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Home »Posts tagged  gear review (Page 6)

Tag: gear review

Gear Review: Altra Zero Hoof Drop Shoes

Posted onApril 1, 2020April 2, 2020AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Altra came out with some shoes perfect for off-trail jaunts on the Colorado Plateau. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsApril Fools, footwear, gear, gear review, humor, review

Gear review: NxN Merino Wool Hooded Neck Gaiter

Posted onMarch 9, 2020December 31, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the versatile North x North’s merino wool hooded neck gaiter. Bonus: Made in the USA Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, hats, winter

Review: NoBox – A two knife review

Posted onFebruary 12, 2020April 19, 2021AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

A look at two knives from NoBox. NoBox makes camping equipment suitable for the outdoors, everyday use, and those who tend to not make a distinction. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, knives

Review: Ventury Silverlight Socks

Posted onFebruary 5, 2020February 7, 2020AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The Ventury Silverlight socks are an alternative to the well-regarded Darn Tough socks with claimed anti-microbial properties. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, socks

Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX

Posted onJanuary 30, 2020April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A one year+ review of the NeoAir XTherm MAX (rectangular) for cold weather backpacking. The non-WingLock version can be bought at a discount as of 1/2020. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, sleeping bag, sleeping pads, winter

Gear review: TSLA 1/4 Zip HyperDri shirt

Posted onDecember 20, 2019December 4, 2022AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A light layer excellent for cooler three-season conditions. And only $17. A women’s version is also available for $14. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, shirts, surplus, thermals

Review – Zoner Photo Studio X

Posted onDecember 6, 2019December 19, 2019AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

If you want an affordable Abode Lightroom alternative or better support and smoother operation than GIMP, get Zoner Photo Stuido X. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, software

Long Term Review: Champion Brand Wind Pants (Target)

Posted onDecember 3, 2019December 27, 2022AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Some “shell” pants for winter use. Discount store wind pants are inexpensive, light, and effective. And I’ve used the same pair for nearly a decade. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, rain gear, winter

STCT USB Headlight – The poor person’s Nitecore

Posted onNovember 21, 2019April 26, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The STCT USB Headlight is a $17 headlamp with 145 Lumens and high water resistance that boasts similar features of more expensive models. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear review, lights

Gear Review: Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow carbon umbrella

Posted onSeptember 19, 2019December 9, 2024AuthorJoan12 Comments

Joan reviews this 6.8 oz (193g) carbon fiber shaft umbrella after many miles of hiking in Utah, Nevada, and on the PCT. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, Joan West, rain gear, Six Moon Designs, sun protection, umbrella, utah-tip

Gear Review: Toaks titanium alcohol stove cook system

Posted onSeptember 5, 2019September 5, 2019AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A light and efficient stove system suitable for solo use. But it is the Siphon Stove itself that most impressed me. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscooking, gear review, stoves

Food Review: “Eat Your Coffee” snack bars

Posted onSeptember 4, 2019September 4, 2019AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Snack bars; with a caffeine buzz. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfood, gear, gear review

Lorpen socks – good quality on a budget

Posted onJuly 3, 2019July 3, 2019AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Lorpen light hiker wool socks are a quality budget minded item. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear review, socks

Gear review: Kuhl Renegade Pants

Posted onMay 29, 2019April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Time to put up or shut up. How much better do I find the $90 hiking pants vs. the $30 pants I’ve worn for many days and miles over the past two years? Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, favorite, gear review, kuhl, pants

Long term review – Nazaroo Performance Insoles

Posted onMay 16, 2019May 16, 2019AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

The Nazaroo insoles are $15, work well, and also have similar quality and construction to more expensive options. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, footwear, gear review, insoles

One year review – Fenix UC02

Posted onMay 3, 2019October 15, 2019AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The Fenix UC02 is a replacement for the Photon II that is part of my everyday toolkit. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, lights

20 Year Long Term Review: Discount Store Running Shorts

Posted onApril 9, 2019April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

I’ve seen 50+ comment threads on shorts to get for hiking. So here’s my suggestion. Discount shorts. Sub-$20. They work. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, shorts

Long Term Review: ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boxer

Posted onMarch 15, 2019March 19, 2019AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

A look at a mundane, but important, article of clothing. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, thermals

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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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Some local hiking this weekend. I scouted a route for a possible packrafting trip later this month, and on Sunday, @ramblinghemlock and I meandered through a canyon we’ve been curious about for a while.
I can’t imagine this landscape with a wall.
Two years inside the Park Service, trying to balance trade and calling. I left in fall 2025, and I’m still making sense of it - part grief, part gratitude, and part closure.
With a brief but noticeable bit of winter this past week, we opted not to travel the muddy, snowy roads into more remote areas. Instead, we tackled some home projects on Saturday and spent Sunday revisiting a place we hadn’t seen in a while. Red rock, canyon wrens, images, and late winter desert light accompanied the day.
@ramblinghemlock and I pivoted from an original trip after much-needed rain on Friday. On Saturday, we avoided muddy roads that would have derailed our original plan and spent two nights poking around a place we could reach only because of temporary, water-filled potholes and a handy Ziploc bag that made it possible. We also revisited sights we hadn’t seen in a while. Red rock, grand views, and old images marked the unofficial long weekend kickoff of spring around Moab.
@ramblinghemlock and I finally felt better and took a long-overdue trip into the backcountry. We slept outside and enjoyed the peace of the wild places. Canyon wrens filled the canyon with song during the day, and owl calls echoed off the walls at night. We returned to places we had not seen in a while and saw places new to us. The land endures.

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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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      • Ring The Peak Trail (Pike’s Peak)
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