The Tarptent ProTrail (MSRP $239) is an ultralight one-person single-walled tent designed for three-season use. Weighing just 26 ounces, the ProTrail is generously sized for one person with plenty of interior room for gear. Setup requires two trekking poles although conventional poles …
Read More »Philip Werner
Garmin inReach Mini 2-Way GPS Satellite Communicator Review
The Garmin inReach Mini 2-Way Satellite Communicator is a reliable and easy-to-use GPS-enabled satellite communicator that can send SOS messages to rescuers in an emergency, email or text your friends and relatives, track your route, mark GPS waypoints and help you navigate …
Read More »Grivel G1 Crampons Review
Grivel’s G1 Crampons are 10-point steel crampons with a universal binding and flexible center bar, called a leaf spring, that makes them compatible for use with all types of boots including ones with soft soles that flex (like most insulated winter hiking …
Read More »Backpacking in the Dry River Valley
The Dry River Valley runs through the heart of the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness from Mt Washington to Crawford Notch. It is a wild place and one of the toughest regions of the White Mountains to hike and backpack in. It’s also …
Read More »Camp XLC 490 Aluminum Crampons Review
CAMP XLC 490 Crampons are lightweight aluminum crampons with a universal binding that are compatible with most mountaineering and hiking boots. They’re designed for low-angle hiking on ice and packed snow, often called glacier travel. While aluminum crampons aren’t as durable as …
Read More »Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit Review
The Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit is not a substitute for a real backcountry campfire, but it is a vast improvement over making a fire in the rusty fire grates and barbecues you find at national parks and state-run campgrounds. You can …
Read More »Yonah Packs Simple Pack for Tenkara Fly Fishing
Yonah Packs is a cottage gear manufacturer headquartered in Georgia that specializes in making pouches, fanny packs, and small packs for Tenkara fly fishing gear. I’ve been using their Simple Pack for several years to carry my fishing flies, tippet, nippers, and …
Read More »Hiking a Pond of Safety Loop
The Pond of Safety is located in the area of the White Mountains called the Randolph Community Forest (RCF). Randolph is a small community located just north of Rt 2 across from Mts Madison, Adams, and Jefferson in the Presidential Mountain Range. …
Read More »The North Face Green Kazoo 0*F Sleeping Bag Review
The North Face Green Kazoo 0*F Sleeping Bag is a spacious and more affordable zero-degree winter sleeping bag insulated with 700 fill power water-resistant down. It has a beefy draft collar and hood, a two-way zipper, and an internal draft tube. Weighing …
Read More »White Mountains Autumn Backpacking Gear List Explained
The first half of autumn, from mid-September through October, is the best time to go hiking and backpacking in the White Mountain National Forest which spans central New Hampshire and Western Maine. The temperatures are cooler, the bugs are gone, and the …
Read More »Why Do My Knees Hurt When I Camp in a Hammock?
I had a reader contact me about knee pain after they camped in a hammock that was so severe that it forced them off the trail early to recuperate. This is a fairly common ailment when sleeping in a hammock and is …
Read More »When Do You Need to Carry Snowshoes for Winter Hikes?
Snowshoes are heavy, weighing between four and five pounds a pair, so most winter hikers are happy when they don’t have to carry them on a winter hike. But how can you tell when they won’t be needed? This is a question that …
Read More »LanShan 2 Tent Review
The LanShan 2 Tent is a two-person trekking pole tent that’s become very popular with campers and backpackers because it’s lightweight, inexpensive, and reasonably well made. It’s available on Amazon and sold by a number of resellers including 3F UL, Meir, Flames …
Read More »The Science of Clothing Layers for Winter Hiking
Wearing multiple clothing layers for winter or cold weather hiking keeps you drier and warm by moving moisture away from your skin. Sounds simple, right? It is, but many people struggle to understand the scientific principles behind layering and how they can …
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