Skip to content
Menu

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Ramblings
    • Musings
    • Books and Media
    • Videos
    • From The Web
    • Thru Hikes, Long Walks, or Routes
      • My Alphabet Soup summary
      • Vermont’s Long Trail
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Pacific Crest Trail
      • Colorado Trail
      • Continental Divide Trail
      • Ring The Peak Trail (Pike’s Peak)
      • Benton Mackaye Trail
      • Tahoe Rim Trail
      • Uinta Highline Trail
      • Collegiate Loop
      • A Walk Across Southern Utah
      • Great Divide Trail (Canada)
      • The Northern New Mexico Loop
      • Grand – Moab Route
      • SEUG Circuit
      • A Walk Across New England
    • Other Outdoor Jaunts
      • Utah
      • Colorado
      • New Mexico
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Nebraska
      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
    • Photos
    • PMags News
    • Press
  • Nuts and Bolts
    • New to the outdoors? Start here!
    • Getting Started
    • Quick Tips
    • Trip Planning
    • Quick and Dirty Guides
    • Food
    • Gear
      • All Gear Posts
      • Gear Reviews
      • Gear Quivers
      • Gear Lists
      • Budget Gear
      • What I’m Wearing
      • Clothing and related
      • Footwear
      • Packs
      • Shelters and related
      • Sleeping bags, quilts, and pads
      • Stoves, cooking, and related
      • Tools
      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
    • Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques
  • Subscribe by email
  • Write Me
  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
    • About Joan West
      • Joan’s articles
Header Toggle
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
PMags.com
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
Home »Posts tagged  gear review (Page 9)

Tag: gear review

Long term review: My favorite fleece hat

Posted onOctober 12, 2016November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Cold and drizzly today in Colorado. Which means I had to grab my favorite hat. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, hats, winter

An overlook: Sierra Designs High Route 1FL

Posted onOctober 5, 2016April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Some initial impressions of the High Route 1FL shelter. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsAndrew Skurka, gear review, shelters, Sierra Designs

First impressions: Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor

Posted onOctober 4, 2016April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Initial impressions of the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor backpack. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsAndrew Skurka, backpacks, gear review, packs, Sierra Designs

Gear review: Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker

Posted onSeptember 22, 2016October 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A reasonably priced 24 oz shelter that works well for my shoulder season, group trips or when it is insect prone. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, shelters, Six Moon Designs, tent

Gear review: ULA CDT backpack

Posted onSeptember 20, 2016February 15, 2022AuthorPaul Mags16 Comments

An older lighter weight warhorse that works well if you need to go lighter, enjoy versatility, durability and venture off-trail. Bonus: Not expensive. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbackpack, gear review, packs, ULA

PowerLine PowerCup Mobile Inverter

Posted onJuly 21, 2016October 15, 2019AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A neat little device I’ve had for a few years now that really intrigued my friends recently. Perfect for both road trips or disaster preparedness. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscar camping, electronics, gear review

Gear review: BDU pants

Posted onJune 24, 2016November 6, 2024AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Need some durable, versatile and inexpensive pants for trailwork and other outdoor activities? Consider some military style Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) pants. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscar camping, clothing, gear review, surplus, trail work

Gear Review: Black Diamond Firstlight tent

Posted onMay 4, 2016May 18, 2017AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

The Black Diamond Firstlight is a light and easy to setup winter shelter for the solo winter backpacker not spending a lot of time in camp. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, shelters, tents, winter

Gear review: Deuce of Spades

Posted onApril 28, 2016May 30, 2017AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

A lightweight, durable and compact trowel for doing what needs to be done. Useful in more popular backcountry areas. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsDeuce of Spades, gear review, trowel

Stoves for camping

Posted onApril 13, 2016April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Car camping, road tripping, doing trail work or even a trailhead bivy? Here’s an overview of stoves that may work. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscamping, campstoves, car camping, gear review, quiver, stoves, the quiver

TBT Gear: Gossamer Gear Rukus

Posted onApril 7, 2016April 22, 2020AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

An odd pack that is “neither fish nor fowl”, but ends up being surprisingly useful. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbackpacks, daypack, gear review, Gossamer Gear, packs, TBT Gear

Quick Tip: Ammo boxes for caching

Posted onMarch 29, 2016November 6, 2024AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Caching food or other supplies for off-the-beaten trips or even convenience? Surplus ammo boxes are an inexpensive and easy way cache these supplies. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Quick TipsTagsbackpacking, budget gear, food cache, gear review, quick tip

TBT Gear: Cast iron cookware

Posted onFebruary 25, 2016November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

It is Throwback Thursday with a look at cast iron cook gear! The old school cookware that is suitable for in home or camp. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscamping, car camping, cast iron, cookware, food, gear review, stoves, TBT Gear

Gear review: Paradox DriRelease thermals from Costco

Posted onFebruary 16, 2016December 8, 2025AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

A review of the Paradox DriRelease thermals. Well made, affordable and effective base layers typically found at Costco. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, Costco, DriRelease, gear review, merino blend, Pardox, popular, shirts, thermals

TBT Gear: Lands’ End ragg wool socks

Posted onFebruary 4, 2016April 24, 2018AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Another Throwback Thursday look at gear. This time a simple pair of ragg wool socks I’ve used for many ski tour days. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, Lands End, ragg wool, socks, TBT Gear, winter

Review: Minus 33 midweight merino wool layers

Posted onFebruary 3, 2016April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

A long term review of the Minus 33 midweight merino wool layers. They breathe well, they adapt to different temperatures…they just don’t last long. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, merino wool midweight, Minus 33, shirts, thermals

Gear Review: C9 (Target) running pants

Posted onJanuary 15, 2016April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Some effective pants for ski touring when constantly on the move and above 10 or so in temperature. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, winter

TBT Gear: Dachstein boiled wool mittens

Posted onJanuary 14, 2016February 4, 2021AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A closer look at the venerable Dachstein boiled wool mittens. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, gloves, TBT Gear, winter

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Virtual tip jar

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                                                                                                      

  • REI: Shop Deal of the Day at REI Garage!
  • REI: Outlet 50% off deals
  • REI: Official Coupons and Rebates page
  • REI: Used Gear Store

PMags Instagram

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.

PMags Popular Posts

  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • The Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide The Colorado Trail “End to End" Guide
  • Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites
  • The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge The Frugal Backpacker - The $300 Gear Challenge
  • PCT trail marker A Quick and Dirty Guide to The Pacific Crest Trail
  • A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide
  • Stove Comparison – Real World Use Stove Comparison – Real World Use
  • Talus vs. Scree – What is the difference? Talus vs. Scree - What is the difference?
  • Ground Cloths : A quick overview Ground Cloths : A quick overview
  • Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way
  • From GIS Sleepings Pads - A grounded view
  • The Vanderbilt's "summer cottage" - The Breakers Mansion. From American Esscence. The Gilded Age, a Catholic Nun, and Public Lands
  • Local jaunts in 3D Local jaunts in 3D
  • One Year Review – OYGSieg Sun Hoodie One Year Review – OYGSieg Sun Hoodie
  • A bit of winter in Moab A bit of winter in Moab
  • Thoughts on two years with the National Park Service Thoughts on two years with the National Park Service
  • Magic 8 Ball for Public Lands Management Magic 8 Ball for Public Lands Management
  • Presidents Day Weekend 2026 Presidents Day Weekend 2026
  • Standard vs Grid vs Alpha vs Octa Fleece for Backpacking: Real-World Pros and Cons Standard vs Grid vs Alpha vs Octa Fleece for Backpacking: Real-World Pros and Cons
  • Off-Piste: Keeping an Aging Laptop Useful Off-Piste: Keeping an Aging Laptop Useful
  • Canyon Country in February Canyon Country in February
  • Today Week Month All
  • Sorry. No data yet.
Ajax spinner

Archives

Recent Comments

  • Paul Mags on Magic 8 Ball for Public Lands Management
  • seano on Magic 8 Ball for Public Lands Management
  • Mike J on Magic 8 Ball for Public Lands Management
  • Alex on Canyon Country in February
  • Paul Mags on Some small, good things.

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.

 

© 2026 - PMags.com - All Rights Reserved -Privacy Policy
Scroll Up
  • Home
  • Ramblings
    • Musings
    • Books and Media
    • Videos
    • From The Web
    • Thru Hikes, Long Walks, or Routes
      • My Alphabet Soup summary
      • Vermont’s Long Trail
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Pacific Crest Trail
      • Colorado Trail
      • Continental Divide Trail
      • Ring The Peak Trail (Pike’s Peak)
      • Benton Mackaye Trail
      • Tahoe Rim Trail
      • Uinta Highline Trail
      • Collegiate Loop
      • A Walk Across Southern Utah
      • Great Divide Trail (Canada)
      • The Northern New Mexico Loop
      • Grand – Moab Route
      • SEUG Circuit
      • A Walk Across New England
    • Other Outdoor Jaunts
      • Utah
      • Colorado
      • New Mexico
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Nebraska
      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
    • Photos
    • PMags News
    • Press
  • Nuts and Bolts
    • New to the outdoors? Start here!
    • Getting Started
    • Quick Tips
    • Trip Planning
    • Quick and Dirty Guides
    • Food
    • Gear
      • All Gear Posts
      • Gear Reviews
      • Gear Quivers
      • Gear Lists
      • Budget Gear
      • What I’m Wearing
      • Clothing and related
      • Footwear
      • Packs
      • Shelters and related
      • Sleeping bags, quilts, and pads
      • Stoves, cooking, and related
      • Tools
      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
    • Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques
  • Subscribe by email
  • Write Me
  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
    • About Joan West
      • Joan’s articles

Subscribe to PMags.com

  • Receive an email notification of new posts direct to your inbox once a week.
  • Old school text email digest
  • It is easy!

ClickHereButton

×