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The endorsement Kevin Jorgeson
Used & Abused
Summer Essentials
My French press is an absolute obsession. I prefer my mornings to start slow, and making coffee is the perfect way to start the day right, whether I’m at home or on the side of El Cap. There’s something relaxing about boiling the water, letting it steep, pressing, and taking the time to enjoy the coffee. Some of my favorite mornings are spent overlooking the meadow from the side of El Cap, coffee in hand, bare feet hanging over the portaledge, basking in the sun.
By Julie Ellison
Marmot Sphinx 20 All-access
Normally I couldn’t give a lesser crap about non-climbing-specific gear, and I don’t go nutso over packs—with the modern advances in pack technology, most of them are comfortable and useful in some way or another. The Sphinx, however, had me reeling with excitement. It’s small and perfect for boppin’ around town, day hikes, short crag approaches, and, most important for me, the gym. The pack shape is essentially a small rectangle, and the zipper follows nearly the entire perimeter, exposing the whole bag when it’s open. This is stellar for organizing gear and clothes for visits to the plastic factory. One zippered pocket on the outside and two on the inside are just enough to organize small accoutrements without feeling like overkill, plus ice axe loops and mesh side pockets add some more functional space. —Andrew Tower
Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale
Smith Rocks!
As a man who considers beer one of the four basic food groups (the other three are bacon, meat, and, oddly, vegetables), I was excited to “test” Deschutes’ new summer ale, Twilight. The light ale is perfect for hot days at the crag (ONLY where glass is permitted, and make sure to pack out those bottles), or as after-climb refreshment on your favorite patio. It’s more richly flavored than many lighter beers, with a twinge of citrus, making it a favorite for beer lovers who crave a little substance but don’t want to sacrifice the airy crispness of a summer seasonal. Oregonians know beer, and they know climbing, as this Oregonbased brewery pays homage to Smith Rock State Park using the iconic cliffs as label art. —Andrew Tower
Bota Box Mini
Adult juice boxes!
26 /
UrbanClimbermag.com /
For the few-and-proud wine drinkers out there, these adult juice boxes are killer for anything outdoorsy and summer-related. By the pool, at the crag, on a picnic with a cute girl who doesn’t drink beer (not a keeper)—take these pouches filled with alcohol anywhere. Each one houses three full glasses of wine, and the screw cap lets you open and reopen each box as many times as you want. (The manufacturer claims 45 days of freshness after the first open. We cannot attest to this, as we have never failed to drain one in a single session.) The company offers six different types of wine in what it calls the Tetra Pak, from Pinot Grigio to Old Vine Zinfandel—a flavor for every palate. Plus, Bota offers four more flavors in three-liter boxes.
Price: $99 Specs: 20 L, molded back panel, hydration sleeve, simple design Weight: 1 lb. 10 oz. Site: marmot.com Best for: The gym, day hikes, or as an everyday carryall where you need some bells and whistles but not the whole alpine-style bag.
Price: $8.99/six-pack Sizes: 12 oz. bottle Specs: 5% alc.; available nearly everywhere west of the Mississippi Site: deschutesbrewery.com Best for: Anyone of legal drinking age who appreciates taste as much as alcohol and wants a refreshing sunset beer.
Price: $4.99 Sizes: 500mL Tetra Paks; 3-liter boxes Specs: 11% alc. (varies by flavor) Site: botabox.com Best for: Summer nights sitting by the fire after climbing all day, or soaking up the sun after a quick jump in the lake; any time you have to pack in your alcohol.
The endorsement Kevin Jorgeson
Used & Abused
Summer Essentials
My French press is an absolute obsession. I prefer my mornings to start slow, and making coffee is the perfect way to start the day right, whether I’m at home or on the side of El Cap. There’s something relaxing about boiling the water, letting it steep, pressing, and taking the time to enjoy the coffee. Some of my favorite mornings are spent overlooking the meadow from the side of El Cap, coffee in hand, bare feet hanging over the portaledge, basking in the sun.
By Julie Ellison
Marmot Sphinx 20 All-access
Normally I couldn’t give a lesser crap about non-climbing-specific gear, and I don’t go nutso over packs—with the modern advances in pack technology, most of them are comfortable and useful in some way or another. The Sphinx, however, had me reeling with excitement. It’s small and perfect for boppin’ around town, day hikes, short crag approaches, and, most important for me, the gym. The pack shape is essentially a small rectangle, and the zipper follows nearly the entire perimeter, exposing the whole bag when it’s open. This is stellar for organizing gear and clothes for visits to the plastic factory. One zippered pocket on the outside and two on the inside are just enough to organize small accoutrements without feeling like overkill, plus ice axe loops and mesh side pockets add some more functional space. —Andrew Tower
Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale
Smith Rocks!
As a man who considers beer one of the four basic food groups (the other three are bacon, meat, and, oddly, vegetables), I was excited to “test” Deschutes’ new summer ale, Twilight. The light ale is perfect for hot days at the crag (ONLY where glass is permitted, and make sure to pack out those bottles), or as after-climb refreshment on your favorite patio. It’s more richly flavored than many lighter beers, with a twinge of citrus, making it a favorite for beer lovers who crave a little substance but don’t want to sacrifice the airy crispness of a summer seasonal. Oregonians know beer, and they know climbing, as this Oregonbased brewery pays homage to Smith Rock State Park using the iconic cliffs as label art. —Andrew Tower
Bota Box Mini
Adult juice boxes!
26 /
UrbanClimbermag.com /
For the few-and-proud wine drinkers out there, these adult juice boxes are killer for anything outdoorsy and summer-related. By the pool, at the crag, on a picnic with a cute girl who doesn’t drink beer (not a keeper)—take these pouches filled with alcohol anywhere. Each one houses three full glasses of wine, and the screw cap lets you open and reopen each box as many times as you want. (The manufacturer claims 45 days of freshness after the first open. We cannot attest to this, as we have never failed to drain one in a single session.) The company offers six different types of wine in what it calls the Tetra Pak, from Pinot Grigio to Old Vine Zinfandel—a flavor for every palate. Plus, Bota offers four more flavors in three-liter boxes.
Price: $99 Specs: 20 L, molded back panel, hydration sleeve, simple design Weight: 1 lb. 10 oz. Site: marmot.com Best for: The gym, day hikes, or as an everyday carryall where you need some bells and whistles but not the whole alpine-style bag.
Price: $8.99/six-pack Sizes: 12 oz. bottle Specs: 5% alc.; available nearly everywhere west of the Mississippi Site: deschutesbrewery.com Best for: Anyone of legal drinking age who appreciates taste as much as alcohol and wants a refreshing sunset beer.
Price: $4.99 Sizes: 500mL Tetra Paks; 3-liter boxes Specs: 11% alc. (varies by flavor) Site: botabox.com Best for: Summer nights sitting by the fire after climbing all day, or soaking up the sun after a quick jump in the lake; any time you have to pack in your alcohol.
