27.5 vs. 29er wheel sizes

27.5 vs. 29er Mountain Bikes

Last Updated: March 18, 2022

Not long ago, mountain bikers didn’t have a choice when it came to wheel sizes—26 inches was the only option. But once 29- and 27.5-inch wheels hit the market, the debate amongst bikers took off and has continued ever since. 29ers...
Norrona Falketind Down750 Hood Jacket (prayer flags in Nepal mountains)

Norrøna Falketind Down750 Hood Jacket Review

Last Updated: March 17, 2022

There’s no shortage of quality down jackets on the market in 2022, but Norrøna’s Falketind Down750 Hood jacket sets itself apart as a highly versatile option with a nice performance slant. With a mix of 750-fill down at the core and synthetic...
Danner Trail 2650 Campo GTX (perched on a rock in Patagonia)

Danner Trail 2650 Campo GTX Hiking Shoe Review

Last Updated: March 17, 2022

Portland, Oregon-based Danner is best known for their work boots, but they’ve quickly made a name for themselves in the hiking market with a nice assortment of trail-ready offerings. One standout is the running-inspired Trail 2650 Campo GTX, which I...
Arc'teryx Beta SV Jacket (backpacking in Patagonia)

Arc’teryx Beta SV Jacket Review

Last Updated: March 16, 2022

Arc’teryx makes some of our favorite hardshells on the market, and their SV offerings are purpose-built for the harshest of conditions. From their all-rounder Beta collection, the Beta SV slots in as the most protective option for fending off rough...
Patagonia AlpLight Down Jacket (hiking in Patagonia)

Patagonia AlpLight Down Jacket Review

Last Updated: March 16, 2022

Patagonia is well-loved among outdoor enthusiasts for their good-looking products and eco-friendly ethos. Their AlpLight Down Jacket follows suit, combining a remarkably low weight and sleek styling inside a shell made from recycled fishing nets. It's...
Salomon OUTline Low GTX (side view while hiking in Patagonia)

Salomon OUTline Low GTX (Women's) Review

Last Updated: March 11, 2022

Salomon’s hiking lineup is undoubtedly extensive, running the gamut from robust backpacking-ready boots for mileage-heavy objectives to light and responsive low-top offerings for day hiking. The OUTline Low GTX falls in the latter category, combining...
Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Hoodie (putting on hood in Patagonia)

Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Hoodie Review

Last Updated: March 10, 2022

Down-mimicking synthetic insulation isn’t exactly a new trend—Patagonia has been honing their recipe for years with their legendary Micro Puff series. But Outdoor Research has come up with a very competitive formula in their new SuperStrand LT Hoodie...
Team Switchback Travel in Patagonia

Switchback Trip Recap: El Chaltén 2022

Last Updated: March 10, 2022

In February of 2022, the Switchback Travel team convened in the town of El Chaltén, located within the Southern Andes’ Los Glaciares National Park. Known as the trekking capital of Argentina...
Scarpa Rush hiking shoe (Laguna Torre)

Scarpa Rush Hiking Shoe Review

Last Updated: March 8, 2022

In 2022, the line between trail runners and hiking shoes is growing increasingly blurry, and for good reason. As more and more hikers push their mileage and speed, the need for nimble yet protective footwear is paramount. Scarpa’s new Rush collection...
Hiking El Chaltén (header)

Best Hikes in El Chaltén, Argentina

Spanning two countries and covering an area of over 400,000 square miles, the fabled land of “Patagonia” encompasses everything from desert and pampas to coastline and towering mountain ranges...
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX hiking boot (standing on rock)

La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Review

Last Updated: March 4, 2022

La Sportiva makes some of our favorite climbing shoes on the market, and that technical expertise has translated nicely to their hiking boot lineup. The Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX is case in point: It’s impressively light at just over 2 pounds and has a...
Salewa MTN Trainer Mid GTX hiking boot (standing on rock in Patagonia)

Salewa MTN Trainer Mid GTX Hiking Boot Review

Last Updated: March 4, 2022

Germany-based Salewa is renowned for their technical alpine boots, and that expertise comes across clearly in the hiking-focused MTN Trainer Mid GTX. I put the boots through a thorough round of testing in Canada and Patagonia, including multiple high...