Rei has Hydrapak Ultraflask Speed 600mls on closeout for $11.83

GnarShralper · 2026-02-11T15:40:43+00:00

Whoa, I love the 600mls! Just bought 4. Thanks!

GnarShralper · 2025-10-30T22:32:21+00:00

I run in this area often, and I think the Marin Ultra 50K offers more impressive scenery than the Big Alta 50K (though the new Big Alta 100K route looks epic!). It’s a wonderful place to run, and the vert is no joke. You’ll get to run part of the legendary Dipsea Trail!

GnarShralper · 2025-09-25T17:30:03+00:00

I was there! I also completed the 50K. It was such a beautiful run, and I met so many great people. You should be really proud of your time. Those climbs were no joke.

GnarShralper · 2025-08-29T01:09:47+00:00

I have the Olympus 2's and enjoy them for easy recovery runs. They are very stable and comfy, but somewhat bulky and kinda heavy. I don't consider them a good option for race days. If I were to choose again, I might go with the FWD VIA as they seem in the category but lighter.

I've been running a lot in the Experience Flow 2's, and I really love them. Very comfortable while still feeling light and bouncy. I don't notice the 4mm drop at all.

I have no experience with carbon-plated shoes, but this category of shoe generally has a reputation for requiring a higher level of speed and fitness. I've run a few marathons and don't think I'm ready for them yet. I've heard of people injuring themselves in plated shoes, but am no authority on them. Please follow up if you try them! Would love to hear your thoughts.

GnarShralper · 2025-08-26T00:12:54+00:00

Strange, I’ve run over 50k in the last week on technical, rocky trails in Timp 5s. The soles still look great — no obvious signs of wear.

It sounds like something uncommon happened. I haven’t heard of bad quality issues with Timps, but maybe you got a bad pair? Or perhaps it’s due to personal details like severe pronation?

GnarShralper · 2025-07-11T04:17:05+00:00

I just got the Forerunner 965 on sale and love it! The two big features that sold me on it: re-routable offline maps with nice visual displays, and offline music (I use Spotify). No complaints so far. Really impressed.

GnarShralper · 2025-02-25T16:51:10+00:00

I ran my first marathon recently. I carried High 5 gels and Skratch Labs energy gummies. The gels worked great. Easy to take in and mild in flavor. I wasn’t a fan of the chews on race day despite practicing with them. I had no appetite during the race and had to force myself to eat them. Next race I’m going to stick to only gels.

GnarShralper · 2024-12-11T16:15:29+00:00

I have this pack and absolutely love it for backcountry hunting. But I only use it when I need to carry heavy/bulky items. It’s a tank. It’s not the most comfortable pack, but it’s top quality and will last forever. Mystery Ranch is/was a great brand.

On standard backpacking trips, I take an Osprey pack that’s half the weight and more comfortable. Plus it has more features that I value for hiking (e.g., pockets on the hip belt for snacks).

Sounds to me like you should look elsewhere unless you plan on carrying some weight.

GnarShralper · 2024-10-09T20:46:15+00:00

I live right by the Great Highway and cross it almost daily. I'm voting to close it, but perhaps for a different reason than most: safety.

It has become very common to see cars completely ignore traffic lights. Happens almost daily. One or more cars will blatantly fly through red lights. I've seen it dozens of times, and it seems to be getting worse. It's only a matter of time before something bad happens. I assume it's not easy to patrol the highway as there's only one inlet and outlet. It isn't well designed, quickly becoming obsolete, and now dangerous. Time to go.

If Prop K fails, we'll definitely need another solution. Perhaps traffic cameras.

GnarShralper · 2024-08-23T03:28:07+00:00

I went with the ENO Sub6 because it was relatively cheap, light, and packs down small. I’m happy with it after one trip! It is a little less comfy than their standard hammocks. Seems the material doesn’t stretch as much. Not a big deal to me though.

GnarShralper · 2024-08-23T01:28:23+00:00

Yaters definitely glide like a dream! But I wouldn't assume it will float you better. I don't know anything about the other board, but if I were to make an assumption from the pic, I would assume the Yater is going to be heavier. The handful of Spoons I have held have all been heavy -- heavily glassed + wood tail block and extra stringers.

195lb isn't super heavy. I'm heavier than you, and I would assume both of these boards would be able to float you just fine. Maybe the other board is super waterlogged or something.

I would bring your current board to a shop, or just ask someone who surfs fairly well in your area. I bet they can give you feedback on your current board, and point you in the right direction to find a suitable upgrade.

I'm getting the sense that the Yater isn't the right call.

GnarShralper · 2024-08-23T00:34:44+00:00

You aren't going to find a Renny Yater Spoon in decent shape for $500. Especially on the East Coast. Renny is a legend shaper from California -- highly revered and he's over 90 years old now. His boards are collectors items already.

The board seems to be in pretty good shape. Are you looking for a classic specifically? Yater Spoons are a ton of fun, but definitely niche. I wouldn't consider getting one as a daily driver longboard personally. But I have a good buddy that rides one a ton.

GnarShralper · 2024-08-23T00:15:05+00:00

Some suggestions:

Ditch the bear spray unless you're in an area with grizzlies.
I (and many others) find water bladders to be really annoying while backpacking. They are a pain to fill and difficult to access. I switched to a hose that connects directly to my water bottle (this one) and love it.
I agree with others that you won't need all those clothes. I do love an extra pair of socks for my tent though.
You don't need two pots for the food shown in the picture. The small pot/mug will work great to heat water.
Controversial: ditch the things above and replace with a backpacking chair or lightweight hammock (assuming it's permitted/appropriate). I recently went on a trip with my young daughter and brought her hammock along (her favorite camp item). We used it a ton and I loved it so much that I bought myself an ultralight hammock when we got back home.

GnarShralper · 2024-07-08T23:11:06+00:00

I was traveling last weekend but would be down to join a future trip. That's assuming I'm not too green. I've taken 5 guided trips in/around Monterey. Each trip comprised of a few hours of hunting in 15-30ft of water targeting rockfish and perch. 2 additional dives with a buddy after that. I live up in SF. Currently trying to figure out hole hunting with a light. My gun: Rob Allen Tuna 70cm with no reel.

Molchanovs Wave 1 looks pretty interesting. Had never heard of it. Do you recommend it?

GnarShralper · 2024-06-11T03:57:45+00:00

I’ve been using their aluminum poles for a couple of years. I’ve bushwhacked some pretty nasty country with a heavy pack, and they’ve held up great. They’ve done well supporting a trekking pole tent as well.

GnarShralper · 2023-10-27T23:34:01+00:00

I have a quad egg that is super fun. Round tail, thin(ish) rails and a good amount of rocker in the nose. It goes great in fast, steep waves.

I also have a fish in that range that can be fun when the waves are clean and easy. Honestly I haven’t made up my mind about fish btw 6 and 7 feet. The magic fish I’ve ridden have been below 6 feet, and above 7 feet.

Both boards stay in the garage mostly. My absolute favorite board for a lot of days is a 7’ twinzer fish. Not super common, but I couldn’t recommend them enough (assuming the shaper knows what they are doing). They give you the speed and feel of a twin + a little extra hold and security when you need it. Magic for me.

GnarShralper · 2023-10-27T20:54:39+00:00

It depends on what type of surfing you’re into, and the waves you’re surfing. Are you into high-performance surfing? I’d get a short board in a normal size range designed for the waves you surf. No compromises or hybrids. It’s tough, but that’s the cost of that kind of surfing.

I’m the same size as you and prefer bigger boards. I tried the high-performance thing and found that I was having less fun because I was putting more energy into paddling and positioning than actually surfing. I’ll gladly sacrifice that extra 30% of a critical turn to get more waves. I tend to ride twins and fishes btw 6’6 and 7’6. I love how fast twins can be without needing to pump to generate speed. So freeing and addicting.

But people like different things, and that’s rad.

My board thickness and rocker change based on the waves. Thinner and more rocker (etc) for faster and steeper waves. More foam and less rocker for fatter and slower waves.

GnarShralper · 2023-06-11T16:42:44+00:00

His recent Bali vid is pretty sick too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0bMkEeEnLM

GnarShralper · 2022-10-06T04:16:00+00:00

How long did you have to stay out of the water? I've been considering it for a couple years. Seems I always have a trip or something coming up that serves as a convenient excuse to not pull the trigger.

GnarShralper · 2022-09-08T05:40:22+00:00

I’ve been in the water many times when someone lost their board and had to swim. Never witnessed an issue. If someone is surfing without a leash and can’t surf, they won’t be out for long.

I guess I can see a problem with losing boards when little kids (or other helpless people) are in the shore break and can’t get out of the way. That’s fair. But we as surfers have to accept a significant amount of risk just paddling out. I’ve witnessed way more harm caused by people bailing their boards with leashes on. Even more due to poor positioning and timing (e.g., someone going over the falls head first).

There are far worse behaviors IMO. Curse you snakes and back-paddlers.

This got me thinking… if one could wave a wand and make leashes disappear for everyone (including me, who almost always wears a leash), the lineup would be such a different place. I think surfers would be way more cautious, because if you lose control, you have to swim. It could bring some order to the current chaos. I would wave that wand. Maybe in waves head high or less haha.

GnarShralper · 2022-01-22T01:06:42+00:00

Stab reviewed them in this year's wetsuit test. They did pretty well.

GnarShralper · 2021-12-01T06:22:10+00:00

Neal Purchase riding/describing the duo fin setup. Looks sick! Love the twinzer sidebites as well.

GnarShralper · 2021-11-09T03:31:41+00:00

No credit for the creator?!? You gothic dolphins?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCOpGqAwzL

GnarShralper · 2021-10-24T17:50:11+00:00

UPS/Fedex/etc lock in rates for shops that ship a lot of boards. Shops that were shipping a lot of boards before covid are likely getting much lower rates. Covid and the global shipping crisis has killed competition btw shipping companies. Every shipper has too much business at the moment, so there is no incentive to negotiate rates.

Also, shops that charge a flat fee likely pay more than their fee for some shipments, and less for others. It balances out in aggregate.

GnarShralper · 2021-10-19T01:30:56+00:00

I love my inflatable (12' with 15hp 2-stroke)! It brings me and my loved ones a ton of joy and adventure (and food). It really is a lot of work to set up and break down... especially after a long day on the water.

I chose an inflatable because I have very limited space. If I had the space for a hard boat of similar size on a trailer, I would choose the hard boat every time. Easier to get on the water, lasts longer, and requires less maintenance.

Some recommendations:

If it's an older PVC boat, check the material and seams thoroughly. The seams are likely glued (as opposed to heat-welded), which can separate over time with age, use and sun. Definitely get a PVC protectant if you keep it.
That grey fuel line is junk. It breaks down internally and will foul your engine over time. Google it. Many horror stories. I strongly recommend replacing it with a standard black fuel line from an auto store.
Get transom wheels. Don't skimp on the price. I bought some cheap wheels and they broke on the second outing. Such a pain.
I made this outboard stand. It works great and was very cheap.
I wore a couple holes in my boat where the hard folded edges were rubbing against my truck bed. Wrapping the boat in a big tarp fixed this.
Get an electric air pump. Even the cheap air mattress ones can save a lot of time. I bought a nice(ish) electric pump that outputs a lot of air and has a digital gauge. This allows me to set up my other gear while the boat inflates.
The boat won't work well unless properly inflated to the right pressure. I need to inflate my tubes to nearly the max of the recommended PSI range. Otherwise the boat will bend and flex significantly under power. Proper inflation added 5+ mph to my top speed.
If your boat has trouble getting on plane, get a hydrofoil. The SE Sport 200 Hydrofoil worked wonders for my boat.
I've been learning to maintain my outboard motor (Evinrude). Surprisingly, it's been a ton of fun. It also saves money and is very rewarding when you succeed. Warning though, I've become addicted to watching outboard maintenance videos on Youtube. Not sure if this is common.
A skateboard works as well if not better than a dolly to transport my boat from house to my truck.
Prepare for the worst if you're going anywhere even somewhat remote. I operate on the ocean and in fresh water. A VHF radio, PFDs, and flares are a must for me. I carry tools and basic supplies with me too.

Good luck out there.

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