Alright, Folks, it’s time for another outdoor safety post. Spring is hopefully right around the corner and where I come from we’ve been getting a lot of cold, dreary rain. Although thunderstorms tend to show up a bit later they can occur at any time and this rain has put them on my brain. I do enjoy thunderstorms much more than this dismal weather we’re having however, it will hopefully be no shock (pun intended) to you that they can…
Answering a general question such as, which binoculars are best, can be pretty tough to do. But, if you’ve stumbled upon this article then you are likely one of the many people asking it. So we have prepared this binoculars buying guide to help you answer it. Because binoculars are used for a variety of purposes including all types of hunting, birding, sports-watching, and even astronomy, there is no one size fits all for every situation. Binoculars will vary greatly…
So you want to go on an outdoor adventure and you want to do it right. You’ve assembled some gear, you’ve done your research and you’ve bought yourself a personal first aid kit. Well, I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but, that little kit you just purchased from Walmart is most likely pretty useless. There are a lot of dinky first aid kits out there that are just saturated with bandaids in a few different sizes,…
We discussed the cream of the crop when it comes to sleeping bags in a couple of previous posts. And if you’ve got the money to shell out for it, there’s no doubt that any of those sleeping bags will blow almost anything else out of the water when it comes to warmth, performance, and comfort. However, even the cheapest of them clocked in with a price of over $200. I know that not everybody has that kind of money…
Today the rain pounded relentlessly on my head except for the times when it changed to the soft feathering of snow. Luckily my jacket held it mostly at bay. My “waterproof” boots didn’t fare as well as they were assaulted with the dewy grasses and snowflakes that survived the long journey from sky to ground. But the forest is dazzling in the rain. It fills me with its breath and plants its icy kisses on my nose. Surprises drip from…
Gloves can be a tricky topic. Because of changes in weather, activity level, variance in the tasks we need to accomplish, personal preference and even personal health issues (like Raynaud’s disease) there is no one glove that simply checks all the boxes. As a two foot traveller, you may spend all day, or even multiple days, out in the winter weather. As is the case with all your extremities, your hands can be quite vulnerable to the cold, and it…
Don’t let ice, talus, scree, or mud stop you! Built to provide traction on slippery surfaces, microspikes can help you get a grip and keep on trekking. When you think of outdoor winter travel, your mind will possibly jump immediately to cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. But in popular recreation areas or areas with significant frequent temperature changes, you may run into the problem of icy terrain. If you’re hoping to successfully traverse these icy trails, you would do well to…
So you’ve decided you want to go snow hiking. You want to experience the wonder of the natural world in winter. As with any extreme environmental situation, it is very important to be prepared for the conditions that you will face. In this post we are going to discuss the snow hiking equipment you should have on hand when you’re out there adventuring this winter. This post will focus on winter day trips. If you are planning on heading out…
Socks are interesting. You hated receiving them for a Christmas gift as a child, but since you’ve gotten older, they’re all you ask for. Maybe that isn’t true for everyone but it certainly has been my experience. But socks are not one size fits all, not in size or activity. We need different socks for different purposes. In this article, we’re going to focus on the best winter hiking socks to keep your feet healthy and happy. Socks are even…
Do you remember, when you were a kid, going out into your backyard after a newly fallen snow? Everything was white and soft and quiet. The air shimmered with floating crystals, and it felt like your yard, and the entire world was one and the same. The crisp air carried a spark into your lungs with each breath you took in. Anything was possible. Whether you remember this experience from times gone by or its something you’ve never had and…