Outdoor Gear

Headlamps are basically flashlights that provide the convenience of hands-free operation.

What's worse than a dull knife blade? Well, perhaps a lot of things, but the frustration of hacking away at game meat makes an otherwise happy day feel like a defeat.

A quality pair of conv

I bought my first pair of Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ polarized sunglasses six years ago. They have excellent optics and clarity.

A few decades ago, a specific knife style became popular for not only avid outdoorsmen and women, but also for thousands of youngsters and adults interested in a survival tool — the survival knife. Multiple companies produced good ones and bad ones. The big feature was the hollow handle and the numerous survival items the handle could store.

Let's face it, properly fitting boots are one of the best pieces of equipment you can have for the outdoors. They protect your feet from cold, rain and rough terrain, biting and stinging critters — all while offering support to your ankles and the arches of your feet. In many instances, you get what you pay for when it comes to boots, and in my opinion they're worth paying for.

My first winter jamboree with the Boy Scouts was a misery. Oh boy, do I remember it well. Despite what I thought at the time was a sufficiently well rated sleeping bag for colder temperatures and warm clothes, I sat up two nights, shivering and wondering what made me think I wanted to do this in the first place.

Most outdoors enthusiasts have heard statements about the amount of heat lost through one's head if left uncovered in cold conditions. Granted, if you leave any part of your body exposed to low temperatures, you'll quickly loose heat; however, for some reason many neglect to properly insulate their heads in cold weather. This guide discusses options to ensure you keep your cranium cozy in the cold.

When it's time to take a hike down a trail, the most important choice you'll face (next to what you plan to carry with you) will be what you will carry everything in. When a fanny pack is too small, and a backpack is too big, what should you do?

A pair of binoculars or other type of optics is an entertaining addition to the camp and hike packing list. If optics is not on your list, consider how much more a wildlife sighting or view of the valley below would appear close-up.