A while back I wrote up a post on the Altra Lone Peak "Magic Shoes". The Altra Timps are a cross between the Lone Peak and Olympus trail runners. HERE I take them for a test run and even a "slip test"to see if these might be my new "magic" Camino shoes!
This weekend I found a bit of time so I did my local 14k hike for the third time since my first 14k Day. This time I used the All Trails app to log my distance and times and stuff. it's very helpful and I learned a few things. First, it's 14.5k total. OK, not … Continue reading 3rd 14k Day
So many gear decisions! In the videos below I present my thoughts on three of the debates concerning Camino footwear. Boots vs. Shoes? Waterproof vs. Standard? Bringing Backup Shoes?
Well I finally did it. Ever since I discovered the Altra Lone Peak "Magic Shoes" I've been itching to test out the waterproof version of the model (the "RSM" - short for rain, snow, mud). This week (thanks to a free $100 REI gift card and their annual sale) I got my chance. Why So … Continue reading Magic Shoes 2.0 – Testing the Altra Lone Peak RSM
As noted earlier, I am sold on the Altra design strategy for hiking shoes. While doing some gear comparisons at REI, I discovered they had the Mid Top RSM (rain snow mud) version of my shoes available in my size. I decided to give them a go. Knowing that they'd be comfortable, I had only … Continue reading Altra’s Waterproof RSM Mids Tested
My family went out of town on Easter and I found myself with some time to hike. I hadn't brought any "gear" but I was wearing my magic shoes and sufficient clothing to get some decent trail time. So with a bottled water in hand, off I went. About 80 minutes later I hit the … Continue reading 16k: A Pretty, Rough Day
I think I've found my Camino shoe! Now, hear ye the tale of how I came to know of it. Making the Switch In the past, I've had great experience with Vasque (my first backpacking boots) and Keen Targhee II (my current pair). But after reading / watching about 1,000 gear reviews, I decided to … Continue reading Magic Shoes
Well it FINALLY got rainy enough here to do a wet weather Lunchbreak 2k. Temps have been mild enough to walk in my work clothes lately, and I decided to do the same today only covered in my Frogg Toggs rainsuit. Since my work clothes cover 90% of my skin, if any water made it … Continue reading Wet Weather Clothing Test
Boots vs. Shoes (aka The Eternal Struggle) There is probably not a more debated topic on Camino gear than footwear. There exists a range of die-hards supporting nearly every imaginable option from bare to sandals to walking shoes to trail shoes to hiking boots. Even post-Camino advice doesn't follow a single track. Several bloggers left … Continue reading Boots vs. Shoes
Backcountry Pilgrim 