All too often, adventurous feet are beat up feet. The outdoors has a way of being pretty mean to your tootsies. Damned by nature to be bipeds, we humans are forced to seek shelter in the form of sturdy footwear. However, saving your arches can sometimes break the bank. If you are looking for a…
Category: Gear Reviews
Ahnu Potrero shoe review
Let’s face it, us outdoorsy types aren’t wandering the mountains every single minute of every single day. Sometimes, *sigh* we have to go to the city, whether for work, to catch a concert, or have a nice dinner with the family. As such, wearing those clunky, high-top backpacking boots is a bit of overkill. So…
Jackson Karma Kayak review
In 2012, Jackson Kayak released the newest member of its fleet, the Karma. I’ve been dying ever since to take it for a spin and finally got to do so a few times this spring, once on a release of the Black Canyon of the Bear earlier this year, and most recently on a high water trip to Bitch…
Sierra Designs Flash 2 Tent review
No matter where you are headed on your next backpacking trip, you’ll need some shelter. If you’re like me, then a trusty tent is the way to go. Considerations include weight, interior space, ease of setup and durability. Sierra Designs has completely revamped their lineup of packing shelters with all these things in mind. SD…
Mountain Hardwear Women’s Thermostatic Jacket review
If you live in the mountains, you need a jacket for all 4 seasons. Fall, winter and spring are obvious, but summer? Don’t forget how cold it can get when the sun goes down, or you’re up walking the dog before dawn. So I make the case that you need a versatile jacket that isn’t…
Velocity Clip phone mount review
The Velocity Clip is described by the company as, “the world’s only universal smartphone and digital camera action mount.” When I first saw it displayed at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, my immediate thought was that it allows you to turn your phone into a poor man’s GoPro. So the kind folks at Velocity Clip…
Patagonia Tsali 3.0 trail shoes review
Patagonia has a cache of trail runners in their stable, from the Everlong to Evermore to Evo. But one shoe shuns the “ever” moniker and laces up for serious trail running – the Tsali 3.0. These extremely loud (in the Folios Green color) comfortable, and traction-heavy runners look to be an eco-minded, trail runner’s dream. But…
Switch Eyewear Axo sunglasses review
About a year ago, I was first introduced to a new company making sunglasses: Switch Eyewear. Their shades didn’t really look like anything special, but one flick of their super-cool magnetic, interchangeable lenses, and I immediately realized that they were doing something completely different, maybe even revolutionary. Since then I have reviewed the Tioga and…
Hydrapak SoftFlask review
Hydration. There isn’t anything much more important for outdoor recreation, especially in the warm months. From the ubiquitous Nalgene bottle to Camelbaks and everything in between, we gearheads are always on the search for new and innovative ways to carry our water into the backcountry. Hydrapak has come out with that crazy new thing with…
Beyond Coastal sun care review
Outdoorsy people spend a lot of time, well, outdoors, which means they also spend hours upon hours baking under the sun. For outdoorsy, fair skinned, red-headed ginger people like myself, this constant exposure to harmful UV rays is a huge concern. So in my gear bag, sunscreen is just as important as my climbing rope…