Ross Collicutt
(He/Him)
- Outdoor Adventure Writer, Freelance
- Freelance Outdoor Adventure Writer, Pack & Trail
British Columbia, North Holland, Vancouver Island
Covers:
I cover outdoor adventure and related gear. Hiking, skiing, running, mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, stand-up paddleboarding are all fair game.
Doesn't Cover:
Fashion
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Articles by Ross Collicutt
DJI Osmo 360 II Review: A Solid Step Up
360 cameras used to be such a strange niche item that would make wild tiny world video. Tech and software have caught up now that they’re almost better than standard action cameras. Film everything, adjust later in post however you want to. It looks like a drone following you without having to sort out and drone and someone to fly it. DJI entered the 360 camera last year with it’s Osmo 360 and instantly was a strong competitor in the space. It had one big drawback.
DJI Launches the Osmo 360 II
DJI launched the new and improved Osmo 360 II with some important and highly requested features. The first Osmo 360 made a strong entrance into the 360 camera space in July 2025. They pull from their handheld, action camera, and drone experience and continue to make updates to it’s already strong 360 platform. Insta360 and GoPro remain strong competitors but DJI has repeatedly shown it’s a strong, innovative technology company, not just a drone manufacturer.
IBCPower 100W Foldable Solar Panel Review
A 100-watt solar panel that folds down to the size of a laptop? That’s the pitch behind the IBCPower 100W Foldable Solar Panel. Featuring TOPCon cells rated up to 24.8% efficiency and a tough IP67 rating, this little panel packs some good numbers on paper. But how does it hold up in actual heat, real-world setup, and windy field conditions? Let’s get to the testing.
Yeti Skala Backpack Review
When Yeti bought heavy duty backpack brand Mystery Range in 2024 the obvious question was ‘What are they going to do with it?’ Known for their bombproof coolers and other camp and adventure equipment, Yeti have dabbled in commuter and cooler backpacks. Some companies try to pivot into new products and don’t make it. So far Yeti has proven they can apply their intense engineering to any product. They’re not cheap but they are literally bearproof.
DJI Power 1000 Mini Review
** See the bottom for discount codes DJI has become a world leader in drones and mobile camera technology. They have pushed the limits of size and weight of drones, gimbals, and microphones. A major factor in the success of the all DJI products are the batteries. Without strong batteries the gimbals, drones and microphones are tough to use. Out camping, on road trips, and making content, all these batteries need to be charged.
Blundstone Classic Review
This is a very biased review of the Blundstone Classic Chelsea boots. I’ve had other Blundstones for more than 10 years and absolutely adore them. They are incredibly comfortable and last forever. None of my other trail runners or light hiking boots come close to Blundstone durability. Today, we’ll be focusing more on what makes the Classics unique. What’s the difference between the them and the All-Terrain. Would you get the regular or the Winter Thermal version?
Blundstone Classic vs All-Terrain
10 years ago I bought my first pair of Blundstones. All my friends had them and raved about them. I wasn’t sure. They weren’t cheap. I wanted to wear them to work so I got the Chisel Toe (Dress in the US). They were a bit stiff to start. Once they broke in they fit my feet like a glove. The soles were firm but soft enough to wear them all day no problem. I travelled in them. I walked hundreds of kilometers in them. They looked good so I could wear them anywhere. I’ve worn them almost every day since.
Blundstone All-Terrain Review
Blundstones have become popular around the world for a reason. They’re comfortable, easy to put on, look good, and last for a long time. They’ve been making their own TPU soles for a long time now but have recently branched out with a collaboration with Vibram to make an even grippier sole. The All-Terrain are very similar to the best-selling Blundstone Classics. Along with the sole there are a couple of key differences.
Cozy Cabins near Tofino: Ocean Village Resort
Ocean Village Resort is an amazing group of 51 cabins on Mackenzie Beach near Tofino, BC. 1 and 2 bedroom cabins, studio cabins and garden suites are steps from the fine sand of Mackenzie Beach. Each of the cabins has a full kitchen, propane fireplace, full size bathtub, chairs on a small patio, and a picnic table. Relax inside with a coffee with views of the water or take a stroll in the beach.
Editor’s Choice Gear
There’s a lot of good gear out there but some of it stands out as the best of the best. Out of everything I review, it’s the stuff that I reach for first and take out all the time. It stays permanently packed in my bag. This list is in no particular order, mostly the date it was reviewed. The Smith’s Guide Choice sunglasses are photochromic category 2 to 3 and polarized, making for an ideal fishing lens. ChromaPop filters crossover colours making red, green, and blue pop.
Julbo Shield with SPECTRON 3 Lens Review
Every since stumbling across French sunglass brand Julbo, I’ve struggled to wear anything else. Julbo was founded in 1888 in Morez, France providing crystal hunters sunglasses to use in the Jura mountain range. Since then they’ve expanded to every sport possible, making glasses for sailing, skiing, riding, running, and climbing. Their photochromic lenses may be the best in the world, changing tint quickly with the light in any temperature, often with hydrophobic and anti-fog coatings.
Tifosi Moab Sunglasses Review
Tifosi is Italian for super-fan. It shows in the quality and range of their sunglasses. Firmly rooted in root-cycling, they’ve got plenty of frames for all kinds of riding. They focus on good technology with good prices. They have solid sunglasses with lifetime warranties for less than $100. In this review, we bashed around the Moab, a class riding-focused frame with the Light Night Fototec photochromic lenses.
Litheli W1 Pro Wagon Review
Wagons are great for hauling gear around the campsite and do the beach but they get heavy quickly. Litheli have an entire ecosystem of power gear and tools used with their U20 20,000 mAh batteries. Along with those tools is a powered wagon capable of moving 130 or 300 pounds, depending on the model. We tested the W1 Pro wagon with 2 U20 batteries. We dragged 100 pounds around the yard on the grass, concrete paths and rough rocky road to see if a battery and motor on a wagon was worth it.
Best Photochromic Sunglasses
I can’t count the number of sunglasses I’ve lost or broken after taking them off. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on good ones and cheap ones and they all disappear and break. Because I took them off. When the light gets too dim, then they go on the deck of my boat or on my hat or helmet. And then get lost and broken. Someone somewhere decided I didn’t have to suffer any more 15 years ago and introduced me to photochromic sunglasses.
Spy Rebar Sunglasses Review: Photochromic, Impact Tested
Big lenses on sunglasses are the best. They offer better protection from light and sharp things flying around. But there’s something better then big lenses. Big, photochromic lenses. Big lenses than protect your eyes from the sun and sharp things. AND they tint with the light so you can wear them longer, during cloudy days or into dusk. And, wait for it. there’s something better than big photochromic lenses. Big, photochromic, impact-tested lenses. The Rebar from Spy check all those boxes.
Spy Logan Sunglasses Review: High Impact Certified
Have you ever been riding and hit in the face with a rock? Or fishing and hit in the face with a lure? Or work in a trade that requires ANSI certified safety glasses? I don’t work trades but I’ve certainly been hit by rocks and lures (sometimes my own doing). I’d like to keep my eyeballs intact thanks. Regular sunglasses can take small hits but aren’t impact tested or have any sort of rating on them.
Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses Review
Photochromic sunglasses automatically change tint with the light. What about the times that you need to change the tint immediately? Or manually set it to the exact tint you want? With regular photochromic you can’t. Chamelo Sunglasses is pushing the boundaries of sunglasses that can change tint at the push of a button, well….slide of a finger. Chief Brand Officer NBA all-star Stephon Marbury says their new shades are high performance….. and a bit different.
ActiveDim Pioneer Sunglasses Review
Photochromic sunglasses are rare and often expensive. Add polarization to that mix, and you have a true unicorn—a combination few brands offer, and usually at a premium price. ActiveDim, however, has managed to include both features in all of their models, and at a surprisingly accessible price point. This raises the key questions: How do they compare to more established brands? And does the budget price signal lower quality?
One of my favourite places to fish has been heavily logged over the past decades leaving logs stuck in the bottom of the lake at all angles and depths. It’s a great place to paddle and fish but it’s a minefield for boat props and rudders. Polarized sunglasses are required to not smash into anything, see the fish, and not wrap lures around all the logs. This is a problem for me. I prefer to wear photochromic sunglasses, lenses that change tint with the light.
Trent River Falls
Trent River Falls is a short hike from the trailhead on the Highway 19 just south of Cumberland, Vancouver Island. The falls are about 20 metres tall and end up in a deep pool. The rock and river above the falls are also a beautiful place to explore if the roped sections are too steep. The final descent down to the bottom of the falls is quite steep with ropes, and can be slippery when it’s wet or dusty.
China Bowls - Pack & Trail
China Bowls is a beautiful section of the Perseverance Creek in the Cumberland Community Forest. To get to China Bowls is pretty straightforward. There is minimal cell reception in the area though so make sure you have offline maps. Start at the Cumberland Community Forest trailhead on Dunsmuir and Sutton in Cumberland. Walk south on Sutton to access the trails. There is a good map kiosk here. Take a photo of it if you don’t already have a map of the area.
When you start a shot on a GoPro, you can either stop it manually or let it run until the battery dies. One photo is short but a video or timelapse will use the whole battery and record for an hour if you let it. (Compare GoPros) HEROs 9 to 12 can do the Duration Capture and you can set it from 15 seconds up to 3 hours.
How to Schedule a Shot on a GoPro
No one really wants to get up at 5 am to get a video or a timelapse of a sunrise. GoPro’s have a Scheduled Capture feature where you just set a time in the next 24 hours for it to start and you can stay in bed. Here’s how. (Compare all the GoPros) You can set Scheduled Capture right on the camera without a phone.
Camping is so much better when you get a good night sleep. With backpacking, hiking all day almost guarantees a good night sleep. But with camping you may not be as active. Sitting around the fire all day isn’t exactly hard work. So why skimp on a sleeping pad? There are the little blue foam mats that are barely more than sleeping on the ground. They’re great for sitting on or throwing around backpacking but if you’ve got the space it’s nice to go for something bigger.
Nymph Falls Nature Park
Nymph Falls Nature Park is a 61 hectare park on on the upper Puntledge River. Many kilometers of trails of all levels run up and down the park. Some trails are foot traffic only but some are multi-use. Sections of the river are great for fishing, swimming, and kayaking but mind the steep sections and slippery areas. The area is amazing for beautiful views and photos. The BC Hydro dam is just upstream at the outlet of Comox Lake.
BillieBars Truck Bed Bar Review
There are endless options for mounting and carrying gear on trucks these days. You can put things on a canopy, a roof rack, a hitch rack, a tall bed rack, short ones, or just throw stuff in the back. My next adventure vehicle build is a Chevy Colorado LT RST that I picked up last year. It’s a good platform for day trips and longer but it needs accessories. Over the coming year, I’ll be kitting it out for short overland trips to camp, bike, fish and kayak. So what does that mean for the racks?
BillieBar Truck Bed Bar Review
There are endless options for mounting and carrying gear on trucks these days. You can put things on a canopy, a roof rack, a hitch rack, a tall bed rack, short ones, or just throw stuff in the back. My next adventure vehicle build is a Chevy Colorado LT RST that I picked up last year. It’s a good platform for day trips and longer but it needs accessories. Over the coming year, I’ll be kitting it out for short overland trips to camp, bike, fish and kayak. So what does that mean for the racks?
8 best waterproof duffel bags to keep your stuff dry
Ross Collicutt Mon, January 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM UTC 6 min read This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, Digital Trends and Yahoo Inc. may earn a commission. Exploring the outdoors is an intensive business. Hauling climbing equipment to the Himalayas, fishing gear to the boat, or camping supplies to the truck all require durable carriers. So we’ve rounded up the best waterproof duffel bags for your most hardcore adventures this year.
Bluetti AC70 Portable Power Station Review
With so many new companies and power stations coming out, it’s hard to know which ones to trust. Bluetti is one of the most well-known names for portable power stations. They have a whole line of tiny power stations all the way up to models to power your whole house. The AC70 is a 22 pound power station that’s small enough to carry around but big enough to power your devices for a day or more. We tested one recently to see how reliable, powerful, and easy to use it is. Can it output up to 2000 watts?
OnX Backcountry GPS App Review
GPS is a critical but tricky item to take into the backcountry. It’s a set of maps and tracks in your pocket for anywhere you could want to go. It’s also on a battery operated device that could break or run out of power at any time. For most people, knowing where you are all the time is the invaluable when heading outside. You can see where you are going the all the time, and, maybe more importantly, you can see how to get home.
Artman 3-Battery Charger for GoPro 12
Charging GoPro batteries is a big part of owning a GoPro. The cameras are tiny and so must be the batteries. Plugging in your GoPro isn’t easy if you’re out in the woods or on the ski hill so it’s nice have something that can store and charge GoPro batteries in your pack with you. GoPro’s don’t ship with any external charger or battery case. You have to plug the whole camera in. Thankfully there’s a whole industry dedicated to GoPro accessories.
Attacks are exceedingly rare. But, if you do become a victim, here's how to better your odds of survival
Ralphs_Fotos / Pixabay From rabid animals to meat-eating plants to getting lost in the dreaded Alaska Triangle, there are plenty of ways to die in nature. But do we need to worry about mountain lion attacks? The news seems to think so. Fatalities are rare, but they do happen. Although that last deadly encounter — one of the few in recent memory — happened over five years ago.
Alps Mountaineering Rocking Chair Review
Most camp chairs are as built as small as they can be and don’t rock or move while you’re sitting in them. The Rocking Chair from Alps Mountaineering is literally a rocking chair you can take outside and do the campsite to rock yourself to sleep around the fire. Brown and blue colors 600d polyester Pro-Tec Powder Coated Frame 17.5. pounds 300 pound capacity $149.99 USD 42 x 37 x 24 unfolded 27″ x 24″ x 6″ folded 29″ back The Rocking Chair is a big chair to cary.
Dometic Go Compact Chair Review
Dometic is no stranger to products for outdoor living or building things that last. Their Go line features a ton of stuff meant for overlanding, camping or just hanging out outside at the beach. The Compact Chair in the Go line is a sturdy camp chair with a nice bag and quite the recline. We tested one recently to see how it stacks up with a bunch of other popular camp chairs. How’d it do? Read on.
Helinox Chair Zero Highback Review
Most people envision a large heavy metal frame when you think camp chair. But what about a tiny tent you sit on that’s smaller than 2 water bottles? The Chair Zero Highback from Helinox weighs only 22 oz and fold out into a full chair with a tall back, albeit only 10 inches off the ground. We reviewed one to test it against the larger and heavier camp chairs to see how it faired.
Snow Peak Luxury Low Beach Chair Review
Snow Peak has made a name for itself with high-quality metal-work and camping gear. Everything they make has had care and attention throughout the manufacturing process and it shows using it. The Luxury Low Beach Chair has had this care and attention in the design and build. We reviewed the Luxury Low with all our other favourite chairs for camping, the beach and backyard. Is it a good buy? Who is it good for? Read on.
REI Wonderland Chair Review
The REI Wonderland Chair is an unassuming camp chair. It’s comfortable. It’s sturdy. It’s easy to set up. But it’s got one simple feature that has stood out above the rest earning it a top spot in our recent camp chair test.
HoverAir X1 Drone Review
Drones are getting smaller and more powerful by the day. Most of them are still complicated and expensive. Flying $1000 off into the trees isn’t much fun. It would be nice if someone could make drone flying so easy anyone can do it. Zero Zero has done this with the HoverAir X1. The X1 is a compact, foldable drone that literally fits in your pocket. You can buy just the drone with 1 battery or a combo pack with 2 batteries and a USB-C battery charger.
Welcome to Pack & Trail!
You may have landed on this site and be confused about where PureOutside went. We’re still here! PureOutside is now Pack & Trail! Everything about Pack & Trail is the same as before. We still play outside and share our best adventures and gear reviews with you, just with a different name. We’re doing our best to move over the to the new name for the website and social media channels but we apologies for anything that doesn’t work. There may be some links or images that need to be fixed.
Best Camp Chairs of 2023
Chairs are an essential part of camping. Standing or sitting on the ground gets old real quick. There are tons of them out there. Some crazy expensive, some cheap. We researched dozens and tested 8 of the best we could find. Here are the results.
GoPro Hero 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Compared: Which is Best?
You’ve probably heard about the GoPro Hero 8, 9, 10, and 11. Tiny action cameras that can go anywhere. The GoPro HERO12 action camera has been out since September 2023 and I’m sure the 13 is on its way (probably September 2024). If you are buying a GoPro for the first time which one should you buy? If you have an 8 or 9 should you be upgrading to a 10, 11, or 12? Price is always going to be a factor.
GoPro HERO12 Black Review
GoPro rules the action camera market. DJI and Insta360 are trying to edge their way in. They’re making a good run of it but they’ve got a ways to go before they unseat the king of action cameras. Like other tech companies, GoPro releases upgrades some years and big improvements others. Is the HERO12 just an iteration on the 11? And is it enough to keep DJI and Insta360 running to catch up? Compared the HERO8, 9, 10, and 11, the 12 is an improvement, no doubt. If you have an 8 or 9, should you upgrade?
GoPro HERO12 Black Review
GoPro rules the action camera market. DJI and Insta360 are trying to edge their way in and making a good run of it but they’ve got a ways to go before they unseat the king of action cameras. Like other tech companies, GoPro put out upgrades some years and big improvements others. Is the HERO12 just an iteration on the 11? And is it enough to keep DJI and Insta360 running to catch up? Compared the HERO8, 9, 10, and 11, the 12 is an improvement, no doubt. If you have an 8 or 9, should you upgrade?
HoverAir X1 Drone Review
Drones are getting smaller and more powerful by the day. Most of them are still complicated and expensive. Flying $1000 off into the trees isn’t much fun. It would be nice if someone could make drone flying so easy anyone can do it. Zero Zero has done this with the HoverAir X1. The X1 is a compact, foldable drone that literally fits in your pocket. You can buy just the drone with 1 battery or a combo pack with 2 batteries and a USB-C battery charger.
Best Camp Chairs of 2023
Chairs are an essential part of camping. Standing or sitting on the ground gets old real quick. There are tons of them out there. Some crazy expensive, some cheap. We researched dozens and tested 8 of the best we could find. Here are the results.
Alps Mountaineering Rocking Chair Review
Most camp chairs are as built as small as they can be and don’t rock or move while you’re sitting in them. The Rocking Chair from Alps Mountaineering is literally a rocking chair you can take outside and do the campsite to rock yourself to sleep around the fire. Brown and blue colors 600d polyester Pro-Tec Powder Coated Frame 17.5. pounds 300 pound capacity $149.99 USD 42 x 37 x 24 unfolded 27″ x 24″ x 6″ folded 29″ back The Rocking Chair is a big chair to cary.
Snow Peak Luxury Low Beach Chair Review
Snow Peak has made a name for itself with high-quality metal-work and camping gear. Everything they make has had care and attention throughout the manufacturing process and it shows using it. The Luxury Low Beach Chair has had this care and attention in the design and build. We reviewed the Luxury Low with all our other favourite chairs for camping, the beach and backyard. Is it a good buy? Who is it good for? Read on.
REI Wonderland Chair Review
The REI Wonderland Chair is an unassuming camp chair. It’s comfortable. It’s sturdy. It’s easy to set up. But it’s got one simple feature that has stood out above the rest earning it a top spot in our recent camp chair test.
Helinox Chair Zero Highback Review
Most people envision a large heavy metal frame when you think camp chair. But what about a tiny tent you sit on that’s smaller than 2 water bottles? The Chair Zero Highback from Helinox weighs only 22 oz and fold out into a full chair with a tall back, albeit only 10 inches off the ground. We reviewed one to test it against the larger and heavier camp chairs to see how it faired.
Dometic Go Compact Chair Review
Dometic is no stranger to products for outdoor living or building things that last. Their Go line features a ton of stuff meant for overlanding, camping or just hanging out outside at the beach. The Compact Chair in the Go line is a sturdy camp chair with a nice bag and quite the recline. We tested one recently to see how it stacks up with a bunch of other popular camp chairs. How’d it do? Read on.
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