Gear
Count me among the Hoka One One skeptics when it first arrived on the scene. I assumed the exceptional stack height would translate into a wobbly ride. I was turned off by the obnoxious color pallette. And I observed one client destroy a new pair in just 60 (hard) miles in the High Sierra. But…
Unbridged creek crossings are the greatest hazards in the early-season. High water volume (due to snowmelt) and steep gradients (due to mountain topography) is a dangerous combination. In comparison, other early-season conditions like sun cups, postholing, intense bugs and even hard snowfields seem like a mere annoyance or inconvenience. Let’s discuss how to safely manage…
Reviews about the second edition of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide are being posted around the web. So far, very good. Amazon: 4.8/5, 10 reviews Goodreads: 4.8/5, 5 reviews AndrewSkurka.com: 5/5, 6 reviews (some website reader bias, perhaps) It’s more fun to read the reviews though: “Just wow! So worth the price in gear savings…
What must you absolutely get right when selecting footwear for early-season conditions? As with every other season, they must fit. Period. All other footwear characteristics are secondary. However, if you get these right, too, you’ll be much better off than having a well-fitting shoe that never dries and performs poorly on snow. Boots & shoes “Waterproof”…
Outdoor clothing brands and retailers present backpackers with a paralyzing number of options. The situation is exacerbated by marketing hype and the infusion of “outdoor lifestyle” clothes, which perform relatively poorly in the field. Two years ago I published a series on Core 13 Clothing, and those posts remain as relevant as ever. These items can…
This post was prompted by an email from reader Jim that started with, Jim was deliberating between the purchase of a High Route and a more traditional pyramid-shaped shelter (“mid”), and he hoped that I would shed insight on the differences. While I have discussed them in multiple places, I have not yet written a dedicated…
A question from reader Patrick H.: Most backpackers who look beyond REI while researching gear have probably learned of Cuben Fiber, either in a standalone conversation or as a fabric option for shelters, backpacks, and accessories made by cottage brands like Hammock Gear, Katabatic Gear, Mountain Laurel Designs and others. Cuben stands out, partly because equipment made with it is exorbitantly…
Next week the second edition of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide will be officially released. If you pre-ordered a copy from me, it was shipped earlier this week. If you order one now, it will be shipped within 24 hours. If you ordered the hardcopy or Kindle edition from Amazon, it will ship or downloaded on…
While I was researching for my recent review of the Under Armour Sonic Compression Short, I saw a new (at least to me) model from Nike that looked similar to the original Pro Combat Short, which I had worn before the Sonic. I was disappointed when Nike replaced it with the Pro Combat 2.0 Short,…
For the past three years the Under Armour HeatGear Sonic Compression Short has been my go-to running short. After 500+ runs — including my biggest races like Run Rabbit Run 100, the Colorado Marathon, and San Juan Solstice 50 — I feel very confident in writing a long-term review. I use the Sonic Shorts primarily…