2014 has been a great year, full of adventure and amazing gear to help that happen. Just because 2014 is over, that doesn’t mean the year old gear isn’t useful. Here are my top picks, and why they’ll be great for years to come. A couple notes: These aren’t necessarily items that were released this … More My Favorite Gear of 2014
Canister stoves work best at a temperature of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, but what happens when the temperature drops? You end up with a sputtering, stuttery, inefficient mess of a cooking system that may or may not even bring your water to a boil. What can you do? Let’s start with the basics. The … More Canister Stoves and Cold Temperatures
Trekking poles have a host of benefits when it comes to backpacking, especially when it comes to carrying that loaded pack across steep gradients. A trekking pole is useless if you can’t depend on it, however. The Helinox Ridgeline Series offer light weight, stability, and most importantly, durability. About the Poles The ridgeline series come … More Helinox Ridgeline FL Trekking Poles Review
A headlamp needs to do one thing, provide reliable, usable lighting without getting in the way or weighing you down. The Cosmo from Black Diamond aims to do just that. No fancy bells and whistles, just what you need when you need it. About the lamp The Cosmo retails for 29.95, comes in 6 colors, … More Black Diamond Cosmo Headlamp Review
Curious to see some of what 2015 will offer? I have a few teasers, but there is even more to come. **Update. Foidel Cayon 2 review, Battle Mountain 2, MtnGLO, Insulated Double Z, Reviews are up.*** Some interesting concepts are the new Mountain Glo series of tents, with built-in lighting for a tiny weight penalty. … More Big Agnes 2015 tents preview
The Battle Mountain is a 4 season, mountaineering tent from Big Agnes. Designed with durability, livability, and light weight in mind, it strikes an exceptional balance of comfort on the trail, and at camp. The battle mountain is comprised of a light weight, yet rugged Cordura rip-stop nylon with a 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating. The … More Big Agnes Battle Mountain 2 Review
The Coldpruf classic is a traditionally style, single layer, 100 % merino wool base layer designed to add skin tight warmth for the cold weather adventurer without adding bulk. About the base layer The classic base layer is simply constructed, with only the essentials. It has an extended tail to block breezes while trapping heat, … More Coldpruf Classic Base Layers Review
Winter doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. When you’re prepared, winter can be just as warm and enjoyable as the spring, but with far less crowding on the trails. Here are a few tips on how to enjoy yourself this winter. Dress well Most of the people I talk to who say they … More 3 Tips for Enjoying the Winter
Cotopaxi is not only producing quality gear, they’re also donating at least 10% of their sales to humanitarian causes. Here is the Luzon 18, one of their offerings; An ultra-lightweight daypack with an emphasis on build quality and storage capacity. You can find more information about their packs, and the causes they support by checking … More Cotopaxi Luzon 18, backpack for a cause.
Sometimes you need something a little bit more rugged for those long backcountry explorations. The Traverse soft-shell pants from L.L.Bean is designed to be that something. Aimed at high mountain pursuits where wind, snow, and extreme sun are an issue, these pants can handle it all. About the pants The Traverse are full featured pants, … More l.l.bean Traverse Soft-Shell Pants
