Category: Tech
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The BD Hot Forge Hoody is awesome
I’m highlighting this medium-light down jacket both because it provides a great example of how to do such a thing well, and because persistent shoppers can still find it well under 200 dollars in certain sizes and colors, which is a bargain. Black Diamond declines to specific the amount of fill in the Hot Forge…
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How to aquaseal your trail shoes
Adding aquaseal to one’s trail shoes should be standard practice to maximize useful life, otherwise known as trying to keep the upper hole-free until the tread is worn down to nothing. If you walk in rough terrain, and especially if you get your shoes wet frequently, this is not always easy to accomplish. Depending on…
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Closure options for large packs
A good, simple, light closure for a big (top circumference in excess of 40 inches) pack is somewhat difficult to do well. Volume in a big pack can fluctuate significantly, and pack height above the frame needs to be controlled so it does not go bobble-headed and flop around. Additionally, weatherproofing and easy access for…
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BD Alpine Carbon Cork 2013 v. 2016
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles have been the rugged hiking pole of reference for quite some time. They are lightish (~8 oz per pole), stiff, very durable, and quite compact. They are what I recommend to those who prefer long-term investments, hike off trail, are hard on gear, or value having one…
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Rab Novak
For several years now I’ve been looking for an ideal fleece insulating layer, with only modest success. This layer should be warm enough for stand-alone use in many three-season conditions, as light as possible, have minimal to no lycra in the fabric, fit over a baselayer but under a shell, and have a few pockets…
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LaSportiva Bushido review
Never have I bought a pair of shoes with such low expectations, that over a year later ended up being so close to perfect. I purchased the Bushidos, last minute and at full retail, way back in January of 2015, concerned that my Altra Lone Peaks wouldn’t last the trip to New Zealand. This was…
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Small water rafting
Based on my extensive experience locally, and more limited experience elsewhere, in the wilderness there are a lot of waterways which have more than enough to packraft, but not enough water to be consistently free of wood. In a place like Alaska, which generally lacks human-built trails, the calculus is different. But in the lower…
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2016 Bob Open gearlist
No video this year. The array of stuff is so familiar that writing it out seems redundant, but folks have consistently expressed value in the video versions, and I like them for future reference. We had a mild winter and early spring in northwest Montana, but the last week has brought record precip, which fell…
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Seek Outside pack buying guide
Seek Outside doesn’t actually make that many packs, but for those who’ve never seen one getting acquainted with the options and choosing well can be daunting. I’ve put serious miles on a Unaweep, Evolution, and Revolution, and am accumulating miles on the new Divide 4500, so I like to think I have something to offer…
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First Lite Aerowool
As I’ve written before, the task of baselayers fabrics made from merino-polyester blends is to unite the moisture management and funk resistance of wool with the quick wicking/drying and durability of polyester. Numerous variations have made good strides towards this end, but all have come up short in one way or another. Kuiu’s ultra merino…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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