I have long cast a sideways glance upon “energy drinks”. The multitude of beverages lining store shelves are generally nothing more than fruit-flavored sodas. But, as much as I loathe them, I find myself downing them at least a few times a month. I’m not talking about the stuff that comes in a can (pure…
Category: Gear Reviews
PackPillow review
A pillow is a luxury for hardcore backpackers, right? Well it doesn’t have to be. Gone are the days of resting your head on a bunched up, down jacket. With inventions like the PackPillow, you can save weight, be efficient about pack space, and still get a good night’s rest. The PackPillow is essentially four…
Klymit V Ultralite SL camping pad review
Keeping your load as light as possible when backpacking is imperative to comfort, stamina, and just being able to go farther without killing your shoulders. But the problem with a lot of lightweight gear is that you sacrifice comfort to save a few grams of weight. I’ve been a fan of Klymit’s camping gear for…
Royal Robbins Coast Short review
The days of summer may be dwindling, but there’s still plenty of time to go jump in a mountain lake, climb into a kayak, or simply take a dip at the nearest pool. Hey, this is Utah, and much to the chagrin of snow-lovers, “swimming weather” could last until October in some places. Are you…
MiiR Camp Cup review
If you’re camping, you gotta have a cup. Coffee in the morning and whiskey in the evening, your hands would feel empty if they’re weren’t holding a cup while sitting by a fire. Of course the classic is the enamel blue cup with white flecks, but there are far better choices. The past year I’ve…
Slumberjack Nightfall 2 Tent teview
I was tired, cold, and in a bit of trouble when my girlfriend and I pulled into the Tropic Reservoir campground on a Friday night. Yes, mistakes were made on the journey, and I was on thin ice. I can’t imagine what might have happened if our tent was a pain in the ass to…
Chaco OutCross 2 shoes review
There’s a shoe for every hiking situation, but one of the most difficult choices to make is what shoe to wear on a hike where you’ll be on both dry land and in the water. Chaco may have the answer with the OutCross 2. From canyoneering to mountain river crossings, or even to use while…
Lander Moab phone case review
Don’t let your smartphone get too hot. Don’t let it get too cold. Don’t lose it in the dark…and for Ullr’s sake DON’T DROP IT! There are far too many rules when it comes to our precious phones, but Lander is a company that can help to bend, if not totally break, those rules. Can…
Sierra Designs unveils major changes for 2018 gear at Outdoor Retailer
You can always count on seeing the newest innovations and some serious brand overhauls at Outdoor Retailer, but no booth that I visited this year could boast more than Sierra Designs. The company is still dedicated to producing high quality adventure gear, but in 2018, they will be presenting consumers with all brand new tent…
Brooks-Range pushes the lightweight boundaries at ORSM 2017
Brooks-Range makes gear for the discerning backcountry traveler, and at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, they were showing off a selection of tents that ups the ante in the lightweight category. Traveling parties of three people and every kind of weather now have brand new options when it comes to outdoor shelters. Weighing in at a…