The Paddle Junkie

Sanborn Canoe's Minnesota Paddle - Gear Review

It's no secret that we love hand made wood canoe paddles. There is just something primal about moving your way through the water with a carved piece of wood that can't be replicated by plastic, aluminum or carbon fiber. The artists/woodworkers at Sanborn Canoe understand that connection better than most. What they bring to a canoe paddle simply can'…

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent - Gear Review

If I have learned anything over the last few years covering outdoor gear, it is that innovation and a drive to be the "best" is at the forefront of every brands priority list. It is an incredibly competitive industry, and if you are not innovating you are being left behind. The crew over at Big Agnes redesigned their Ultra-Light series of tents, the Copp…

Sometimes, you get more than you'd ever expect...

A couple of months ago I wrote a brief post about my niece Yvonne. She is an 11-year-old superstar that is currently battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Well, since then a great number of things have happened. The outpouring of support from our community and from friends of Paddle Junkie Nation has been nothing short of amazing. Shortly after her diagnosis, we set…

Jetboil's Flash Cooking System - Gear Review

I love nothing more than cooking over a campfire, but there are often times when that is simply not an option. So when, for whatever reason, campfire cooking is not in the cards, you might want to grab a Jetboil Flash Cooking System . Jetboil Java Flash kit Now, the concept of ultralight camp stoves are not new, but Jetboil has it down to a science. They have …

Slump Test- Cocaine Energy Drink

It’s two o’clock in the afternoon and I have officially hit the mid-afternoon slump. I’ve got three hours of work left to do and I could easily take a nap. Luckily, I have a Cocaine Energy Drink . I’ll keep you updated on how this plays out. 2:03 PM: Get red can out of fridge, Spicy Hot flavor (hopefully this isn’t related to prairie-fire shots), notice the hea…

Summer Set Music & Camping Festival - In Review

Well, a little over week ago, me and a buddy of mine were pulling into the festival grounds in Summerset Wisconsin for a 3 day music festival that promised to rock our socks off. I was incredibly excited for the line-up they had in store and to just be able to hang with a few friends in the sun. After some jumping through hoops, we had media credentials in hand (OK,…