There’s An App for That: 2026 Edition
A ten-year update to the original 2016 article and its 2021 follow-up, highlighting the apps we currently use for our outdoor jaunts. Read More …
Tag: electronics
Communication Technology Options: Seven Years Later
I wrote about backcountry communication technologies in 2019; here are my updated thoughts seven years later. Read More …
Digital mapping tools, my use in 2026
State of the union for my mapping tool usage. Read More …
Off Piste – Nelko P21 Label Maker
An inexpensive and useful label maker to help organize gear, maps, and other items. Read More …
Avenza: Enshittified. Sigh.
Another victim of enshittification – Avenza Maps Read More …
Off-Piste – Brother 2170w Printer (2009 vintage)
Another off-piste article; this time about our circa 2009 Brother printer. Read More …
Off-Piste: Keeping an Aging Laptop Useful
And now some geek talk but explained plainly – Turning my circa 2019 laptop in a usable workstation going forward. Read More …
Map, Compass, GPS: Not Either/Or, But All of the Above
A collection of my Reddit posts. cleaned up and expanded, with thoughts on how maps, compasses, and GPS all work together in the field. It’s not about which tool is “better,” but how they complement each other. Read More …
Gear Review – The Tractive GPS Tracker
My good friend Josh review the Tractive GPS ; a device that’ lets pet owners track their furry friend and combines a bit of Strava functionality, too. Read More …
Influential Gear?
What backpacking gear has become influential in the past few decades? Some thoughts. Read More …
A look at Avenza
Avenza allows small companies and non-profits to publish their maps. He’s a look at this somewhat obscure app. Read More …
Quick Tip – Get an emergency air compressor
A must-have item for anyone traveling to trailheads away from mobile device coverage. Read More …
There’s an app for that – 2021 edition
The outdoor apps I use for my mobile device currently and plan on using in the coming year. Read More …
Gaia GPS map layers – Which ones I use
The various map layers I use for Gaia GPS. And some lesser-known overview map print options that complement any GPS use, too. Read More …
Quick Tip: Calibrate your phone GPS
You may need to calibrate the internal compass of your phone GPS on occasion to get accurate results with your navigation software. Read More …
Intro to Backpacking: Part 6 – Navigation Basics
The sixth chapter in our series – An introductory look at map, compass, and electronic navigation resources. Read More …
NOAA Weather app by Pandamonium Software
I love NOAA for weather information. I love useful apps. And I really love useful free apps. This NOAA app checks off all these boxes. Read More …
Communication technology options: A vendor neutral view
An overlook at various options for communication technology in the backcountry for personal use, emergency, commercial, or search and rescue applications. Read More …