Gear

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.

Underwear. They’re a fact of life. But most of them aren’t made of particularly eco-friendly or comfortable materials. So what’s a girl to do when she’s constantly on the go or hitting the trail on her next epic adventure or even just lounging around the house? Fill that underwear drawer with the most comfortable and sustainable underwear for women that she can find, that’s what. We’ve even done the legwork for you and researched the 3 best of the best in that department. So read on and, when it’s time to replace the old for the new, try these on for size.

We get excited about a lot of gear here at Terradrift, but we may never have gotten as excited as we got when our Tentsile Connect arrived at our door. I mean, until that point, we had only drilled over photos online and debated whether we should go for it and get one of our own. Because, honestly, we have a great tent and we love our Kammok Mantis camping hammock, so how many sleep setups do we really need? At least one more, that’s how many. And we’ll tell you why it immediately became our very favorite camping equipment the first time we hopped up into that open, airborne structure in this here Tensile review.

Let’s talk about underwear. It’s not weird. We all wear them. Well, most of us wear them. If that’s not you, well, feel free to totally disregard this article. But for the rest of us, underwear is a necessity that many of us don’t give a second thought to when it comes to sustainability. But if you’re seeking out the most eco-friendly sleeping bag insulation, organic cotton jackets, recycled polyester bags, and Bluesign Approved hiking pants, doesn’t it make sense to gird your loins in eco-friendly undies, too? Well, luckily for you, we’ve rounded up 3 of the most comfortable and sustainable underwear for men that you’ll ever own so you can reduce your footprint, all while you keep what needs supporting, well, supported. You know, without all the constant adjusting and itchy fabric and chafing and what not…

It’s almost Labor Day! That means it’s time for some epic Labor Day sales on outdoor gear! While some stores will be offering in-store deals and shopping, this year seems like a good time to do our shopping online. So here are all the best outdoor gear sales we could find this Labor Day (most sales run until September 7). And make sure to check back as the long weekend approaches, ’cause we’ll update this post as sales are published! Happy shopping!

When it comes to sustainable outdoor gear and clothing, we love companies who care about the materials they use and the footprints they leave. Brands like Patagonia, BioLite, Toad&Co and Cotopaxi. But while buying new gear from brands who care about the planet is an excellent choice, there’s another option that’s even more eco-friendly (and cost-effective): buying used gear and clothing. Here’s why (and how).

It’s still summer. In fact, we’re sliding into August, which is typically the hottest month of the year in most places in the Northern Hemisphere. Which means if you’re playing/hiking/cycling/backpacking outside, you’re probably sweating. A lot. And a lot of sweat means your body is losing a lot of H20 (and other stuff). Which means your risk of dehydration is higher. So you need to drink more water. But here’s the thing: if you’re out working hard and sweating for over an hour at a time, your body needs more than water to keep itself functioning properly. It needs salt and minerals like potassium. It needs electrolytes. But not all electrolytes are created equal. So if you’re looking for better electrolyte drink mixes without all the artificial color, flavor, additives or sweeteners, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 sports hydration mixes that aren’t Gatorade so you can hydrate and keep wandering on.

Does anyone like DEET anymore? I mean, I know people who swear by it, and it’s certainly proven effective, but nobody likes it, right? By now, we all know that it dissolves plastic (and rayon and spandex…). And frankly, anything that does that to synthetics, I’m not too keen to inhale and spread all over my largest organ (that’s skin, for those of you who have forgotten 7th-grade science class), even if the EPA has cleared it as a safe and effective insect repellent. But what are the alternatives? And do they work as well? We’ll break them down in this round-up of the 5 best DEET-free bug spray brands for those of us who would prefer to skip the harmful chemicals.

Looking to gear up this holiday weekend? Stock the ol’ gear closet? Well, the timing is right, because the 4th is always brimming with stellar sales and we’ve rounded up the best of the 4th of July sales. So start browsing and enjoy the best sales on outdoor gear this week (which we’ll update as the holiday approaches)!

Want to get into backpacking? We understand why. The call of the wild, sleeping under a canopy of stars, communing with nature, testing your survival skills, it’s a balm to the soul. But a lot of folks aren’t sure where to start when it comes to preparing for their first backpacking trip. Well, fortunately for you, we’ve put together this handy list of 10 backpacking essentials to help you on your way in our first of a series of Backpacking 101 posts. So gear up and wander on!