Gear

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!

It’s summer! Which means a lot of folks will be heading out to the river/lake/ocean/stream or whatever body of water is nearby for some aquatic fun and recreation. Personally, we’ve been taking our kayaks out since January, but we live in Texas so we can do that without full wetsuits. But if you’re new to kayaking or think it’s about time to level-up your water recreation game, you may be wondering what to bring kayaking when you head to the launch site. Well fear not! Because we’ve compiled a checklist of kayaking essentials so you can go prepared!

Dads love new toys. It’s a fact. And no, ties and monogramed golf balls don’t count as toys, so stop giving him that crap for Father’s Day. Step up your gift-giving game this year and solidify your place as his favorite child using this Father’s Day gift guide with the 10 best gifts for outdoorsy dads of all stripes. He’ll love you forever. We guarantee it.

Now that summer is nearly here, it’s time to break out the hiking sandals! Here are the 4 best adventure sandals of 2020!

When it’s time to shop for a new sleeping bag, there are two main considerations for selecting the right bag for you: type of insulation and temperature rating. Every bag has the latter, usually right in the name of the bag, but those numbers may not mean what you think they mean. In fact, they could be up to 20º off, meaning you could be spending a very chilly night in the woods if you’re not careful! So allow us to enlighten you. Right here, right now, we’ll break down sleeping bag temperature ratings and help you find the right sleeping bag for you by explaining what the temperature ratings actually mean. That way, you can sleep comfortably in the great outdoors any time of year.

It’s Memorial Day! The unofficial start to summer! And while yeah, it looks a lot friggin’ different this year, if you need to gear up for late summer excursions or backyard camping trips, now is the time to do it! Here are the best Memorial Day deals on outdoor and camping gear this year!

Maybe this is the first time you’re hearing of BioLite. Maybe you’re a fan from afar but haven’t yet acquired any of their dope, eco-friendly products. Maybe we can help with that. We recently tried out the BioLite CampStove 2 Bundle and if you were hoping for a review, wish granted. We’ll break down what’s included, how it functions, and who might want to grab one for themselves in this here review. So grab the popcorn and watch the vid or read on to find out more!

We absolutely love to highlight amazing, sustainable brands and gear that are better for the planet, care about their footprint, and promise to last for years. But the absolute best way to make sustainable gear choices is simply to keep using the gear you already have. It reduces the number of virgin materials required to create new gear but also keeps older materials that don’t readily biodegrade out of landfills. Win-win. But how do you keep using old gear when it’s starting to show its age? Repair it, of course! We’ll show you how in this guide to basic outdoor gear repair and maintenance.

While I admit I generally reach for my adventure sandals first when heading out for a day hike and my super light Altra Lone Peak shoes for weekend backpacking trips, some excursions require a bit more boot to protect, support, and keep you truckin’ along after miles and days of rough trail, mountain summits, and creek crossings. Which is what the Altra Tushar hiking boots were made for. So here’s our Altra Tushar review: A full breakdown of performance, comfort, and design!

Time to show mom some love. But forget the flowers and candy. Get her something she’ll really enjoy from our Mother’s Day gift guide for outdoorsy moms.