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Home » Archive for  Gear (Page 17)

Category: Gear

The most popular topic of the outdoors it seems.

Gear Review: Open Country 4 Quart Pot

Posted onDecember 23, 2015April 25, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

An inexpensive and effective pot for group trips esp in winter. Works well for car camping, too. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, cooking, gear review, Open Country, stoves, winter

Outdoor coats for everyday use

Posted onDecember 15, 2015November 21, 2018AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Some outdoor clothing that works for everyday use. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsclothing, winter

TBT Gear: Campmor 0F Down Bag

Posted onDecember 10, 2015April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

A look at the venerable Campmor 0F down bag. The Campmor house brand bags were known as good budget bags. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsCampmor, gear review, sleeping bag, TBT Gear, winter

Gear Review: Sierra Sniveller quilt

Posted onNovember 18, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags7 Comments

A long term review of the Jacks ‘R’ Better No Sniveller quilt. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, Jacks 'R' Better, quilt, Sierra Sniveller, sleeping bag

Gear pick of the year 2015 – Contigo coffee mug

Posted onNovember 10, 2015July 20, 2025AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

My gear pick of the year: Contigo coffee mug from Costco! Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscar camping, coffee, cooking, gear pick of the year, gear review, mug

Cotton kills?

Posted onNovember 3, 2015November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Does cotton really kill in the backcountry? Maybe. Sometimes. It depends. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, cotton, gear, hiking

Gear Review: 100 weight fleece pullover

Posted onOctober 15, 2015December 15, 2025AuthorPaul Mags15 Comments

Perhaps the most versatile piece of clothing I own: My 100 weight fleece pullover. Read More …

CategoriesGearTags100 wt, budget gear, clothing, fleece, gear review, winter

The Quiver- Stoves

Posted onAugust 18, 2015November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

A look at the stoves I use for backpacking and camping. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbackpacking, camping, car camping, gear review, stoves, the quiver

Quick Tip: Ziplock bag wallet

Posted onJuly 28, 2015March 13, 2017AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A Ziplock bag for a wallet seems obvious. But then I saw a review for a $35 hiker wallet. Perhaps the idea is not obvious after all. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Quick TipsTagsbudget gear, gear, wallet

Quick Tip: Frisbee as a camp dinner plate

Posted onJuly 21, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The humble frisbee makes a great dinner plate for camping: light, durable, inexpensive and effective. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Quick TipsTagscamping, car camping, quick tip, trail work

Smart Phone Camera Photography

Posted onJuly 1, 2015July 6, 2019AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

Some thoughts on smart phone camera photography. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagscamera, phone, photography

Kia Sorento cargo shelf

Posted onJune 25, 2015December 18, 2024AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A cargo shelf for our 2005 Kia Sorento. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscar camping, cargo shelf, DIY, gear, Kia Sorento, myog

Frogg Toggs UltraLite2 Rain Suit (DriDucks)

Posted onJune 19, 2015April 14, 2019AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Light, functional and inexpensive rain gear: Frogg Toggs UltraLite2 Rain Suit (DriDucks) Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, DriDucks, Frogg Toggs, gear review, rain gear

Bear and Critter Concerns : What to do?

Posted onJune 11, 2015April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

Concerns about bears or critters? Here are some suggestions to avoid conflict with them. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsbagging, bears, canisters, colorado-tip, critters, prevention

PSA : Alcohol and Esbit stoves banned in RMNP

Posted onJune 9, 2015January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Another example of a government agency being leery of alcohol and solid fuel stoves. Will other agencies follow? Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsban, burn bans, colorado-tip, open flames, PSA, stoves

Quick Tip : Water bottles as ice packs

Posted onJune 3, 2015July 16, 2024AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Have a lot of water bottles accumulated? Use them as quick and dirty ice packs! Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagscamping, car camping, quick tip, water bottles, water containers

Quick Tip: Gutter spike nails as tent stakes

Posted onMay 28, 2015April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

An inexpensive, light and durable alternative to traditional tent stakes. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Quick TipsTagsbudget gear, camping, car camping, quick tip, shelters, tent stakes

TBT Gear: Equinox Ultralight Tarp

Posted onMay 7, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at an old warhorse. Functional, light, still works, not expensive. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsEquinox, gear review, shelters, silnylon, tarp, TBT Gear

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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

@ramblinghemlock and I changed our plans because our usual March haunts were already pushing 90°F. We headed higher to places we usually visit in May. The blooming paintbrush, greening plants, and the lack of snow on the 11,000+ foot peaks in the distance made me wonder what the coming fire season might bring.
@ramblinghemlock and I have had to do some adulting lately. A career transition and a 1956-era house will do that. It sometimes means skipping overnight trips.
We did some volunteer work for an organization we are active with on Saturday and Sunday, and made it into a local camping trip in between the assignments.
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.

PMags Popular Posts

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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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      • 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
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      • Grand – Moab Route
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      • All Gear Posts
      • Gear Reviews
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      • 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
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