Want to know which backpacks are the most comfortable on the trail? Or which hiking boots are my favorites? Or the best stroller to use to take your baby on dirt paths?
In the Hiking Lady, Hiking Baby, and Hiking Kids reviews, I put to the test all sorts of adventure apparel, gear, and footwear. I know how to beat up gear, and as I go on hiking adventures I share my thoughts with you! When stuff is great, I let you know, and when it is bad, I also let you know! There’s no holding back here!
Is it a jacket? Or a sweater? The Patagonia Women’s Down Sweater “jacket” is just about the lightest weight one you’ll find – it only weighs 11.3oz. Patagonia calls this jacket a “sweater”, mainly because it can easily be layered below another down jacket, such as the Marmot Venus Down Jacket. My friend Donna bought …
These Patagonia Womens Synchilla gloves are a good pair to wear on chilly days on the trail. I wear them during the summer when I’m in the Sierra Nevada mountains and in the winter when I’m snowshoeing in local southern CA mountains. Fleece gloves are a must have for winter activities, because water beads up …
After searching high and low at my local outdoor retail shops for a pair of women’s mountaineering boots, I ended up buying a pair online. Apparently Southern California retailers don’t think that women like to hike in cold, snowy conditions, or snowshoe. Since I love doing both, I did a bunch of research and ended …
If you ever snowshoe, backpack in the snow, or climb to mountain peaks that are covered in snow, you’ll want to treat the leather on your mountaineering boots to make sure that your feet stay nice and dry. All good mountaineering boots will have a Gore-Tex or other waterproof lining that will keep your feet …
As I’ve discussed in my hiking sock gear advice page and my Blister Prevention Tips page, one of the best way to prevent blisters when hiking is to wear liner socks underneath a bulkier hiking sock. When I first saw the Injinji toe sock liners at the store, I was skeptical. I wondered how my …
Orange Sanitation Trowel I don’t have much to say about this sanitation trowel except that is does a very good job of digging a cathole so you can bury your waste in the backcountry. It is lightweight shovel, and its bright orange color makes it easy to find in your pack. Remember to follow Leave …
My Asolo Stynger boots are the best pair of hiking boots I’ve ever owned, and by far the most comfortable. I’ve worn them on rugged terrain: in snow, rain, sand, and mud, and they’re still going strong! Because the upper of the boot is constructed of a mix of synthetic materials and leather, they are …
Whenever I’m on a long day hike I take my women’s Marmot PreCip pants with me. They also come along on all backpacking trips! When you think it won’t rain, it will, and that’s why you need reliable rain pants that can be quickly put on over your hiking pants. A friend of mine bought …
I bought my Marmot Precip Jacket several years ago, and it was the first time I ever owned a Marmot product. Despite the tough conditions I’ve put it through, it still looks like new! As discussed in the Hiking Lady Layering article, I always hike with an Outerlayer. Why? Because it is lightweight, but offers …
The Marmot Venus Jacket is a very high quality product, with 800 fill down, meaning that it will pack down very small, but provide a tremendous amount of warmth. The higher the fill, the smaller the down will pack down, the lighter weight it will be, and the warmer you’ll be! Down fill ratings 700 …