by Melanie McManus | Sep 23, 2024 | Blog
Periodically, companies ask me to test their new fitness or hiking/backpacking products. As you might expect, some are fine, but nothing special; some are total duds and a handful are real gems. Here are some items I’ve recently tried on my hiking and camping trips...
by Melanie McManus | Dec 9, 2021 | Blog
There’s still time to get holiday gifts for the hikers in your life. I went through all of my newer clothing, gear and accessories and came up with my top picks for 2021, along with a short description of what I love about each item. Everything on this list is...
by Melanie McManus | Aug 24, 2021 | Blog
Whether you’re backpacking alone or with a group, it’s important to be responsible to preserve natural landscapes and hiking trails. Having a respect for Mother Nature can help future generations enjoy the great outdoors as well. One of the primary ways to do this is...
by Melanie McManus | Oct 25, 2020 | Blog, Hiking
Out on the trail, I regularly run into two kinds of hikers: those who are hoping to have some animal encounters, and those who decidedly are not. I fall somewhere in between. I enjoy seeing wildlife on the trail, even potentially dangerous animals. However, I prefer...
by Melanie McManus | May 29, 2020 | Blog, Hiking
Father’s Day is looming, so it’s time to think about hiking gifts for fathers – or for any special man in your life. Various stores and consumer sites regularly come up with lists of what are supposedly the best hiking gear, clothing and equipment. But I...
by Melanie McManus | Apr 7, 2020 | Blog, Hiking
One of the first things I discovered when I started backpacking was that it’s not easy to set up a tent in the wind. Or take one down, for that matter. In fact, strong winds are one of the most destructive elements Mother Nature can throw at your tent. Because...
