Trail Shoe Epiphany I love my new Inov-8 Roclite 320 trail running shoes. Having endured hiking in wet leather Gore-Tex lined boots for years, I can’t convey to you the freedom that I feel being able to splash through any puddle or …
Read More »Vintage Backpacking Gear
Arc’teryx Covert Collar Zip Fleece Sweater
Fashionable Fleece? I’ve never really understood why people are willing to pay such a premium for Arc’teryx gear. But when I saw this Arc’teryx Covert Zip fleece sweater on sale, I decided to buy it and try it out. The truth is, …
Read More »Zpacks Blast 32 Cuben Fiber Backpack
The Zpacks Blast 32 backpack is made out of ultralight cuben fiber, the stuff they make racing sailboat sails out of. I remember seeing one up close for the first time last year at the Carter Notch Hut during my Northern Presidential …
Read More »Black Rock Gear: UL Down Hat
I own a lot of hiking hats: hats with bills to keep the sun off my head and the rain off my glasses and hats to stay warm at night and that I can draw down over my eyes to keep …
Read More »Garmin Geko 301: A Simple GPS For Map Addicts
I love maps but the thought of replacing them with a GPS makes me uneasy. The fact is, I very rarely get lost because I know how to read a map, I’m an expert with a compass, and I carefully chart my …
Read More »Orikaso Fold Flat Camping Bowl
There was a time when I would never have considered bringing a bowl on a backpacking trip. But now that I’ve tried the Orikaso Big Bowl, I’m going to start bringing this on my longer trips. Eating freezer bag meals and drinking …
Read More »Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Duo Tarp
I know my wife really loves me because she bought me a Dyneema DCF Grace Duo Tarp from Mountain Laurel Designs (MLD) for the holidays last year. I finally got to practice setting it up this weekend in preparation for an upcoming …
Read More »Golite Trek Backpack
Do you still long for the old days when Golite made a backpack that had mesh pockets? Those were the days of the Golite Trek, a multi-day backpack with an internal volume of just under 3950 cubic inches with a 700 cubic …
Read More »Outdoor Research Alti Mountaineering Gloves
Outdoor Research Alti Mountaineering gloves are designed for technical climbing in very cold weather or at high altitudes where you need to be able to grasp and manipulate tools and ropes. The shells are waterproof Gore-Tex with leather palms and are anatomically …
Read More »Asolo AFS Evoluzione: Plastic Mountaineering Boot
This weekend, I rented a pair of plastic mountaineering boots to try out in preparation for my upcoming Introduction to Mountaineering Course. This is a 3 day class that I’ll be taking with the International Mountain Climbing School in North Conway, NH …
Read More »Mountain Hardware Phantom Down Jacket
I bought the Mountain Hardware Phantom Down Jacket on sale about 2 weeks ago because I needed an exceptionally warm coat for winter camping and mountaineering. Since then, I’ve worn it everyday and I am amazed at how warm it is. The Phantom’s …
Read More »Outdoor Research Cornice Gore-tex Mittens
If you go winter backpacking, snowshoeing, or mountaineering, you are going to want to bring at least one pair of mittens. Some people will even bring two pairs in case one gets wet. Personally, I bring a pair of mittens for warmth …
Read More »Montbell Thermawrap Jacket
The Montbell Ultralight Thermawrap Jacket is a lightweight insulation layer (a size XL is 9.1 oz.) that is exceptionally warm. I wear it directly over a base layer, replacing bulkier garments like a fleece pullover. It’s also windproof, which means I can shed an outer shell layer …
Read More »Kelty Light Year 20 Sleeping Bag
If you have trouble falling asleep when your feet are too warm, then the Kelty Light Year 20F sleeping bag may be the perfect bag for you, because it has a special zipper in the foot box that gives you complete control over …
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