Gear Review: Katabatic Alsek 22 Quilt (250+ Nights)

Note: Katabatic’s Holiday Sale is running until December 2. All quilts are 15% off, while Jackets and Bivys are 20% off.  I picked up the Katabatic Alsek 22°F quilt in 2018. Over the last six and a half years, I’ve Read More …

Ultralight Backpacking Gear for Hot and Humid Weather

Since the early 2000s, I’ve applied ultralight principles to all of my backpacking trips around the globe. From deserts to jungles and from alpine regions to arctic tundra, lightening and simplifying my load has made a significant difference to the Read More …

Sleeping Bags and Quilts for Thru-Hiking (2019 Edition)

When it comes to thru-hiking its important to have a sleeping bag (or quilt) that meets both your individual needs, as well as the dictates of the environment/s into which you are venturing. The challenge is finding a model that Read More …

Sleeping Bags for Thru-Hiking

“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know.” ~  Ernest Hemingway The sleeping bag is perhaps the most cherished item in a thru-hiker’s kit. After a long day on trail, is there Read More …

Why Choose a Quilt over a Sleeping Bag?

From the 1980s through to 2003, I exclusively used sleeping bags. From 2003 to 2011, I tried a couple of different types of quilts, but being a side sleeper who occasionally tosses and turns, I was never entirely satisfied with Read More …