Hiking Lady » Gear Reviews

A “Backpack” for the City!

Hiking Lady — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:17:31 +0000

What do I like to use to carry my things when I don’t need a full backpack? Well…here are some clues…it is comfortable to wear for long periods of time, has lots of pockets, has a key ring clip, cushioned pockets for a cellphone or iPod, enough space for a small bottle of water, separate pockets for credit cards and cash, pen/pencil holders, magnetic closures, and it is highly durable!

Guessed it? It is my favorite casual handbag, the Overland Equipment Bayliss. I never thought a handbag could be considered technical equipment, but in reality, this one is! The Bayliss is designed to hug your body, so when I wear it ALL day it is still comfortable and my shoulder isn’t sore when I get home.

I’ve been using this for over a year now, and figured it is about time I share with the hiking community something that can be worn around town, traveling, or even on a short hike. It can be dressed up or down, withstands lots of abuse, and keeps my arms free.

Talk about an organized purse!

And the best part? The Bayliss can be converted into a fanny pack/waist pack! Ok, you probably are laughing right now, but really…fanny packs are so convenient. What other purse can do that?

Specs:

Durable. Zippers that don’t break…nylon that doesn’t puncture…this is why I use this bag all the time! Just like the Overland Equipment company’s motto…”You might own another bag, but your Overland Equipment bag is the one you use.” They’re right!
Convertible. Can be worn both as a shoulder pack that hugs your body or a waist/fanny pack.
Stylish. Enough said.
Price. Retails for $50.

As always, happy trails!

A Clif Bar based on a 800-year old recipe!

Hiking Lady — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:47:46 +0000

I always enjoy learning about the history of a company and why and how the founder was inspired to create the product or service. In the case of Clif Bar, similar to many other great success stories, it started out with the rather simple thought of Gary Erickson. One day on a bike ride, he took a bite of an energy bar and decided that he could definitely make something better! Thankfully he took action, because now we can all enjoy the wide range of tasty, high quality energy bars from Clif Bar.

In honor of Clif Bar’s 20th anniversary, Gary decided to share a limited edition bar that was inspired by his cycling adventures over the Passo di Gavia in Northern Italy. Pedaling up and down those hills somehow must have inspired Gary to develop an energy bar version of the 800 year old classic Italian dessert, the Panforte. Panforte’s are very popular in Italy, and are known for their wide range of fruit and nut ingredients. True to its origin, the Clif Bar Panforte has loads of tasty ingredients.

The Panforte bar is a unique flavor…to be honest, based on the description on the front of the package “Fruit, Nuts & Spices”, I was a bit hesitant to try it, since my favorite Clif Bar flavors are sweet, not savory, and have my favorite ingredient – chocolate! This chocolate-less bar is a unique blend, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it! The bar has a nutty flavor, and has big chunks of one of my favorite nuts, pistachios! Add in a mix of oats, dates, figs, a hint of ginger and a wide range of spices, and yum – a tasty and nutritious energy snack for the trail!

The special edition Gary's Panforte Clif Bar

Socks with built in liners!

Hiking Lady — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:36:16 +0000

WrightSocks - the inner liner sock is very apparent when the socks are inside out

For those of us hikers who hate blisters, there is a new option on the market…WrightSocks.

Similar to wearing a separate liner sock underneath a hiking sock, WrightSocks have the liners built in. I’ve been testing these for a couple of months…do they stand up to their motto of preventing blisters? Check out the Hiking Lady Gear Review of WrightSocks.

The Ultimate Slicers

Hiking Lady — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:07:31 +0000

A special guest article from our gear guru Robert I., who enjoys playing with very sharp hiking gear!

Kershaw knives - the Nerve and Salvo

There is all sorts of hiking and backpacking gear that is useful during an adventure …backpacks, boots, JetBoil stoves, tents… but how about when you get home? One item that can be used all the time is a good quality hiking knife!

To prove it, we’ve been testing two Kershaw folding knives for everyday use. The Kershaw Nerve is a lightweight folding knife with a textured handle. That makes it easy to grip, especially when hands are cold or sweaty. The pocket clip is too stiff, so ultimately it is something that most users will probably take off (it is easy to remove). The Kershaw Nerve pictured has a straight blade, but Kershaw manufactures another version that has a combination straight and serrated blade.

The Kershaw Salvo has a very strong blade, slicing through vegetables and fruit and putting my kitchen knives to shame. One side of the handle has black “track tek” rubber inserts for a great grip. The other side is plain, so can be a bit slippery when wet. Also, because this knife is so sleek, it is a little bit of a challenge to open. The thumb stud, which is how the knife is opened, is a little too low on the blade.

Kershaw Nerve, Kershaw Salvo, and the handy Ultra Tek Sharpener

Lastly, we checked out the Kershaw Ultra Tek Sharpener, a handy 2.0oz knife sharpener that can easily fit into a pocket. The sharpener is a bit too rough for standard knives, but great for machetes and cutting shears. It is very convenient and a great design!

Of these two knives, we preferred the Kershaw Nerve for all around use…it is lightweight for hiking, has a great grip for wet or dry conditions, and a strong, sharp blade!

Specs:

Kershaw Nerve, Model #3420

Blade length: 3 1/8 inches long
Weight: 3.8 ounces
Price: MSRP $39, can be found cheaper online.
Manufactured in China

Kershaw Salvo, Model #2445

Blade length: 3 1/4 inches long
Weight: 3.1 ounces
Price: MSRP $65, can be found cheaper online.
Manufactured in USA

Kershaw Ultra Tek Sharpener, Model #2535

Price: MSRP $12, can be found cheaper online.

Keeping Your Tootsies Happy!

Hiking Lady — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:44:13 +0000

Vasque Taku Boots

At just 1 pound 15 ounces, the Vasque Taku women’s hiking boots are super lightweight, yet very sturdy. Fine details such as a mesh edge around the gusseted tongue keep out dirt and debris, yet also enables the boots to be more comfortable and lighter weight.

Check out the full gear review to learn more!

Hiking Lady’s Gear Review: Vasque Taku Hiking Boots.

Beautiful Walking Sticks? Yes!

Hiking Lady — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:51:37 +0000

Testing the Brazos Fitness Walkers

I’ve never thought of trekking poles or walking sticks as having the potential to be beautiful…and perhaps it is because I have typically used the aluminum or carbon fiber poles from outdoor stores. Recently I had the chance to try out a pair of solid wood, hand crafted U.S. made walking sticks from a company called Brazos.

Check out my gear review and let me know what you think: Hiking Lady Review: Brazos Fitness Walkers

And the Best Hiking Underwear Is….

Hiking Lady — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:09:50 +0000

Last month the search began for the best hiking underwear (see Hiking Lady Blog post: The Best Hiking Underwear?)

Since then, I’ve been wearing and washing a few pairs of women’s underwear, attempting to find the best one! I’ve carefully evaluated the comfort level, how quickly they air dry, and whether they reduce odor or not.

Most Comfortable

Isis Sport Briefs: The cut of the Isis Sports Brief is comfortable – these panties provide plenty of coverage and because they are so soft on the skin I don’t notice them during a long day of hiking.

Patagonia Women’s Active Brief: Talk about soft! The Patagonia Active Hipsters are definitely comfortable… they don’t ride up and the waistband lays flat, so the hip belt of my backpack doesn’t rub at all.

Quickest Drying Time

ExOfficio Give N Go Briefs: Need panties that will dry fast? These are definitely highly wicking panties, and along with the even cuter (but a little less comfortable) ExOfficio Give N Go Lacy panties, they were the fastest drying I’ve found! Check out my gear reviews: ExOfficio Give N Go Briefs and ExOfficio Give N Go Lacy panties.

For Environmental Purists

Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pant Underwear: Just like other Icebreaker products, these panties are made of superfine merino wool from sheep living peacefully on farms in the mountains of New Zealand. Manufacturing is done with recycled water and heat, and dyes are eco-friendly. It is hard to find anything greener than that!

Be sure to check out the full gear reviews on each. Remember that all of us are such different shapes and sizes, that your preferences may be different. Good luck underwear hunting, and happy trails!

An Easy to Use GPS!

Hiking Lady — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:01:55 +0000

Tired of complicated, hard to read GPS devices? I’ve been testing out a new GPS device from Bushnell, the D-TOUR GPS. It is a simple, easy to use GPS that has the features necessary for any day hiker. Check out the Hiking Lady review to see if it would be suited to your adventures!

Hiking Lady’s Bushnell D-TOUR gear review.

Bushnell's D-TOUR GPS

Happy trails!

Hiking Gear That Will Amaze You!

Hiking Lady — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:28:59 +0000

A special article from our gear guru Robert I., who enjoys searching for and testing all sorts of fun and unique gear!

Cold Steel Sjambok

A snake on the trail, branches to cut, tents to erect, and food to prepare – Cold Steel products to the rescue!

Although Cold Steel, Inc. is known for producing great knives, we decided to include some alternative hiking gear from Cold Steel on a recent hike. When I showed up to start our hike, several fellow hikers asked why I brought a whip! The Cold Steel Sjambok, can be used as a cattle prod, a whip, as well as other uses – including protecting the group from the slithery rattlers that often cross the trails here in the coastal mountains of California.

While I haven’t had a chance to remove a snake from the trail yet using the whip, I’ll be on the lookout and keep my hand on the comfortable grip…ready to flip a snake or two back into the brush!

Cold Steel Blackthorn

Since a walking stick is an essential item for a hiker, I took the Cold Steel Blackthorn Walking Stick with us (I had to strap it to my backpack when I was holding the Sjambok!). Since it is made of polypropylene, it won’t warp, crack, swell up, or splinter; it looks great and is a handy 37” long.

Cold Steel Mini Tac Tanto and Pendleton Lite Hunter

Hikes can be a lot of fun when you have the right equipment for the task ahead, and I found the Bushman machete ideal for clearing brush from our path. Even though I was just a few miles from the crowded metropolis of Los Angeles, I felt like I was in the Amazon jungle with the Cold Steel machete in hand. Or at least it made me dream of far off adventures! The Bushman machete is made very well. It is constructed of a solid piece of steel and comes with a sheath that makes it easy to carry and offers protection from the very sharp blade.

Cold Steel Rajah

When it was time for dinner, I was called upon to use both the Mini Tac Tanto and the Pendleton Lite Hunter (a great grip on each of these Cold Steel products) that sliced through everything needed for dinner by the hungry hikers. Each knife has its own sheath for easy carry on the trail. The Lite Hunter won the 2010 Field & Stream best of the Best Hunting Knife award that proves to be an excellent utility knife.

I saved my favorite item of the non-conventional gear for last — the Rajah III folder which, when it opens, looks more like a strong fixed blade knife than a folding knife. This tool has wide, mostly serrated blade with ¾” of the tip being straight edge, for fine work. We used the Rajah for many projects – from cutting wood, small branches to preparing stakes for the tents. If you are willing to carry 4.4oz either in your pocket or backpack, this knife really is fun to use.

I had a great time experimenting with all this unique gear! And it was definitely fun to get strange looks from other groups on the trail when I was carrying the Sjambok Snake Whip!

Cold Steel Sjambok ready to whip a snake!

Get Your Mojo On!

Hiking Lady — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:51:45 +0000

Clif bar has introduced a few new flavors of their Mojo bars! Clif has a wide range of trail snacks that I love, especially their Chocolate Builder Bars… and with their Mojo line of sweet and salty trail mix bars, they have improved some recipes and introduced new ones.

New Clif Mojo Flavors!

Clif Mojos are 70% organic, are low glycemic, and are all natural. Most are relatively high protein as well. The “Dipped” versions of the Mojo bars have a rich layer of chocolate on the bottom… it can get a little messy after sitting all day in a backpack, but melted chocolate is always yummy!

New flavors!

White Chocolate Macadamia This is my favorite of the new flavors! It is made with freshly roasted macadamia nuts with soy white chocolate chips. Yum!!
Dipped S’Mores Dessert? Or trail fuel? It tastes like dessert but has the a lot of good stuff packed in to this little bar… 8 grams of protein, only 200 calories, and some vitamins.
Chocolate Almond Coconut For the coconut fans out there, you’re gonna love this. I’m not a big fan of coconut though, so definitely not my top pick of the new flavors.

These new flavors retail for $1.39 each, and I bet Target will have them (that’s where I pick up Clif Builder bars for a great price!)

Clif Bars are one of a handful of energy/trail bars that I actually like and that sets with me well. I have a fairly sensitive stomach and I like having as much “real” food as possible on the trail, and it is always great to be made with primarily organic and packed with a good mix of carbs and protein.

Happy trail snacking!