Hall County's newest outdoor gear store doesn't cater to the hook-and-bullet crowd. If you need a fishing lure or a rifle scope, Overflow Outfitters is not the place for you.

But if you're looking for a whitewater kayak, a rock-climbing harness, or an ultralite backpacking tent, you're in luck.

Overflow Outfitters opened last week at 1210 Thompson Bridge Road, in 3,600 square feet of space formerly occupied by a Chapter 11 bookstore.

Co-owner Kevin Palmer said Gainesville seemed like a good market for an outdoor gear store because of its proximity to both Lake Lanier and the Appalachian mountains.

Palmer is a Dawsonville resident who used to work at an outdoors store there, along with Dahlonega resident Nathan Raynor. The two joined with Baker Davenport, a kayaking enthusiast who lives in Gainesville, to open a store of their own.

The Ultralight Backpacker by Ryel Kestenbaum Ragged Mountain Press

After hiking the 213 mile Superior Hiking Trail with a rig that was my first attempt at lightweight backpacking I decided to get serious and really research the topic.

The purchase of this book was one of my first glimpses into this topic. It is a dated publication for quite a bit of it focuses on specific gear of the time period, however enough of the advice given is kept to theory that the read was worthwhile.

Having come out in 2001 the book is well written for it's time, but contains much information that is now freely available online.

Of particular quality is the book's end which contains a training and preparation routine for long distance hikers. The book suggests a nice build-up and training routine for the individual planning a thru-hike.

Lafuma Pro – Buy of the Year

While most of us have high regard for sleeping bags by elite makers such as W.M., and would probably choose one without deliberation if an outfitter said to you, “Pick any bag you want for free!" (Sorry, just a reoccurring dream that I have.) However, in the real world of mosquitoes, poison ivy, thieving raccoons, etc., if you could get a bag that's 90% as good as the “elite" bags for 60% of the price … WOW! After all, this is the most expensive component of backpacking. I'd love to see BPL review these bags and give some stats on dimensions, fill weight and loft. The Lafuma web site is lacking in details.

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