My knees hurt. At 43-years-old, I’ve spent decades skiing, mountain biking, hiking and trail running. This accumulated activity means my knees are shot. Both are arthritic and recent surgery on my left knee repaired the meniscus, cartilage and inflamed plica bands. Because of this, I’ve desperately needed additional support while recreating outdoors. Thanks goodness I…
Tag: Gear
My Trail 800 Fill Ultralight Down Jacket review
Remember GoLite? Remember how they made awesome, lightweight jackets that were functional and well built? Remember how they suddenly went away? Well the founder of GoLite is back with a new company called My Trail Company. And this new iteration is making jackets that are just as good. Jackets like their 800-fill, Ultralight Down Jacket….
GearDryer Freestanding 12 review
Wet gear in the winter is the worst. This is especially true for boots and gloves. Nothing sucks worse than cold fingers and toes, and the key to keeping those digits warm is by keeping them dry. Enter the GearDryer Freestanding 12. GearDryer is a Utah company founded by skiers, for skiers (and any outdoorsy…
Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Chair review
Most of the gear review articles you’ll read on Utahoutside.com showcase the latest and greatest in outdoor goodies, and for good reason. We all salivate over the newest and techiest gear whether we end up buying it or not. But what about a piece of gear that’s remained largely the same since its introduction? Would…
OTTOLOCK bicycle lock review
One of the many fine things about living in Utah is that it’s almost always bike riding season. Minus a few months in the winter, two wheeled transportation is almost always possible. If you are a bicycle commuter or just a casual rider, a good lock is a must-have accessory. I have been using an…
Pearl Izumi MTB Performance T and Divide Glove review
Back in my college days I worked at a high-end bike shop in Philadelphia. It seemed that out of all the apparel brands, road bikers coveted Pearl Izumi the most. I always assumed that Pearl only made gear for fancy road bikers, but I was way off! Turns out, they’ve had a huge selection of…
Craghoppers trail apparel review
My first experience with Craghoppers outdoor clothing was a winter gear review for their CompressLite II jacket. I was impressed, and wondered if their summer apparel would hit the mark as well. After three months of hot hiking and plenty of sweaty, dirty miles, I can report that their pants and shirts are also up…
Beat the burn with summer gear from Seirus, Tifosi, and Kiss My Face
With the summer sun flying high overhead, getting toasted is an all-too-common ailment here in Utah. Salt Lake City sits at roughly 4,200’ above sea level, an altitude which boosts the harmful power of the sun’s rays. Head up into the mountains to beat the heat and the potential for a sunburn only increases. Luckily,…
Klymit Versa Blanket review
A blanket is just a blanket, right? Well not if you’re Klymit. The company has a history of improving upon old outdoor gear standards, and the most utilitarian of all, the blanket, is no exception. The Klymit Versa takes blankets to the next level. It’s not only warm and cozy, but it has outdoor-friendly features…
How to wash down and synthetic outdoor gear
Is your fancy down jacket looking a bit dingy? Is that sleeping bag a bit too funky for good taste? Or maybe your favorite DWR shell coat is behaving more like a sponge? It is time to clean your down or synthetic outdoor gear. For this how-to guide, we brought in the pros. Heidi Allen…