When I’m on a backcountry yurt trip, I gotta have my tunes, man. Nothing makes time better spent in a yurt cooking dinner, drinking brews, and chatting with friends, than a little background music. So on a recent trip to the Puffer Lake Yurt in Utah’s Tushar Mountains, I brought along the JBL Clip+. I…
Category: Gear Reviews
WoolPro Scout merino base layer review
Wool base layers are all created equal, right? Wrong! I used to think that every merino base layer is pretty much functionally the same: wicks moisture, insulates, and doesn’t retain body odor. There’s never been a wool layer I didn’t like, and I never thought they could be improved upon. That’s until I wore the…
Helly Hansen Stockholm Boots review
A trusty pair of boots are essential for winter in the Rocky Mountains. This was a fact that I only recently accepted. Let me confess: for most of my time in Utah, I wore sneakers year-round. Wet socks, cold feet, and untimely slipping and sliding around city sidewalks were just some of the Idiot Tax…
First Look: Mountain Hardwear StretchDown Jacket review
At Outdoor Retailer 2016 Winter Market, we got a first look at Mountain Hardwear’s new StretchDown Jacket. It’s a first of its kind puffy that uses a stretchy material plus welded seams that expand when you move for a combination that makes the jacket more form-fitting, durable and comfortable. Plus, Mountain Hardwear claims it will…
Igloo Sportsman 40 cooler review
Expensive coolers are all the rage these days, and Igloo has gotten into the game with their Sportsman line of roto-molded coolers. Of course, Yeti started it all with their Tundra coolers that come in at $349 a pop for the 45-quart model. Now Igloo is offering their own similar style of cooler, but at…
LED Lenser Neo Headlamp review
Sometimes when you’re recreating outdoors, you just need to light your way. I was once caught down-climbing Lone Peak after dark with a headlamp that was so dim, I just about relied on the Salt Lake City lights far below to illuminate my path. At that moment, I sure could have used the Neo headlamp…
Tinlid Hat Company: making hats, planting trees
Cause-based clothing is all the rage these days, especially with the outdoor crowd. If you’re a gear manufacturer, you better make sure you’re giving 1% for the Earth, or perhaps keeping corporate giants away from wilderness areas, lest you miss out on that sweet millennial money. It seems that appealing to our inner tree-hugger is…
Icebreaker Ski+ socks review
Most ski gear is arguably more important than your socks, but do not overlook those tubes you slide over your feet. A good pair of socks is pretty vital to staying comfortable outside in the winter, and, in my opinion, merino wool is the best choice. This season I’ve been skiing in the Icebreaker Ski+…
MSR Windboiler Stove review
A hot meal in the backcountry can cure almost everything that ails you. Sore feet and cold bones melt away when you’re enjoying spoonfuls of your favorite dish. But before you dine, you must cook…and for that you’ll need a reliable stove for your travels. With a bevy of backpacking stoves lining store shelves, it…
Fuel 100 Electro-Bites review
Bars, gels, gummies – there no limit to the different types of food that athletes eat during a long workout. For us outdoorsy types, the small packaging and lack of preperation makes energy food super convenient, usually at the expense of flavor. Well, if you’re tired of sucking down gelatin, there’s a new option on…