at home in... w| Gerald Zhang-Schmidt

A part of “microexploration” I particularly like is to think through food. Enjoy it, and consider connections.

Looking for the best gelato in Florence found a connection with one of my least favorite parts of social media, though: the network effect.

Rab Flashpoint Pull-On: Ultralight Rain Protection in Review

By Gerald

On 2019/04/25

In Outdoors Gear

Nothing worse in everyday adventures, be they urban or mountain microexploration, than getting soaked.

Rab gave me a chance (full disclosure: in the form of a PR sample, i.e. free product, without obligations) to try out an interesting piece of ultralight rain protection, their Flashpoint Pull-On…

The New Age of (Micro)Exploration

By Gerald

On 2019/03/23

In Life Learning

Exploration. A thing of the past, when there were still blank spots on the map?

Maybe not, if only we realize how much there is left, certainly for us personally, to learn and see.

Let’s call it microexploration.

Collection/Connection: Samurai. Collection Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller

By Gerald

On 2019/03/04

In Japan

Like the knights of medieval Europe, so the samurai of Japan hold great fascination. Maybe, with a touch of orientalist exoticism, all the greater a fascination.

Outdoor Research Interstellar Bivy Review: Tiny Home Between the Stars

By Gerald

On 2019/03/02

In Outdoors Gear

The Interstellar Bivy from Outdoor Research sets out to hit a sweet spot between lightness, protection, and usability – with a “wearable” approach to what a bivy can be.

Mountain Overnighter Therapy: When Every Step Counts

By Gerald

On 2019/03/01

In Life Learning

People keep saying that outdoors experiences are as good as therapy for one’s mental health. And wonder why people would climb mountains while putting great athletes on pedestals.

Where does that leave a normal person with some outdoors interests, but no particular inclination to do anything noteworthy for others?

Icebug’s Oribi 2 GTX RB9X: Long-Term Review

By Gerald

On 2019/01/26

In Outdoors Gear

One of the shoes I was least sure about turned out an absolute favorite: Icebug’s Oribi 2 GTX with their RB9X rubber compound sole.

Ultimate Direction’s Fastpack 35: 1.5-Year Review

By Gerald

On 2019/01/13

In Outdoors Gear

Fastpacking – carrying as little as possible while moving like a backpacker, but faster – has been a thing even before ultramarathons became so popular. In a running vest/pack like the Fastpack 35 from Ultimate Direction, ultramarathon running meets fastpacking.