Category Archives: Gear Review

Initial Impressions of Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pad

Posted on March 31, 2020 by

I recently had my first recent section hike of the Appalachian Trail. A portion of the trail (over 70 miles) passes through the Smoky Mountains and section hikers are required to make reservations and sleep in the shelters. I’m primarily … Continue reading →

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Initial impressions of the Thrupack Summit Bum – Pocket

Posted on March 20, 2020 by

One of my goals in the past few years has been a lighter pack weight and to hike more efficiently.  I am pretty happy with my pack weight and gear. My base weight (everything except food and water) for cold … Continue reading →

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Track my progress real-time on my SPOT GPS Messenger

Posted on October 4, 2019 by

I’m leaving tomorrow (10/5/2019) morning to drive to Elkmont, Tennessee and begin a 4 day, 35 mile backpacking trip. To show how a SPOT GPS Messenger works, I am sharing my public page where you can track my progress. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking, Beginner Series, Gear Review, Helpful information, Hiking | Leave a comment

Initial impressions of the Outdoor Vitals LoftTek (TM) Insulated Jacket and compared to the Patagonia Nano-Puff Jacket

Posted on July 29, 2019 by

Yes, it has been several months since I’ve posted.  Life has been busy.  However, I received something in the mail and thought I’d share! You may have seen the OutdoorVitals jacket for sale on Kickstarter. If not, the link is … Continue reading →

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Dirty Girl Gaiters (Initial impressions)

Posted on March 3, 2018 by

All quotes are from https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/ I finally gave in to peer pressure and purchased a pair of Dirty Girl Gaiters to wear when I’m hiking. For the unknowing, Dirty Girl Gaiters are lightweight gaiters that fit from just above your … Continue reading →

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I bought new shoes….

Posted on February 20, 2018 by

Since my very first hike I have worn Merrill Moab Ventilators.  They are great shoes – easy to find, affordable, comfortable, and have served me well for many trips.  I typically buy a new pair every year because water crossings … Continue reading →

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SPOT Gen 3 Satellite Messenger review

Posted on January 3, 2018 by

Where I spend most of my time hiking is outside of cell phone service and I wanted a way to allow some communication with my wife and family. I have been debating for some time what type of device to … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking, Gear Review, Helpful information, Hiking | 1 Comment

Improved water filter system

Posted on February 6, 2017 by

​I wanted to provide an update to my water filtration system.  The main reason I changed my system was twofold: Higher rate flow of filtered water and ease of collecting unfiltered water.  While this system works great for me, it … Continue reading →

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Gaia GPS App vs Garmin GPS

Posted on November 14, 2016 by

I’ll start with a disclaimer: I believe you should first have and know how to use a map and compass when backcountry hiking. The advantage of a map and compass is that it never needs batteries, works anywhere, and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking, Beginner Series, Gear Review, Helpful information, Hiking | 9 Comments

My first DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Project – A hammock stand!

Posted on July 29, 2015 by

After reading about a portable and easy to make hammock stand, I finally decided to make one. There are several threads about this on http://www.hammockforums.net – the original thread is here: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/51787-The-TurtleDog-stand?highlight=turtledog. There are many other threads that incorporate different … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Everything Else, Gear Review, Hammock Camping | 2 Comments