A 10,000-Acre Ozark Paradise

Many of the creeks and streams look crystal clear, but it’s still smart to make sure any impurities are removed with pumps or tablets before drinking. The Ozark Trail (OT) is one of America’s premier distance hiking trails. Mostly divided into linked sections, the trail winds through 390 miles of rolling hills, stone bluffs and cool streams in central and southern Missouri. I don’t make it a habit of buying my gear from Walmart, but this was a excellent purchase. I use this pack on a daily basis to carry my office clothes while I ride my bike to work and to carry light loads while out Geocaching. I priced other internal frame daypacks before my trip and this was by far the cheapest.

The Spot 400 can hold either three AAA batteries (included with the headlamp) or Black Diamond’s BD 1500 rechargeable lithium ion battery (sold separately). We tested the Spot 400 with AAA batteries and the BD 1500; we also tested the new Black Diamond Spot 400R, a variation of the Spot that you ozark trail backpack recharge using a Micro-USB cable. The Black Diamond Wiz shines in all the colors of the rainbow, which really sold us on the headlamp. Compared with the other kids models we tested (all of which offered only red and white lights), this headlamp is both the right price and more fun to use.

The Spot 400 has three LED lights, two white and one red.The main “spot” LED throws white light far down the path in front of you, which is useful when you are hiking or walking your dog at night. We could see trees (and other neighborhood dogs) at a distance of about 100 meters. The Spot also offers a flood option (a white LED that casts a wider beam) and a red LED; like the main LED, both of these max out at 400 lumens and are dimmable. The fairway on this short par 4 slopes heavily to the left side.

When heavy trade winds buffeted our Oahu-coast testing site, we pitched each tent in full face of the blast. We then rotated the tents looking for structural weaknesses, and we tested their guy lines and tabs to see which tents had the best and most intuitive design for withstanding wind. A full rain cover, two vestibules, and an extra-sturdy pole structure make this the best choice for couples who want to get outside in any weather. It’s pricey, though, and unless the other couples’ tents we recommend, it doesn’t include a footprint. This guide is for people who want a hands-free alternative to a good flashlight.

The Wawona doesn’t come with a footprint—few tents this size do—but it’s otherwise all-inclusive, and it is compact considering how much livable space you get. The price also reflects the high quality of the materials, such as the four reinforced aluminum poles, which weigh little yet result in a remarkably strong tent. After our longtime top-pick tent for two people ran into some stock issues in 2021, we researched new models and redesigns, and we assembled a batch of small tents for testing in March 2022, on Oahu. During this period, winds rose up to 35 to 40 knots, and we experienced passing showers as well as direct sunlight and 80-degree temperatures. To mimic heavier rain and to test the tent’s ability to withstand soggy ground conditions, we also soaked our tents with a garden hose.

This shouldn’t be an issue in most situations, but if you’re headed into a particularly windy place or simply want some backup, we suggest picking up four extra tent stakes at your local outdoor shop or online. These inexpensive stakes are comparable to the ones that accompany the Mineral King 3; these slightly more expensive stakes will serve you well in any car-camping terrain. Finding a small, light tent is the logical approach when you’re backpacking. But with car camping—the industry term for what most people consider just camping—you’ll likely be parking next to your campsite and unloading.

It’s also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, you’ll ozark trail chair also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. Trailspace’s community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top daypacks.

We like that this pack has a lot of pockets including a zipper that allows you to access the middle of the pack without opening the top. Includes Trekking pole attachment points, compression straps and a sleeping bag compartment. There are circumstances that are out of control (natural disasters, holidays, ozark trail backpack weather, etc) that may cause shipping postponements. While most packages will arrive on time, there may be circumstances and delays that our carriers may experience. For this reason, we do not guarantee the exact delivery time; the delivery issue is the responsibility of the shipping company.

These don’t cast very far into the distance—definitely not the promised 26 feet on high. But they are fun to look at and likely safer for children, who might not know they should avoid staring directly into the light. Upon first setting up the Wiz, we found it tough to get the batteries into the housing (it’s intentionally hard to pry open, for safety). Once they’re in, however, the light turns on and immediately enters Rainbow mode. Clicking through the options is also tricky (you never really know which one you’re going to get), but the kid testers seemed excited by this, rather than frustrated.

Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Enjoy a carefully maintained landscape while learning about conservation and interacting with nature up close. Unlike our top pick, the Tungsten 4 is coated with flame retardants. We were surprised at first to see the Mineral King 3 come out on top because it was the smallest tent in our test group. But all our testers, including our tallest panelists, gravitated toward this tent.