Monthly boxes of curated goodies seem to be everywhere, these days. Cairn has created one perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. What is Cairn? They describe it as “your monthly box of outdoor discovery.” It’s a monthly subscription service. Each month, you receive a box of curated products. It might include a hammock or headlamp, hiking socks, snacks, skin […]
Gear Review: ECCO Ulterra Mid GTX Boot
SoCalHiker takes the new Men’s ECCO Ulterra Mid GTX boots out on the ultimate trail test — a tough four-day backpacking trek over Bishop Pass and into spectacular Kings Canyon National Park. When I started backpacking in the late ’70s, I saved my money to buy my first pair of real backpacking boots — a […]
DIY Hike-a-Week Project
Looking for the perfect last-minute gift for an avid (or budding) hiker on your list? This do-it-yourself project fits the bill and you can easily put it together in about an hour. It’s inexpensive, and will inspire your friend to explore new trails — 52 of them to be precise — one per week for […]
The Art of #Stanleyness
Growing up, I remember seeing those green Stanley bottles carried off by fathers as marched to work. It didn’t matter whether they wore a suit and tie or a hardhat, they carried a full-day’s supply of hot caffeinated goodness in those classic Stanley bottles. The classic is back, in three new forms designed with the outdoor adventurer in […]
Connecting With Outdoor Adventurers on Twitter
Twitter is a great place to find outdoor inspiration, get advice and to meet like-minded outdoor adventurers. One of the best ways to get started is by participating in one of the many tweet-chats devoted to the outdoors. Most of these are weekly, online events that last about an hour. You participate in the conversation entirely […]
Gear Review: Vargo Titanium Ascent Tent Stakes
It’s been said that to reduce weight backpacking, you should “count the ounces and the pounds take care of themselves.” With this credo in mind, I took the Vargo Outdoors – Titanium Ascent Tent Stakes out on a couple of recent backpacking trips. Here are my findings. Titanium is corrosion-resistant and has the highest strength-to-density ratio […]
Outdoor Retailer Show Recap
For four days in August, 45,000 people converge at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer Show. This year, I joined the throngs winding through cavernous hall after hall filled with the latest equipment for outdoor adventure — backpacking, climbing, SUP and much more. My goal? To find a […]
How to Use a Buff as a Backpacking Pillow
I love my Buff. It’s the multi-purpose headwear that can be a neck gaitor, a face mask, a headband and a about a dozen other configurations. I’ve worn my Buff on the Trans-Catalina Trail and the John Muir Trail. But not until a recent backpacking trip did I learn that a Buff could also become […]
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