Backcountry skiing, mostly because of the need to skin uphill to the top of a mountain, is a great cardio workout. But you never see nutritional drink products geared specifically toward backcountry skiers. Image a Gatorade-style commercial of free-heelers ripping up the slopes, then hiking back up for another lap as they sweat neon...
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Fashionable rain boots are great to look at but not always comfortable to wear. Being a woman who needs good supportive, sturdy shoes, I don’t buy “cute” boots. But I decided to roll the dice and try out the colorful new Kamik rain boot line, the Atrium Maude. Good thing my past experiences with...
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The search for the perfect backcountry ski shell that breathes on the up but protects from the elements on the down can be a frustrating one. It’s a difficult task to find the balance between breathability and water resistance, so when a soft shell like the Patagonia Ascensionist Jacket comes along that does both...
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While skiing at Alta during the New Years weekend, I was surprised to see that Icelantic Skis had set up a demo tent at the Collins base. Always one to try new things, compounded by the fact that I’ve always been curious about the strange shape of Icelantic skis, I didn’t hesitate to trade...
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Although Utah Outside has only been online for a few months, we’ve been lucky enough to test out lots of different pieces of outdoor gear from several different companies. Some gear was good, some great, and others not so great. But when using gear in the outdoors, the cream always rises to the top,...
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To begin, let me say that yes, beer doesn’t really have anything to do with the outdoors, especially in the alcohol-illiterate State of Utah. But for many people (myself included) enjoying a cold beer after a trip in the mountains or desert goes hand-in-hand. So let’s categorize this article as a “gear review.” High...
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Warm. Very warm. Unbelievably warm. I could go on describing how warm the Klymit Kinetic Vest is, and I don’t think it would be enough. When I put it on, it’s like wrapping a heater around my chest, and the effect is immediate. So what is Klymit, how does the Kinetic Vest work, and...
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Drinking, for many people, is a great tradition of outdoor trips. What good is a campfire after a long day in the woods without the warming effects of alcohol shared among friends? Cascade Designs, the makers of Platypus hydration products, has created the PlatyPreserve Wine Preservation System with the outdoor (and alcohol) oriented in...
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It's been one of those weeks where nothing in my closet is what I want to wear. Looking for inspiration, I headed to my husband's closet and the bright yellow (golden palm) of the Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover caught my eye. Actually it's been screaming at me for weeks to wear it. It...
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For years, I've worn either a fleece or softshell jacket during the winter months... and froze my ass off. Sick of being cold, I finally got wise and got an insulated jacket. After wearing The North Face Redpoint Jacket for a season, I wondered why I never put down the coin for a decent,...
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