Product Reviews
Skiing
Two seasons ago, when skiing through some trees, I cracked my helmet colliding with an overhanging branch. I wasn’t going that fast, and its flimsiness was disconcerting. Read more >>
They had a good run, those old Life-Link backcountry poles I picked up from the Huffine shop back in 2001. Read more >>
Combo packages have pros and cons. Buying everything at once is convenient and mindless, plus manufacturers usually discount product slightly if you making a bigger purchase. But avalanche safety gear isn't necessarily where you want to skimp, and your process should be anything but mindless. Read more >>Hunting
The word "tactical" may be overused these days (one company even sells tactical camp chairs, whatever that means), but it definitely applies to the two packs I'm trying out during this year's hunting season, as each features genuine military attributes. Read more >>
Like many outdoor enthusiasts whose hobbies outnumber their savings, I must choose my gear wisely—new skis are purchased only at the expense of a new bike, and so on. Read more >>
At first blush, blaze-orange hunting vests may seem like cotton swabs—the brand doesn’t matter, ’cause they’re all the same, right? Experienced hunters know better, and Orange Aglow clearly does, too. Read more >>
It’s happened to me a couple times: I do all the planning for a morning hunt on the dining room table and, when I head out, I leave my BMA maps behind. Now I’m stuck searching for a block management area to hunt and I'm unable to locate the sign-in box. Read more >>Apparel
After a long hike, when I reach an alpine ridge, the sweat stops and the cooling begins. Read more >>
You wake up in your tent on a damp and chilly summer morning, hesitating to unzip your sleeping bag. Read more >>
The packable shell: done right, there's no piece of gear more efficient. It should be lightweight, simple, and functional. Read more >>Footwear
While designed with climbing approaches in mind, Scarpa’s Mescalito GTX works for any out Read more >>
The Salomon X-ALP Mid LTR GTX, weighing in at 20 ounces each, provide the performance needed without that bul Read more >>
I’ve always looked to Oboz for my hiking footwear. So, when I was searching for a crossover boot—something I could hike the trail in and wear around town—, I went to Oboz first. Read more >>
A minimalist hiker for the weight-conscious. Gram-counting is all the rage these days, and that trend hasn't been ignored by the long-distance-hiking crowd. Read more >>Packs
Whether you’re going home for a weekend, traveling abroad for a month, or taking a road trip across the country, you’re going to need a pack that is functional and efficient. Read more >>
I used to think having a daypack was unnecessary. “I’ll just use my ski pack or my bike pack,” I’d say. Read more >>
Finding the right pack for a tour into the Montana backcountry can be frustrating—until now. The Patagonia SnowDrifter20L makes a great sidekick for short excursions. This ultralight, water-repellent pack has a durable Cordura exterior. Read more >>
Before hitting the road for a powder-chasing road-trip, grab a Ranger 60L duffle from Dakine. Read more >>Climbing
While designed with climbing approaches in mind, Scarpa’s Mescalito GTX works for any out Read more >>
Now I know what Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters felt like trying to cram their feet into the undersized glass slipper. Straight out of the box, the Scarpa Techno X climbing shoe is so painfully tight that I thought I’d grabbed the wrong size. Read more >>
This chalk isn’t going to keep you glued to small holds, but it will keep those holds looking better. Read more >>
For climbing ice and mixed routes in southwest Montana, a boot’s fit and comfort are key. Our approaches can be long, and the weather is notoriously cold and fickle, and with the inherent wetness and inactivity of climbing and belaying, it’s a tough job for any piece of footwear. Read more >>
When you’re as bad at climbing as me, every single variable can make a difference. That’s why I’m glad I found the Bravo Quickdraw from Metolius. Read more >>Fishing
With all the doodads and thingamajigs dangling from fly vests these days, it can be difficult to know where necessity stops and excess begins. Read more >>
I needed a versatile and durable tackle-storage solution that could easily transition from the various boats, rafts, and kayaks I regularly fish from. Read more >>
Once an essential apparatus, the fly-fishing vest no longer holds hegemony, thanks in large part to innovations like the FHF Gear Fishing Chest Rig. Read more >>
Why didn't I think of this? That's what came to mind as I applied Keeper Tape to my fly rod. This simple but handy product applies a self-adhesive, transparent measuring tape onto your fly rod, and can measure fish up to 36 inches. Read more >>Biking
Load up the whole family, or any friendly foursome, and hit the trail together with Yakima’s FullSwing Read more >>
As darkness comes sooner to southwest Montana, but temps remain (relatively) warm, a bike light becomes an essential item—for everything from in-town commuting to post-work Read more >>Boating
Every cold-water paddler, at some point, realizes the necessity of a drysuit—whether it's for safety in frigid snowmelt, security on remote river runs, or just consistent, all-day comfort. Read more >>
The idea of packrafting a river deep in the wilderness is exciting. Doing so with a couple hundred pounds of fresh elk meat—now that’s an adventure. The PR-49 from Pristine Ventures makes this type of epic Montana outing possible. Read more >>Camping
With an integrated burner, two 1.3L pots, a lockable pot-gripper, and a lid with an integrated colander, the Read more >>
The challenge for those who want to haul a camping trailer—apart from being teased about getting soft—is finding a m Read more >>
Testing a bear canister proves challenging, as to fully appreciate the worth of your product, you have to encounter a bear Read more >>
Summer’s not complete without at least one good camping trip—and we’re not talking backpacks and freeze-dried food. We’re talking pack-the-Pathfinder, fill-up-four-coolers, drop-a-hundo-at-the-grocery-store kinda camping. Read more >>Nutrition
Easily prepared food for the backcountry. Some folks love to make elaborate and decadent meals when they're out in the field. For the less ambitious among you, here are some easily prepared options for your next outing. Read more >>
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—this maxim is why I’ve never drunk vitamin water. Pop a pill, down it with a glass of agua—is that so hard? It’s certainly cheaper, healthier, and less wasteful. Read more >>
When it comes to camp food, convenience and healthiness tend to move in opposite directions—but not so with Good To-Go’s Dehydrated Meals. These slim packets contain loads of healthy ingredients, without all the chemical compounds you’ve come to expect from most packaged foods. Read more >>Dog Gear
In this crazy, mixed-up world, not all dogs are created equal. If mom and dad left the mutt a little short in the fur department, what better way to show some love to your best friend than a fitted overcoat for those frosty days? Read more >>
I’m in the mountains a lot, running a trail, bagging a peak, or shooting a grouse. Typically, my dog Seamus is with me, but rarely by my side. His off-trail adventures generally leave him thirsty and me short of water—but not anymore. Read more >>
Most dogs that love trails love accomplishing tasks. That’s why it’s nice having my lab Hank carry his own load in his Approach Pack from Ruffwear. He gets a sense of pride out of the responsibility. Read more >>
Dogs need first-aid same as people, in fact moreso in many cases. Now that Adventure Medical Kits makes the Me & My Dog Series, you get what you need for people and pooches, all in one package. Read more >>
We all need to pound calories if we’re going to be pounding trail, and our dogs are no different. During the hot Montana summer, they’ll be burning energy at a high rate, which is why I’m glad I have Zuke’s Power Bones to keep Hank going strong all day. Read more >>Miscellaneous
Being prepared in the backcountry is important, and that’s why you should make the inReach Explorer+ f Read more >>
Despite the hegemony of modern headlamps, the handheld flashlight is still going strong, and its future seems bright as ever. Read more >>
Contrary to popular belief, your beloved smartphone is not a panacea—whip it out while deep in a side-canyon up Hyalite, for e Read more >>
I've searched far and wide for a secure iPhone mount for my dual-sport motorcycle, and have finally found what I’m looking for: the made-in-Bozeman Read more >>
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