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Home » Archive for  Gear (Page 6)

Category: Gear

The most popular topic of the outdoors it seems.

Jack of All Trades gear

Posted onJune 26, 2022April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

Limited budget, space, or time? Here is a Jack of All Trades gear kit for general-purpose outdoor use that fits in one large duffle bag. Updated June 2022. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, camping, car camping, gear list, time bank

Review: Canola oil water bottle

Posted onJune 22, 2022June 22, 2022AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

My new dry-camping and water hauling bottle of choice: Light, wide mouth for easy filling, fits well in a pack front pocket of my pack, and is cheap! Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear review, water containers

A simple backcountry field repair kit

Posted onApril 26, 2022AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A light and practical kit for emergency gear repairs in the field. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear maintenance

Quick Tip – Tyvek envelope stuff sacks

Posted onApril 25, 2022April 25, 2022AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

Light, nearly free, and very useful – the Tyvek mailing envelope stuff sack. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Quick TipsTagsbudget gear, quick tip

Long term gear review – Titanium step stool

Posted onApril 1, 2022April 6, 2022AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

Are you a vertically challenged hiker? Get a titanium step stool! Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsApril Fools, gear review

Gear review – Bene Casa grease pot

Posted onMarch 21, 2022April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

A $10 and 5 oz, one-quart cookpot makes an excellent solution when backpacking for two. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, cookware, gear review, stoves

Whaddabouda-ism

Posted onMarch 9, 2022April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

If you try to prepare for every contingency you may find you end up ill-prepared for what you need to do. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsgear thoughts

One year+ review – Corporate schwag puffy

Posted onFebruary 8, 2022January 27, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at a corporate schwag giveaway puffy. Something I think you’ll find in consignment and thrift stores in the years ahead. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget, clothing, gear review, puffy

New gear we liked for 2021

Posted onDecember 14, 2021April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

We did not buy or have a chance to try out much new gear or clothing this past year. Instead, we replaced worn-out items with a few exceptions. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear we liked, Joan West, shelters, Six Moon Designs, sleeping bag, sleeping pads

Gear pick of the year 2021 – A truck tailgate

Posted onDecember 7, 2021December 16, 2021AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A yearly tradition. My gear pick of the year for 2021? A truck tailgate! Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear pick of the year

The Ultimate 2021 Gift Guide

Posted onNovember 23, 2021November 23, 2021AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The only gift guide you’ll ever need. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgift guide

Two+ year review – Nitecore NU25 USB Headlamp

Posted onNovember 17, 2021November 18, 2021AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

A look at a headlamp that’s light, works well, and less expensive than comparable models. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear, gear review, lights

The absolute tried and trued gear that a middle-aged guy uses

Posted onSeptember 22, 2021January 27, 2026AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Have you ever read those articles about cool people doing extraordinary things and a list of gear they use to do those cool things? That’s not this article. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsblessed, living my best life, namaste

A look at Avenza

Posted onSeptember 15, 2021January 27, 2026AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Avenza allows small companies and non-profits to publish their maps. He’s a look at this somewhat obscure app. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsapp, electronics, gear review, maps, navigation

Gear Review – Salomon X Crest hiking shoes

Posted onSeptember 1, 2021April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A look at the Salomon hiking shoes. My verdict? Shoes best for daily wear for the person who hikes occasionally. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfootwear, gear, gear review

Bear spray canister copy/pasta

Posted onJuly 23, 2021November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags12 Comments

More people insist they need bear spray when venturing into black bear country because “it is better to have it and not need it.”—my boilerplate response. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, MusingsTagsbears

Review – Wildland Coffee bags

Posted onJuly 21, 2021July 21, 2021AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A look at some coffee bags that’s a notch above my usual backcountry coffee fare Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscoffee, food, gear review

Quick Tip – Get an emergency air compressor

Posted onJune 8, 2021AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A must-have item for anyone traveling to trailheads away from mobile device coverage. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Quick TipsTagsdriving, electronics, quick tip

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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!
  • 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.

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  • Paul Mags on Thoughts on two years with the National Park Service
  • Stan Allison on Thoughts on two years with the National Park Service
  • Stan Allison on Western Snap shirts vs. Sun Hoodies- Hot and Dry Weather
  • Monty on Some volunteering and camping
  • K C on More local hiking – Moab in March

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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    • 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
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      • Colorado
      • New Mexico
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    • New to the outdoors? Start here!
    • Getting Started
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    • Quick and Dirty Guides
    • Food
    • Gear
      • All Gear Posts
      • Gear Reviews
      • Gear Quivers
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      • 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
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    • Who is Paul Mags?
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