In the world of trail building, having the right tools directly translates to a better trail experience. But what if you could have a high-quality, multi-use tool that also fits in your backpack?

Enter the Trailtool Pocket, a versatile French-made tool including a collapsible shaft with a variety of heads. I’ve been using the saw, shovel, and their custom McLeod-like attachments.

Let’s dive in.

Every trail builder knows the feeling.

A section has been damaged by water. Braking bumps have grown into deep holes. Rocks are pushing through the tread. A corner that once flowed now feels rough, loose, and tired.

The problem may be obvious. The harder question is what it will take to fix it.

Maybe the crew is working deep in the woods where hauling fresh material is difficult. Maybe a trail center cannot afford to keep a popular line closed for a week. Maybe the builders have the right machine on site, but not the right way to process the material beneath them.

This is the problem PTH Products hopes to address with the PTH Excavator Crusher EC-S, a compact attachment designed for mini excavators.

There are trail tools that look good in a catalog, and then there are trail tools that earn a permanent spot in the trailer because they solve real problems in the field. The Rake by Camelot Tools falls firmly into the second category.

The new Dakine 25-liter Builder Pack is the little sister to our favorite 45-liter Dakine Builder Pack. When you want a little less bulk with a little more stability, this is the pack I reach for every time.

Trail builders rarely start their day near an outlet. More often, the morning begins at a remote trailhead or in our neck of the woods, a base camp tucked deep into a cold, damp Pacific Northwest forest. When that is the reality, hot water is not a luxury. It is part of the workflow.

This field note looks at a simple question trail crews may be asking. As more crews rely on battery systems and vehicle-based power, does electric camp gear actually make sense in the field?

To answer that, I spent a cold morning brewing coffee off-grid with the Stoke Voltaics Kettle Pot, paired with Off the Grid coffee from Treeline Coffee Roasters (I know, a “rough” morning). What follows is less a traditional gear review and more a trail builder workflow story.

Packable trail tools have quietly become one of the most interesting categories in trail building. As more trail work happens in remote zones, on bikes, or during informal volunteer days, the need for lightweight, mobile tools has grown alongside it.

The Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS is a true two-in-one helmet, giving riders full-face confidence and half shell versatility. Trail Builder Magazine tested it at Timberline Bike Park and local Portland trails, finding it durable, lightweight, and comfortable for long days. Perfect for trail builders who ride after a dig day.

It’s easy to overlook a belt … until it fails halfway through a trail day. If you’ve ever had to re-tighten an old canvas belt mid-dig while balancing a McLeod on your shoulder, you know what I mean. That’s where Arcade’s belts come in. They’re not trying to be flashy. They’re trying to do their job and disappear into your day. And they do.

Some gear fades into the background in the best way possible. You don’t have to think about it, adjust it, or wrestle with it mid-ride or mid-dig. That was my experience with the Guardian knee pads from Avision MTB. They’re the kind of pads you forget you’re wearing until they save your knees or your day.

I’ve worn a lot of knee pads over the years, most built for either hardcore descents or casual trail riding. Some fit like armor. Others feel like a glorified sleeve. The Guardian sits somewhere different: sturdy enough to protect when you need it, but easy and intuitive in a way that just works, especially when you’re bouncing between riding and trail building.

There’s something about a good pocket tee that just does it for me. Maybe it’s the subtle nod to utility. Maybe it’s the aesthetic. But if you’re anything like me, someone who splits time between photography, bikes, and post-ride burritos, a shirt like the Anti-Tech Tech Tee just works.

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.

The ØN3 Single Seat Organizer by ØNWRD Supply Co. is a game-changer for trail builders and mountain bikers who demand efficiency and organization at the trailhead. Designed to fit most driver and passenger seats, this organizer ensures that essential tools and gear are within arm’s reach, streamlining pre-ride preparations and post-ride cleanups.

The team at ØNWRD Supply Co. kindly sent me the ØN3 Single Seat Organizer and even participated in our recent giveaway. As the owner of a 1995 Chevy Sportvan (affectionately called Nacho the Van), I had the perfect vehicle to put the organizer to the test.

When the package arrived, I was immediately impressed by the exceptional quality. Before this, I’d been exploring plastic storage totes to organize essentials like tools, cleaning supplies, and my jump starter battery pack. The ØN3 Single Seat Organizer proved to be the perfect solution for managing my gear. So, what can you expect from it?

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.

Within trail building and mountain biking, there are hot topics that are rife with controversy. That is code for people having REALLY strong opinions on different subjects. One of the ongoing topics of conflict is e-MTBs. Some love them. Some think of them as abominations from the depths of a fiery abyss. However, there is such an e-MTB that is bound to unite trail builders … the Tern Orox.