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
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
When old man winter rolls in, keeping my core warm and comfortable becomes my top priority when backpacking. A solid, lightweight mid layer is vital to staying warm. The Hooded Jacket from L.L.Bean provides a good balance of warmth, weight, comfort, and looks. About the jacket The Ultralight 850 is a fairly straight forward designed … More L.L.Bean Ultralight 850 Down Jacket
Hypothermia can be a serious threat, and it is all the more dangerous when you don’t really know what you’re dealing with. You don’t have to be in the Alaskan tundra to fall victim to this silent killer. Hypothermia can sneak in during a light rain on a 60 degree afternoon. Knowing the symptoms, and how … More Battling Hypothermia: A Survival guide.
When you’re hiking solo, the world is yours. You go out, do whatever you want, and there is not a soul, minus the occasional park ranger, to consider. Ah, but alas. Stuff another being inside your tent, especially that of a dissimilar sexual orientation, and suddenly your care free jaunt into the great beyond becomes something … More Backpacking with a partner
The Big Agnes Seedhouse series of tents is designed for the minimalist backpacker. Simplicity, light weight, and durability are the focus, removing non-essentials like multiple doors, top vents, and gear lofts to provide a light weight reliable structure. About the tent The seedhouse 3 weighs only 4 lb, despite providing 44 square feet of living … More Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 Review
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