Gear Shed: Best Brews, Boardshorts, Packs, Pads + Poles

ML staff and partners have picked the latest IPAs, sling packs, rain pants, boardshorts, sleeping pads and trekking poles for spring.

Black Bellows Big Buck IPA

Intense pear and stone fruit aromas are the stars of this super smooth and hazy IPA. With a subtle malty sweetness to back up the flavours of American (El Dorado, Citra and Amarillo) hops added to the fermenter, this is a deceptively easy-drinking brew. For all those who love hops, Big Buck is like money in the bank. Available in Ontario at LCBO; you can also drop in and pick some up at the Collingwood bottle shop.

Gregory Nano Switch Sling

Gregory’s new Nano Switch Sling keeps your essentials secure and simple to access, thanks to the cross-body design. The zippered pockets are the real stars here, allowing you to hide away loads of items. The top pocket is large enough to carry a cased phone and a wallet, while the strap pocket serves well for keys and lippy. The front pocket allows quick access to your non-bulky essentials while the large main compartment is big enough for a water bottle, a layer, snacks and sunglasses. And it has an interior mesh zippered pocket and key clip.

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants

Building on the legacy of the award-winning Helium Collection, the revamped Helium Rain Pant (available for women or men) is the apex of durable lightweight waterproof protection. Pertex Shield with Diamond Fuse Technology enables this iteration of the Helium to be five times (!) more tear-resistant than its predecessor (and an even lighter weight). Completely seam-taped and comfortable in rugged conditions, the Helium Pants will be the first pick for mobile adventurers.

Roark Boatman Boardshorts

The Boatman offers an ideal combo of four-way stretch body paneling with non-stretch durable nylon in the back and through the waistband. The Boatman exceeds the demands for any abrasive wear in the surf without sacrificing the mobility you demand. We especially like the side zippered pocket. Check all the colourways and other boardshorts here.

At its Pursuits Film Fest, ML just screened the Roark surf film Arc of Aleutia! Check the trailer here:

Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite

With improved warmth and comfort and the same crazy-light weight, the NeoAir XLite NXT solidifies the legacy of its predecessor as the finest ultralight air sleeping pad, hands down. The ever-thoughtful folks at Therm-a-Rest have also reduced the noise by 83% from the previous model.  It weighs just 368 g (Regular size) and boasts a four-season-ready 4.5 R-value, so this is your pad for every trip, warm or cold.

TSL Outdoor Tour Carbon 5 Poles

We haven’t found a trekking pole lighter, tougher or more compact than TSL Outdoor’s Tour Carbon 5. The push-pull adjustment and locking system is fast, intuitive and stable. All the tips are made from tungsten, providing excellent grip and durability. We tried out the Swing basket system, where the basket rotates by up to 20 degrees to continuously adapt to the terrain as you move. The poles come with three baskets: winter, summer and crossover. The latter is a unique narrow flared end-piece boasting eight tiny crampons that adjust their shape upon contact with the ground, hugging the surface for the most reponsive grip possible.

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