Trail builders need gloves that can handle real work. We tested Trail Manos’ leather work gloves while scouting trail damage and fixing drainage, and they delivered. No break-in needed, solid grip, and all-day comfort. Whether you’re a pro or a volunteer, these gloves are worth the upgrade.

Before the first tool scraped dirt or the crew finished their first jokes, the kettle in Nacho the Van was already on.

It was one of those Pacific Northwest mornings—the kind that clings to your flannel and seeps into your bones. My van was parked just off a gravel spur road, pine needles crunching under boots as everyone trickled in. Tools rattled, mugs clinked, and the aroma of fresh coffee started cutting through the cold.

Lighthouse from Treeline Coffee Roasters is a single-origin Guatemalan with notes of strawberry, cola, and a winey finish. But tasting notes aside, it just hits right in the stillness of a trailhead morning.

On a recent trail scouting mission, I strapped the Clyde Jr to my pack and hit the trail. The route had seen better days—ruts forming, water not shedding properly, and a few stretches that clearly needed drainage work. I wasn’t out there for a dig day. I was scouting. But the Clyde Jr changed the way I approached the task.

Pulling open the side doors of Nacho the Van, I reached for my gloves—damp, muddy, and tucked inside the Small Mesh Bucket from Stōd Gear. The bucket had been bouncing around my van for weeks, stashing and carrying everything from soggy gloves to wet gear after a long day out on the trail. The first thing that struck me about this piece of gear? Its durability.

Trail builders and mountain bikers are constantly managing a mess—whether it’s hauling tools, clearing debris, or stashing gear on a multi-day trip. The last thing we need is flimsy storage that can’t take a beating. Stōd Gear’s Small Mesh Bucket is anything but flimsy.

For professional and volunteer trail builders, having gear that stands up to the challenges of rugged environments isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. The Trail Builder 35 is engineered to be the ultimate work companion, combining heavy-duty construction with a meticulously designed organizational system that caters specifically to the needs of those who build and maintain our trails. Curious how this game-changing pack can transform your trail work? Read on to uncover its innovative features and see how it stacks up against the competition.

On any given dig day, you’re hauling more than just dirt. You’ve got tools, snacks, and maybe a partially consumed coffee in a sealed flask precariously balanced somewhere it shouldn’t be. If you’re like me, you also want to have a camera on hand—because, let’s be honest, a well-crafted berm deserves documentation. The last thing you need? A pack that shifts,bounces, or gets in the way while you’re building or riding. That’s where the Fernhill Co. Flow Finder Waist Pack and LTL Frame Bag come in—two pieces of equipment built for those who live and breathe trail building … oh, and photography, gravel riding, mountain biking, and more.

In the demanding world of trail building, where safety and comfort are paramount, the Studson SHK-1 Full Brim Vented Safety Helmet emerges as an essential piece of equipment. This helmet is meticulously designed to meet the unique challenges faced by trail builders, offering a blend of advanced safety features and user-centric design elements.

When it comes to building trails that flow like poetry and ride like a dream, you need tools that don’t just work—they inspire. Enter the Helmetor Trailblazer, a tool that stands as a testament to design, durability, and the unyielding spirit of the trail building community.

Last Saturday was a vivid reminder of why coffee matters. No, that is not hyperbole or an understatement. It matters A LOT. The temperature was in the low 40s, and the rain was constant. I was shooting photos of a volunteer crew re-routing a trail that had been washed out. The whole time, I kept thinking of two things ... (1) I need rain gear like Alaska crabbers being bounced around in a small boat in the Bering Sea, and (2) I need coffee.

Winters in the Pacific Northwest are dark, damp, and bone-chillingly cold. No, not cold in the sense of snowy climates with sub-zero temperatures. But the cool temps plus all the rain has a way of chilling you to the core. A day out on the trail, whether building or biking, means layering up.

When it comes to mountain biking, I'm first and foremost a shorts guy. While my favorite is a good pair of jorts (jean shorts), I know that most of you are probably looking for something with a little more performance than a pair of Old Navy jeans with some stretch in the fabric that were converted to riding shorts at the end of their life.

While I love my jorts and their functionality for both mountain biking and gravel riding, they are not the best for the winters here. Therefore, when NAR Supply Co. reached out about sending me a pair of their 3/4 tech pants, I knew it was time to address my winter riding gear.