Gear

27 Nov

Posted at 16:34h in Gear

I usually hate lists,  but I love supporting women-owned brands and I love discovering gifts that fall into the category of 'functional' or 'unique', rather than just 'random stuff' that nobody actually wants. I've opted to include 12 items in this gift guide, since it is, at the very minimum, breaking from tradition of doing a list of only 10 things. I've tried to include things in this list that are consumable or so unbelievably functional that they aren't simply a replacement piece of gear...

30 Jun

Posted at 21:54h in Gear

Confession:  I used to think that trekking poles were for old people.  I incorrectly assumed that the only reason that people needed poles for hiking was to compensate for their lack of fitness and ability.  I thought of them as, "crutches for the weak".  I saw myself as the ideal specimen of hiker:  the speed of a gazelle, with the stability and surefootedness of a mountain goat - surely I didn't need the help of overpriced carbon-fiber sticks. I was wrong. So, so wrong. My very first backpacking...

06 Jul

Posted at 01:10h in Gear

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” — Coco Chanel Let me preface this post by saying that I wear a uniform for a living.  For the past 12+ years of my life, I have worn the same thing to work everyday.  This is perfect for me because it is simple and predictable.  The side-effect of having such a low maintenance work routine is that I have become literally incapable of picking out fashionable outfits in my non-work time.  Cleverly, I have solved this...