River & Trail Talk

Full disclosure, I'm going to totally geek out on this topic and if you end up deciding ultralight backpacking (UB) is for you, then you will geek out too.You will become a gram counter and obsess over the weights of gear options. You will cut the handle off your toothbrush. Dyneema will be incorporated fully into your vocabulary. You will most likely buy a titanium spork because that is the inter …

So, everyone and their uncle has a YETI mug these days. Why? What makes YETI so popular?The simple answer is what they do and what they make: super durable and functional gear. They make everything from coolers, mugs, and submersible bags to dog bowls, chairs and blankets.YETI started back in 2006, when two brothers were frustrated with cheap coolers that wore out or broke. They decided to ma …

So, you’ve decided you would like to paddle this season. With so many different types of kayaks out there, how do you choose?There are some questions you can ask yourself to get things narrowed down a bit. First, where will you be paddling? Ocean paddling will require a different style of boat than if your paddling lakes and small rivers.Do you want a sit inside?Is this strictly for recre …

Will your next adventure be out camping with family and friends or will you be carrying your gear on a backpacking adventure? Are you a fan of summertime campouts or are you in the backcountry throughout the entire year?When it comes to choosing a sleeping bag there are some key things to consider. For example, camping sleeping bags tend to offer more room and are bulkier in size. They are als …

There are a few things to consider when choosing a kayak paddle. Not all paddles are created equally and there are so many options to choose from so how do you decide?In this post we’ll look at some of the key points to help filter through the possibilities.First, consider the type of paddling you do. Is this for recreational use or for touring? Paddles designed for recreational use are cost ef …