backpacking gear
My Sleeping System: I Am Satisfied With Its Performance
I recently upgraded my sleeping system. It now consists of four main components: a sleeping bag, a stuff sack that serves as a pillow, a sleeping bag liner, and a...
Do I Really Need All These Packs?
With so many diverse brands and styles of packs available, each designed for a different type of use, each appealing to various needs, wants, and fashion trends, it's no wonder...
Use it, Wear it, Understand it, Return it, Explore it
Can you believe I'm at the three/ four week point of take off? Well, it also depends a lot on Mother Nature. The past few months have been filled with snowy hikes,...
Your Average Jane’s Gear Log
Warning: there is mild profanity in this article, including a middle finger. It also features potato quality cell phone pictures, which I'm kinda sorry about too. Ok, who doesn't love...
In Praise of Trekking Poles
When I and my knees were years younger, I looked upon trekking poles as a toy of wealthy and wimpy hikers and backpackers, a status symbol suggesting that the person...
Let’s Mini-Explode My PCT Backpack
My pack is weighing in at 12.5 pounds right now. I’m not sure whether this is the final edit. I still have 27 days to worry and fret over a...
Worth the Weight: 7 Things that Carry Themselves
A hiker can go mad trying to slim their gear list down to Ultralight. I'm here to proudly put stuff back on your back. To some, long distance hiking is...
Gear Review: Icebreaker Terra Long Sleeve Half Zip Hood
I knew one thing about Merino wool before testing Image Courtesy of Icebreaker Elevation rising from 2200 to 6000 feet atop North Carolina's wind swept balds. Temperature range from just
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Women’s Micro Thermostatic Jacket
Disclosure: The following product was donated for the purpose of review. Mountain Hardwear Micro Thermostatic jacket. Although I usually use down because of how compressible and light it is, the
Packed and Ready! Another “What’s in My Pack” Post
The food is finished. The bags are packed. The only thing left to do is pack up our dog and take off for the Benton MacKaye Trail! Since all hikers...