ProBar Meal Bar Review — Mount Hood Wilderness Trail Test By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The ProBar Meal Bar is a solid caloric anchor for weekend backpackers navigating the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood or the Skyline…
BearVault BV500 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 fifteen years of testing gear across the Cascades, from the humidity of the Hoh River to the dry heat…
Hoka Challenger ATR 7 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 Hoka Challenger ATR 7 is a robust, durable workhorse that excels for hikers carrying heavy loads over…
Norco Fluid FS 1 Review — Mount Hood Wilderness Trail Test By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Norco Fluid FS 1 is a robust, no-nonsense pack I recommend for weekend warriors tackling the Timberline Trail around Mount…
Leatherman Wave Plus 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 Leatherman Wave Plus is a robust multi-tool that shines for established trails where you can comfortably manage a…
Stealth Cam G42NG Trail Camera Review — Goat Rocks Wilderness Scramble Test By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Stealth Cam G42NG Trail Camera is a solid choice for trail patrols in the Goat Rocks Wilderness and Wallowa-Whitman…
Minus33 Merino Wool Midweight 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 Minus33 Merino Wool Midweight is an excellent mid-layer for the Pacific Northwest’s notoriously volatile shoulder seasons, specifically…
Lifetime Folding Camp Table Review — Mount Rainier Shoulder Season Trial By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Lifetime Folding Camp Table is a pragmatic choice for car camping or base camp scenarios where weight savings are secondary…
Black Diamond Apollo Lantern 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 After hauling a 45-pound pack through the wettest November in memory on the Oregon PCT and the…
Arc’teryx Bora 65: Real-World Trail Test from the Cascades to the Rockies Who Should Buy the Arc’teryx Bora 65 This pack is built for the hiker who values a minimalist aesthetic over maximum storage, specifically those carrying 40 to 50 pounds of gear in the Cascades. I tested this on the North Cascades Trail during…
Frogg Toggs Canyon II Wader Review: A Hard-Working Workhorse for the PNW Who Should Buy the Frogg Toggs Canyon II Wader The first group of people who should buy this wader are the river runners chasing trout in the lower elevation streams of the Pacific Northwest. I tested this wader during a week-long float trip…
Best Beginner Avalanche Rescue Gear: Tested in the Cascades and Rockies The Short Answer If you are stepping into the snowpack for the first time, the BCA Float 2.0 Airbag Pack is your non-negotiable starting point. I tested this setup on the South Fork Snoqualmie River trail during a January storm when wind speeds hit…
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