This is a quick update on my Softopper post from two years ago. It’s quick because it’s been uneventful. My biggest concern was how it would hold up to the cold Minnesota winters. It has handled them flawlessly. The rear window is a little cloudier than it was when new, but that might be because … More Softopper Long-term Review
In the balance of capacity and efficiency, I lean more toward filling to my capacity. I know I can comfortably carry 35lbs all day, so if I have the space, I bring a few excess items that I feel enhance my my time in the wilderness. What fun is traveling light if you can’t bring … More Trail Tools: Cutting Wood
These are things that I really don’t need to carry, but I find worth it. As my buddy, Josh says, “I carry less so I can bring more”. REI Flexlite Chair: This stupid chair is probably the most unnecessary item I carry, but I love it. There is something incredibly nice about having a dry … More Backpacking Luxuries
Sometimes, you don’t have the time or energy for long, several-day backpacking trips. You just want to get some time in the woods. … More BWCA Short Trips: Herriman Trail
A pulk is an adapted sled that you pull behind you to haul your gear. It allows you to haul more gear with less effort, taking the weight off your body and legs. During the winter it becomes a huge asset. The document below is available here and does a great job of summarizing build options and … More Winter Camping: You Want a Pulk
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor/lawyer/scientist. I have been running for over two decades, as much as 70 miles per week and as little as zero. I’ve been injured a handful of times and it sucks. I came to a point where I was getting injured frequently and considered not running anymore, but it’s a lifestyle … More Injury Free Running
For me, everything about my truck is a compromise. Gas mileage, towing capability, size, and so on. When I first got my truck, I picked a roll-up tonneau bed cover since it would allow me to keep a fair amount of stuff covered, and still roll out-of-the-way when I need to haul something larger. I … More Cover Your Bed: Softopper Truck Bed Top
Some ideas nag in your head more than others; an incomplete journey is certainly one of those ideas. A few weeks after our failed attempt to hike around Snowbank Lake in the BWCAW (Part 1, Part2) we became hungry for a rematch against the trail. Winter came and went, and spring gave way to summer. Almost without provocation, … More Snowbank Lake Trail: Resolution
Previously I posted about Little Red Wagon Coffee Roasters Geo coffee packets. I was excited to try another option for coffee on the trail. The thought of high quality coffee while backpacking had my mouth watering. There’s nothing like rolling out of your tent on a cool morning for some vestibule side coffee. Well, the Geo packets … More Trail Coffee: Little Red Wagon Geo, Revisited
I’m going to be straight with you, you don’t need a tarp but you’ll want to have one. After all my adventures camping and backpacking for the last decade I have never needed a tarp. Tarps to me always seemed like accessories or even luxuries, nice to have but it certainly never made it on any of … More Tarps; shed the rain & boost morale.
Monkey with Chainsaw 