Toaks Titanium 750ml Pot Review — 500 Miles 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 Toaks Titanium 750ml Pot earns a strong recommendation for hikers prioritizing heat retention and durability on…
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 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 New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 is a highly capable trail runner…
Coleman Oversized Quad Chair 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 This chair is a solid workhorse for base camp setups and emergency bivouacs where you aren’t hauling it…
Princeton Tec Helix Backcountry 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 Princeton Tec Helix Backcountry is a compact, reliable lantern that excels as a primary light source for…
Snow Peak Trek 900 Titanium Cookset 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 Snow Peak Trek 900 Titanium Cookset is a robust, high-performance kitchen system that excels in…
Sig Sauer KILO6K HD 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 Sig Sauer KILO6K HD is a specialized piece of equipment designed for home defense and tactical carry,…
Sony WH-1000XM4 Review — Fast Packing and Light Setup Tested Across the Pacific Northwest By Cole Hartman — former wildland firefighter, PCT section hiker, 15 years of Pacific Northwest backpacking experience — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Sony WH-1000XM4 is an exceptional electronic companion for the modern Pacific Northwest backpacker, offering active noise cancellation…
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Review — 15 Years of Mount Hood Wilderness 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 Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon is a robust, mid-range pack that punches above its weight…
Merrell Moab Speed 2 Review — 15 Years of Pacific Northwest 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 Merrell Moab Speed 2 is a solid entry-level option for budget-conscious day hikers and lightpackers, though…
Gerber Suspension NXT Multi-tool 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 Gerber Suspension NXT Multi-tool is a robust, heavy-duty companion that excels for senior hikers and slow travelers…
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…
