How to Select a High Performance Cooler

Packing a cooler is one of the most important parts of your outdoor excursion, whether camping with the kids or taking a long hike with a small group. Food and beverages are critical to enjoying your time in the wilderness. Making sure that you have fresh food and water will give you the sustainable energy you need for hikes and to enjoy time by the campfire. 

If you will be far away from civilization, it’s important to choose a high quality cooler that will keep your food cold for days and hold ice as long as possible. Hiking can increase an appetite and the last thing you want is soggy, spoiled food on your trip. Here are some considerations when evaluating coolers:

• Durability

• Type of construction

• Storage room

• Drain plugs

• Bear and critter proof

A durable cooler should last you for several years. Rotomolded coolers are manufactured by rotational molding, which constructs the cooler as one continuous piece poured around a very thick layer of foam insulation. These types of coolers are proven to keep ice for days, alleviating any worry about fresh food when there is no ice to be found for miles. 

Make sure that your cooler provides enough storage space for the length of your trip. Coolers that have additional storage baskets to keep some food up and out of the ice itself will help to keep it fresher, longer. Having a drain plug is important so you can drain out any melted water. This helps to keep your food from getting soggy, will alleviate some weight and makes your ice last longer. 

If you’re in the wilderness where bears are known to roam, make sure that you use a lock on a cooler that is certified as bear-resistant. Cascade Mountain Tech offers a high quality, roto-molded cooler that meets the bear-resistance qualifications from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. 

Cascade Mountain Tech Offers Super Coolers

The rotomolded super coolers from Cascade Mountain Tech provide all of the features to make your camping trip a total success with fresh food and beverages. Choose from a 45 qt. or 80 qt. option to have plenty of food for the whole group. Always chill your cooler before packing it by placing some ice in it ahead of time. Packing your food into an already chilled cooler is the best way to make your ice last and keep you food fresher, longer. 

Cascade Mountain Tech offers all the critical hiking gear from high quality coolers, to comfortable camp chairs, camp bedding and trekking poles. 

Cascade Mountain Tech is your one stop to prepare for an awesome outdoor adventure. Our coolers are proven to hold ice for up to 10 days with durable construction and convenient features. Contact us with any questions on selecting and packing your cooler for success.

Trekking Pole Tips from the Experts

Trekking poles are an important part of any hiker’s gear, providing support and increasing endurance and speed. Using trekking poles properly will add much needed stability on rough terrain, when ascending uphill or downhill, or give some relief to your joints even on a long steady hike. Here are some tips from the experts on how to get the most value from your trekking poles. 

Adjust Length to the Right Height

In order to get the most from your trekking poles, it is important to adjust the length to the right height for you and your hike. You should always have your arms bent at a comfortable 90° angle with the tip of the pole on the ground. You’ll want to make a quick adjust when hiking downhill or uphill, lengthening your pole for downhill and shortening a bit for uphill treks at about 5-10 cm to get the right amount of support.

Use the Wrist Straps

The wrist straps, when used properly, will help to support your weight without exerting too much energy to grip the handle. 

Quick and Easy Pole Locks

You’ll want to make sure that your trekking poles are easy to adjust so that you can quickly get the right height for hiking different terrain. 

Find Your Rhythm

With just a little practice, you’ll quickly learn how to get the most from your trekking poles. By swinging your arms in a natural rhythm, your poles provide support while propelling you forward. 

Consider Trekking Pole Material

Cascade Mountain Tech offers a variety of trekking poles in various materials such as:

• Carbon fiber

• 3k carbon fiber

• Lightweight carbon fiber

• Aluminum

Each type of material provides benefits to your individual style and type of hikes you have planned. Select a trekking pole with the material and collapsible options that meet your needs for hiking and packing. 

Cascade Mountain Tech offers a wide selection of trekking poles and expert assistance for help in evaluating all the options to find the right poles for you. Our hiking gear includes comfortable camp chairs, camp bedding with sleeping pads and mummy sleeping bags and high-quality coolers that keep ice for up to 10 days. 

Cascade Mountain Tech offers quality gear and experienced assistance for all your hiking needs. We believe in making outdoor adventure and exploration available to all. Contact us with any questions and to learn how to select and get the most from your hiking trekking poles.

Comparing Trekking Poles: 3k Carbon Fiber vs. Ultralight

Trekking poles provide great stability while hiking, improving your endurance and taking some pressure off the joints on long hikes. If you are preparing for a hike, you may be wondering if it’s time to upgrade to a stronger or lighter hiking trekking pole, or maybe you just want to compare some features. Hiking trekking poles come with various options such as the material they are made of, the material on the grip and whether they are two or three sections. 

Trekking Pole Material 

Hiking trekking poles may be constructed out of different material, mostly affecting the carrying weight and the strength of the pole. Cascade Mountain Tech offers hiking trekking poles in various materials such as:

• Aluminum

• Carbon fiber

• 3k carbon fiber

• Ultralight carbon fiber

Ultralight Trekking Pole

The Ultralight carbon fiber trekking poles weigh 5.6 oz. each, which is about 30% lighter than standard carbon fiber. Cascade Mountain Tech offers the ultralight poles in two-sections which measure 30” when fully collapsed and up to 52” when fully extended, with both the upper and lower section measuring 26.4”. 

3k Carbon Fiber Trekking Pole

The 3k carbon fiber poles weigh 8 oz. with the 2 x 2 weave of the carbon fiber providing additional durability to withstand force horizontally and vertically. The 3k carbon fiber poles from Cascade Mountain Tech come in three sections, measuring 26” when fully collapsed, 54” when fully extended, and fold to convenient carrying measurements of about 20” per section when fully disassembled. 

The two section models are a bit longer when stowing in your pack, so depending on how you want to pack them will affect your choice on a two or three piece section pole. Each type of trekking pole comes with a set of 4 additional tip covers including small tips, boots, mud and snow baskets. 

Trekking Pole Grip Material

The Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles come with either a cork grip or an EVA grip, which is really just a preference. Some people like the cork grips and feel that they absorb sweat from your hands a little better without becoming slippery. The trekking poles from Cascade Mountain Tech include an extended grip area for comfort when ascending uphill or maneuvering on your hike. 

Cascade Mountain Tech for Quality Hiking Gear

Cascade Mountain Tech is your one stop for all the best in hiking gear. Our super roto-molded coolers come in two different sizes to suit your trip, with accessories for convenience and the strength to be rated Grizzly Bear resistant. Check out our full line of mummy sleeping bags to keep you cozy on chilly nights with 0° and 30° options along with sleeping pads, pillows and quality camp bedding.

Cascade Mountain Tech offers expert assistance in choosing the right type of trekking pole for you. We offer a great balance between cost and weight with many options to suit any hiker. Contact us for more information and to learn more about the many features of our hiking trekking poles.