether it has all the features you need, then we've included a link to a comparison chart of other Garmin products (we swear by Garmin because they've never let us down, and it's the best served devices in terms of free maps and free software). Also be wary of buying cheaper, older models which sport less sensitive chipsets, meaning poor reception.
- Compare Garmin GPS receivers
- Buy from Amazon.com*


Garmin Topo 2008
There are ways of getting some of your maps for free, but if you're willing to bite the bullet and fork out your hard-earned cash, Topo 2008 is a safe bet.
- Buy from Amazon.com*
- Trailspotting: Cheapskate's Guide to Free GPS Maps


Petzl Tikka Three LED Headlamp
Stash at least one of these into your pack and you'll thank us for for it. With one of these in reserve you won't have to cut your day hike short when the nights begin to draw in quickly. And you'll never have the opportunity to forget your flashlight and miss out on the Balconies Caves at Pinnacles or the Lava Tubes at Lassen.
- Buy from Amazon.com*


MSR Denali Classic snowshoes
Robust, lightweight and great value, these snowshoes are highly recommended.
- Trailspotting Review
- Buy from Amazon.com*


Book Recommendations:
We've hiked all the trails featured in Trailspotting, but we're definitely not the first to experience them and write about them. Giving credit where it's due, we link to the books we use in our adventures.
- Northern California trail books
- San Francisco area trail books
- Lassen Volcanic National Park trail books
- Hawaii guide books & trail books

(* Buy your gear through our Amazon.com link and we receive a small referral fee for each sale. Naturally there's no obligation to buy this way, but if you find Amazon to be the best place to buy your gear from then buying through us costs you nothing and allows you to show your appreciation for the site.)