Backpacking and hiking gear reviews from Outdoor Prolink’s professional mountain guides, wilderness guides, retail employees and other outdoor industry professionals.
The Deuter Trail Pro 36 is a pack for long day hikes where comfort and additional space for gear are necessary. It also performs exceptionally well for short multi days trips, mostly in the realm of summer mountaineering or backpacking…
In August of 2017, I was headed to Iceland for a two-week trip camping and backpacking trip. I didn’t have a pack large enough for the trip and ended up borrowing a bright red Osprey Ariel 65 L from a…
Not Your Dad’s Transition Lenses Function My first foray with the Julbo Aerospeeds was a morning skin up Buffalo Mountain in Summit County, Colorado. Never having used transition lenses I didn’t know what to expect — would I be fumbling…
If you’ve seen my gear closet you know I have *a few* backpacks…and by a few I mean enough to start a small retail store. I have tried several different brands – Northface, Osprey, Gregory, Columbia, and now Deuter. One…
In 2011, my partner Kevin and I climbed Denali in Alaska via the West Buttress. It was our second 6000m peak together. We carried over 120lbs of gear each up the hill from basecamp on sleds and packs. Carefully planned…
Scarpa recently released their Spin Ultra trail running shoes to meet the needs of ultra-distance alpine runs, and they hit the proverbial nail right on the head. I had a blast scrambling up backcountry trails and mobbing down descents around…
As an outdoor adventurer and avid runner, I was excited to give the RaidLight HyperLight Waterproof Jacket jacket a try. I love to hit the road and the trail when I run. On those wet and windy mornings, it is…
I received Julbo’s Elevate sunglasses in May- just in time for the beginning of mountain biking season! Living in the front range, I have access to tons of trails, some right in my backyard. I took these glasses on sunny,…
The Deuter Trail 28 SL accompanied my partner and I on my climb of Skywalker Couloir, a snow climb in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Colorado. We hiked through several miles through backcountry forests, crossed raging streams, and ultimately climbed…
Do you want a fashionable, light-weight, comfortable base layer from an eco-friendly sustainable brand? Okay, I’ve got you. The GoLite Replay ½ Zip single handedly puts my entire collection of pullovers to shame. It has been a pleasure testing the…