Featured Articles

January 9, 2012
LightHeart Gear Solo Tent at Duck Lake
Solo Tent at Duck Lake

Finding the perfect summer shelter has been a hassle over the years. Weight is a big issue. I don’t want something that weighs a ton. Keeping the shelter weight down is critical to keeping my pack weight down as well. With a low pack weight I can go faster, hike longer and overall enjoy the experience more. I also need the shelter to provide protection from the weather and bugs. Once my needs are met my wish list creeps in. I want to be able to stargaze at night if conditions allow and also not roast in my shelter if I stop early for an afternoon. With these wants and needs in mind I searched and came to the LightHeart Gear Solo Shelter.

December 4, 2011

LOWA Renegade GTX Mid FootwearThe LOWA Renegade Boots are very versatile footwear. I feel comfortable wearing them in a broad spectrum of hiking scenarios.  I have worn them while hiking along the PCT in the Marble Mountain Wilderness, the Russian Wilderness and Klamath National Forest. I have worn them while spelunking in the lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument, while climbing scree-sloped volcanoes, while tracing a river eddy for a fish survey project, walked through dense forests in all kinds of conditions, explored thermal features and even wore them on fire assignments.

November 25, 2011
Rolled size
Size when rolled up

Traditional backpacking involved making a choice – luxury versus weight. The last decade has seen dramatic improvements in fabrics and technology which have illuminated the fact that luxury and weight are not contradicting philosophies after all. Enter the Kooka Bay LuxLite Airmat.

 

The Kooka Bay LuxLite Airmat is an inflatable, two-season sleeping pad with vertical baffles. It is 2.5 inches thick when inflated and designed for comfort on lightweight or ultralight adventures. The LuxLite Airmat comes in a variety of sizes and shapes.

October 14, 2011
From top: 20Five, Defcon and Clamor
From top: 20Five, Defcon and Clamor

Ryders has been making affordable sunglasses since the 80's and they have only improved with age. Their sunglasses are fully featured to fit with just about every outdoor activities needs. We’re focusing on the Defcon which is aimed at endurance sports, the Clamor which is geared toward active and casual activities and the 20Five designed as their retro 80's model.

 

Ryders' sunglasses have optically correct lenses that help eliminate distortion in the lenses making them comfortable to look through while minimizing eye fatigue. The lenses use a scratch-resistant coating making it harder to scratch under normal use. The lenses are also made to be shatterproof, and while a strong impact may damage the lenses, they will not shatter into little shards. All the lenses come with complete UV protection covering all three bands in the UV spectrum as well as harmful blue light in the 400nm wavelength. Those sunglasses that offer polarizing lenses help eliminate glare while giving increased definition.

August 24, 2011
Rab MeCo Mock Zip
Rab MeCo Mock Zip

In fall 2011 Rab will debut their new base layers. They will have two lines of baselayers. One uses a Merino-wool/Cocona-polyester blend and utilizes the best of both fabrics. The other is a Polartec Power Dry fleece. Both lines have great stretch, moisture management and dry very quickly. We’ve been fortunate to get a sneak peak and have been trying them out since late winter and we are loving them.

 

 

July 15, 2011

Cushe Xsige in the TreesThere are countless choices for everyday footwear but most do not fit my definition of everyday. I need something that fits my feet comfortably, can work at the office, around town and even short hikes. The Cushe Xsige-WP is a slip on sneaker that is great for my everyday needs. The Xsige is part of Cushe’s Universal Traveller line which is designed for apres-outdoor sports and in transit.

read more... > Cushe Xsige-WP Footwear

Blogs

April 27, 2012
Himalayas Contest pic
Courtesy of CamelBak

We all dream of going to see the Himalayas and now CamelBak All Clear is partnering with Outside Magazine to make that possible for one lucky person and a friend. Want to check something off the bucket list, then this is the trip for you.

read more... > The Himalayas
April 25, 2012
Da Brim Multisport
Courtesy of Da Brim

Brain buckets are designed to keep your head intact for a large number of outdoor activities but they do nothing to keep the sun out of your eyes.  Enter Da Brim.  Da Brim is an innovative product that slides over your helmet converting it to a sunhat as well.  Da Brim can fit over climbing, kayaking, skiing, biking or just about any other type of helmet.

April 23, 2012

Kelty Red Rocks Basecamp giveawayWhat do Kelty and Oskar Blues Brewing have in common? They have partnered together for a contest to bring one lucky winner and a friend great gear, great beer and great music. If you have a love of the outdoors, and a love for great craft beer in a can then this is the contest for you.

March 9, 2012
Detours Sodo Bag
Courtesy of Detours

Want a bike bag that’s ready to go as far as you do? Look no further than the Detours Sodo Handlebar Bag. The Sodo has a 13-lb, 330 cubic inch capacity which means it can hold tons of gear. Lots of pockets and dividers make organization a breeze for your bike or camera equipment. The Sodo is also set to handle rough weather. It comes with a waterproof pocket perfect for a map or smart phone and...