About Ward and Jade

I'm Ward. I live in Greer, South Carolina. I've meditated most of my life and practiced tai chi for many years. Both taught me to move slowly and pay attention, which turns out to be good advice on a trail too.

Jade is my hiking partner. She's part Boykin spaniel, which means she loves water, mud, and anything that smells interesting. She's getting older, and so am I.

Why one pick?

Most gear sites give you 25 options and leave you to sort it out. That's tiring. We'd rather do the testing and tell you plainly what we'd buy again.

Each guide has one top pick and one honest runner-up. We tell you who each one is not for, so you can skip it if it doesn't fit you.

We hike at our own pace. Our gear has to be kind to sore knees and older hips, on both ends of the leash.