Every spring and fall new products hit the shelves of outdoor stores. Some are completely reimagined products whereas others seemingly showcase the colours that are on trend - which from what I've seen this spring are in the peachy or "tea rose" colour category as SmartWool calls it. Spring is also the time new books are released. Two described below coincide nicely with hiking season and another is ideal for any national park lover. I've…
Wondering what to get the wannabe traveler and outdoor lover for birthdays or holidays this year? I've put together a list of things I personally love - including books, winter gear and games, along with a few random products that I think would make great gifts. This year I'd recommend ordering early because of ongoing disruptions in the supply chain, uncertain demand and longer than normal shipping times. Keep in mind that this post does…
If you're a camper, I think you'll find the MoonShade to be an incredibly useful piece of gear. It's a lightweight, portable awning that attaches to vans, cars or trucks (via two very strong magnets) or to windows via suction cups. Don't have any of the above? You can still tie it off with guylines to a fence, tree or door frame. The bottom line - it's very portable and it can be used in…
Below is a guest post from my daughter Kristen. This post was updated in August 2021. Back in early 2019, we had the opportunity to try out the brand new mattress from GoodMorning.com. While this isn’t the typical type of blog you’ll find on here, the reason we wanted to do a review boiled down to the fact that the mattress is designed for active people – it’s not just another mattress in a box. We were…
With the clock ticking down to Christmas, it's time to start thinking about gifts for outdoor loving friends and family. There's no need to break the bank either. Lots of these gifts even fit the stocking stuffer category and all are available either online or in the Calgary Sporting Life stores. I think (and hope) your friends and family would be thankful to receive any one of these 20 holiday gifts. For your friends and family…
I spend a lot of my free time in the mountains - no matter what the season. Being properly dressed and prepared is critical to my well-being and those in my party, especially in winter. Three cutting edge outdoor clothing brands you probably haven't heard of do a particularly good job of offering comfort, durability, and style including Ortovox, Kari Traa and Houdini. That's not to say that some of my favourite outdoor clothing brands…
I've been a big fan of Arc'teryx clothes for years. I love their feminine cut and durability to the point where I wish the occasional piece of clothing would die because I'm so sick of it. But that's a happy problem in my books. Arc'teryx clothes for men are equally good. John recently tried out the Perimeter Pant and the Phasic Evolution Crew T-shirt. The Arc'teryx Perimeter Pant The Arc'teryx Perimeter Pant is a mid-weight pant…
Have you heard of the Kühl clothing brand out of Salt Lake City? I hadn't until they reached out to me a month ago and offered my husband a few pieces of clothing. After perusing their website we settled on a pair of cargo shorts and the Kuhl Team sweater. Upon receipt of the Kuhl clothing we were both very impressed. The clothing has a feeling of substance and quality. You don't see loose threads…
I have all sorts of adventures planned over the next six months from sea kayaking on the west coast of Canada to trekking in the Indian Himalayas. These two adventures and most of the others involve travel with either a backpack or duffel bag. If you've gone that route, you know how disorganized your bag can get in short order. Useful travel accessories Lewis N. Clark, an American company specializes in travel accessories. They offer bags…
With hiking season upon us it's time to think about the state of your hiking boots. Perhaps you're like me - in love with the comfort of your old ones and all the memories that go with them. But at a certain point - and mine are there - it's time for a new pair. I've included tips here on what to look for in a new hiking boot - and importantly how to break…