Winter Hiking Hard Shells: When selecting a hard shell for winter hiking you want an adjustable hood, hip-belt compatible pockets and adjustable wrist cuffs. Jacket show here: Outdoor Research Foray Jacket.
Hard Shell Jackets are best used in winter conditions as a windproof clothing layer and an extension of your packing system, with lots of pockets that provide easy access to gloves, hats, snacks, and navigation instruments so you don't have to stop and take bone chilling rest breaks. While hard shell jackets usually made with waterproof/breathable fabrics, they're too heavy, too warm, and over-featured for use as hiking rain jackets in warmer weather and you'd be far better off with a minimalist rain jacket like the Outdoor Research Helium II and a Frogg Toggs Ultra Lite Rain Jacket. What are the most important features to consider when buying a winter hard shell?
Hard Shell Features
There are a couple of features that are especially important for winter hikers to look for when purchasing a hard shell.
Fully adjustable hood that's NOT helmet compatible
Hip-belt compatible pockets
Lots of large zippered pockets
Layering Features
Two-way front zipper
Adjustable hook and loop (velcro) wrist closures
Drawcord hem closure
Fully Adjustable Hood
When choosing a hard shell make sure the hood is NOT helmet compatible, unless you have a huge Godzilla-sized head. The majority of hard shell jackets are intended for skiers and climbers who wear protective helmets. What you should look for is a fully adjustable hood with a rear volume adjustment so you can shrink the hood size to fit your head, side pulls so you can adjust the size of the face opening, a wire or shapeable brim to shield your eyes from wind and snow, and a high collar that covers your neck and mouth. All of these features will help protect your face from frostbite and help you stay warmer.
Hip-belt Compatible Pockets
Look for hard shell jackets that have chest or side pockets that are higher up in the torso so you can access them when wearing a backpack hip-belt. This can be a hard feature to find on hard shells jackets, so look carefully. Hard shell jackets from Outdoor Research and Arc'terxy are usually pretty safe bets in this regard, but be sure to check before purchasing one.
Lots of Zippered Pockets
You can't have too many hard shell pockets in winter. They're great for carrying spare gloves, hats, and keeping navigation tools in easy reach. They're also good for keeping snacks from freezing if stored next to your body. I view my hard shell jacket pockets as an extension of my backpack because the extra storage cuts down on the number of times I have to stop to get clothes or food out of my pack. You have to keep moving in winter to stay warm and to get to your destination before nightfall.
Layering features
In winter, you want to limit the amount you perspire by acting managing your warmth level. They key to doing this involves venting excess warmth by removing, or venting layers. A good hard shell should provide several ways for you to dump excess heat without having to take it off completely. Here are some of the most important features to look for when comparing different jackets.
Adjustable Hook and Loop (Velcro) Wrist Closures: These help regulate the body heat at your wrists where the blood flows close to the surface of your skin. They can be worn under gloves or over them depending on your preference and the glove type.
Two way-front zipper: If you pull the bottom half up, you can dump a lot of excess torso heat, poncho-style.
Hem drawcord: Cinch it closed to keep the wind from blowing up between your legs and ribbing your torso heat.
Breathability Ratings
What should you look for in terms of breathability ratings when looking at hard shell jackets?
To be honest, I don't trust the breathability ratings published by manufacturers because they measure them in ideal laboratory conditions that have little to do with actual use.
Pit zips and torso-length venting, like Outdoor Research's Torso flow feature trump breathability claims any day.
If you get too hot, venting your hard shell is going to cool and dry you off far more quickly than waiting for water vapor to move across a breathable membrane.
Getting a hard shell that's NOT made with a waterproof/breathable fabric is virtually impossible these days. Just remember that the features on these jackets are far more important than their breathability ratings. Stay focused on that and you'll get yourself a good hard shell jacket that you can hang onto for a while for winter hiking and backpacking.
Where to start? Check out the hard shells listed here from Outdoor Research and Arc'teryx. Both of these manufacturers have a good selection of jackets with the features I list above. I've been using the OR Foray myself going on 5 years and still think it's an awesome winter shell.
Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.
SOMA by SDAE is a new development at West 62nd Ave & Cambie, centrally located to connect to the airport, downtown, UBC and more. Surrounded by beautiful parks, trails, and minutes away from shopping and entertainment. SOMA offers 32 residential 1-3 bedroom units. SOMA's striking contemporary architecture has been designed to complement its natural surroundings. Abundant landscaping around the exterior provides privacy at ground level, while Soma's rooftop gardens bring the natural beauty of the surrounding area to your home.
SOMA by SDAE is a new development at West 62nd Ave & Cambie, centrally located to connect to the airport, downtown, UBC and more. Surrounded by beautiful parks, trails, and minutes away from shopping and entertainment. SOMA offers 32 residential 1-3 bedroom units. SOMA’s striking contemporary architecture has been designed to complement its natural surroundings. Abundant landscaping around the exterior provides privacy at ground level, while Soma’s rooftop gardens bring the natural beauty of the surrounding area to your home.
The Internet told me that all authors should have a target audience, but I feel that my book is accessible for anyone to read. Both men and women, young and old, have read and liked my book.
N.H. Roncolato – 30 November 2017
The Back Flap
The lands of Northern Caltus are consumed by war; a war that has raged for three bloody decades. The expansionist aggression of the Empire of Elriol is only countered by the defiance of the young khan of the Korghum Khanate, and the two are locked in a desperate struggle for hegemony.
Into this steps the disavowed assassin, Brian O'Connor, once a servant but now his own master. A man with a sordid past, Brian seeks the end of Elriol by any means, even if he must bare blade alongside former enemies to see it done.
In his quest for retribution against the Emperor of Elriol, Brian finds a deeper meaning to life that causes him to question all that he knows. Yet the choices that he makes leave him torn between the retribution that he seeks or the redemption that he needs.
His story, one of courage and strength, cunning and sacrifice, will shatter the foundations of Northern Caltus. A new era in the world begins to the gunfire of Brian O'Connor.
About the book
What is the book about?
This is always the hardest question to answer. How to condense a sweeping epic into a paragraph or two? Ultimately, The Redemption of Brian O'Connor is one man's journey to reconcile with his past and find a future to move towards, and all the complexities within that. It is also about the struggle against tyranny, the fervent will to stand against injustice, and the bitter sorrow that comes from war. It is about the brotherhood that is forged in conflict and the ideals that unite us as humans, extending beyond the borders of nations. It is also about a journey to faith. I saw this book as a way to explore meaning in life and the individual paths that we all take, and for me that meant looking at the role God and faith play in our lives.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing this book on a complete whim (or divine guidance) in March of 2010. I was struck by the idea for Brian O'Connor and so began typing. I actually started writing the second chapter, only adding the first chapter much later.
How long did it take you to write it?
All-in-all, after all the edits were done, it took me almost seven years to write it. It was a long, long process, as I had no idea what writing a book like this was going to take or how much work was involved. I took a lot of wrong turns in the process, but I feel like I came out stronger, forged in the fires of writing and cleansed from ignorance. At least, that's what I like to think happened.
Where did you get the idea from?
The idea for this book really began with the characters. Many, many years ago, while sitting around hanging out with friends, I first created one of the characters that ended up being in this book. It was my ideal of what a real man was; an ideal based on intelligence and strength. Years later, I tried unsuccessfully to put a story about him on paper. Even so, the story refused to leave me until I finally started this book. It was adding in humanity that made this story work where the others had failed.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Yes, definitely. Before writing this book, I had no idea what went in to writing a sweeping epic. It was a baptism of fire, and I had more than my share of hair-pulling and table-flipping before I figured things out. That said, I would say that my biggest struggle was with the meaning of the narrative. It's one thing to write an awesome story, but I wanted a deeper connection than that. Figuring out what to use and how to add it was the most difficult part.
What came easily?
I would say the easiest part was the ending. It was a struggle for a moment to figure out exactly how the book was going to end, but once I settled on it, it remained fixed. It was the sum of all the things that I consciously tried to do and those things that seemed to happen accidently.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
All of my characters are fictional, specifically the final versions. I had made the mistake of trying to include my friends in as characters in the earlier versions of the story, and that fell flat on its face. So I stuck with fictional people. However, some of the names that I used for characters have historical importance that pertain to their roles, so the answer is yes and no, I guess.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Yes. The list is quite long, but there were a few major influences that I will happily acknowledge. I was heavily influenced by the father of modern fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien. The Christian themes that ran through his masterful work The Lord of the Rings, the characters therein, and his rich use of description resonated deeply with me. I was also influenced by The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is attributed to Luo Guanzhong. Aside from the scale of that saga, the way characters interacted and the epic sweep of the themes and the timelessness within them have always been fixed in my mind. A third major influence would be Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. Gasp! That's not a book! Yes, I know, but I found his story telling and character-driven narrative to be inspirational and formative for the realism and characters that I sought to bring to life in my own story. Last but not least, I was also influenced by Steven Pressfield's The Gates of Fire, which floored me with such realistic battle descriptions and cultural insights.
Do you have a target reader?
Again, a very hard question. The Internet told me that all authors should have a target audience, but I feel that my book is accessible for anyone to read. Both men and women, young and old, have read and liked my book. However, given that there are some scenes of violence, I would say that this book is generally not for young children. Other than that, anyone who is interested in reading really good books would be what I consider my target reader.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I do now. When I started writing, however, I did not. I wrote at random with no organization, and as you could guess, that was a painful and inefficient way to write. Now, I try to write something everyday. I do work full time and am a husband and father of two, so I don't always have a lot of time to write. Still, when I can I do, and when I do I try to write a chapter at a time. I like to write chronologically, but sometimes a passage or word strikes me and I leap ahead to jot it down real quick. One thing about my process, though: I don't read while I am writing. I find it helps me maintain my own voice while I write.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Again, I do now. When I started writing this book, I did not and suffered for it. My eye's twitching just thinking about it. Now, though, I do outline. And plan. I am currently writing the sequel and have planned out the story arc by chapter, with a few notes for what happens in each chapter.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?
This has changed for me as well. When I wrote this story, I kept stopping and going back and editing what I had written. It was pretty chaotic and began to feel like I wasn't getting anywhere. So towards the end of writing, I refused to start a new edit until I had finished my previous one.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I did. I got what I paid for: a cursory look at my work. If I had been willing to pay more, I probably would have gotten more bang for my buck. As it was, I ended up doing a lot of the editing myself.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I do. I find it helps me to focus and it also drowns out most of the noise around me. I really like artists like Lecrae, KB, and Andy Mineo, and metal bands like War of Ages and For Today.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes, I did. Unsuccessfully, too.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was a gradual process. I thought I would find an agent eventually, but after a while (and a number of prayers) I realized that agents were not looking for a book like mine. My book is 150,000 words, its not specifically YA, and is from a new author. There was too much risk for them so they bypassed me. Once I realized this, I began the process of self-publishing.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I tried doing it myself a few times (I have a blog about it, actually) but ended up commissioning a piece by an awesome artist who goes by Xia Taptara. He did the cover image, and I then composed the rest using AffiinityDesigner.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
If the rest of this interview is any indication, I am winging it. I tried a few things, like reaching out to influencers and promoting my book on social media, but things sometimes work and sometimes don't.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
It is not an easy journey. Be sure of yourself and the vision that you have, but remember to at least hear advice. Take it with a grain of salt, but at least hear it.
About You
Where did you grow up?
My dad was in the Navy, so I moved around a lot. Mississippi, California, Virginia, Japan, Maine, Florida; all I called home.
Where do you live now?
Now I live with my wife and two kids in Los Angeles, California.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I studied Global Affairs in college, with an emphasis on East Asia. I use that in my writing as much as possible, something that I never thought I would be doing. When you are called to something, you have to answer.
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on the sequel to The Redemption of Brian O'Connor. I'm already a few chapters in to the writing process, and I hope to have the first draft finished in a few months.
The Internet told me that all authors should have a target audience, but I feel that my book is accessible for anyone to read. Both men and women, young and old, have read and liked my book.
N.H. Roncolato – 30 November 2017
The Back Flap
The lands of Northern Caltus are consumed by war; a war that has raged for three bloody decades. The expansionist aggression of the Empire of Elriol is only countered by the defiance of the young khan of the Korghum Khanate, and the two are locked in a desperate struggle for hegemony.
Into this steps the disavowed assassin, Brian O’Connor, once a servant but now his own master. A man with a sordid past, Brian seeks the end of Elriol by any means, even if he must bare blade alongside former enemies to see it done.
In his quest for retribution against the Emperor of Elriol, Brian finds a deeper meaning to life that causes him to question all that he knows. Yet the choices that he makes leave him torn between the retribution that he seeks or the redemption that he needs.
His story, one of courage and strength, cunning and sacrifice, will shatter the foundations of Northern Caltus. A new era in the world begins to the gunfire of Brian O’Connor.
About the book
What is the book about?
This is always the hardest question to answer. How to condense a sweeping epic into a paragraph or two? Ultimately, The Redemption of Brian O’Connor is one man’s journey to reconcile with his past and find a future to move towards, and all the complexities within that. It is also about the struggle against tyranny, the fervent will to stand against injustice, and the bitter sorrow that comes from war. It is about the brotherhood that is forged in conflict and the ideals that unite us as humans, extending beyond the borders of nations. It is also about a journey to faith. I saw this book as a way to explore meaning in life and the individual paths that we all take, and for me that meant looking at the role God and faith play in our lives.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing this book on a complete whim (or divine guidance) in March of 2010. I was struck by the idea for Brian O’Connor and so began typing. I actually started writing the second chapter, only adding the first chapter much later.
How long did it take you to write it?
All-in-all, after all the edits were done, it took me almost seven years to write it. It was a long, long process, as I had no idea what writing a book like this was going to take or how much work was involved. I took a lot of wrong turns in the process, but I feel like I came out stronger, forged in the fires of writing and cleansed from ignorance. At least, that’s what I like to think happened.
Where did you get the idea from?
The idea for this book really began with the characters. Many, many years ago, while sitting around hanging out with friends, I first created one of the characters that ended up being in this book. It was my ideal of what a real man was; an ideal based on intelligence and strength. Years later, I tried unsuccessfully to put a story about him on paper. Even so, the story refused to leave me until I finally started this book. It was adding in humanity that made this story work where the others had failed.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Yes, definitely. Before writing this book, I had no idea what went in to writing a sweeping epic. It was a baptism of fire, and I had more than my share of hair-pulling and table-flipping before I figured things out. That said, I would say that my biggest struggle was with the meaning of the narrative. It’s one thing to write an awesome story, but I wanted a deeper connection than that. Figuring out what to use and how to add it was the most difficult part.
What came easily?
I would say the easiest part was the ending. It was a struggle for a moment to figure out exactly how the book was going to end, but once I settled on it, it remained fixed. It was the sum of all the things that I consciously tried to do and those things that seemed to happen accidently.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
All of my characters are fictional, specifically the final versions. I had made the mistake of trying to include my friends in as characters in the earlier versions of the story, and that fell flat on its face. So I stuck with fictional people. However, some of the names that I used for characters have historical importance that pertain to their roles, so the answer is yes and no, I guess.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Yes. The list is quite long, but there were a few major influences that I will happily acknowledge. I was heavily influenced by the father of modern fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien. The Christian themes that ran through his masterful work The Lord of the Rings, the characters therein, and his rich use of description resonated deeply with me. I was also influenced by The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is attributed to Luo Guanzhong. Aside from the scale of that saga, the way characters interacted and the epic sweep of the themes and the timelessness within them have always been fixed in my mind. A third major influence would be Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. Gasp! That’s not a book! Yes, I know, but I found his story telling and character-driven narrative to be inspirational and formative for the realism and characters that I sought to bring to life in my own story. Last but not least, I was also influenced by Steven Pressfield’s The Gates of Fire, which floored me with such realistic battle descriptions and cultural insights.
Do you have a target reader?
Again, a very hard question. The Internet told me that all authors should have a target audience, but I feel that my book is accessible for anyone to read. Both men and women, young and old, have read and liked my book. However, given that there are some scenes of violence, I would say that this book is generally not for young children. Other than that, anyone who is interested in reading really good books would be what I consider my target reader.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I do now. When I started writing, however, I did not. I wrote at random with no organization, and as you could guess, that was a painful and inefficient way to write. Now, I try to write something everyday. I do work full time and am a husband and father of two, so I don’t always have a lot of time to write. Still, when I can I do, and when I do I try to write a chapter at a time. I like to write chronologically, but sometimes a passage or word strikes me and I leap ahead to jot it down real quick. One thing about my process, though: I don’t read while I am writing. I find it helps me maintain my own voice while I write.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Again, I do now. When I started writing this book, I did not and suffered for it. My eye’s twitching just thinking about it. Now, though, I do outline. And plan. I am currently writing the sequel and have planned out the story arc by chapter, with a few notes for what happens in each chapter.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
This has changed for me as well. When I wrote this story, I kept stopping and going back and editing what I had written. It was pretty chaotic and began to feel like I wasn’t getting anywhere. So towards the end of writing, I refused to start a new edit until I had finished my previous one.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I did. I got what I paid for: a cursory look at my work. If I had been willing to pay more, I probably would have gotten more bang for my buck. As it was, I ended up doing a lot of the editing myself.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I do. I find it helps me to focus and it also drowns out most of the noise around me. I really like artists like Lecrae, KB, and Andy Mineo, and metal bands like War of Ages and For Today.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes, I did. Unsuccessfully, too.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was a gradual process. I thought I would find an agent eventually, but after a while (and a number of prayers) I realized that agents were not looking for a book like mine. My book is 150,000 words, its not specifically YA, and is from a new author. There was too much risk for them so they bypassed me. Once I realized this, I began the process of self-publishing.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I tried doing it myself a few times (I have a blog about it, actually) but ended up commissioning a piece by an awesome artist who goes by Xia Taptara. He did the cover image, and I then composed the rest using AffiinityDesigner.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
If the rest of this interview is any indication, I am winging it. I tried a few things, like reaching out to influencers and promoting my book on social media, but things sometimes work and sometimes don’t.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
It is not an easy journey. Be sure of yourself and the vision that you have, but remember to at least hear advice. Take it with a grain of salt, but at least hear it.
About You
Where did you grow up?
My dad was in the Navy, so I moved around a lot. Mississippi, California, Virginia, Japan, Maine, Florida; all I called home.
Where do you live now?
Now I live with my wife and two kids in Los Angeles, California.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I studied Global Affairs in college, with an emphasis on East Asia. I use that in my writing as much as possible, something that I never thought I would be doing. When you are called to something, you have to answer.
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on the sequel to The Redemption of Brian O’Connor. I’m already a few chapters in to the writing process, and I hope to have the first draft finished in a few months.
Mt Flume and Mt Liberty as the two southernmost 4000 footers on the southern end of Franconia Ridge. Sometimes called "Fliberty", they're frequently hiked together in a loop since they're only separated by a 1.2 mile walk along the top of the ridge. Of the two, Liberty gets the most traffic since it's on the Appalachian Trail, even though Flume is by far the more picturesque of the pair.
If you climb Flume first, the shortest route to the summit is via the Flume Slide Trail. The climb is quite gentle at the start, but then ascends quite steeply up an avalanche slide, which is usually covered with ice from late autumn to early spring. The final climb gains 1400 feet in just 0.7 miles and you have to pretty much claw your way up it.
Mt Flume in the foreground. Mt Liberty to the north
I hiked it just a few days ago after Thanksgiving in microspikes, but wished I'd brought along an ice tool or two and a partner. "Slides", short for avalanche slides, are usually pretty strenuous to climb because they're randomly distributed blocks of rock that have slid down the mountain. Temperatures were in the high 30's and the ice was fairly soft and plastic, so my Hillsounds (microspikes) were able to get a good bite. But I still had to bushwhack around the bigger drops and ice floes and claw my way up in slippery wet snow among the trees. Once you start this climb, you're pretty much committed since there's no easy way down. My only real option when things got sketchy was to keep going.
At the top of the slide, the trail veers left (north) and side hills toward the Flume summit, coming out just 0.1 tents of a mile below it. The summit area is a narrow strip of west-facing rock above a sheer cliff. It was very windy (40 mph in the forecast), so I put on a wind shirt and gloves. The views of Liberty and the snow-covered Franconia Ridge were gorgeous. I could also see Mt Garfield at the other end of the Franconia Ridge clearly, which I'd climbed the day before.
Snowcapped Mt Lincoln and Mt Lafayette on Franconia Ridge
The hike from Flume is Liberty is an easy ridge walk, protected by forest until you pop above treeline again at the Liberty summit. I started descending into the saddle between the peaks and ran into my old friend Bob Zoletti and his two daughters. Bob and I have been on many challenging winter hikes together, but I haven't seen him for a while since I was focused on redlining the past two years. I wasn't entirely surprised to see him though. The regular hiking community is pretty small and it's easy to run into old friends on the higher peaks.
I layered up again before hiking up the Liberty summit which is an open cliff, but not as steep as Flume. The wind had died down and it was downright balmy at the summit. I lingered some more and took in the view of Mt Canon on the other side of Franconia Notch and the impressive Canon Cliffs.
The hard (climbing) work done, it was literally downhill all the way. But the Liberty Springs Trail isn't a cake walk. The west sides of both Liberty and Flume are covered with boulders that have rolled downhill into the woods. Covered for miles! The trails weaves through them in its own special knee grinding way. There's also been a lot of trail work done on the Liberty Trail including the construction of stone steps to curtail trail erosion.
My knees, actually my quadriceps muscles, hate going down stone stair cases, almost as I much as I hate climbing them. There's something about the stride length required by stone stairs that doesn't agree with my legs and tires out my big muscles quickly. I prefer a real incline/decline rather than manmade one. That said, I was glad I was descending Liberty and not climbing it, which would have been infinitely worse. It's also not as interesting a trail as the Flume Slide Trail.
Despite my gripes about stairs, I was able to get off the peak pretty quickly and back down into the bottom of Franconia Notch. From there it was a short walk down the bike path that runs through the notch back to my car. It'd been a beautiful day and a rewarding hike, not exactly easy, but just right
Total Distance: 9.75 miles with 3900′ of elevation gain.
Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.
The Black Diamond Beta Light is a single wall, ultralight tarp shelter that weighs 19 oz. It's also a very affordable ultralight shelter, with an MSRP of just $200, making it an excellent value if you're trying to save money.
The Beta Light has single front zippered door and a spacious interior with plenty of headroom and living space for two people. Set up is very easy, requiring two trekking poles or ski poles to hold up the peaks, and seven stakes to guy out. (In winter, you can also guy out the tent using skis, ice tools, or trekking poles.)
The Black Diamond Beta Light has a single front door that can be rolled half or completely open
Made with 30d silnylon, it's best to seam seal the Beta Light if you anticipate using it in wet weather. This isn't a terribly complicated process, (see How to Seam Seal a Tent or Tarp) but one that will ensure your comfort.
Dimensions : 249 x 203 cm, center x 112 cm, ends (98 x 80, center x 44 in, ends)
Usable Floor Space : 3.2 m² (34.7 sq ft)
The Beta Light has steep walls that shed snow well, which is one of the reasons why it's popular with winter backpackers and backcountry skiers. Constructed with two adjoining pyramids, it's also quite wind-worthy, making it ideal for use in exposed campsites with no wind breaks.
Being single-walled, it's best to pitch the shelter with a gap between the ground and the bottom panels to encourage air flow and reduce any internal condensation. The front door can also be rolled back partially or completely in good weather. Being a floorless tarp, site selection is important so you're not downhill when it rains (see 9 Campsite Selection Tips).
The Beta Light interior is quite spacious with plenty of room to sit up in, even when shared with another person
The interior of the Beta Light is quite large with plenty of space for two. There are lots of overhead loops to hang head netting from if you need bug protection and there's plenty of room so you can sleep all night without rubbing up against the side walls.
The metal tips of your trekking poles fit into grommets positioned in the center of each of the apex peaks, which are also reinforced with extra fabric to protect against accidental puncture. If you detect some sag in the pitch at night as the silnylon fabric stretches, there's no need to re-stake the tarp. You can simply lengthen your trekking poles slightly to take out any slack, from the warmth of your sleeping bag or quilt.
Your trekking pole tips fit into grommets in the Beta Light's peaks.
While the tarp reviewed here itself is available separately, you can buy an add-on inner tent, called The Beta Bug Tent if you want a bathtub floor and bug netting. It's heavy though (29 oz) and there are many alternatives available that are significantly lighter weight.
All in, the Black Diamond Beta Lite is a seriously good value if you're looking for a four season ultralight tarp shelter for one or two people that's wind and weather worthy. For example, if you're looking at ultralight pyramid shelters because they're so wind worthy, I'd recommend including the Beta Light on your short list of possible options. It's definitely a contender in terms of weight, livability, weather-worthiness and cost.
Disclosure: The author purchased this product with his own funds.
Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.
Here's a confession: getting new freelance work can be hard.
Super established freelancers often have this down pat.
But, if you're new to the game, more often than not it's this part of the process that's going to give you the most frustration.
Which kinda sucks because, you know, it's preeeeeetttty important!
Without clients, it's really hard to make any money, unless you've got a passive income coming in or a successful hobby hacking business up and running.
The advice can be kind of vague too. Believe me, I know, I've given it myself.
So in this post, I wanted to break it down. Below you're going to find 12 ways to get more clients and freelance work. These are real deal, tried and true methods that have worked for me, Sean, and hundreds of other people in our Location Rebel community.
You might find a handful stand out to you, or hey, you might have a few other ways I haven't mentioned (if that's the case, feel free to share in the comments!).
Hopefully, with this post, you're going to come away with some concrete approaches to getting new clients that you can put into action today.
1. Using Job Boards to Find More Clients
This is pretty obvious.
You hear a lot about the UpWork's of the world, but there's a whole world out there with lots of options. Some courses and groups will post job boards too, we have a mini board in Location Rebel Academy, for example.
There are lots of good job boards out there where you can snag some good clients. I've got two clients I've been working with for years off the ProBlogger job board.
Remember the main thing with job boards is that you're competing against a lot of other people. That means if you send off a cut and paste generic email or cover letter you're not going to stand out.
Here are a few things I like to do when applying for work off a job board that has helped me land some pretty good gigs:
Read all the instructions: Yup, seriously. If someone tells you to put "I love mangoes" in your headline. Do it.
Think of their needs first: Most of the time, the client doesn't care about your hobbies or where you went to school, they want someone who can get the job done at a high level reliably. Prove you can do that.
Keep it short and to the point: I applied for a job the other day where the request was to keep my entire 'pitch' to 5 sentences. I did that, got thanked for following directions and have moved on to the second round.
Add value somewhere: Since I'm a writer, I usually pitch content ideas and sometimes just headlines to make them more intrigued. Take a good look at their site and come up with 2-3 ways you can help them right now that will make you stand out.
Work on a good pitch email and save it. You're going to come back to it often. Tweak it and keep track of what works and what doesn't.
Action Step:
Find the best job boards in your industry and schedule time in your calendar each week to browse them. If you're a freelance writer, check out some of the boards in this post.
2. Friends and Family Often Have More Work Than You'd Expect
Congrats, you're in business, so tell people!
Advertise to your friends and family that you've got your own business up and running and you're looking for work. At the very start, you might be able to cut a deal with people where you'll do a bit of work for a reduced rate. That's one way to get going in your freelance career.
Don't go crazy with this, keep it simple. Remember, outside of the online world bubble most 'regular' people have no idea what you do. So explain it to them simply in a way that makes it easy to understand.
Here's an example, set up a Facebook post that says something like:
Hey everyone! For the last few months, I've been writing for law firms and have gotten really positive responses. I'd love to keep expanding my client base in this area. If you know anyone who has any law firm connections here, I'd love if you gave me a shoutout.
Lots of times there will be a friend of a friend who happens to be in need of what you're offering. So don't be shy putting yourself out there. Your friends and family are going to be great allies in helping you get the word out.
Action Step:
Get connecting. Hop on the phone, send a text, shoot out an email, post on Snapchat. Let your friends and family know that you're looking for clients and would love if they could let people know.
3. Ask Your Network if They Know Anyone Who Needs Help
This is basically the same as above, but instead of asking friends and family ask your network. Let people who are in the online world know that you're looking for work. Jump on forums, let people in your mastermind group know, post in your Facebook groups, don't be shy.
This has worked well for me too. Sean has passed my name on for freelance writing gigs a couple of times (which I'm always thankful for!)
It's also pretty common for me to get an email from someone in my network asking if I know someone who can do a small gig or a new writer. So I've recommended people are super active in the LR forums and doing good work (hint, hint).
Don't underplay the ability to find small projects from people. Not every job, especially to start, has to be a five-figure gig. I love taking smaller projects and over delivering, that puts me in great standing for either more follow up work from the same person, or I'm at the top of the list of potential referrals.
Start small, knock it out of the park, and you'll have a much better standing to come back and ask for more work.
Action Step:
Make a list of people in your immediate network who have some online experience or have a bigger network than you do. Work on building a relationship with them and then make the ask to see if they need help on any projects.
4. Ask Current Clients for Referrals
This is something I'm kinda shocked that people don't do more often. If you have even one client right now who is paying you for your work then you should ask them if they can refer you to anyone else.
It doesn't have to be a competitor or even in the same industry. If you're a writer or a social media pro, SEO person, or web designer you can do work across a number of industries.
Here's a sample letter you can start with. As with any email templates in this post, make sure to tweak it to make it as personal as possible:
Hi Current Client,
I've enjoyed working with you the past few months on your email marketing campaigns. If you've been happy with the work I've done, I hope you'd be willing to pass my name along to anyone else you know who is in need of similar work. Do you have anyone in mind?
Thanks,
You
Plus, a referral is a warm lead. A potential new client is going to be much more receptive to you if they know you were referred by someone they already know and trust.
Action Step:
This week (today) ask your current clients for referrals. This post has some good tips you can use. Then, set a calendar reminder to do the same thing again next quarter. Repeat as necessary.
5. Ask Current Clients for More Freelance Work
Remember when I said how I love taking on small projects to start? That's because it provides the perfect opportunity to ask for more work once the job is done.
I've been able to take a number of clients who hired me for one-off writing gigs and transform them into extended jobs with thousands of dollars of extra work.
For this to work well you need to have a strategy. Mine is to essentially remind clients of this:
The primary goal is to deliver what they want. If you can't do this, they aren't going to care about working with you again. I make sure I'm giving them something that they are going to be really happy with. First impressions matter here.
I surprise and delight. This means I will do something special. That might be delivering the project a day early or adding something special to the content like a case study while keeping it the same price.
I'm easy to work with. Everyone says this about themselves, but it's not always true. That means I respond quickly to emails, communicate effectively, am open to suggestions and feedback, quickly make any necessary tweaks, and stay friendly and positive throughout.
Once I've done all that it pretty much ensures (with rare exception) that the client is really happy with your work. Sometimes, they might offer you more on the spot. If they don't I then always follow up with an email citing all the other ways I can help them.
Something like this:
Hey Client,
I know you hired me for one article a month. But, I wanted to also let you know that I can help you with copywriting, email campaigns, ebooks, whitepapers and long form guides too. I took a look at the opt-in on plumbing fixtures, and have a couple ideas on how it could be improved to really wow readers. Can I send over an outline?
Thanks,
You
Since I've already laid the groundwork during the first project, it's basically like having a warm lead. A lot of times, this works for me, it might not be right away, but a month or so down the line they come back for more.
Action Step:
Make a list of your current skillset. Work on expanding on just one or two of them over time so you're comfortable offering them since you know you can deliver. Use these extra skills to help showcase how much extra value you can add to your client beyond what they hired you for.
6. Keep in Touch with Past Clients
Some clients might work on a project basis. I have one that works this way. He might send a request for 3-4 things for me to write and call it a day. Sometimes, I'll hear back from him a few weeks later with more work, other times it might be a few months.
When it gets to the two-month range and I haven't heard from him, I send a super quick follow up email. It looks like this:
Hey Client,
Hope all is well. I wanted to check in and touch base. I have some available time over the next few weeks, happy to get started on any writing work you might need.
Talk soon,
Liz
Pretty much every single time I do this I get a response offering more work within a week. I really focus on keeping in touch with this client in particular because he's great to work with, which makes the process really enjoyable.
You can also try a modified version of asking for more work for this too.
If they don't have any work, that's ok, just repeat the process at a later date.
Action Step:
Make a list of all the clients you've worked with in the past. Send an email to each of them like the one above asking if they have more work for you. Once any project finishes set a future date on your calendar to follow up with that client.
7. Being Active on Social Media is a Great Way to Find Work
Let potential clients know you're current for hire on your social media channels too. I actually post it right in my Twitter bio.
If you do a quick search of 'hire me" on Twitter and click people, you can see all sorts of bios with people who have that in there.
You can do the same, or set up an automated post that cycles through every few weeks letting people know you're for hire and looking for work.
Also, use social media to search for jobs too.
I've come across a bunch of gigs on Twitter. Some I've applied to myself, many others I've re-Tweeted and then also posted in the LRA forums. I've also really gotten into LinkedIn lately as I've been focusing more on B2B brands, it's a great place to both find work and build a network.
There's no rhyme or reason to this exactly, but keep your eyes peeled. And make sure you either follow or have created a list of people in your ideal niche to follow. Lots of times they will share posts from others, so word can spread.
Action Step:
Go to search.twitter.com and do searches of all the hiring phrases you can think of. Try 'we're hiring' or 'work with us' for general searches. Also get specific about what you're looking for, i.e. editing, photoshop, translation, etc.
8. Go to Networking Events (Even if You Hate Networking)
Sean has always been a big proponent of this one. When he was first back from Asia and looking for freelance SEO work, he'd go to networking events for complementary industries.
Think about it this way, if you're a writer looking for a job, you might want to hit up a graphic design meetup, chances are these people have clients who are looking for writers in addition to needing design work.
For freelancing roles like writing, copy, SEO, email marketing, conversion optimization, web design and development, you can hit up pretty much any sort of meetup and encounter a few people who are likely going to need your services either right there and then or at some point in the future.
Action Step:
Scour sites like meetup.com for local events. Starting in your hometown is a great way to get your feet wet. If you live in or near a big city there will be tons of opportunities. Also, tap into your chamber of commerce and see what they've got cooking. Any members are all active businesses who are invested in connecting with other local brands.
9. Special Interest Groups Can Be a Goldmine for Freelance Jobs
It seems counterintuitive, but you can get a lot of freelance job opportunities by joining groups of people who do what you do. Rather than thinking that you're always going to be competing against each other, it's actually the opposite, especially with more successful freelancers.
I'm in two groups for writers.
One is paid, so you get a higher caliber of freelancer, everyone in there is a professional writer who has been doing it for years. Many of them will post up the information of new people who reached out to them that they can't take, or old clients that they are moving on from as they get paid more.
The other is only for women freelance writers. A huge portion of this group is just posting jobs, some because they are the contact person, others that they happen to see online. I was able to get on a contributors list for a pretty big name site through a posting in this group.
Do a search for your niche and you're likely to come at least one group you can join.
Action Step:
Look for groups in your niche. If they are paid, that can even be better because people in there are serious about it. Be active in the forums, and helpful. Make yourself seen and potential work can come your way. If you want to learn more about building a following through Facebook groups, check out this post.
10. Create a Partnership Network
Referrals aren't just for clients, you can also create your own network around people with different skillsets. I learned this idea from Peter Bowerman of the Well Fed Writer, check out this podcast he did on the concept.
If you're in a mastermind group with a writer, web designer, copywriter, and social media manager (find more common Location Rebel jobs here), then you've got the makings of the perfect team right there.
Use your group to pass along the referrals of the clients you work with. If you're a writer and your client needs a designer, mention you have the perfect person and so on. You can work out a fee structure if you want, say 15% for referrals to make sure everyone is getting something out of it.
Action Step:
Make a list of people in your current circle with complementary skills that you can get one of these networks up and running with. Get in touch and work out an agreement that is fair to both parties.
11. Cold Pitching
Yuck. No one likes this one, right?
The mere thought of having cold pitching next up on my to-do list after lunch used to have me shaking like…
The truth is, cold pitching is a pretty solid part of any marketing plan. As much as everyone hates to do this, it's part of the business. If you feel a lot of stress at even the thought of cold pitching, the worst thing you can do is avoid it.
I really feel like this is like building muscle. You start small, maybe it's one a day, and build up your confidence (plus your ability to accept rejection) and build from there.
I like to do this by starting locally. At the very least, you have the connection of living in the same area, that tends to hold more weight to a potential client than a cold pitch from across the country.
Plus, I'm a big fan of getting in touch with those 'unsexy' local brands that can actually end up being quite lucrative. If you want some advice on your cold pitches, take a look at our ultimate cold email checklist.
Action Step:
Start making a list of local companies to pitch. A great place to get information is by checking out the website of your local chamber of commerce. Look at sites like Manta and LimeLeads too. Oh, and we have a guide specifically created to help you connect with influencers via email.
12. Apprenticeships or Remote Work
Personally, I'm a big fan of the apprenticeship model (it's how I got this job!). I think by working with someone who knows what they are doing as an apprentice you can actually learn a ton, build a huge network, and get paid at the same time.
Sounds like a winning proposition, right?
So keep your eyes peeled for these because there are a ton of opportunities out there.
Lots of entrepreneurs today actually advertise for these. A site like Get Apprenticeship has an available listing. You can also build up a really good relationship with someone whose work you admire and go for the ask too.
Much the same can be said for remote work. Sometimes, these situations are the best of both worlds. You can find a steady job but have the freedom to work from home. These are becoming more and more popular, so don't discount them as a viable option!
Action Step:
Look for the people who are doing what you'd like to be doing in the future. Don't aim for the big shots, but the people who are a few steps ahead of you. Reach out and start building a relationship so you can ask about being an apprentice. For remote jobs, pay attention to job boards and social media to start.
Time to Start Searching for More Freelance Jobs!
Hopefully, you now have some good ideas of where to look for clients and some solid action steps to help you find more freelance work.
The hardest part of doing this is sending out those first few requests. But it's a lot like building a muscle, the more you do it, the more second nature it will become.
Make a weekly (yes, weekly) plan to hunt for work. You don't want to let up on this, especially at the start, or you're going to run into dry spells. As you get more experienced and grab some really good clients, you need to always be looking for work can dramatically decrease.
If you want more hand holding and step by step help building your freelancing career and finding clients, check out our Location Rebel Academy community.
Bikepacking is gaining popularity with more and more backpackers because a bike can take you farther and faster into backcountry areas that are inaccessible on foot. Bikepacking also lets you use all of your existing backpacking gear and get even more value out of it. Like backpacking, there are 10 essential cycling-specific safety and repair items that all bikepackers should carry on their trips. Safety and self-sufficiency are still paramount, perhaps even more so because you can get so far off the grid, so fast.
Cycling Multi-Tool
Tire Levers
Glueless Patch Kit
Front and Rear Flashing Bike Lights
Tire Boots
Chamois Butter
Zip Ties
Ski Straps
Chain Links
CO2 Cartridges
Here are some of tools and products that I use to fit the bill:
1. Park Tool MT-40 Multi-Tool
The Park Tool MT-40 multi-tool has a built-in chain tool for removing and connecting chain links if you bust your chain on a trip and need a temporary fix to get you back to civilization. The MT-40 also includes a CO2 Cartridge adapter that’s Presta and Schrader valve compatible, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm hex, to T25 and T30 compatible drivers and screwdriver that’s compatible with multiple head types. This multi-tool is so handy the I use it in my home shop all the time.
The tire lever, though seemingly one of the simplest and most basic of cycling tools, is one commonly used by almost every cyclist. Brightly colored, Pedro’s tire levers are hard to misplace if you have to change a flat in the woods or by the side of the road. Unbreakable and made with very hard plastic, Pedro’s tire levers have a unique chisel tip shape that easily inserts beneath the tire bead and a slightly thicker shape that keeps the lever securely in place when changing a flat.
Flats happen but Park Tools glueless makes them easy to repair without any messy glue or bulky packaging. Lightly roughen your punctured tube with the included sandpaper, clean, apply patch, and you’re ready to go. Each pack includes six patches with sandpaper in a neat little carry along box that’s easy to throw into a frame bag.
Forget reflectors. You need flashing lights on the front and rear of your bike to be seen by cars, trucks, and ATVs bombing down backcountry and gravel roads. USB rechargeable lights are the best. This 450 Lumen headlight lasts up to 100 hours on a single charge, while the 50 Lumen tail light lasts up to 200 hours. Both have a pulsing daylight mode that gets noticed by motorists and can be easily switched between different bikes.
Park’s Tire Boots are designed to patch cuts, tears, and holes including side walls cuts in any size tire. A waterproof reinforced vinyl membrane and super strong adhesive provide a quick and easy fix. Each pack contains three emergency tire boots, which will work on road or mountain bikes tires at any pressure level.
Chafing is a ride killer. Protect and lubricate your skin with Chamois Butter. These small “single serving” 9 ml packets are easy to carry. They’re also greaseless and wash out of your clothing easily with soap and water. Use them for all of your sports!
Zip ties have a hundred and one uses on a bike and they weigh virtually nothing. Don’t have a way to attach something to the frame? Something shake loose? Bust a Strap? Sheer a connector? Need to jury rig an attachment. Zip tie it! A pack of 100 costs just 4 bucks.
Voile’s polyurethane ski straps are great for lashing waterproof stuff sacks, fishing rods, tent poles, you name it, to your bike’s frame. There no need to spend hundreds of dollars on specialized bike and frame bags when a couple of these ski straps will do. These babies also have a million and one uses for backpacking and skiing too!
If you break your chain on a ride, you can use a KMC Missing Link to reconnect the ends, although a chain tool (like the one on the Park Tool MT-40, above) is still necessary to remove any damaged links. These connectors are also handy to install on your chains to make it easy to remove, clean, or replace your chain in the future. Here (video) is a simple way to open a missing link without a special tool. It also works with a shoe lace.
CO2 cylinders are a lot easier and less bulky to carry than a bicycle pump if you have to reinflate a tube after changing a flat. These large 20 gram cartridges are large enough to refill larger mountain bike tubes or multiple road tires. You just need a CO2 cartridges adapter, like the one included in the Park MT-40, above (which is Presta and Shrader valve compatible) to use it.
Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.
Bikepacking is gaining popularity with more and more backpackers because a bike can take you farther and faster into backcountry areas that are inaccessible on foot. Bikepacking also lets you use all of your existing backpacking gear and get even more value out of it. Like backpacking, there are 10 essential cycling-specific safety and repair items that all bikepackers should carry on their trips. Safety and self-sufficiency are still paramount, perhaps even more so because you can get so far off the grid, so fast.
Cycling Multi-Tool
Tire Levers
Glueless Patch Kit
Front and Rear Flashing Bike Lights
Tire Boots
Chamois Butter
Zip Ties
Ski Straps
Chain Links
CO2 Cartridges
Here are some of tools and products that I use to fit the bill:
1. Park Tool MT-40 Multi-Tool
The Park Tool MT-40 multi-tool has a built-in chain tool for removing and connecting chain links if you bust your chain on a trip and need a temporary fix to get you back to civilization. The MT-40 also includes a CO2 Cartridge adapter that's Presta and Schrader valve compatible, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm hex, to T25 and T30 compatible drivers and screwdriver that's compatible with multiple head types. This multi-tool is so handy the I use it in my home shop all the time.
The tire lever, though seemingly one of the simplest and most basic of cycling tools, is one commonly used by almost every cyclist. Brightly colored, Pedro's tire levers are hard to misplace if you have to change a flat in the woods or by the side of the road. Unbreakable and made with very hard plastic, Pedro's tire levers have a unique chisel tip shape that easily inserts beneath the tire bead and a slightly thicker shape that keeps the lever securely in place when changing a flat.
Flats happen but Park Tools glueless makes them easy to repair without any messy glue or bulky packaging. Lightly roughen your punctured tube with the included sandpaper, clean, apply patch, and you're ready to go. Each pack includes six patches with sandpaper in a neat little carry along box that's easy to throw into a frame bag.
Forget reflectors. You need flashing lights on the front and rear of your bike to be seen by cars, trucks, and ATVs bombing down backcountry and gravel roads. USB rechargeable lights are the best. This 450 Lumen headlight lasts up to 100 hours on a single charge, while the 50 Lumen tail light lasts up to 200 hours. Both have a pulsing daylight mode that gets noticed by motorists and can be easily switched between different bikes.
Park's Tire Boots are designed to patch cuts, tears, and holes including side walls cuts in any size tire. A waterproof reinforced vinyl membrane and super strong adhesive provide a quick and easy fix. Each pack contains three emergency tire boots, which will work on road or mountain bikes tires at any pressure level.
Chafing is a ride killer. Protect and lubricate your skin with Chamois Butter. These small "single serving" 9 ml packets are easy to carry. They're also greaseless and wash out of your clothing easily with soap and water. Use them for all of your sports!
Zip ties have a hundred and one uses on a bike and they weigh virtually nothing. Don't have a way to attach something to the frame? Something shake loose? Bust a Strap? Sheer a connector? Need to jury rig an attachment. Zip tie it! A pack of 100 costs just 4 bucks.
Voile's polyurethane ski straps are great for lashing waterproof stuff sacks, fishing rods, tent poles, you name it, to your bike's frame. There no need to spend hundreds of dollars on specialized bike and frame bags when a couple of these ski straps will do. These babies also have a million and one uses for backpacking and skiing too!
If you break your chain on a ride, you can use a KMC Missing Link to reconnect the ends, although a chain tool (like the one on the Park Tool MT-40, above) is still necessary to remove any damaged links. These connectors are also handy to install on your chains to make it easy to remove, clean, or replace your chain in the future. Here (video) is a simple way to open a missing link without a special tool. It also works with a shoe lace.
CO2 cylinders are a lot easier and less bulky to carry than a bicycle pump if you have to reinflate a tube after changing a flat. These large 20 gram cartridges are large enough to refill larger mountain bike tubes or multiple road tires. You just need a CO2 cartridges adapter, like the one included in the Park MT-40, above (which is Presta and Shrader valve compatible) to use it.
Support SectionHiker.com, where we actually field test the products we review. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.
