In recent years, I have been on several expeditions to the Alps, Rocky Mountains, Cordillera Blanca of South America, and Himalaya. Access to drinking water has been a concern on every trip, especially when in developing countries where clean drinking…
Water is often scarce in the desert (if you haven’t heard). I’ve been in some pretty sketchy circumstances on 100+ degree summer days 15 miles into the backcountry only to realize that the promised spring at my destination had run…
The Astral Brewer 2.0 is a one shoe quiver. The Brewer is an incredibly high-performance kayaking shoe with understated good looks that effortlessly flows from upstream, to flat water to downtown and many adventures in between. Paddle sports are an…
Hiking boots and water shoes have always been separate in my mind. I’ve been the happy owner of their Brewess shoe for the last few years for all of my whitewater adventures, but I’ve never considered taking them more than…
Having logged a couple of thousand miles on trails and water over the last year or two, I’ve certainly had my fill (pun intended) of water purifiers and the plethora of different brands on the market. The GRAYL Ultralight Purifier…
This fall, I had the pleasure of testing a new rooftop boat mount from Yakima called the Showdown. A load-assist mount for kayaks and Stand Up Paddleboards, the Showdown is designed to allow paddlers to easily load their crafts at…
If you have read my other review on the Astral Tinker or know me at all you will know that I am a fan of Astral products. The Astral Greenjacket PFD is my go to. That said, I got the…
The Five Ten Eddy Pro water shoe is a lightweight, well-drained piece of footwear that is paired with Five Ten’s fantastically sticky Stealth rubber to give you the confidence to scamper around the wet rocks without feeling like you are…
Astral wins my heart again and again, this time with their Tinker multi-sport shoes. Expanding away from just river shoes, the Tinker nails the multi-use category. I have taken these shoes down desert rivers, mountain hikes, and out for a beer with…
The Astral Women’s Aquanaut is a one-shoe quiver that handles water, trails, and afternoons around town with style. These amphibious kicks love to get wet, excelling on muddy trails and slick rocks. And, thanks to well-placed drain holes and ample…