A look back at the best equipment over 10 years of testing

Ten years ago this spring, I wrote the first “Gear Junkie” column, covering a small camp stove from MSR. Fast forward a decade, and you can guess that I have tested my fair share of apparel and equipment made for the outdoors, including dozens of tents, packs, shoes, jackets, socks, sunglasses and all other types of gear.

To celebrate 10 years of testing, I offer here a fast look at 10 top product picks. These items, tested over the years and at venues around the planet, have changed the way I do things outside.

1. SHEEP’S CLOTHING: Merino wool, a fine blend that does not itch, is my favorite fabric for the outdoors. Ibex, Icebreaker and SmartWool are among my preferred brands, and from boxer shorts to bike jerseys I am a freak for merino wool’s natural feel, its breathability, warmth and its temperature-regulating properties. Bonus: The miracle material does not stink, even after a few days wearing it on a trail!

2. OUTDOORS DO-RAG: The Buff is a handkerchief-like product that you can wear as a beanie hat in the winter, a sweatband in summer, and as a thin layer under a bike helmet in the wind. I use these funny looking headwear pieces, which are seamless polyester fabric tubes, almost every day of my life for one outdoors activity or the next. www.buffusa.com

3. PRIMALOFT PUFFY JACKET: Instead of goose down, jackets like the puffy Rab Xenon use a synthetic Primaloft insulation that can retain heat even when wet. In the wilds, this type of jacket has kept me toasty for years and through any type of nasty, cold weather I could find. http://us.rab.uk.com/

4. SOFT-SIDE WATER BOTTLES: Forget canteens or bulky water bottles. The flexible, highly packable, and nearly indestructible SoftBottles from Platypus have been my go-to water carrying containers for years. The polyethylene bottles hold a liter of water yet weigh less than 1 ounce when drained. http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus

5. YUMMY ENERGY FOOD: A small revolution has sparked in the realm of energy food in recent years, namely the advent of items you actually will want to eat! No force-feeding required; companies like Clif, GU, Hammer and many more now use better ingredients and have more palatable flavors for their bars, gels, drinks and gummy energy products made for the great outdoors.

6. MINIMALIST SHOES: The footwear trend of making shoes that are lighter and more flexible has made me a happier, healthier runner. After switching from heavily padded running shoes a few years ago to more minimal models, I went from long strides and sloppy heel flops to an efficient gait with a mid-foot strike that has made me both faster and more efficient on the trail.

7. HELMET CAMERAS: Recording your outdoor experience has never been easier thanks to GoPro, Contour and other helmet-camera companies. Press a button and go – the camera mounted on your helmet or just about any place will record the experience in HD, ready to replay on a computer or broadcast to the world.

8. L.E.D. HEADLAMPS/FLASHLIGHTS: All hail electroluminescence! The mainstream emergence of light-emitting diodes has revolutionized lighting in the world outdoors. A decade ago we were using fragile, yellow-light bulbs that sucked batteries and were too dim. Today, most all outdoor brands have switched to L.E.D., and our paths are all the brighter for it.

9. DISSOLVABLE ELECTROLYTES: Mixing drink powder into water is a pain. Fortunately, an innovation in the form of a drop-and-dissolve tablet has become commonplace. Companies like Nuun (the originator), ZYM and CamelBak sell small tablets that dissolve in water like Alka-Seltzer, delivering minerals, sodium and other electrolytes in a no-fuss formula.

10. FIXED-GEAR BIKES: No coasting allowed! Fixed-gear bikes do not have freewheels, meaning the pedals are locked in motion with the chain and wheels. The experience is akin to driving a stick-shift car versus an automatic, including subtle control increases and the thrill of being locked in motion with a machine as it rockets down the road.

Stephen Regenold is founder and editor of www.gearjunkie.com. Find Regenold at Facebook.com/ TheGearJunkie or on Twitter via @TheGearJunkie or by email at stephen@thegearjunkie.com.