Everyone loves gear—especially ultralight hikers! So, what better time to bring back our beloved “Staff Picks” series to the Journal?

For this second installment of the Ambassador Edition, we sat down with Yuji Nakagawa, HLC Kansai ambassador and owner of MOUNTAIN GEAR TANINOKI SHA, and Riku Yamamoto, HLC Hokuriku ambassador and store manager at THE GATE MOUNTAIN. As in our previous feature, Editor-in-Chief Mita dives deep into their top gear picks for 2024.

[View all Staff Picks]

–– First, tell us about your first favorite piece of gear.

My first pick is the bottle holder from SHELT, an original brand by LUNNETES, run by Tomoyuki (HLC North Kanto Ambassadori).

–– There are plenty of bottle holders out there. What makes this one your favorite?

The bungee cord runs from top to bottom, allowing you to cinch it tight for even compression, so no matter how you move, it stays stable without wobbling. The cap can also be secured with the bungee, keeping it firmly in place. It’s a really smart design. I think the mesh panel plays a key role in making it work so well.

–– Since it’s mesh, you don’t have to worry about your bottle being wet, right?

Exactly. Mine is made from Ecopak fabric, which has a stiff structure and doesn’t collapse easily—another big plus. It attaches at two points with a slip clip and a belt, and it pairs incredibly well with the Yamatomichi MINI. That’s why it’s a bestseller at my shop—many customers pick up an extra one every time they buy a new backpack.

–– Once you attach one, it makes you want to get more attachments!

Yeah, some people find it annoying to take off though, even if its a simple clip-on system.

–– And for your second pick, you’ve chosen cutlery?

Yep! The Hoverlight Spork from Hoverlight.

Hoverlight is an aluminum product made by a metalworking company in Tsubame, Niigata, the same region that handles manufacturing for Evernew. The rounded design not only fits perfectly in your hand but also enhances durability.

–– It’s incredibly thin but still strong. How much does it weigh?

Just 7g, making it exceptionally lightweight. And the price is a steal—¥1,980 for the spork alone, or ¥3,300 for the set with a DCF case.

–– The design is really beautiful. It says (Looking at the Hoverlight website) , “By applying the shell structure used in the Sydney Opera House to cutlery, we have created a product that combines remarkable lightness with practical strength.”

Lately, I’ve noticed more people using it when checking gear lists for our HLC ‘Ultralight Hiking for Beginners’ course. Everyone’s got such a sharp eye for good gear! (laughs)

–– And next up are mittens?

The Handson Grip Adapt. But it’s not actually mittens—it’s a fingered glove with a stowable mitten hood that you can pull over when needed.

–– This is really interesting! I’ve seen similar designs for winter mountaineering, but I don’t think I’ve ever come across something like this for three-season use.

Yeah, the grip is excellent. When climbing in streams, having good fingertip control is crucial, and this glove provides solid traction even on wet or slippery rock surfaces, making it really easy to use. I tend to have sweaty hands, but these work great with trekking poles. When I’m moving fast on Alpine traverses in summer, even cork grips with a sponge-like texture can get slippery from sweat. But with these gloves on, the grip stays firm, so they really help.

–– You wear them in summer too? Are they waterproof?

Not exactly. The mitten hood is made from a wind shell material that can be pulled over the fingers, while the half-finger glove itself is made of highly breathable mesh fabric that allows for great airflow.

–– This seems great for cycling too. Like in winter, when you need to check your phone while riding. Plus, it looks like you could use it year-round.

Yeah, actually, a friend of mine works at Handson Grip, and I was hearing about this glove from the early stages of development. We’d chat about ideas like, “Wouldn’t it be cool if it had this feature?”, so I feel a special connection to it.

–– Doesn’t having the mitten hood stored on the back of the hand make it feel hot?

Not really, I don’t find it uncomfortable.

–– Alright, let’s hear about your last favorite item.

Sure! This one isn’t gear—it’s actually food: Mountain Gourmet Lab
.

–– I’ve never seen this before. Is it the type where you add water, bring it to a boil in a cooker, and then let it sit to steam?

Yeah, that’s right. And the flavor is really good. Lately, Small Twist has been getting a lot of attention, though.

–– Is this a recent release?

I think it came out around last year.

–– Seems like the food scene in this industry is heating up again. There’s been more of these products since Small Twist, right?

Yeah, that might be the case. But I think this trend has been around since Bivouac Rations started gaining traction.

–– Oh, that’s right! Bivouac Rations was the original. We can’t forget that.

Thanks to Bivouac Rations, we all realized that backcountry food needs to taste good, too. It’s obvious, but yeah! (laughs)

–– Do they offer different varieties?

Yeah, there are seven types available right now. It’s great to have an easy way to enjoy delicious meals on the trail.

–– Is one serving enough for a meal?

If you’re a big eater, it might not be quite enough. But if you’re pairing it with some snacks and drinks, it works perfectly as a finishing dish.

–– It’s really lightweight, too. Is it selling well at your store?

I actually haven’t sold these at my store yet.

–– So you’re still testing it out. How do you feel about the current backcountry food scene?

I think it’s really improving. Compared to before, brands are making a real effort to provide delicious meals that can be enjoyed outdoors. They’re also focusing more on nutrition and well-balanced ingredients, which is great for both health and energy on the trail.

–– Yeah, this meal has a nice variety of ingredients. Thanks for the solid picks, Yuji!

–– First, tell us about your first pick.

Sure! This is the Rigel Green Lens Flash Mirror from FLOAT.

I always bring these polarized sunglasses when I head out on the trail, and I also use them when driving to work. The lenses are green-tinted with a flash mirror coating, which gives them a subtle mirror finish rather than a fully reflective look. My shop primarily carries FLOAT sunglasses, and since FLOAT’s headquarters is in Sabae, Fukui, which is also my hometown, I have a close connection with the people who make them. I’ve been using FLOAT sunglasses for about seven years, and this is actually my fourth pair.

–– So it’s not a full mirror lens?

Right. It doesn’t have that overpowering glare, which I really like. The problem with heavy mirror coatings is that they can cause internal reflections, making the inside uncomfortably bright. This model avoids that issue while also looking more relaxed and approachable rather than too intense. I actually suggested the idea of a subtle mirror finish, and FLOAT incorporated it into this model. Later, they even expanded the idea into other colors. So in a way, this is a product I helped influence and develop.

–– Are there no other mirrored lenses with such a subtle finish?

There haven’t been many like this before. Even with polarized lenses, adding a mirror coating enhances light-blocking performance, making it easier to see wet trails after rain or navigate snowy terrain. It’s definitely a great choice for outdoor use.

–– So within FLOAT’s lineup, the Flash Mirror Lens is your top pick. Alright, what’s next?

My second pick is a trekking pole—the Trail Blaze from Mountain King.

Before this came out, Z-shaped trekking poles weren’t that common. Black Diamond had a few, but none were this slim. I originally bought these for trail running, but as I started hiking more, I realized they work perfectly for both. They’re super versatile no matter the activity.

–– I really like this color.

Yeah, technically, it’s the black aluminum model, but it’s starting to fade a bit. (laughs)

–– So it was originally black? It looks kind of purple now. (laughs) How much does it weigh?

The 150cm model weighs 142g per pole, making it one of the lightest aluminum poles out there.

–– Do you always bring them on hikes?

Absolutely. I also use them as tent or tarp poles when setting up camp.

–– Do you use them a lot while hiking too?

Yeah. There’s just something about snapping them into place at the start of a hike that really makes me feel like I’m out there.

–– Like a “shing!” moment, getting pumped up to go. (laughs) Do you like that they’re aluminum instead of carbon?

I’ve been using them for seven years, and despite how thin they are, they’re surprisingly durable. I’ve broken a few carbon poles before, but these have held up really well.

–– So aluminum gives you peace of mind?

Exactly. Mine are actually slightly bent, but they still work just fine. I’ve even fallen with my full weight on them, and instead of snapping, they just flexed like a bow. That’s why I trust them so much.

–– Sounds like they’ve become an essential part of your kit.

Pretty much an extension of my body at this point.

–– And next up is pants?

Yep, the Pace Light Pants from Houdini.

The Pace series from Houdini is technically designed for trail running, and these pants are categorized as wind shell pants. But what I like about them is that they don’t feel or look like typical wind pants. A lot of wind pants tend to fit really snug, which can feel a bit too sporty for my taste.

–– The material seems to be made of a softer material and doesn’t have that crinkly sound either, huh?

Yeah, exactly. They work great as wind protection on the trail, but you can also wear them straight to the onsen after hiking without feeling out of place.

–– These look incredibly lightweight.

Yeah, they are.

–– Kind of a rival to Yamatomichi’s Light 5-Pocket Pants, huh?

At 125g, they’re actually lighter than the Light 5-Pocket Pants. The pocket design is also more minimalistic.

The only pockets are zippered side pockets on both sides.

Surprisingly, the fabric is quite durable. If I compare it to the Light 5-Pocket Pants, which I also bought last year, the Pace Light Pants seem to be holding up better going into their second year.

–– The silhouette is nice, and it has a bit of stretch, too.

Yeah, it has a slight horizontal stretch.

–– Seems like a really solid choice. And for your last pick, it’s a tenugui?

Yep, the Chaoras Sports Tenugui.

–– How is this different from a regular tenugui (Japanese hand towel)?

A standard tenugui is 90cm long, but this one is 110cm, making it 20cm longer. With a 90cm tenugui, it can feel a bit short when wrapped around your neck, making it harder to wipe sweat off. But at 110cm, it reaches all the way to your forehead, making it just the right length.

–– What’s the material?

It’s a 50-50 blend of rayon and cotton. Most tenugui are 100% cotton and quite thin, but the addition of rayon makes this one more absorbent and gives it an incredibly soft feel that’s really comfortable.

–– Does it have any odor-resistant properties?

Not particularly. I haven’t really noticed any issues, but I’d say it’s about the same as a regular tenugui.

–– I’ve heard that tenugui dry quickly because the edges aren’t hemmed, but this one is, right?

Yeah, instead of folding the edges, the fabric is secured with an overlock stitch, so the fast-drying ability is about the same as a regular tenugui.

This one is actually in its fourth year now. I originally designed it as a custom piece when we opened The Gate, using the store’s logo as a contour line motif. It was dyed at a workshop led by Kyoto-based indigo dye artist Naokado Nishimura. I’d love to keep making these for years to come.

–– So this specific indigo-dyed version isn’t available as a product, right? Indigo dye is known to strengthen fabric and has antibacterial properties, so it seems like a great match for tenugui.

Yeah, exactly. It’s also said to have insect-repellent properties, which makes it even more useful.

–– Are there shorter versions available?

Chaoras does make a shorter version, but their Sports Tenugui is the 110cm long model, making it versatile enough to use as a towel.

–– That length seems really practical.

Yeah, it works as sun protection too. Out of all the tenugui I own, this is hands down the best. And let’s be honest—tenugui tend to pile up endlessly. But this one has stuck with me for four years now, which says a lot.

–– If you’re using it as real gear, this is the one to have. Thanks, that was really insightful!