In part 1 I covered the rules that I consider the most basic; not because they’re always easy but because they can usually be accomplished with a rudimentary understanding of
Photography 101: Advice From a Non-Photographer Part 1
I’ve said before that I am by no means a professional hiker; I’m just a guy who likes to hike and who has a few things to say about it. And if I’m not a professional hiker,
How To Stuff Your Stuff
If there’s one subject that occupies my brain more than almost any other, it’s pack organization. Not because I enjoy sitting around thinking about whether
Evaluating Rain Gear
It’s hard to believe that it’s only been 3 years since this picture was taken in Zion National Park. I was wet, cold, and miserable for most of the day. The cold was due to being wet and insufficiently insulated; the wet was due, in equal
How Much Did You Say This Stuff Costs?
Admittedly, gear isn’t cheap. Like lots of sports, hobbies, and other activities, the initial startup cost can be prohibitive. That being said, there are ways to mitigate some of these costs and still get what you need for a successful trip.
Brands You Won’t Find At REI – Part 2
If you haven’t checked out Part 1 yet, start there. Otherwise, read on!
Brands You Won’t Find At REI – Part 1
I’ve been an REI member for close to 20 years, and the majority of the gear I’ve purchased during that time has come from them. Tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, stuff sacks, clothes… you name it and I’ve gotten it there.
Choosing a Clothing System
The first thing you typically hear when learning how to choose the right clothing for backpacking is that layering is of the utmost importance.
Change.org Petition for Ursack in Yosemite National Park
I received an email from Ursack last month announcing that a petition had been created requesting that the latest Ursack (bear resistant bag) be approved for use
Thoughts On Water Bottles
In the “Developing a System” post I discussed the potential impact your choice of bottle could have on things like your water purification method and how accessible your water is while you’re hiking. For years, the traditional choice was the trusty ol’ Nag bottle. In fact, the debate was never Nalgene vs. not-Nalgene, it was usually soft-sided (HDPE) Nalgene vs. Lexan Nalgene. While…
A Guide To Arc’Teryx Shells
I bought an Arc’Teryx hardshell jacket last year after hours of research and months of consideration. I’ll get into the specifics of why I made that choice (and my thoughts on Arc’Teryx in general) in other articles/reviews, but for now I’m going to talk about an issue I ran into while trying to figure out what I wanted: shopping for…
A List For Every Occasion
Weighing the entire contents of ones pack as a whole is nothing new; I recall doing it a few times when I was in the Boy Scouts. Back then, you weren’t trying for the lightest pack, you were trying for the heaviest.
Developing a System
The concept of thinking about your gear as a system of interrelated components, and not just a group of generally-related objects, can be confusing at first.
Some Initial Thoughts on Gear
When planning for any backpacking trip, the first step should always be to define your goals.
What’s In A Name?
In 1960, Stanley Kubrick directed the film “Spartacus”, based on the 1951 novel of the same name.