Now, normally I’m not a hiking shoe kinda guy. I prefer boots. I like my heavy duty Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GTX hiking boots, but I’m not stuck on a heavy duty boot. I also like my lightweight Adidas Fast X hiking boots. So if I like my boots, than why did I decide to try a hiking shoe?
Read MoreThe Coast TX399 Knife is a tactical folding knife. I love the way it looks and feels. It's long and sleek with an all black finish. It's built extremely well for the price, with durable construction and a lightweight design. The TX399 is part of Coast's Spec-Ops line, geared towards tactical and industrial use as a heavy duty cutting tool. It has a 4" blade made from super strong 9Cr18Mov stainless steel. The exterior has a glass bead finish with an all black titanium nitride coating. I really like the handle on this thing. It's textured stylishly and made from a nylon/fiberglass composite that keeps its weight down. The pocket clip on the knife can be switched for right or left handed carry, and it sits deep in the pocket for an easy carry. Overall, the Coast TX399 is badass knife for the price. It's well built, good looking and easy on the budget.
Read MoreALPS Mountaineering is a company that I've only recently begun to work with, but they have been in the game for a long time. They're a family run company, which I really love. They were started back in '93 by a guy named Dennis Brune, who had previously been the head of the outdoor brand Kelty. Since their inception ALPS has grown to produce many camping and hiking products including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, air mattresses, and camping furniture like chairs, cots, and tables. The ALPS product I'll be reviewing today is the Red Tail 65L Pack.
Read MoreI have been testing out and shooting for Minus 33 for several years now. One of the products I've been wanting to get my hands on is the Kodiak Expedition Wool Hoody. Earlier this month I got a box from Minus 33 and lo and behold there was the hoody! What better way to break it in then take it up to Mount Rainier and see how it holds up to the cold.
Read MoreRhone is a premium mens activewear company. They make high quality gear that's great for the gym, yoga studio, mountains, travel and just about anything else you could want to do. I’ve had the pleasure of testing out a lot of their products, but the Rhone Commuter Pant is what I'm reviewing today.
Read MoreI've shot photos for SOG for several years now. I'm a huge fan of their products. The fact that they are based out of my home state of Washington gives them a special spot high in my list of gear manufacturers. Needless to say when they sent me my Backcountry Axe, I was stoked to try it out!
Read MoreI discovered Liberty Bottleworks several years back when I was perusing the internet looking at blogs, review sites and top 10 lists dedicated to products Made in the USA. They are the only metal water bottle manufacturer that is produced fully in the USA, and better yet, they make them right here in my home state of Washington. The take pride in making the bottles here because they get to provide living-wage jobs, use quality US suppliers, and make everything in an ethical, responsible way at a safe factory.
Read MoreAs a stomach and side sleeper I've always struggled with sleeping bags for camping or backpacking. I've tried almost every type from old school car camping sleeping bags to mummy bags and even the new spoon shapes, but up until I got this EE Revelation I had never tried a quilt before.
Read MoreLets just address the main complaint first, price. Yes, it's expensive. All of the good Sony lenses designed for APS-C-format E-mount cameras are expensive. Why? Sony wants to make money of course. While I'm not happy about it, can you blame them?! In my opinion though, using a cheaper Sony mirrorless camera body like the a6500, a6300 (or even cheaper a6000) with expensive glass like the 10-18mm delivers beautiful images that can hang with any full frame camera body and lens combo. The only noticeable difference is the extra few thousand dollars you will have in your bank account to go do fun shit 😊.
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