Paria Outdoors Tri-Fold Carbon Cork Trekking Poles are adjustable-length, folding (z-style) trekking poles that fold away for easy packing or travel. They’re much more affordable at just $60/pair than other folding carbon trekking poles with cork handles and are a great alternative …
Read More »Philip Werner
REI Flash 22 Backpack Review
The REI Flash 22 is a frameless daypack for easy day hikes, commuting, and travel. It is loaded with features, including a fold-over top pocket, a laptop-compatible hydration sleeve, internal organizational sleeves, a hidden side security pocket, trekking pole holders, daisy chains, …
Read More »prAna Stretch Zion Hiking Pants II Review
prAna Stretch Zion II hiking pants are abrasion-resistant recycled nylon hiking pants that are great to wear on rugged or brushy trails when you want more leg protection. They have an integrated waist tightener that lets you wear them without a belt, …
Read More »Gossamer Gear Backpack Guide
Gossamer Gear is one of the original ultralight backpack manufacturers. They have continuously refined their products to adapt to the needs of lightweight backpackers, thru-hikers, and, more recently, day hikers, fast packers, and urban commuters. I started using their packs in 2008 …
Read More »Jackets with Pit Zips: When Are They Effective?
Jacket pit zips are zippered openings located under the armpits on many rain jackets and winter shells. They’re designed to help you vent excess body heat, so you perspire less when wearing waterproof/breathable or non-breathable jackets. Pit zips are positioned in your …
Read More »Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie Review
The Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie is a very lightweight nylon jacket that’s designed to keep the wind from robbing your body heat. It has an adjustable hood with a small brim, a zippered chest pocket, stretch cuffs, and an elastic hem …
Read More »10 Best Down Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking in 2024
A down jacket has multiple uses on a hiking or backpacking gear list. It can be used as an insulating midlayer on its own or under a shell, as a warm outer jacket when you’re less active in camp or as an …
Read More »Compass Use Simplified: Orienting a Map
Learning to use a compass to tell if you’re hiking in the right direction is quite simple and useful for any hiker. For example, if you get turned around on a hiking trail and don’t know which direction you’re facing (north, south, …
Read More »Hiking Navigation: GPS Handhelds vs Smartphone Apps
There are two types of electronic devices you can use to augment a map and compass for hiking navigation: dedicated GPS Handhelds or Smartphone Navigation apps that use the GPS reception technology built into Smartphones and can be used even if you …
Read More »10 Best Hiking Foot Care Products
“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art,” said Leonardo Da Vinci, but like all hiking gear, you need to take care of it to make it perform optimally. When it comes to your feet, an ounce …
Read More »Deuter AC Lite 24 Backpack Review
The Deuter AC Lite 24 is a lightweight ventilated day pack with a suspended mesh frame that’s great for warm weather day hiking and general outdoor use. It has five pockets in addition to the main compartment and comes with a rain …
Read More »Hiking Engle Peak in Montana’s Cabinet Mountains Wilderness
I’ve been vacationing in Western Montana this summer, visiting with friends who have a homestead near the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, south of Glacial National Park. They’re a family of hardcore hikers, too, and they’ve been taking me on their favorite hikes. It’s …
Read More »The White Mountains Direttissima
The White Mountain National Forest, known as “The Whites” has its share of difficult hiking lists and challenging hikes. The White Mountain 4000 footer list with its 48 peaks, is the list that most aspiring New England hikers cut their teeth on …
Read More »Gossamer Gear Loris 25 Backpack Review
The Gossamer Gear Loris 25 is a frameless daypack with vest-style shoulder straps with stretch mesh pockets. Weighing 19.5 oz, it’s a great pack for day hikes and travel with a front zipper that lets you access the content of the main …
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