All of us at the Adirondack Explorer love the outdoors. If you can’t find us in the office, we’re likely out hiking, paddling, biking, trail running, skiing, snowshoeing, or climbing. Over the years, we’ve tried a lot of gear. We created this blog to post reviews of the stuff we like (and a few things we don’t)
Recent Gear Reviews
Exos Beanie a nice hat for skiers
November 28, 2012I do a lot of backcountry skiing, and so over the years I have collected a half-dozen pairs of skis. Not as many as some skiers, but enough to make some people wonder if I’m obsessed. Maybe I am, but not about skis. I have far more ski hats. I must own nearly twenty: wool, synthetic, thick, thi...
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OR’s Echo Tee ideal for trail running
May 24, 2012The T-shirt is a staple of the outdoor enthusiast’s wardrobe, and nowadays many clothing makers offer T-shirts made of synthetic fabrics that wick away sweat and dry quickly. Some also claim to mask body odor. I’ve tried T-shirts from a number of manufacturers, including Outdoor Research, Eas...
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Guidebook for Adirondack trail runners
May 23, 2012By Phil Brown The Adirondack Park has more than two thousand miles of hiking trails. In theory, this means it has more than two thousand miles of trails for running, too, though you aren’t likely to encounter people jogging up Gothics, say, or Basin Mountain. What trails are suitable for runnin...
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An app for the Adirondack High Peaks
December 29, 2011You and a friend finally reach the summit of Gothics, take in the glorious view, and begin to wonder what the names are of all the peaks around you. So your friend whips out an iPhone and starts tapping the screen. Is he calling the local forest ranger for answers? Not if he has installed the ADK...
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A few words about ‘The Climbing Dictionary’
December 12, 2011I’m a Johnny-climb-lately. After moving to the Adirondacks, I spent most of my outdoors time hiking, backcountry skiing, or paddling. I had no interest in rock climbing—until I finally tried it a few years back. I quickly discovered there’s a lot to learn apart from the techniques of actual...
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OR shirt a good base layer for skiers
December 2, 2011For backcountry ski trips, I usually wear three tops: a base layer for wicking away perspiration, a fleece jacket for insulation, and a shell for keeping out moisture and wind. (I also carry a down jacket in my pack.) As I warm up, I remove layers as needed. When I first started skiing, I experim...
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Review of La Sportiva Karakorum boots
November 14, 2011A few years ago, I was asked to test a pair of Read more
Native Hardtops Sunglasses
November 4, 2011By Susan Bibeau I am the first to admit that I am not the most delicate girl when it comes to outdoor pursuits, and there are few...
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