Sale on Hiking and Backpacking Boots

With a little less than a week left on our Hiking and Backpacking Boot Sale it's time to get serious about replacing those old boots and taking care of your feet for a full season of fall hiking. We've deepened our discount on Lowa Boots to 20% and are expecting to lower our prices on our Vasque boot sale to match some outrageously low prices we've seen on competitors sites. Both sales run through August 24th so act now before time runs out.

Big Backpack Sale

Our Big Backpack Blowout Sale is now going strong. Take 20% off most of our large selection of Gregory Backpacks and Osprey Backpacks.

Our End-of-Summer Backpack Sale features almostall backpack brands we carry; except for Deuter packs. This includes GoLite backpacks, Kelty backpacks, Millet backpacks, Mountainsmith backpacks and Sierra Designs backpacks. So whether you're looking for a hydration pack or an expedition bag we can help you gear up with the pack best suited to your needs. Most packs will be on sale through Monday August 22nd, some a bit longer. But don't wait, many of these backpacks are very low in stock.

Jetboil: No bigger than a wine bottle!

Despite often grueling weekend backpacking trips, my wife always insists on bringing along a bottle of wine. Our Jetboil Flash helps compensate for this extravagance. We've been knocking off too many small fuel canisters lately which are great because they pack inside the Jetboil companion cup that comes with the Flash stove. If we were in the market today for a new stove we'd go with the more compact Jetboil Sol which is 4.5 oz lighter (only 10.5 oz) and could go even lighter still (8.5 oz.) if you don't mind springing for the Sol Titanium! The Sol boils the 2 cups of water needed for a 2 person backpacking meal in a mere 2 minutes and 15 seconds and maintains consistent fuel pressure up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit so we could heat up dinner for the whole family in a manner of minutes even if we were winter camping!

If the winter thing is never going to happen and you can afford to wait an extra 15 seconds for your hot water, then a more cost effective option is the Jetboil Zip for $69.

Vasque Backpacking Boots

Call us old school but we believe kids and adults need solid footwear with good traction when on the trail. Hiking and backpacking boots like the Vasque Bitterroot or Vasque Sundowner are essential gear for anyone heading up into the mountains. Increasingly you'll see minimalist footwear out on the trails, but you're not going to have much fun hiking if your feet hurt or you sustain an injury from slipping or twisting an ankle or knee. We're guilty of the same flawed thinking that's prevalent on the trails today, "how can we justify spending that much money on a new pair of boots when I can still wear my old ones". But if you really think about it, paying $180 for one trip to the chiropractor or buying customized orthotics is far more expensive than if you take better care of your body before it's injured.

This logic is just as sound when we're talking about kids. Kid's muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments are still developing. Street footwear will not provide them with steady traction on the trail, and used hiking boots aren't much better. Your kids (or grand kids) deserve proper footwear for hiking. That's why we're proud dealers of (and users of) Vasque hiking shoes for kids. We also highly recommend Darn Tough hiking boot socks for kids. Enjoy your next hike more...take advantage of our SALE on Vasque hiking and backpacking boots now through 8/25/11!

Big Agnes 4 Person Backpacking Tents

Big Agnes family tents steal the show when it comes to 4 person lightweight backpacking tents. While I wish we'd opened up the wallet for this year's award-winning new Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4, we're camping in last year's new tent the Lynx Pass 4 person backpacking tent (pictured here). Basically the Lynx Pass and Copper Spur share the same large shape & size; the Lynx Pass adds an extra pole that buys you a tad more headroom--2 inches at center--and more all around. The big difference in these large lightweight backpacking tents is that the Copper Spur tents sport the lightest DAC aluminum poles and lightest nylons available shaving approximately two pounds off the weight of the Lynx Pass tent. This weight savings doesn't come cheap, the Copper Spur UL4 runs $279 more at retail.

If you want an even lighter abode for you family or friends, the Fly Creek UL4 is the way to go. At 4 lbs. 9 oz packed weight you won't find a lighter tent this size. Plus it's $100 cheaper than the Copper Spur UL4. But don't expect a roomy shelter. While four adults can comfortably sit around playing cards in the Copper Spur or Lynx Pass, the Fly Creek is a minimalist's shelter. While all three are free standing and have cool features like gear pockets in each corner and reflective guylines, the Fly Creek comes with only one D zip door and vestibule.

Lowa Boots Rock

Yep. We're partial to Lowa Boots; and they're on SALE at up to 17% OFF now through 8/25/11.

Nothing beats the quality and craftmanship put out by this German bootmaker. Bootmaking is in the blood of Lowa's workers. Lowa boots are manufactured under strict EU environmental standards that put the rest of the world to shame. While comfortable old models like the Lady GTX's pictured above and the Banff Pro were among our all time favorite boots before being discontinued, we can't say enough positive things about Lowa's new leather lined boots: the Lowa Renegade LL and the Lowa Baltoro. Leather linings are so comfortable...they mold to your feet like a worn in glove. An old mountaineer once advised us that in 30 years, his well conditioned leather mountaineering boots had never let his feet get wet. "Better than plastic" he swore.

Buy high quality leather hiking boots, treat them properly and your feet will love you!

Osprey Aether 70: Load carrier extraordinaire.

The Osprey Aether 70 is one heavy duty load carrier. I got to demo one on last weekend's trip to Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks thanks to our local Osprey backpack rep. With a weekend of food for the family stuffed into two bear canisters and an eight pound tent I shouldn't have been surprised that my pack weighed in at close to 60 lbs. But what really surprised me was how well the Aether handled the load. With all the padding on the back and waist belt I could barely feel the bear canister bulging in my pack. With lots of external straps I was able to attach lots of gear in different ways; and one day I even carried both bear canisters stacked on top of each other in the main compartment. If you're headed out on a big trip that needs a big pack...you'll be happy with an Osprey Aether 70. Available as the Osprey Ariel 65 for women and as the Aether 60 and Aether 85.

Big Agnes Summer Sale

Get 'em before its Gone! Summer is fading fast...but it's not too late to pick up a great deal on a Big Agnes Tent or Big Agnes Sleeping Bag. Featuring Big Agnes four person tents like the Fly Creek UL4, Copper Spur UL4, and the Flying Diamond 4 our sale can get you as much as 20% OFF. Find out for yourself why Big Agnes Tents have redefined the concept of lightweight backpacking tents in the last decade. (And won so many awards, including this year's Outside Gear of the Year.)

All summer Big Agnes sleeping bags are on sale at up to 20% off. So whether you're looking for a new down sleeping bag or a synthetic one you'll find some great options. And check out Big Agnes' new Cabin Creek 30 degree two person sleeping bag; you won't believe how lightweight and compact this double sleeping bag is. Look no further for the perfect wedding gift!

Get what you need today for your next backpacking trip or your family's final summer camping trip.