Hiking Backpacks and Gear
SKYSPER 20L Daypack Review: Months of Real Trail Use
I carried the SKYSPER 20L daypack for months of Boise foothill hikes and Sawtooth weekends. Here is what held up, what surprised me, and who should buy it.
A full season of Saturday mornings, mountain weather, and one 20-liter pack that earned its spot.
I carried the SKYSPER 20L daypack for months of Boise foothill hikes and Sawtooth weekends. Here is what held up, what surprised me, and who should buy it.
I carried both packs for 30 miles each in the Boise foothills and the Sawtooths. Here is which one you should buy.
After years of overpacking, I switched to a 20L SKYSPER daypack for nearly every hike. Here's why smaller turned out to be better.
A full season of Saturday mornings, mountain weather, and one 20-liter pack that earned its spot.
A practical, order-of-operations guide to loading a 20L daypack so nothing digs into your back, nothing bounces, and everything you need is within reach.
Six months of weeknight foothill hikes, Sawtooth weekends, and a couple of carry-on flights with the SKYSPER 20L daypack. What I like, what I don't, and who should buy it.
I carried the TETON Explorer 65L through a full season of Sawtooth weekends, weeknight foothill hikes, and a week of travel. Here is what held up, what rubbed, and who should buy it.
A 3-month, 200-mile comparison of the TETON Sports Explorer 65L and an Osprey Atmos AG 65, from the Boise foothills to the Sawtooths.
Ten reasons an internal frame pack beats a budget sack for overnight trips, from someone who tested both on real trails.
A rainy night in the Sawtooths, a pack that carried more than I expected, and what I learned about buying gear that actually works.
A five-step method for loading a weekend pack, tested on two seasons of Sawtooth trails.
I carried the TETON Sports Explorer 65L for a full season of weekend trips. Here is what I would tell a friend before they buy one.
I put these aluminum poles through a full season of Sawtooth trails, Boise foothill evenings, and one long flight in a checked duffel. Here is what held up and what did not.
A practical, hands-on comparison of Cascade Mountain Tech aluminum trekking poles and carbon fiber trekking poles, based on a season of real trail use.
After fifteen years of hiking on a left knee that complains on the way down, I have learned exactly what poles do for you. Here are the ten reasons I do not descend without them.
A physical therapy assistant's honest notes on Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles after a season of steep descents in the Sawtooths.
A physical therapy assistant explains the exact pole length for climbs, descents, and flat trail, with the mistakes that wreck your knees and the ones that just slow you down.
I used these poles for a full season on the Boise foothills and in the Sawtooths. Here is what I would tell a friend, including the parts that are not perfect.
I carried the Sawyer Mini for a full season of Idaho trails. Here is what held up, what did not, and who should buy it anyway.
A hands-on comparison of two popular trail water filters, tested on the same streams, the same puddles, and the same long days.
I have carried the Sawyer MINI on every hike for two seasons. Here are the ten reasons it stays in my pack.
A practical, hands-on look at the Sawyer MINI water filter from a hiker who carries one on every trip.
A practical, hands-on guide to filtering water on the trail with a Sawyer squeeze filter, from a hiker who has used one for years.
I carried the Sawyer Mini for a full season in Idaho. Here is what nobody tells you before you buy one.
I carried the Outlander 20L/33L packable daypack on Sawtooth trails, airport connections, and a two-week trip with only a carry-on. Here is how it held up.
I carried both on the same trails for a month. One is still in my rotation. The other lives in the back of a closet.
I fly with only a carry-on and I still bring a full daypack. Here is why, after years of testing on real trails.
I flew to a wedding with one carry-on and still got three real hikes in. The Outlander packable daypack is why.
A practical, hands-on system for fitting real trail gear into one carry-on, with the Outlander packable daypack as the centerpiece.
I carried the Outlander packable daypack for a full season of Boise foothills hikes, a Sawtooth weekend, and two carry-on flights. Here is what nobody tells you before you buy one.
I carried the SKYSPER 20L daypack for months of Boise foothill hikes and Sawtooth weekends. Here is what held up, what surprised me, and who should buy it.
Six months of weeknight foothill hikes, Sawtooth weekends, and a couple of carry-on flights with the SKYSPER 20L daypack. What I like, what I don't, and who should buy it.
I carried the TETON Explorer 65L through a full season of Sawtooth weekends, weeknight foothill hikes, and a week of travel. Here is what held up, what rubbed, and who should buy it.
I carried the TETON Sports Explorer 65L for a full season of weekend trips. Here is what I would tell a friend before they buy one.
I put these aluminum poles through a full season of Sawtooth trails, Boise foothill evenings, and one long flight in a checked duffel. Here is what held up and what did not.
I used these poles for a full season on the Boise foothills and in the Sawtooths. Here is what I would tell a friend, including the parts that are not perfect.
I carried the Sawyer Mini for a full season of Idaho trails. Here is what held up, what did not, and who should buy it anyway.
I carried the Sawyer Mini for a full season in Idaho. Here is what nobody tells you before you buy one.
I carried the Outlander 20L/33L packable daypack on Sawtooth trails, airport connections, and a two-week trip with only a carry-on. Here is how it held up.
I carried the Outlander packable daypack for a full season of Boise foothills hikes, a Sawtooth weekend, and two carry-on flights. Here is what nobody tells you before you buy one.