Gear

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: your mom may say she loves flowers and candy, but you know what she’d rather have? Sweet outdoor gear that lasts longer than 48 hours and doesn’t attract stinging insects or have to be shared with her children. We’re not moms ourselves, but we’ve asked around, and we’re pretty sure this is a universal truth. So ditch the same lame gifts you get her every year and surprise her with a gift that rocks (and shows her you really love her and want her to be able to play outside more). Need some ideas? Check out our Mother’s Day gift guide for 10 awesome gifts for outdoorsy moms. Then get out there together and wander on this Mother’s Day.

We’re big fans of Big Agnes. We love their tents because they’re ultralight and awesome. We love them more now that they’ve started using solution dying because they’re even more sustainable. So it makes sense that we’d want to try out some of their other gear, too. Namely, their sustainable synthetic sleeping bags: The women’s Sunbeam and Men’s Lost Dog. Wanna know what we thought? Read or watch for our full Big Agnes sleeping bag review.

Want a sleeping bag that does more? Why wouldn’t you?! Because one bag for three seasons is a beautiful thing. Allow us to introduce you to the UST Monarch: a multifunctional sleeping bag that can take you from spring to summer to fall camping (plus cozy evenings by the fireside) without missing a beat. Read (or watch) all about it in this here UST Monarch review.

We’re always pleased to see more brands offering high quality and leather-free shoes. So we were stoked to try out a pair of Vasque Breeze LT GTX hiking boots. We were even more stoked to discover how comfy and light they are! Wanna know more? Of course you do! Read or watch for our Vasque Breeze review.

If there’s one thing that savvy climbers never buy used, it’s climbing rope. After all, a rope’s job is literally to save your life; you don’t want some weathered length of cord that might not be able to handle the shock of a fall or two. But most climbing rope, like harnesses, isn’t sustainable, so eco-conscious climbers may feel just a pang of guilt every time they have to buy another 60 meters of brand new rope (and what to do with the old one?!). Not anymore. Because these sustainable climbing ropes prove form, function and sustainability (uh, also safety) can go hand-in hand.

It’s time for another giveaway!!! Spring has arrived, which means it’s time to pack up and go! Hit the trail! Book a campsite! Sleep outside! But don’t forget the sustainable essentials when you head out the door! Fortunately, we’ve got you covered in that department with our Pack Up and Go Giveaway!⁠ Enter now because it ends April 2!

A Tent footprint: maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you’re all what even is that? Maybe you wouldn’t be caught dead pitching your tent without one. Maybe you’ve decided to finally figure out once and for all if a footprint is even worth it. Well, whatever your position on tent footprints (or ground cloths or tarps or whatever you prefer to call them), their use is a source of hot debate in the outdoor community. So let’s settle the great footprint debate once and for all, shall we?

Gone are the days of baggy zip-offs, cheap nylon fabrics, and ill-fitting hiking pants. Welcome to the age of trail to tavern hiking pants: coverage for your legs that doesn’t look like you just returned from 9 months studying worm habitats in the Amazon. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. We’re big fans of worm habitats and the people who study them. Or we would be if we ever met them. But many of us prefer something a little more stylish and versatile these days. Namely, hiking pants that function as well on the trail or on the river or at the crag as they do heading out for drinks or dinner or tapas afterward. Because who wants to go home to change after a little ‘ol day hike just so the restaurant host doesn’t seat you at that corner table right next to the bathroom? And who doesn’t love a single pair of pants that can do it all? So don a pair of these stylish and sustainable hiking pants and enjoy wherever your adventure takes you.

We’ve noticed a trend taking root recently. Maybe you have, too: Stark white gear. White sleeping bags and tents and backpacks and more. But if our mothers taught us anything, it’s that white gets filthy, and fast, right? And outdoor activities certainly aren’t free from filth. So why are gear manufacturers ignoring this fact and starting to offer stark white, undyed outdoor gear that will definitely get smudged and sullied their first time out? Because they respect the planet, that’s why.

It’s quick! It’s easy! It pops up in 2 seconds…ish…It’s the Decathlon 2-second Easy Tent! And this car camping tent might be the easiest to set up, highest quality tent out there for all your car camping adventures. This thing is made of high-quality materials, can withstand wind, rain, and whatever other elements Mother Nature might throw at it, and–here’s the kicker–it’s made with blackout fabric for a dark, private sleeping experience outdoors! I know, right?! Read on to learn all about it and what we thought of the tent.