Kora’s Shola leggings are an ideal winter base layer under ski pants or on their own for winter walks, yoga or snowshoeing. Made from super soft yak wool, they are warm, stretchy, breathable and naturally endowed with odor resistance. Kora yak wool is a versatile textile that offers advantages over popular merino wool that …
The Kahtoola Microspikes ice traction system increases the stability of any winter shoe on ice and snow, taking the terror out of walking on frosty surfaces. Being able to hike on snow covered trails open up the possibilities for winter hiking, and Microspikes make all the difference. Microspikes are good for compacted snow and …
Knixwear bras and underwear are made for the active woman on the go. Whether it’s yoga or hiking, women need fabrics that move and stretch, wick moisture and have no seams to chafe tender skin. Knixwear achieves this with special attention to details and extensive testing with real women. The Evolution Bra has seamless four-way stretch …
I’ve been alternating between boots and the Altra Lone Peak 3.0 trail shoes all winter. The backpacking debate rages on—trail runners versus boots. I’ve tried trail runners before and didn’t find them to be stable enough on uneven surfaces. Many people hiking the John Muir Trail rave about Altras so I decided to give them …
If you’re a backpacker looking for the smallest, lightest headlight on the market, look no further than the Petzl e+LITE headlamp. It is bright, lightweight and compact The e+LITE has an oval shape and is quite compact. It measures 1 x 1.5 inches on the face and is ¾ inch thick. The black face is …
The John Muir Trail, which traces an undulating 211-mile path up and down the High Sierra while crossing numerous 10,000-14,000 foot passes, requires some logistical planning. The trip itself can be completed in roughly two to four weeks (or as little as a few days for elite athletes like Ralph Burgess) or much longer, depending …
After years of sorting through various articles clothing, I have my system down. I pretty much wear the same clothes in temperate climates and rotate a few other items in as needed. When I say “same clothes” I really mean it—I wore the exact same T-shirt and shorts for 23 days on the John Muir …
Our kitchen kit has evolved over the years as Steve and I have lightened up. Like most of the contents in our packs, the food prep equipment isn’t the latest in ultralight (UL) gear, but it’s pretty efficient and works for us. This is probably the one area that changes most frequently, as evidenced by …
The easiest way to lose pack weight is by getting the lightest equipment of the Big Three: the sleep system, pack and tent. It’s also the most expensive, since each of the big three can run into the hundreds of dollars. My approach is middle of the road, which is solidly in the “light” category …
There are so many small, shiny objects that vie for my inclusion in my pack but each one weighs something. It’s easy to say, “It’s not very big and it weighs nothing.” I had a small stuff sack in my hand that felt like air but weighed in at one ounce. Put 16 of those …