Review: Patagonia Duckbill Cap
There’s always that one piece of gear that you don’t expect to make a huge difference, but then it does. The Patagonia Duckbill Cap is just that piece of gear. I used to hate wearing hats on the trail but the Duckbill Cap changed all that. It’s light, airy, blocks the sun and looks good to boot. It’s the best hiking hat I have found. … Continue reading Review: Patagonia Duckbill Cap
Essential Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue Kit
Review: Edelrid Swift Protect 8.9
In what’s one of the coolest innovations in the world of climbing ropes for some time, Edelrid’s new Swift Protect has aramid fibers woven into the sheath. What is aramid you ask? Well, it’s a very strong synthetic fiber that’s in the same family as Kevlar. From a functional point of view, aramid fibers have good tensile strength, are lightweight, tough and heat resistant. That … Continue reading Review: Edelrid Swift Protect 8.9
Review: Hercules Splitboard Hooks
Keeping things simple in the backcountry is always best practice, and the Hercules Splitboard Hooks do just that. With a positive, almost lock-like connection and added stiffness, these hooks my new favourite splitboard goodie. BACKGROUND: Splitboards have traditionally been held together by Voile Hooks. Two pieces of metal that butt up together and keep the two halves from sliding apart vertically while providing a small … Continue reading Review: Hercules Splitboard Hooks
Review: Spark and Phantom Tech Toes
Splitboard binding technology has come a long way in recent years. This collaboration between Phantom and Spark RnD, the Tech Toes, is one such technological leap and has resulted in the best touring binding around for hardbooters. Choices There are a lot of choices to be made when you decide to start into the splitboarding world, and few of them are simple. Which is the … Continue reading Review: Spark and Phantom Tech Toes
Comparison Review: High-Top Climbing Shoes
A head-to-head review of the most common high-top climbing shoes on the market. High-top climbing shoes have seen a huge resurgence in popularity over the past few years. This has of course prompted more brands to jump back into the high-top shoe game. Now, where there was once only a few high-top options around, every major shoe manufacturer seems to make a pair. To determine … Continue reading Comparison Review: High-Top Climbing Shoes
Review: Mammut 9.0 Alpine Sender Dry
Mammut 9.0 Alpine Sender Dry (or Crag Sender Dry) Mammut has given their dynamic climbing rope organization / naming structure a complete overhaul for 2020. Hidden in this naming change is a brand new rope called the 9.0 Alpine Sender Dry. Or is the 9.0 Crag Sender Dry? As per the new naming scheme, it’s the same rope under a different moniker, but more on … Continue reading Review: Mammut 9.0 Alpine Sender Dry
Five Tips for New Backcountry Skiers
If you’re a seasoned adventurer looking for a way to take your experience to the next level, backcountry skiing could be the perfect way to explore the untouched parts of the world. For those who enjoy breathtaking mountain views, a rewarding challenge, or the adrenaline of flying down the slopes after a long skin up, backcountry skiing is an unforgettable experience. Before you strap on … Continue reading Five Tips for New Backcountry Skiers
First Look: The G7 POD – The World’s Lightest Climbing Ledge
The G7 POD is a really light and durable portaledge. But more than that, it’s a fully insulated sleeping system too! Walls, walls and more walls… “Walls are meant for Climbing” reads The North Face t-shirt on the guy climbing a few routes away from me at the local sport crag. This was a couple of years ago, and a few weeks before I climbed … Continue reading First Look: The G7 POD – The World’s Lightest Climbing Ledge
Review: Mammut Spindrift 32L Ski Pack
The Mammut Spindrift Ski Pack is full of hidden features that won’t just keep your gear organized, but also makes access a dream. This 32L pack is a good choice for any skier or snowboarder looking for an all-around ski/ski mountaineering day pack. This bag is not the lightest, so not for race training. Nor is it the heavy workhorse a ski guide would want. … Continue reading Review: Mammut Spindrift 32L Ski Pack