ShareThe pursuit of cold-water fish means anglers must enter the frigid waters that those trout and salmon species call home. Staying dry while walking through those icy rivers requires proper protection, and that generally means waders. To the relief of virtually everyone, the days of snug-fitting neoprene “sausage casings” are quickly fading away. Today, wader [Continued...]
ShareWe all have too much shit! With two or three perfectly functional rain jackets in the closet, we go out and buy the latest and great. When the newest fly fish rod comes out, promising to improve your cast by 10 yards, and your accuracy by 10 percent, we go buy it. If a new [Continued...]
ShareGroundbreaking gear comes only when managers set idea-people free from limitations on their creativity. Wild ideas abound in the outdoor products industry, and once in a while, a seemingly crazy idea becomes a winning product. Here are a couple of our current favorite unusual designs: The backcountry snuggy Take a warm, comfortable, down sleeping [Continued...]
Share(First published in Seattle Times NW Weekend March 18, 2010) The general outdoor industry realized several years ago that women get out and hike, bike, camp and climb. As a result, gear makers began producing products designed for women. More recently, the fishing industry realized that women also like to get out and fish and, [Continued...]
ShareSeveral readers have asked for advice on the best ways to transport adult beverages into the backcountry, from wine to whiskey, so we gathered some options and, after thorough testing in Washington wild country, we found a few ideally suited for various spirits. Wine lovers will appreciate the new soft-sided PlatyPreserve wine bags from Seattle-based [Continued...]
ShareEveryone from backyard bird-watchers to backcountry hikers knows that quality optics are needed to thoroughly enjoy wildlife watching. But quality doesn’t have to mean busting the budget. Portland-based Columbia Sportswear teamed up with Kruger Optics, of Sisters, Ore., to produce a broad selection of affordable Columbia Sport Optics. We opted to test their rugged Malheur [Continued...]
ShareEvery kid needs a new toy periodically, and every backcountry enthusiast is really just a kid at heart. It makes sense, then, that hikers and skiers, climbers and kayakers all need a new gadget or gizmo for their pack now and then. One nice little gadget fit for any adventurer’s pack is the Highgear Adventure [Continued...]
