Recently I’ve made some custom modifications to my SUV to create somewhat of an Off Grid Micro-Camper for sleeping in before and after races and staying near the mountains on a budget. The biggest struggle is finding a way to power my devices while car camping. Small USB power banks are great for charging your…
Garmin Forerunner 945 Review – The New GPS Fitness Watch King?
A couple weeks ago Garmin Released the brand spanking new Garmin Forerunner 945. Garmin’s latest offering in the “Forerunner” lineup. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one! The Forerunner 945 sits in the flagship position in this series replacing the previous Garmin Forerunner 935 that was wildly popular with triathletes, cyclists, and…
Field Tested: Garmin InReach Mini Review!
For the past 3 years I’ve been carrying a Satellite Messenger in some capacity for both casual communication with friends and family, and SOS emergency capabilities if s#$t were to hit the fan while I was off the grid. My first satcom device was a SPOT Gen 3 messenger which ultimately failed me when I…
Garmin Fenix 5 Plus Review – A GPS Fitness Watch That Does It All!
I’ve been a Garmin junky for a while. Wearing a Garmin Fenix watch since 2014 with the original Fenix 1 and more recently with the Fenix 5x. I got pretty excited when I heard that Garmin has released their newest flagship multi-sport watch in the form of the Fenix 5 Plus. This is a successor to the…
Amazfit Stratos Review – Full Featured GPS Running Watch on a Budget!
So you’re looking for a GPS tracking watch that can play music and has a built in compass, altimeter, and an optical heart rate monitor all enclosed in a rugged waterproof, stylish enclosure? That sounds like it might cost a fortune! You’re not wrong. Usually it does! That is until the Amazfit Stratos hit the…
Field Tested: Garmin inReach Explorer+ Satellite Communicator Review
Overview When you’re off the grid or in the back country having a reliable means of communication is crucial. There are a few options on the market that can achieve this but its hard to decide what features you really need. Are you buying something to casually communicate with family and friends? Or is this…
Garmin Fenix 5x – A Trail Runner’s Review
Overview These little gadgets we call “Wearables” are a hot market right now. Fitbit, Garmin, Suunto, Wahoo, Casio, Polar, Mio… this list goes on. It seems like a flooded market with options just about anyone. This list becomes a lot leaner when you start running ultra long distances and require so much more from your…
Field Tested: Outdoor Research Stormtracker Heated Gloves
Electric gloves?! That’s got to be a gimmick right? Well… maybe not! I personally struggle with the unfortunate “cold hands” gene during long pitches ice climbing and when standing still too long on a winter hike. I’ve also experienced the dreaded “screaming barfies” far too many times while climbing (google it)! Wearing big bulky gloves…
Choosing A Personal Locator Device – SPOT Gen 3 Satellite Messenger Review
On long remote hikes or deep winter endeavors injuries that would otherwise make for a bad day, can be deadly. Cell phone service here in the north east can unreliable, or non-existent on my T-Mobile phone. It’s important to be able to signal for help when you’re in trouble in the back country. This is where PLB’s and Satellite Communicators come in. Before I continue, I’d like to state that I’m going to cover these devices from a layman’s perspective without delving too far into how they work, what frequencies they work on, etc…