TRAIL & BACKPACK FRAME REVIEW

Backpacking in Scottsdale, AZ

I'm sharing a fantastic hike in Scottsdale, Arizona, just north of Phoenix. I'm also going to be sharing a very cool piece of Vaucluse equipment, the Ultralight Backpack Ventilation Frame

BACKPACK VENTILATION FRAME

Production Update #2

I'm putting the frame on the scale and, as you can see, this frame weighs approximately 3.4 - 3.5 ounces or nearly a fifth of a pound.

The frame weights less than 100 grams. You're not going to find a frame this lightweight anywhere.

BACKPACK VENTILATION FRAME

Production Update #1

Greetings, Brice here from Vaucluse, giving you an update on our latest product, the Generation 2 Ultralight Backpack Ventilation Frame, which you can see right here. I'm going to give you an update on how production is going and what to expect.

TRAIL REVIEW & VENTILATION FRAME

Boynton Canyon Trail

Today, I will be taking you to a hot spot out here in Sedona. We are taking a very easy hike up to Boynton Canyon Cave! I am taking you on a very accessible trail to a cave called Boynton Canyon Trail No. 47, in Coconino National Forest, one of the most scenic canyons in Arizona, “Red Rock Country.”

BACKPACK AIRFLOW FRAME REVIEW

22L Backpack Ventilation Frame

I equipped my Osprey Talon 22-liter day pack with my Vaucluse backpack ventilation frame, and what I did was, equip my frame with a Govee thermometer.

PIESTEWA PEAK TRAIL REVIEW

PHOENIX MOUNTAIN PRESERVE

Today, we're exploring the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, a 2,000-ft mountain range in the heart of Phoenix.

MYSTIC TRAIL REVIEW

HIKING ADVENTURE IN SEDONA

Get ready to discover incredible views of the Red Rocks and for a little off-piste adventure. Today we are traveling to Sedona for a fantastic adventure.

YOUTUBE GEAR REVIEW

PREPARING FOR ALABAMA TRIPLE CROWN

The following review of the Vaucluse Cool-Dry Frame was done by YouTuber Gone Feral With Squidly. "I'll tell you what I do feel: I feel air moving against my back. That's awesome."

YOUTUBE OUTDOOR INFLUENCER

INCREASE BACKPACK VENTILATION

Increase your backpack ventilation. YouTube influencer ProCaliberHQ does it all, and in this video, he goes all-in, bushcraft-cooking a New York strip steak that he carried into the mountains in a backpack supported underneath by (what else?) one of our Cool-Dry Air Flow Frames to increase his backpack's ventilation.

CUSTOMER REVIEW OF VAUCLUSE BACKPACK FRAME

COOL-DRY AIRFLOW FRAME TEST

A customer puts the Cool-Dry Frame to the test. "Easily rates 10 out of 5 stars! The black lava airflow frame I bought is comfortable, flexible, strong, easy to clean, colorfast, and safe on all the fabrics I tested."

38L BACKPACK AIRFLOW TEST

AIRFLOW REVIEW OF 38L GREGORY PACK

Let's dive into the gear used: I took a Gregory Mountain Zulu which holds 38 liters, weighs 2.9 ounces empty, and retails for $150 (depending on where you look it might be more, it might be a little less).

COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST

RED ROCKS LANDSCAPE

We’re at the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona (about a mile north of Sedona), and our starting point today is Brins Mesa Trailhead, also known on the map as Jordan Trailhead. Definitely come by 4x4 if you can because this dirt road gets pretty bumpy.

BACKPACKING "SHARK TANK"

BACKPACKING & BLISTERS PODCAST

Vaucluse joins the show to discuss innovative and unique ideas for the outdoor community. Brice shares his product, the Cool-Dry Backpack Frame, which seeks to solve the problem of back sweat while also giving feedback to Derek and Carl about their own innovative ideas.

GREGORY ZULU AIRFLOW REVIEW

TEST AIRFLOW OF 40L PACK

I took with me this Gregory Zulu 40-L pack. You can find it online for about $195, and it has what they call a “free float,” or ventilated suspension. The backpack itself is made out of HDPE polyethylene material, weighs 2.9 lbs, and the curved frame is made from 4-millimeter alloy steel and fiberglass.

TRAIL REVIEW - MCDOWELL SONORAN PRESERVE

WHISKEY & BLACK HILL TRAILS

We are in the Mcdonald's Sonoran Preserve, north of Phoenix and just outside of Scottsdale, where you can get access – very quickly – to a choice of fun and easy trailheads and start hiking.

BACKPACK AIRFLOW SPACER

MORE AIRFLOW OSPREY TALON

We love to sweat less and explore more, so I equipped this Osprey Backpack with the Vaucluse Cool-Dry Airflow Frame. I have a Talon 22-liter, and as you can see, it already has some type of mesh and curved frame to help with sweat.

HIKES AND MICS PODCAST INTERVIEW

PODCAST INTERVIEW

Learn how the Cool-Dry Airflow Backpack Frame was invented and how it helps backpackers moderate their core temperatures, thereby reducing the amount they sweat.

TRAIL REVIEW - McDOWELL SONORAN PRESERVE

MARCUS LANDSLIDE

I'm sharing an extraordinary hike where we’ll discover some rocks that look like man-made sculptures!

Welcome to the Marcus Landslide, located inside the McDowell Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona, just northeast of Phoenix.

TRAIL REVIEW - SEDONA, ARIZONA

MUNDS MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS

Greetings, my fellow hiker! Today, I'm taking you to the backcountry of Sedona, Arizona, where you will get some great views and (even better) no tourists.

SOUNDS LIKE A SEARCH AND RESCUE PODCAST

PODCAST INTERVIEW

Welcome to the Sounds Like a Search and Rescue Podcast, Also known as SLASR. We do a sneak "peak" of the Cool-Dry Frame, new piece of gear that allows hikers to experience hiking without the fear of sweat running down their backs from their backpacks.

TRAIL REVIEW - SEDONA, ARIZONA

CHICKEN POINT

Today I'm sharing one of the most iconic views you can find in Sedona, Arizona, and it's really easy to get there. This is a very simple hike right out in Sedona that you will love. If you have just a short amount of time in Sedona and want to get to the best of the best, you will enjoy this hike.

TRAIL REVIEW - SEDONA, ARIZONA

MESCAL MOUNTAIN AND TRAIL

Whether you are a beginner hiker or an experienced hiker – there's gonna be everything that you could possibly want in this hike up Mescal Mountain.

TRAIL REVIEW - SCOTTSDALE, AZ

HIKING ON THE DESERT PARK TRAIL

You will find there's a steady incline for probably the first hour. You are climbing up, up, and up, so it's not flat and easy. I think a steady incline for almost an hour can be quite challenging. Finally, you enter the Sonoran Preserve. Head to the Gateway Trail Loop.

TRAIL REVIEW - HOUSTON, TX

HIKING IN HOUSTON HEAT BUT STAYING SWEAT FREE

I walked west on The Quail Trail to North Cook/Kirkwood. I started out from the parking lot west of Sam Houston Tollway. Follow the north side of a slow-moving stream called Buffalo Bayou. There's plenty of tree cover, as I mentioned, so you're protected from sunlight. I think it was about 85°F, so still pretty warm.

TRAIL REVIEW - CAVE CREEK, AZ

WILD WILD WEST

I'm going to be sharing an excellent hike just 45 minutes north of Phoenix, Arizona, where you're not going to find many other people, but you will see landscapes I would call the true “Wild, Wild West.”

TRAIL REVIEW - OAK CREEK VILLAGE, AZ

DIVING BOARD

I'm sharing with you a fantastic hike that gives you great views of many of the beautiful red rock formations in Sedona. We start in the town just south of Sedona called Oak Creek Village. Tucked away just west of highway 179, you have several options for making to most of the Coconino Forest.

TRAIL REVIEW - SEDONA, AZ

STEAMBOAT ROCK

Greetings, my fellow hiker! Today, I'm excited to share with you an incredible hike I took just north of Sedona, Arizona, where you'll get some unbelievable views of the red rocks that make Sedona so famous!

TRAIL REVIEW - SCOTTSDALE, AZ

LOST DOG TRAILHEAD

Looking for a fun, easy, and scenic trail in Northeast Phoenix? Look no further than the Lost Dog Trailhead. I took three different trails. I started from The Lost Dog Trailhead and took The Lost Dog Wash Trail (say that a few times fast!). Then there’s also The Old Jeep Trail and The Sunrise Trail.

TRAIL REVIEW - SCOTTSDALE, AZ

GATEWAY LOOP TRAIL

This side of the park, as you can see by this topography map, is much flatter. So it's comfortable. Of course, it was getting warmer, but as I went down, I could feel the cool breeze, and my body was cooling down quickly. Going up, I was getting a little warm but, given it was an hour-long hike, overall, it was nice.

BACKPACK AIRFLOW SYSTEM

SWEAT LESS TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORT

If you're like me and have to keep moving, whether through airports or commuting to work, some days it’s easier to get from point A to point B with just a backpack.

TRAIL REVIEW - SEDONA, ARIZONA

WOODS CANYON TRAIL IN SEDONA, ARIZONA

I'm sharing a fantastic hike just south of Sedona, where you'll get fantastic views of the red rocks without all the other hikers. If you've ever been to Sedona, you know that it's very popular, and sometimes there are many people on the trails.

TRAIL REVIEW - SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

HIKING REVIEW - MCDOWELL SONORAN PRESERVE

Here is my first experience hiking the trails northeast of Phoenix, Arizona, called the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Southern Range (based on how they describe it on the map). I thought it was going to be flat. That it would look like a desert. Absolutely not! I'm happily surprised that there is a whole lot more to discover.

COOL-DRY FRAME GEAR REVIEW

HIKING MOUNT GREYLOCK IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

"The Cool-Dry Frame held up to its name this time... I did a lot of sweating on this trip, and my back (and front) held the evidence of it, but the frame allowed the breeze to come through, cool down the back, and wick away moisture."

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE BIG GEAR SHOW

RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE BIG BRANDS

I have come to Park City to attend the Big Gear Show. A fantastic event where hundreds, I mean hundreds of different gear companies are here to display and come and show what's going on to media retailers. Today, I am sharing what I learned about rubbing shoulders with some of the big brands.

INSTRUCTIONS ON INSTALLING FRAME

HOW TO INSTALL FRAME ON YOUR BACKPACK

Brice here, from Vaucluse Gear. I’d like to share with you just how you can quickly install our Cool Dry Frame on a Gregory® backpack. 

But you can pick any backpack and still quickly and easily install this Cool Dry Backpack Frame, which is going to help air flow between your back and the pack.

TRAIL REVIEW - SEDONA, ARIZONA

CATHEDRAL ROCK TRAIL

I will share my hike to Cathedral Rock, a fantastic trail, if you ever find yourself in northern Arizona.

So we took a nice little hike to Cathedral Rock that I will share with you. I think it's a spectacular hike if you're looking for great views, accessibility, and fun. The hike (in all) takes just about an hour. So it's short and delivers awesome views in very little time.

GEAR REVIEW - SEDONA, ARIZONA

EASY HACK TO SWEAT LESS WITH A BACKPACK

Greetings, fellow hiker! Today, I will show you a very simple hack for sweating less when you're wearing a backpack.

I want to share with you how this light and simple contraption we call the Cool-Dry Backpack Frame can really improve airflow between your back and your backpack.

SWEAT CHECK - STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA - GEAR REVIEW

"I started hiking at the warmest part of the day, with a light breeze. I got to our first site at four miles (6.5 k) with an unexpectedly very dry shirt and, most notably, a dry back. I could actually feel the cooling air wafting through the space between my back and the pack! Although variables may not make the comparison of much note, I (in a purple shirt) was dry and the back of my hiking partner (in a blue shirt) was wet."

SWEAT CHECK - DECATUR, TEXAS

SEARCH & RESCUE GEAR REVIEW

Jim Armstrong, founder of L-5 Imaging in Carrollton, Texas, provides Search and Rescue services with a focus on night operations in wilderness areas. Jim to put the Cool-Dry Frame to the test. Located in northern Texas, Jim usually deals with extreme heat when going out on trails - the perfect environment to test the Cool-Dry Frame.

SWEAT CHECK - FRENCH ALPS, FRANCE

HIKING THE THE FRENCH IN SUMMER

Last weekend was the hike of all hikes for us. We trekked 13 miles up 3,748 feet to reach the peak, Pointe de Banc Plat (6,257 feet). While it is not the highest peak you’ll ever hike, it does provide spectacular views of the Lac d’Annecy, the Mont Blanc, and other major mountain ranges of the Alps.
The trail definitely offers a few challenges – if you want an adventure with stunning views, this is the hike for you.

SWEAT CHECK - FRENCH ALPS, FRANCE

HIKING THE FOOTHILLS OF THE FRENCH ALPS

We explored this beautiful 5-mile loop trail near Brison-Saint-Innocent, in Savoie, France. It is just south of Geneva, Switzerland, and directly east of Lyon, France.

The trail is considered a moderately challenging route and takes an average of 2 hours 53 minutes to complete, based on the All Trails app (see more details about the trail below).

SWEAT CHECK - VAUCLUSE, FRANCE

HIKING UP THE DENTELLES DE MONTMIRAIL

The Dentelles are the foothills of the highest peak in Provence, Mont Ventoux, which is situated just to the east.

The dramatically jagged shape of their peaks was formed by horizontal strata of Jurassic limestone being folded and forced into a nearly upright position and subsequently eroded into sharp-edged ridges and spikes.

SWEAT CHECK - SAINT EMILION, FRANCE

A 10 MILE HIKE IN SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE

I hit the hiking trails in Southwestern France in late May. While the town of Saint-Émilion is known for making some of the finest red wines in the world, I must say the trails through the vineyards equally deserve applause.
Backpacking around the vineyard allows you to uncover the hundreds of years of agriculture this region has traditionally enjoyed.

SWEAT CHECK - TUCSON, ARIZONA

SUCCESS IN SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK, ARIZONA

Mike’s feedback on how the Vaucluse Cool-Dry Frame performed in Saguaro National Park just outside of Tucson, Arizona:

“With the warm temps my back didn’t sweat at all…nice! So far, I like what I see. It’s well constructed, lightweight, flexible, and doesn’t feel odd when wearing it."

SWEAT CHECK - MARCH 19

ULTIMATE SWEAT CHECK IN HUMID TEXAS WEATHER

This week was the ultimate sweat check. I took the biggest (55L) backpack that I own on a hike in Austin, Texas, in some seriously humid weather. In fact, there was so much humidity, that there was no way I was not going to sweat. The test was, could I keep my body temperature cool and save my backpack from getting soaked in sweat?

SWEAT CHECK - MARCH 19

32L DEUTER BACKPACK IN NEAR 80% HUMIDITY

Warm weather is officially here. Last Saturday morning, I took a fantastic 7-mile hike through the Greenbelt outside Austin, Texas, with a hiking group of around 15 people. I brought my Deuter Speed Lite 32L pack on the three-hour hike. Of course, the backpack is bigger than what I needed, but I wanted to put my Cool-Dry Frame to the test with a large pack.