Over the past few seasons “ultralight” has become one of the hottest new concepts in backpacking. Carrying less weight means you go further faster with less stress on your body and the environment. Hyperlite Mountain Gear is a company dedicated to the ultralight hiking style, and to help convert me they sent out the Windrider…
Author: Ryan Malavolta
Enter the win the Year of Adventure Sweepstakes
We’ve all daydreamed about a once in a lifetime adventure. For some it’s heli- skiing in a remote mountain area; others yearn to trek through Nepal or perhaps climb the peaks of the Andes. These types of life-list trips all seem to have one thing in common: they’re really expensive. Instead of trying to save…
Hiking the Onion Creek Narrows and side canyons
Spring is in the air and many of us will be striking out for desert adventures soon. The Moab area is always a popular choice for hiking and camping, but big crowds at the classic trails can take away from the overall enjoyment. If you want to escape the masses and find a little solitude,…
Kelty Hula House 4 Tent review
“That’s a huge tent!” was the most often heard comment while testing the Kelty Hula House 4. It’s true, the Hula 4 is a beast, and while it might not be a minimalist’s dream, it sure does the trick when it comes to extended-stay car camping or base camping adventures. I tested the Hula House…
Helly Hansen Quebec Checked Down Jacket and Legend Pant II review
Hard to believe it, but winter is almost over. While powder seasons come and go, bomber gear should last for years. Helly Hansen has been in the extreme weather gear game since 1877 (not a typo) for a reason: they produce pieces that stand up to the elements long after you buy them. I had…
“The Art of Flight” may revolutionize snowboard movies
In 2008, Brain Farm Cinema offered up a snowboarding video that was anything but the norm. ”That’s It That’s All” was more than just a couple of years worth of high quality snow-porn, it was a game-changer. Curt Morgan and Travis Rice (along with a crew of the world’s best schralpers) used HiDef, 35mm, and…
Sierra Designs Gnar Down Jacket review
The best weapon in the fight against cold winter weather is a good down jacket. Long gone are the days of the over-puffed monsters of the past. The new rage in outdoor apparel is the micro puff down coat. Light, compressible and oh so warm, these coats have become the new “must have” item for…
Brunton ADC Pro review
You’ve planned your weekend backcountry getaway, now the only question is the weather. Most adventurers could qualify as junior meteorologists; constantly pouring over weather reports and charts to ensure their well crafted trip won’t be spoiled by Mother Nature’s harsher elements. Study all you want, the weather research done at home often means little when…
“Utah’s Wilderness Areas: The Complete Guide” book review
Guide books are the modern day porn of backcountry adventurers. Where should I go? How do I get there? How much rope do I need to get past the dryfalls? These are all questions that any respectable guide book should address. No doubt many a book has been written about the playground that is Utah,…
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…