Let me preface this review by saying that my search for a replacement multi-day pack has just about pushed the boundaries of friendships, store clerks and maybe even manufacturers. Whether it’s that I have somehow grown into in-between sizes that…
The Gregory Baltoro 65 L is a feature-filled pack that’ll feel comfortable through long days on the trail, and hold up through a beating. I took the Baltoro out on an overnight into the Alaska backcountry in February. We toured…
The Mountainsmith Scream 55: the ultralight backpack for those who wish to carry more than the bare, 3-season essentials. In testing the Scream 55, I wanted to take this backpack out of the traditional, 3-season ultralight backpacking environment, and highlight…
When it comes to backpacking gear, especially anything ultralight, I’m like a kid in a candy store – well when I first got wind of the Octal 55 Ultralight Backpack by Gregory it was no different! Reading the specs on…
When I go backpacking, it’s typically to reach a highpoint. I’m going to be covering a lot of ground and gaining a lot of elevation, I’m going to carry my overnight essentials along with my summit assault necessities. I’m looking…
Over nine months ago, my girlfriend and I started planning a month-long summer bouldering trip to the Rocklands of South Africa. While not remote, it is still a trip of considerable distance and travel, requiring 30 hours of flight, renting a…
The camp stoves of my youth were inefficient, clunky things that always seemed equally likely to explode as to make breakfast. Stoves like the MSR Whisperlite improved our options, but for most of my formative years planning food for fast…
The Mountainsmith Halite 7075 Trekking Poles are made for the modern-day adventurer: removable rubber tips and baskets for all seasons; carbide tipped ends for confidence inspiring traction and a packable size of 16” in length so you do not have…
The Rab Aeon Tees have become one of my favorite baselayers and active layers this summer and fall. I’ve taken them on the river, on bike rides, and on runs. The fabric is light, breathable and wicks very well. Color…
Five teenage boys and five adults spill out of a fifteen-passenger van parked in front of the Big City Mountaineers Office in Golden, CO. They’re high-fiving, laughing, sharing inside jokes and reminiscing about the week they just spent backpacking in…