A couple of months ago, I got into contact with the German company Solestar which manufactures insoles for different types of sports. They have just launched a new hiking-specific insole and I was eager to test it – not least because the original insoles in my Lowa Innox shoes started showing signs of wear and…
For our second hike in the Dolomites in northern Italy we made our way up and around the Croda Negra (“the black spire”) mountain from the Falzarego pass, which was also the starting point for our hike to the Laguzoi summit the day before. While the Laguzoi trail takes you northeast of the Falzarego…
Many Suunto watches are equipped with a barometer which is indeed a very useful feature because it allows you to predict the weather and alerts you if thunderstorms are developing. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure which is the weight of the air from the top of atmosphere all the way down to you. Since the…
In the summer of 2018 we decided to go to the Dolomites in northern Italy for a few days. After a brief research online, we concluded that we wanted to stay near the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo because this area is known to be a paradise for mountaineers, hikers and…
High quality hiking base layers are these days made either of polyester or Merino wool and online you will find a lot of information about these two materials, especially pros and cons. Polyester is labeled as quick-drying, durable, light and cheap while Merino wool is considered breathable, pleasant to the touch and extremely moisture-wicking. Many…
After climbing the 2164 meters high Batognica in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, we decided to continue our “Hiking the Alps” tour by ascending a peak called Vrtaca (Wertatscha in German). Vrtaca is a 2181 meters high peak in the Karawanks, on the border between Slovenia and Austria. The Karawanks mountain range is a…
Batognica is a 2164 meters high mountain in the Julian Alps in Slovenia. It lies just next to the 2244 meters high Krn which is much more popular. Batognica is, however, a very interesting mountain – also historically. In the First World War Batognica was occupied by both Austro-Hungarian troops and Italian troops which were fighting…
Activities at high altitudes like mountaineering, climbing and mountain hiking are fun and exhilarating. But as you go higher, the air’s content of oxygen decreases. However, your muscles need the same amount of oxygen whether you are at sea level or at 10.000 feet. Therefore, you will be slower at high altitudes, whether you are…
When it comes to hiking backpacks, fit is everything. Certainly, a hiking backpack should be lightweight, durable, have convenient pockets and compartments, but an ill-fitting or ill-fitted backpack will never be comfortable on trails. A well-fitting backpack makes the heavy load feel much lighter while a poorly fitting backpack is uncomfortable even when you are…
Several months ago, I bought the Lowa Innox GTX Lo TF shoes and since then I’ve been regularly wearing them on my hiking trips and for everyday activities. The Lowa Innox GTX Lo TF shoes belong in the Task Force Tactical line of the Lowa shoes (hence the TF in the name), but they are…
