Alpine Islands is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, I may earn a small affiliate commission — at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gear earns a spot. [*** swap in your standard disclosure wording if you have one ***] Exploring nature with nothing but your feet and a […]
The Best Hiking Backpacks We’ve Tested In The Field Read More »
Alpine Islands is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only write about gear we’ve actually tested in the field. Read more about the Gear Review Policy here. There are a multitude of hiking boots out there claiming they are
The Best Hiking Boots of This Decade (Updated in 2026) Read More »
Alpine Islands is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only write about gear I’ve actually put to use. I once heard Merrell’s Moab 3 Mid called “The Ultimate Dad Shoe”. Now that I’m a dad, I really do see
Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots Review Read More »
Alpine Islands is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve actually put on my feet. Zamberlan sent me this pair to test; my take is my own. New shoes are a dime a dozen. But
Zamberlan Exotrail GTX Hiking Shoes Review Read More »
Alpine Islands is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve actually put through its paces in the field. See the full disclosure for details. Hiking boots are a very broad topic. What is one
Lowa Renegade EVO GTX Hiking Boots Review Read More »
Backpacking is a bit of a funny world. It’s not really a sport, but the gear associated with it is very technical. There are some people who haven’t upgraded their year in decades, and others who buy a new setup each year. The advancements in gear go through plateaus and spurts. Recently, the Ultralight trend
Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight 60 Backpack Review Read More »
A couple years ago I heard the news that Yeti, the famous cooler and drinkware brand, bought out backpack maker Mystery Ranch, and was a bit confused. The synergy didn’t make sense. But that’s because I totally misread what the YETI brand really means. When it comes down to it, YETI is about durability, rigidity,
We Tested Yeti’s Skala Backpack In The Mountains: A Review Read More »
Quick Stats Difficulty: Strenuous (17% average grade).Elevation Gain: 1,200m+Distance: 14km (round trip).Best For: Fit hikers, technical scramblers, and alpine photographers.Pro Tip: This is a “joint-killer” descent. If you value your knees, don’t do this without trekking poles. There are some places that really stand out for its majesty, and I don’t use the word “majesty”
Wedge Mountain: Garibalidi Provincial Park, BC, Canada Read More »
WHISTLER, BC, APR. 1, 2026 BC Parks officials announced earlier this morning a landmark deal between Vail Resorts, parent company of Whistler/Blackcomb, and the BC Government for a transfer of Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park “This is a monumental exchange that will bring much needed revenue to the BC government, while at the same time providing
Vail Resorts Closes $50 Million Acquisition of Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park Read More »
In the world of hardshell jackets, Gore-Tex is the gold standard. Let’s get that out of the way right now. But Gore-Tex is a material, and material only goes so far. What separates a good jacket from a bad one is function, style, and utility. And for a solid all-around jacket that is lightweight, packable,
Marmot Orion Gore-Tex Hardshell Jacket Review Read More »