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
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
Ah, here it comes. That fresh, crisp fall air. The calming cool that brings with it the beautiful changing leaves and color. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year to hike. You stay nice and cool during the day, and those falling leaves begin to slowly open up new vistas for the … More Dressing for Winter Hiking. Layering explained.
Buffalo Mountain is one of those beautiful oddities. Right in the middle of 3 cities, stands this tall gorgeous mountain of forest and wildlife. Surrounding it, lies buildings, shopping malls, restaurants, and industry. However, on the mountain this all melts away. Within minutes of shopping you can have hiking, creeks, wildlife, and solitude. It’s a … More Buffalo Mountain, Johnson City, Tennessee.
There’s nothing quite like being 5 miles from the car when your tire blows out, and you’re forced to push your bike back to the car with a tiny, empty water bottle attached to your bike frame. The Duthie AM 10 backpack from Platypus is aimed at single track mountain bikers with exactly that in … More Platypus Duthie AM 10 Hydration Pack Review
TreeLineBackpacker 