Gear pick of the year 2025 – Cider, rum, and chocolate
Gear pick of the year for 2025? Cider, chocolate, and rum. Read More …
Category: Gear
The most popular topic of the outdoors it seems.
How to get ultralight?
Going ultralight with your gear is a Holy Grail of sorts for many new to backpacking. Here are some thoughts on achieving that goal. Read More …
The Quiver – Top Shelters of all time!
What began as a parody of “top ten” gear lists has grown into a reflection on how real shelter choices evolve with trips, partners, seasons, and the simple goal of sleeping well and walking on. Updated 2025. Read More …
Gear we liked for 2025
Our annual roundup of the simple, effective gear that served Joan and me well in 2025 — from shelters and stoves to daypacks, pans, and a few DIY touches. Read More …
Shoulder Season – The Time in Between
You’ll often see publications and experienced outdoors people talk about “shoulder season.” What is it? And what adjustments do you need to make? Read More …
Flying with backpacking gear
Some tips, pointers, ideas, and caveats about packing backpacking gear when you’ll arrive by plane, train, or bus. Read More …
A properly attired hiker: Blaze orange in hunting season
Different options for the wearing of blaze orange and other hi-vis colors while hiking during peak hunting season. Updated Fall 2025. Read More …
Cold and Wet: The Hardest Hiking
What to wear in what many people consider to be among the most difficult of conditions: cold and wet. Updated Sept 2025. Read More …
Gear Review – Gossamer Gear Mariposa 2025
Joan looks at 2025 Gossamer Gear Mariposa. It’s a pack she’s used for a while in both the 2014 and 2016 iterations and she compares and contrasts the various iterations. Read More …
Eight-year review – Stanley Adventure Cook set
An eight year review of the Stanley Adventure Cook set. A humble piece of kit we probably have used hundreds of times at this point, Read More …
A Tale of Three Mugs
A review? A philosophical look at gear? Navel gazing? Or recognizing I seem to run on caffeine, sarcasm, and stubbornness most days? Read More …
Gear Review: UCO Utility Spork 3-in-1 Combo Spoon-Fork-Knife
The UCO Utility Spork 3-in-1 Combo Spoon-Fork-Knife from is a modest item that Joan and I use all the time since 2019. Read More …
Gear Review – Gossamer Gear Loris 25 daypack
A look at the Gossamer Gear Loris 25 daypack that’s a worthy successor to the Type II utility packs we we wore out. Read More …
Paul Mags’ Gear List (Solo Backpacking, three-season)
My gear list for solo, three-season hiking in Colorado or similar. I also added some gear I may swap in depending on the trip type. Updated. Read More …
First impressons – Gossamer Gear “The Two”
An initial overlook at The Gossamer Gear “The Two” that Joan and I have used the past couple of months. Read More …
Gear Review – Squak Camp Dress
Joan looks at her new favorite car camping staples these past few months – The Squak Camp Dress. Read More …
Long term review – 2010 ~50 liter Igloo cooler
A long tern review of the decidely un-hip Costco Igloo cooler from 2010. Read More …
Words of wisdom from 1877
How to Camp by John M. Gould was written 150 years ago. But it still has some practical advice applicable for any outdoors person today. Read More …