The oddball of the bunch. Is it a vest, a pack, or an overbuilt seat pad? The answer, unexpectedly, is all of the above. This pack has quickly become what I grab first for the majority of my missions. The…
The Ultra Vesta 5.0 is one of the four tiers of hydration vests available from Ultimate Direction, sitting at two out of four on the minimalist scale (the most minimal at one). Despite its rank, I found it more than…
After years of squeezing myself, my husband, our dog, and all of our gear into an old two-person backpacking tent, we were more than ready to graduate to a roomier tent with some upgraded features. Most of our camping adventures…
The Monte Hybrid jacket is cool weather activity layer for use both under heavier insulation and shells or as a stand-alone exterior layer in moderate, changing conditions. Striking a nice balance of fit and flexibility with synthetic insulation and a…
I tested the Gregory Paragon 58 with the 3D Hydro Reservoir to ensure comfort and functionality while completing strenuous backpacking trips. I put it to the test with a loaded pack on a large day hike to ensure it would…
Now an international outdoor company, RMU began as a group of innovative ski bums wanting more from the products they used to pursue their passions. Long after pressing custom skis in a basement, their products remain technically relevant and purpose-built.…
With COVID protocols letting up here around Golden, Colorado, I was stoked to take the Rab Torque Light pants out and get on some much-needed rock. So I took them to the local climbing Mecca of Eldorado Canyon State Park…
Get expert buying advice from a resident outdoor pro with this lineup of must-have climbing gear this season.
In March of 2020 Covid-19 began to burn its way through the United States. The stock market was crashing, people were getting laid off en masse, zoom calls were skyrocketing and people were dying. In March of 2020, I would…
After one month of testing, various adventures, and roughly 10,000 vertical feet, the Gregory Citro 30 H2O pack has proved itself to be one of the best daypacks I have ever used. I regularly carried 20-30lbs of gear (including cameras,…