Day two at Outdoor Retailer (OR) was more about getting a look at new products that are launching. Taking aim at getting us outdoors or making it more comfortable when we do venture out and a few definitely stood out.… Continue reading
I continue to be impressed with Columbia Sportswear’s new gear offerings. I know I have said this before, but Columbia is no longer, in my opinion, that second-tier outdoor company that takes aim only at the … Continue reading
In this video, Snowshoe Magazine reviews The North Face snowshoeing combo: Perception Jacket, Mountain Pants, Snow Beast Boots and the Patrol 34 Backpack.
For more information:
The North Face Perception Jacket – http://bit.ly/sbGH84
The North Face Mountain Pants – http://bit.ly/uiJLGU… Continue reading
A blow lasting day and night caused challenges with dirt, dust and wood debris on the trail, but covering tracks with my new best friend, the Wilderness Athlete full-scale backpack, helped to attack the paths one step at a time. … Continue reading
With snowshoe season just around the corner, here are several options for gearing up.
Blundstone 560 Series Boot
With a history dating back to the 1850s, Blundstone, an Australian company, has been making dependable footwear while establishing its stellar reputation … Continue reading
One of the first backpacks I owned back in the 80s was a Kelty external frame. It was a solid pack – aluminum frame and all. It’s hard to find an external frame pack nowadays, especially a reliable one. And they’re not ideal for snowshoers. Nonetheless, I found one that any shoer should consider.
Designed with Batman in mind (not true), the Deuter Freerider Pro 30 is a pack that can stash a lot of stuff. Most importantly, it can stash a set of snowshoes to its front – protected by a combination of hypalon and Deuter Ballistic materials.
The best way to test the structural integrity of any backpack is to drop a 15-pound bowling ball – from a distance of 10 feet in the air – into the main compartment. If it doesn’t rip a hole through the bottom of the pack, continue with testing its durability by filling it full of honey and allowing wild animals to have their way with it. In that same line of analysis, spray it with pheromones and once again allow wild animals to have their way with it. If it remains relatively intact thereafter, the pack is most decidedly a decent product and should be endorsed as such.
It’s time to discuss the benefits of using snowshoes for backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Quite simply, snowshoes can help you get there. However, additional gear is necessary: an Osprey Kode 30 Backpack. The Kode 30 is what a winter backcountry explorer requires to lug the ski/snowboard equipment up the mountain and holster the snowshoes for the descent.
Gregory Mountain Products has been around since 1977, officially founded by Wayne Gregory. The company has made some great backpacks over the decades. My first backpack was a Gregory Ritter model. This great internal frame pack was purchased about 17 years ago at a local outfitter in Denver (can’t recall the name of the retailer). I still have this pack today…and still use it on the trails. Even after 17 years of hiking and snowshoeing, the Ritter has held up nicely. Hanging in my basement, next to my Ritter, is the hydration-friendly Miwok pack: A slice of legacy living next to my snowshoeing future. Nevertheless, I fully expect to have both packs 17 years from today.
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