When you think of Hoka One One you probably think of super marshmallowy, thick midsole, goofy looking running shoes. You would be absolutely correct in thinking that, and Hoka's new line of hiking specific boots are just that, but with added durability and guts. I had the opportunity to test out the Sky Kaha boots courtesy of Gearhead Outfitters and have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Let's get into the details below! The Sky Kaha is an over the ankle boot, which is typically not my style for hiking/backpacking footwear, however these proved to be quite comfortable over the rocks and roots the Ozarks kindly provide. The Kaha is made of full grain leather, some synthetic sections, metal eyelets, and multi-density EVA foam. That's a lot of stuff for one boot, but dang... Hoka knows what they are doing! These are lined with an e-Vent waterproof bootie and they stood up to my highly technical standing-in-a-creek water test. I actually was surprised that I didn't feel any leakage after 15 minutes. These should provide sufficient for most creek crossings and rain storms in *most* areas. I found there to be ample toe room in these and decent support. They are more akin to a neutral running shoe and don't offer a major arch "post" which is what I prefer. The step-in comfort was shockingly awesome. I expected a lot of break in time but the dual density EVA proves to offer supreme on foot comfort. The layer of foam closest to the sole is more stiff which provides the support necessary to carry a pack or in my case a child with ease. My knees thanked me at the end of each hike! All in all, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the fit and feel of these boots. I've been wearing Altra shoes for some time now and typically don't enjoy more narrow toeboxes. These didn't prove to be any issue at all. No blisters or pinching due to the highly customizable lacing system! Hooray! I did find, as with most waterproof footwear, that they do tend to run a little on the warm side in the summer months. These bad boys come equipped with Vibram Megagrip, and 5mm lugs which have proved more than ample to handle just about any terrain. A bonus is that they don't sound or even feel weird when walking on pavement. I wouldn't suggest doing that often because it will prematurely wear down the rubber but for testing purposes I was more than happy. The above photo was after wearing these for a couple of weeks and as you can see, there appears to be virtually no wear on the soles so I would imagine that these will last a good long time before the soles wear out. Even the exposed EVA seems to be holding up better than I imagined. Overall, I have been more than pleased with the Sky Kaha boots from Hoka. The $220 price tag may seem steep but you are getting a full on leather, waterproof backpacking boot that should last you multiple seasons and if comfort and durability is top priority , these are definitely worth looking at! Check them out on Hoka's website, your local Gearhead Outfitters, or any other outdoor store! *These boots were provided free of charge. All opinions expressed in reviews is that of Bob's Adventure Blog and not influenced by any company.*
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Guest post by Mrs. Bob's Adventure Blog I am a photographer based out of Northwest Arkansas specializing in family portraits, newborns and weddings. Many of the rules I use when photographing for my business are a little bit different when I’m out hiking and taking pictures, especially when I’m only bringing along my phone’s camera. Colorado is where I grew up, where I met my adventure buddy and where we also later married. Getting outside is our thing, and we’ve grown tremendously from when we started. I used to lug around my heavy camera on our backpacking trips, but over the years we’ve managed to shed our weight, and the heavy camera was the first to go. So, whether you have no experience in photography, or if you do, but are trying to figure out the art of phone photography, here are some helpful tips for creating some beautiful shots while you’re out adventuring. Focal Point: What is it that you want to stand out in your photo? A waterfall, mountain range, sunset, a person? Look for lines, and angles that draw the eye towards the subject that you’re focusing on. Also try a few different shooting spots, get down low or higher to change it up a bit to see if it draws any more attention towards the focus area. Example: I used the surrounding trees and leaves to draw your eye to my husband standing on the outcropping. Perspective: Sometimes when taking a photo adding a person, or item into the photo shows off just how large or small something is. Example: This large rock doesn’t seem very big in my photograph, so adding in my husband changes the size perspective. Eye Sores: Scan your surroundings for anything in the photo that might draw your attention away from your focal point. i.e., signs, trash, people, etc. Example: The red sign on the left of the photo draws unwanted attention. Settings: Play around with the different phone settings you have on your camera. Your phone might have things such as panorama, portrait, night mode, etc. There are even apps to help you get the perfect waterfall shot such as Slow Shutter. Example: Using Panorama completely changes the viewpoint on this photo Slow Shutter app was used in the photos below to smooth out the water using a longer exposure shot. Edit: There are several different editing apps that can further enhance your photos. I personally like apps that let me edit every part of the photograph instead of just slapping a filter on it. Snapseed is my favorite app, and all of the above pictures were edited using it. I hope these tips help you get the most out of your phone photography in nature but definitely don’t forget to put the phone away and just enjoy being outside. After all, there are some things a camera just can’t capture.
So it's certainly been a while since I've had the opportunity to post anything, but I'm back and have some reviews coming down the pipeline!
A lot has changed since my last review... mostly that my son was born! Everett Browning was welcomed to our tribe in August and we've been loving every second of him! Getting outside certainly took a backseat while we figured out baby #2, but we are getting back into the swing of things... FEELS GOOD! Water filters are really stepping up their game in today's hiking world. You've got a lot of options and can spend lots of money... Today we are going to take a look at an excellent, budget friendly water filtration system from HydroBlu. The Clear Flow Water Bottle double filter bottle is a great little filter that includes a water bottle, hollow fiber filter, and a charcoal filter. You can literally scoop the water right out of the river and drink it! The filter system it uses meets EPA standards and filters out everything nasty you can think of in mountain streams. As an added bonus, the Clear Flow Water bottle has a charcoal filter above the hollow fiber filter to give your water a clean, fresh taste. We were surprised at how well the system works. There is a bit of squeeze needed to really get the flow going, but overall it isn't difficult to use at all. This system was tested on multiple weekend hiking AND backpacking trips. It performed without issue. The Clear Flow eliminates the need for extra bottles or filters, and while it won't necessarily be our choice for every backpacking trip due to its slightly heavier weight and smaller water capacity, we will definitely grab it for day hikes and day to day use. We really like that you can simply toss out the filter once it reaches its 400 gallon limit and replace it with a new one from the HydroBlu site. Be aware that the filters and straw take up some space in the bottle, so you really only get about 75% use inside the bottle. This wasn't a deal breaker and I still took it on a weekend backpacking trip. It performed wonderfully and while others were pumping or squeezing their water, I simply filled up my bottle and went! The Clear Flow Water Bottle only costs $21.95 from HydroBlu and in our opinion is well worth that price!
Xero Shoes has been turning out some great stuff lately. Our last review was the DayLite Hiker and with some very small caveats, we absolutely loved them. We are still using them and still loving them.
New for 2018 is the TerraFlex Trail shoes. These are pegged as trail runners and/or hikers. Obviously, we are much for trail running (although I sure do try) but we sure have used these for some serious hiking and backpacking. Keep on reading for our thoughts on these! We hope everyone had a very merry Christmas/Kwanza/Festivus/Hanukkah! It's been a busy, but amazing year and we are so excited for what 2018 has to offer! We've been busy busy reviewing products and getting outside as much as possible.
We are excited to share our review from one of our favorite companies! Xero Shoes has been a staple in our review line for a number of years and we not only love their products, but we love their people and what they stand for! They recently stepped into (no pun intended!) the close-toe shoe arena and what they offer has been wildly successful. We've reviewed their Prio model, as well as they more casual Hana/Lena shoes. We loved both and while their sizing seems to be a bit whacky (not unusual for new shoe companies) the shoes themselves are an A+ in our book. Their newest offering is the DayLite Hiker. The wide toe box, super flexible, tough as nails boot for everyday adventures as well as backcountry excursions comes in at only 10.2 oz for a men's 9, and packs down completely for easy travel and a comfortable fit.
When it comes to minimalist style sandals, the market seems to have plenty of options. You've got various brands and within those brands you typically have different models in varying thickness, grip, etc...
What we've found is that every minimalist sandal has the same problem... they are a pain in the butt to adjust, and they don't ever feel completely secure on your foot. In steps the new(ish) Bedrock Cairn sandal... |