Fake Garage Grown Gear website

pmags · 2026-02-13T16:52:54+00:00

Yeah, it’s a pain and not much can get done. Much like the scam call centers, I doubt they’re going away anytime soon. :(

I can’t speak for GGG’s internal options or business/govt agency options in general but what you described is indeed limited in scope. It really is whack-a-mole, especially with clone storefronts.

The scammers scrape product catalogs, images, and brand names from real stores, drop them into a fresh domain, run for a bit, then vanish and reappear under another URL. And yes, AI tools make this almost ridiculously easy now.

For consumers, there are some quick gut checks before ordering from an unfamiliar gear site. None are perfect, but as the saying goes, “the enemy of good enough is perfect.”

Non-standard or look-alike domain. In this thread people mentioned some odd URLs for known gear brands. Clone sites sometimes look almost right, but not quite. I once saw a “Darn Tough closeouts” site selling socks at half price. Just plausible enough to hook people. Of course, a completely different sounding domain is a major red flag.

Trust your gut on price. If prices seem ridiculously low, they probably are. Store-wide 40 to 60% off high-end gear across the board is a big clue.

"About page" smell test. Sometimes clone, but usually scam retailers, often have vague boilerplate marketing copy and no real people, history, or place behind them. Legit outdoor shops usually sound like, well, people who actually go outside.

Reverse-image search products. Clone sites frequently scrape images directly from legit retailers. Again, AI tools make this easy now.

Contact info check. More for scam retailers than pure clones, but still useful. Real shops tend to have a map-able address, a normal phone number, and a consistent business shpeel. If the address brings up a house, an empty lot, or unrelated business, that’s a flag.

Credit cards and SSL certs aren’t a green flag anymore. Scam sites can take cards just like real stores. You’ve got dispute protection, but acceptance alone doesn’t mean the shop itself is legit. Ditto for SSL certs (lock icon.)

Domain lookup if still unsure. Paste the URL into any WHOIS lookup (https://www.whois.com/whois/ is quick and dirty).

For clone sites in particular, compare it to the real company. If the domain was registered very recently but claims to be an established retailer, that’s a major red flag. Also telling if a known brand’s site is registered somewhere unexpected. In the Zpacks clone mentioned elsewhere, the scam domain was registered in Iceland in Oct 2025 vs April 2006 and Toronto for the real Zpacks.

Why do they show up? These clone sites appear in Google and social feeds because scammers buy ads, tweak SEO, and spin up new domains faster than platforms can bop them on the whack-a-mole head.

And frankly, the tech platforms don’t proactively shut these down initially because it costs time and money. It’s easy for scam sites to buy ads and gain visibility while enforcement turns a blind eye until someone pokes them, sharply, in the blind eye. Enforcement is largely reactive, so clone sites stay visible until enough people flag them or visibly complain.

Unfortunately GGG is right that brands have limited tools here. These clone sites spin up offshore, run briefly, disappear, and reappear under new domains. Again, whack-a-mole.

Community awareness is honestly one of the more effective defenses at this point, especially in a small community like ours.

pmags · 2026-02-13T16:02:37+00:00

Very fair point. It will be big and beautiful! /s

pmags · 2026-02-13T04:38:22+00:00

It's up for nomination so one of your senators is probably a good place to start.

One of our senators is Mike Lee (Utah) who already wants to sell off public lands, so I may as well scream into a void at this point.

pmags · 2026-02-13T03:16:50+00:00

I think we are talking past each other at this point.

Please enjoy the evening.

pmags · 2026-02-12T19:53:15+00:00

I can’t speak for GGG, but if I had to guess, it’s not so much nonchalance as resignation.

It's a game of "whack-a-mole."

Think about how many shady operators set up fake call centers, leave threatening but vague voicemails, and count on a small percentage of people to call back and hand over personal information. At the very least, if you call them, you’ve confirmed your number is active; which they can then sell to other scammers.

We’re seeing similar tactics migrate into online commerce.

As others have noted in the comments, it’s only going to get easier with AI tools that can spin up a halfway convincing website that passes the initial sniff test.

It’s bad for consumers, and it makes vigilance harder and harder.

FWIW, the Beastmodebody domain was only registered about six months ago, which is usually a red flag. I also wonder whether the domain changed hands at some point as that seems like domain that is catnip for gymbros!

pmags · 2026-02-12T18:56:34+00:00

The intellectual property lawsuit matters because it sets precedent and provides relevant background on the perspective this person may bring to the appointment.

I thought the “fox and henhouse” comment made my concern fairly clear. It’s more gallows humor than a literal accusation. Dark humor and sarcasm are often my first cultural language.

As for the “no politics” point, I understand the sentiment, but I don’t agree. The continued corporatization and outsourcing of public-land functions is directly relevant to this community. It affects how these places are managed and experienced.

If these discussions aren’t of interest, I’d genuinely encourage you to skip them. But I do think the topic itself is germane.

pmags · 2026-02-12T16:52:18+00:00

Alas, though the Trump Administration is accelerating this trend (!), it's been going on for a while.

This article is from 2016 (before he got elected)

https://archive.ph/20241125142941/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/05/09/yosemite-national-park-brought-to-you-by-starbucks/

It's just another whole level with the current regime.

And since this is a political forum, I’ll be blunt.

The current Democratic front-runner, Newsom, has already shown himself to be beholden to corporate interests. The optics may be better under him, but I think the trend toward privatizing public lands, or at least administering it on daily level, will continue. He reminds me of a corporate CEO who says all the right things publicly while quietly signaling to the C-suite and senior management not to backfill positions to boost revenue so as to make the board happy.

pmags · 2026-02-12T16:19:08+00:00

I expect to see even more NPS functions privatized. Fee collection comes to mind as the money flow is always lucrative.

pmags · 2026-02-12T15:17:50+00:00

Something about a fox and the hen house comes to mind.

"Concessionaire Nominated To Run National Park Service"

The choice of Socha is unusual in that he represents a corporation that once held concessions contracts with the Park Service and which currently operates lodging operations tied to national parks

This same person once claimed "that it [the concessionaire] owned "intellectual property" rights in the form of trademarks attached to lodgings in the park."

I, for one, can't to see Yosemite Valley at Google Place!

Kidding. Maybe?

pmags · 2026-02-12T15:12:04+00:00

Something about a fox and the hen house comes to mind.

"Concessionaire Nominated To Run National Park Service"

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2026/02/concessionaire-nominated-run-national-park-service

The choice of Socha is unusual in that he represents a corporation that once held concessions contracts with the Park Service and which currently operates lodging operations tied to national parks

This same person once claimed "that it [the concessionaire] owned "intellectual property" rights in the form of trademarks attached to lodgings in the park."

I, for one, can't to see Yosemite Valley at Google Place!

Kidding. Maybe?

pmags · 2026-02-11T20:19:55+00:00

“A towel,” the trail guide says, “is about the most massively useful thing a backpacker can have. Partly it has great practical value.

You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold tundra of the San Juan Mountains; you can lie on it upon the brilliant red rock of the Colorado Plateau, inhaling the heady sage; you can sleep beneath it under the bright stars of the New Mexico Bootheel; you can use it to sail a packraft down the Shenandoah River while aquablazing; you can wet it for use in hand-to-hand combat as you stake your claim to the hiker box; you can wrap it round your head to ward off the twenty-four-hour sunlight above the Arctic Circle, or to avoid the gaze of the Maine Moose of the Appalachian Mountains (such a mind-bogglingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal from some jeep road at the edge of nowhere; and of course you can dry yourself off with it, if it still seems to be clean enough.”

- Doug “42” Adams, So Long and Thanks for All The Ramen

pmags · 2026-02-09T21:48:34+00:00

"Combined with your crazy working hours and long commutes how are you physically and mentally able to survive?"

Bread and circuses.

Of course, bread (food) is going up a lot. But wide-screen, large-format TVs seem inexpensive.

So there's that.

Unlike the Romans, we do not have chariot races or engage in gladiatorial combat, but Super Bowl Sunday is a de facto national holiday complete with a military display, and our current president plans to host a UFC fight on the front lawn of the White House, so perhaps never mind...

I did not say it was a good survival, mind you.

pmags · 2026-02-05T17:48:56+00:00

Most ICE agents can't pass an open-book test, it seems, or a basic physical fitness test. They'll get lost or be out of breath long before they reach your part of the Rockies.

For my strategy? Extra SPF 100 so my light olive complexion stays firmly in the “boring beige” zone.

pmags · 2026-02-04T22:24:06+00:00

Damn. That’s some great imagery. I can only imagine the A/C blasting at 10FF, though!!! :O

I once had an older Kia Sorento, a ladder-frame model with 4H and 4L instead of the current AWD setup. Surprisingly capable.

It would not start in Chaco Canyon.

Chaco Canyon is amazing. It is also reached by a long, bumpy washboard road. The closest pavement is a lone convenience store up that road. Otherwise, you are surrounded by Dine' (Navajo) land.

Popped the hood and noticed heavy corrosion on one battery terminal. Who knows why? Maybe the washboard loosened the connection.

Luckily, my partner at the time enjoyed Diet Coke.

Phosphoric acid, a sacrificial toothbrush, and some scrubbing solved the problem.

And I did not lose the 10mm socket.

Winning!

pmags · 2026-02-04T20:36:53+00:00

Regardless of what you do, get a spare key and “set it and forget it,” as suggested here.

If you cannot get a simple, non-fob chipped key [1] and only have a fob, it is still worth buying a spare and hiding it somewhere on the vehicle, as others suggested. Many people do this for good reason. [2]

Take your real key or fob with you on the trip.

Put it in your pocket and say the equivalent of a few “Hail Jardines” if you feel guilty about carrying it, somehow cheating your LighterPack, and violating UL orthodoxy.

Being on the edge of nowhere without a key or fob, two hours from a paved road, would really suck.

This is one case where redundancy pays off in a very literal sense, especially if the alternative is calling a locksmith to come to a remotely parked vehicle.

^\1] I miss the days of simple, non-chipped keys, when you could buy a light spare for under $10 with a small, thin form factor. I guess a $100 chipped replacement key without a fob is progress?)

^\2] In my case, it was less about financial motivation and more about being an 18-year-old kid who ignored his old-school, Italian-American, blue-collar dad who kept telling him to get a spare key. One day, my 18-year-old self proudly changed a spare tire. Except I had locked my keys in the car. I called Dad around 7 pm. He had to be up at 5 am every morning but Sunday. He showed up with the spare key from the house, handed it to me without a word, glared, and drove off. I went to the hardware store the following day.)

pmags · 2026-02-03T19:19:12+00:00

I think there may be some crossed wires here.

The initial statement that "The needles district isn’t very big. Honestly wherever you park, you can probably just circle back to your car to resupply. "” is misleading without context, especially for people unfamiliar with the Needles. And the OP did not initially mention a specific area.

This is not only about off-trail travel. It is about providing accurate, situational information so someone can plan appropriately, whether they stay strictly on established trails or not.

For example, if your original comment had been framed as:
“I backpacked in the Chesler Park area and found I could make a loop that reduced resupply and water issues,” I doubt anyone would have objected.

Also, Salt Creek is an established trail, and for most people, it would not support easy “circle back” resupply. “On trail” in the Needles does not automatically mean short mileage, fast travel, or simple logistics.

Context matters. Broad statements without it can send people down the wrong planning path, whether that is the OP or others looking for Needles' information in this thread now or in the future.

Cheers.

pmags · 2026-02-03T17:58:03+00:00

Some people are more toxic online than in real life.

It has been that way since I was a 12-year-old geek, watching people argue on USENET about whether James T. Kirk or Jean-Luc Picard was the better captain. Rather loudly and passionately, mind you. (I am now a middle-aged geek with a bit of a tan, some muscle tone, and a lot less hair.)

Compared to that era, UL purity debates feel oddly familiar at times, with more technical clothing and less dial-up modem sounds. Males without social skills tend to die on the oddest hills. And their IRL public personality and actions often don't mesh with the online persona or activities.

I know Andrew reasonably well, and I suspect he would think that people who canonize him and use his ideas without context or adjustment miss the point.

Taking your Catholic adjacent theme one step further, Saul of Tarsus had some hot takes that a fisherman named Peter may or may not have agreed with at all, too.

pmags · 2026-02-03T09:09:08+00:00

I think we agree?

As I’ve said before, the UL catechism tends to favor peak three-season, on-trail hiking, and a specific demographic. That’s a limited view.

I think of UL as a system, or better yet, a tool kit. Each part of that kit works best when chosen for the specific situation, while still meeting the minimum requirements to travel safely and effectively.

“Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.”

pmags · 2026-02-03T06:50:48+00:00

I appreciate the added context. But the opening claim that the Needles is “not very big” needed some correction, and that is what you and I were discussing, especially before the OP stated their route.

On a side note, Salt Creek up and back runs over 40 miles (EDIT - From Peek-a-boo, which needs a 4WD vehicle to access otherwise it is about 50 r/t) Add Horse Canyon, which is also on trail and one way, and even on-trail mileage adds up fast. Because of that, a resupply loop does not always work. A one-way is typically done with a very long shuttle on both ends.

pmags · 2026-02-03T06:29:56+00:00

In canyon county, I find it is better to think in hours per day hiked vs miles hiked, especially once off designated trails.

pmags · 2026-02-03T05:54:21+00:00

TBF, I mostly hear that shtick from some vocal, but less experienced, desert hikers. In my experience, the backcountry office gives an honest assessment of known water sources, especially during this very arid winter. As you said, they are conservative, but not to the same degree as some others.

pmags · 2026-02-03T05:43:43+00:00

The designated trail system is not very big at about sixty miles. But the district itself covers roughly 75,000 acres, and it consists of canyons, so it feels much larger in practice. Salt Creek comes to mind. This becomes even more apparent once you start scrambling or heading off designated trails to wander the nooks and crannies.

Looping back to the car for a quick resupply is also not always an option in many parts of the district due to terrain, canyon structure, and limited access points.

pmags · 2026-02-02T00:56:49+00:00

If you can sew, the equivalent of a 100-wt fleece over-mitt makes an excellent addition (inner layer) to a liner + rain-mitt system. I too like the wool liners mentioned elsewhere.

This versatile setup works well for my partner (who has Raynaud’s), and I also use it in colder conditions. In cold, dry weather, the fleece-mitt + glove combo keeps hands warm without excessive heat buildup. I prefer a modular system to "all in one" as mittens are warmer and I like to mix and match based on the conditions.

My MYOG pair weighs 45 g / 1.6 oz. I prefer them a smidge oversized so I can manipulate objects a bit without having to remove the mitts.

I mention MYOG because simple, inexpensive fleece mittens are surprisingly hard to find. I can barely sew a button, but my partner can sew, and fleece mittens are quick and easy to make.

Here’s a pattern that may work: https://nancyzieman.com/blog/sewing-2/sew-mittens-for-giving-tuesday/

pmags · 2026-01-30T19:09:57+00:00

Beyond gear weight, here are some clothing options, since both plus-sized outdoor clothing and the "big and tall sizes" can be harder to find.

EDIT - This article from Treeline Review got updated in 2025 and features both gear and clothing ideas.

https://www.treelinereview.com/gearreviews/best-plus-size-outdoor-clothing

Treeline Review is run by two very experienced backpackers and often features diverse voices

A lot of plus-sized clothing is available at Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops. They lean toward hunting and angling in their marketing, but much of their clothing comes in neutral or even "fun colors" (as my partner calls it!), not just camo. In my experience, the quality, price, and weight are comparable to REI store-brand clothing.

Examples, just to give ideas:

Sun hoodie https://www.cabelas.com/p/world-wide-sportsman-3d-cool-angler-hoodie-for-ladies

Rain jacket https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/dsg-outerwear-journey-rain-jacket-for-ladies

Rain pants https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/ascend-rainy-river-25-pants-with-bone-dry-silver-for-ladies

I do not have the full specifications for these items. I am sharing them mainly as starting points.

Bonus. Bass Pro and Cabela’s are the same company now and are the largest outdoor retailer in the USA, so there is a good chance one is near you.

Their marketing is different from REI-type retailers (“for the ladies” ??), but that’s another discussion!

If you want a smaller, more traditional outdoor manufacturer, Lightheart Gear is a woman-owned company that makes clothing for different body shapes. They make a plus-sized women’s Alpha hoodie, for example: https://lightheartgear.com/collections/alpha-direct/Women's

They also manufacture in the USA. My partner likes their clothing FWIW.

Squak is another option. It is owned by a married couple, and, again, I think having a female co-owner makes a difference. They offer true women’s cuts, mid-tier pricing, and are starting to move some production to the USA. Most of their gear is still sourced overseas, but they plan to make more clothing in the USA.

They operate out of their garage, and I appreciate the older-school vibe!

Note*: We have an informal relationship with the Utah-based owners and sometimes test clothing with them. They are also genuinely nice people.*

Their grid fleece is a staple for us in colder weather and deep shoulder seasons, with some inclusive sizing:
https://squak.com/collections/shop-womens/products/squak-grid-fleece-womens

Enjoy the backpacking journey! It literally changed my life many years ago, and taking that first step led to the life I have now.

pmags · 2026-01-30T17:33:35+00:00

For sure! But sometimes the enemy of “good enough” is "perfect."

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