It is important to note that not all outdoor clothing and winter gear are worth their cost and some items are overpriced.

The annual SHOT Show is usually populated by booths showing more of the same, “A little newer, lighter and more expensive” was my answer when questioned what the theme this year was.  5.11 Tactical, however, dropped a lot of new products.  I was invited to their Las Vegas retail store for a media meet-and-greet and was […]

FLEXHEAT™ DETAIL PANTS Blauer has hit it out of the park with the next generation of cool-weather patrol pants, the FlexHeat Detail Pants. Skip the old-school pants that don’t move with you and leave you cold.  Switch to Blauer’s FlexHeat Detail Pants and discover comfort and warmth you didn’t know was possible. Best Uniform Pants I’ve Ever […]

Why did Carhartt and Hurley – two brands with a long history of making purpose-built gear – join forces to #OutworkTheWater? When considering approximately 71 percent of the planet’s surface is covered with water, and nearly every person in the U.S. is within range of an ocean, lake, stream, pond, or creek, it starts to make […]

5.11 Tactical is showing their creative mind with the Peninsula Insulator Packable Jacket. This lightweight and comfortable jacket has some interesting features. The Primaloft® Black Series Insulation gives an extremely comfortable ride while maintaining warmth. The body is insulated at 100gm and the sleeves at 80gm; enough to keep you comfortable in most conditions. The […]

Another January in the books and two major trade shows attended. Like last year, I attended SHOT Show in Las Vegas with the crew from the Loadout Room. And then flew directly to Denver for Outdoor Retailer the following week. Two weeks living out of a 5.11 suitcase and backpack in various AirBnb’s but I’m […]

Whenever I attend Outdoor Retailer, I usually have an agenda. Searching for innovative new products but never overlooking bombproof existing items. Mainly to improve something I’m working on for the Loadout Room. As I delve into the Overland space, I’ve found a few personal items of mine that require improvement. A rugged pair of trousers […]

There is a time and a place for everything, including the clothes you are wearing. Sometimes you wear a Tuxedo, and sometimes it’s BDUs, and other times its a more casual approach. We often joke about the predictable mall ninja clad in range gear for going to the mall. A lot of us like the […]

Now that winter is upon us…well, it’s upon me, it’s time to talk about maintaining our warm weather gear. And nothing wins the war on insulating better than goose down. It’s insulation to weight ratio is second to none. And with the ability to compress down to a fraction of its lofted size, it’s my […]

When referring to tents and sleeping bags, the 3-season label excludes winter. With regards to Outdoor Research’s Illuminate Down Hoody, I’m excluding the summer season. Fall, Winter and Spring are the seasons this jacket excels in. This versatile down jacket makes for a perfect stand alone outer jacket in the cooler months. And a cozy […]

Not wearing proper clothing or layering correctly while traveling in a snow-laden environment could lead to cold injuries and death. As a survival instructor for the military, I find myself in these environments often and teach others how to effectively travel in them. In the lists below I will note the things that I typically […]

Winter has finally arrived in my little slice of Florida, with temperatures in the 50s it’s downright chilly for us sun people. I can finally put on my new Propper BA Softshell Duty shell. The fine folks at Propper sent it to me a while back but it’s hardly been cold enough for a proper […]

My favorite two seasons are finally upon us, fall and winter. Now in some parts of the country, these seasons may not be so celebrated. In Florida, it’s a welcome reprieve from 80% humidity and 98-degree temperatures. Living in North Western Florida it still gets cold(ish). So this year after losing 45 pounds I knew I […]

The Magpul Logger Tech Shacket (Shirt + Jacket = Shacket) is a solid piece of kit for all but the worst winter weather. It’s thin enough to layer easily, warm enough to only need a few layers to keep you comfortable well down into the low 20*s, and the outer layer material keeps you dry […]

We’re at the end of November and many of us are already experiencing the colder weather associated with Fall and Winter. With that comes different outerwear that can deal with the harsher climate. One of the brands I’ve relied on for a while now is Black Diamond. Known for their mountaineering equipment, I never really gave […]

Waterproof, Flexibile, Breathable and Lightweight. These are the four most important features to look for when selecting a waterproof shell. In my opinion at least. And the Interstellar Jacket from Outdoor Research delivers in all four of these categories. I’ve been an Alpine skier for all but 2 years of my life. Those first couple […]

Slumberjack’s Incog Down Jacket does many things well. Water resistance, weight, loft, and design are all excellent. I live in the Great Northwest. With the unpredictable weather here, this jacket is a year-round necessity. Even in the summer, you need a jacket for the pre-dawn chill. This is a perfect three season softshell outer or […]

“Into each life some rain must fall” ~ a line from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, The Rainy Day. And a line I mutter to myself now and again. An older pilot buddy of mine used to say that to me when things weren’t going well. And it seemed to stick. Living in the Pacific Northwest […]

Adidas is a German multinational company that has been producing high quality footwear and outdoor gear since 1949. Following a family feud with his older brother Rudolf who founded Puma, Adolf Dassler started Adidas and the brothers quickly became rivals in business. Ironically, both Puma and Adidas are still headquartered in the same German town of Herzogenaurach. […]

Black Diamond is a proven name in the outdoor and climbing community. Although I’m not into all the climbing and repelling activities I do really enjoy the jackets and shells the Black Diamond offers for outdoor excursions. Back in the fall and winter we reviewed several Black Diamond cold weather products and were more than […]