Gear Shed: Best Brews, Boardshorts, Packs, Pads + Poles - Mountain Life

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.

Black Bellows Big Buck IPA beer — Photo: Black Bellows

Hand-Crafted Brew

Hand-Crafted Brew

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“The Black Bellows brewpub was originally a blacksmith and carriage-making shop owned by the Dey family beginning in the late 1800s. By the 1940s the shop had retooled as an auto body shop. By the time Black Bellows took over the building in 2018 it had been in the Dey family for over 140 years, making it the longest-running business in Collingwood history. Like the blacksmiths of the past and the makers and creators of today, Black Bellows believes in the spirit of relentless invention. It’s why we embrace a no-rules approach to brewing. It’s why Black Bellows is a place where the old is transformed into the fantastically new. Forge ahead on an adventure of beer, food, and art right in the heart of Collingwood’s historic downtown.” www.blackbellows.com

“The Black Bellows brewpub was originally a blacksmith and carriage-making shop owned by the Dey family beginning in the late 1800s. By the 1940s the shop had retooled as an auto body shop. By the time Black Bellows took over the building in 2018 it had been in the Dey family for over 140 years, making it the longest-running business in Collingwood history. Like the blacksmiths of the past and the makers and creators of today, Black Bellows believes in the spirit of relentless invention. It’s why we embrace a no-rules approach to brewing. It’s why Black Bellows is a place where the old is transformed into the fantastically new. Forge ahead on an adventure of beer, food, and art right in the heart of Collingwood’s historic downtown.” www.blackbellows.com

96/100

Total Score iLegend

The best

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.

gregory-nano-switch-sling-bag1 — The Nano Switch Sling in the Icon Teal Colorway. Also available in Obsidian Black and Blaze Green. Photo: Gregory

Streamlined Sling

Streamlined Sling

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The placement and design of the pockets allow you to stash plenty of gear in the Nano Switch while still maintaining a low profile. The ability to switch sides is a definite plus, but the single-strap design means you can’t cinch the pack as securely as a two-strap system. If you’re bending down a lot, the pack will slide a bit.

The placement and design of the pockets allow you to stash plenty of gear in the Nano Switch while still maintaining a low profile. The ability to switch sides is a definite plus, but the single-strap design means you can’t cinch the pack as securely as a two-strap system. If you’re bending down a lot, the pack will slide a bit.

94/100

Total Score iLegend

Amazing

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.

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants — Photo: Outdoor Research

Packability

Packability

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A lot of features combine to make these pants perfect for on-the-fly use: the carabiner loop and key clip is always handy; the ankle zippers and elastic cuffs with gripper tape and lace hook mean quick on and off with total protection; and the elastic back pocket doubles as stuff sack. (The pants pack down so small, they’ll fit in your go bag.)

A lot of features combine to make these pants perfect for on-the-fly use: the carabiner loop and key clip is always handy; the ankle zippers and elastic cuffs with gripper tape and lace hook mean quick on and off with total protection; and the elastic back pocket doubles as stuff sack. (The pants pack down so small, they’ll fit in your go bag.)

96/100

Total Score iLegend

The best

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.

RB427 MUL 001 — Photo: Roark

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.

Therm a Rest Neo Air XLite — Photo: Therm-a-Rest

Packability

Packability

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Industry-leading construction and premium low bulk materials allow the XLite NXT to pack down to about the size of a conventional 1L water bottle! And as always, the WingLock Valve delivers super-fast one-way inflation and deflation; you can also purge air while you’re on the pad, for micro-adjustments. And the four size options allow you to find the XLite NXT that is perfect for your sleep system.

Industry-leading construction and premium low bulk materials allow the XLite NXT to pack down to about the size of a conventional 1L water bottle! And as always, the WingLock Valve delivers super-fast one-way inflation and deflation; you can also purge air while you’re on the pad, for micro-adjustments. And the four size options allow you to find the XLite NXT that is perfect for your sleep system.

96/100

Total Score iLegend

The best

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.

TSL Outdoor TOUR CARBON 5 CROSS PUSH PULL — Photo: TSL Outdoor

Sustainability

Sustainability

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Based in the French Alps, TSL Outdoor runs all its sites on 100% renewable electricity. TSL poles and snowshoes are 100% repairable. Between 60 and 80 parts are used for a pair of its snowshoes, all of which are interchangeable and repairable. And their after-sales service focuses on repairs and changing spare parts: an efficient way to make each pair last and minimize waste. Their spare parts catalog contains more than 1,000 references that they guarantee to keep for at least 10 years, allowing their warranty and repair teams to replace damaged parts even after several years of use. And TSL’s packaging is non-throwaway; their poles and snowshoes arrive in durable resuable bags (no plastic anywhere in the packaging).

Based in the French Alps, TSL Outdoor runs all its sites on 100% renewable electricity. TSL poles and snowshoes are 100% repairable. Between 60 and 80 parts are used for a pair of its snowshoes, all of which are interchangeable and repairable. And their after-sales service focuses on repairs and changing spare parts: an efficient way to make each pair last and minimize waste. Their spare parts catalog contains more than 1,000 references that they guarantee to keep for at least 10 years, allowing their warranty and repair teams to replace damaged parts even after several years of use. And TSL’s packaging is non-throwaway; their poles and snowshoes arrive in durable resuable bags (no plastic anywhere in the packaging).

97/100

Total Score iLegend

The best

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