Best Clothes Line

Next stop: Spain.

Laundry the old fashioned way

My Napoleonic drama is up for best unproduced screenplay at the Madrid International Film festival. Pretty cool.

So what’s tucked away in my carry-on roller this time? 

The Lite Line Clothesline by Sea to Summit.

This thing changed my life in camp. No more ants in my pants from underwear left to dry on a stump. No more disappearing dish towels, socks, bandanas. No more putting on soaking wet, freezing cold sports bras at six in the morning. No more dew-soaked sleeping bags meant to be airing out while I’m striking camp. 

Now try it the hi-tech way

Face it. The para-cord clothesline has its limits. Wind blows stuff off it. The same wind you need for drying your clothes.

For no extra weight, try this. It’s a 1.3 ounce valet’s assistant with sliding beads that grip your drying items. It sets up easy and sturdy in 30 seconds between any two objects anywhere from 12-20 feet apart. It tightens itself. And it disappears in your luggage or your pack.

Sea to Summit, you’ve done it again. Clever, beautiful gear that works every time.



I have a Lite Line for every traveler in the household.

Lite Line Clothesline by Sea to Summit

So get out there and don’t worry about getting wet. It’ll dry.

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.