Editor’s Dozen: Miles and Emily’s Favorite Gear and More of 2024

No doubt, 2024 has been one of the most stressful yet memorable years yet. Emily and I kicked off the year with yet another van trip down south in search of warm weather and sunshine and spent a good chunk of time around Tucson and Patagonia, Arizona, riding bikes and working in coffee shops. On our way back north to British Columbia, we visited Sklar Bikes, Black Mountain Cycles, and WZRD, publishing shop visits for each, and were looking forward to a summer close to home. That plan went out the window with several weeks in the West Kootenays working on the recently published West Kootenay Bikepacking Route Network. Then, we switched gears to prepare for the inaugural Slow Coast event, which was entirely new for Emily and me.

Once again, with a lull in our schedules, we were just getting ready to embrace a lazy fall in the qathet Regional District when we decided to turn life on its head and buy a house. After several weeks of painting, we’re days away from moving down the street to our new home here in Powell River, and we couldn’t be more excited. I speak for both of us when I say how proud we are to be part of this little community, which makes leaving on trips that much harder but coming home even more of a treat. We had plans to relocate to New Zealand this winter, which were quickly put on hold after buying the house, but we’re looking forward to more unexpected twists and turns in 2025.

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After thousands of kilometers of bikepacking and trail riding, Emily and I are excited to share a few things that stood out for us in 2024. The list includes gear we’d happily recommend to a friend, takeaways and lessons learned, and some ideas that we’ll bring into the new year. Thank you to all our readers for the support over the years; we’ll see you in 2025!

Camp Snap Camera

97 grams / Made in China / $65 at Camp Snap Photo

Despite becoming quite a hit among bikepackers and other outdoor enthusiasts, it wasn’t until Lucas shared news of the updated version here on the site that I became aware of Camp Snap cameras. These funky little cameras have an eight-megapixel resolution, a built-in LED flash, are USB-C rechargeable, and can take around 500 photos on a single charge. The internal storage holds roughly 2,000 photos. The updated Camp Snap Version 103 boasts faster photo capture, side hooks that can attach to a lanyard, the ability to set the time and date, and improved photo quality. I usually haul around my Canon R5 in a massive Rockgeist Big Dumpling hip pack, but carrying a tiny, 97-gram digital point-and-shoot seemed like a fun alternative. I purchased one immediately.

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While the Camp Snap camera isn’t pumping out pixel-perfect imagery, it makes up for it with its nostalgic design and care-free functionality. It’s been a pleasure to pack on day rides and a few shorter bikepacking trips this fall, including the third annual Klunk ‘n’ Float. I love how little it weighs, the lo-fi image quality, and the fact that it doesn’t have an LCD screen or additional settings to waste my time with. I already spend enough time sitting at my computer or glued behind my “big” camera for work, and the Camp Snap camera has been a fun way to practice photography in an entirely new way.

Zpacks Ultralight Camp Shoes

51.7 grams / Made in USA / $34.95 at Zpacks

Almost exactly a year after I published my roundup of packable ultralight camp shoes, Zpacks changed the game with the aptly named Ultralight Camp Shoes. Starting at just 51.7 grams (1.8 ounces), they’re some of the lightest and smallest packing camp shoes we’ve seen. Having tested my fair share of ultralight shoes and sandals, I’m pleased to report that the Zpacks Ultralight Camp Shoes are some of the most well-rounded shoes I’ve used for lounging around after a long day on the bike.

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The Zpacks Ultralight Camp Shoes check a lot of boxes that I deem important for bikepacking. They use a slip-on design that’s compatible with any type of sock and easy to get on and off. There are two adjustment points on the top and around the heel so they don’t fall off, and the upper is made from breathable mesh to help stinky bikepacker feet air out at the end of the day. The 4mm foam sole isn’t my first choice for off-bike adventures, but it’s enough to walk around at camp, which is generally what I’m looking for unless I’m packing sturdier (and heavier) sandals.

Exposure Axis Mk10

102 grams / Made in UK / $235 at Exposure Lights

The Exposure Axis Mk10 is just one of a handful of lights I’ve been testing, but it quickly took a place among the most versatile and useful of the bunch. The Axis Mk10 throws a focused 1300 lumen beam that works great on a helmet when targeted illumination is key, and it’s bright enough to work as a standalone handlebar light for slower riding. It uses Exposure’s TAP technology, allowing the user to quickly switch between modes by tapping either the body of the light or the helmet without needing to locate the function button.

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I appreciate its lightweight yet incredibly high-quality construction, full 6063 aluminium body, and the fact that it offers up to 18 hours runtime thanks to an integrated 3,500 mAh Li-Ion battery. The light comes with a simple quick-release handlebar mount as well as a helmet mount, and it’s slender enough to stuff into a hip pack or frame bag until you need it. It’s pricey, but Exposure Lights is known for producing quality products.

Sklar PBJ Bar

395 grams / Made in Taiwan / $118 at Sklar Bikes

When I first reviewed the Hudksi Doggler, it put the “performance” in performance commuter, quickly replacing my desire for more racy drop bar gravel bikes. However, over the last few years, my Doggler build has slowly began to embrace a more casual side of riding, complete with a more upright stem, bigger tires, and usually a front rack and basket. The new Sklar PBJ bar was released this fall, and in a lot of ways, it feels like the finishing touch on my Doggler build, both aesthetically and functionally.

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The PBJ Bar is made from 7000-series aluminum and has a 31.8mm clamp diameter, 28° back sweep, 40mm rise, and an uncut width of 795mm. It offers just the right amount of rise and sweep without sacrificing off-road handling characteristics, and the polished silver finish is easy on the eyes (it’s also available in black). If the PBJ bar is any indication of Sklar’s next production bike, the PBJ, then color me curious. Read my review here.

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PNW LTD Loam Dropper + Silver Bits

598 grams / Made in Taiwan / $219 at PNW Components

I was lucky enough to snag one of the sold out PNW LTD Silver Loam Dropper Posts after their release earlier this year and have been holding it close to save it for a special bike. While I lay awake at night, staring longingly a the polished silver body of the post, it got me thinking about all the beautiful silver parts I’ve seen this year. Polished Paul Boxcar stems, Wolf Tooth Ripsaw pedals, a CNC-machined Garbaruk cassette, the classy Sklar PBJ bar above, and the PNW LTD Loam Dropper. What can I say, I like shiny bike parts!

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I have several PNW dropper posts currently in rotation on my personal bikes, and they’ve never caused any headaches. My most well-loved is the Rainier that came stock on my Hudski Doggler, and that has several thousand coastal kilometers logged on it and refuses to give up. The LTD Loam Dropper shares all the same internals as the standard version, an adjustable air cartridge, a 30.9mm or 31.6mm diameter, and three travel lengths: 150mm, 170mm, and 200mm. At 6’1″ tall with a 33″ inseam, I can usually get away with a 200mm dropper post. So, when I had the chance to run a giant silver dropper post on a bike I’m currently reviewing, how could I refuse? I like PNW’s prices, I appreciate that they sell replacement and service parts, and despite being unavailable for the time being, the LTD silver Loam dropper is stunning.

Time with Friends and Family

Since moving out to Powell River over four years ago, I’m slightly embarrassed to report that I’ve only been back to where I grew up in Ontario once… and that was this fall. I’m living proof that it’s far too easy to ignore what’s truly important in life, which, I’m coming to realize more and more, are my relationships with my family and friends.

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It’s been meaningful to spend more time with people who are dear to me, and if I’m lucky enough to squeeze in a bike ride or bikepacking trip, that’s a bonus. During my trip back to Ontario this fall, I was reminded just how stunning central Ontario is in autumn. The leaves were popping, the colors were stunning, and it was a blast to rip a bike down trails that felt infinitely longer when I was a kid. A highlight from that trip was getting out for a short ride in the forest with my mom and her partner, solidifying my belief that sometimes the shortest rides are often the most enjoyable.

Five Ten Trailcross XT Shoes

283 grams per shoe (size 6) / Made in China / $160 at Jenson Women’s Men’s

While reviewing the Five Ten Trailcross CL shoes this year, they quickly became one of my most-used clipless shoes for bikepacking. I find them to be lightweight, comfortable while hiking, and stiff enough for technical riding, which eventually earned them a top spot in our 2024 Gear of the Year awards. When Emily asked if I had any recommendations for a flat mountain bike shoe, the Five Ten Trailcross XTs immediately came to mind.

Just like the clip-in model, the Trailcross XT shoes blend styling of a lightweight hiking shoe with cycling-specific details like a Stealth Phantom rubber outsole, molded toe cap, and EVA midsole. The lace-up closure is simple and offers a more adjustable fit, while the mesh upper offers some of the best breathability we’ve experienced from a riding shoe. Emily has been wearing them for local mountain bike rides and some fall bikepacking trips and has only positive things to say, too.

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A Good Ol’ Fashioned Cardboard Bike Box

2kg / FREE at Your Local Bike Shop

A common question among bikepackers is whether or not they should splurge on a padded bike bags when flying with a bike. I think there’s probably a time and a place for fancy bike bags, but I’ve personally never used one and can’t imagine using anything aside from a standard cardboard bike box. For starters, you can get a bike box from virtually any bike shop for free or by dropping off some baked goods. They are also impressively light, which is a real concern when packing a bike for a bikepacking trip and trying to stay under the airlines’ weight restrictions.

I’ve used slightly fancier cardboard boxes, but it ended up lasting just as long as a standard box, so the price wasn’t justifiable. Emily and I will be flying to New Mexico in the new year, and you can rest assured I’ll be asking my local bike shop to set aside two big boxes for us.

RatKing Long Ti Spoon

19 grams / Made in USA / $22 at We Are Stunt Doubles

Out of all the gear I’ve tried out this year, I didn’t expect a titanium spoon to be one of my most-used items. As silly as it looks, RatKing’s Long Ti Spoon is surprisingly functional when digging into deep dehydrated meal pouches or stirring boiling ingredients in a pot. At 11″ long, it’s the lankiest utensil in my gear room, but it’s slender enough to slip into my non-drive-side frame bag pocket to be easily accessible when called upon. The best part? Each spoon is handmade by Smith in Seattle, Washington. Unfortunately, they aren’t in stock right now, but shoot Smith a message, and he said he could do another run.

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“Bad” Pop Playlists

I’m not embarrassed to admit I’m a sucker for a top 20 playlist. I like singing along to pop radio stations while I’m driving, blasting “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter when I roll up to our local trailhead, and if I’m biking alone and remembered to bring headphones, you can almost guarantee I’m listing to a playlist called “Songs of Summer” or “Top 20 Pop Jams.”

There’s something about disgustingly catchy pop hits that just make it so easy to zone out and hammer on the pedals. I don’t think about racing a bike very often, but when I do, it’s normally when I’m amped up listening to some silly pop playlist that I downloaded while walking out the front door.

Nikwax Tech Wash

Made in UK / $11-$15 at REI Tech Wash TX.Direct

Something Emily and I both embraced this year was taking proper care of our expensive rain gear. There’s nothing worse than forking our several hundred dollars on a fancy Gore-Tex jacket only to have it absorb water after an hour of being in the rain. The thing is, most of us don’t take the time to maintain our gear. Rain gear in particular seems intimidating to wash and counterintuitive to toss in the dryer, but both are essential to keeping you dry.

While it’s best to follow each manufacturer’s care instructions, the steps to maintain your rain gear are essentially the same. Wash your gear using a tech wash (or standard detergent on some gear), retreat the garment’s durable water repellency, and then set the finish by putting it in the dryer. We’ve had positive experiences using Nikwax Tech Wash and TX.Direct water repellency products, but Grangers is another good brand to look out for at your local outdoor gear store. This is your official reminder to care for your gear.

Sharing More

Between gear reviews, product releases, scouting the occasional route, and keeping up with my daily tasks, I rarely have the time to share less technical stories. I’d been thinking about sharing my Crohn’s Disease story for a few years but was worried it would come off as a self-pity story. To my surprise, words flowed as freely as water, and it felt like more of an honest reflection than a sob story. Judging by the number of comments it has received, it’s clear our readers enjoy personal narratives just as much as bike reviews… maybe even more.

My Favourite Shot(s)

Klunk ‘n’ Float is the brainchild of my friends Justin and Nathan and me. It all started three years ago when we decided to connect remote logging roads with lake crossings and nonexistent trails by way of vintage mountain bikes, rim brakes, way too many tubes, and pack rafts. I’m fortunate enough to have friends that want to tackle seriously stupid adventures like this, and it has become an annual trip we all look forward to.

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I’ll be sharing more on this year’s trip soon, but one of my favorite shots of the year came from Klunk ‘n’ Float ’24. This year, we branched out and traveled to the mountain biking town of Cumberland on Vancouver Island in search of a river we could paddle. Long story short, we found one. The 10 minutes we spent paddling its lazy-river-style (easier than class I) current was perhaps my fondest moment of the year. It wasn’t difficult, but it was surprisingly terrifying, and we shared lots of laughs and giggles as we made our way down the river to camp. At one section, I hopped out of my packraft and got onto shore so I could snap some photos of Nathan and Justin. My feet were freezing, but the look on their faces was worth the extra effort.

If you’re interested in purchasing any of these products, please support your local bike shop and buy from them when possible. If you can’t, or they’re only obtainable online, we’ve provided links to manufacturers and stores where they are currently available; some of these retailers offer a modest referral fee, which helps support this platform. This has no bearing on the review or selection.

Further Reading

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