Katie Griffith

Joshua Tree

Writer at Freelance

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Articles

Brave the Elements in These Burly Bottom Layers: Black Diamond Alpine Pants Review

2 months ago | gearjunkie.com | Katie Griffith

(Photo/Katie Griffith) Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More We woke up in the dark, rubbing the sleep out of our eyes, anxiously anticipating our summit push. The slight chill in the air would mean better snow travel conditions for our ascent, so we dragged ourselves out of our cozy sleeping bags and fired up our stove for instant coffee.
The Best Travel Pants for Women of 2024

Nov 11, 2024 | gearjunkie.com | Katie Griffith

Active travel demands versatility from your clothing. To help you travel with ease and confidence, we scoured the latest styles to determine the best travel pants for women for 2024. We've kicked around in the best travel pants out there to bring you the refined wardrobe below; (photo/Taylor Gerlach)Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn MoreOur travel activities are diverse, and we need pants that can cover all the bases.
The Best Merino Wool Shirts of 2024

Oct 3, 2024 | gearjunkie.com | Mary Murphy |Katie Griffith |Nick Belcaster

Looking to upgrade your wardrobe? Check out our favorite merino wool shirts for summer and fall hiking, biking, and more. Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn MoreThe Best Merino Wool Shirts of 2024Merino wool is a pretty magical fabric. It’s lightweight, wicks away moisture, resists odors, and helps thermoregulate (that is, it’s breathable).
The Best Merino Wool Shirts of 2024

Jul 31, 2024 | gearjunkie.com | Mary Murphy |Katie Griffith

Looking to upgrade your wardrobe? Check out our favorite merino wool shirts for summer and fall hiking, biking, and more. Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn MoreMerino wool is a pretty magical fabric. It’s lightweight, it wicks away moisture and odors, and it helps thermoregulate (that is, it’s breathable). When it comes to outdoor wear, it’s dang near tough to beat. That being said, there are some tradeoffs for this wonder textile.
Pushing the Limits of Open-Toed Shoes: Bedrock Cairn Evo C Sandals Review

Jun 18, 2024 | gearjunkie.com | Katie Griffith

As a climbing guide, I often do much of my scrambling in approach shoes, but the new Bedrock Cairn Evo C Sandals might just muscle in on easier exploits. After wrapping up a weekend of guiding rock climbing in Joshua Tree this spring, my coworker and I had some personal time to explore the National Park. We decided to try to find a little-known cave system called the Mojave Wunderground.
DNT (Bullwhip): The Best Insulated Water Bottles of 2024

Jun 6, 2024 | gearjunkie.com | Mary Murphy |Katie Griffith

Insulated water bottles are an essential gear item for summer — that much is obvious. But they also have lots of great uses throughout the year. Check out the best insulated bottles of 2024 here. Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn MoreIf you’re looking to purchase a water bottle for outdoor adventures, an insulated bottle should be high on your list.
From Backseat to Bed in a Flash: REI Co-op Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform Review

Jul 25, 2023 | gearjunkie.com | Katie Griffith

Psyched for a big day in the mountains, you drive to the trailhead to sleep in your vehicle. You lower the car seats and roll out your backpacking pad to cozy up for a good rest before an alpine start. But then you spend the entire night trying to ignore the uneven, lumpy car seats and seatbelts poking you in the back. Pretty soon, your alarm is going off and you’re not sure if you even slept at all. We’ve all been there. Enter the REI Co-op Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform.
Arc'teryx Gamma Pants Review: Essential Legwear for Technical Missions

Apr 28, 2023 | gearjunkie.com | Katie Griffith

Reaching the top of Lost Horse Wall, one of the tallest rock formations in Joshua Tree National Park, gusts of wind nearly knocked us over. To get to the rappel station and start descending, we would have to make one final exposed scramble up to the highest point on the wall — and the stout gales weren’t going to make that easy. As we moved along the ridge and continued to get blasted by the wind, however, I noticed that my torso felt colder than my legs.
Topo Designs Boulder Pants Review: These Pants Look Good, but Climb Harder

Apr 20, 2023 | gearjunkie.com | Katie Griffith

Two-thirds of the way up the climb, I checked which protective gear I had left; this pitch seemed to go on forever! Counting my cams, I figured I had just enough left to safely finish the climb. One hundred feet of sustained jamming, stemming, and laybacking led me to the crux; after a steep pull over a bulge, I was home free. During a tricky traditional lead climb, I want the climbing and protection to be my only focus, without the added distraction of uncomfortable clothing.