When on the search for a new watch, the task can be pretty daunting with all the choices that are available these days, especially for women. High Gear is a relatively new brand (started in 1999) compared to other brands in the market, but their combination of technology, style, and price is hard to beat….
Timex is probably one of the most classic watch brands, and in recent years has been expanding their Expedition series for hiking, trail running, and other outdoor pursuits. The Expedition Trail Mate watch is one of the digital Expedition Essentials line, designed for ease of use, and with a lower price point than some of…
Mountainsmith may be best known for their line of heavy duty Modular Hauler bags, but they don’t limit their product line to burly bags and packs. The Daylight lumbar pack is a lightweight pack designed for travel, whether it’s stashing it in a carry-on for international travel or your backpack on a long backpacking trip…
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of trying out the Ranger LT from Triple Aught Designs. I really liked the fleece, but thought a shell version would have been a bit nicer. Well, it turns out the company makes one, the Stealth LT. I say this is a shell version of the Ranger LT…
“Should I take the plastics or just deal with hiking boots on snow?” I asked myself while staring into the depths of my gear closet. It’s the eternal question when it comes to early season hiking up here in the Pacific Northwest. With record snow at all the resorts, this would not be a snow…
It seems that the humble fleece jacket is getting a lot of competition these days. There have been quite a few companies that have recently come out with compressible insulation layers designed to replace a fleece jacket in your pack. Not one to be left behind, Brooks Range Mountaineering came out with their own, the…
Like many people, I’ve grown pretty accustomed to navigation by the dim light of a headlamp while camping. They’re dim, but the batteries last forever and they weigh nothing in your pack. Sometimes though, you just need something brighter. This is where the Lumapivot lantern from Kelty comes in. At just shy of 16 ounces,…
Merino wool has become a popular material for baselayers, but what about insulating layers? Read more for our full review of Icebreaker’s Real Fleece Igloo Zip jacket.
If you’re ever in the market for a tent, there’s a few things you should know. Generally speaking, there are two types of tents. There are 3-season tents that are good for spring, summer, and fall camping. The more expensive versions tend to be optimized for weight savings more than anything else. Then there are…
Take a quick look around the winter jacket section at your local outdoor store and you’ll be able to see that down jackets have definitely been making a comeback in recent years. When Hi-Tec launched their apparel line, they included their own take on the puffy down jacket, but at a very reasonable price point of $95. Read more for our full review.