The Kelty Coromell 0 is the best bang for your buck when it comes to a zero degree down sleeping bag. The MSRP is just over $200, however, you can find it online for a tad less, which makes it a great deal. Aside from being an economical choice, the Kelty Coromell 0 is also [...]
I have no bias against fishing, I’ve just never done much of it. But fishing was the focus of a recent family trip to the Abacos in the Bahamas, bone fishing at that! From what I’ve been told and experienced, bone fishing is more like hunting—you see a tell-tale swirl on the surface of the [...]
Do you like to venture out into the great outdoors in winter but hate to be cold when sleeping? Being cold while sleeping equates to absolute misery and thoughts of nothing other than a warm bed and a hot cup of tea. Thankfully, Mountain Hardwear offers up a solution to this quandary, the Phantom 0 [...]
April showers might bring you May flowers, and the Marmot Super Mica Jacket offers you protection from April showers so that you hike on to enjoy May flowers. This super light waterproof rain jacket is the perfect piece of gear for those of you that like to go ultra light, but don’t want to sacrifice [...]
This spring I had the opportunity to test 2 jackets that utilized the latest and greatest fabric technology, GORE-TEX® Paclite®. So what is GORE-TEX® Paclite®? Well, simply put it is a fully waterproof and breathable 3-layer fabric that weighs 15% less than other 3 layer constructions. Products featuring Paclite® are designed to endure extreme wet [...]
Lightload towels are one of the best products we have come across this season. They are perfect for hiking, cycling, traveling, camping, and any other activity you can think of. We tested the hand towel sizes which fits in the palm of your hand while in the package which makes it perfect when space is [...]
A light weight camp stove is a must for any traveler that wants to go fast and pack as little as possible. However, it has to work or the consequence can be serious. M.S.R. has been making stoves and other cookware for 40 years and they know that keeping things simple is the best way [...]
One of the most versatile degree bags for the majority of campers is typically between 15-20 degrees. With so many sleeping bags on the market with this degree rating, it can often be hard to find the bag that is right for you. At an MSRP of $370, the GoLite Adrenaline 3 Season Mummy sleeping [...]
Tis the season for camping! The Sierra Designs Zolo 3 tent is a great option for those of you that are looking for a 3-person tent for car camping and backpacking. The tent’s travel weight is 6 lbs 5 oz, which puts it in the middle of the road for weight as far as high [...]
Columbia’s Ziggin Rollup Capri follows the trend of versatile clothing: athletic pieces with high tech fabric that can be used for a variety of activities, yet they do not look out of place in the casual setting as well. In these economic times, it is important to have multifunctional pieces. We have been wearing the [...]
The first time our tester wore the Salomon RX Moc was actually out on a trail run. Early one morning, two of our testers got together for a trail run and our female tester unfortunately wore the Salomon RX Moc in the car (because they were so comfortable and easy to slip on) and forgot [...]
Hiking boots usually fall into two categories – can do… and can’t do. The latter category tends to disappoint about two hours into your day. Those comfy “get around town looking fashionable” boots are shredded, your toes hurt, and forget about carrying ANYTHING, much less a pack. La Sportiva takes the former category one step [...]
Patagonia’s Bly Mid Gore-Tex hiking boot is comfortable on your first hike and requires little to no break in time. If you have ever worn the Bly Low, the Mid will be an easy transition and instant favorite. We tested the Bly on Front Range Colorado hikes and even strapped on a pair of snowshoes [...]
The Core Concepts Sprint Zip Neck has added a new twist to your traditional running top. The Sprint Zip Neck has the “Zip Flip & Stash” system; at the lower back there is a wide zipper storage area which turns inside out to store the entire top inside and has a small buckle system to [...]
Walking in a half-foot of fresh powder is a cinch when wearing a Elektra 10 series snowshoe from Atlas. The Elektra 10’s incorporate Atlas’ patented Spring-Loaded Suspension system, which keeps the snowshoe close to your foot, allowing decreased energy expenditure, while also flexing during your stride to provide a more natural feel to each step. [...]
Tubbs makes the Flex NRG for men and women; the women’s model is a one size fits all design with a 22-inch length and weighs in around 3.8 lbs. The Flex NRG is rated to carry any weight under packed or variable conditions, however when used in powder Tubbs states that the model will perform [...]
We recently tested out the Redfeather Stride 25 snowshoes on 3 to 6 hour bouts of exploration near Mt Evans and Berthoud Pass in Colorado. The Stride is a women’s specific snowshoe that was not only incredibly light and easy to put on, but also extremely responsive. The Stride comes in two lengths, 21 inches [...]
The North Face Thunder Jacket is a member of the coveted Summit Series collection and designed for individuals heading out into the backcountry. We found the Thunder jacket to be a go to companion come wintertime thanks to its amazing weight to warmth ratio. This 800-fill down fits like a sweater and weighs a mere [...]
The Magellan Triton 2000 has made a great attempt to produce an all in one solution for all your outdoor needs. Although we say it was a great attempt, we have not found this product to be a great addition to our outdoor gear collection. There are many features that make the Triton 2000 stand [...]
The Isis Whisper Hoodie is a 650 fill down jacket that has an excellent warmth to weight ratio. The Whisper Hoodie has a DWR finish to help repel snowflakes while on the trail or worn around town. The Whisper Hoodie comes with its own stuff sack for easy packing for winter treks. Tester’s liked the [...]
Looking for the perfect watch to handle all your outdoor and athletic needs, the High Gear Axio Max might be the right watch for you. The Axio Max is equipped with an altimiter, electronic compass, elevation alarm, stop watch, thermometer, and more to meet your hiking, running, mountaineering, and backcountry needs. Often times, we have [...]
After a run, ride, hike, we all get a ripe and need to freshen up at times. Action wipes has come to the rescue with a wet wipe that comes in a portable package for those of you on the go. The action wipes are big enough to wipe off at least half a full [...]
The Alite Monarch is a chair that packs some flair. The chair is made of lightweight nylon and mesh that makes it ideal or backpacking, or just hanging around the campfire. We found the best use is for car camping as we often find a stump or log to sit on, but if you want [...]
