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Home » Archive for  Gear (Page 2)

Category: Gear

The most popular topic of the outdoors it seems.

Gear Review – Squak Camp Dress

Posted onJune 27, 2025July 3, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Joan looks at her new favorite car camping staples these past few months – The Squak Camp Dress. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, fleece, gear review, Joan West

Long term review – 2010 ~50 liter Igloo cooler

Posted onJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

A long tern review of the decidely un-hip Costco Igloo cooler from 2010. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, stoves

Words of wisdom from 1877

Posted onApril 25, 2025August 1, 2025AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

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 …

CategoriesBooks and Media, Gear, Getting StartedTagsbackpacking, books, camping, favorite

Gear over the years – A look back, Part 4

Posted onMarch 30, 2025March 30, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Part four of this ongoing series of a longer term look at gear and techniques Joan and I use for the outdoors. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear list, gear used over the years, Joan West

Gear over the years – A look back, Part 3

Posted onFebruary 15, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Part three of a a continuing series of looking at gear we’ve used over the yeatrs.
Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear list, gear used over the years, Joan West, surplus

An overlook -Alpha Squak V2

Posted onJanuary 24, 2025February 4, 2026AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A look at the Alpha Squak V2. The TL;DR – I like the garment itself but I still find Alpha fleece a niche use for my needs. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, fleece, gear review

Gear over the years – A look back, Part 2

Posted onJanuary 18, 2025January 19, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another look over the gear Joan and I used over the decades. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear list, gear used over the years, Joan West

Ultra-light but not ultra-precise

Posted onJanuary 18, 2025December 6, 2025AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Why I stopped counting ounces with my gear…at least precisely. Updated for 2025. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsgear, grams, lightweight, ounces

Gear over the years – A look back, Part 1

Posted onJanuary 9, 2025January 9, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The first in a series of some quick looks at some gear or gear-adjacent items we still use over the years. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear list, gear used over the years, Joan West

Gear pick of the year 2024 – The Free Time Firewall

Posted onDecember 19, 2024December 19, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The gear pick of the yeat for 2024? The Free Time Firewall. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear pick of the year

Gear we liked for 2024

Posted onDecember 18, 2024December 20, 2024AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Our annual summary of “The Gear We Liked” in 2024. A mix of cottage, budget, and even some MYOG courtesy of the talented Joan. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear we liked, Joan West, myog, packrafting

Gear review -Zengjo grid fleece hoodie

Posted onNovember 30, 2024December 1, 2024AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A $20 grid fleece hoodie that’s not as well made as others ones, but a good price for a no-frills piece of kit. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget, clothing, fleece, gear, gear review

Gear review – Coghlan’s Map Compass

Posted onNovember 22, 2024November 22, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A basic compass at $8 from Coghlan’s but made for them by a navigation company with over 40 years experience. Good quality at a good price! Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear, gear review, tools

Gear review – Laek Adventure Towels

Posted onNovember 19, 2024June 21, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the laek adventure towels – simple, sturdy, quick drying, and absorbent. Awesome for our extended camping trips and times in between backpacking. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscar camping, clothing, 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 – GADIEMKENSD long-billed running hat

Posted onSeptember 14, 2024AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

A look at the $14 GADIEMKENSD long-brim foldable nylon “running hat” that works better than a trucker-style hat for me and my needs. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, hats

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

Sewing lightweight tall gaiters

Posted onJuly 18, 2024December 1, 2024AuthorJoan1 Comment

Joan’s rocked a skirt and long gaiter combo for ventilation and protection from the sun and brush for many years now. Here’s her MYOG instructions on making a pair. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfootwear, Joan West, myog, sun protection

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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                                                                                                      

  • REI: Shop Deal of the Day at REI Garage!
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  • 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.

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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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