Like many outdoor enthusiasts, I enjoy gear…lots and lots of gear. I’m told I have too many backpacks. However, I am always searching for the “swiss army” of backpacks that can perform for me in all locations and occasions. Living…
I brought the Exped Lyra III on a trip with two other people to test its capability as a “basecamp” style tent for climbing peaks. On a trip where I would typically bring a lighter sleeping setup, I wanted to…
When I pulled this jacket out of the box, the first things I noticed were the fun color scheme Cotopaxi is known for and how soft it is. I usually associate down jackets with slippery material and the “swishy” noise…
I’ve had the same sleeping bag since 2014, and while it was once the apple of my eye, I’ve had more field days than I can count in that bad boy, and I’m long overdue for an upgrade. As a…
I got my first pair of performance Julbo sunglasses four years ago and I’ll never go back. Ever. The Fury is a welcomed addition of the same performance I have come to love from Julbo but comes with a massive…
The Batac 16L backpack from Cotopaxi is a great stand alone pack for daily needs and was designed to pack down small enough to store within larger bags for longer trips. I used it for my daily work commuter pack,…
Over the last month, I’ve had the pleasure of testing the Exped FlexMat on several multi-day solo backpacking trips. Piggybacking my lookout shifts with backpacking trips is the best idea I’ve had yet. These hybrid trips meant that I got…
The first time I took this pack on the trail I barely took any photos. It was just supposed to be a quick overnighter in the Uinta mountains. I would hike in a short way to a lake, camp, enjoy…
In a sea of hundreds of available options, the Grayl Geopress filter floats to the top with high-quality water through a simple filtration process. After experimenting with many purification systems in the past, I decided to give the Grayl Geopress…
The Solar 3 sleeping bag from Rab is the perfect multi-season bag for weekends in the woods. From backpacking to car camping and everything in between, I can truly say it has become my go-to sleeping bag. When I say…