It can be frustrating to be out for a hike in wet weather and have your jacket fail, which is called wetting out. But why do rain jackets wet out? And what can you do about it? I’ve been hiking and backpacking for two decades, mostly in the wet Pacific Northwest weather of British Columbia. …
Hiking gear
If you’re shopping for hiking clothing you’ve probably heard all kinds of great things about Merino wool. But Merino isn’t perfect – to start with, it’s expensive. You might be wondering, is Merino wool worth it? I’ve been hiking and backpacking for two decades (I even wrote a hiking guidebook) and have tried a lot …
While my addiction isn’t as strong as it used to be, I’m a bit of a gear junkie. As an outdoor writer and guidebook author, I pretty much hike for a living, so good gear is important. I also know waaay too much about gear since I spent three years working in an outdoor store …
I live in Squamish, BC on Canada’s wet, I mean West Coast and it rains a lot here. If I waited for it to stop raining, I probably would never get outside. Hiking in the rain can be really beautiful if you know how to stay safe, keep dry, and have fun. I’ve got tons …
Backpacking is a natural extension of day hiking as you trek further into the wilderness. The major downside is having to carry all that gear. I’ve been backpacking for 20 years and have come up with lots of ways to reduce your backpack weight. I’m definitely not an ultralight hiker (more on what that is …
If you’re human, you sweat when hiking. And that makes your hiking clothing smell bad. But you don’t have to throw away your stinky clothes. I’ve got a complete guide to getting the smell out of hiking clothes. The advice in this guide covers hiking clothing like base layers (long underwear) shirts, pants, fleece jackets, …
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 12 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 …
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 bit of a challenge to find women’s plus size hiking clothes. As a plus size hiker myself, it’s sometimes a struggle to …
In 2022, I spent even more time than usual hiking, completing research for my upcoming backpacking guidebook for Vancouver Island. (Look for it in May 2024.) As a gear geek, I am hyper-critical of my gear and refuse to use things that don’t meet my standards. Here are my favourite pieces of gear from 2022. …
Packing for the Overland Track can be a little bit confusing. I did lots of gear research before I walked the Overland Track. I managed to put together a backpack full of gear that wasn’t too heavy or bulky, but still kept me warm and dry in Tasmania’s fickle (and chilly) weather. Here’s my complete Overland …