-
LaCrosse Grange Boots Review: Best Boot for Canoeing?
For the last couple of years, I’ve been using the LaCrosse Grange Boots for canoeing when I want a rubber waterproof boot. If you’re a long-time reader, you may remember that back in 2019 I wrote The Best Boots for Canoeing. I recommend the Xtratufs boots, and I still think that’s a good recommendation. But I found that after a couple of trips that they didn’t fit my feet well. I sold them and then bought a pair of LaCrosse Grange Boots. To make this review short, these are the boots that I’ve been using for canoeing, shoulder seasons around town, when going into wet areas for photography, and for…
-
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Review: Lightweight Tent for Paddlers
My Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 review will explore my experience with this tent over the last couple of years and why I always come back to it.
-
Yama Mountain Gear Cirriform Tarp Review
The Yama Mountain Gear Cirriform Tarp is a lightweight, shaped tarp designed for lightweight trips when you only need a minimal shelter. Here's my short review.
-
Canoe and Kayak Building Resources
Building resources for wooden canoe and kayak homebuilders.
-
Telling a Good Canoe and Kayak Adventure Story
Years ago, I took time to analyze the story structure of different types of canoe and kayak adventures that were published in various magazines. I wanted to be able to pitch the types of stories that the editors were buying, and I wanted to be able to do it in the formats they were accepting. I ended up identify three different types of stories: Trip Reports, Autobiographical Trip Reports Focusing on a Global Issue, and a Biography. There were more types of stories, but these three were the most interesting to me. I outlined each of the different scenes that were used to tell the story. I’ve used these outlines…
-
Borah Gear Ultralight Bivy Review
The Borah Gear Ultralight Bivy is a lightweight sack to put your sleeping bag, sleeping pad and self into while you sleep. How else do you describe a bivy? It’s designed to shelter you, protect you from splashes and drafts and add a little warmth to your sleeping bag. It also has bug netting above your face to help you breath and keep the bugs out. I bought it to provide a little extra protection when sleeping under a small tarp. I used this in 2023 on a ten-day bikepacking trip, and I would call this a limited review. That said, I probably won’t be using it often due to…
-
Paddle and Portage: a New Website for the Boundary Waters
This is a quick bit of interesting news for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness lovers. Paddle and Portage is a brand new website devoted to telling stories about the Boundary Waters and Quetico. It launched in January 2024. The website is founded by Joe Friedrichs, formerly of the radio station WTIP and WTIP’s Boundary Waters Podcast. Matthew Baxley is also joining Friedrichs’ new adventure as part of the new Paddle and Portage Podcast. Baxley was Friedrichs’ co-host on WTIP’s podcast. He’s also a talented filmmaker and good host. He interviewed me about my Following the Winchell Expedition trip for a past episode of the Boundary Waters Podcast. WTIP’s Boundary Waters…
-
Sanborn Canoe’s New Minnesota State Flag Paddle
If you haven’t heard, Minnesota recently finished the process of redesigning its state flag. The old flag was of the “state seal on a bedsheet” type. It also redesigned the state seal — and decided on an epic canoe country inspired design. THE BEST STATE SEAL IN THE NATION. You can learn about the redesign at the Minnesota Historical Society’s website. Even though some polls might say that the new state flag looks like “Sky Camouflage,” the new flag looks great when put on merch. I expect this will become a profitable market to be in over the next couple of years. You should expect it to see it on…
-
Bikepacking Gear is Nearly the Same as Canoe Camping Gear
If you’ve followed this blog for awhile, you’ll know that in addition to canoeing and kayaking I love biking and specifically bike touring or bikepacking. You may even remember the April’s Fools joke that I did on this topic. The joke was that this website was going to change to a biking website, but I digress. This year, in leu of a big paddling trip, I did a long bikepacking trip across the proposed Minnesota ORV Border to Border Route. I basically used the same gear for this trip as I would have for canoe camping. I made a video about the gear that I used. There were a lot…
-
KÜHL’s Renegade Pant (the perfect paddling pants) and Fall Collection
Earlier this fall, KÜHL sent over a few of pieces from their fall collection. That included the Renegade Pant, Interceptr Vest and the Invigoratr Merino 1/4 Zip shirt. Together they create a warm and cozy fall outfit that functions well during the shoulder paddling seasons. It also looks great. When wearing them, I feel like I’m living up to my Appalachian Trail thru-hike name, which was Fashion. All kidding aside, I love KÜHL clothing and have written about their clothing before here. One of the things that I love about the clothing is the thought that goes into the design of the features and the fit. As an example, I…
-
Paddle Pocket and Tether Tabs by RedLeaf Designs
Having been in the paddlesports industry for over 26 years, I’ve become jaded by new products. There isn’t often something that I see where I say immediately, “I need one of those.” Well, wipe that jade off of my eyes, because I have serious GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) when it comes to RedLeaf Design’s new Paddle Pocket and Tether Tabs. These new products offer a simple way to store your spare paddle in your canoe or to stash a paddle while portaging. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen anything exactly like it before — maybe there are products similar to it that I haven’t seen before. The second I…
-
Improve Bear Bagging with This Cord Winder
For years I’ve been stuffing my bear bag rope into a stuff sack or throw bag for storage or winding it around my hand and then placing it in in the bag for storage. At the next campsite, it inevitably becomes tangled as I take it out. I’ve discovered a product that prevents the tangly mess of bear bag ropes. It’s the Cord Winder by Hilltop Packs. The best part is that it is only $5. I bought two for reasons explained below. The concept is simple. Take the idea of line winders for kites and apply it to bear bags. That’s exactly what Hilltop Packs did when making the…
-
FLEXTAIL ZERO PUMP Review
Recently, FLEXTAIL sent over a beta version of their new ZERO PUMP for me to test out, and I have to say that I’m excited about this little pump. If you’re an ultralight backpacker or paddler looking for a lightweight, compact, electric pump to inflate your sleeping pads, then read on. Even if you’re not, you may be interested after reading my impression of this little device. It makes inflating a thick sleeping pad easier than with the pump bags provided by pad manufacturers. What is it? The FLEXTAIL ZERO PUMP is the world’s smallest pump for sleeping pads, weighing only 1.2oz (about 34.02 g) without the battery and measuring…
-
Fake Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Refills Sold on Amazon
I recently received an email from Amazon saying that they found that one of the sellers using their platform had used it to sell counterfeit Thermacell Refills. It’s scary that they didn’t list the chemicals found in the counterfeit product and scary to hear that a chemical pad that’s burned to create a vapor that wards off mosquitoes could be counterfeit. If you ordered replacement Thermacell Refills from Amazon, make sure the check your order to see if it was sold by this company. Here’s the email I received. Dear Customer, We’re contacting you about order #xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for the following item(s): Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Mat Only Refills; Compatible with Thermacell…
-
Xero Aqua X Sport Shoes for Canoeing and Kayaking
Back in July Xero sent over a pair of Aqua X Sport water shoes for me to test out over the summer. I’ve been using their Z-Trail sandals, so I was excited to try out this pair of water shoes. I had considered the Aqua X in the past, especially for paddling in moving water where I may want a closed toe and for sea kayaking. During the summer, I used these on canoeing day trips. Features of the Xero Aqua X Sport The Aqua X Sport water shoe features an open mesh upper that breathes well and sheds water out of the shoe. The tongue is non-absorbent. When combined…
