As a leader in environmentally-centered advocacy within the gear industry, Patagonia’s role in environmental activism goes far beyond making puffy jackets and swimsuits. Patagonia currently supports…
Author: Bella Santos
Bella Santos
Bella was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and loves exploring it through backpacking, climbing, and camping. Although she adores the Cascades, she dreams of one day living in the desert. She works and guides for Peak 7 Adventures.
The marriage of HOKA’s cloud-like comfort with the high-impact durability of a hiking boot. It sounds like a dream come true packaged in the sleek, stylish…
With great anticipation, I was itching to give the Ortlieb Atrack ST 34L Backpack a thorough testing. I often find myself with a different bag for…
Snow has finally begun falling here in the Inland Northwest, and the flakes are a welcome reprieve to a warm, dry winter. While my favorite conditions to run…
MSR is no stranger to snowshoes. Their shoe designs and bindings have been tops in the market for quite some time, but for winter 2019-2020, the…
Approach shoes inhabit a unique space in the outdoorists gear wardrobe. An approach shoe isn’t a hiking boot, nor is it a climbing shoe or a…
In a shifting consumer climate, companies are often in the process of development, rebranding, and re-inventing to meet the desires of an ever-changing community. The fashion…
Pants made to look good, both at the crag and wherever you find yourself afterward. Patagonia’s Escala Pant, designed specifically for rock climbing, is an excellent…
Few pieces in my kit have been put through such varied and rigorous rotation as this one. In the past few months, I have worn it…
I literally gasped when I first put on these pants. They… fit? If you’ve been following my reviews much on this website, you know my enduring struggle to…
Sometimes you find a piece of gear that just works. The comfort, function, style, fit… all the important elements blend together so well that you aren’t entirely sure…
This is a jacket built for belays, frigid camps, and the moments when the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate. Patagonia paid close attention to the…
This new knee-length parka from Patagonia is designed for the city, both in form and in function. Fantastically warm and very flattering, this jacket combines technical…
For the past few months, this backpack has been my bag for everything. It’s been my laptop lugger, my climbing pack, my snack reservoir, my airplane…
This season, I spent my time testing two different leggings from the North Face. In some ways, these tights had a lot of similarities: they stretch,…
My full-time job is all about getting kids—particularly those from underserved demographics—into beautiful outdoor spaces. Our goal is to show them the meaning of true adventure…
So maybe you read my review of the Women’s Progressor Pant by the North Face. Perhaps, you too want a pant that fits well but also…
Folks often say that good help or a good man is hard to find. I say that a good pant is what’s truly hard to find.…
Allow me to be clear: I am a minimalist-gear doubter. My conscientious tendencies and fear of being unprepared has me often side-eying ultralight gear. It is…
The Ventrix has gained remarkable popularity as a jacket designed to insulate, breathe, and stretch. Active insulation is a hot topic in the world of outdoor…