Overview: My faithful old tent died recently, and what a fine time to give up the ghost.   A fine time, indeed.   If you sense a hint of sarcasm in that statement, you’re not wrong. At the time, Allen and I were bivouacked on a remote island in northern Ontario, where we were fishing for pike and living feral for a short week.   Conditions had been comfortable, until one evening, the barometer plummeted and foul weather rolled in. Sheets of rain pounded our campsite, and we w

Overview: When it comes to cold-weather camping I'm certainly not a newbie, having weathered my fair share of snow storms and single-digit nights in my backpacking and backcountry hunting adventures over the last 30 years. And, due to investing in quality gear, I typically stay decently warm and comfortable. But sometimes the conditions are just more than the gear can handle. It's not to say that it's bad, but just not suited for the job at hand. That was the case with my col

Overview: Ever since watching Brad Brook's fantastic film " Hunting The Last Wild Places I The Frank" I've wanted a hot tipi for my backcountry hunting trips. After a miserable Colorado elk hunt (at least from a weather standpoint) spent in a small backpacking tent with my two boys in 2023, I finally pulled the trigger on getting one for a 2025 return trip to the same place. The ability to have a shelter that provided warmth, a place to dry out, and ample space for boots

A comprehensive review of Poncho Outdoors' extensive line of performance shirts

A thorough review of Winston's Air 2 Max Saltwater Fly Rod

Overview: I'm a sucker for handcrafted knives and tools. Sure, there's something practical about a synthetic handle on an axe, or knife,...

Overview: While I spend a lot of time out-of-doors in inclement weather and sub-freezing temps, my tolerance for the cold just isn't what it used to be. Highly aerobic activities like winter hiking, upland hunting, or stalking big game aren't an issue, but less active pursuits like sitting in a duck blind, chasing whitetail from a tree stand during the late archery hunt, or winter fly fishing on the river can be a different story. And despite investing in some of the top gear

Overview: Having recently completed my fourth DIY "Western" big game hunt, I've come to realize two things. First, the importance (necessity really) of thorough glassing cannot be overstated. And second, the best spotting scope is the one you have with you. Let me explain. When I first began hunting out west with my oldest son who lived, during his college years, in Montana, I purchased a spotting scope and tripod to use for scouting and glassing. It was (and still is) a nice

Overview: I was due for an optics upgrade on my western hunting outfit – a HOWA .308. I wanted quality glass but didn't want to break the bank with the purchase either. My dad has been a big fan of the Maven products for a long time and recommend that I take a look at their C-series rifle scopes. The CRS.3 is a First Focal Plane (FFP) optic that boasts a broad 4-20x magnification range (versus my previous 3-15) for versatile shooting capabilities. It features a 50mm objective

Overview : The Whiskey Leatherworks Traveling Mixologist Kit classes up any outdoor occasion. The campaign-style waxed canvas (available...

Overview: When it comes to carrying gear while fly fishing, I've tried it all: vests, chest packs, hip packs, and sling packs. Regular...

Overview: The new Orvis Helios 4 rods launched with significant acclaim over the past few months, and all these accolades made Allen and...

Overview: Among my friends and family it's no secret that I love Poncho brand shirts. At last count I had eleven of them hanging in my closet – originals, short sleeves, and my favorite, the flannels. I've been known to preach the gospel of Poncho to anyone who will listen. Not long ago Poncho introduced their Denim line which is available in seven colors and promises a comfortable, worn-in feel with a touch of stretch. I ordered the Hidalgo , which is essentially a faded gr

Overview: In the scheme of things I fish a good number of days each year (never as many as I would like, but probably more than many),...

Overview: I've been a backpacker for nearly 30 years – hiking trails across the country from New Hampshire's Mount Washington to Oregon's...

Overview: A common error among bird hunters is neglecting their feet. It’s easy to overemphasize the sexier aspects of the sport, like...

Overview: The bull crested the ridge at just over 1,100 yards in a drainage to the north and moving in our direction, two cows following...

Overview: For many upland hunters and waterfowlers, a quality day afield isn’t defined by the sum-total of birds in the bag. On the...

Overview: I remember my first backpacking stove purchased in the early 90's. The one that required the pump, pump, pumping of the fuel...

Overview: I had been searching for a new travel bag for a while but wasn't really sure which route I wanted to go. Rollerbag? Duffle?...