Gear
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The Best Boots For Snowshoeing (Winter 2025/26)
Snowshoeing is a fun and easy winter sport. All you need to get started are some snowshoes and some warm clothing. But one of the questions I get asked all the time is: What are the best boots for snowshoeing? What type of boots should you buy? Which features should…
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Lake O’Hara Packing Lists for Hikers and Campers
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…
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Best Women’s Hiking Pants (Picks for Every Body Type)
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…
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Where to Find Women’s Plus Size Hiking Clothes and Gear
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…
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Canadian Hiking Gear Brands to Support
With a on-going 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…
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MEC is For Sale Again: What Happened?
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…
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My Favourite Hiking Gear of 2024
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…
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Stocking Stuffers for Hikers Under $25
Have you seen some of these hiking stocking stuffers guides? They’re full of $300 gadgets or things that are clearly too large to physically fit in a stocking. I’m seen them too. And they’re ridiculous. A stocking should be full of small, fun, inexpensive stuff. And chocolate. Some of my…
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20 Ways to Save Money on Hiking Gear
Getting outfitted for hiking and backpacking can seem overwhelming. When I was first starting out, I felt like there was so much gear on the market and that it was SOOO expensive. Plus I felt like the list of gear you need to buy for hiking and backpacking was never…
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Best Hiking Underwear For Women and Men
You’ll find countless discussions about hiking clothes online, but for some reason, not that that many about underwear. Which I find a little strange since if they aren’t comfortable, the wrong underwear can wreck your hike. So in this guide, I’ll break down how to choose the best hiking underwear…
