In this latest gear review video, I give my thoughts on my new pair of Keen Pyrenees boots. Enjoy!

Prepare to be amazed by the first "full-motion" gear review on the Outlan channel in all its glory! Please be sure to go to YouTube and add your comments and suggestions!

If you're like me, you're always looking for some inspiration on outdoor experiences, tips, tricks, etc. I love the Discovery Channel for its survival and outdoor shows like "Dual Survival", "Man, Woman, Wild", "Survivorman", and, of course "Man vs. Wild". But, the format can get a bit tedious after a while. I have turned to an immeasurable resource online, and found that one of the best places for great videos is, of course, YouTube. Something I never knew the real value of until lately, however, was YouTube channels. Subscribing to these can open up a world of audio/visual inspiration for just about any topic you can think of.

Here are some of my favorite channel subscriptions so far:

CampingGearTV - These guys are not only hilarious, but perform some great gear reviews on a pretty regular basis, and they've reviewed some gear I've actually been motivated to purchase. They've had occasional bad audio in the past, but seem to have corrected this as of late. http://www.youtube.com/user/campinggeartv

Cr0cket20 - One of the best finds yet, Cr0cket posts videos almost every other day, and has some really inspriring vids on being outdoors, using gear, starting fires, survival techniques, etc. He also features some hunting-related vids (which I am not into), but generally has a good balance on outdoor activities. Since he apparently lives very close to the mountains in the West, he's always posting great shots from out there. Definitely worth subscribing to. http://www.youtube.com/user/Cr0cket20

REIFindOut - REI does a good job of posting outdoor vids of all kinds, including gear reviews and trips. They also showcase new store openings with inspiring marketing videos of the brand. This is a must for any outdoor lover and gear junkie. http://www.youtube.com/user/reifindout

CutleryLover - For the kid who likes to play with sharp things in all of us, this guy does in-depth reviews of all kinds of knives and outdoor tools. Entertaining and informative, I highly recommend this one. http://www.youtube.com/user/cutlerylover

StormDrane - Want one of those cool OD green paracord bracelets and be able to say you made it yourself? If you're the crafty type, subscribe to StormDrane's channel for instruction on making some very nice paracord creations. I've learned how to create paracord bracelets and lanyards, and have been inspired to take my knot-making ability to the next level. http://www.youtube.com/user/stormdrane

OutdoorGearLab - Nice channel on outdoor gear with detailed and professional reviews. http://www.youtube.com/user/outdoorgearlab

MarmotPro - I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a huge fan of the Marmot gear brand. I have a Marmot Precip jacket, hiking shirts, and a Limelight 3P tent, which I love. So, it's no wonder I'm subscribed to Marmot's YT channel. Especially entertaining are "Curly's Clips", where "Curly" will review a piece of Marmot gear in depth. http://www.youtube.com/user/marmotpro

My topic will be "Hiking Safely in Rocky Mountain National Park", where I will highlight some of the risks the average hiker needs to be aware of when hiking the park. I'll cover proper gear and clothing, as well as how to identify altitude sickness, etc. I'll cover my experience while there last May and share what I've learned after four days of hiking and camping within the park.

I will be presenting Saturday, February 11th from 3-4 p.m. More details will be available soon on the official site http://theadventuresummit.com.

Please come out and support me!

A quick video showcasing some of the gear I take with me backpacking. To comment, please visit my YouTube channel.

My first video blog in a new series of video gear reviews I will be doing over the winter! Stay tuned for much more!

GearFest has really come into its own in the past couple years, growing from an extremely small event to a large-scale conference with big-name sponsors such as Subaru (the main sponsor), Yakima, Eddie Bauer, Mad River Mountain, Leinenkugel's Beer, and more. The conference includes vendor displays/stores, competitions, gear demos, live bands, and--of course--food and beer for sale.

One of the best aspects of the event includes the Yakima Beer Garden, which started last year as a Friday-only event. This year, it will be both Friday and Saturday night. Check this out for some amazing samples of Leinenkugel's, one of the best microbrews around.

There is plenty else to see an do, including gear demos and vendor displays. Each year, there are multiple vendors from local and regional state parks, reserves, climbing and hiking areas, etc. And, don't forget the free SWAG from the vendors if you like stickers, patches, pens, flashlights, 'biners, and more. Also, there are many chances to win real gear prices from such places as Great Miami Outfitters.

Additionally, this year Backpacker magazine's "Get Out More Tour" will be making an appearance both days at the event. This husband-and-wife team has been touring the country and will be presenting gear workshops and skill seminars for anyone interested in the outdoors.

The event also features free overnight camping in the Eddie Bauer Campground. This year, as opposed to previous years, I plan on pitching my tent and camping next to the Great Miami. Hopefully, the weather decides to play nice.

GearFest is located at:
Eastwood MetroPark
1385 Harshman Road
Dayton, Ohio 45431
(937) 275-PARK (7275)

The event is FREE, so if you are close to the Dayton, Ohio area there is no reason not to at least make an appearance! Get out and LIVE!

While it is a good lamp, there might be better alternatives such as the Black Diamond Byte, or even an Energizer lamp. In fact, Outside Magazine's "Gear of the Year" did not even mention Petzl in their headlamp lineup at all.

Still, the two times I have used this it has served me well. I have used it for both camping in the Rockies and early morning fishing in Tennessee. The four different light modes are nice, but in pitch dark I generally keep it on the brightest setting. For night fishing, I used the red "night" light to be able to see and not scare the fish away. This worked well--I caught several fish.

The light housing seemed to resist water well while tromping through the rain from my tent to the latrine in Colorado. However, cold air killed my batteries fast. This isn't so much a fault of the lamp as it was my batteries. My biggest gripe is the "low battery indicator", that essentially warned me the batteries were low right before they stopped working altogether. Not very useful.

The Tikka Plus 2 is a good lamp and serves its purpose well. But, there might be better, cheaper alternatives on the market that outshine this popular item.

Pros: Lightweight and bright.

Cons: Heavy with regular AAA batteries. Beam is very focused to one point. Low battery indicator didn't give much warning.

Price Paid: $30 USD (Normally $40)

The Kestrel 48 is a versatile and lightweight pack that can be used for a day hike or a multiple overnighter. When I strapped this thing on for the first time, I was amazed how comfortable it was. Despite weighing three pounds alone without any gear, it felt as light as a feather. Even with the pack full of 30+ pounds of gear, it still felt light and airy.

The pack can surprisingly hold a lot of gear, which can also make it deceptively easy to overpack. I've had a tendency to put way too much into the pack for short overnight trips, because I have the space and feel like I can keep going.

The Kestrel has many amenity features, including lots of convenient pockets and extra little things to hold gear. The trekking pole bungees are extremely useful, and I've actually used them while on the trail. I have also used the built-in rain cover, which was an absolute lifesaver when hiking in a steady rain for over three hours. The hip belt pockets are great for a digital camera, and I found myself using them a lot for quick and easy access when it was time to take a shot.

There are about a million and one ways to adjust the pack and dial it in to your liking. I found tightening the sternum strap, making the hip belt as tight as possible, and using the load lifters really helps get the pack the way I want. Still, all these straps come with a price--if you're one of those people who don't like a lot of dangling straps, you might not like this pack.

All in all, the Kestrel 48 is a pack that really can't be beat. The quality construction will last for years, and it will quickly become your "favorite pack" for all its cool features and custom adjustability. A world-class product.

http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/KestrelSeriesBackpackingandDayHikingTorsoAdjustable/Kestrel48/

Pros: Extremely high quality construction, with lots of "little extras". There are multiple ways to cinch and tighten the pack to adjust it to the perfect fit, and it's quite possibly one of the most comfortable packs around. The thin sheet of aluminum and the mesh "Air Scape" backpanel keeps you dry and comfortable even after a long day of miles of hiking. When packed correctly, weight is distributed down to the hip belt, which can keep you going for miles and miles.

Cons: Hydration port is not very accommodating. Only the flattest hydration bladders (like Osprey's, of course, or Camelbak) will properly fit in the pocket without deforming the shape of the pack. Top lid is fixed and not removable. Color choices could be better.

Price: $150 USD