Rule 67: Make Friends on the Road

Always bring something to trade.

How to Buy Boots

Wondering what hiking boots to buy, like my friend Juan? So is everyone else.

And if you’re like Juan, you only have two minutes to read this blog.

So I won’t waste your time telling you how many hours I trained and worked as a boot fitter. I’ll just cut to the chase.

For any given use, the only thing that really matters about a good pair of boots is whether it fits your foot. And when I say fits your foot, I mean fits like a glove.

Everything else is icing on the cake.

So here’s my foolproof method for buying hiking boots. It works just as well for riding boots, running shoes or ski boots.

1. Take your favorite pair of socks on a late afternoon date to your local outfitter. (Don’t go in the morning. Human feet swell appreciably during the day. Sock feet, not so much.) Look for the teeming hordes of dazed, confused and overwhelmed customers, and you know you’ve found the footwear display.
2. Locate the specialty footbeds. Also known as premium insoles. Here’s an example from Superfeet, which are in most of my boots. Their purpose is to stabilize your foot every stride. Little known fact, but a stable heel strike is what really provides “ankle support.” And footwear manufacturers rarely sell boots with decent footbeds. The lone exceptions in my closet are my Ariat barn boots. But I digress. 
3. Match your foot size and stabilization needs (light/stiff/insulated etc.) to a pair on the rack. Buy that pair and return to the footwear section. You’re $30 poorer, but you’ve just made the most important investment in the health and comfort of your feet. 
4. Now start choosing models that appeal to you, for whatever reason. Looks, price, features, whatever. You’d be surprised how many people’s eyes go straight for the laces. 
5. Remove the factory insoles before trying them on. Replace them with your new insoles. If your new insoles don’t fit perfectly, don’t worry. The boot fitter will explain later how to trim them to fit your new boots.  
6. As you lace up, you should already be getting that magic “fits like a glove” feeling. When you stand up in the right pair, you should feel like these boots were made for your feet. It won’t matter how light or heavy they are, how supple or stiff, whether they protect your ankle or not, or whether they are lined or unlined, waterproof or mesh. You’ll just know that these feel right. 

Keep trying boots on until you get this feeling. If you and poor sock aren’t feeling the love, try a different outfitter.

Have faith. It’ll happen. It’s all in the fit.

“But they should be Gore Tex, right?”

Don’t worry about waterproof. Boots get wet from the inside, too, and the Gore Tex laminate is one of the worst offenders. When you cross a river, your feet get wet. Just walk them dry. It’s pretty simple.

“But what about problems with shoddy construction?”

People ask me this all the time. Fact is, most boots sold at specialty outdoor retailers are quite well made these days. If they delaminate or blow out, the shoemaker will probably replace them with a smile. Skeptics, keep your sales receipt.

So just get out there in your new boots and have fun. Juan, this means you!

My Favorite Tent for Two

My favorite 2-person double wall tent of all time... What's yours?

See if you can get your hands on a pristine Room with a View by Mountain Hardware, shown here on a sea kayaking deployment in semi-privacy mode. Love the two weather windows!

Mine's still like new after 15-plus years and more than 60 nights out in all 4 seasons. (I stopped counting.)

Hard to spend a happier night in any other tent. Solo, it's a palace. À deux, a cosy nook. More storage than Carrie's closet in Sex in the City.

Heavy, at like 6 lbs dry with the footprint and the gear loft, but worth every ounce.

Breezy in hot weather. Gets you through bad weather days relaxed and in style.

Tent Tips: Store your tent clean after every use. I've taken to washing mine in a front-loading washer on the "hand wash" setting using Sportwash detergent. Air dry.

Never store a tent in its stuff sack. Ever. Fold it loosely and put it on a shelf out of direct sunlight.

Before you use it the next time, reproof the fly with Tectron spray and let it dry fully before you pack for the trip.

Never fold a tent for travel. Tents aren't like sails. The creases that come from folding it over and over will produce weaknesses in the fabric. So don't fold your tent. Stuff it.

Book Review: No Easy Day by Mark Owen

Never a dull moment on any given day in the life of a Big Ole Gear Hound. And this was one to remember.


Here's the link to the Audible audiobook.

No comment on the politics or the supersecret night vision goggles.

My takeaway from this good read was... Have a separate ready pack for every activity.


Three items go in all my ready packs: the Petzl E-lite. The WMA Field Guide to wilderness medicine. And the mini multi-tool du jour (with scissors).

And never forget Day Hiking Rule No. 1: Prepare for darkness.

My Favorite Wallet

The re-sealable snack bag. AKA my favorite wallet. Hands down. Even factoring in all the teasing I get from Fair Spouse and Wee Sprite.

Reusable. Watertight. Ultralight. See-thru.

What’s not to like? Only wish they lasted forever.

Inspect for punctures and get out there!

Gear Loft Basics

It’s hard enough to find great gear that carries its weight and stands the test of time. It’s a total loss when I do something idiotic that shortens the life of a piece of equipment I rely on.

Experience has taught me not to cut costs or corners in the design phase.

Want (most of) your adventure stuff to last a lifetime or similar?

Here are the top 5 things you absolutely must have before you splurge on pricey merino base layers, a new tent, a rack and a rope or a primo down puffy or sleeping bag.

1. Front-loading, best quality, large capacity washer with “handwash” and “delicates” settings. 
2. Dryer: key for reproofing apparel. You must be able to control the heat. 
3. Well-lit, climate controlled, walk-in space low in humidity. Limit direct sunlight. 
4. Ample shelving with high clearances for loosely folded tents and sleeping bags stored in cotton bags. Air must circulate freely among all items. Air mattresses (70” plus in length) must be shelved (or hung) open and inflated. 
5. Room to hang gear including all ropes, runners and jackets (no wire hangars). NEVER store climbing ropes or runners on the ground. Ever. 

And if you dive, you can’t do without a garden hose, spigot attachments and an extra large rubber trash can (100-gallon plus, with lid) for rinsing gear in fresh water.