When it comes to backpacking, some people are obsessive-compulsive about lightweight gear. Others (like me) don’t mind bending under the weight of a heavier pack for a more comfortable experience in the mountains. A lot of progress has been made in an effort to make outdoor gear both lightweight and comfortable. But when the choice between tents and…
Tag: Gear
Safe Sound Sports Personal Speakers review
I have to listen to music when I run, so when the Ragnar Wasatch Back officials said runners couldn’t use headphones during the race, I panicked. I began searching the internet high and low for anything that might lead me to a way around running with music. Perhaps a boombox similar to an ’80 hip…
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti review
On long backpack trips, clean drinking water is vital. Nobody wants to carry heavy water from home in the pack, but water from streams and lakes can be infected with microscopic bacteria that will ruin the trip (and make you dig a bunch of holes in the woods.) There are several options available for filtering…
Tecnica Viper Low cross-training shoes review
The Tecnica Viper Low cross-training shoes are light yet stable hikers that are built for speed in the mountains. With a pair on my feet, I took them out for some day hikes in the Wasatch Mountains, and got in a few trail runs along the way. Out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the…
Mammut Tusk 9.8 climbing rope review
When it comes to climbing ropes, a rope is a rope. At least that’s how I felt after 10 years of rock climbing. But there are differences between ropes, as small as they may seem. The Mammut Tusk 9.8 climbing rope does the job like any other rope meant for sport, trad and ice climbing,…
Lafuma Sky Race OT Trail Running Shoes with OutDry review
The Lafuma Sky Race OT shoes are competent trail runners featuring the OutDry waterproof/breathable membrane. Lafuma is a lesser known outdoor company here in America, but they are huge in Europe and have recently made inroads into the U.S. market. They make everything from footwear, jackets, packs, sleeping bags and even camp chairs. I got…
Stanley 8oz Flask review
On camping and backpacking trips in Utah’s mountains, a flask filled with stomach-warming liquor becomes standard gear in the packs of some high-country travelers. The problem with many flasks, however, is that they just aren’t rugged enough to withstand the beating outdoor gear endures. Enter the Stanley 8oz flask. Stanley, the makers of iconic steel…
Patagonia Alpine Wind Jacket review
The Patagonia Alpine Wind Jacket is a super lightweight layering piece that is amazingly versatile. This jacket is warm, it breathes, it stays dry in light rain and is totally windproof (as the name implies). I got to try out the Alpine Wind Jacket over the last three months or so, and put it to the…
Black Diamond and Gregory Mountain Products join forces
Huge changes are underway at Black Diamond Equipment headquarters in Salt Lake City as CEO, Peter Metcalf, announced the sale of the outdoor company to Clarus Corporation, which will merge BD’s operations with Gregory Mountain Products out of Sacramento, California. Gregory is well known for making quality outdoor backpacks, which will add to Black Diamond’s…
Novara Gravitron Bike Jersey review
Bike jerseys these days are like rock climbing clothes of the ’90s. Skin tight, multi-colored monstrosities are the fashion and hopefully, 20 years from now, we’ll be smacking ourselves in the face for poor style judgement. Until then, it will remain difficult to find a jersey that doesn’t make you look like a circus clown. Thankfully, Novara offers the…