by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
The great thing about shopping for an outdoor lover is that there are many different kinds of outdoor gear gifts you can buy that will help extend their experiences outside. In addition, certain kinds of clothes — like classic flannel shirts — have outdoor vibes that match outdoor enthusiasts’ identities. In my guide to the best outdoor gifts at Man Makes Fire, I highlight some of my favorite gift ideas — and try to give you a few extra budget or upgrade options to match the price points you need. Check it...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
The best gift guides give shoppers both specific picks as well as inspire options — and that’s what I strive to do with any gift guides I work on. Some gifts are also unique, new, or targeted to a specific type of enthusiast or activity. In my guide to the best camping gifts for campers and outdoor fanatics, I call out some really cool camping gear as well as useful, inexpensive camping accessories. In this year’s updated camping gift guide, I lead with the BioLite AlpenGlow lantern — the quality of white light is amazing . . . and the playful color options are surprisingly nice when it’s too dry to have a campfire. To learn more, check out this year’s best camping gifts at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
When I broke down years ago and dropped $150 on a pair of Sitka Mountain Pants, I had zero buyers remorse. In fact, that purchase ranks well into my best top 10 gear purchases of all time. Why? The fit is just fantastic. Before I started wearing Sitka hunting pants, I had a hard time finding pants that fit my relatively tall and athletic frame. I’d end up with pants that were too tight in the thighs, too short in the leg, or worse, too big in the waist and cinched with a belt. Climbing over deadfalls meant that the excess fabric in the crotch would get caught. Not cool. The Sitka Mountain Pants changed all that. They start with a great fit, but they also have smart pockets, have super build quality — and have built-in knee pads. Since that first move, I’ve worn several other Sitka hunting pant models, all of which have been similarly excellent. But the different Sitka pants are hard to figure out — which pants are great for hot weather? Which for colder weather? Which Sitka pant is the best do-it-all pant? To help hunters cut to the chase and buy the right Sitka pant, I created a guide to Sitka’s big game hunting pants at Man Makes Fire. Check it out when you’re ready to upgrade or nab a new pair of Sitka hunting...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag has been around for years. It’s the go-to duffel for Patagonia fans, but is it any good if you’re not a Patagonia brand fan? It’s just a duffel bag, right? Yes and no. Here’s the thing: The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is rugged but relatively lightweight. That’s good, but the Patagonia Black Hole is darn near perfect in its physical design. The angles, handles, zippers — and even the backpack straps — all come together so that the bag functions very well. This is about angles and shapes. Patagonia has it dialed in. Last of all, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, particularly the 55L version with the Fitz Trout graphic, looks fantastic in person. Yeah, other duffel bags will get the job done, too, but the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is growing on me. To learn more, ready my full Black Hole Duffel review at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
When YETI first introduced its ultra-rugged folding-style YETI Hondo Base Camp Chair a few years ago, the outdoor gear world took notice. Everyone’s question was, “Is a $300 camp chair worth it?” Clearly, it turned out to be a hit. However, I wasn’t convinced that the form-factor was sufficiently travel-ready for the kinds of camping I do. I mostly tent camp in dispersed camp sites. I prefer collapsible camp chairs simply because they’re so easy to pack. You can stack them horizontally, tuck them into weird spots in the back of your loaded pickup — and you can even stack them upright alongside the edges of your pickup to help support other gear. So when YETI introduced its Trailhead Camp Chair, I knew it warranted a closer look. After spending some quality time camping with the Trailhead, I came to appreciate the bomber quality and excellent ergonomics. The Trailhead is tough and flat-out comfortable. To learn more, check out my full YETI Trailhead review at Man Makes...
