Here are the top 10 most viewed 2012 posts from the AMC Equipped gear blog, as tracked by Google Analytics. This is part one of a look at the 100-plus posts from 2012—stay tuned tomorrow when I feature my personal favorite posts from the past year.
#10—Best New Gear from Winter Outdoor Retailer
Fold-up sandals, an ultralight mountaineering tent, and highly water-resistant goose down and wool. Also check out Part 2 of this round-up for a headlamp that automatically adjusts brightness, new winter cycling shoes, and a new line of ultralight packs.
#9—Four Reasons the iPhone Fails as a Backcountry Device
Discover why the potential of the iPhone is tremendous—and why it totally failed me when I tested out a new USGS topo map app on a spring backpacking trip.
#8—What's the Best Bike Lock? There Isn't One.
Some bike locks are better than others, but none is truly theft-proof.
#7—Design Your Own Sandals: Custom Chaco Sandals
You can now personalize your Chaco sandals with a range of patterns and colors.
#6—Hike the Entire Appalachian Trail in Four Minutes
A fascinating time-lapse compilation of a successful 2005 thru-hike.
#5—Deer Ticks Suck: Nymph Tick Bites Peak in Early Summer
I hate deer ticks, especially the near-microscopic nymphs that are responsible for the majority of Lyme Disease cases in the Northeast. Learn more about the risks—and how you can protect yourself from the threat.
#4—Best Ultralight Sleeping Pad? The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Gets My Vote
An in-depth review of the Z Lite, which has been my favorite, go-to sleeping pad for years.
#3—Hiking Footwear Faceoff: Hiking Boots vs. Trail Runners
Are hiking boots really essential for heading out on the trails? Or will a pair of low-cut trail running shoes suffice?
#2—Best Deal on an Ultralight Tent? It May Be the L.L. Bean Microlight FS2
A look at one of the best values out there for a two-person, double-wall tent that weighs less than four pounds.
#1—The Best Hiking Boots? The Vasque Sundowner Classic Gets My Vote
An in-depth review of my all-time favorite pair of hiking boots (top picture), which I've been using almost my entire hiking career.
Do you have ideas for a post in 2013? Please let me know!
“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.
