River & Trail Talk

You learned to tie your shoelaces at five years old and never looked back. There’s a good chance you learned with the classic criss-cross, overhand knots and square knot to finish it off. If that is still working for you and your feet feel great on a hike, there’s no need to change your ways. However, did you know that there are multiple ways to tie your shoes? Specifically, your hiking boots. Per …

Sometimes we can catch ourselves existing in the ‘outdoor industry’ bubble where casually dropping a term like ‘Mips’ will completely un-phase us yet unintentionally send your brain on a mission to figure out what a Muppet has to do with helmets. Before we fall down the Muppet rabbit hole, let's talk about this adorable sounding term that has a very serious job.So, what is MIPS?First off, Mips is …

You know that expression when you know something well enough that you know it like the back of your hand? Well, in Hestra’s case, they know the backs of all hands. Hestra is a family-owned company that designs and manufactures gloves. Keeping hands warm and protected are their specialty.The company was founded as a family business in 1936 by Martin Magnusson from his workshop in a small Swedi …

There can be a fair bit to consider when choosing a puffer jacket. It lives high on the decisions list titled “I didn’t know it would be complicated”. Particularly since it can be a significant investment among your outdoor clothing. Beyond the fit and style, you’ll want to consider the fill power, fill weight, durability and more. Ultimately, the jacket you choose depends on how and where you pla …

Listen, there is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to outdoor gear. There are a lot of nuances involved and it’s a topic that you can keep as simple as you want or as complicated as you’d like. “Waterproof” footwear is a perfect example of this.Simply put, waterproof footwear will keep your feet dry when wearing them. Sometimes, waterproof is in fact referring to water resistant or …