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Home »Posts tagged  gear review (Page 2)

Tag: gear review

Gear Review – Salomon X Ultra Pioneer hiking shoes

Posted onSeptember 20, 2024September 20, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the Salomon X Ultra Pioneer hiking shoes, Call them the “Subaru Outback of hiking shoes.” Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfootwear, gear, gear review

Gear review – Cyansky L2 Rechargeable Lightweight Headlamp

Posted onSeptember 5, 2024September 5, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the Cyansky L2 Rechargeable Lightweight Headlamp that fits a more robust niche than general backpacking. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear, gear review, lights

Gear review: Topo Terraventure 4 Trail-Running Shoes

Posted onJune 4, 2024June 6, 2024AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

I loved the Ultraventure 3s and now I love the Terraventure 4s even more. An excellent “do it all” shoe for many different conditions. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfootwear, gear, gear review, review

Fifteen-plus year review – Bison Designs belt

Posted onApril 30, 2024May 1, 2024AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Long term look at a humble, but well-made and afforadable, hiking belt. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbelts, clothing, gear review

Pants for trailwork

Posted onApril 24, 2024February 22, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The pants I use for trail or related work. One pair for heavier duty or cold weather work and one for lighter duty work or when it’s warm. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, pants, surplus

Gear Review – The Squak Mountain Co The Swell sun hoodie

Posted onApril 11, 2024April 14, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the desert use of the Squak Mountain Co sun hoodie. Light, breathes well, and comfortable. Take care when bashing through brush. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review

Long term review – Flat Stone Cooking Platform (FSCP)

Posted onApril 1, 2024April 4, 2024AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A long term review of the Flat Sone Cooking Platform. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsApril Fools, gear review, stove

Ten year gear review: Montbell Superior Down (updated)

Posted onMarch 20, 2024April 18, 2026AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

A well-designed three-season puffy with a hood that is under 9 oz. I’ve used one version or another of this garment for overa Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, down coat, gear review, montbell, puffy

Gear Review – The Tractive GPS Tracker

Posted onMarch 4, 2024July 2, 2026AuthorJosh Zapin2 Comments

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 …

CategoriesGearTagsapp, electronics, gear, gear review

Gear Review – The Squak Mountain Co Woolie

Posted onFebruary 20, 2024February 4, 2026AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A merino blend, cold weather base layer hoodie with excellent ventilation from Squak Mountain Co. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review

10+ year gear review – Flytop tent

Posted onJanuary 16, 2024March 24, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

An off-hand purchase about a decade ago of our current backup/loaner tent makes me think of the place and use of budget gear items. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear review, shelters

Gear review: Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 shoes

Posted onJanuary 7, 2024April 27, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the Topo Ultraventure 3 shoes. I found these shoes a worth successor to the 2s. I only wish for less flashy color choices! Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfootwear, gear, gear review, review

20+ years Gear Review – Military Surplus Wool Liner Gloves

Posted onDecember 6, 2023December 6, 2023AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

As winter approaches, I am reminded of one of the items we use all year around: Surplus wool liner gloves. A long-time favorite for twenty years now and a favorite budget pick for both Joan and I.
Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear, gear review, gloves, surplus, winter

Ten plus year review – Nemesis Safety Glasses

Posted onNovember 27, 2023December 8, 2025AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

A review of Nemesis Safety Glasses. Affordable, light, functional, comfortable and durable. And after over ten years of use, perhaps one my favorite pieces of budget gear by far.
Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear, gear review, Nemesis, sunglasses

The Quiver: A plethora of puffies

Posted onNovember 26, 2023January 27, 2026AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

The puffies Joan and I use for outdoor use. Updated in November 2023 to feflect both new pieces and input from Joan. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget, car camping, clothing, gear review, Joan West, montbell, nunatak, puffies, surplus, the quiver, winter

Top Ten Reasons Why Top Ten Gear Lists (Mostly) Suck

Posted onNovember 17, 2023November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags14 Comments

Top Ten Gear Lists are perhaps the most popular articles in any community. Be it backpacking, music, movies, etc. But they are typically useless. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsFriday repost, gear review, top ten

Gear Review: Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka

Posted onOctober 16, 2023December 21, 2023AuthorPaul Mags12 Comments

A three-season+ or early winter coat suitable for many different uses—the last of my winter season reviews. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, down coat, gear review, montbell, puffy, winter

Gear Review – ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3 tent

Posted onOctober 5, 2023April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

After about 100 nights we find the $200 ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3 an excellent car camping tent. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear, gear review, shelters

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A Quick Guide to Moab

The Squak – A readily available, $60, active-focused grid fleece hoodie from a Utah-based company. Read the review.

Women’s | Men’s | Children’s   

The Squak Camp Dress 

One of Joan’s favorites!

The Squak Alpha Fleece 

                                                                    

– 15% off coupon = PMAGS-SQUAK                                                                                                      

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Joan and I hosted some friends this past week. We gave them the classic tour, starting with an early morning visit to the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park. While Joan attended a meeting, I played tour guide a bit for other parts of the park. That afternoon, we headed to the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park to take in the sweeping views across the Colorado Plateau. Today? We escaped to our local mountains, looking down at the desert floor far below.
Not a good year for backpacking in the Abajos or the San Juans, but our local mountains still offer some good opportunities for camping and hiking. And only an hour away. With @ramblinghemlock
The once and future Bears Ears.
@ramblinghemlock and I went to some local(ish) mountains to avoid the fires and smoke in our usual places.
A hike to our local mountains did not go quite as planned. With an AQI of 176 in Moab due to the fires in our corner of the world, we sought refuge in the mountains.
"Effective today, June 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM, all Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest (San Juan County, Utah) are temporarily closed due to the Babylon Fire. "

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Disclosure: This website may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products to which I link. These sites include Amazon, REI, Moose Jaw, Gaia GPS, Six Moon Designs, Squak Mountain Co, and ULA Equipment. There is no additional fee for purchasing items through these links.

 

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