Last season Mrs. HikeForPow got a new pack for Christmas to replace her aging Arc’teryx Silo 30. The Silo 30 was a good pack, but it was a bit too long in the torso for her. It also had a bit of an odd shape. It narrowed at the bottom, so fully packing it was an interesting challenge. Anyway, enough about the old pack and on to the new. She’s been pretty thrilled with her new pack, so read on…
If you are someone that spends time in the backcountry, you should definitely consider getting a PLB (personal locator beacon) or a satellite messenger. The nature of backcountry travel means that you are often out of the range of cell towers. Having a device that communicates via satellite can literally be a life saver if things go awry. Read on for an overview of the best personal locator beacons (PLBs) and best satellite messengers that are available today. Whether your…
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the grass is starting to get green. Maybe you’ve already been out for a mountain bike ride or two, or you’ve started pre-season bike maintenance. Your beloved skis are probably gathering dust in a corner in the basement or your shed, and won’t be given another thought until the snow starts to fly again. But hold on – there are a few easy end of season ski maintenance tasks you can…
If you spend much time in the backcountry, you have probably considered getting an app with GPS tracking and topographic maps. Nothing can replace paper maps in terms of reliability (as long as you keep them dry), but GPS apps have come a long way. Another good alternative is something like the Garmin InReach Explorer+, which has topo maps and real-time GPS navigation as well as satellite messaging. You can learn more about that device and other options in our…
Although an avalanche shovel is a fairly simple piece of equipment, every year there are small improvements made to shovel designs. They get stronger, lighter, and easier to assemble and take apart. This article will take a look at some of the best avalanche shovels currently on the market. If you’re looking for other avalanche safety gear, check out our articles about the Best Avalanche Probes in 2018 , the Best Avalanche Airbag Packs in 2018, and the Best Avalanche Transceiver…
Study after study has shown that time spent outside enjoying nature is beneficial for our physical and mental health. In this article, we’ll go over what we think are the top 10 reasons to get outside and explore the backcountry, whether it’s a warm hike in summer or a snowy day ski touring in the winter. These benefits don’t just apply to getting into the deep backcountry wilderness. If all you can do is go for a walk in an…
Many models of alpine touring boots now come with excellent liners, but some still fall short. Intuition liners have been one of the benchmark aftermarket ski boot liner providers for years. The latest iteration of the Pro Tour model continues that legacy. In this review we’ll tell you what makes it such a good liner (spoiler alert: it’s excellent). Intuition: A Small Company with a Reputation for Quality For over 20 years, a small company named Intuition Sports, Inc. based…
If you are the owner of an Ortovox 3+ Avalanche Transceiver, you’re going to want to read this. First of all, don’t panic. It’s a minor software issue that may affect some 3+ model transceivers in rare situations. More good news is that it won’t cost you anything to get fixed. This is a precautionary recall, meaning that Ortovox is being proactive. They’ve discovered that there could be an issue with some transceivers, and they are offering to address the issue…
Update: check out our Best Climbing Skins in 2019 article for updated recommendations. After doing a thorough review of Climbing Skins Direct skins last week I thought it would be a good idea to look at what other skins are available. Compared to as little as 10 years ago, there are many more options available today. In this article, we look at the best climbing skins in 2018 and discuss the pros and cons of each. We’ve also taken a first…
***Note: In the last 6 months I’ve heard many reports of slow or no delivery and poor communication from CSD. At this point, unless you’re willing to gamble a bit, I wouldn’t recommend ordering from them. I would also use a credit card with good buyer protection or PayPal in the event that you need to reverse the charges. See the comments below for more info. If you’re looking for a similar alternative, check out Big Sky Mountain Products climbing…