Category Archives: Gear Reviews

Every climber worth their chalk knows you can never have enough gear! Pros and cons of gear I’ve used, loved, and hated!

Keeping Elbow Tendonitis at Bay with Armaid (plus a GIVEAWAY!)

May 27 2013

While there are any number of items you might expect to see passed around a campfire on a chilly spring evening in the middle of the Red River Gorge, a wacky-looking contraption designed to massage one’s forearms is probably not first on the list. But that’s just what happened at our campsite on our most recent trip to the Red. Why? If you assumed it was due to overindulging in one of the many other items that are more commonly passed around a campfire, you’d be wrong again. Let me back up. Steve and I first discovered the Armaid…Read the rest of this entry →

Urban Adventures with the Chariot Chinook

May 15 2013

Our family has long since been fans of products from Chariot. Their commitment to family adventure is unprecedented, as for years this company has been providing families with ways to get everyone from here to there in just about any way imaginable – bike, run, walk, ski, etc. Our first experience with Chariot was with the Cabriolet. It’s a durable two-seater that has been on many a family escapade over the past 3 years. I even did a review on it way back when we first got it (found here). It wasn’t until we rented some bike trailers for C and his cousin…Read the rest of this entry →

448 Great Things To Do in Nature Before You Grow Up

Apr 20 2013

It’s no secret that we love being outdoors around here. Spring, summer, winter, fall…we’re out enjoying whatever Mother Nature has to offer throughout the year. So when authors Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer asked me to review their newest book in the Falcon Guides series – “The Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things To Do in Nature Before You Grow Up” – I was delighted. And as soon as I started flipping through the first few pages, I knew that this was a book that would be on our shelves as a reference for many years to come! Divided…Read the rest of this entry →

V5.12 Hangboard from DRCC (aka the Best From Motor City Since Motown…)

Apr 18 2013

If there were just as many rock climbers as there are automobile drivers, the city of Detroit would be back on the map thanks to DRCC (Detroit Rock Climbing Company). On the other hand, that many rock climbers would surely create an access issue nightmare, so it’s probably just as well that climbers stay in the minority…I had actually never heard of this company until just recently, when my hubby and I decided that we needed a hangboard in our rec room. After lots of comparison research with boards we had already used, boards friends had used, and the good ole…Read the rest of this entry →

The Best of the Best from Trango (and GIVEAWAY!)

Mar 25 2013

This week marks one year that I’ve been signed on as an athlete for Trango Extraordinary Climbing Gear, and I must say it’s been a delightful ride! I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to represent Trango and their affiliates (such as Stonewear Designs and Tenaya) at numerous festivals and demos, provide feedback on products still in the testing phase, as well as meet some really great people. Oh yeah, and I also got loads of free gear along the way too! And though I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of the gear I’ve received from Trango, a few products in particular have found their way into…Read the rest of this entry →

“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN