ThermaCELL ProFLEX Remote Controlled Heated Insoles

$159 on Amazon

Our Quick Take On ThermaCELL ProFLEX Heated Insoles:  They are expensive and take some time to get used to as your regular insoles, but they do work as advertised keeping your feet warm. The batteries last long enough for most day-long activities and the wireless remote makes it easy to control them.  One of the coolest useful gadgets we have the opportunity to review.

PROS: Not difficult to get started with, Easy to use and control, Keeps feet warm, Charge lasts long enough for day-long activities
CONS: Expensive, A bit stiff and thick for an insole

Have you ever hiked in the winter and wished your feet could just be a bit warmer?  We have and that was one reason we were excited to try out the ProFLEX heated insoles from ThermaCELL.  As someone whose feet seem to get chilled as soon as I stop hiking, skiing or snowshoeing no matter what sock or what boot I wear, I thought a supplemental heat source that is almost built into the boot would be far superior than trying to use chemical hand warmers to add some heat.

“Remote controlled heated insoles...” I wondered too about things like wires, batteries and uncomfortable objects in your boots.  I was surprised to find that ThermaCELL has done a decent job tackling these issues.  The insoles are run by rechargeable batteries that fit into the insole and the temperature of the insoles is controlled wirelessly by a small remote control that you carry.  The remote is small, light (only an ounce or two) and easy to carry in a pocket.  The rechargeable lithium ion batteries for the insoles are located in the heel portion and are padded, so when they are inserted into the insoles, you notice very little difference between the battery and the rest of the insole.

There are three heat settings for the insoles: standby; medium; and high and there is an internal thermostat that regulates the insoles to keep them from overheating your feet.  The goal of the insoles is to keep your feet at your regular body temperature and they work harder the colder it is to do that.  On the medium setting the batteries last for about 5 hours, but I have found that I rarely use them continuously so they last longer.  One thing to consider is that standby really is standby, the insoles are still using energy from the batteries.  The only way to turn them off is to remove the battery, in which case the insoles cannot be used because of the hole the batteries would leave.  Charging up the batteries is straightforward with the included charger.

For me, I find I turn on the heating portion of the insole when I stop hiking and I am not actively working to raise my body temperature.  At those times, the insoles can kick on with some heat and keep my feet comfortable so they never dip into the getting cold territory.

What about comfort?  This is probably the only place I am a bit disappointed with these devices.  I do not find them to be as comfortable as a good pair of regular insoles in my hiking boots, but I have been on a couple of hikes with them now without any serious problems or foot pain.  To me, it is more that they just feel a bit more stiff (most likely due to the heating elements inside) than a regular insole and take some getting used to.  They definitely keep your foot a bit higher up in the boot, so you will have to adjust your lacing a bit.  My first time out with them I ended up adjusting my boots several times until I was able to get to a comfortable spot for activities

Overall though, they do keep your feet warm as advertised and for someone who is often chilly during winter activities, I will be looking forward to having these with me this winter.

ThermaCELL ProFLEX Heated Insoles are available in sizes from small to extra-extra-large and can be trimmed to properly fit your boot.  When you purchase them, they come with the two insoles, two battery packs, a charger and power cord, the remote control with lanyard and a small carrying bag for the insoles and the remote.  They are available through most outdoor retailers and sell from about $150 to $200.


The insoles were provided to us free of charge in return for a review at our sister site Adventures in the Outdoors.

GSI Outdoors Lexan Fork

The Takeaway: Are you looking for what’s arguably the lightest and most durable backpacking fork out there? If you are, you should check out GSI’s Lexan Fork, which can satisfy both the toughest users and the most conscientious weight measurers.

A lot of first time backpackers tend to start out with steel silverware and for most first time campers or those who aren’t worried aboutsteel, they are probably pretty happy with them. But if you are concerned about weight, don’t like the heat transfer characteristics of steel or aluminum (they get hot, fast!) and want another form of silverware that will last for literally as long as you take them camping and hiking, you should consider purchasing the GSI Lexan silverware.

And what better way to start your collection than to get yourself a Lexan Fork. Just be aware that once you get the fork, I’m willing to bet you’ll shortly be out purchasing the knife and the spoon too.

Fork Basics

GSI produces the Lexan Fork in three different colors, glacier ice, eggshell and emerald green. The glacier ice and emerald green colors make the fork translucent, while the eggshell is a solid, non-translucent color.

The fork is just slightly longer than the average dinner fork you’ll find in a regular household silverware set – but it has about the same heft as that dinner fork. It won’t feel uncomfortable in most adult hands, but could be considered slightly oversized for younger children who are out camping with their parents.

The fork weighs in at an almost weightless 0.4 ounces – it’s enough to feel in your hand, but not much beyond that. On average that’s about half the weight of similar stainless steel camping fork.

The fork is practically unbreakable – Lexan is used in applications where you don’t want the material to break (such as bullet proof glass for bulletin boards) and the fork is much the same. Lexan is incredible resilient and will stand up to crushing and bending and will tackle normal wear and tear without a scratch. While I don’t have proof, I don’t doubt the manufacturer’s claim that ounce for ounce, the Lexan Fork is stronger than a similar steel fork.

You can expose the fork to temperature extremes with little worry – from the crispness of a winter morning into boiling water – the fork won’t crack, deform or otherwise be harmed by these changes (again thanks to the Lexan). Along those same lines once you get the fork home, you can throw it in the dishwasher – since the fork won’t be harmed by washing it in the dishwasher.

You don’t even need to worry about your fork turning red after you use it with tomato sauce. The Lexan is resilient to the stains and you can eat anything and after a quick wash, the fork will look as good as new.

Another plus for the Lexan Fork is the fact that Lexan does not transmit heat as readily as aluminum as steel does. Thus you can be using the fork to stir something hot or have it in a hot liquid and you’ll still be able to hold the other end of the fork – something you could never do with a steel utensil.

Experiences

I’ve had a Lexan Fork (actually multiple forks) for many years now and never had a single problem with it. It’s been packed away in my backpack, stuffed in a pot with my backpacking stove and been a piece of silverware in my kitchen utensil drawer – all without a problem or even a single scratch.

The Lexan is just that durable – after years of heavy use it really does look the same as the day I brought it home from the store. The Lexan doesn’t scratch or stain and even after years of using the fork, flexing it, and bending it – it’s in perfect shape. I don’t think you can really ask for anything more from a 50 cent utensil.

I have both the glacier ice and the eggshell colors and there's no difference between them - the durability is the same and when it comes to color, it's just a personal choice.

Final Thoughts

For the price, you cannot purchase a better backpacking and camping fork. The Lexan Fork will literally last almost forever and the fork, even years from now will look practically like it was just purchased new.

It’s light, it’s strong and it’s better than anything else out there – if you’re looking to replace your camping fork or just looking to start out with a camping silverware set, you should definitely invest in one of GSI’s Lexan Forks.

Review originally published on Epinions.com

Smartwool Light Hiker Socks

The Takeaway: If you want really comfortable socks for hiking, check out smartwool light hiker socks – they are comfortable, built-to-last, and made with a hiker in mind


I’m not generally the kind of person who feels that I need to have specialized socks for when I’m going hiking. For years, regular socks have served me well and in colder weather, slightly heavier wool socks worked for me.

However being Christmas and all, I could never look a gift-horse in the mouth, especially with the gift coming from EMS. So it was that I now have a pair of the Smartwool Light Hiking Socks and because of the strangely mild winter we’ve been having so far – I’ve had my fair share of hiking since Christmas time and I’ve had a chance to check out the socks.

Sock Basics

These socks look like your basic crew socks – that is they go about halfway to your knee when they are pulled tight. They are slightly thicker and heavier than the typical ‘white cotton’ crew socks and are somewhat more substantial than those socks.

What’s the trick inside smartwool? They are made up of a wool blend that includes about 70% wool, 29% nylon and 1% elastic. This combination gives you the warmth and comfort of wool, the wicking and evaporation of the nylon and the stretch of the elastic in a single sock.

I’ll be honest, I noticed a difference when I first put them on. They feel comfortable on your feet and they lack that typical ‘wool feel’ that many things that are made out of wool have when you wear it against your skin.

Because the socks are a mix of the wool and the nylon – you get the best of both worlds. The wool will continue to remain warm when it’s damp and with the nylon, that moisture has a chance to wick to the surface and evaporate quickly, helping keep the socks dryer than most other socks.

The sock itself is designed to make hiking more comfortable. The sock is knit in a way to better fit your foot – including knitting to reinforce your foot arch, a reinforced foot-bed to provide more cushioning, a side panel that doesn’t squeeze your leg and a top that holds the sock where you put it – so you won’t be pulling up the socks all the time.

After a few miles of hiking you’ll notice the difference. The thing I liked the best? The reinforced foot-bed – it really does provide some extra cushioning between you and the trail and helps to even out the shocks that you sometimes get.

When you’re done with your hiking, the sock can be washed in a machine and can be dried in a dryer – you don’t have to worry about it shrinking like an article of clothing completely made out of wool would.

If you have boots that are tight with thinner socks – these socks will probably make wearing that boot uncomfortable to impossible. They are somewhat thicker than regular cotton socks and are quite a bit thicker than the liner socks that some people use.

Sock Experiences 

Most of my experiences with this sock have been in temperatures from about 30 up to around 50 and the sock has remained comfortable in all those temperatures. The sock really does keep your feet warm in the colder weather and cool in the hotter weather – by keeping your foot feeling dry and keeping the socks dryer than the average sock.

That’s not to say you can’t get these socks wet and they’ll stay wet – step in a puddle or a stream that’s over your boot and your sock will be soaked. However because it’s wool, you’ll have a better chance of keeping a foot that is at least somewhat warm (wool holds its warmth even when wet unlike cotton which just gets cold). Plus if you take the sock off and wring out that soaking water – the sock will dry itself enough while you’re wearing it to feel dry again.

Yeah – I’ve never been good with stream fording – there’s always that one slippery rock…

I’ve washed the socks several times at this point and I haven’t noticed any shrinkage. It’s great because I can just throw them in with the rest of my laundry, no special needs for these socks.

The socks seem to take wear and tear in stride – I haven’t noticed any degradation of the material, even in the areas that are in the strongest contact with my boot.

Overall Thoughts 

At somewhere between $10 and $11 a pair, I’m unlikely to run out and buy myself more of these socks, but I have to admit as a present for a hiker, they made a great gift to me. I like wearing them, I find them comfortable and I’ll continue to use them, but for me – the price to increased usefulness ratio is just a little too high unless it’s a present or I’m looking to treat myself.

So if you want really comfortable socks for hiking – check out these smartwool light hiker socks – they are comfortable, built-to-last, and made with a hiker in mind. You’ll have warm (or cool) feet and you’ll stay dry 99% of the time.

In the end, it’s probably worth having a least one pair in your hiking stockpile.

Originally published on Epinions.com

Garmin Personal Navigator GPS 12

Basic GPS unit that you can drop and get wet

A handy and easy to use GPS unit, the Garmin Personal Navigator GPS 12 is an excellent first-time GPS unit for new users and powerful enough for more advanced users who want something that can withstand the rigors of outdoor use.

Designed from the ground up as a GPS receiver for outdoor adventurers who don’t need all the whiz bang features of other models, the Personal Navigator 12 (PN 12) provides all the benefits of a GPS receiver in a rugged package. The PN 12 is based upon the more feature rich GPS 12XL and offers outdoor users the benefits of a 12-channel GPS receiver, no matter the conditions that they are using it.

Unit Details 

The PN 12 is built with a rugged, waterproof plastic case. While I wouldn’t suggest it, the unit is tough enough to survive drops and falls and can be momentarily submerged in water (it is rated to survive up to 30 minutes submerged completely in water). In more benign conditions like rain or snow, the unit performs with no problems.

The PN 12 features a rocker keypad design that facilitates one-handed operation (you can use your thumb to move the keypad) and it is easy enough to use while you are moving. The display is about 2 inches high and 1 ½ inches wide and is made up of a high-contrast LCD screen that also has electro-luminescent backlight for use in all conditions including nighttime. Navigation through the menu system and options on the unit is straightforward and easy to follow.

The unit is about 2 inches wide, 5 ½ inches high and about 1 inch deep and weights in at 9 ½ ounces when fully loaded with its batteries. This is a little larger than some GPS units, but comfortable enough to be handheld and easily packed away when you don’t need it.

The PN 12 features an internal rechargeable lithium battery as a memory backup battery (to save your stored information) and runs on 4 AA batteries. With new batteries the unit should run for continuously for approximately 24 hours. More scattered use should provide significantly more battery time (not really more than 24 hours, it’s just scattered about).

Able to store up to 500 waypoints in memory, the PN 12 also features the ability to store 20 different routes (and reversible) routes each with 30 waypoints. In addition to laying out the routes, the PN 12 is has a “TracBack” function that allows you to automatically reverse your course and go back the same way that you have just traveled (sort of the proverbial line of bread crumbs). Coordinates can be displayed in latitude and longitude, UTM, and MGRS to just name a few of the available coordinate grid systems.

The PN 12 has a positioning averaging feature that helps to reduce the error introduced by the government’s Selective Availability (SA) policy. The unit gives both a figure with the SA and the estimated accuracy of the averaged position. The receiver is also ready to accept a differential GPS receiver that will increase the accuracy of the unit tremendously – but regular users should not need this additional accuracy. Without the differential attachment, the accuracy for the PN 12 however around 15 meters (about 50 feet – though this may increase or decrease depending upon the number of satellites received and the SA policy in the area), and with the differential attachment, this accuracy is increased to between 1 and 5 meters (3 to 15 feet). The PN 12 can receive signals from up to 12 different satellites in the GPS constellation, however it’s unlikely that you’ll ever lock onto all 12 at any one time.

How’s It Work? 

In practice the accuracy of the PN 12 is often greater than the rated 15 meters, even without the differential attachment. This is because while Selective Availability is still in place, throughout most of the country the difference has been reduced to the point that even handheld units have great accuracy. Areas where you may run into problem with the unit’s accuracy are in places where the government has maintained the higher Selective Availability, such as near military bases and other government installations.

We used these units where I worked in Maine to locate roads, house lots and structures on lots. When the points were downloaded and plotted in ArcView, the accuracy was quite good, except again for areas near military installations. Near those areas, you couldn’t rely on the points as accurately representing the location.

The unit holds up as well as it advertises. We dropped them, got them wet, packed them away and let them sit in vehicles and never had a single problem with any one of the units that we had (we had 8 of them).

If you want more information on how the exactly GPS works, or on GPS in general, check out a book like GPS Made Easy, it is a great introduction to GPS navigation in the outdoors and will have you up running with your GPS much faster than trying to figure it out on your own.

The Final Word 

No one needs sub-meter accuracy in a GPS unit unless they are using it for surveying, or detailed research work. For those of us out in the woods navigating or driving and using GPS for navigation, need nothing more than the 15-meter accuracy. Yes, you may probably want better accuracy, but in reality, you don’t need anything better than that.

The Personal Navigator 12 proves to be a worthy GPS workhouse for outdoor users, handling the rough conditions of the outdoors with ease.

While the Personal Navigator 12 may lack some high-end features of newer or more expensive GPS units, the basic level of GPS functionality that it does provide, is more than enough for the average outdoors GPS user.

Originally published on Epinions

Coleman 32-Ounce Aluminum Water Bottle

$8.36 on Amazon

Good Warm Weather Hiking Water Bottle - Coleman 32-Ounce Aluminum Water Bottle

While I have plenty of the old plastic Nalgene bottles in my hiking gear chest, but I do have a couple of aluminum bottles that I have received as gifts over the years. One of those is the 32-ounce Aluminum Bottle from Coleman.  This bottle holds the same amount of a beverage (or any other liquid) as the Nalgene Plastic bottles, but this bottle has a narrow mouth and is made from aluminum and not plastic.

Overall I like the bottle, but I am not a huge fan of narrow mouth bottles in general for hiking.  I like to being able to put ice cubes into my bottles, pour drink mix in or fill it quickly and all of those things are easier with wide-mouth bottles.  The narrow mouths, like these bottles have, make it almost impossible to get an ice cube in.  The drink mix and filling, those you can obviously do, just not quite as quickly or as easily in my mind.

These types of aluminum bottles also benefit from the fact that they do not include the BPA chemicals that have scared some people away from older Nalgene bottles.

Bottle Basics

These aluminum bottles are quite light and I t think that they are lighter than a similar-sized Nalgene plastic bottle.  These aluminum bottles are basically indestructible through every day use like the plastic Nalgene bottles.  That said, I do not think that they would survive a huge drop or a very sharp puncture, but in the everyday rough and tumble world of hiking and being in backpacks, mine have done just fine.  The worst I have noticed are a few scratches and one dent from where I dropped it.

For drinking and for filling, the opening is a narrow one on the top of the bottle.  It's easy enough to drink from and fill from a sink, though because it is a taller bottle, tighter sinks like a bathroom sink, might be difficult to use to fill the bottle.  The cap is a threaded plastic cap that screws on to the top of the bottle and creates a watertight seal.

Aluminum is not transparent and so it is hard to tell what you've got in a bottle.  This is a pain when it comes to filling bottles from streams or other water sources and you may not know if you've gotten debris or other things in the bottle. It is also a pain to clean bottles when you use drink mixes, since you are not sure if you have completely cleaned the bottle (invest in a good bottle brush!).

Experiences

I like the lightness and the durability of these bottles, but I really am not a fan of the narrow opening.  I like to add drink mixes and iced tea mixes to most of my drinks when I'm out in the woods and it is a pain to get them into this bottle.  It is also a pain cleaning them since I can see mold or dirt in a plastic bottle with this bottle, it is more of a guessing game.  These bottles also transmit heat or cold very quickly - aluminum offers basically no insulation so anything you put into the bottle that is hot or cold, is room temperature pretty quickly.  I do not use these bottles in the winter, as I find my water freezes faster than in a plastic bottle.

For summer hiking though, I have found that this bottle makes for a good general purpose hiking water bottle.  In a year round setting, they make a good choice for a refillable water bottle in a home or office setting.
Also these bottles can be used as fuel bottles in a pinch (though you wouldn't want to use them as a water bottle after that).  With a funnel you can fill the bottle with White Gas or whatever other stove fuel you use and carry it with you.  I have not used this specific bottle for it, but I do have a small, aluminum Coleman bottle that I have used for this purpose over the years when I do not need to bring a ton of fuel with me.

Final Thoughts

While I doubt that narrow mouthed aluminum water bottles will replace all of my Nalgene bottles, the Coleman 32-Ounce Aluminum Water Bottle is not a bad choice if you hike mainly in the warmer months.  It holds plenty of water, is lightweight and is very durable.  It will probably last for years and should serve you well.

AMC River Guide for Massachusetts, Connecticut & Rhode Island

I seriously think that the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has the guidebook business for New England cornered. The more I go through all the guidebooks and stuff that I have, the more and more I realize they’re all from the AMC. That’s okay though because AMC puts together excellent guidebooks that I have never seen surpassed for the areas that they cover.

This book is no different and like the other AMC guidebooks the AMC River Guide: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island (River Guide from now on) is an extensive look at canoeing and kayaking opportunities in southern New England.

There are four major river basins that traverse Southern New England and make up the majority of river trips described in the book (there are more rivers by the way, including ones like the Taunton and the Blackstone in Massachusetts and they are given some coverage). The basins include the Housatonic River basin in western Massachusetts and Connecticut; The Connecticut River drains central Massachusetts and Connecticut; the Thames River drains eastern Connecticut; and finally the Merrimack River, which drains northeastern Massachusetts and central New Hampshire.

So to start, the River Guide breaks southern New England and its many rivers and tributaries into an easy to follow and easy to read guide. Each of the four major rivers and their tributaries are broken down into various watersheds and then into trips of a shorter length (a day or so) by geographic areas.

Each trip description begins with a handy table that summarizes everything you need to know about the river including distance of the trip, the degree of difficulty in running the river (this book covers both flatwater and whitewater), the last time an AMC paddler field checked the river, recommended time of year for travel, maps, descriptions of any portages, scenery and campsites you’ll pass along the way.

So what’s covered in the book? 

As I said before, the four main river basins of southern New England form the bulk of the river descriptions. The book not only covers the main river in each basin, but their many tributaries, which can be major rivers in there own right. Then these watersheds are further broken down into major rivers and their tributaries and then into shorter trips to make the descriptions better organized.

Suffice to say if you can find a river to run in Southern New England, it’s probably somewhere in this book, there’s that many listings. If I started to list all the rivers included, you’d be scrolling down for some time.

What else is in the book? 

Beyond the river descriptions, the book includes a preface and a short introduction, followed by a quick overview and guide to river trip descriptions and in general how to use the book.

After the river descriptions, there’s an appendix that includes the Safety Code of the American Whitewater Affiliation, along with information on river protection, paddling safety, information on AMC and more. For a paddler without much experience, this section is a good resource. The basic safety tenets of paddling are provided, along with plenty of other helpful information. It’s always better to be prepared ahead of time and avoid any problems, than trying to deal with these situations as they happen.

Unlike many other AMC guidebooks, the index in the River Guide is very basic and only provides information on the various rivers covered. Other information such as towns or counties isn’t included to reference. That’s not really a problem though, as most people will have the river’s name and be able to work with it through the different geographic locations.

Who Needs a book like this? 

This book is most geared towards those who live in Southern New England and want to explore the paddling opportunities in their backyards. Some others from outside the area might be interested, but generally, the trips and rivers aren’t that stunning that you would travel across the country to try it. That’s not to say that the rivers in southern New England stink, they don’t, but they aren’t as large, as rugged, or as wild as rivers in other states such as Maine.

The book is an indispensable guide for paddlers anywhere in southern New England and I bet you’ll find trips you never thought of nearby.

Originally posted on Epinions

GPS Made Easy

Find Yourself Anywhere In The World - GPS Made Easy by Lawrence Letham and Alex Letham

Have a GPS (Global Positioning System) and don’t really know what do with it or thinking about getting a GPS receiver but don’t have any experience with GPS? 

Then get your hands on a copy of GPS Made Easy. 

In GPS Made Easy, Lawrence Letham provides a good overview of the GPS system and how to use GPS in the outdoors. The book is written for people without any GPS experience and breaks down GPS into its components and its various uses. 

Starting with an introduction to global positioning, Letham provides a simple and great explanation of the constellation of satellites that orbit the Earth that can provide location information with an error of only between 15 to 100 meters. This kind of accuracy, anywhere on the face of the Earth at any time and in any weather, makes GPS an excellent addition to any outdoorsperson’s toolkit. 

15 to 100 meter accuracy isn’t that good you say? Often GPS accuracy is higher than that, down to a few meters, however due to the government’s “selective availability” policy, civilian GPS receivers have a certain amount of error built in, usually several meters. The accuracy all depends on how many satellites your receiver can connect to and the dynamics of your location. But on the whole, even at 100-meter accuracy (300 feet), you should have no problems in navigating and locating various areas. Horizontal sub-meter accuracy is generally only needed in precise surveying work. 

Following an overview of the GPS system and the history of navigational aides, Letham delves into more of the intricacies of using a GPS system. These include a review of GPS receivers that are available and how to convert and work with UTM coordinates (the coordinate system that GPS uses, as opposed to the more well-known latitude and longitude system). 

The next several chapters deal with using GPS in various situations and provide examples of how the GPS can help with outdoor adventures. The real world examples include navigation in a whiteout, figuring out latitude and longitude on a kayak trip and on a sailboat rally, using GPS with small scale maps on a road trip, and recovering from the loss of a GPS receiver while in the outdoors. These examples are good to read because they cover many of the areas that people will find themselves in (well I don’t compete in sailboat rallies, but you get the point) and by seeing how to use GPS (or in the last case, navigate without GPS), you will have a better handle on what GPS can do and what its limitations are. 

After the examples, Letham reviews how GPS receivers can work with personal computers. This book was written before the advent of many handhelds – but the concepts introduced with computers are applicable to today’s generation of handhelds and laptops. This includes real-time mapping and navigation (where you basically see yourself on a map on the handheld or laptop) and logging of the point information you are saving in the GPS. 

Letham closes GPS Made Easy, with discussions on other coordinate grids that are sometimes used in GPS and navigation and an introduction to differential GPS and a discussion of degrees, minutes and seconds in the latitude and longitude system (since the accuracy of GPS can be down to seconds and even mils at times). 

GPS Made Easy contains a well rounded glossary that defines many of the more technical terms used throughout the book, a list of resources and other books on GPS systems, and a checklist of information to look for in your GPS receiver. 

Anyone unfamiliar with the inner workings of GPS or with their own GPS receiver would be better off with a copy of GPS Made Easy - it is a great introduction to the world of GPS based navigation and is clearly written with the novice in mind. 

Originally published on Epinions

North Face Denali Fleece Jacket

$116 on Amazon

If you’re looking for an all-purpose fleece jacket that will stand up to the rigors of heavy outdoor use and still look good around town, you should consider picking up The North Face’s Denali Jacket.

It is a jacket that has been designed with hikers, climbers and mountaineers in mind. The Denaliis a great jacket for any who’s always outside and doesn’t want to sacrifice comfort for performance.

Basics 

Made of Polartec 300 series water-repellent fleece, the Denali not only warms you, but protects you from the elements. In addition to the fleece, the Denali’s upper portion and elbow areas are reinforced with a 2-ply synthetic nylon fabric to handle the wear and tear from backpack straps. The fleece is fairly soft and comfortable to wear against your body. The reinforcing fabric does a good job preventing any extra wear and tear from your pack straps or resting on your elbows.

If you want some extra breathing room in the Denali beyond the breathability of the fleece material, the jacket has underarm zipper vents on the sleeves that allow you to open up and help you stay dry and comfortable. The zippers are quite large and give you a good amount of adjustability.

There are two zippered chest pockets and two zippered hand pockets on the jacket that are comfortable to use with or without gloves on. The zippers on all of the pockets are nice so you can keep small gear in your jacket without fear of it getting lost. The chest pockets are handy for keeping small items in, such as a map or anything like that so they are handy to reach.

If you want the bottom of your jacket to hug your body instead of hanging free (handy when you are skiing or engaging in some other sport you don’t want your jacket to get in the way), the Denali has an elastic drawcord around the hem of the jacket that allows you to tighten and loosen the jacket’s fit around your lower torso.

All told the Denali weighs in at about 27 ounces (a little over a pound and a half) and can be compressed quite well in a backpack, stuff sack, or anywhere else you might be packing the jacket. Fleece is mostly air, so when you pack it, the jacket compresses quite a lot.

Because the jacket is fleece and nylon (and is water-repellent), it dries quicky and does not get damp, even if you are either in the rain or sweating heavily. The fleece will continue to keep you warm through almost any condition.

Extras 

For those of us with North Face jacket shells, the Denali zips directly into the North Face shells and can be used interchangeably with jackets. This is a handy feature when you want the added protection of a strong shell jacket (a shell jacket basically provides wind and rain/snow protection without any insulation) to the warmth of your fleece jacket.

Experiences 

I’ve had this jacket for some time and it looks almost as good as when I first got it. The fleece and nylon have worn in a bit, but otherwise I haven’t had any problems with the jacket.

I usually wear the Denali when I’m hiking in the fall, winter and early spring and cross-country skiing in the winter. The jacket is versatile enough to handle the varied weather – from the very cold to the somewhat warm. In extreme cold the jacket is really not warm enough unless you are actively doing something. I wear it cross-country skiing a lot and usually wear just the Denali when I’m actively going and exerting myself and then throw on at least a shell over the jacket when I’m heading down to head off the wind since the Denali doesn’t offer any wind protection.

Beyond hiking, skiing and mountaineering, the Denali looks good enough to wear out and about town. I usually use it as my late fall and early spring jacket so that I don’t have to deal with the heavier winter coats on my way to and from work.

When the jacket has gotten dirty, I just throw it in the washing machine and the dryer (which is almost not even needed because the fleece and nylon are almost dry from the washer’s spin cycle) on low.

Final Thoughts 

It might seem pricey for a fleece jacket, but the North Face’s Denali jacket is well worth the money you’ll spend on it. You not only get the quality workmanship of the North Face, you get a versatile jacket that is as comfortable out on the trail as it is on the side of a mountain and still looks good downtown.

Nalgene Wide Mouth Loop Top Lid

While it has not happened very frequently, over the years, I have managed to bust a couple of the loop top lids that go on top of my wide-mouth Nalgene bottles. For me, it has been the loop strap itself and not the cap that breaks. When that loop strap breaks, your lid is no longer attached to the water bottle and it opens up the possibility that you will lose the lid somewhere along the line (at least I know I would).

 That is where the Nalgene Wide Mouth Loop Top Lid comes in. This lid replaces the lid that came with the original Nalgene bottle and since it is a Nalgene replacement product, you know it will probably fit on your old water bottle.

Read our full review of the Nalgene Wide Mouth Loop Top Lid on Epinions

For more information on staying hydrated while hiking, check out Water Bottles, Bladders and Trail Hydration Know-How!

Asolo Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots

$199.00 on Amazon

While I was sad to see my old LL Bean boots finally reach the end of their hiking life, I am glad that I came across the Asolo Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots. They are light, easy to break in, comfortable to wear and are tough enough to handle anything you would throw at them on a day hike or an overnight backpacking trip. 

Finding hiking boots is not always easy and I came to the Asolo Fugitive GTX boots fairly late in my search, but after trying them on a few times, I knew they were the right boot for me. The fact that they look good was gravy on top of the fact that they seemed like very good day hiking boots, were recommended to me by my local outdoor gear store and generally had positive reviews elsewhere.

Finding hiking boots is not always easy and I came to the Asolo Fugitive GTX boots fairly late in my search, but after trying them on a few times, I knew they were the right boot for me.  The fact that they look good was gravy on top of the fact that they seemed like very good day hiking boots, were recommended to me by my local outdoor gear store and generally had positive reviews elsewhere.

Fugitive GTX Boot Basics 

I think the first thing I noticed as I was taking these boots out of the box was just how much lighter they were than the old LL Bean leather and fabric hiking boots I had been using.  The pair of boots is just over 3 pounds, so each boot is about a pound a half.  I noticed the difference hiking on my very first trip.

There is a Gore-Tex, waterproof liner inside the boot and the outside of the boot is made from a mix of water resistant leather and a nylon material.  The heel and toe areas are reinforced and the soles are constructed of a mix of materials to cushion your foot while providing protection and support.  The bottom of the shoes is made of a rubber material to gain extra traction.  There is also a partial plastic liner inside the boot that provides extra support and rigidity to the boot.

The boot is a full size boot that covers your ankles.  Lacing is pretty standard with threaded laces on the lower portion of the boot and clips on the upper portion of the boot that allow you to tie the laces as tight or as loose as you feel comfortable with.

Pricing the GTX 

I paid $200 for the Fugitive GTX and consider that a fair price for the boot.  You can find the boots for slightly less and slightly more, depending upon how hard you shop for them or if you hit them on a sale.  I would say that these boots tend to fall slightly on the upper side of pricing for day hiking boots.  Knowing that though, I have always said that when it comes to boots, you get what you pay for and I do not think that the GTX is an exception.  They are well made boots and have a good warranty should you run into a problem with them.

Wearing the GTX Boot 

The very first thing I noticed was the distinct lack of weight in these boots, compared to my old boots.  Wearing them it almost did not feel like I was wearing boots, at least when it came to weight.  They do still feel slightly bulky and give you the extra height that most hiking boots do.

Getting the boots on is a pretty simple process.  Lacing up the boots usually goes off without a hitch, though I did have to slightly bend a few of the clips on my upper boot in or out a bit so that the laces caught on the clips better.  In one case the clip was not bent in enough, so the lace would slip off and in the other case, it was bent too far in which made it too hard to get the lace in it and then out of it when I was taking off the boot.  I just use a screwdriver to open up the clip and I just used some finger pressure to bend the other one shut a bit.

Once the boot is laced up and on, it does conform very well to your foot.  The boot itself is compact and when laced up, does not have the bulk of other boots that I have worn.   Of course, without that bulk, the boots are not quite a useful for longer backpacking trips or for use in the winter with crampons or snowshoes.

You may have to lace the boot up a few times to get the most comfortable fit when you first start wearing them.  At first I kept finding the boot was lacing up too tight.  Took a few trips before I knew how the boot should feel lace wise before I started hiking.

The GTX had one of the quickest break-in periods on a boot that I have had.  I wore them several times working around the house and on a couple of small mile or two walks.  Then I started with longer hikes and within two or three trips, I was able to take a full 8-10 mile day hike without any ill effects.

During the break in period, I did have to break out the moleskin a few times, as my feet got used to the boots and the boots conformed a little more closely to my feet.

Hiking with the GTX 

Once you have the boot on and broken in, these are comfortable boots to hike in.  The fact that they are light, yet sturdy helps.  They are comfortable to walk in and I have found few problem areas inside the boot.  I do tend to have a piece of medical tape or moleskin on a few spots on my feet, but they are problem areas no matter the boot and really just are a precaution for me.

I have used the GTX boots on day hikes from a few miles to about 10 miles at the longest.  For short hikes (say less than five miles) there are no issues that I have come across.  For longer hikes, I have not really found any significant problems.  I do end up re-lacing the boots a few times the longer the trip goes though as the boot seems to loosen up over time.

For a new pair of boots, I have only had one serous blister since I started using them and that was like the second long hike I took with them.  Of course it was in a place I always seem to get a blister and I had forgotten to put moleskin on a preventive measure.

Other use 

I will caution against using these boots to stand still for long periods of time.  I had done a hike and then did a lecture afterwards.  I ended up standing in the boots for almost two hours on a pretty standard floor.  By the end of that night, my feet and my ankles were sore.  The boots do not seem to give great support when you are just standing, but when you are walking and hiking, I have not had problems.

These boots are easier to drive in than my older hiking boots, but I still do not like driving in them.

Waterproof 

These boots truly are waterproof.  The nylon and leather material on the outside is resistant, but the Gore-Tex liner inside, really locks out the moisture.  I have been on several wet hikes and done several work trips standing in mud and in each case, the only moisture in the boot is from what comes in when the water gets over the top of the boot or drips down my leg.  The boots themselves have done a great job at keeping me dry.

A Negative or Two 

I have not gotten to a winter season with these boots yet, but I am thinking that they will not be the best boots for wearing crampons or snowshoes.  When it comes to crampons the boots are probably okay for wearing crampons and walking on a trail, but the boots are not sturdy enough for any technical climbing.  For snowshoes, the boots would probably do a good job fitting to the shoe and keeping moisture out, but since they are made to be so light, they will not provide much insulation in cold weather.

I have read that with longer hikes (10+ miles), the boots tend not to provide the ankle and foot support needed and hikers end their trip with a sore foot.  I have not experienced that on my longer hikes, but the vast majority of the trips I take are in the 5-10 mile range.  That is one reason I got the boot, I figured the lightweight nature of the boot was okay for what I was going to be doing and for the few times I would have a really long hike, I could deal with the consequences.

Final Thoughts 

I have been happy with the Asolo Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots.  They have proven to be good boots for the hiking and outdoor work that I do and I like to wear them.  I finish my trip without blisters and with comfortable feet.  They were a bit more than I wanted to pay, but I am hoping that with their well-made construction and the good warranty that comes with them, I will not have a problem.

Overall if you are looking for a lightweight, waterproof and sturdy day hiking boot and you do not go on incredibly long day hikes, I would have no problem recommending the Asolo Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots.


Need help shopping for hiking boots in general, then check out Adventures in the Outdoors advice on shopping for hiking boots

Garmin Forerunner 405 Wireless GPS-Enabled Sport Watch with USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor

I have been looking for an easy way to log hiking distances and watch my heart rate.  I have tried heart rate monitors and hand held GPS units in the past, but I really was looking for one simple device that would take care of my needs.  That is where the Garmin Forerunner 405 comes in.  This wrist-watch sized device is a GPS unit that can accurately track you as you hike, bike or run.  In addition with the heart rate monitor, it tracks and displays your heart rate as you are exercising.  Plus in addition to that, the Forerunner lets you see information like your total trip time and distance and offers various training options and when you get home, you download all that information to visual your hike, jog or bike ride in ways that you never could before.

While the device is geared towards runners and joggers with its virtual partner and training modes, I have found it to be a great companion to have on my hikes.  The watch logs my information and when I get home, the Forerunner automatically connects to my computer, downloads my information and has it waiting for me on the Garmin Connect site.  Once there, I can analyze my trip with maps, minute to minute heart rate information, distance, time and pace information and information about elevation gains and losses.

Read the full review of the Garmin Forerunner 405

iSafe Backpack

While it was not really designed for hiking, the iSafe Backpack has been marketed to the outdoor public and I was asked to take a look at the backpack and consider it for outdoor use.   At the very least, I thought it was an interesting concept when I started.

Even though the backpack was originally thought of for protecting children on their way to school, I have found that the iSafe Backpack also works well as a light daypack for hikers and walkers.  The built in alarm system is probably more than most hikers need, but it can be a useful method to escape a dangerous situation or provide a way for you to alert searchers to your location.

Read the full review of the iSafe Backpack

Pelican i1015 Case for iPhone

Like to take your iPhone into the woods but afraid it might get wet or damaged?

With the i1015 Case from Pelican, you can have your phone and not worry about any damage.  The i1015 is a water-resistant, crushproof and dustproof case that protects your phone while letting you still listen to music through an integrated, airtight, audio jack.

I would have no problem recommending this case to someone who wants strong protection for their iPhone while hiking, but still wants to be able to access the audio jack.

Read the full review of the Pelican i1015 Case 

 

Dahlgren Alpaca Men's Light Hiking Socks

It is rare that I find a pair of socks that I really like to wear for hiking, however when I first put on the Dahlgren Alpaca Men's Light Hiking Socks, I knew I had found a special pair of socks.  They feel amazing, fit comfortably and even if they get damp, still work well as a hiking sock. 

The socks are a mix of alpaca, wool and nylon fabrics, which give the socks a very soft fit around your feet.  I have found them to be great socks for wearing while hiking and to use as a regular pair of socks, especially on colder days, as the material, while breathable, provides more insulation that your standard sock.

Read the full review of Dahlgren's Alpaca Light Hiking Socks

Jetboil Utensil Set

Over the last few years I have found myself using my Jetboil backpacking stove more often on my backcountry trips. The stove is easy to use, quick to cook and simple to clean up, all of which have made it my go to backcountry stove. Most of the backcountry cutlery that I have has never been that great with the Jetboil though, some do not reach the bottom of the cooking pot while others cannot get into the corners to really stir the food while others transfer too much heat. That is how I found the Jetboil Utensil Set. This set of a spoon, fork and a spatula were designed with the Jetboil cooking system in mind.

Read the full review of the Jetboil Utensil Set on Epinions

Learn more about the Jetboil PCS Backcountry Stove

EMS Divergence Fleece Jacket

The Divergence Fleece Jacket from Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) is a comfortable and warm mid-weight jacket that offers more protection from the wind than a traditional fleece jacket. I have found it to be a good choice for outdoor activities in cooler weather and as a mid-layer beneath a shell in wetter or colder conditions.

Read the full review of the Divergence Fleece Jacket from Eastern Mountain Sports

Coleman 54x84 Vinyl Tablecloth

When I am going car camping or even just know that I will be having a picnic lunch somewhere with picnic tables, I usually bring along a Coleman Vinyl Tablecloth. They are inexpensive and last for several trips. The only downsides are that they are pretty easy to damage and if they get wet, the color can bleed off the tablecloth.

I always keep one of these tablecloths packed in my car camping kit, but even if I forgot it, they are easy enough to find in the sporting gear sections of places like Walmart or Target. They are usually under $3 in most stores.

Read the full review of the Coleman 54x84 Vinyl Tablecloth

MSR LiteLifter Pot Lifter/Grip

Need a new pot-lifter for your backcountry kitchen supplies? The MSR LiteLifter Pot Lifter/Grip is a good, if slightly pricey choice. This very lightweight grip features insulated handles and is strong enough to lift the heaviest pots off of your backcountry stove.

I have gone through my share of pot grips, having either lost or broken several. They tend to run from either very cheap and easily broken or very durable like this MSR LiteLifter. I would think the only reason I would need to replace this grip is if I left it sitting in the woods after I packed up. It is durable enough to last for years of cooking in the backcountry.

Read the full review of the MSR LiteLifter Pot Grip on Epinions

Coghlan's Pin On Compass

It seems that I've had one of these simple compasses pinned to almost every backpack that I've ever owned.  The compass itself doesn't really tell you much beyond a general direction, but I've found that I do look at it and use it and since it is inexpensive, it isn't a problem to have one on your backpacks.  You won't be navigating trackless wilderness with the Pin On Compass, but it does come in handy if you're at a viewpoint and wondering what direction you are looking in or if you want a quick idea of how to orientate a map while you are in the woods.

Check out the full review of the Pin On Compass from Coghlan

Appalachian Mountain Club's Catskill Mountain Guide

Looking for a guidebook to the hiking trails of the Catskill Mountain region in New York State?  The Appalachian Mountain Club's Catskill Mountain Guide is a good place to start.  This concise and to the point book provides trail descriptions for almost every trail in the region and includes a basic map of the area that can come in handy.

This book follows the same general outline of all AMC guidebooks.  That is there are a few introductory chapters, trails are broken down into different sections and then there is some reference material available at the end of the book

Full review of the Catskill Mountain Guide