Getting to visit Lake O’Hara in Canada’s Yoho National Park is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Mostly because reservations are SO hard to get!) You need these Lake O’Hara packing lists to make sure you have the right gear so you can stay warm, dry and happy. I’ve been to Lake O’Hara twice: On one trip …
Gear
Finding women’s hiking pants can be a real challenge – it’s tough to get the right fit! In this guide, I’ve rounded up the best hiking pants for women. I made sure to include picks for every body type. Different conditions and preferences call for different hiking pants. In this guide, I’m just going to …
Traditionally most outdoor brands made women’s hiking clothes up to size 10 or 12. In the last decade or so, sizes 14 or 16 have become more common. But unfortunately, it’s still a challenge to find women’s plus size hiking clothes. I’m a plus size hiker and it’s a struggle to find things that fit …
With a looming trade war with America due to tariffs, I’m starting to rethink where I buy my hiking gear. I want to find some Canadian hiking gear brands to support instead of buying from American companies. I worked in outdoor retail for over a decade, have been hiking my whole life, and have written …
Update May 16, 2025: MEC announced today that they are now owned by a Canada-based group of investors, led by Tim Gu, a textile manufacturing exec. They have announced that they plan to shift more manufacturing to Canada. I’m curious to see where this goes. My original post about the pending sale is below. As …
I spent seven years writing about hiking equipment for one of Canada’s largest outdoor retailers, so I’m pretty picky when it comes to my gear. I also spend a ton of time in the backcountry researching my hiking guidebooks and trail guides, so good gear is important. Each year I make a list of the …
A few winters ago I got an insulated skirt and it was a game-changer. (I’m not exaggerating!) My puffy skirt meant I could keep my butt warm on the trails – I simply put it on over my pants when I was cold and took it off when I wasn’t. In this guide, I’ll break …
If you’re buying presents, please consider choosing eco-friendly gifts for hikers. The hiker in your life will appreciate it and Mother Nature will too. You may not know this, but I used to work in the outdoor industry. I actually wrote product descriptions for a large outdoor retailer. As a result, I know a LOT …
As a hiker, my winter sport of choice is snowshoeing since it’s so easy to do. I’m sure the hikers on your shopping list snowshoe too (or would love to try). Give the gift of outdoor adventure this year and get them some snowshoeing gear. I’ve been snowshoeing for over two decades so I know …
I definitely believe that the outdoors is for everyone, but unfortunately one of the barriers to getting outside is having to buy tons of gear. And of course, that gear doesn’t come cheap! I worked at the head office of a big outdoor retailer for six years, so I understand the seasonal sales cycle. One …