Hiking poles, hydration packs, and GPS units might make an outdoor adventure better, but no gizmo or amenity can salvage a trip into the woods if your feet are in pain. As the one thing that connects you to the trail, a good pair of shoes is the one thing you can't skimp on when buying outdoor gear.

My first backcountry bath towel is embarrassing to even admit. The only positive was it was fleece and dried somewhat quickly. It was bulky and reeked after only a few uses.

Microfiber has changed the size and weight of these. And antimicrobial treatments definitely help the smell.

PackTowl from Cascade Designs and Cocoon by Design Salt recently released microfiber towels.

In need of a freestyle board for the resort, something twin that will butter easily and have some pop? For $250, you can purchase a 2011 YES Basic Snowboard.

You might assume that a board this affordable and named the "Basic" might be another janky plank. The top sheet, base construction and edges all look a bit weak upon inspection. But digging deeper into the design, materials and construction, you'll find an exceptionally good board at a dirtbag price.

There are an endless number of truths for backpackers. For me, I can never have enough compression and stuff sacks. Varying sizes give an endless way to organize your pack. And reconfiguring your pack can be a mind numbing chore of thinking of ways to decrease your load while ensuring you aren't leaving anything behind.