Granite Gear Access Nimbus Trace 70 Wins "Gear of the Year" Award from Outside magazine

Granite Gear's Access Nimbus Trace 70 wins Gear of the Year 2014

Patagonia bills the Rover ($125) as a light hiker, a trail runner, and an approach and rock-climbing shoe. Amazingly, it can do it all—and well. Taking a ten-mile trail run? No problem. The Rover's four-millimeter heel-to-toe drop made it seem like a more protective version of our favorite minimalist shoe. Same with fast-paced day hikes: it felt like an "exceptionally protective sneaker," according to one tester. But the Rover impressed us most when we went climbing. The tacky rubber outsole smeared on 60-degree granite inclines, and the defined edges in the toe box had one tester scaling 5.7 routes without missing his standard—and cramped—climbing shoes one bit. 7.7 oz
WEIGHT: 4.5
TRACTION: 5

Photo: Inga Hendrickson

Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 70

We tested lighter and sexier packs, but none of them did everything as well as this big-trip hauler ($350). Even when we overstuffed it with 65 pounds of gear, it felt balanced and easy on our backs. It could be the wood. The composite-plastic framesheet features a maple core, which gives it a sturdy but pliant backbone (think wood-core skis). On the outside, dobby-weave Cordura endured tight squeezes through sharp granite and fended off light rain (we loved the drybag-style roll-top closure), while a special coating on the rugged zippers kept dirt and grime from getting lodged in the teeth. Put it all together and you have a pack that will outlast a lifetime of adventures. 4.3 lbs

COMFORT: 4  
VERSATILITY: 4