The Gossamer Gear Mariposa Backpack is a thru-hiker favorite from Gossamer Gear, an ultralight backpacking company out of Austin, Texas. It's been recently revamped - just in time for this year's thru-hiking season - and now features a new frame system that allows the pack's hipbelt to pivot with
BLUETTI AC500 + B300S Home Battery Backup (In a Van) Review
The BLUETTI AC500 + B300S is an expandable power station that's robust enough to be used as a home battery backup or, in my case, as the source of power in my van (until I can afford to install a more permanent solution). It's a two-piece system: the AC500 inverter and the B300S battery. You can
Three-Season Backpacking Gear List for 2024
Three-season backpacking (i.e., backpacking outside of winter months) typically lends itself to summer and/or fair weather backpacking despite including both spring and fall. That said, here's everything you'll need - and everything I bring - for three-season success in the backcountry. I've
The 2024 REI Co-op Member Coupon Moment
Today begins the Member Coupon Moment (but shouldn't it be Member Moment Coupon?) at REI. The focus of this sale is the member-only coupon, which gives REI Co-op members 20% off full-priced items and an additional 20% off outlet items. But there are some additional items on sale just for members
Columbia OutDry Extreme Wyldwood Shell Jacket Review
The Columbia OutDry Extreme Wyldwood Shell Jacket is a lightweight shell for hiking, backpacking, and staying dry outdoors. It features Columbia's OutDry Extreme fabric (as the name suggests), billed as "An impenetrable, first-of-its-kind external membrane combined with an inner layer of soft
Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress Review
The Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress is an innovative solution to adding or expanding a van's sleeping area. I have the Front Cab Air Mattress for a 2023 Sprinter van, but the mattress is available for Ford, Ram, Winnebego, and Mercedes-Benz vans. It's a two-piece inflatable system that uses a
The John Muir Trail Gear Guide (2023 Survey)
In the second installment of this year's John Muir Trail Hiker Survey, we dive into gear for hiking the JMT. John Muir Trail gear lists vary wildly between hikers, and (spoiler alert) finding a perfect JMT gear list is impossible. That said, we can try. I’ve organized this in a way that I hope
The Continental Divide Trail Gear Guide (2023 Survey)
In the second installment of this year's Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hiker Survey, we dive into gear for hiking the CDT. Continental Divide Trail gear lists vary wildly between hikers, and (spoiler alert) finding a perfect CDT gear list is impossible. That said, we can try. I've organized this