Backpacker Gives Us the Best Comfort Thru-Hiking Gear

A few days back I shared a post from Backpacker magazine that offered readers their picks for the best budget gear for making a long-distance thru-hike. Each of the items on that list were selected primarily because they are affordable, with performance being the second characteristic. Now, the editors are back with some more gear recommendations, but this time their offering options that fall into a different category – comfort.

Backpacker's picks for the best comfort thru-hiking gear includes a fantastic sleeping bag from Western Mountaineering, an incredibly comfy sleeping pad from Thermarest, and a large, quite possibly the most comfortable backpack on the market today courtesy of Osprey. You'll also find selections for the best tent, jacket, trekking poles, and even an umbrella, all of which are aimed at the hiker who doesn't mind carrying a bit of extra weight if it means he or she has some luxuries that help them to stay at home out on the trail.

Obviously this list is not for those of us who count every ounce when we're heading out on a hike. Instead, it is all about keeping your body as strong and comfortable as possible, even when hiking for miles on end day after day. If you're someone who is okay with knowing you don't have the lightest gear around, but that you'll probably enjoy your hike more as a result, this list is definitely for you.

Check out all of the items that made the cut by clicking here.

Video: Don't Go to Iran (But Really, You Should!)

This video is here to smash stereotypes. The title tells us not to go to Iran, but the words don't match the visuals you'll see on screen. The 3.5 minute clip shows us all of the great things there are to see and do there, and gives us a glimpse at the people that live in this historically and culturally rich nation. Don't believe everything you hear about Iran. Go and see it for yourself.

Don't go to Iran from Tolt on Vimeo.

Antarctica 2015: End of the Trail for One Skier, Others Close in on the Pole

The 2015 Antarctic season is quickly drawing to a close. With only a few more weeks to go, most of the South Pole skiers are now squarely focused on reaching their destination and ending the difficult challenge they have set for themselves. It has been a long and difficult couple of months at the bottom of the world where weather and surface conditions have tried the patience of just about everyone. But now, with the end in sight, one skier has decided to call it quits, while others are closing in on the Pole at long last.

We'll start our round-up of Antarctic activities with an update on Doug Tumminello, the American who was attempting a solo journey to the South Pole from Hercules Inlet. Doug has struggled some on his journey, as he developed painful blisters on his feet early in the expedition which made progress slow at times. So much so, that by last week he had only reached the 85th parallel, which leaves a lot of ground to cover with time quickly running out. On Sunday, Doug made the tough choice to pull the plug on his attempt to reach the Pole. He had managed to ski to a place called Thiels Corner – near the Thiels Mountains – where ALE maintains a landing strip. Once there, he thought it best to maintain his position and wait for someone to come pick him up. There hasn't been any updates since the Sunday announcement, but it is possible that he has already been retrieved from the ice, and is starting the journey home.

Elsewhere, Henry Worsley is forging ahead with his attempt to become the first person to make a solo and unsupported journey across the Antarctic continent. He is now 60 days into the expedition, and after two months out on the ice he is ready to begin his descent to the Shackleton Glacier and the Ross Iceshelf. That hasn't started yet however, as Henry continues to climb. He's now at an altitude of about 3170 meters (10,403 ft) as he makes his way up and over the Titan Dome. After that, he should start to descend at last, which should make for easier going. He is racing the clock now however, as the last plane out of Antarctica is scheduled for January 28, and he still has a long way to go before he is done. That means extra time out on the trail each day in an attempt to cover longer distances. This looks good on the map of course, but is tough on an already exhausted body.


Solo skier Luke Robertson is closing in on the South Pole. He now has less than one degree to go, and reports improved surface conditions as he nears 90ºS. He should reach the finish line in the next couple of days, at which point he will become the first Scotsman to reach the Polo solo.

The team of Devon McDiarmid, Stew Edge, Mostafa Salameh, and Shahrom Abdullah have now begun the countdown until they reach the South Pole as well. They crossed the last degree yesterday, and now believe they'll wrap up their expedition in six days. That would put them at 90ºS next Sunday, provided everything goes according to plan.

Finally, Emma Kelty and guide Carl Alvy are still forging ahead, although conditions have been very challenging for the duo. They have now passed the 86th degree, which leaves more to cross before they are done. With the number of days growing short at this point, that will be a tall order and they'll definitely need to pick up the pace if they hope to reach the Pole on time. At this point, it isn't looking good, but perhaps they can still pull it off.

Stay tuned for more updates as the news warrants.

Gear Closet: Icebug Anima2 BUGrip Winter Running Shoes

Considering the nasty weather that is sweeping across much of the U.S. and parts of Europe this week, it seems appropriate that I share my thoughts on the Anima2 BUGrip winter running shoes from Icebug. If you're a runner who refuses to move inside for the winter, but routinely has to deal with snow, ice and cold temperatures, then these are definitely the shoes for you.

Icebug is a Swedish company that designs excellent athletic shoes for dedicated outdoor enthusiasts. The company is relatively new to North America, but they are making a big move into the market now. You may not have heard much about the company in the past, but I'm willing to bet you'll be hearing a lot more about them in the future.

At first glance, the Anima2 running shoes look a lot like many other running shoes you'd find on the market. They are a bit on the flashy side, but regular runners are use to unique color combinations on shoes that really make them stick out in a crowd. These shoes have an aggressive sole that makes them well suited for trail running in all kinds of conditions, and the waterproof uppers keep your feet warm and dry, whether you're running on snow, slush, ice, mud or even dry trails. In short, they're an excellent trail shoe that is comparable to just about anything else you'll find on the market.


But what really sets the Anima2 shoes apart from the competition is the patented BUGrip system, which integrates a series of steel studs into the rubber sole to provide unprecedented grip in slick conditions. In the case of these shoes, there are 19 such studs, each working independently of one another to provide traction as needed. It is an impressive and sophisticated approach for giving runners the absolute best grip possible in some of the worst conditions imaginable.

Over the holiday break, I had the opportunity to put these shoes to their paces in a variety of unique conditions, including snow, ice and slush. Icebug's BUGrip system performed extremely well in each of those circumstances, providing a sure grip no matter where I went. When paired with the waterproof uppers, my feet stayed warm and dry, even in ankle deep snow, and I ran more surefooted than I had previously thought possible. For runners who often take on poor winter conditions, this is certainly a shoe you'll want to have in your closet.

On top of the excellent performance the Anima2 shoes bring to the table, they also happen to be quite comfortable. The shoes have thick padding that cradles the food nicely, providing yet more support for runners on the road. It's a rare combination of shoes that provide this kind of performance and are also comfortable on the foot.

As much as I really like these shoes, I have to say that I mostly preferred them in the bad conditions. When I ran on a dry trail with these shoes, there was something about the way the spikes felt that just didn't quite jive for me. On a regular trail, I'd still prefer a pair of regular trail shoes. But in the slop of the mud, ice and snow, there is no question I'd much rather have the Anima2's on my feet.

Also, I'd recommend getting a pair of gaiters to wear over these shoes, as they don't keep the snow and slush out of the top all that well. Aside from that, they are just about perfect for foul weather running.

MSRP: $155

Video: Meet Ray Zahab - Extreme Adventure Athlete

Ray Zahab has been a frequent subject of posts on this blog over the years as we've followed his adventures across the globe. He is an ultra-runner and adventure athlete whose resume includes such feats as running across the Sahara, Gobi, and Atacama Deserts, as well as several expeditions into the Canadian Arctic. In this video, which comes our way courtesy of Canada Goose, we get to know Ray better as he shares his story of going from a daily smoker to an endurance athlete capable of running vast distances without stopping. It is an inspiring, energizing story that will get you motivated to go out and seek your own adventures.

Comprehensive Elephant Census in Africa Brings Sobering News

As someone who has a deep, personal love for Africa and the amazing wildlife that lives there, this story was particularly sad to read. Yesterday, the results of a comprehensive census of the African elephant population were released, and the were sobering to say the least.

The study was conducted by an organization called the Great Elephant Census, which is backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Alan's Vulcan organization. Using a method of arial data collection and surveillance, researchers have come to the stunning conclusion that there are now only 352,271 elephants left on the African continent. That population is spread out over 18 countries and is estimated to be down 30% in just 7 years. That's the equivalent of 144,000 elephants lost between 2007 and 2014.

According to the findings, the current elephant population loss is about 8% per year, with roughly 100 animals killed each and every day. Most of that is due to illegal poaching as the demand for ivory remains high in certain parts of the world, including Asia and even the United States. Measures have been taken recently to stem the sale of Ivory across the globe, but a thriving black market remains.

The 352,000 elephants counted in the census are believed to be at least 93% of the population that still exists in the 18 countries surveyed. That number could be higher, but it is difficult to track them completely precisely. Of those counted as part of this research study, 84% lived on protected lands, with the remaining population spotted outside preserves and national parks where they don't receive any kind of protection at all. That said, many carcasses were found inside those protected regions as poachers ignore laws and cross boundaries to seek their prey.

As you can imagine, with such a massive drop in numbers over the past decade, the possible extinction of the wild elephants in Africa is a real possibility within our lifetimes. Having seen these magnificent creatures up close and personal both on foot and from a vehicle, I can't imagine them not being a part of the wild landscape on that continent. But, if poaching continues at its current rate, they may be completely gone in as little as 20 years. When you consider that at one point, there were more than 20 million elephants in Africa, you begin to get some perspective about just how decimated the population is there.

Sad news for conservationists for sure. Lets hope we can turn this trend around in the near future.

Video: The North Face Invites Us to Question Madness

The North Face has just launched a new marketing campaign using the hashtag #QuestionMadness. Much like the famous "Think Different" ads from Apple Computers back in the day, this campaign introduces us to some of TNF's sponsored athletes. People like Conrad Anker, Alex Honnold, and Renan Ozturk, who are pushing the edge of adventure and exploration. Are they mad or are they geniuses? That is the question, and in this beautiful video we get an opportunity to see them doing what they do best, while we ponder whether or not it is all worth it or why they pursue these challenges. If you read this blog with regularity, you probably already know the answer to that. Particularly on your own personal level. Enjoy!