Nocturnal Admissions

by Brian Litz July 7, 2010

Do you know how to take your sleeping bag’s temperature? Measuring a sleeping bag’s temperature rating is one of the least exacting and consistent sciences out there. The formula for a bags temperature rating, and a good night’s slumber, involves far more variables than bag design and materials. Are you male or female? What, if [...]

One Shell to Rule Them All

by Brian Litz May 5, 2010

Meet the most versatile piece of gear you can own. What’s the most versatile piece of gear in your closet? For me, the thing that I always stash along for an adventure (ride, run, climb, ski tour, hike) is an ultralight shell. Lightweight nylon shells are hardly new—but the development of tightly woven, featherweight fabric [...]

Wool, Wool, Wool

by Brian Litz April 1, 2010

A big, big buyer’s guide to all the wool apparel you can handle. By Brian Litz The roots of today’s wool renaissance lie in primarily in merino socks and base layers. Certainly in North America much credit for this resurgence goes to SmartWool’s original line of merino ski socks, which debuted in the early mid [...]

Bottle Shock

by Brian Litz March 23, 2010

Manufacturers have stopped using BPA. But what exactly will you find in your water bottle? BPA, the hardening component of polycarbonate (Lexan), has been the trendy environmental-concern buzzword. And while the jury is still out on the maligned component, there is enough worry to warrant serious concern about it. Since BPA is an endocrine disruptor, [...]

THE SECRETS OF I-70

by Brian Litz January 19, 2010

Got the itch? There are more powder stashes and corn-covered peaks along the I-70 corridor than you could ski/snowboard in a lifetime—all within a short drive of downtown Denver. Local legend and guidebook author Brian Litz runs down three favorite spots to get it on. A few years ago, I slipped out of the office [...]

Wool Worth

by Brian Litz December 8, 2009

The best superfabric out there is just as effective pure or blended. Synthetics have never been able to fully replicate wool’s unique, multi-faceted performance. It insulates. It absorbs moisture. It’s highly breathable, yet, when tightly knit, it wards off the wind. Wool resists body odor. It’s also inherently flame resistant, as well as a renewable [...]