Keen Voyageur Mid, left, and Keen Voyageur This one bedevils a lot of hikers: do I really need hiking boots that go over the heel? You might, but probably not for the reasons you think. Back when I was a…
Who do I like? Vasque and Keen for shoes/boots. Gregory Mountain Products for backpacks. REI for backpacking tents. Columbia for pants. Wigwam for socks. MSR for stoves. I’m all about promoting the folks who build cool gear in their garages,…
Beyond staying indoors, that is… I’m pretty much convinced there is no such thing as a “breathable waterproof” outer shell, though perhaps there are miracle products out there I haven’t been apprised of. For my money there’s no substitute for…
These are my favorite hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve done them all a few times. Berry Creek Falls Loop, Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Twelve miles though one of the most amazing stands of ancient redwoods on…
Rule No. 1 for hiking up hills might well be: If you can hear your heartbeat, it’s time to slow down. When I do training hikes, huffing it up steep trails, I know I’m not really pushing myself until my…
