gear

Backpacking with a family presents a conundrum. Even if one has an ultralight philosophy it still results in heavy loads. One has to cut down on weight as much as possible, but still ends up carrying all of the gear for (in our case) 4 kids. This means that an UL backpack just won’t cut it. Because of that, when I was shopping for a backpack a couple years ago I opted for the Vaude Astra II: a 65 liter backpack that is built for hauling weight comfortably.

An example of how the weight adds up was on a father-daughter backpacking trip with my almost 5-year-old daughter. It was her first 3-day backcountry backpacking trip so I had to make sure I had everything and more to make her comfortable… and want to go backpacking again. Sure, she had a daypack with snacks in, but I had all the meals, more snacks, fuel, sleeping pads, survival gear, first aid kit, tent, sleeping bags, more food, lots of extra clothes, bear spray, cordage, fishing rod, most of the water, etc., etc., etc… oh, and 2 small, collapsible chairs. My pack weighed much more than the others we went with, despite the fact that I packed my golite tent, UL closed cell foam pads and mini alcohol stove. Weight was a guarantee, but the Vaude Astra II made it as comfortable as one could be lugging around everything minus the kitchen sink.

The Astra II is a highly padded and adjustable pack. It uses a heavy duty velcro system for adjusting the torso size from small up to an XL. It uses a sturdy internal frame and ample padding to make one happier about the fact they are carrying a lot of weight.

The back padding is not only comfortable but breathes very well. There’s a ton of space for ventilation so you stay cool when you’re lugging all that extra gear.

The 55 + 10 is a reference to its ability to hold 55 liters in the main pack and an extra 10 in the lid. The lid itself can be removed, but it leaves a 5 inch tall flap of fabric to flap in the wind.

Almost everything is easy access in this pack. First off, there’s a separate sleeping bag compartment that opens from both the outside and inside. On the back of the pack there’s also a double zipper that starts at the top and unzips all the way down to the sleeping bag compartment allowing access to everything inside the pack. Underneath the removable lid there’s a cinch to close the main pack for extra security and for when you don’t take the lid with you.

There are two very large side pockets with zips. I can fit my Vaude Ice Peak 150 sleeping bag in one side with room to spare. Below the side zip pockets there are elastic pockets that can fit smaller items. The downside is that once you fill up the zip pockets it’s almost impossible to get items in and out of the elastic pockets below.

There are plenty of straps to cinch down the pack for carrying smaller loads and attach stuff to the outside of the pack, but honestly the I feel the straps are too long and a bit too heavy duty. You could cut a couple ounces off the weight if you shortened them and used lighter duty webbing and buckles. On the back there are loops for trekking poles and/or ice axes as well.

One more thing. On the bottom of the pack there’s a pocket for the built-in rain cover. The more dexterous among us can even take it out and put it on the pack without even taking the pack off. It connects inside the pocket with a snap, but can be completely removed if one so desires. My pack came with a high visibility orange cover which would be useful for signalling in an emergency.

For versatility and heavier loads, the Astra II by Vaude is a good pack that provides capacity and comfort. I continue to use it for family trips and it’s sturdy enough that I don’t have to worry about lending it to friends.

Pros

• Comfortable
• Highly adjustable
• Included rain cover
• high capacity
• carries heavy loads
• Easy Access
• Hydration compatible

Cons

• Heavy (4 lbs 15 ounces avg)
• Webbing (straps) are too long
• Elastic Side Pockets are hard to access when side zip pockets are used
• No hip belt pockets

The Vaude Astra II hasa MSRP of $199.95, but can be purchased at the Sierra Trading Post for $129.95.

One of the challenges of backpacking with a family is finding a cook system that gets the job done quickly. Enter the Jetboil Helios.

The Jetboil Helios is a canister stove system with 2.1 liter pot that shares the Flux ring technology that made Jetboil system famous. It’s been on the market for at least 5 years now, but is still popular because of its functionality, capacity and ability to handle cold weather extremely well.

Check out the video down below to get a better look at the system. Oh and if you’re looking for a Jetboil system, use this link to get 25% off at the Sierra Trading Post. http://bit.ly/16M7N85 I do not get a  commission for purchases made through this link.

Jetboil Helios Specs:

• 2L FluxRing® Pot with neoprene cozy
• Pot-supporting burner base
• Push-button igniter assembly
• Fuel can stabilizer
• Snap-on windscreen
• Lid and bottom covers that double as plates (lid makes a good ‘flying disc’ for added fun around camp)
• 28 ounce weight
• Optional 3 liter pot
• MSRP: $149.95

All-in-one

If you’re a fan of all-in-one systems this is a great choice. It comes with a wind screen that snaps onto the stove base and the pot slips onto the stove that creates a very stable connection. In addition to all that you can take it all apart and fit the stove, stand, windscreen, canister and canister stand into the pot together for storage. You may want to carry an elastic band to stop the handles from flapping around.

A Cold Weather Stove Where it steps apart from regular canister stoves is how it uses an inverted canister and pre-heater to keep it working efficiently in cold weather. Inverting the canister means you don’t have to worry a bit low pressure from either cold temperatures or low fuel. As long as there is liquid fuel in the canister it will get carried along to the stove and the heat coil will vaporize it and turn it into gas to be burned.

This stove has been around for years and yet I saw someone describe a newer copy-cat stove at the OR show as “new and innovative”. There are a couple stoves on the market that now make use of this concept, which just shows that the concept is tested and proved.

Good for the Backcountry Gourmet

The Helios has a fine adjust for better control of fuel flow and temperature for simmering and greater flexibility with cooking options. I found it a bit of a challenge when I started using it as there’s a time delay in how the stove responds to adjustments. There is a decent amount of fuel in the fuel line so it can take 10 seconds or more before you notice a change in the stove. For example, once you turn it off completely it will continue burning off fuel for a good 10 to 15 seconds. That said, I’ve managed to

• bake pizza,
• simmer pasta,
• cook quinua,
• fry fresh meat and vegetables,
• and more on this system.

It works very well on a large number of meals for those of us who like to be adventurous with our cuisine. Oh, and I frequently use the lid and bottom cover as both cutting boards and bowls.

Flux Ring Efficiency

Anyone familiar with Jetboil stoves will know about the Flux Ring Technology. There’s a heat exchanger on the bottom of the pot that captures the heat from the stove and transfers it into the pot. This is what makes the Jetboil series efficient and gives a more even temperature across the bottom of the pot.

You need to have the stove at a medium to high temperature to take advantage of this. I tried a very low flow for the stove and it was boiling in the center and cool on the outside. I did have the typical burn spot in the middle of the pot that comes from not having enough water or not stirring the food well enough. It can be avoided by continuing to add cold water. That also helps maintain a simmer while you cook.

Who is this for?

I feel I need to emphasize that this is not an ultra-light, solo system. It’s built for group cooking. I’ve cooked for four adults with this setup and two adults and four kids. Everyone was full afterwards.

It’s also a good choice for those of us that want to try fancier foods on the trail. With a bit of practice one can depart from the typical freeze-dried meals and indulge in some more complicated and more tasty meals that the solo Jetboil systems can’t handle.

Take a look at the video below and leave a comment telling us what your favourite stove system is and what your thoughts are on the Jetboil line.

Disclaimer: I was given this system by Sierra Trading Post and asked to provide an honest review of it. All opinions are my own and what I would tell a friend.

A couple years back I came across a traditional Japanese form of fly fishing called “Tenkara”. I even got Jason Klass (then of www.geartalkwithjasonklass.com) to put together this article on Tenkara 101 for Backpackers. As a backpacker who loves fishing, but doesn’t like loading down his pack with tackle I knew that one day I would be investing in a Tenkara set up.

Fast forward to this winter when the Tenkara Iwana rod came on sale for $100. In it went to the shopping cart and out came my credit card. After adding a traditional style Tenkara line, line holder and tippet spool the total jumped to about $160 and I was set.

Why did I go Tenkara?

First I recommend you check out the article Jason Klass put together for me “Tenkara 101” to understand the concept better.

As a backpacker I’ve always been intrigued at what lies in small streams. I remember as a kid pulling out 6-8 inch trout out of streams with simple tackle.

When I moved to backpacking I struggled to find something simple and lightweight for mountain streams and lakes.

I tried fly fishing for a while, but found that it was a lot of gear whose weight added up. Also, in the high country I rarely of ever needed all that line to catch a fish. In the end, I settled on a telescopic spinning setup that I used with a float and fly, but that too was not particularly light weight. I like the telescopic setup, but I prefer the simplicity of fly fishing. Tenkara was just the perfect fit for me… or seems to be.

The Iwana is a collapsible fly rod that weighs only 2.5 ounces. Yes, it only weighs 2.5 ounces. There is no reel, just a line and tippet. It’s versatile enough for small to medium streams, as well as shore fishing on mountain lakes and packs down very small. I only need a dozen flies or so and a roll of tippet. That’s it. It’s the simplest and lightest setup that I have.

Take a look at the video below and let me know: Do you fish when you backpack? What do you bring? Have you tried Tenkara?

I honestly thought I’d use my tyvek ground sheet once or twice a year tops, which made it a hard purchase to make (even at $15). It turns out to have been one of my most used pieces of gear and best investments.

Last summer I bought a 4′ x 8′ Tyvek ground sheet on amazon. I picked it up so I had something light and durable to go along with with my sil-nylon tarp for lightweight and ultralight backpacking.

It’s really a simple piece of gear. Tyvek is housing wrap used as a moisture barrier. You can but it by the roll or as I did, pick up a pre-cut, pre-designed for the purpose ground sheet. It has four loops, one in each corner, that are very sturdy and hold up to a lot of abuse.

Whenever I go out on a family trip, be it a day at the park, a short hike, or a beach trip it comes along. It only weighs 7 ounces with my attached guy lines and can be folded or rolled up (rolled up it’s about 12 inches long and 2.5 inches wide). I chuck it in my pack with 4 tent pegs and forget about it.

Here are some of the things we’ve used it for:

• Picnic Blanket – It’s a good place to prep food, and clean up after the kids have been playing
• Wind block – It can be set up vertically to ward off breezes while eating or cooking
• Tarp – All the kids have hid under it when a surprise rain storm started up.
• Lean-to shelter – On a recent backpacking trip I used it with a mylar blanket as my UL shelter. It worked really well.
• Oh, and one more thing, it does a pretty good job as a ground cloth too!

The only downside is that the edges don’t hold a straight edge after a lot of use. It’s hard to peg it tightly, but it really hasn’t been a problem.

Oh and when it’s all done it’s easy to wipe down with a wet cloth.

Do you use Tyvek? What do you use it for and have you found to be a good purchase?

Who needs a Hoo-Rag? You do!

About 4 months ago the mail was opened to reveal a bandana/buff to review call the “Hoo-rag“. Now, I have found bandanas to be useful in the past, particularly as they help to protect my neck from the sun while out on the trail, but this was an opportunity to put a bandana through a rigorous daily test… cycle commuting in the middle of winter.

Now, for those who aren’t completely familiar with what we are talking about with a bandana/buff, it is essentially a 18-inch long tube of thin fabric that has horizontal stretch but is fairly rigid vertically. It can fit over your head and can be twisted/tied/adjusted to several looks. On the Hoo-Rag packaging the graphic shows what would be the 6 most likely used ways of wearing the Hoo-Rag.

What I also found is that when you take the Hoo-Rag out of its packaging, you may notice a graphic hidden by the sticker showing some of the other, less common (Or less useful) ways of wearing the Hoo-Rag. I did not notice the graphic on the package for my own but did notice it on one I bought for my dad.

So, having received the Hoo-Rag, I began to wear it on my regular 5 mile cycle to work. In the Pacific Northwest, weather can change quite frequently and I found the Hoo-Rag to be useful in all of them. On the warmer days it kept the sun off my neck or the sweat out of my face. And as the winter set in I began to cover more and more of my head, and in particular covering up my ears. This is wear the Hoo-Rag impressed me the most. Not only was I able to easily put a helmet on over top of the Hoo-Rag, but my ears hardly cooled at all in spite of the weather near freezing. In contrast, last year at this same time I was wearing a fleece balaclava under my helmet. The weather recently dipped a few degrees below freezing, which finally made it too cold to wear the Hoo-Rag on its own and forced me to find another layer. Overall, I found the performance of this bandana to be very impressive.

Now, the points raised so far are probably true of many bandanas, so what makes the Hoo-Rag different?

A couple items in particular about the Hoo-Rag:

1) After a couple runs in the wash, the Hoo-Rag is fairing better than another bandana I have of similar design.

2) There are several well thought out patterns to choose from, making it very likely that you will find a design you like.

As good as the Hoo-Rag is, I did find a few things that would have been a bit better.

1) The Hoo-Rag is simply a couple inches too short. I cannot keep my head and neck both covered with the Hoo-Rag, which I found disappointing. An extra couple inches would go a long way to distinguish the Hoo-Rag from similar bandanas in the marketplace.

2) After a while the top and bottom curl from the fabric stretching. This commonly happens to bandanas of this style, and is a bit of an annoyance as the curl gets more pronounced.

Overall, I have found the Hoo-Rag a pleasure to use even though it is just a little shorter than what I would like. The design and uses are perfect for my normal outdoor activities (cycle commuting, backpacking) and the pricing is reasonable among similar buffs/bandanas. However, while the Hoo-Rag works well for me, I didn’t consider it to be extraordinarily different from other bandanas or buffs that are available. Ultimately you will want to choose what works for you, and for me the Hoo-Rag works very well.

The Hoo-Rag sells for $14.95 online.

As many of you know, The Outdoor Adventure has a youtube channel with just over 2300 subscribers and 1500 daily views. Because people seemed to like our most popular posts of 2012 article, I thought I’d do the same for our youtube videos. Take a look below to see what was watched last year on our channel.

We do post some content that doesn’t make it onto our channel, so if you don’t want to miss anything, I recommend stopping by BCOutdoorSurvival on youtube.

In 2012 we had over 600,000 views and to make it interesting we’ve taken the top videos and divided them into categories: Gear Reviews, DIY, and Survival and Primitive skills:

Top Gear Review Videos of 2012:

Swiss Ranger Aluminum Military Stove – This old stove can be picked up for $10 and is just plain amazing. They put a lot of research into the design, and it shows.

JetBoil Zip – The solo, bare-bones model of the popular Jetboil system was obviously on a lot of people’s wish lists. What can we say? Stoves are popular.

Top DIY Videos of 2012:

Penny Alcohol Backpacking Stove – This was one of our first videos so we apologize for the quality. It seems though, with the economy suffering people wanted to save money on their backpacking gear… either that or they’re all just pyros.

DIY: How to Make a Backpacking Wood Stove – This easy instructional involving a couple of cans from canned goods turns out a highly efficient stove with afterburner.

DIY Axe Body Spray Stove – Take a simple axe aeresol can and reuse it. It makes a decent little alcohol stove. Plus, it keeps more junk out of the land fills.

Top Survival and Primitive Skills Videos of 2012:

How to cook a fish on a stone – You can’t get a clearly title than this, can you? Oh, and the fish was delicious!

• Designed as a solo shelter
• Lighter than a tent
• More compact
• Easier and quicker to set up
• Better views of the night sky
• Adds warmth to your sleeping bag

• Can fit more than 1 person
• Has more space to change in
• Is more comfortable for waiting out storms
• Space for your gear
• Better for clostrophobic people

• Waterproof bottom (bathtub style) – Puncture and abrasion resistant
• Breathable, water-resistant top
• Small no-seeum mesh window
• shock cord for closing window
• 2/3 length zipper
• 4 pegging points
• weight – 14.5 ounces
• packed size –  12″ x 3″

With 2012 over, I wanted to revisit the gear I used and reviewed in 2012 and give you a summary of what I liked, what I didn’t, and any change of opinion on a particular product. Sometimes a few months can shake out the bugs and show us what is REALLY made of.

BEST OF THE BEST

 

Tilley Tec-wool Hat – Gear of the Year This water-resistant wool hat with fold-down ear warmers is both stylish and functional. This is my fall, winter, and spring Tilley. It dresses up well and yet is at home on the roughest trail. It even has a lifetime warranty!

Treksta Assault GTX Hiking Boots – The nestfit design meant no break-in time at all. This is my go-to hiking boot for heavy loads or when I need more ankle support. I like them so much, I bought my wife a pair of Trekstas for next summer. The odd, offset lacing system is no gimmick.

 

Vapur Anti-bottle – This is my go-to water bottle on day hikes and weekend trips. Although late to the soft-bottle market, Vapur made some important improvements: the bottle is more durable than other soft bottles I’ve tried and easier to pour and open. The spout is the best I’ve seen for ease-of-use for soft bottles.

Sea to Summit Ultra Sil View dry sack – This ultralight-weight dry sack is made of durable Cordura fabric and comes with a view port on the side. It is my favourite of the Sea to Summit dry sack line. Nothing beats being able to see what’s in my bag without having to open it up and remove its contents.

Klymit X-lite – At a surprisingly comfortable 6.1 ounces, this sleeping pad packs down to the size of a Red Bull can! This is a close second for gear of the year. Aside from being a bit delicate (something that all inflatable sleeping pads are), it is definitely going to be a permanent component of my ultralight gear system. It sprung a leak after 60 nights of use, but I was able to repair it easily with the included kit. I’m planning on picking up the ULA equipment AirX which is designed to use the X-lite as a back pad.

Columbia PowerDrains – I was honestly disappointed when I received these… until I started wearing them. They have outperformed my expectations. With effective Omni-Grip and super comfort on even steep, wet, and rough terrain, I’m looking forward to next year’s model. After almost a year of hard use, it developed holes in the upper and the toecap started separating. These flaws have been eliminated in the newer versions of the shoe.

Kahtoola K10 Crampons – I’ve been extremely impressed with these crampons. The multi-directional spikes made for good traction and the leafspring design made these remarkably comfortable. They were impressive on steep slopes and slippery snow.

Geigerrig Rig 700 Balistic Nylon – What made this hit the best of the best list is the innovative pressurized system. This will be a constant companion on cycling trips.

Quality Gear

Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Nano dry sack – It is waterproof and almost weightless. Even for ultralight backpacking, this is worth bringing along for the benefit of organized and dry gear.  After several outings, the clip developed a crack, but it still holds together and keeps my stuff dry. If you’re rough on gear, this may not be for you.

Fold-a-cup – Hugely underrated.  This fun little no-frills folding plastic cup weighs an ounce and folds down small. Although purchased for my kids, this finds its way into my pack on solo trips where space and weight are a factor.

Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro – A heavier-duty Trail Crampon with forward pointing spikes. Another great hiking crampon that stands up well to snow and ice. They would have made Best of the Best, but on my boots the front points weren’t long enough to be useful. I also felt the K10s had the edge on traction.

Spot Messenger 2 – On Backcountry adventures this is almost always in my kit. This handy device made my wife feel comfortable sending me into the depths of South America. The ability to track progress and send messages to say “I’m OK” is a huge comfort. The downsides were its effectiveness with low battery. It doesn’t always send messages if the battery is low (even if it says it does). Bring a spare set of batteries for emergencies! The progress tracking feature drains the battery in one day.

Cyclops Atom Headlamp – Nothing impressive, this lightweight headlamp is cheap and lightweight.  It makes it on my short UL trips, but it isn’t for your night hiking or early summit attempts.

Discovery Trekking Wicking Towel – More of a travel tool, their smaller versions would be great for ultralight packing. It dries out quickly, but doesn’t absorb water as fast as I would like.

Stanley Adventure Cookset – Very reliable and convenient, I take this with me on day trips when weight is not an issue. Designed for car camping, this sturdy pot with lid and set of 2 matching insulated cups is a great luxury. The Stanley quality and warranty mean I’m not afraid to be rough with it.

Polarmax PMX hoodie and Comp Tech 4 Tights – a super comfortable, moisture-wicking base layer by American Polarmax. I’ve used this on more than one winter expedition with great results. The thumb holes should be better positioned, but a good product overall.

Here are other items that were reviewed by our other reviewers that I personally didn’t get to try but are worth a look:

 

Jansport Carson 80 External Frame Pack – If you’re looking to do some heavy lifting on your next backpacking trip like any parent with multiple toddlers would and don’t want to dish out a lot of money take a look at this pack.

SOL Origin Survival Tool – Put out by Adventure Medical Kits this little survival kit boasts a variety of good survival tools minus a first aid kit. The concept is neat, but the price was a bit high for my tastes.

AMK waterproof/ultralight medical kit – Another great product to take backpacking. A pre-made kit for those who don’t like to DIY, it has pretty much everything you need for basic self-repairs on shorter trips.

Clothing

Merino Wool Buff – Our reviewer had only positive things to say about this buff. Buff is a go-to brand and merino wool is a go-to natural material. Put that together and Buff produced a stellar product!

 

Sport Science T-shirt – Our reviewer loved this for quick drying odor-resistant activities. I use mine for daily tasks and trips in town. It’s not quite a technical base layer, but it beats cotton any day!

Not every outdoor adventure involves ultralight gear. Sometimes the DIY project or job around the house calls for something a bit more robust. That’s why when Carhartt contacted us about trying something from their Twill line our reviewer Graeme snapped up the opportunity to get a pair of Coveralls for review.

When asked to do a review of a set of flame resistant coveralls from Carhartt I was a bit sceptical. It brought images to my mind of the old blue coveralls the grease monkeys wear with the white badge saying “Hi, My name is Bob”. Don’t get me wrong. I am quite the grease monkey myself and am always interested in good quality work wear. The problem is I used to own coveralls and they were either too baggy, too tight in the wrong places, didn’t breath, or just generally uncomfortable. The worst part of course being the dancing jig you needed to learn in order to be able to disengage yourself from the outfit.
My experience with Carhartt is very limited, only having an old insulated work jacket given to me by a friend which has been great. I wear it everyday doing chores around the farm and can’t seem to wear it out. So with this experience I thought I would like to give the coveralls a try.

When I recieved it the first thing I noticed was the colour and style. A far cry from the blue monkey suits I used to have. The Carhartt coveralls are well designed and from an initial reivew seem to be well put together.  Upon trying it on I was immediately impressed by the comfortable fit – no tight spots or binding. The cut of the coveralls enables full range of motion no matter what the task. I have used them while performing those awkward reparis with arms buried to the shoulders in the engine compartment and also general duties around the farm, running tractors, cutting wood, hauling water etc. The convenience of being able to throw them on over my night clothes at 2:00 in the morning when popping out to check the sheep and lambs is great.

There are ample pockets and easy access and easy to use buttons. Other comparable coveralls I have found to be very awkward with button holes too tight making one-handed opening and closing near impossible. I like the zipper front and velcroe closures, though the velcroe doesn’t look like it is very strong.

Over all they are great and I wear them nearly everyday doing chores. I even threw them over my suit when I had to run to the animals just before heading off to church.

I really like them and I would get another pair when these wear out, though if they hold up like my old Carhartt jacket that I got used 10 years ago, it will be a long time before another pair is needed.

So, How does the K10 do?

Quick-Fit?

 

 

Anti-Balling?

 

I must say I find the leafspring concept is pretty intelligent. It’s like you’d see on a car. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just ignore me or check out this wikipedia page. Basically it uses 2 lighter weight metal strips to connect the two parts of the crampon together and allow for support and smoother movement of the foot. When you bend your foot it makes flexing your shoe easier while still providing a strong and supported connection between the front and back of the crampon. Kahtoola is so confident with the quality of the design they offer a Lifetime warranty on the leafspring.

 

So nobody likes to wake up on the cold ground to find out that their expensive sleeping pad has sprung a leak. Nope, nope. Well, I had used my Klymit Xlite for a lot of nights, around 65+. At about night 55 it started to leak and by night 65 I was having to overfill it and still it was soft 8 hours later. I can’t really blame the pad, after all 3 kids playing with it means that you toy with disaster.

Now-a-days, most sleeping pads are using lighter and lighter weight fabrics… yes fabrics. The Klymit uses what looks like a ripstop nylon. That’s why it weighs only 6.1 oz. The bottom is heavier, but you still need to be careful and change some of the traditional ways of finding and marking leaks.

I used a set of small weights to keep the pad submerged!

I know, when finding a leak in a car or bike tire the old soap and water trick are used. You’re taking a risk that you’re going to remove some finish on the fabric with the possible result of causing more leaks in the short or long term. Be particularly careful with detergents.

Klymit comes with 2 patch types, one for the top and one for the bottom. Choose the right one and cut the patch to cover the whole with enough space to make sure you can seal it well. I like at least half and inch all around.

A little pressure

Spoil your feet this winter by keeping them toasty warm no matter where they are. At work, at church, on the trail or knee deep in mud, there is one thing that keeps your toes warm no matter what you are wearing.

Meredith Kuhl from Springtime farms sent me a pair of Snuggly Toes to review, and I couldn’t wait for the weather to get cold enough to try them out! I have tried them in boots, I have tried them in sneakers, I have tried them in flats, I have tried them here and there and I like to wear them anywhere! My favorite way to wear them is at home inside my socks (I am not a slipper person), which keeps my feet warm despite wood-floors and an energy-conserving-husband in my house.

These soft and sturdy shoe-inserts are made from wool from happy little alpacas at Springtime Farms. With cute names such as Glacial Mist and Painted Face these foot warmers help support family owned farms. Something about buying stuff from animals with names makes it that much more special!

The Snuggly Toes foot warmers should fit in almost any closed toe shoe that has a little wriggle room. Crocs, rain boots, sneakers, flats, slippers, hiking boots or even inside your socks, your toes will be toasty and yet no one will know (except maybe to notice that you whine less about your cold feet). As these foot warmers slip into your shoe, it will be your toes little secret until you start telling your friends what is different this winter.

If you are like me and are sensitive to both cat and dog fur, never fear! I have had no reaction at all to the naturally hypoallergenic fiber of alpaca wool.

When they get dirty, toss them into your washing machine and wash on a cold cycle then hang them up to dry. There is no need to worry about any colors bleeding in the wash or into your shoe as the fibers are all natural.

The only down-side that I have found with these foot inserts is that they shed a little.

These lovely foot warmers will last many cold winters and cost $39.99 for adults and $14.95 for children, with free shipping. Visit their website: http://www.snugglytoes.com

Thamar A
The Outdoor Adventure Team