Reviews

Teaching in the Rain: The Story of the North Cascades Institute, by John C. Miles. Chuckanut Editions, 2023   The North Cascades Institute has been a fixture of the northwest Washington landscape since 1986. In “Teaching in the Rain,” author John C. Miles tells its origin story, a story with so many moving parts it’s a wonder the Institute was …

In the world of ultra-light backpacking, you rarely get to use the words superior durability, excellent price, luxurious living space, and lightweight all in one sentence to describe a tent.  The Two from Gossamer Gear is all of those and highly recommended for two people. Compared to many ultra-light materials, the nylon tent body with a SIL (silicone) nylon finish …

Helinox Chair One High-Back (Re) The redesigned Chair One High-Back (Re) from Helinox raises the bar on super-portable, super-comfortable camp seating. Featuring (re)Tension Design, which includes a second tension line to distribute weight around the frame, the new Chair One provides a lot of back support in a lightweight, packable package. It packs into an 18” x 6” x 4.5” …

The North Face Women’s Summit Breithorn Hoodie I love my North Face Women’s Summit Series Breithorn Hoodie! It arrived just in time for our winter’s coldest few weeks. I stayed toasty and warm, even without extra layers underneath, thanks to the 800-fill ProDown™ with water repellency (Responsible Down Standard). One of the other features that I appreciate is the slightly …

I’ve always been impressed with any technical garment from Rab and the Evolute Hoody is no exception; it’s an amazing layering piece. Under my ski shell, it manages a comfortable microclimate as few other pieces can. In many ways, this mid-layer reminds me of the Patagonia Nano Air and others of that ilk, but without a wind-resistant shell or an …

Gregory® Alpaca Duffel 60L I loved my last duffel bag. It lasted close to 30 years. It had everything I wanted: lots of pockets, shoulder strap handles, water resistance, and just enough space for medium-sized camping trips and other excursions where a suitcase was not appropriate. It was hard to give up when it finally wore out.  But the Gregory® …

Gnara Go There Pants Guest review by Barbara Hansen Gnara’s Go There ™ Pants are an idea whose time has come. Need to pee discretely in the great outdoors? Just unzip and go. It’s as easy as that—no need to squat. I was able to stand up, which allowed me to keep my backpack on while performing this ritual. I …

Arctic Traverse, by Michael Engelhard; Mountaineers Books, Seattle, 2024   What makes a travelogue a great read? In my opinion, it uses the trip’s events as a springboard for reflection and exploration and asks important questions about our impact on the landscape and what we can do to minimize it. The basic story of writer Michael Engelhard’s book, Arctic Traverse, …

When it comes to high-end sleeping bags, most would agree that Western Mountaineering (WM) makes the very best. With proper care, this might be the last sleeping bag you’ll ever need to purchase. Backcountry Essentials is proud to carry these bags, made in the USA, because they deliver some of the best nights’ sleep you’ve ever had. Are you a …

Jack Wolfskin Eagle Peak 2L Shell Guest Review by Nikki Here in the Pacific Northwest, could any piece of gear be more important than a trusty raincoat? My new Jack Wolfskin Eagle Peak 2L Jacket has kept me dry on foggy mornings and in wintery downpours and protected me from icy winds. It’s lightweight and breathable, even when I’m pedaling around …