UpNorthica

Duluth Pack has been making their Moose Hide Choppers since infinity ago. For so long, in fact, I’d heard a rumor that they actually hold a patent on the moose itself.
As with their canoe packs, Duluth Pack’s choppers have maintained a certain loyalty among outdoorsy types. While most outerwear brands have chased after ever-newer materials [...]

A headlamp that’s made to go on your chest? Nope, I sure hadn’t tried that one before.
But when I first saw GoMotion’s Sternum 3-Watt Luxeon LED Kit, I was curious about the concept. Could it actually better a night-time wilderness experience? Would it avoid the drawbacks of traditional headlamps? And would this huge searchlight on [...]

A message to all you holdouts who still use Hefty Bags to haul gear into the BW:
Granite Gear loves you and they just want to help.
Yes, it’s true that tall kitchen garbage bags could be considered within ultra-light weight class. And the newer models with Country Lemon Scent, do cut the odor of the hiking [...]

Missing thousands of Kodak moments to shutter delay over the years (thank you Coolpix) will teach you something: To appreciate the pure experience of simply seeing a thing. You learn how to watch actively. And if perchance you are witness to something remarkable, you become exceedingly good at relishing the magic of that moment. The [...]

Mention GoLite around the water cooler and you’ll likely get blank stares. But bring up the outdoor brand around your outdoorsy buddies, and people listen. Those on the fringes of your conversation will crash it. Pulses quicken, shirt collars get unbuttoned. You’ll have to throw them subtle hints to wipe the drool from their jowls.
GoLite [...]

Next to your boots, the most crucial piece of equipment to make or break a backpacking trip is your pack. If the pack doesn’t transfer weight to your hips, your back and shoulders are going to hurt. If it doesn’t have enough space for your gear, the amazing amount of noise hanging gear makes will [...]

Big Agnes is the self-proclaimed “Mother of Comfort.” We’d been impressed with innovations in their sleeping bags that backed the claim. So we were anxious to see how their new String Ridge 2 tent, would hold up under scrutiny. And rain – good heavens – lots and lots of rain.
First, a look at the specs…

Dream with me: A portable water purifier that’s compact, lightweight, easy to clean, and does all the work for you – and it floats. When SteriPEN released their next-gen Journey early this year, the claims sounded too good to be true. But if you’ve known the joys of coping with nasty iodine tablets and high-maintenance [...]

Friend or Foe? Take a new pair of boots over a few days’ worth of root-tangled trails and soggy portages; before long, you’ll know which camp yours fall under. And you’ll spend the rest of the trip either swearing by them, or swearing at them. We canoe campers demand a lot from a boot: Must [...]

I am darn good at putting holes in socks. From special order Icelandic hiking socks to popular domestic brands, my feet for some reason seem to be genetically designed to destroy socks. Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to test new challengers: Darn Tough Socks. I’ve worn them on early spring Lake [...]

Too many of us suffer from middle-of-the-road, ‘good deal’ sleeping bags. You know, the semi-comfortable sacks that keep you lukewarm at best. Did I mention the roomy 2 inches of wiggle room they allow you? A significant issue for you side sleepers. And lugging the bulky things into the backcountry can mean having to eliminate [...]

Winter in our northern clime has given a stellar performance this season. Snow has remained on the ground, unabated, since November. The downside? My feet have demanded more warmth and better performance from my winter boots. The Baffin Icefield, designed specifically for women, met that demand.