Category
Hobbies & outdoors
Stories from Switchback and Loose Ends.
Loose EndsWhat My Grandmother's Unfinished Sweater Taught MeA half-finished cardigan, found in a closet after a funeral, and what three years of trying to finish it taught me about other people's tension, other people's choices, and letting a project be unfinished.
SwitchbackThe Best Hiking Boots of 2026, Tested Over 400 MilesWe put five of 2026's most talked-about hiking boots through 400 miles of granite, mud, and early snow. Here's which pair actually earned its price tag.
Loose EndsThe Stitch Dictionary: Twelve Textures from Knit and Purl AloneTwelve textured stitch patterns built entirely from knit and purl stitches — no cables, no lace, no special techniques — with the row-by-row repeat for each.
SwitchbackUltralight Tents Under 2 Pounds: Four Tested in Wind and RainWe pitched four sub-2-pound tents through a windy ridge camp and a three-day rainstorm. One trekking-pole shelter beat two tents that cost twice as much.
Loose EndsReading Your Knitting: How to See Mistakes Before They Cost YouHow to spot a dropped stitch, a twisted stitch, and a misplaced decrease while they're still a few rows old, so you stop finding mistakes six inches too late.
SwitchbackHow to Actually Get a Yosemite Campsite ReservationYosemite Valley campsites sell out in under a minute. Here's the exact booking windows, the campgrounds worth fighting for, and what the permit fees cover.
Loose EndsHow to Make a Macramé Plant Hanger in an AfternoonA beginner macramé plant hanger you can finish in an afternoon using four knots total. Full materials list, step-by-step instructions, and sizing notes for different pot sizes.
SwitchbackA Weekend Backpacking Packing ListEverything we actually carry on a two-night weekend backpacking trip, with quantities, from the big three down to the first-aid kit, and what we leave at home.
Loose EndsChunky Ribbed Beanie: A Free PatternA free chunky ribbed beanie pattern worked flat on two needles and seamed, with a full materials list, abbreviations, and a downloadable PDF for your binder.
SwitchbackHow to Break In Leather Boots Without BlistersA real break-in schedule for full-grain leather boots, what to condition them with before you flex them, and the sock strategy that actually prevents blisters.
Loose EndsKnitting Kits That Make Good Gifts, Ranked by What's Actually in the BoxWe opened eight knitting kits sold as gifts and checked whether the yarn quantity actually matches the pattern, whether the needles are usable, and whether a true beginner could finish the project. Prices and full contents inside.
SwitchbackThe Lost Lake Loop, Mile by MileA full mile-by-mile breakdown of the Lost Lake loop: the overlook at mile 1.8, the lake at mile 3.4, and the burn-zone return most people underestimate.
Loose EndsTwelve Paid Sock Patterns Worth Every Penny (and Three Free Ones)Twelve indie sock patterns worth paying for, with prices, designers, and what makes each one worth buying the pattern instead of improvising — plus three good free patterns if you're not ready to pay.
SwitchbackWhy I Stopped Counting SummitsForty-six peaks into a list I'd kept for six years, I stood on a summit in a whiteout and realized the number had stopped meaning anything.
Loose EndsThe Best Worsted-Weight Yarns for Beginners, Knitted and WashedWe knitted swatches, wore them, and washed them three times each to find the worsted-weight yarns that actually hold up for new knitters. Brands, prices, and where the cheap stuff falls apart.
SwitchbackReading Weather in the MountainsLenticular clouds, afternoon buildup, and the wind shift that means something's coming. A field guide to reading mountain weather before it reads you.