GorillaPod Flexible Tripod Review — 15 Years of PNW Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After carrying a 42-pound pack over the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood and enduring four days of wet conditions…
Joby GorillaPod 3K Review — Oregon Coast Trail Weather Test By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Joby GorillaPod 3K is a versatile tripod that excels in the variable conditions of the Oregon Coast Trail and the Columbia…
Leupold VX-3HD 4-12×40 Review — 15 Years of PNW Winter Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Leupold VX-3HD 4-12×40 is a robust, heavy-duty optical solution best suited for winter mountaineering where weight savings…
Garmin Forerunner 965 Review — 15 Years of PNW Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a sophisticated navigation tool that excels for hikers who prioritize advanced mapping and solar…
Osprey Raptor 14 Review — 5 Years of Cascades Cold-Weather Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Osprey Raptor 14 is a compact, 1.8-pound daypack that excels in the Pacific Northwest’s unpredictable shoulder seasons,…
Dirty Girl Gaiters Review — Goat Rocks Wilderness Scramble Test by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Dirty Girl Gaiters are a robust choice for hikers navigating the slick, moss-slicked granite of the Goat Rocks…
Gaia GPS App Review — 15 Years of PNW Trail Navigation by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Gaia GPS App is the definitive navigation tool for Pacific Northwest trails, offering robust offline mapping that…
Mammut Wall Rider Helmet Review — 15 Years of PNW Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Mammut Wall Rider is a robust, mid-range helmet that excels in technical alpine environments where impact protection…
Fox Speedframe MIPS Review — 15 Years of PNW Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Fox Speedframe MIPS is a competent, budget-friendly option for day hikers and light packers who need reliable headwear…
MSR AutoFlow Gravity Filter Review — 15 Years of PNW Trail Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The MSR AutoFlow Gravity Filter is a robust choice for established trails in the Cascades where you…
Zeiss Terra ED 10×42 Review — 15 Years of PNW Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending forty-eight hours in the field testing optics through the haze of the Columbia River Gorge and…
REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Review — 15 Years of PNW Alpine Testing by Cole Hartman By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending nearly 600 trail miles in the Pacific Northwest testing this base layer across the…
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