When you are standing on a glacier at 14,000 feet, surrounded by nothing but blazing white snow and ice reflecting sunlight from every direction, regular sunglasses will not cut it. That is exactly why Category 4 glacier glasses exist. These specialized lenses block 92 to 95 percent of visible light, giving your eyes the protection … Read more
Standing at the base of a frozen waterfall, hands numb, breath crystallizing in front of your face — that is the moment you realize why a proper belay parka is not optional. I have spent the last three ice seasons testing insulated jackets specifically for belaying in sub-freezing conditions, and the difference between a good … Read more
When you are planning a polar expedition or an extended winter camping trip, the gear on your back is only half the equation. The other half is everything else you need to survive and thrive in extreme cold, and that is where a dependable expedition pulk becomes non-negotiable. I have spent years researching and testing … Read more
Nothing beats the feeling of wrapping yourself in a genuine wool blanket when the temperature drops below freezing inside a cabin with no central heat. I have spent three winter seasons testing wool blankets in unheated cabins across the Rocky Mountains, and I can tell you firsthand that not all wool is created equal. The … Read more
When you are standing at the edge of an ice cap with a 100-pound sled strapped to your harness, the skis under your feet matter more than almost any other piece of gear you carry. I have spent years researching and testing Nordic touring setups for cold-weather travel, and the right combination of skis and … Read more
When you are three pitches up a frozen waterfall, pumped out of your mind, and trying to clip a bolt with gloves on, the last thing you want is a quickdraw that fights you. I learned this the hard way on a minus-15-degree morning in the Canadian Rockies, wrestling with sport draws that were too … Read more
When you are standing above 10,000 feet with snow reflecting sunlight from every direction, your eyes take a beating. I learned this the hard way on my first alpine climb in the Wasatch Range, squinting through regular sunglasses until my eyes burned for two days afterward. That experience sent me on a search for proper … Read more
When you are climbing above 5,000 meters, every gram on your rack matters. The difference between a 160-gram helmet and a 340-gram one might not sound like much at sea level, but after 12 hours of ascending through thin air with a 20-kilogram pack, you will feel every ounce. Finding the best ultralight high altitude … Read more
Nothing ends a winter camping trip faster than shivering through the night. I have spent over three years testing sleeping bag liners in temperatures from brisk fall evenings to biting single-digit nights, and I can tell you this: the right thermal liner makes the difference between a miserable night and a genuinely warm one. This … Read more
Cold feet can turn an incredible winter hike into a miserable slog. I have spent over three years testing different liner socks in freezing conditions, from single-digit mornings in the Rockies to multi-day snowshoe trips in the Cascades. The difference between a good day and a bad day often comes down to what sits between … Read more