The clumsy and once laborious task of water purification has evolved into a much easier process. Ultraviolet light is chic for water purification, and it's widely considered the gold standard. Even a behemoth like CamelBak jumped into the fray and has recently introduced a UV product.

Cheers to CamelBak for embracing the technology but last call will always go to SteriPEN, the innovator for UV filtration. I've had the chance to review the Journey a few years ago. An effective purifier, but the use of a battery just adds to the landfills. Most times, the battery will drain from inactivity, and you never fully use it's juice.

My first backcountry bath towel is embarrassing to even admit. The only positive was it was fleece and dried somewhat quickly. It was bulky and reeked after only a few uses.

Microfiber has changed the size and weight of these. And antimicrobial treatments definitely help the smell.

PackTowl from Cascade Designs and Cocoon by Design Salt recently released microfiber towels.

In need of a freestyle board for the resort, something twin that will butter easily and have some pop? For $250, you can purchase a 2011 YES Basic Snowboard.

You might assume that a board this affordable and named the "Basic" might be another janky plank. The top sheet, base construction and edges all look a bit weak upon inspection. But digging deeper into the design, materials and construction, you'll find an exceptionally good board at a dirtbag price.

There are an endless number of truths for backpackers. For me, I can never have enough compression and stuff sacks. Varying sizes give an endless way to organize your pack. And reconfiguring your pack can be a mind numbing chore of thinking of ways to decrease your load while ensuring you aren't leaving anything behind.

Over the last few months, a few headlamps have been glued to my forehead for a barrel full of fun. Nighttime road running, moonlit hikes and even some night resort skiing needed some illumination.