Gear Reviews

Looking for waterproof grounding shoes so you can keep up your earthing practice in the winter? The Bahé Rediscover might be just the thing.

Are you a data nerd when it comes to tracking outdoor activities? Always have to know your mileage, elevation gain, heart rate? Searching for a GPS watch that can tell you all that and more that ALSO has a super impressive battery life? Me too, friends, me too. So allow me to introduce you to the Suunto Vertical, our favorite new GPS watch.

We’ve tested a LOT of backpacks, travel bags and camera bags here at Terradrift. Like, a lot. So it takes quite a bit to impress us these days. But when we got ahold of one of the new Peak Design Outdoor Bags and Outdoor Slings that just launched on Kickstarter this month, to say we were impressed might have been a bit of an understatement. Check out what we thought of them and whether we think you should back them.

At Terradrift, we’re big fans of hammocks. But hammocks are best for solo hangs (unless you want to get reeeeal cozy–by which I mean be smashed together like two pieces of bread on a panini). Which means if you’re heading out with friends or family, you have to bring one for everyone (or everyone’s gonna fight over the one). But what if that wasn’t the case? What if you could comfortably fit three or more people on a hammock and still be able to lounge, sit up and play cards, or snack and relax? Well, the Tentsile hammock offers just that And we got our hands on a Trillium giant 3-person camping hammock to see if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. Here’s what we thought of the functionality, setup, comfort, and whether we think it’s worth it.

At Terradrift, we prioritize reducing overconsumption and buying versatile products to lessen the massive amount of waste created by the outdoor and apparel industries. It’s far more sustainable to own one item that can do five things well than five items that each do one thing well (also, it makes more room in our closet to store luggage…). So when we learned about the Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG, a minimalist barefoot hiking boot billed as sustainable, lightweight, water-resistant, ultra-flexible, and hyper-versatile, we were intrigued. So we tested them out to see if they lived up to the hype.

If you’re in the market for a robust GPS training watch, the Polar Grit X2 Pro GPS watch might be on your radar. After all, it’s not only new, but Polar’s top-of-the-line offering. But is it feature-rich and functional or a flop? We got our hands on one to test it out ourselves so we could highlight the features, pros and cons of this watch to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you and your training style.

Maybe you’re one of those backpackers who’s intrigued by the concept of ultralight but you’re not quite ready to make the plunge. Maybe you want something with a bit more support that’s able to carry slightly heavier loads more comfortably than, say, a frameless ultralight pack. After all, if you have more traditional gear, it probably weighs quite a bit more than a slimmed down UL kit. Well we’ve got good news. We tested what might just be the perfect pack for backpackers who want to reduce weight without fully committing to going ultralight, who want comfort and functionality without sacrificing anything, and who might be considering transitioning to ultralight over time: The Deuter Aircontact Ultra 40+5, which excels at fit, function, and comfort and does it all at a lower base weight. Here’s what we thought of it.

You know I love a good daypack. Bonus points if it also looks as good as it is functional. Fortunately, the newly updated Loris 25 daypack from Gossamer Gear, which is more sustainable than ever thanks to a recent materials upgrade, is just that. Is it the perfect daypack? Well, I dunno about that. But it might be pretty dang close. And who am I to say whether or not it’s perfect for you? So check out our review to see what makes this ultralight daypack tick.

If there’s one piece of gear we’ve come to appreciate most in the last couple of years, it’s the not-so-humble duffel bag. Versatile, durable, and endlessly useful, duffels have become essential companions for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at four rad, more sustainable duffel bags that are designed for travel and adventure.

Ever wanted to travel with your bike to a cool mountain bike (or gravel bike, or road bike) destination, but didn’t because you looked at the cost of renting a decent steed for the week and had a low-grade heart attack? Fortunately, road trips aren’t the only option if you want to travel with a bike: you can absolutely fly with a bike, too. Yes, fly with your bike. As in, check it as luggage when you’re jetting from one destination to another on a commercial airline. Exciting stuff, right? So we’re gonna break down how to do it, what to expect, and then compare two excellent bike travel bags so you can take your bike with you the next time you fly to a place with gnarly single track to shred!