Outdoor pants need to be burly. If you have a favorite pair of pants, you take them everywhere. You wedge them in cracks while rock climbing, bushwhack with them through mountain foliage, subject them to errant sparks around a campfire, and expose them to spilled beer in smoke-filled pubs. To withstand such abuse, your favorite pants need…
Category: Gear Reviews
Patagonia R3 Hi-Loft Jacket review
Fleece is so 1990’s. At least that’s been the case for the past few years as the micropuff jacket has dominated with superior warmth and compressability. But 2010 may mark the comeback of the classic fleece if the Patagonia R3® Hi-Loft Jacket is any indication of the future. The R3® Hi-Loft Jacket is a step back to…
Utah Outside holiday gear wish list 2010
The holiday season is upon us and there’s bound to be an outdoorsman/woman in your life who only wants expensive outdoor gear for Christmas. I don’t blame them. In fact, I’m with them. Over the past year there has been a lot of awesome new gear released, and each of them would make your loved…
Icebreaker Real Fleece Aspiring Zip review
For decades, we of the outdoor persuasion have been wearing fleece jackets for everything. From skiing to going to the movies, the fleece has been ubiquitous to mountain towns and big cities alike. But in the case of our multi-colored, furry jackets, the word “fleece” was only accurate to the look, and not to the…
Garmont 9.81 Bolt DL review
Trail runners are spoiled for choice when it comes to footwear; believe it or not this might actually be a problem. With a bevy of high end shoes now available for pocket friendly prices, sorting through the mass of kicks can be quite a task. Luckily I only had to focus on the Garmont 9.81…
Waterbox Eastman Tritan water bottle review
Waterbox is a local Utah company out of Park City that makes, you guessed it, water bottles. But in an outdoor recreation world where everyone and their grandma has a line of bottles, is there anything different about Waterbox? After using the Waterbox Eastman Tritan bottle for the past three months, I’ve found much to like…
lilypond Evening Star backpack review
The Evening Star. Normally it’s out there in the darkening sky – cool, beautiful, and out of reach. Fortunately for women, lilypond has put out its own sparkling, Evening Star backpack. This womens specific pack is easy on the eyes, durable, and fits like a glove. While hiking through the Wasatch Mountains, on a roadtrip…
Tram Bars organic outdoor food review
Energy bar companies can claim to be natural and organic, but can they claim to be homemade? Tram Bars can, because they actually are. Tram Bar is an energy bar in the tradition of Cliff Bars (they even look the same) but don’t be fooled. These blocks of outdoor food are soft and tasty, without the nasty…
Camelbak Octane LR hydration pack review
Camelbak, an industry leader in backpack hydration systems, is changing the game again in 2011 with new product releases, including the very cool Camelbak Octane LR. The Octane LR is a unique, light weight pack that was designed around the new lumbar Antidote reservoir. Essentially, water is placed on the bottom of the pack (instead…
Tecnica Hermano Low shoe review
Some people like their hiking shoes heavy and stable. Others prefer lighter weight and breathability. Some will even hike in anything… like flip flops. But with such an oversaturated market filled with different hiking shoes, it can be a challenge to find a pair that can perform on the trails, yet still function as an…