Reviews

When it comes to fantastic fall footwear, the Blundstone Chelsea boot ($189-$219) stands alone. This unisex boot is stylish enough to go with dress pants or dresses, rugged enough to be a regular farm boot, and currently hip enough to wear every day with jeans. The heel allows for near hands-free exit and entry, and the great insulation underfoot will …

Cascade Designs Platy® Water Tank All backcountry travelers like to camp near a water source, but sometimes, it’s just not possible. For example, I have camped on Copper Ridge, where getting water meant a stiff climb down to Egg Lake to fill bottles and bring them back up on top of the ridge. At times like these, it’s a blessing …

MSR®  Habitude™ 4 Tent The ideal car camping tent, in our view, is 1) durable, 2) bomb-proof in bad weather, and 3) spacious. Meet the new Habitude 4 from MSR, a tent that hits all three of these marks in a big way. This tent is constructed to last—the fabric, poles, and zippers are all top-notch, and the fully seam-sealed …

Every year, more people are getting into the backcountry to escape the inbounds ski crowds. The longer days and firmer snow of spring tours bring a new perspective to skiing as the playing field expands, and skiers can disperse even further into the mountains. In our neck of the woods, the experienced ski mountaineer can often find great snow through …

Outdoor Research Juneau Fleece Jacket Now here’s a seriously warm fleece jacket. The Double-brushed sherpa fleece is super soft and plush, and extraordinarily comfortable. At just shy of 30 oz., it’s definitely not lightweight, but on a chilly evening away from the campfire, it’s just what the doctor ordered. OR describes it as “ultra-cozy,” and they’re right. More info: www.outdoorresearch.com  …

Is this the one boot to do it all?  While I’m generally skeptical of such claims, I have found that the Roxa R3 130 TI I.R. Ski Boot is a solid all-around contender: adept for inbounds, slackcountry, and backcountry skiing. This new interpretation of a three-piece Cabrio boot weighs in at 1520 grams (size 26.5), is compatible with either gripwalk …

Is it too early to talk skiing? It’s never too early. This spring and summer I had the pleasure of testing out the Ogso Schwarztor skis (178cm) and the Black Diamond Helio 350 binding (made by ATK). This kit made my summer trips on Mt. Baker very light on the way up and silky smooth on the way down. Ogso …

San Juan Islands Boater’s Guide The folks at Blue Latitude Press (based in Anacortes, WA) have established themselves as the source for cruising guides to the waters of the Pacific Northwest (they also have the market cornered on guides to the Pacific Coast of Mexico and the Sea of Cortez). Their newly-published 2nd edition of the classic San Juan Islands …

Luci® Solar String Lights By Rachel Thody The Luci Solar String Lights ($44.99) are one of my top essentials for any escapade! The string light packs up neatly within itself making it easy to toss into a gear bag with no worries about getting the string tangled or caught on anything. It charges either via solar power or through a …

Black Diamond® Spot 350 Headlamp Headlamps just keep getting better and better – smaller, lighter, brighter, more versatile. Even in this context, the Black Diamond 350 really, er, shines. With 350 lumens on the bright setting, it’s bright enough for most any situation from pre-dawn trekking to late-night stove repair. Features? How about both a spotlight and a wide beam—and …