Gear

Who doesn’t love a sleek and streamlined insulated jacket? Cozy and layer-able, they might be the perfect multitasking piece of outdoor clothing: you can wear one as a midlayer on cold hikes, an outer layer on mild trail days, ball it up and use it as a pillow, pack it in your carry on, throw it on to go to the gear shop down the road…synthetic insulated jackets are just so dang versatile! So we rounded up 7 of our favorite sustainable options that are guaranteed to keep you cozy on any outdoor adventure! Check ’em all out to find out which one is perfect for you.

I’ve been backpacking for over two decades now. And over that time, I’ve become more and more of an ultralight Backpacker. Meaning, I prefer to carry as a little weight as possible, no matter how long of an excursion I am embarking upon. So I decided to go all in. I upgraded my entire backpacking kit to include only the most ultralight gear I could find to test it out and see if it was worth the weight savings, the cost, and the lack of feature-rich gear. So I took it all out on a recent weekend trip, and will break it all down for you right here, right now, and let you know if some of the most ultralight backpacking gear in existence today makes for a better backpacking experience or a more miserable one.

Coffee is what makes the wheel spin and keeps the content churning here at Terradrift. We love it. We’re obsessed with it. We’re probably addicted to it. So we’re always on the lookout for innovative devices and methods of brewing, especially portable coffee makers that we can take on the road with us. So allow me to introduce you to the Pakt Coffee Kit, a delightfully portable travel coffee maker that packs up into one convenient little handheld package and contains everything you need to brew a great cup of coffee just about anywhere. Read (and watch) all about it here.

There are a pair of shiny new hiking pants for women on the market and they. Are. Legit. Why? They are designed to finally give anyone who has to pee sitting down the chance to laugh directly in the face of the patriarchy. Why? How? They allow women to pee in the outdoors with their pants still 100% on and their privacy protected. Got your attention? We thought so. Well, buckle up, because we’re gonna talk about these new SheFly Go Anywhere Pants, what we thought of them, and whether they’re worth the price right here, right now.

Winter is coming. (Sorry, I had to…) And that means it will soon be time to gird your feet in more insulated, protective shoes. (Permit me a moment of mourning as I put away my hiking sandals…) And that means it’s time to break out the winter hiking boots! But if you’re concerned with sustainability and/or are searching for warm vegan hiking boots, the pickings are slim to say the least. So we did some digging to find the best sustainable and vegan winter hiking boots on the market this season. These three are tops in our book!

We love a good fire here at Terradrift. Campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire bowls, fireplaces, fires for roasting marshmallows, fires for grilling veggie burgers…I could go on. But not everyone can have a permanent stone fire pit installed in their backyard. Heck, some of us don’t even have a backyard! So over the years, we’ve loved testing, experimenting and learning about all the portable fire pits and flames that keep you toasty, bring the ambiance, and make s’mores making possible no matter where you are. Yup, even if you don’t have a backyard. Bonus: They’re also easy to transport to the campground for an easy, Leave-No-Trace campfire! So here are our 6 favorite portable fire pits for everyone from backyard burners to balcony snugglers.

Neck gaiters, neck tubes, multifunctional headwear, balaclavas…whatever you call them, their super duper popular in the great outdoors. And for good reason: they’re a fantastic multi-talker whether you’re hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, camping, kayaking, you name it. You can wear them to protect your neck from the sun in the summer or keep it warm in the winter. Wear it as a sweat band during high-output activities or to keep your hair out of your face. Knot the top and wear it as a hat or pull it over your face and head like a balaclava. It’s a face mask, a hair tie, a sweat mop when wrapped around your wrist, water filter, the possibilities are almost as endless as those offered by a towel (where my HGTTG fans at?). But not all neck gaiters are created equal. Especially where sustainability is concerned. So if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly neck tube, we’ve got you covered. Read on for 5 of the best neck gaiters that are also sustainable.

I freaking love hiking sandals. If given the opportunity, I will always hike in sandals, kayak in sandals, wander around town in sandals, travel with sandals…If it’s warmer than 65ºF, you better believe I am in sandals. Even in the southwest where spiders, snakes, and cacti abound, you’ll still find me in hiking sandals. So we tested 6 of the best hiking sandals on the market and broke down the pros and cons of each to help you figure out which ones are right for you whether you’re an avid sandal adventurer or just looking for the perfect pair for close-to-home activities. (Bonus: They’re all sustainable and vegan, too!)

You’re probably familiar with the concept of synthetic shirts, packs and more being made of recycled water bottles, milk jugs, etc. (like Shredly mountain bike apparel, many UPF sun shirts, even sunglasses), but Patagonia has a whole line of clothing and gear made of recycled fishing nets saved from an environmentally disastrous watery grave! It’s the Patagonia NetPlus line. And here’s why it’s a big deal.

Meet SHREDLY: Sustainable mountain bike clothing by women, for women, in rad colors and patterns, that stays put and has tons of pockets. Because ladies like to tear up some single track, too, and we want better gear in which to do it. Check out our full review to see what we thought of it (and check out all the fun colors and patterns)!