Camping

Summer is here, and while spending time outdoors might look a little different, there’s still adventure to be had. All you have to do? Head into your own backyard. Backyard camping may not be as extreme as the alternative, but there’s solace in the easiness of it. No permits, no …

A version of this story appeared in the summer 2020 issue of Uncommon Path.  Like microbreweries and chocolate shops, the Leatherman factory in Portland, Oregon, offers public tours. Visitors come to watch silver ribbons of steel cut into intricate shapes by a massive press that booms like a giant’s footsteps, applying …

A version of this story appeared in the summer 2020 issue of Uncommon Path.  The Sleeping Bag Many bags you’ll find at REI come with two temperature ratings: one for comfort and one for a lower limit. The labeling looks like this. Of course, know thyself. If you run a bit …

A version of this story appeared in the summer 2020 issue of Uncommon Path.  Weight: 2.4 oz. (with batteries) Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable Max brightness: 330 lumens Max burn time on lowest setting: 40 hours Price: $59.95 For nighttime jogs, you’ll want a headlamp that has good front-to-back balance with the light …

A version of this story appeared in the summer 2020 issue of Uncommon Path.  Whether you’re a family car camper, an overlander or somewhere in between, settle in—your next nylon apartment search begins here. This year’s crop of car-camping tents proves that there’s a perfect home away from home for …

No better time for hanging than the present. Set up your hammock off the trail or at camp, in your backyard or in your living room, and get busy lounging. Start here with our tips for choosing the perfect hammock for you. Once you know how you plan to use …

We had just made it to our camp above Crater Lake when large, wet snowflakes started falling from the sky. My 8-year-old twin sister and I were on our very first backpacking trip, 3 miles from the trailhead, and we didn’t have long to gape at the impossibly blue, impossibly deep waters …

When I run my hands over my red jacket—now quite grubby around the seams—a memory of my mother pops into my head. It’s the early 1970s, I’m 12 years old and my mom, Roslyn, has gotten three sew-them-yourself kits from REI, including this red puffy for me. She’s pushing the feathers out of …

Your days probably look quite a bit different right now. Mine certainly do. I’m showering on my lunch break, writing stories from the backyard, baking bread between phone calls and spending my weekends underneath my car methodically sniffing out all the small noises that I’ve been putting off silencing. I’m …

We can all use a little bit of imagination and creativity these days. What better way than with Camp Monsters podcast coloring pages? From the legendary Tahoe Tessie to the infamous Batsquatch, there’s a monster for everybody. Looking for more information on these monsters to inspire you? Check out season …