Trucker
The Beauty of the Trucker - Review Series
Here at The Paddle Junkie headquarters we can never have enough hats. From a simple errand to a night on the town, we rarely go anywhere without a hat. Picking the right hat is all about pairing it as an accesory with your outfit. And trust me, there are plenty to choose from. We have simply hand picked a few and ranked them 1 - 5 with 1 being the worst and five bei…
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value
i-gogs: Quality shades at reasonable prices
It's no secret that Team Paddle Junkie has a thing for sunglasses. We've tried sunnies from many great brands, but the one thing that we always struggle with is the price tag associated with most quality shades. Spending upwards of $200 isn't uncommon, just painful when they break or vanish. Enter i-gogs. With all of their sunglasses having P-Te…
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Summer Gear
Sanuk Cassius - Gear Review
I feel summer has finally reached the northern half of Minnesota. With a solid week of above freezing temperatures it's a pretty good indication the season of shorts, bonfires and hammock camping has descended upon us. That means it's time to pull out the shoes that don't require socks and wont have your feet feel like they are standing directly in a…
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Paddling
Beebe Knive's #4BK Bushcrafter Knife - Gear Review
Knives are a passion of ours, so when we heard from Paul Beebe of Beebe Knives our hearts skipped a beat or two. We approached Paul way back in May about the possibility of reviewing one of his Bushcrafter model knives, and to our delight he agreed. Not only did he offer to send us one, but he crafted one especially for Team Paddle Junkie. We knew we were goin…
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Paddling
GSI Commuter Java Press - Gear Review
When we first tested the GSI Java Press about 2 years ago, we really didn't think you could improve upon that back-country coffee machine. Well, enter this little beauty. This is the little brother to the 30 ounce camp size version. This is the ultralight hiker's coffee press, or a great option for the java press addict on the run. The science behind …
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Hiking
GoScope Extreme - Gear Review
Action cameras are not all that new. With GoPro leading the charge, and the big name electronics companies like Sony and Panasonic getting on-board, they keep getting better and better. Taking pics and video of what you see when you are shredding down the mountain is cool and all, but the action selfie has gotten the GoPro-ers attention. Getting the perfect angle …
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Fire Starter
Coghlan's Fire Discs - Gear Review
I like to think of myself as a bit of a fire wizard. Getting a blazing inferno going in even the most inhospitable conditions is kinda my thing. That said, there have been failures. It isn't a big deal if you are close to supplies, like in the backyard or at the local state park. When you are somewhere you can go grab some dry kindling or a can of lighter f…
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Rugged
Pentax K30 Rugged DSLR - Gear Review
Until recently, the thought of taking your expensive DSLR camera into the woods would make any photog sweat. Dirt, dust, water, cold, heat, heck just about everything out there was a recipe for disaster. The idea of bringing a fancy camera along on a back-country paddling trip was simply just not practical. Sure, you could store it in a waterproof case, inside a d…
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Snowpeak
Snowpeak Mini Hozuki Lantern - Gear Review
Snowpeak makes all kinds of amazing back-country gear; from cookware to lighting they have a little bit of everything. We had the opportunity to test out the Mini Hozuki lantern over the last few months, and it is now a permanent member of our gear list. Initially, I didn't have high hopes for this little lantern. I thought other than lighting up the insi…
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SOG
SOG's Dark Energy Flashlight - Gear Review
It's no secret that LED's have invaded the world of lighting over the last few years. From tail lights on cars to giant stadium scoreboards, we see them everywhere. They simply make too much sense not to have made their way into the outdoor community. Rugged, waterproof, efficient and bright, what's not to like? The design crew over at SOG may not b…
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Water Bottle
LifeFactory Glass Bottles - Gear Review
Not all the gear I use is ultra rugged, backcountry ready, bomb proof. Like most of you, I have a normal life, and the daily demands I make of my gear are not all that out there. I am completely addicted to water bottles, and I have one for just about every occasion. That said, the one I have sitting on my desk I simply can't get enough of. LifeFactory deli…
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LifeProof
LifeProof iPhone 5 case - Gear Review
Once again we call upon our man Drew to give us his perspective from the demanding world of the construction trades. Want to kill a phone fast, work with concrete all day. Dust, water and dropping your device off of the scaffolding to a cement floor; that's about as bad as it gets. Here are his thoughts... I am in the cement industry, I am very rough…
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