Last month I took a 9-day road trip in Arizona. I was car camping, meeting with friends and spreading the word about the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. And of course, hiking the six mountains in the challenge along the way. I was approached by Glen & Loch to test out their new High […]
GEAR REVIEW: Patriot Cooler
We had been hiking for over six hours. We were hot, thirsty and tired. We were grateful for that first glimpse of the car back at the trailhead. Finishing 12 miles hiking one of the Six-Pack of Peaks, there’s nothing better than getting back to the trailhead and having an ice cold six-pack ready to […]
Cairn Obsidian Spring Collection Unboxing
We first looked at Cairn three years ago when they launched their monthly subscription box. Last year, they created the Obsidian Premium Collection – a quarterly subscription box with over $300 worth of gear. One of the unique features of the premium edition is that it really is tailored to the subscriber. Boxes can include clothing […]
Gear Review: ECCO Ulterra Mid GTX Boot
SoCalHiker takes the new Men’s ECCO Ulterra Mid GTX boots out on the ultimate trail test — a tough four-day backpacking trek over Bishop Pass and into spectacular Kings Canyon National Park. When I started backpacking in the late ’70s, I saved my money to buy my first pair of real backpacking boots — a […]
The Art of #Stanleyness
Growing up, I remember seeing those green Stanley bottles carried off by fathers as marched to work. It didn’t matter whether they wore a suit and tie or a hardhat, they carried a full-day’s supply of hot caffeinated goodness in those classic Stanley bottles. The classic is back, in three new forms designed with the outdoor adventurer in […]
Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed 800
One of my fondest childhood memories is camping with my family. We had a giant tent that slept probably a couple dozen comfortably,  and big, bright red cotton sleeping bags that would keep you warm on a muggy summer night in Indiana. They rolled up into bulky, heavy bundles that you’d never want to carry very […]
