A few weeks ago, I returned to my bike from a grocery store to see that someone had stolen my beloved Magicshine Monteer 1400. A great light – and a great run for the light. Usually such accessories don’t last so long with me due to harsh use, rather than theft.
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Spotlight: Nite Ize Dry Bags
Note: these products were provided to me by Nite Ize to demo without caveat. I would like to thank them for their generosity. All opinions are mine. Interested in me checking out your gear?
I’m checking out some gear from NiteIze! See my spotlight on some of the lights they put out for more of an introduction. In this post, I look at two bags I’ve found useful for cycling trips:
Continue reading…Spotlight: Nite Ize Lights
Note: these products were provided to me by Nite Ize to demo without caveat. I would like to thank them for their generosity. All opinions are mine. Interested in me checking out your gear?
Continue reading…Ultimate Direction Product Picks: My Favorite Gear To Use
I’m proud to be an ambassador for Ultimate Direction, especially since my outdoor adventures tend to defy easy categorization. I initially met Buzz Burrell, then Brand Manager of UD in 2014 on Longs Peak while completing the Longs Peak Radical Slam (which I’ve now done a few more times). Turned out, he was doing the same thing! Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t keep up with his pace on that day.
Luckily, Buzz found my Tour 14er trip I completed a few months later inspiring enough to invite me to become an ambassador for UD. Ultimate Direction is a local company to me, based only a few miles from my house – close enough that I’m always happy to stop by, say hello, give my feedback on products, and pet all the office dogs. Here’s a list of the UD gear that I love the most:
Continue reading…Review: Nite Ize SpokeLit – Disc-O Select Rechargeable Light
Note: this product was bought by me at retail. All opinions are mine. Interested in me reviewing your product?
- Pros: inexpensive, compact, fun, eye catching light used in an angle not always thought of as a blind spot to other road users. Rechargeable via a micro USB port.
- Cons: Probably too fun and colorful for your local bicycle curmudgeon, but buy one for them, anyways.
- Weight: 1.2 ounces/35 grams
- Run Time: ~ 6 hours; Charge Time: 1.5 hours
- Price: $20
- More information: NiteIze Website
- Purchase Options: REI | Amazon
Salsa Journeyman Apex 1 700: Initial Impressions/Review
The Ultimate Direction SCRAM is a large-capacity running vest that’s been toughened up and given storage capacity for all-day missions, allowing you to take it anywhere to help in supporting you doing essentially anything.
- Pros: Classic Ultimate Direction Running Vest Design, tons of storage, tough materials, minimalist.
- Cons: Maybe too minimalist for some? Not perfect for a dedicated running vest: if you don’t need the storage, this isn’t the best vest for you.
- Weight: 445 grams / 15.7 ounces
- Storage Capacity: 23.5 Liters
- Interesting To: mountain runners, skimo, fast-and-light climbing missions, bikepacking
- Best For: those needing a lot of capacity, but not yet Fastpack-capacity; people who are very tough on gear
- Price: $134.95
- More information: The Ultimate Direction SCRAM | Adventure Collection
- Purchase at Ultimate Direction | REI | Backcountry
Sangre de Cristo Range Traverse Fastpack Complete Gear List
I’m putting together the page(s) documenting my Sangres Fastpack (narrative full of feels pending still).
The gear list is up! This took many hours longer than I would have thought, but I hope it helps you with your own wild and precious trips.

Backpacking Alaska! My Personal Guiding Gear List
OFF TO ALASKA! I’ll guiding two intense trips with the man/myth/legend/my Boulder neighbor of walk-abouts: Andrew Skurka in Gates of the Arctic National Park/Preserve for the rest of the month of May.
Continue reading…Review: Copper Spur HV UL1 Bikepack Tent by Big Agnes
At a Glance
- Pros: Comfortable, roomy, extremely well-designed
- Cons: stuff sack to use as bikepacking bag is a great idea, but may need to be further developed as a solid feature
- Weight:
- Tent Stakes/accessories: 121 grams
- Stuff Sack: 111 grams
- Tent Poles: 363 grams
- Rain Fly: 348 grams
- Tent Body: 337 grams
- Integrated Footprint (sold separately): 169 grams
- Total Packed Weight: 1.13kg
- Interesting To: Bikepackers and Ultralight hikers who want a tent rather than a tarp/bivy setup
- Best For: Those who seek comfort and privacy only a tent can provide
- Price: $399.95, Ground Cloth: (suggested): $65
- Purchase: REI | Amazon