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EDITORS' CHOICE AWARDS 2009: THE BEST NEW GEAR
OVER 3,000 GPS-ENABLED TRIPS!
DAILY DIRT BLOG: THE LATEST OUTDOOR NEWS
GEAR CHICK: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
MEDICINE MAN: ESSENTIAL SKILLS REVEALED
BACKPACKING 101: GET STARTED NOW!
VIDEOS: FEND OFF A BEAR, PACK RIGHT, AND MORE.
PHOTOS: FEAST YOUR EYES WITH THESE SHOTS
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Backpacker Magazine – April 2009
Get This Gear: Essentials From A to Z
We tested more than 500 products–stoves, clothes, cameras, filters, tech tools, knives, and meals–to find these proven performers.
E
Electrolyte mix 
Give your water a sweet-and-spicy flavor boost–and add electrolytes–with nuun's Kona Cola. $20 for 36 tablets; nuun.com
Energy bars
CLIF MOJO PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY A pleasant change of pace from the raft of chocolate bars. Not too sweet, with a tangy grape bite and a soft texture that travels well and doesn't freeze solid. $2; clifbar.com
COOKIE QUEEN'S BACKCOUNTRY BAR 
Dense and delicious, with a distinctly real-food texture and buttery flavor. Loaded with bits of dried fruit. $3; cookie-queen.com
PROBAR CHERRY PRETZL Two of our favorite food groups–fruit and pretzels–make this salty, sweet concoction a flavorful, filling snack we can enjoy over and over. $3; theprobar.com
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READERS COMMENTS
Are you kidding me with the $30 chopsticks?? I thought this magazine was about appreciating outdoors, not marketing a bunch of needless crap.
Posted: Nov 13, 2009 Shane
I use the nite ize s biner as a key chaine. I hook it to my belt loop. Numeros times my keys have fallen off. I usually can hear the sound of keys hitting the ground. On a recent end of Fly fishing adventure. I turned the car around to do a final check for any forgoten equipment. The metalic reflection came from the ground. I got out and there was the nite Ize S-biner. BackPacker Editors award and all. Spring not strong enough!
Posted: May 27, 2009 Lost Keys
How many backpackers do you know that carry $600 binoculars? Get real.
Posted: May 16, 2009 dropkick
I'm really surprised to see MSR's quick 2 system at the same time that GSI's dualist system is not mentioned yet it has the 2008 editor's choice and lighter than MSR's. This really makes me question the credibility of the whole backpacker's site that I have always had it as a flagship.
Posted: May 14, 2009 AN
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