Approximately 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Unfortunately only 2.5 percent of it is fresh. Even then, just one percent of our freshwater is easily accessible, with much of it trapped in glaciers and snowfields. For those who regularly venture away from a reliable water source, particularly in dry and arid climates, this can pose a serious problem because water isn’t a convenience, it’s a necessity.
Adventuring through the backcountry offers an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind – a chance to relax and enjoy nature’s magnificence. But, a bad night’s sleep can put a damper on your adventure. Rather than risk a night of tossing and turning pack in with the Hikelite sleeping pad from L.L. Bean.
Whether thunderheads threaten your afternoon hike, or you can smell the moisture in the air during your Yosemite backpacking adventure, having packed the L.L. Bean Pathfinder Waterproof Shell will ensure peace of mind and the weather protection you’ll want and need. Continue Reading
Autumn is here. The leaves are turning, the temperatures are cooling and the smells of pecan pie hang delicately in the air. Autumn also signifies that annual search for a jacket versatile enough to match fluctuating weather, yet stylish enough for your evenings around town. Whether you’re out on the trail or a spending the day cruising the local microbreweries, the Mountain Khakis Alpha Switch Insulated Jacket is ready to become as much a part of your daily routine as your pumpkin spiced latte.
Once viewed as a fringe activity, paddle boarding has taken the outdoor recreation industry by storm. The sport’s low barriers to entry make it the fastest way to experience the joy riding a wave, or the tranquility of paddling towards the sunset on an alpine lake. Yet in a slight twist of irony, it is the very design of the traditional stand up paddleboard (SUP) that can serve as a significant hurdle for some seeking to join in on the SUP fun.
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Those chilly, blustery days of winter are nearly upon us. During the season of Old Man Winter, everyone loves reaching for the cozy warmth of a quality down jacket. But what if this winter your down jacket could be more. What if your down jacket could evolve to provide greater protection against winter’s fury offering new unprecedented levels of warmth? Enter the Heatzone 1000 TurboDown Hooded Jacket from Columbia.
While you admire the thru hiking crowd, you’re not in need of a 75+ Liter pack. But at the same time you know that you can’t go on strapping your sleeping bag, pad, cook pot, and tent poles onto the outside of your daypack. Not only is the Asymmetric 52+8 from Vaude a happy medium between the two extremes, this pack offers a worthy amount of gear space for one, two, or three nights of backcountry bliss.
The cornerstone of any worthy backpacking experience is a dependable and trustworthy backcountry shelter. Lightweight and weather worthy, the sturdy 2-person 3-season Lightning 2 from Sierra Designs offers convenient setup and innovative design for better backcountry getaways. Continue Reading
We hate to break it to you, but those old sunglasses you’re wearing went out of style a few years back. Lucky for you SPY Optic has a few new styles out that will let your fashion sense catch up with today’s fashions.
Even the most benign autumn days mean frigid mornings, sultry afternoons, and evenings fending off bone cracking cold at camp. It’s a season of riddles requiring a layer that can keep you cozy on cross-country rambles, stow neatly for uphill slogs, and be easily accessible for s’mores and stargazing sessions. Ideally, it will also be capable of resisting moisture so a little water won’t thwart your insulation.