I just wrapped up two weeks of camping at Arrowhead provincial park (a few hours north of Toronto). While there, I took advantage of the time and activities to put some of the gear I’ve accumulated recently through extended, real-world tests.
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I’ve never been a runner, but I do love walking. I’ll happily spend all day tromping around a city, walking through a park, hiking a forest trail, or wandering along the shoreline of a lake. Because the terrain I cover is so varied, I tend to look for shoes that are lightweight, grippy, breathable, good on a variety of surfaces, and quick-drying. Merrell’s All Out Blaze Sieve and All Out Blaze Aero Sport are two examples of high performance shoes that fit my requirements perfectly.
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Last weekend I spent almost eight hours, longer than I ever spend on any other single thing, running through the beautiful trails of Chuckanut Mountain. Lost Lake was my first 50K, and I could not be any happier with my race choice.
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Merrell dropped me a line a while ago asking if I’d be interested in trying out a pair of their new All Out Fuse trail running shoes. I was on board, not just because I’ve yet to come across gear from the company that I don’t like, but also because I’m always on the lookout for a comfortable pair of athletic shoes for wearing around the house. That may not sound like it’s a demanding criteria, but I work from home, I’m up and down the stairs constantly through the day and I try to spend an hour or two of that time while working on a treadmill desk. I also do a lot of walking and light hiking on evenings and weekends. In both cases, the Merrell All Out Fuse trail runners excelled.
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Hiking is one of my favorite outdoor activities, and the fall is my favorite time of year to be doing it. It can get mucky around here — especially if we run into light snow — but it’s cool enough that overheating is less of an issue, the bugs are a non-issue and the fall colors are always spectacular. With my daughter now old enough to babysit her brothers, my wife and I have had the opportunity to duck out for quick hikes this fall. We have to keep things realistic and stay close enough to get home quickly if a fight breaks out, so that means a mix of urban walking and light trails. Merrell sent a pair of Merrell Men’s Proterra Sport Gore-Tex hikers to try out, and the timing couldn’t have been better. If you’re in the market for waterproof, minimalist hikers that are comfortable to wear in mixed terrain, these would make a great choice.
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My wife just returned from a trip to Iceland with her family. I was home with the kids, spending some quality time as we ramped up for summer vacation when — as a SAHD/WFH dad — I have a lot more quality time coming over the coming weeks. While I enjoyed adventures in electrical installations, trying to keep up with laundry and dealing with some very disconcerted dogs, she spent 10 days in Reykjavik and touring the island. One of the highlights of her trip was hiking on Falljokull glacier (at the foot of the Vatnajokull ice cap) at Skaftafell National Park. This wasn’t a casual walk, so she’d arrived in Iceland prepared with a pair of Moab hiking boots from Merrell.
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When it comes to clothes, I’m all about comfort, performance and quality. It helps if they look good too. This brings me to a shirt that Merrell was good enough to send me. My family has been rocking their shoes for years now, hitting the urban environments and amusement parks, along with the trails and I’m convinced that when it comes to high performance footwear, this is the company to beat. The shirt has become my new favorite.
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There’s a good chance you might know Tim Ferriss as the author of best-selling books such as The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Expanded and Updated) and The 4-Hour Body. He’s become well-known for his minimalist approach to life and his ability to study an activity and hack it, […]
Continue ReadingMy family is a fairly active one, especially in the Spring through Fall seasons. We camp frequently and that involves plenty of hiking, wading through water, climbing and playing sports. We also like to take the kids on frequent outings …
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