The best sea kayak compass that you’ve never heard of.
Continue reading “Gear Review: Sliva 70 UNE Compass”Tag: Outdoor Gear
DIY: Pad Straps for a Backpacking Quilt
A quick project to connect your quilt to your sleeping pad.
Continue reading “DIY: Pad Straps for a Backpacking Quilt”
DIY: Ultralight Sil-Poly Tarp
A straightforward sewing project to create a versatile, lightweight shelter.
Continue reading “DIY: Ultralight Sil-Poly Tarp”Gear Review: Outdoor Research Helium Bivy
Initial shakedown on a desert river trip.
Continue reading “Gear Review: Outdoor Research Helium Bivy”
DIY: Climashield Apex Backpacking Quilt
It’s hard to find a decent synthetic sleeping bag these days.
Continue reading “DIY: Climashield Apex Backpacking Quilt”DIY: Padding a Bucket Style Canoe Seat
A quick and easy way to improve the comfort and fit of your canoe seat.
Continue reading “DIY: Padding a Bucket Style Canoe Seat”Bent Shafts and Bucket Seats
The other day I was checking the Wenonah Facebook account and came across a post asking why Wenonah puts bucket seats in our canoes.
Good question…
Continue reading “Bent Shafts and Bucket Seats”DIY: Mountainsmith Day Pack as Canoe Portage Chest Pack
A few weeks ago I was digging through the dusty archives of the BWCA.com message board and came across a thread on chest packs.
Continue reading “DIY: Mountainsmith Day Pack as Canoe Portage Chest Pack”
Gear Review: Astral Rassler Water Boots
I’ve had a pair of Rasslers since they were introduced in 2013. They’re my favorite all-terrain, wet and dry hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and fly fishing boots.
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Gear Review: Alaska Guide Creations Kodiak CUB Bino Pack
A better way to carry your binoculars in the field…
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Essential Outdoor Gear: MSR WhisperLite International Review
The MSR WhisperLite has been around since 1984. I can’t believe I waited so long to buy one. Continue reading “Essential Outdoor Gear: MSR WhisperLite International Review”
Essential Outdoor Gear: Patagonia Houdini Jacket Review
There are a handful of pieces of outdoor gear that legitimately qualify as classics. Continue reading “Essential Outdoor Gear: Patagonia Houdini Jacket Review”
80 Percent Kit
A little planning goes a long way…
Possibles Pouch
Everyday carry for outdoor adventures… Continue reading “Possibles Pouch”
Clothes for the Road
What to wear when you’re living in a tiny house on the road chasing outdoor adventures. Continue reading “Clothes for the Road”
Gear Review: Patagonia Baggies and Capilene Cool Daily T-Shirt
Two shirts, two shorts, six weeks. Still going strong… Continue reading “Gear Review: Patagonia Baggies and Capilene Cool Daily T-Shirt”
DIY: Bear Spray Holster
I sat down at the sewing machine yesterday to crank out a bear spray holster. This simple sewing project will get you a better holster for about $10 worth of materials and an hour of sewing time. Continue reading “DIY: Bear Spray Holster”
Gear Review: Black Diamond Stance Belay Parka
This thing is warm. Ridiculously warm. Continue reading “Gear Review: Black Diamond Stance Belay Parka”
Simple Clothing System: Winter Field Notes
I spent the month of January trying different combinations of clothing from the Simple Clothing System. Here are a few field notes and observations: Continue reading “Simple Clothing System: Winter Field Notes”
DIY: Overboots for Winter Booties
Sewing a quick-and-dirty pair of overboots for my Polarguard camp booties. Continue reading “DIY: Overboots for Winter Booties”
DIY: Hacking the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
Exploring some simple ways to improve the performance of my favorite lightweight water filter.
Continue reading “DIY: Hacking the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter”DIY: Stove Base for Wisperlite International
Taking a crack at a new stove base for my Whisperlite. Continue reading “DIY: Stove Base for Wisperlite International”
DIY: Mounting a Telemark Ski Binding
Out with the old, in with the old. Switching Voile 3-Pin Cable bindings from my old beater skis to my new beater skis… Continue reading “DIY: Mounting a Telemark Ski Binding”
Hot Hands: A Layering Approach to Handwear
The thing that happens when you can’t find a decent pair of mittens…
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A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Wrapup: Putting it Together Season by Season
Building a clothing system that works year round in all conditions can seem like an impossible task. The Simple Clothing System framework outlined in this series of posts makes it a snap. Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Wrapup: Putting it Together Season by Season”
DIY: Hot Tent Project and Kifaru Box Stove Review
I just completed the first burn on my new Kifaru box stove and had a chance to try out the stove jack I installed in my old Megamid. The stove is impressive, and combined with the Megamid I think I’ve found my new winter solo trip tent. Continue reading “DIY: Hot Tent Project and Kifaru Box Stove Review”
A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Supplemental: Shirts, Shorts and Skivvies
To complete your year-round simple clothing system you need to add a lightweight summer shirt and a pair of quick-dry shorts. You should probably have some undies that don’t suck, too. Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Supplemental: Shirts, Shorts and Skivvies”
Gear Review: Banks Fry Bake Expedition Pan with Lid
The Banks Fry Bake pan is the most expensive backcountry frying pan you can buy. Is it worth the money? Continue reading “Gear Review: Banks Fry Bake Expedition Pan with Lid”
A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 7: High Loft Insulation
If you’re going to spend time outside in the cold and snow you’ll want to add a compressible high loft jacket and pants to your clothing system.
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A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 6: Waterproof/Breathable Shells
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain–it happens. When it does, quality waterproof/breathable rain gear can save the day. Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 6: Waterproof/Breathable Shells”
A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 5: Soft Shells for Cold Weather
Stretch-woven soft shell fabrics are the best choice for all-purpose cold weather shells. Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 5: Soft Shells for Cold Weather”
A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 4: Wind Shells
Wind shells are about the least glamorous piece of outdoor clothing out there, and the most versatile. Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 4: Wind Shells”
A Simple Clothing System: UPDATE and Podcast Dump
I’ve been digging into podcasts over the past several months and further exploring the origins of the clothing system that I am outlining in this series of posts. One of the things that I’ve discovered is that there are a few people out there who have very deep knowledge on clothing systems design and performance. Many of these folks are connected with the modern backcountry hunting community. Quite a few have ties to the military and some were influential in developing the systems that started as the Protective Combat Uniform and morphed into the current version of the US Army’s Extended Cold Weather Clothing System. Continue reading “A Simple Clothing System: UPDATE and Podcast Dump”
A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 3: Midweight Insulating Jacket
A midweight insulating jacket is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing you can add to your outdoor gear closet.
Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 3: Midweight Insulating Jacket”A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 2: Lightweight Fleece
Light is right. A lightweight, quick-drying fleece top and bottom are the core of a versatile cold weather clothing system.
Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 2: Lightweight Fleece”
A Simple Outdoor Clothing System Layer 1: Baselayer
Wicking next-to-skin baselayers are the foundation of any cold weather clothing system. Choices abound. Simplicity beckons.
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A Simple Outdoor Clothing System
Outdoor clothing is too complicated. There are too many choices. It’s all too expensive. How on earth can a person expect to make the right choice about outdoor gear when there are so many options? The answer is easy: Simplify.
Continue reading “A Simple Outdoor Clothing System”
Kitchi-Gami 