Outdoor Adventure Blog

In early 2013, a friend and I left on what turned out to be a 5,000 mile road trip to California. Having traveled cross-country on several occasions, we decided to add a little more excitement to the trip – we were going camp every night (unless we found a free place to stay) in the middle of January. Both my friend and I took MSR Hubba’s with us - he had the one person Hubba and I had the two person Hubba Hubba. Both functioned amazingly, no matter where we slept.

MSR Hubba Hubba Tent »

Dave and I met in college and became fast friends. Despite a few distinctive differences, we’re quite similar…which is why we sometimes have gotten in fights. Not fist fights, mind you (though I’m secretly waiting for one, just to see what happens); but metaphorical knock-down, drag-out fights of reason.

Visiting Puerto Rico »

Big thanks to Eric Lumbert (w/ Paddleboard New Smyrna Beach) and Adam Berringer the Mayor of New Smyrna, for putting on such an awesome event. Over 60 people came out Saturday, February 16th @ 10am for the Mayor’s River Fest Paddle Series! The weather worked on our side for once. Light wind, not too cold and the current wasn’t very strong going through the river. Was a perfect day for the first of the series of 4 races.

Mayor's River Fest Paddle Series (Race 1) »

The Mayor’s River Fest Paddle Race Series, hosted by Paddleboard New Smyrna Beach & Mayor Adam Barringer was created as part of a community wellness initiative focusing on fun & healthy living. The first “Friendly Flatwater Race” number 1 of 4 in the series, was held on Saturday, February 16th at 10 am and consisted of a 4 mile long course & a 2 mile short course with a total of 60 athletes.

Paddleboard Racing Around New Smyrna Beach »

The typical school of thought when purchasing a shelter for the outdoors causes people to immediately go for a tent. For a very long time I shared this same point of view - it certainly has its place in the outdoors. For the most part a tent keeps you safe from the elements, and from small critters (but not bears, that is a myth). Until recently I was one of those guys who would always lug the tent around - all 4 pounds of it. Since that my mind has been recently changed  to believe that “lighter is better” I’ve fallen in love with a product that’s eliminated almost 3 pounds from my base weight just on its own - the Etowah Sil Nylon tarp.

Etowah Tarp Review »

Kayaks have very different purposes for different people, and for that very reason there are a multitude of options when it comes to picking out a kayak. For Florida, a sit-on-top is usually more versatile and well-rounded for our waterways.

Hobie Review - Revolution 13' Kayak »

Once we finally left the campsite, we made our way to the location just inside the Zion National Park boundary where we were to park our car – because we had to stash our car and the end of the hike and hitchhike to the trailhead. After waiting for just over an hour, in the middle of nowhere, for someone to give us a ride, we hopped into the back of a pickup truck of a kind local, excited to have the wind in our hair and the trail in our sights.

Canyoonering Zion, Part 2: Two Kinds of Safe »

When we pulled into the campsite, the sun had already set – but it was our securities that were about to.

Canyoonering Zion, Part 1: Two Kinds of Smart »

Let me start this off by saying that I am a long-term, diehard self-inflating Thermarest user. My parents bought me my first sleeping pad when I was 12, as I started to camp and backpack a lot more with the boy scouts. Driven purely by weight and ease of use, I have chosen to use my 3/4 length 1 inch thick pad for over 10 years. But now all of that has changed.

Big Agnes Air Core Sleeping Pad »

Three days into the backcountry of Glacier National Park – a trip to celebrate our recent graduation from college – my four friends and I had our routine down pat: Joel, my Aussie friend, and I had just set up the tents (North Face Rock 22 and MSR Hubba Hubba, respectively). Chris and Zach, our Indiana born-and-raised compatriots, were hanging the bags on the designated “bear pole” in a tree – out of the way of the foraging animals. Kenan was about to go start cooking dinner, but wanted to come change his clothes first.

When Backpacking, Leave Your Fragrances at Home »