Gear is everywhere and it is hard to know what is “good gear” and what is “bad gear” so, I have paired up with a few gear heads to create a space highlighting the best gear we personally tested and liked each week. Our gear recommendations vary widely from kayaks to climbing gear to dog treats, but they all have one thing in common; helping you adventure. Our goal is share gear that improves your ability to adventure in one way or another.
Without further adieu, we give you the best gear we tested this week:
Standards for testing and reviewing at The Travel Journal:
Here at The Travel Journal we have a dedicated group of gear testers [mostly myself, Dalton] who put hands on all the products we recommend below. Our recommendations are not sponsored, unless noted, and speak from the heart about every product. We share both the good and the bad. If you have any questions, or comments, about the product reviews, you can write me at dalton@dalton-johnson.com
Week of July 30, 2025
Chestnut enjoying an afternoon on the water while SUPing with Dad.
Roka Sunglasses: Clocked in 9 miles yesterday with about 700 feet of vert for an afternoon trail run at 6,000 feet. Turns out, these sun glasses don’t bounce off your face when you run. Novel idea, right? Roka crushed it and that’s why I have been repping their sunglass for the last two years. Order your Roka Sunglasses by clicking here
OutIn Espresso Maker: I made ice cream a couple of weeks back for the sole purpose of having an afternoon affogato as a pick me up. Bousie, I know! But, this wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t have the OutIn. As I am kinda lazy and often forget to charge the OutIn, but I figured out the cheat code. Put hot water into it, press the button, and about 30 seconds later, it’s affogato time! Order your OutIn Espresso Maker by clicking here
Bote Paddle Board: Yup, we all know I am sucker for some paddle boarding and I have been using the Bote WULF Aero for the whole summer because it packs small and fits in the back of the van. Order your Bote Paddle Board by clicking here
Week of July 23, 2025
Backflipping into Lake Tahoe at Bonsai Rock while chilling in the sun on the Crazy Creek AirCliner. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Crazy Creek AirCliner: I have been taking this inflatable chair everywhere with me over the past two weeks because it’s just so dang simple! Two, maybe three breaths, the chair is full. It can float and it’s water resistant, so it makes for the perfect on the go chair here in South Lake Tahoe.
JoGo Coffee Straw: Ummm can coffee get any easier? Instead of using my french press, I have been using the JoGo. Toss the grounds in, add hot water, wait a minute, sip. Refill with hot water for more coffee. My go to coffee right now is from Cat & Cloud roaster in Santa Cruz, CA.
Paka Aire Long Sleeve: In the morning I do some rope flow outside and it’s chilly, so I wear this long sleeve shirt from Paka and it’s unbelievably soft and warm. Perfect for summer mornings outside.
Malibu Sandals: I have to admit, these things look kinda of ridiculous, but I have been loving these sandals at home and in the van. For about a year, I have worn them off and on because they are simple and easy to use. Slip on and stay on. What more could you ask for in a sandal?
Week of July 16th
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Sun Hoody: For the last few days of playing outside here in Lake Tahoe, I have been wearing this sun hoody instead of sunscreen. While I don’t think Mountain Hardwear would say that is okay, I haven’t gotten sunburnt and this shirt is holding up against the sharp rock.
Dueter Guide 24L: This pack has become my go-to for big and small climbing missions around Lake Tahoe. It holds almost everything I need and fits my body really well.
Arc’teryx Konseal SL Hoodie: This hoodie has become my go-to layer that I can’t live without. I’m not just saying that either. While I love most Arc’teryx products, they outdid themselves on this one. It’s warm, the hood makes sense, and it’s so comfortable I wear it like a sweatshirt as well.
Week of January 20th, 2025
Tamron 150-500mm Lens
When I drove to Alaska with my dad and later returned with my girlfriend Kristin, one thing remained constant: the Tamron 150-500mm lens was always attached to my camera. If there’s one thing you learn quickly on a road trip to Alaska, it’s that wildlife can appear at any moment. Whether it’s a bear lumbering along the roadside, an eagle soaring overhead, or a moose grazing in a meadow, you’re constantly surrounded by incredible opportunities for wildlife photography. Wildlife doesn’t announce itself—it’s a sudden moment, and if you’re not ready, you’ll miss it. That’s why I trusted the Tamron 150-500mm lens to stay on my camera; it gave me the ability to react quickly and confidently.
With the Tamron 150-500mm, I could capture these fleeting moments with ease. The versatility of its focal range meant I didn’t need to scramble to switch lenses or worry about missing the shot. One second, I’d be zooming in on a distant eagle perched at the top of a tree, and the next, I’d be framing a close encounter with a black bear grazing by the roadside. Having a lens like this ensured that I was always ready to document the beauty and unpredictability of Alaska.
Week of January 6th, 2025
Kayaking on the Owen’s River near Highway 395 in California. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Oru Kayak Lake
I never expected to recommend a foldable kayak, but after two weeks of kayaking during a road trip along Highway 395, I’m officially a fan. These kayaks are impressively sturdy and simple to use. When folded, they fit neatly in the back of a van, making them a great option for road trips or limited storage. Best of all, they allow access to waterways and spots you might not otherwise reach. Think of them as a more stable alternative to an inflatable SUP, offering the benefits of a kayak without requiring expert balance.
Initially, the setup felt time-consuming, but with practice, we reduced it to just five minutes. Their convenience and functionality completely changed the way we approached water adventures on our trip. Whether gliding across mountain lakes or exploring hidden coves, these kayaks proved to be a reliable and practical choice. If you’re looking for a way to combine van life and water adventures without sacrificing storage space, a Oru Kayak Lake is worth considering.
Week of Dec. 30th, 2024
Sonos Ace
The Sonos Ace headphones have quickly become an essential part of my daily life. Over the past three weeks, they’ve seamlessly transitioned between my writing sessions, workouts, and long flights. Beyond their superior audio quality, they’ve become a surprising companion for outdoor activities in snowy weather, doubling as ear warmers during chilly morning driveway shoveling or dog walks. It’s rare to find headphones that adapt so well to every facet of life, and the Sonos Ace has truly excelled in this regard. The only notable limitation is that they are not designed for endurance adventures like ski tours or running.
One of the standout features is the impressive battery life. These headphones endured a grueling 36-hour journey from Egypt to California with ease, still retaining 25% battery at the end. This reliability is invaluable for travel or long workdays when charging opportunities might be limited. Coupled with their comfortable design and durable build, the Sonos Ace effortlessly meets the demands of both everyday use and more strenuous activities.
My personal favorite realization with the Sonos Ace is that they’ve rekindled my love for music. The immersive sound quality encourages me to carve out moments just to listen—whether lying on the couch and savoring an album or rediscovering tracks I’d forgotten I loved.
Solo Stove
Solo Stove Ranger
We have been driving around with the Solo Stove Ranger in the back of our converted Dodge 2500 Promaster for two years now and use it every chance we get. The Rangers is the smallest of the Solo Stoves making it the most portable. In other words, this was made for vanlife. Thus far, our favorite trip with the Ranger Solo Stove has been to Sedona, AZ where we camped in the free dispersed camping areas surrounding Sedona. During the day we went for rad adventures like UTV rides, helicopter rides, mountain biking, hiking to caves, and swimming in the river. That trip was a dream come true, but the cherry on top was returning to our campsite each night to have a campfire with the Ranger Solo Stove.
One of the most prominent memories from that trip was waking up and feeling dog tired. We had hiked in a rain storm the day before and were drenched to the bone, so we wanted to have a slow morning and a big breakfast. With the Ranger Solo Stove already set up, we put the cook top on it and started to boil water for coffee, fry some eggs, cook some sausage, and make some pancakes. That was a morning I don’t think I’ll ever forget! You can read about that stellar morning in this article.
Week of Dec. 23rd, 2024
Nike
Nike acg torre Mids
I’m not a sneaker geek, so when I say I had never heard of Nike’s ACG line, please don’t shoot me. For those of you like me, ACG means All Condition Gear and is an older line of shoes that flies under the radar, but are designed for heavy outdoor use. When the Nike ACG Torre Mids came into my life, I was uncertain at first. Their weight, the suede sides, and the fact that I had never heard of these really made me think twice before taking them outside for a hike. However, I bucked up and took these boots on a backpacking trip traversing Lake Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness.
For two nights and three days, covering more than 30 miles with a heavy pack on my back, I explored the granite landscape.
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of these shoes!
My feet never hurt. I didn’t get any blisters. The NIke ACG Torre Mids didn’t breakdown, but the suede did get a bit messed up. Also, the high ankle support saved me a few times while on the rock sections of the trail. Long story short, these boots passed my test and I would use them again for day hikes and shorted backpacking trips where weight doesn’t matter.
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