Gear

Listen, when it comes to gifts around the holidays, we think less is more. We don’t want special holiday gift sets that come with an ornament declaring the year (it’s been a dumpster fire of a year, anyway, and we’d prefer not to commemorate it), bath products that smell like your third grader was experimenting with essential oils, or stuff we neither want nor need. We’re not about the materialism of the holiday, but just the same, we love receiving a quality, well-thought-out gift that fits seamlessly into our lifestyle as much as the next guy. And we figure plenty of our fellow outdoor lovers agree. So skip the random Amazon finds and the stuff you found at a craft fair that “made you think of them” (you know who you are, moms around the world), and get them something they’ll not only actually like, but can put to good use on their next hike, camping trip, backpacking adventure, or that they’ll want to make room for in their trusty van. These are those gifts. So what are you waiting for? Win the holidays this year with less waste and materialism (no matter what holiday you’re celebrating).

The number one reason people don’t want to go camping in the winter? The cold. But don’t let the thermometer dictate when you get outside and play; learn about R-values and how to sleep warmer while winter backpacking with these insulated sleeping pads designed for the fourth season (and to keep your butt from freezing).

Since Black Friday isn’t going to look much like, well, Black Friday this year what with holiday shipping expecting to be delayed and far fewer in-person shopping extravaganzas, outdoor retailers are gearing up for online sales early this November. That’s good news for those of us who are determined to get holiday shopping done early this year (or maybe just reeeeeeally want to score some good deals on winter camping gear for ourselves). So we rounded up the best early Black Friday deals on outdoor gear and put them all in one place: right in this here handy dandy list. Read on to get shopping!

Winter is coming. And yeah, that oft-quoted phrase carries extra negative connotations this year (thanks, COVID). But the one thing it’s always mean: it’s gonna get cold. Even down here in Texas where, I kid you not, the high today is 44º. (Don’t laugh! That’s cold for those of us who can’t run far enough south to escape cold weather!) And though winter means more people will likely be hiding indoors this season, that’s certainly not necessary. In fact, for quiet, secluded trails and lots of vacancies at campgrounds, winter is a great time to get outside and beat the crowds. But the key to keeping the cold at bay during outdoor activities this season: our outdoor guide to layering.

Making sustainable choices when it comes to climbing gear is tough. Because your life is literally on the line (as in, the whole point of climbing is that you’re dangling off a cliff face on a line), you only want gear made of the highest quality materials. That means it’s not usually a great idea to buy used gear, especially where ropes and harnesses are concerned. It’s also why you can’t typically return climbing gear if you decide you don’t like it that well; stores simply can’t resell it. And while you can sometimes find a pair of barely used shoes or a harness that was used twice in a gym on the REI used gear section or some such, new climbing gear is usually the way to go. But if your most sustainable option for buying gear is out, how to you find the most eco-friendly climbing harnesses? We’ll show you the 3 most sustainable climbing harnesses on the market this year so you can feel good about buying new.

It’s almost spring! That means it’s nearly time to shed the oversized parkas and trade them in for lighter, less bulky outerwear! Huzzah! But not all jackets are created equal. So we wrangled 6 sustainable jackets that are perfect for spring so you can step out in eco-friendly, outdoorsy style this season. OK, so it may not quite be windbreaker weather where you are yet, but it will be soon, so if you’re itching to say sayonara to snow and ‘sup to spring flowers and showers and slightly warmer weather, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared! So gear up and stay warm and dry out there on all your spring adventures!

I’m a sucker for a good outdoor blanket. A soft, cozy, durable blanket that can accompany me on all of my adventures. Fortunately, there are several brands making not only high quality outdoor blankets, but sustainable ones, too. And since so many of the are so much more than basic rectangles of fabric, you better believe they’ll be perfect for everything from backpacking in the mountains to weekend camping trips to picnics in the park and outdoor movies on the lawn. So if you’ll be adventuring outdoors this season (or any season), check out these sweet sustainable outdoor blankets designed with adventure in mind.

Here at Terradrift, we’re always on the lookout for the perfect bag for travel. And no lie, that’s a pretty tall order. Of course, “the perfect bag” will look different for everyone–someone on a luxury vacation in Europe is NOT gonna be considering the same bags as someone backpacking through South America for three months–but for those of us who prefer to shoulder a pack rather than roll around a suitcase and carry on our luggage instead of trusting it to those black holes at the airport where luggage disappears and–finger crossed–eventually comes back out again, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Del Día bag may be the perfect travel bag, especially if you consider sustainability a top priority.

Like organization? And durable luggage? In classic (but totally not boring) colors? Have we got a bag for you! It’s the 40L Topo Designs Travel Bag and it. Is. Legit. So if you’re in the market for a new bag for all kinds of travel (business, road trips, international, short and sweet visits with your in-laws…) read (or watch) to learn all about it, including what we thought of this organizational and customizable travel backpack!

Yeah, yeah, I know summer is basically over, but down here in the south and southwest where 5 out of 7 days are still above 85º, we’ve still got a lot of toasty hikes ahead of us. And while we are personally masochistic (or desperate?) enough to head out into dry, sweltering summer temps to hike shade-less trails with naught but a few Nalgenes full of water, we recently discovered a piece of gear that makes those outings exceeding less miserable: The ExtremeMist Personal Cooling System (PCS). And we’re gonna tell you all about the whole misting-and-hydration-in-one in this here review.