Andrew Marshall
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Salamander Song
Rediscovering the Great Smoky Mountains by lens and brush.
CS Instant Coffee Review
CS Instant Coffee is a small instant coffee product designed to compete with Starbucks Via and other popular backcountry coffee solutions.
The HydraPak Flux 1L – A Smartwater Bottle Replacement?
The HydraPak Flux 1 L (2.7 oz / 77 g, MSRP $20) is a soft-sided, collapsible, 42 mm threaded, reusable water-bottle aimed at the single-use Smartwater or sports-drink bottle crowd.
Xero Shoes Mesa Trail Review
The Xero Shoes Mesa Trail (8.5 oz / 241 g, $119.99) is a minimalist trail runner best used for fastpacking. Huarache-inspired straps on the midfoot and instep allow for precisely dialed fit without causing compression.
Going the Distance: How to Maintain a Relationship While Backpacking
How is it possible to spend three-to-six months walking through the woods and still have a relationship left to come home to? In this article, I chat with a mental health expert and share some tips to help you maintain a strong relationship while backpacking.
Enlightened Equipment Rev-HOLE-ation Quilt Review (First Looks)
Enlightened Equipment’s new Rev-HOLE-ation Quilt ($335, 24 oz / 686 g) is a fresh take on a classic: The Revelation Quilt.
Spot X Review
The Spot X ( 7 oz / 198 g, $199.99) is a rechargeable two-way satellite messenger with a QWERTY Keyboard among other features.
Feathered Friends Eos Down Vest Review
The Feathered Friends Eos Down Vest (7 oz / 200 g, $249.00) is a simple, well-constructed, well-fitting down vest with a high warmth-to-weight ratio.
Biolite Headlamp 200 Review
The Biolite Headlamp 200 (1.75 oz /50 g, $44.95) is a USB-rechargeable headlamp with a unique design that makes it very comfortable and stable.
Backpacking and Long-Distance Hiking in the Time of Covid-19
We need to take a hard look at what it means to be a long-distance backpacker in 2020 - what types of trips should be off the table, what types of trips are still okay, and how to keep yourself sane if you can’t make a backpacking trip work this year.
Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket Review
The Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket (4.93 oz/140 g, $190) is minimally-featured, made with 75k MVTR fabric, and is reasonably-priced.
Kammock Mantis and Mantis UL Hammock Review
The Kammok Mantis and Mantis UL are all-in-one hammock shelters that include hanging systems, tarps, bug netting, and more.
Beginner’s Mind: A Lifelong Ground Sleeper Takes to the Trees
After a lifetime of pole-supported shelters and sleeping pads, I’d decided to give hammock camping a try.
Arc’teryx Venta Mitten Review
The Arc'teryx Venta Mitten and its cousins, the Venta Glove and Venta AR Glove, are windproof, weather-resistant active insulation layers aimed at users participating in high-output activities in moderately cold temperatures.
Brynje Thermo Mesh Review (Wool and Synthetic Base Layers)
This Brynje Thermo Mesh Review features both Super Thermo and Wool Thermo base layers utilizing an open-weave (fishnet) construction.
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV 1 Carbon Review (Tent)
This Big Agnes Fly Creek HV 1 Carbon review dives into one of the lightest double walled shelter systems onto the market.
Mountainsmith Zerk 40 Review (Backpack)
This Mountainsmith Zerk 40 review discusses the long term performance of a functional and durable backpack targeted to thru-hikers.
Walking in Circles: A Tahoe Rim Trail Thru-Hike
A narrative about Andrew Marshall's thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail during a big snow year.
Book Review: On Trails by Robert Moor
How do trails form? Why do trails form? Come to think of it, what is a trail? These are but a few of the (deceptively simple) questions author Robert Moor attempts to answer in his book On Trails (Simon and Schuster, 2016). Moor - a lifelong backpacker and Appalachian Trail thru-hiker in addition to being a writer - approaches his subject with lyrical language and journalistic due-process. The result is a book as quietly spiritual as it is wildly informative.
Sawyer Micro-Squeeze Review (First Looks)
The Sawyer Micro Squeeze combines the flow-rate of the Sawyer Squeeze with the weight savings of the Sawyer MINI.
