One of the perks of having an outdoor website, is that a lot of gear comes our way for testing and review. Between myself, and Utah Outside contributors Callista Pearson and Ryan Malavolta, we have dozens and dozens of new stuff that arrives at our doorsteps. We then take it all into the Utah mountains…
Category: Gear Reviews
Top Ten Articles of 2013
Every December, we take a look back at the most popular articles of the year, and are always surprised to see what readers are most interested in. Year after year, you guys love to read about gear, and 2013 is no different. Whether it’s news about upcoming gear from Outdoor Retailer, or reviews that we…
Salomon Q-105 skis review
Salomon continues to expand their rocker skis beyond the very popular Rocker 2 lineup. The new Q series came out this year and includes the Q-90, Q-98, Q-105 and Q-115 models, as well as women’s versions including the 103 Stella, 96 Lumen, and 88 Lux. I tested the 105 and 115 before the skis were even…
Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots Review
When I hear the phrase “all time best seller”, my eyebrow arches and I go into full-on dubious mode. Surely a piece of gear that every Joey and Janey Weekeneder buys can’t be worthy of my elite pursuits! Vasque is a company that makes a huge array of top-shelf footwear, and when I was lucky…
Arva Neo avalanche transceiver review
Arva, the European avalanche transceiver company, is making a big push into the U.S. market, and evidence of this is the brand new Neo, an intuitive, user-friendly, and affordable beacon that will appeal to the average backcountry user, which is pretty much all of us. The Arva Neo is packed full of features, including: 100%…
Atomic Shred Fest ski reviews at Alta
Atomic made a stop at Alta over the weekend as part of their traveling ski demo, and we showed up to test out the new 2013/14 ski line. From the Bent Chetler to the Alibi, we literally shredded the packed powder at Alta to find the pros and cons of Atomic’s offerings. Below are mini…
Hercules WAE Outdoor Speaker review
Sometimes you just need to rock. Sure, the peaceful sounds of nature can create a wonderful melody, but when the campfire is burning bright, I don’t mind an electric guitar riff or two. So how are you going to pump up your jams? We all know someone who’s run their car battery dead after a…
Mountain Khakis Quilted Reversible Jacket review
The Mountain Khakis Quilted Reversible Jacket is exactly what it says it is. It’s a jacket, it’s quilted, and it’s reversible; one side is a solid color and the other is plaid. Gotta love outdoor gear with a name that makes sense. I’ve been wearing this coat nearly every day this fall, and seriously put…
Merrell Proterra Sport hiking shoes review
They say less is more, especially these days as minimalist footwear is all the rage. I’ve also fallen under the barefoot spell from both a trail running and hiking standpoint, but overall found that minimalist or no, it all depends on your preference and situation. The key is finding balance, and I think I found…
Helly Hansen Odin Guiding Light Jacket review
Shoulder season in the Intermountain West is a wet and unpredictable time of year. You can chant “Rain rain, go away!” all you want, but it’s probably better to come prepared for what mother nature is slinging at you. A good weatherproof shell is a key ingredient for staying dry and happy during the transition…