Colorado Explored

Once again this purchase happened because I needed something fast and once again, Amazon to the rescue. Now I don't really have a lot of miles behind me with poles so this really was the first experience I had with them and all you need to know is I was fortunate to have had them with me. These are the poles I used on Mt. Bierstadt. For the ascent to the summit they stayed in my pack and even when I started back down I remember thinking that I wasn't going to end up needing them and I bought them for nothing.....then the terrain got steep and my legs got weak. You see, all that energy I used powering up the mountain was gone on the way back down and my gummy worm legs didn't want to support my weight anymore. Out came the poles and while I can't say it was a walk in the park they certainly helped and proved themselves to be well made. On the steeper terrain they proved invaluable in navigating the loose and rocky descent. I really can't tell you how many times my fe...

I bought these out of  necessity  on the fly, these are the pants I wore when we hiked  Mt. Bierstadt. We sort of decided on doing this hike in the middle of the week so I needed something other than jeans and I needed them fast.....so, Amazon. The weather was predicted to be a bit cooler (30's-60's)and I certainly didn't want to be hiking in jeans. The fleece lining on these and and the windproof/waterproof features are what attracted me to them . I hate ordering clothes online because simply put, they never fit. I'm 6'2 about 210 with long legs, long arms and a long body....like Slenderman but not quite as scary. This means its difficult and really a bit of a guessing game with sizes. Large? What exactly is a large? Well, what I can tell you is a large in these pants fits me awesome. The pants did great the whole hike and kept me very warm. I actually like these things a lot more than I had thought I would and can see myself buying more. Lightweight but warm, the ...

You know I do love to grill, and some burgers or chili while camping is always great but when your're out and that's just not an option, the Mountain House Pro Packs will do the trick! And you wont be eating sawdust, I mean it, these things are actually GREAT! I admit I was skeptical at first but if I had not known it was dehydrated there would have been no way I could tell, yes, they're that good. Even half way through the steaming phase I thought the concoction still looked a bit questionable but after it was all done and stirred properly, color me surprised. The breakfast scramble, biscuits and gravy and the chili mac we tried were all fantastic.With tons of options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even desert just because you are out in the elements doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on flavor. Add water, let it do its thing and then dig in, not much to it. Eat it out of the bag for easy clean up and you only end up using a utensil and a pot for the water. ★★★★ ☆ ...

Finally! A pop up even I can stand up in that didn't cost me a chunk of change. Really though this thing is HUGE!  The top is screen ventilated and it has an additional window that can be zipped open or shut towards the top that can accommodate a solar shower. This is what we use as our "rest room" tent when we go car camping. Like I said, its large, the base is almost a full 4 ft by 4 ft and is just shy of 6 ft 3 inches tall. That gives you plenty of room to work with for privacy when showering, doing the "doo" or hiding from the in-laws, this pop up should serve you well. You can throw it out for easy set up, it unfolds itself in less than 30 seconds and collapses back super easy folding flat back into the carrying bag for ease of transport just as quickly. Its so small/slim when packed, it can fit between the seat and my center console of my car completely out of the way in a space that otherwise would not be used. ★★★★★   5 out of 5 stars, I really ca...

With several varieties to meet your needs these mattresses are a must have is you plan to sleep in your truck bed. The over the wheel well design means the whole bed of the truck can be used as sleeping space giving you ample room while feeling in no way crammed. With thinner cheaper options to the thicker more durable models you can find one that fits your price point and pair it with the    Napier Backroadz Truck Tent  and you can turn your truck bed into the Taj-Mahal of truck bed camping. ★★★★★  5 out of 5 stars for usefulness and efficiency (that over the wheel design provides maximum space) You can browse the different options and product lines on their site  here.  

Ok, I know what you might be thinking, yes, these are rather inexpensive however for casual use I would argue there isn't a better value out there. This little headlamp has 7 modes between the white beam and the red beam. You have high, medium, low and strobe on the white beam and low, SOS and strobe with the red beam. It operates off 3 standard AAA batteries, has 45-degree angle tilt, washable headband and weighs 3oz with the batteries installed. Oh ya but the best part is that you can grab these off Amazon for 14$ in a 2 pack. ★★★★★  5 out of 5 for value and functionality. You can grab a pair of these little bad boys  here.

I love ours what can I say. It's large, it's clear, it has a large opening and it doubles as a sturdy stool. Check, check, check....oh ya, and it will keep bears from getting your precious grub. Maybe not those crazy bears up in the Adirondacks but that's another story. The clear plastic and wide mouth make it the "clear" winner over  models such as the Garcia where grabbing an item quickly might be more of a hassle. With 2 different sizes you can choose the one best suited for your needs, I find that the smaller one has done us very well and so far, no food theft by bear, so I suppose that's a win! ★★★★★  I thought about subtracting one for the price but in the grand scheme of things if your going to spend money this might be the item to do it on.   You can purchase one  here  for about 80$

This is a great solution for doing some boon-docking if you have a truck and want something a bit less permanent. Pair this with the AirBedz truck mattress and you have a really spacious and comfortable place to crash that sets up and tears down fairly quickly. I was actually surprised at how well it handled the wind and how large it was on the inside sporting some serious head room and encompassing the whole truck bed with the tailgate extended. This rig can be purchased fairly cheap and together with the air mattress makes for a great place to crash that would pay for itself after a few trips. ★★★★★  5 out of 5 stars for size and value. This thing is solid. You can check out the tent on Amazon  here.

"The tasteful solution to the not so tasteful problem"   Or at least that's what the website says. All I know is I wish every dog owner carried one of these and actually used it. Look, I know we all love our dogs but if you are out hiking and camping with your favorite furry friend you need to be a responsible owner and clean up after them. The last thing I want to do when I get to a campsite is have to do a poo check because the previous occupant let their buddy do their business wherever they pleased. Similarly, if I'm hiking with my little buddies the last thing I want to see is dog poo splattered all around the trail or dog poo baggies stashed towards the trail head and parking lot.  SERIOUSLY , can someone explain that one to me? It's already in a bag, why did you dump in on the trail or next to the parking lot!?!? Here is your solution friends. It has a spot on the front for your baggies, a button clip on the back to feed through your leash and all you ...

Its not anything anyone wants to talk about but it, like Thanos, is inevitable. If you are out on a multi day trip in a place that lacks the proper facilities your options are rather limited in what to do with your poo. You can bury it or pack it out. This inexpensive little contraption can make packing it out pretty easy while providing a similar level of comfort that you would be used to. For backpackers I don't see this as an option but for boondockers and car campers I don't think I know of a better way to "go". Pair this with the  WolfWise   pop up privacy tent and you have yourself a perfect place to practice private pooping. I paired ours with a 3$ 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot and that brought the total up to 15$, similar models with bucket included at REI are upwards of 45$. EMOJI STICKER NOT INCLUDED ★★★★★   5 out of 5 stars for price and comfort! You can scoop one up on Amazon for about 13$  here .