I'm an avid backpacker who wants to share his viewpoints, and experiences of the trials on the trails with the world. It's the experiences that make it all worth while, and I'm hoping my blog can help others enhance and find their own.
Often overlooked, most batteries do not have an operating temperature that will allow you to make it through a winter camping trip. The Fenix CL20 Lantern tackles this issue by utilizing CR123A batteries which function at temps as low as -40 degrees F, making this is a true all season camping lantern. The CL20 Camping … More Fenix CL20 Camping Lantern Review
Engineered for versatility, the Alpha Switch from Mountain Khakis is a reversible pullover with a DWR rip-stop on one side and a stretch woven fabric on the another. This provides two distinct looks for adapting to the surroundings. Can a simple inversion provide true flexibility? This is my review. The Alpha Switch Pullover has an overall lightweight … More Mountain Khakis Alpha Switch Pullover Review
When it comes to jackets, synthetic materials are especially useful. They’re warm, durable, and provide reliable protection when precipitation starts rolling in. The Dunkley Belay Jacket from Big Agnes is a serious cold weather jacket with just such benefits, but it also adds packability and compressibility to the mix. The Dunkley Belay is a hooded … More Big Agnes Dunkley Belay jacket Review
The Thermarest Evolite Plus sleeping pad is a clever unification of air channels, self inflating foam bands, and the new ThermaCapture insulation technology. This trinity comes together to create and innovative, high performance sleeping surface that excels in almost every way. This is my review. The Evolite Plus is carefully crafted to produce maximum loft at … More Thermarest Evolite Plus Review
Thermarest understands that a good night’s sleep is key to an enjoyable backpacking experience. This is all the more challenging when the earth below is a frozen lump of soil and stone. The Centari is a winter grade synthetic sleeping bag that’s designed to provide year round protection in a wide range of conditions, including … More Thermarest Centari Sleeping Bag Review
A dry sack isn’t something that gets a lot of attention despite the fact that they’re often a vital piece of equipment for keeping gear dry and organized. Also rare is the dry sack getting much in the way of innovation. The Blocker Dry sack from SealLine makes some key changes to the generic formula, and … More SealLine Blocker Dry Sack Review
I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping feet dry and warm while hiking in wintery conditions. Simply wearing insulated and waterproof boots isn’t enough to prevent wet socks and boots. The Armadillo LT Gaiters by Hillsound create a solid barrier that prevents snow and slush from entering your boot around the socks and ankles. … More Hillsound Armadillo LT Gaiters Review
One of the most challenging aspects of winter hiking isn’t necessarily the cold, it’s traction. When traversing trails that have repeatedly thawed and frozen over, they create dangerous situations of solid sheets of ice. The Kathoola Microspikes are lightweight, tough crampons designed to even up the odds by biting into that very ice that’s threatening … More Kahthoola Microspikes Review
I sympathize, cold toed ladies of the adventure world. Cold feet is a common issue on the icy winter trails and a tribulation of explorers of all shapes and sizes. Thankfully, the Twain Harte Hiking Boots from Ahnu pack in generous amounts of insulation and a warm sock liner to help deal with even the coldest … More Ahnu Twain Harte. Womens Winter Hiking Boots Review
I have a lot of people ask me about footprints. The most common question isn’t which to buy or what to make one out of, it’s why do I not carry one. The simple reason? They’re non-sense. Let’s think about this for a bit. Why buy a footprint in the first place? Well, the idea, … More Why you shouldn’t buy a footprint
TreeLineBackpacker 