Gear – L Clark Tate

Field Tested: Boosted Board

The Boosted Board lets you accelerate fast, skate uphill and ride up to 8 miles on a single electric charge, with almost no learning curve. Published by Hilltromper Santa Cruz by L. Clark Tate. Photos courtesy Boosted Boards Dec. 4, 2015—I was kind of a skater wanna-be growing up. A few years ago I bought […]

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Field Tested: OneWheel

‘The world’s first self-balancing electric skateboard,’ says Future Motion Inc. It’s that, plus a lot of fun. Hilltromper Santa Cruz | 2015 Words and Photo by L. Clark Tate I was definitely channeling Marty McFly. Not just because I was riding a contraption akin to the hoverboard, but because I felt like a time machine […]

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Gear Philosophy

Our super-official, semi-philosophical gear review policy. Hilltromper | 2015 Words and Photo By L. Clark Tate Here at Hilltromper we love getting out. And while epic adventures like climbing mountains or running wild rivers while trekking through foreign lands offer a thrilling escape, we spend most of our outdoor time closer to home—trail running, hiking, biking, […]

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Rock Solid Map App

GraniteMaps is a clear and reliable app to help mountain bikers and hikers explore Wilder Ranch and UCSC’s upper campus. by L. Clark Tate Jan. 7, 2015—It’s a sunny Saturday in late December out at Wilder Ranch. Austin Riba and I sidestep a passing horse-drawn carriage before rolling up to the first fork in the […]

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Shamma Barefoot Running Sandals

Published by Women’s Movement | September 2014 By L. Clark Tate Barefoot running is a blast, but even the toughest toesies need a little protection. That’s just what Santa Cruz-based Shamma Sandals provides with their Mountain Goat barefoot running sandals. This trail-specific model is engineered for us devoted off-roaders. The Mountain Goat barefoot running sandals […]

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Josh Stiles

Published in Hilltromper Santa Cruz | August 2013 By L. Clark Tate Midway through a softball game at Delaveaga Park in Santa Cruz, Josh Stiles was feeling like he’d lost a step. At 31 he was active and fit, but he’d just been thrown out, twice. That just didn’t happen. “I was realizing that I was […]

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Patagonia’s Clean Green Wetsuit

Published by Hilltromper Santa Cruz | 2014 by L. Clark Tate Aug. 6, 2013—Patagonia, the perpetual innovator, has done it again. The company that looks at playing hooky as a perk and actually encourages customers to buy fewer of their products has discovered a process that will turn a simple seed into that most essential piece of Santa Cruzan […]

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KEEN Bryce Hiking Shoe

Published on Women’s Movement | 2012 By L. Clark Tate Planning isn’t a natural penchant of mine. I tend to let each day take me where it will. This allows for impromptu adventures but drives structured friends crazy and is very hard on my wardrobe. Hence, I love gear that pulls double duty, looking and […]