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Gear

Melanzana Alternatives

If you know of Melanzana, you know how difficult it is to get your hands on one of their coveted Micro Grid Hoodies. It’s a versatile piece that’s great for climbing, backpacking, skiing, lounging, and more. Their products are only available at their headquarters in Leadville, by appointment. With resale prices of Melanzana hoodies going for over twice of their retail cost, it’s not economical to buy secondhand. If you’ve always wanted to pick up a Melly (it’s what the cool kids say), here’s a list of Melanzana alternatives to tide you over, because nobody should be without this ultra cozy, technical fleece.

Paulina Dao January 5, 2023

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Gear

The Ultimate List of La Sportiva Katana Alternatives

The La Sportiva Women’s Katanas were my first pair of climbing shoes. They’ve since been discontinued by La Sportiva, which is an absolute shame. The Katanas are the perfect all-around shoe, geared towards newer and experienced climbers alike. Once broken in, they could last on your feet for hours, without extreme pain. I currently have 1.5 pairs (lost a shoe bouldering at the Zephyrs, it’s size 35.5, holler if you find it), and I know that one day, they will no longer be resole-able. In anticipation, I’ve been testing out a bunch of other shoes from La Sportiva. Here’s my list of La Sportiva Katana alternatives.

Paulina Dao May 17, 2021

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Gear

Ridge Merino Solstice Hoody Review

I love merino wool, so much that I once put it in my Tinder profile. I’m constantly on the hunt for new merino wool that I can put to the test. Mammoth Lakes-based Ridge Merino entered the market a few years ago, and I got my hands on the Ridge Merino Solstice Hoody to test out. Here’s how it fared.

Paulina Dao May 12, 2021

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Gear

Asian-Founded Outdoor Brands to Support

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Month! 2021 has been a year (and we aren’t even halfway through!). I wanted to compile a list to support the Asian outdoor community, especially in light of the recent increase of violence against Asians. I’ve put together a list of Asian-founded outdoor brands to throw your dollars behind.

Paulina Dao May 1, 2021

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Gear

Exped MegaMat Duo 10

The most essential part of any camping equipment is your sleep system….

Paulina Dao December 30, 2020

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Adventures Travel Gear

How to Prevent Body Acne in the Outdoors

I’ve been plagued with body acne since my teenaged years. It’s something I’m always super self-conscious about. The sweaty, dirtiness that inherently comes with being an outdoors person is the perfect breeding ground for body acne. Throughout the years, I’ve slowly refined and tweaked my skincare routine to manage bacne. Here’s how to prevent body acne (or bacne) in the outdoors, and anywhere else, really.

Paulina Dao December 23, 2020

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