Gear Review

I've reviewed five other pairs of Mountain Khakis pants and I find myself wearing the Lake Lodge Twill the most. They've become my go to pant for work and hanging out. The Lake Lodge Twill pants look good in the office, work good in the field, and feel good while sitting on the couch.

Mountain Khakis Lake Lodge Twill in the Tetons

National Geographic is starting to publish Park Profile books for the National Parks. We've had the opportunity to read these books, that give an exceptional overview of the National Parks and the regions that support them.

National Geographic Park Profile Books

A few months ago set out looking for a new cold weather sleeping bag. My only criteria was that it had to be made in the USA. The search was much harder that I thought it would be. I was only able to find one company, Western Mountaineering, that still produced expedition quality sleeping bags here in the United States.

A lot of my shoes and boots start to "stink out", before they wear out. I found myself replacing hiking boots because I can no longer stand the smell. The Stuffitts Shoe Savers help alleviate this problem. It's a pretty simple product. After activity, just stuff the insert into your shoe and the it helps wick out the moisture (and smell).

Here's a short video that explains it:

Stuffitts Video

Snowshoes have come along way in 15 years since I got into the sport. It's hard to go wrong with any brand you buy now, however there's one that stands above the rest: Crescent Moon Snowshoes. Not only are these snowshoes the easiest to use, they are extremely eco-friendly.

The DryCASE was created by DryCORP, makers of waterproof body protection products for the medical industry. DryCORP's motto is: "Air Tight. Fits Right" That can also be said of the DryCASE, a clear case with a vacuum seal that protects anything you put in it. As you can see from the photo below, the DryCASE is mainly designed to hold MP3 players. It can also carry, cell phones, cameras and other valuables. At a retail price of $39.95, it's a good investment if you're playing in or near the water.

The Merrell Limit Pants were introduced this fall. They are a fashionable-waterproof-breathable snowsport pant. I tested them out while hiking, snowshoeing, skiing and just around town. They really don't look like snow pants, yet they perform like the high quality snow pants they are.

Merrell Limit Snowsport Pants

The Camelbak Vantage 35 combines the new N.V.I.S. (pronounced "envious") back panel technology with the traditional hydration pack. The pack works best for longer day hikes, ski tours and ice climbing. If you go light, you can use it for backpacking (personally it's a bit small for me). Fully loaded, the pack rides great on the back.
The Vantage 35 comes with a 100 oz. CamelBak bladder and an insulated neoprene tube sleeve.

Camelbak Vantage 35 on the Slopes

Gargoyles recently released the Cardinal Sunglasses. The company invented the Toric Lens (wrap around lens) in the late 1970's and continues to offer new and improved styles that utilize the base technology. The Cardinal Sunglasses have a unique ventilation system that helps keep them from fogging during outdoor activities. They also feature the Green Lens which was designed for outdoor sports.

The Marmot Mountain Down Jacket brings together the best features of 36 years of making down jackets. In the early days, Marmot would test out jackets and sleeping bags in meat lockers. They've come a long way since then, but they are still dedicated to making versatile, durable and functional down jackets. Here's a video clip detailing Marmot Down. Marmot guarantees this jacket for life.

Marmot Mountain Down Jacket on the Slopes