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Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo Outdoors

The Women’s Vasque Talus UltraDry

posted by gumptiongear April 4, 2012 0 comments

 

Whether you’re a wife, mother or daughter you know that life as a woman places different demands upon our time than our male counterparts.  So when the window of opportunity opens offering an escape from the daily routine, you need to be ready.  You need a hiking boot that won’t let you down or allow a little wet weather and muddy terrain stand between you and some well-deserved trail time.

Just like your new Spring wardrobe offers a nod to tradition infused with modern flair and sensibility, the Talus Ultradry™ from Vasque embodies the authenticity and ruggedness of classic hiking boots while utilizing the very best of modern technology and comfort.

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Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo OutdoorsGo Pack

Mountainsmith Scream 25L: Your New Travel Companion

posted by gumptiongear March 28, 2012 0 comments

“It is not down any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville

Whether you are a weekend warrior, or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast looking for a getaway from your getaway, there’s no greater joy than making your way deeper into the woods;  further along the canyon’s edge; closer to the waterfall….

If you’re a fan of moving light, fast, and unencumbered, then Mountainsmith might have just introduced your new best friend for the outdoors. The Scream is a member of the all new Mountainlight category in 2012.  A perfect secondary bag for light travel and summit hiking.

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Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo Outdoors

The Chaco Vade: Not Your Grandma’s Trail Shoe

posted by gumptiongear March 21, 2012 0 comments

Our Gumption Gal admits she identifies hiking shoes as being clunky, unbreathable and lacking in grace. In fact, back in the nether regions of her closet, alongside the assortment of other unused equipment lies such a pair of hiking shoes  – she has worn them maybe twice in the last ten years.

It’s not that she doesn’t hit the trails. She just prefers to do so in trail running shoes, whether she’s running, hiking or just meandering. Then, with the arrival of Spring, came the fashionable yet utilitarian Vade hiking shoes from Chaco.
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Gear ReviewsGo Hike

Exclusive First Look: Hi-Tec Sierra Lite i WP

posted by gumptiongear March 12, 2012 0 comments

Winston Churchill once said, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.”

In 1978 Hi-Tec changed the game.  With the introduction of the athletically inspired “Sierra Lite,” Hi-Tec became the first manufacturer of lightweight hiking shoes and boots.  The creation of the Sierra Lite represented a tectonic shift in the industry’s approach to the “hiking” category.  ‘Lighter Faster Comfortable’ were now mantras applicable to the world of hiking.  Flash forward to 2012 and Hi-Tec is re-introducing the original classic that literally revolutionized an industry.

This modern version of the original light weight hiker pays homage to 1978 version, but has been radically updated with the addition of new technologies like a rugged Vibram outsole, co-molded injection EVA, full-grain Nubuck leather and ion-mask over the entire shoe.

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Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo Outdoors

Flare: Wolverine’s Low-Cut ICS Hiking Shoe

posted by gumptiongear March 7, 2012 0 comments

Flare [flair] verb, flared, flar·ing, noun: to start up or burst out in sudden, fierce activity, passion, etc.

As winter begins to loosen its grip on the nation and dirt and rock-laden trails begin to reemerge from their snow-covered slumber, it’s time for the outdoor adventurer to start planning the first outdoor excursions of the year.

For that moment you prepare to burst out onto the trail, you’re going to need a solid shoe to take you off the beaten path and back. The Flare from Wolverine might just be that shoe.

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Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo Outdoors

Easton Artica Hike™ Snowshoes

posted by gumptiongear February 7, 2012 0 comments

Historians trace the origin of snowshoes to Asia sometime between 4,000 and 6,000 B.C.  As recently as the 1950s, snowshoes were still constructed from wood and rawhide.  I share this historical note because as I stood surrounded by the white washed world of the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains and strapped on the Artica Hike from Easton Mountain Products one thought stood solemn in my mind….

Those poor souls of yesterday would have killed for a pair of these shoes!  Featuring ergonomic efficiency and a wide variety of technical innovations to keep your strides competent and comfortable, Easton’s Artica Hike™ is built to handle a wide variety of terrain.

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Gear ReviewsGo Hike

The Vasque Juxt: Conquer More of Your World

posted by gumptiongear January 17, 2012 0 comments

As shoes become more advanced and jam packed with technological innovations, more companies claim their products can conquer all things – from city sidewalks to mountain highs. Yet the reality is that not all “multi-sport” shoes are designed for the expanse of life that carries us from urban realities to more remote retreats. As such, there are certain expectations I have for my multi-sport shoes:

1. They cannot suffocate my feet on the drive to the trailhead;
2. They must be nimble enough to carry me swiftly and securely from from stumps to boulders;
3. And yes, I would like for them to look as good at the mountain tavern as they do on the trail.

Enter the Vasque Juxt – the multisport shoe where versatility is the name of the game. Continue Reading

Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo Outdoors

Columbia’s Hoodster Mid Outdry Boot

posted by gumptiongear January 4, 2012 0 comments

You awaken from your deep slumber to find a blanket of fresh white snow gently covering the wooded backcountry. To celebrate this winter wonderland you’ve decided to dawn your snowshoes and explore. You take inventory of your gear: Jacket – Check; Cozy Beanie -Done;  Snowshoes – Yup. Now there’s the question of what boots to wear. No doubt you have a multitude of options when partnering your new snowshoes with boots.

Of course you could just slip into your summer hiking boots, strap on the snowshoes and head out. However, you’ll be more comfortable in a winter specific boot that provides better insulation and a higher cut than regular boots to keep the snow out. When we were searching for quality options the good people at Columbia® sent out a pair of their Hoodster™ Mid OutDry® for our field team to put to the test.

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Gear ReviewsGo Hike

The Jamison by Bogs Footwear: Comfortable Boots for Uncomfortable Situations

posted by gumptiongear December 29, 2011 0 comments

What if you dropped all of your preconceptions about what an outdoor boot should be. What if you left behind the notion that a boot must be either comfortable or completely waterproof.  Strip away the Nubuck leather, multi-directional lugs large enough to devour small critters; strip away the pretense of it all…

Instead, replace those notions with a single boot.  One boot that is truly waterproof, truly breathable and comfort rated from temperate to sub-zero conditions.  Enter the Jamison from Bogs Footwear.

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