Ben Corwin's Outdoor Recreation Gear & Expert Recommendations
Hutkeeper and mountain adventurer
Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Rockies, USAChoose your own adventure
Ben is an all-around mountain athlete (mostly trail running, mountain and gravel biking, and backcountry skiing), and hutkeeper at Gondola Village (a backcountry hut at 11,500 feet located in between Aspen, Vail, and Leadville, Colorado). Ben loves exploring his home range of the Wasatch between Mill Creek and Little Cottonwood canyon with his wife Laura and American lab, Blewett. A former D1 skier, Ben has pursued endurance racing and adventures around the world, from the arctic to Central Asia, East Africa, and closer to home throughout the American west. Ben has worked as a gear specialist at Cascades Outdoor Store and Remark (representing a number of outdoor brands), as well as a Green Vest at REI. As part of Founded Outdoors and independently, Ben has advised a number of outdoor, hospitality, and wellness businesses, including Gearhouse in Seattle. His gear closet further than it should into his office and guest room.
Discipline: Outdoor Recreation
Specialty: Hut trips, trail running, backcountry skiing, Skimo, mountain biking
AAA PRO 1 Avalanche, AIARE 1&2 Leadville Heavy Half, Trail Marathon, Silver Rush 50, and Trail 100 Run finisher (plus many other races) Biked across the US & Central Asia
Expert Gear Picks from Ben Corwin
Expert outdoor recreation gear recommendations from Ben Corwin, Hutkeeper and mountain adventurer, based in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Rockies, USA.
Ben Corwin's Teton Crest in a Day
A few essentials for running Teton Crest in a day (doable, especially when afternoon thunder storms are less likely to be an issue)
Ben Corwin recommends the Salomon ADV SKIN 12
Ben Corwin recommends the Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
Ben Corwin recommends the Patagonia Capilene Cool Sun Hoodie - Men's
Ben Corwin recommends the Leki ULTRATRAIL FX.ONE
Ben Corwin recommends the Katadyn Katadyn BeFree AC 0.5 L Water Filter Bottle Blue
Ben Corwin's Leadville 100 Trail Run packing list
A few essential pieces of gear I used for the Leadville Trail 100 Run in a relatively cold year, or that I've since adopted and would bring for my next Leadville 100 (or similar high-altitude 100k to 100 mile race). Be sure to follow the required gear for any race.
Ben Corwin recommends the Salomon ADV SKIN 12
Ben Corwin recommends the Leki ULTRATRAIL FX.ONE
Ben Corwin recommends the Smith Optics Bobcat
Ben Corwin recommends the Nike ACG Zegama Trail Running Shoe - Women's
Ben Corwin recommends the REI Skratch Labs Sport Energy Chews
Ben Corwin's Winter Hut Trip Gear List
A curated list of gear for guests of Gondola Village and other backcountry huts. Keep in mind, huts have different amenities so be sure to review what is included in your booking and ask your hutkeeper about specifics.
Ben Corwin recommends the Black Diamond Cirque Ultra 35
Ben Corwin recommends the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108 Skis
Ben Corwin recommends the ATK Bindings Raider 11 EVO Binding
Ben Corwin recommends the Black Diamond Glidelite Tour Skins
Ben Corwin recommends the Black Diamond Expedition Ski Poles
Ben Corwin's Summer Gear List (Gondola Village)
A gear list for guests of Gondola Village (and other similar alpine huts -- for 10th Mountain Huts and many others, be sure to bring a sleeping bag!). We use very similar gear for multi-day hut trips in Europe as well. Note: don't blindly buy everything on this list, as there are some items with options we've included for different genders and styles of trip (for example, a few pack sizes, gendered items where it matters most, running shoes and hiking boots).
Ben Corwin recommends the Mammut Trion 15
Ben Corwin recommends the Osprey Talon™ 26
Ben Corwin recommends the Leki SKYTERA FX CARBON SL
Ben Corwin recommends the Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
Ben Corwin recommends the Smith Optics Bobcat
