Backpacks & Features 101

How do you choose the best backpack for your adventures? We’ll break it down and keep it as simple as we can. There are many pack options available, making it especially confusing for beginners. First, you'll need to understand how to choose the backpack size (capacity) you need. This will vary based on activity (like …

Safety Tips for Brand New Paddlers

Are you a new paddler or do you know someone who is? Be prepared before you hit the water by reading the following safety tips. Do your homework — Feel free to stop into Great Miami Outfitters and ask our staff about safety info on paddling. Check out some of the safety gear - life …

Footwear for the Boundary Waters

Review by Dan Schlegel, Great Miami Outfitters "I think I found the perfect footwear for my canoe trips in the Boundary Waters." Every September, we load up the canoes and head to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. It's a beautiful time of year - cooler weather, less insects, and less people …

Tips on Hiking with Kids

One of the keys things to remember when hiking with children is that the trek no longer becomes about getting from point A to point B, but more about exploring the trail and what is on it.

Thoughts and Reflections on Getting Addicted to Ice Climbing

By Andrew, Great Miami Outfitters This time last year, a few of us from the shop decided that we really wanted to try our hand at ice climbing. We are all paddlers, backpackers and rock climbers and working in a gear shop we just felt trapped by the darkness of coming to and leaving work. …

Paddling and Hiking along the San Juan River

Written by Dan Schlegel, Great Miami Outfitters Last fall, Andrew and I were asked to join a group from Northstar Canoes to paddle their model B17 tandem canoes on an 8-day, 102-mile San Juan River trip. One of the reasons for the trip was to give the canoes made with their proprietary IXP material a …

Day Hiking through the in-between seasons

I am not a fan of being cold... at all! Just ask any of the staff in the shop and they will confirm that! When it comes to Ohio weather we just never know what we are going to get. This January has been above freezing and rainy paired with dark mornings and evenings. It …

#11 Pacer’s 2019 PCT Thru-Hike Update: The Final Leg

This is update #11. Chris “Pacer” Ford just completed his thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). He began on May 8, 2019 and finished on September 12, 2019. He kept us updated every week or two with the progress of his adventure with stories and photos from the trail. Follow along with us… get …

#10 Pacer’s 2019 PCT Thru-Hike Update: Chester, CA to Sonora Pass, CA

This is update #10. Chris “Pacer” Ford is attempting to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) when he began on May 8, 2019. He will keep us updated every week or two with the progress of his adventure with stories and photos from the trail. Follow along with us… get automatic updates by subscribing to …

#9 Pacer’s 2019 PCT Thru-Hike Update: Snoqualmie Pass, WA to Manning Park, BC

This is update #9. Chris “Pacer” Ford is attempting to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) when he began on May 8, 2019. He will keep us updated every week or two with the progress of his adventure with stories and photos from the trail. Follow along with us… get automatic updates by subscribing to …