Big Sky International’s Tube Steak Tent Stakes have the most unfortunate product name imaginable. You have to wonder if it’s deliberate or not. Regardless, they’re great tent stakes for pounding into hard ground or compacted soil with excellent holding power. I use …
Read More »Philip Werner
Hiking a Wildcat Loop
Wildcat ‘A’ and ‘D’ are two 4000 footers on the other side of Rt 16 from Mt Washington and the Presidential Range. Hiking them usually requires an out and back hike, a road walk, or a shuttle. However, there is a way …
Read More »Hiking a Bonds-Z Traverse in February
The Bonds is a group of three adjacent 4000+ foot mountains – Bondcliff, Mt Bond, and West Bond in the middle of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. They’re usually hiked along with Zealand Mountain as a 23-mile traverse when the forest service road leading …
Read More »BearVault New Canister Sizes: BV425 & BV475
BearVault, makers of the BV450 and BV500 bear canisters, has come out with two new bear canister sizes: the BV 425 and the BV475 which can fit horizontally into a much larger range of backpacks than the original BV500 and BV450. It …
Read More »Ultralight Backpacking Bug Shelter Primer
There are four different types of ultralight bug shelters suitable for cowboy camping, sleeping in a lean-to, or underneath a flat tarp: Bivy Sacks Bug Bivies Net Tents Floorless Tarps w/ no-see-um Skirts While they’re all similar in certain respects, they have …
Read More »How Long Should a Backpacking Hammock Be?
The longer the hammock, the more comfortable you’ll be. Sleeping comfort in a hammock is often equated with being able to lie flat at night instead of sleeping in a curved position like a banana. One way to accomplish this is by …
Read More »Tread Labs Stride Reusable Orthotic Insoles Review
Tread Labs’ orthotic insoles come in two pieces: a hard plastic arch support that also helps prevent plantar fasciitis and a replaceable fabric top cover that can be replaced when it wears out. This can save you a lot of money and …
Read More »Supai Adventure Gear Olo Packraft Paddle Review
The Supai Adventure Gear Olo Lightweight Paddle is specifically designed for packrafting, a sport that combines backpacking and rafting in inflatable boats on whitewater or flatwater. This review explores the use of the Olo paddle for flatwater paddling since Supai only makes …
Read More »Outdoor Research Superstrand LT Hoodie Jacket Review
The Outdoor Research Superstrand LT Hoodie Jacket is a lightweight jacket insulated with a new type of polyester insulation that OR claims is as soft, light, and lofty as 700-800 fill power down.” Called VerticalX Superstrand, it consists of lofted polyester strands …
Read More »Do You Need a Fuel Canister Stabilizer?
When you boil water with a canister stove, it’s very easy to tip a top-heavy pot full of scalding hot water all over yourself or the ground. It’s dangerous because you can get seriously burned and it uses up precious stove fuel …
Read More »Black Diamond FirstLight Tent Review
The Black Diamond FirstLight Tent (updated for 2019) is a two-person, freestanding, single-wall tent for winter backpacking, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. Weighing 3 lbs 1.3 oz (after seam sealing), it has a wind-resistant wedge shape that sheds snow well and packs up …
Read More »How Windy is “Very Windy?”
When planning above-treeline hikes, particularly in winter, we pay particular attention to two variables: temperature and wind speed. The best source for this information is the NOAA National Weather Service forecast available on weather.gov which covers all of the United States. You …
Read More »La Sportiva Jackal Trail Runner Review
The La Sportiva Jackal is a trail runner that wears more like a hiking shoe than a shoe designed for mountain running. While it has many of the properties of a trail runner, including well-draining mesh uppers, a wide toebox, and a …
Read More »Hillsound Super Armadillo Nano Gaiters Review
Hillsound Super Armadillo Nano Gaiters are made with an armored material called SuperFabric. It’s covered with small epoxy circles that act as armor and prevent you from spearing or slashing yourself with a front point. I’ve (inadvertently) tried to stick myself a …
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