Tag Archives: hiking

Hanging Out with Grand Trunk and Enjoying the Klymit

March 10, 2017 - posted by EmmaLee Sessions

Today, we are going to talk about one of my favorite things… Camping! We have two camping essentials that are going to knock your socks off and leave you wishing you could “head for the hills” right now.

Sleep… What’s That?

In a recent conversation with Mike Vause, sporting goods manager, he reminded me that sleep is an important aspect that is constantly overlooked when camping, hiking, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors. Mike said, “You may have to [fill in the blank].” You may have to get to the next ridge. You may have to land that next catch. You may have to bag that elk that has eluded you the last two days. You may have to stop and look at the scenery…

The Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana.

A view near Great Falls, MT from a hammock.

Whatever “you may have to” do, you’ll need all the energy possible in order to obtain that goal. So, you’ll want to make sure that you are getting the best night’s sleep while in the great outdoors. Let’s take a minute to look at my favorite bed, the hammock.

Click Here to shop our great selection of sleeping pads and air mattresses.

Time to Hang Out and Chill Out

Hammocks are a recent trend that everyone, especially the younger generation, is going crazy about. We carry a variety of brands and sizes, but my favorite brand that we carry is Grand Trunk. Made out of the same nylon material as parachutes, these hammocks are strong and durable. They come in a few different colors and patterns, so we are sure to have one that fits your style.

EmmaLee and her friend sitting in a hammock.

Hammocking under a bridge.

My favorite thing about hammocks is their versatility. Whether you’re going on a day trip, a 50-mile hike, a 3-day hunting weekend, or just a trip to your backyard, you always have a lightweight, portable resting place that takes minutes to set up and enjoy. The Grand Trunk double hammock weighs only 2 lbs and can hold up to 400 lbs, so it is easy to enjoy with a friend or by yourself. Plus, at 10′ 6″ long by 6′ 6″ wide, there is no way you could go wrong.

Shop our growing selection of hammocks right here, or give us a call so see what all we have to offer!

EmmaLee showing off the Grand Trunk batik hammock.

EmmaLee pictured with her hammock, the Grand Trunk Batik Hammock.

Recently I set a goal to go camping with nothing but my Grand Trunk hammock, a tarp, an emergency blanket, and my sleeping bag for shelter. I still have yet to do so and my goal changed slightly when Mike Vause showed me an evolutionary sleeping pad designed specifically for your hammock. Wow! This evolutionary sleeping pad is none other than the Klymit Hammock V inflatable sleeping pad.

What’s New for You

Like all Klymit air pads the Hammock V is made with a V-chamber design that limits air movement and provides excellent insulation. With an R-value of 1.6, it is perfect for the coming season of camping and warmer weather. The two valve system allows you to inflate the Hammock V quickly, using only 15-25 breaths, without the worry of deflating as you go.

Hammock V air pad with EmmaLee, who is 5′ 7″ tall.

One of my favorite features of this air pad is the grip zones located on both sides of the pad. Your sleeping pad will be held in place in your hammock and you won’t have to worry about your sleeping bag slipping and sliding around either. You can check out our other Klymit sleeping pads here.

One of the three (3) silicone, non-slip grip zones.

These coming months are my favorite because I get to head outdoors and do some camping and exploring. I am excited for my night’s sleep to allow me to climb to the top of the next mountain and take time to enjoy the beautiful vistas in comfort. Be sure to get a tarp and rope to keep the rain off of you. Shop online or in our store for tarps and rope.

Come On In and Check Us Out

Buy your very own Grand Trunk Hammock and Klymit Hammock V Sleeping Pad at Smith and Edwards! We’ve got the gear you need for all of your adventures and our helpful and fun staff will be there for you every step of the way. Let us answer your questions and help you find exactly what you need.

Come on in or give us a call today!

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We’re getting Cabin Fever… are you?

March 19, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

When I’m not at Smith & Edwards, taking photos is a huge hobby of mine.

I’ve been in Utah for 6 years, and while I’ve loved wandering backroads for barn photos and along the river parkways for macros and mushrooms, I’ve never ventured up the trails for some stunning shots.

Til now!

I’ve got Cabin Fever and I bet you do, too. Come explore the hikes & trails of Weber county with me! Mike Vause has picked out some gear for me, and I want to see if you can keep up!

I’m wearing the Columbia Switchback II Jacket (in “rose” color), Columbia gray Anytime Outdoor Long shorts, and Merrell waterproof high top hiking boots. In-store, I’m wearing Ariat Real Riding Eclipse jeans. Yep, I got all that gear at Smith & Edwards!

Visit Camping & Hiking to get the best gear.

And check out the boots department for Merrell, Hi-Tec, and Under Armour hiking boots and trail running shoes.

You’ll find even more gear in-store at Smith & Edwards, off exit 351 just north of Ogden. Have fun out there!

Shop the Cabin Fever Sale!

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Freeze-Dried Food Review: Try something new

September 2, 2015 - posted by Mike Vause

Some of us don’t like change.

I sometimes lean on tried and trusted gear for my outdoor adventures. I might be weird, but I like eating freeze-dried backpacking foods, especially the flavors from Mountain House.

I have favorite flavors like Spaghetti, Beef Stroganoff, Lasagna, and Chili Mac. These meals always go with me on backpacking and hunting trips.

This trip I wanted to try something new. (Totally out of character….just ask my wonderful wife).

I went for Biscuits & Gravy, and Granola with Blueberries.

Mike’s latest Freeze-Dried Food Review

Warm Biscuits & Gravy chase off the cold morning really well.

With dehydrated meals, sometimes you expect everything to be casserole-ish.

This Biscuits & Gravy was such a change from your typical dehydrated meal. I’d eat it for lunch here in town at 4200 feet.

Blueberries at 10,000 feet are a treat.

Some of the foods you take backpacking don’t remind you of home. This Granola with Blueberry has a good taste to it. The blueberries puffed right up; the powdered milk softens the granola and makes it a milky blueberry treat. I thought I was at home eating fresh fruit.

Sometimes at 10,000 feet, anything can taste good – but I was very impressed with this meal.

The Final Word

I’d get those flavors again for my next adventure. It was so much better than the usual breakfast bar and oatmeal style breakfast.

Try something new; it may become an old favorite.

Click here to explore Mountain House freeze-dried meals, wraps, and breakfasts.

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Scout Camp, Fishing & Camping Checklist

July 17, 2014 - posted by Rose Marion

It’s the right time of year for fishing, hiking, and camping. This time of year, we get a lot of people coming in and asking, “What gear do I need for…”

Whether you’re hiking, camping, fishing, or even sending your Cub Scout off to camp for a couple days, this checklist has everything you need to make it a great adventure here in Utah or in the mountains or lakes of our neighboring states.

If you’re camping or hiking, or sending a Scout to camp, here’s what you need:

If you’re sending a scout, remember his uniform, too!

For fishing:

Enjoy!

Click here to download a printable PDF of both lists.

Did you have fun? Make sure and send us pictures for the Bragging Board!

These lists were made after we had lots of families looking for a Scout camp checklist for their boys about to go to camp. We find them useful as a camping checklist so we’re sure we’ve got the car packed with all the gear we need. These also work great for packing your gear even for a fishing getaway on a Friday afternoon!

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The Gear You Need for a Weekend Getaway

March 15, 2014 - posted by Mike Vause

The spring is the perfect time to plan your hiking and camping, and you couldn’t ask for a better location than Utah. Take a week to enjoy the natural surroundings in comfort. Or, take off on a Friday afternoon and get away for a weekend with the family on your favorite hiking trails.

Utah Hiking and Camping Spots

Utah is rich with outdoor hiking opportunities.

I love the Uinta mountains.

The Desert Canyons of San Rafael Swell are also a good hike.

Even our own humble Ben Lomond peak.

Peak of Ben Lomond - Mike Vause, Smith and Edwards

My nephew on the peak of Ben Lomond. Over his right shoulder you can see Willard Bay.

Climb a peak! It will change how you look at things.

We have beautiful peaks in Utah. I like the view from Lewis Peak on the other side of the divide.

Utah’s tallest is Kings Peak – that’s an amazing summit right there.

For camping, I like the Logan Canyon area. There are still some fun spots at North Fork.

I love being in the Uinta mountains – there are many fun places up there you can hike to.

Now is the time to prepare a great backpack trip or day hike. Be ready now so you can grab your gear and go when the weather is right.

Capitol Reef, Utah - Mike Vause, Smith and Edwards

Capitol Reef National Park

Utah Hiking Gear & Camping Picks

Kelty day packs lasted my kids from 2nd grade through to my 20-year-old on his mission in the islands of the Pacific.

When you’re looking for hiking packs, you can’t go wrong with one from Mountainsmith, Kelty, or Jansport.

Hiking packs by Jansport, Mountainsmith, and Kelty at Smith and Edwards

These hiking packs will hold all your gear comfortably – and you won’t lose sight of your family in these bright colors, either.

Rather than trying to haul in your own water, you’ll want a water purification system: either a pump or a gravity system.

Some good purifying pump systems are the Katadyn Hiker, and the MSR Miniworks Ex Microfilter.

Water Purification pumps are great – but gravity-style purification rocks.

I love the Katadyne Base Camp system, where you draw a huge bag through the water, hang it up in camp, and then release water from it as you need it. And because of the gravity, you don’t need to pump it. MSR makes their own Autoflow Gravity Micro Filter which is the same concept. It’s a bit faster than the Base Camp, but it clogs easier. You can field clean the MSR filter easily by running water through the other direction. The Katadyne Base Camp uses the same filters as other Katadyne systems.

A lot of these purification systems have adapters that go right on your Nalgene bottle, reducing spillage.

Waterproof boots are a must! Danner and Merrell are good waterproof brands, and Merino wool or polypropylene blend socks complete the package.

Here are a couple good shoes: Danner 453 GTX in brown, and Merrell Moab Gore-Tex Mid with Vibram soles.

Merrell and Danner hiking boots and Merino wool socks at Smith & Edwards

Merrell or Danner hiking boots and Merino wool socks will keep your feet dry on a Utah hike.

Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen!

Staying overnight? Think about a Slumberjack sleeping bag. There are a lot of options out there, I like Slumberjack and Kelty.

Kelty and Slumberjack sleeping bags

Always take a pad; good rest is important. These inflatable pads are by ThermaRest, and we have several online you can check out.

I have a Kelty tent with 15 years of use, and we sell other great brands as well.

Kelty and Mountainsmith Tents at Smith and Edwards

The Kelty Grand Mesa and Mountainsmith Morrison 2-Person 3-Season tents are great for camping in Utah.

Click here to see tents online, and we have even more in-store.

Hike with Your Kids

Get your kids out; give them a love of the outdoors when they are young, and they will carry your heavy stuff when you are older. Trust me, it works.

You’ll get something started that they won’t be able to put down.

What are your favorite hiking and camping spots? Leave a comment and let us know!

About our people

Mike Vause is the Sporting Goods manager at Smith & Edwards. He’s been here over 20 years. When he’s not in the store, he’s probably hiking, camping, or testing the latest handgun or rifle.

Have Camping or Hiking questions? Call the store at 801-731-1120 and ask Sporting Goods, we’ll be happy to help you get the gear you need.