“Into each life some rain must fall” ~ a line from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, The Rainy Day. And a line I mutter to myself now and again. An older pilot buddy of mine used to say that to me when things weren’t going well. And it seemed to stick. Living in the Pacific Northwest […]
Outdoor Clothing
Adidas Flex Hike Pants | Review
Adidas is a German multinational company that has been producing high quality footwear and outdoor gear since 1949. Following a family feud with his older brother Rudolf who founded Puma, Adolf Dassler started Adidas and the brothers quickly became rivals in business. Ironically, both Puma and Adidas are still headquartered in the same German town of Herzogenaurach. […]
Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody | Minimalist Rain Shell
Black Diamond is a proven name in the outdoor and climbing community. Although I’m not into all the climbing and repelling activities I do really enjoy the jackets and shells the Black Diamond offers for outdoor excursions. Back in the fall and winter we reviewed several Black Diamond cold weather products and were more than […]
5.11’s Cascadia Windbreaker | Warm, wind defying toughness
Cascadia, a term used to reference the Cascade mountain region located in the Pacific Northwest. A place I spent a fair amount of time growing up. Having attended high school in Tacoma, Washington as well as serving in 2/75 Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis Washington, I’m familiar with the term. And even more familiar with […]
5.11 Station Grip Gloves: Get a Grip
The 5.11 Station Grip Gloves are a medium grade glove designed to fulfill a variety of tasks. One such task was making my avatar in Far Cry 5 look cool. I’ve had the take the chance to take a look at the real-life Station Grip gloves and give them a spin. As a medium weight […]
My trail running gear and clothing UPDATE
Editors note: This is an update to my original article on my trail running gear. Some has remained the same, while a few other pieces of gear have been changed out/upgraded. I’ve been a pretty avid runner for the past several years. I’ve completed half marathon’s, full marathon’s, the Tough Mudder and several smaller 5k […]
Perseverance Survival Woobie (AKA Poncho Liner) Hoodie
A couple months back I saw a post by former Recon Marine Rudy Reyes about a friend of his, a former Marine Scout Sniper, who was selling hoodies made of poncho liner material.  Now anyone who has served in the Army or Marines knows that the poncho liner AKA Woobie (I’m old school and always […]
Frogg Toggs Rain Jacket
If you’re looking for an alternative to an expensive rain jacket, such as those produced by the big name brands, but don’t want to settle for the cheap Wal-Mart version, then look no further than Frogg Toggs‘ All Purpose Men’s Rain Jacket. Type of jacket: Rain jacket/outer shell for all outdoor activities, including outdoor firearm training courses. Colors available: Stone. […]
Terrex Climaheat Agravic Micro Down Jacket | by adidas
There are certain things I look for in a down insulation layer. Lightweight, warmth and compressibility. The new Terrex Climaheat Agravic Micro Down Jacket has these attributes in spades. I wear the size large and this jacket only weighs 272g or 9.6oz, pack into an integrated pocket and is warmer than some thicker jackets. I’ve had […]
Tekkima Trek Pullover | Casual warmth when you need it
Living in a northern climate, the winters can be a bit much. Because of this, my closet is full of warm clothes. Four to five months with snow on the ground tends to wear on you over time. But with an active family and 2 teenage boys, we continue to soldier on regardless of what […]