Hiking pants are a dime a dozen. Every brand’s got one. Or two. Or maybe even three. Me, I decided to go for the cheapest option, and the most colorful. Lately, my go-to trail and outdoor climbing pants have been the REI Sahara Roll-Up Pants, like zip pants, minus the zip functionality because the way those are cut are never attractive.
When I signed up for #HellHikeAndRaft, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I imagined long, strenuous days climbing mountains with an epic group of people more fit than me. I’d been rocking the Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot when I said yes to the adventure. They’re still my go-to shoe for a good chunk of my hikes.
I’m the type of person that sprains an ankle while standing still. I wanted something a little sturdier for the unknowns of Idaho, and eventually Mt. Whitney that fall. That’s where the Salewa Alp Trainers came into play.
Photo by Nelson Salvatera
Since moving to San Francisco, I’ve come to realize that space and storage is a premium. There’s only so many backpacks I can own in a space that’s sub 600 square feet. I find that solid, all-around backpacks are hard to find. Most only excel at one thing or another, resulting in a giant collection of packs that you use for one thing, maybe two.
This is where the Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 pack shines.
A good pair of leggings is really hard to find. Some are too tight, some too loose. Some too thin, some don’t give enough support. Some show too much, and some have questionable manufacturers that I just can’t bring myself to support.
A few years ago, I was shopping for Christmas presents for a significant other. I’m that person who buys gifts for people that I want for myself. My gift was a basic technical ice climbing class with SWS Mountain Guides. And oh boy, it was an experience.