For as long as humans could stand upright, they have yearned to sit. Yes, there’s nothing quite like taking a load off after a hard day of recreating in the outdoors. Toting a comfortable seat along for your outdoor adventures presents a few challenges: some are bulky and awkward requiring a separate trip to the…
Tag: Camping
Hike to Ibantik Lake in the Uinta Mountains
There’s certainly no shortage of picturesque lakes to visit in Utah’s Uinta Mountains. With literally thousands of choices, it can be tough to select any one body of water for a destination. Ibantik Lake, nestled below the mighty Notch Peak ridgeline is definitely the hike. Choose this trek and you’ll enjoy a pristeen lake in…
Klymit Insulated Static V Lite camping pad review
Let’s face it: the worst part about backpacking is sleeping on the ground. Sure, you can pack a cushy, heavy sleeping pad to keep rocks and roots from digging into your back, but most are too heavy to carry miles into the mountains. But the good folks at Centerville-based Klymit have been offering super light…
Big Agnes Slater UL2+ Tent review
Desert camping has been challenging for me. While I love to set out on multi-night adventures in red-rock country, I’ve always had issues with my tent. The desert is sandy and windy. Most tent have lots of mesh. Sand and mesh do not mix. Nearly every trip into southern Utah, I would end up with…
Kelty Discovery 4 Tent review
No one wants to go camping. That was my life before making the move to Utah. For starters, camping was not as readily available back east. Also, the gear which my friends and family owned was a step above pathetic. The whole idea of going camping sounded fun but setting up camp drove me away…
Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Sleeping Bag review
Do you know why you don’t always sleep so great in the outdoors? No, it’s not the constant threat of bear attacks, it’s because you can’t bring your bed with you. Mummy bags can cramp your style, and larger, box-shape bags will weigh you down. But rest easy, little camper, because I’m here to tell…
Winter backpacking (in August) at Kamas Lake
Months before planning a backpacking trip to Kamas Lake in the Uinta Mountains, it seemed August would the the ideal time of year. Temperatures should be just right, an afternoon thunderstorm would be likely but not a concern, and the fishing should be hot. But as I exit my tent in the dawn hours and…
Klymit improves sleeping pads (again) at Outdoor Retailer 2014 Summer Market
We’ve been keeping tabs on Ogden-based Klymit since their inception, and every time we visit their booth at Outdoor Retailer, we’re always impressed with the new ideas they keep coming up with. Their line of inflatable camping pads seems to be the main focus as of late, and they once again offer something that’s outside…
Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm and Pillow review
Bad night of sleep in the backcountry? The reason I hear more often than not is warmth. Numerous are the times in camp when I’ve been brewing coffee and heard a friend say “I just couldn’t get warm.” A good sleeping bag is a start, but all too often campers overlook the value of a…
Sierra Designs at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2013
When I sauntered up to the Sierra Designs booth at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer, I noticed a few changes. Okay, I noticed a lot of changes. Instead of asking “what’s new?” for SD in 2013-14, it might be easier to ask “what isn’t new?” The iconic brand has undergone a major redesign, ranging from the…