by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
There are very few people we know who a) don’t like camping, and b) who we like to hang out with anyway. There is something special about the great outdoors, and something special about what spending time outside does for kids, adults — and dogs. If you have a camping enthusiast on your gift giving list, check out the 35 Best Camping Gifts Gear Guide at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
The best fishing backpacks are built for specific kinds of fishing, but most are made primarily for fly fishing. I particularly like fishing backpacks that are waterproof because I occasionally fall down. Fishing backpacks that aren’t waterproof, though, have far more pockets and accessory attachment points, so if you don’t wade deep, fall down or fish in the rain, they’re the best buy fishing backpacks. In any event, if you want a bag that will swallow all your gear, go with a fishing backpack. Here’s my guide to the best fishing backpacks at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
Aside from a fly rod and reel, fishing waders offer a fly fisher one of the best add-on gear purchases you can make. Why? Waders let you get into the water with the fish, which is far more fun. Better yet, they let you get close enough to cast to fish. Consequently, waders have the potential really amp up your fishing abilities and let you fish in more places, more times of the year. To learn more, check out 10 Best Fly Fishing Waders for the Money at Man Makes Fire — you’ll learn a bit more about the best waders for fly fishing as well as figure out which set of waders is worth your...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
A great water shoe can really change how you play in the water. A good water shoe will let you scramble all over rocky rocky river banks, and even if you’re just heading to a sandy beach, a water shoe will let you cross hot sand with a heavy cooler and not worry about the college kid party that left bottle caps every where. In short, a water shoe can extend your ability to play in all sorts of water — they can even make carrying a paddle board down to the water’s edge a lot easier. Oh, one more thing about water shoes — because of all the airy mesh or sandal-like holes, they get great breathability on the hot days of summer. Learn more: 10 Best Water Shoes at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
I’ve been able to sleep most any where, and occasionally that’s even included a nap on a sunny log. Still, there is something nice about settling into an air mattress in a tent after a long day backpacking into some remote lake. While I could probably find a way to sleep on a pile of clothes, a good sleeping pad can make a heckuva difference. I first went backpacking without a pad and just a bivy sack. That wasn’t particularly great. Later I went with a Therm-a-Rest long and wide self-inflating pad. That was much better. But then I discovered inflatable air pads and there’s no going back. Inflatable air sleeping pads are usually around 2.5 or 3 inches thick and they only weigh about a pound. At first, you’re in constant fear that they’ll puncture, but then you come to realize they’re pretty tough. Haven’t had to use a repair kit yet — yet. In any event, getting an ultralight sleeping pad is a great way to not only reduce the weight in your backpack, it’s a great way to get a good night’s rest while backpacking or car...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
You don’t have to invest in a super ultralight tent to have great time backpacking, but backpacking is undeniably more fun when your pack weighs a bit less. You can hike farther, climb higher, and see more. The tent might not be the most cost-efficient way to trim weight — look to your sleeping bag and sleeping pad first — but there’s something amazing about a tent that will keep you dry in an all-day rain and end up weighing less than two pounds. The best backpacking tents are freestanding tents with two doors and a full-coverage rain fly. To learn why, check out the 10 Best Backpacking Tents 2017 at Man Makes...
