Gear

Grid fleece: it’s all the rage these days. And for good reason. It’s cozy, lightweight, comfortable, wicks sweat, and is perfect for active outdoor pursuits. And yes, it can even be part of a good winter layering strategy. And if you love outdoor apparel, especially grid fleece, chances are you’ve heard of Melanzana, the small Colorado brand that’s based in Leadville. Do they make fun and functional grid fleece? Absolutely. But are they easy to get? Absolutely not. Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives and, guess what? You can buy them online! We rounded up some of our faves to help you decide which grid fleece is right for you.

We’re big fans of snowshoeing. We love hitting quiet, powdery trails no one else is on, layering up, and hiking to enjoy a snack and a hot beverage with a view (and we always bring a hot beverage). Do empty trails, wildlife sightings, and stunning scenery sound good to you, too? Then gear up! ‘Cause snowshoeing offers it all. But if you’re not sure what to wear snowshoeing or what gear you need, allow us to recommend some of our favorite clothing and gear for the task. Bonus: it’s all more sustainable than your average tech shirt.

We’ve always loved hiking and backpacking here at Terradrift. In fact, those activities were our first loves when it comes to outdoor adventure. But we love to try new things and explore, challenge ourselves and learn new skills. So when we finally moved to the mountains in Utah, we knew it was time to add one more outdoor sport to our repertoire: snowboarding. But being a beginner snowboarder can feel daunting. There’s so much to learn and so much specialized gear required! Here’s all the snowboard gear you need and why and how to pick out the best beginner gear so you can kick the season off right.

We love Gnara’s Go There Hiking Pants with the brilliant extra pee zipper designed for people who squat to pee. But do the new leggings also impress? We put them to the test to see if they fly or fail.

Snowshoes. We love ’em. They allow us to get outside and blaze trails all winter long, no matter how much white powder covers the route. Indeed, we’re convinced they’re an essential piece of gear every outdoorist should keep in their closet. But with so many options to choose from (and so many price points!), how can one possibly be convinced they’re getting the best snowshoes for the money? We recently tested two pairs of snowshoes from MSR and will help you map out the differences, plus answer some of your burning questions, like what snowshoes to buy, if expensive snowshoes are worth it, or which MSR snowshoes are the best of the best. Read on.

Keen to ride 100 miles on rocky, dusty dirt track and off-road trails, climb 7,097 feet of elevation, camp in the desert with no water availability, and sit on a bike saddle for something like 14 hours over three days or so? Then you’re ready for bikepacking White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park.

It’s that time of year, again! Time for the annual REI Cyber Week Sale! Which means tons of camping and backpacking gear is on sale! So we rounded up 10 items we think are worth a look AND can be bought with a solid discount this holiday season. Bonus: these items are also more sustainable options. So if you need some new gear, now’s the time. Just make sure to shop between November 30-December 9.

‘Tis the season to shove goodies into oversized socks hanging from a mantle that hopefully won’t result in a house fire! (By which I mean it’s the holiday season; time to stuff some stockings…) But Outdoorsy folks can be hard to shop for, especially because we definitely don’t need ANOTHER spork or pocket-sized multi-tool (please don’t get us another spork…). Fortunately, being avid outdoorists ourselves, we know a little something about what hikers, campers, cyclists and kayakers WOULD love to find in a stocking hung by the chimney with care, so we made this handy list of outdoor stocking stuffers for outdoor enthusiasts. You’re bound to find something they’ll love.

It’s that time again, folks! (Yeah, yeah, I know, don’t remind us…) ‘Tis the season of consumerism! Personally, this time of year isn’t our favorite, and we could do without all the obsessive shopping and buying crap just because you think you have to (you totally don’t), but there is something to be said about a thoughtful, useful gift passed along to someone you love that shows them how much they mean to you and that you know them well enough to gift them something they’ll love. But that’s easier said than done! Especially if the people you love are outdoorsy (we tend to be fairly particular about our gear). So if you need some ides to get you started, here are 10 of the best gifts for outdoorsy folks this year. And yes, we’ve tested all of them and they get the Terradrift stamp of approval. Just shop responsibly, and spend some time outdoors with friends and loved ones this season.

It’s that time of year again: Shopping season. Time to scour the internet for not only gifts, but the best black Friday camping deals on hiking or kayaking gear, tents, stoves, and all things outdoors. Indeed, if there’s one time to replace that worn-out fleece or buy your first hybrid jacket, it may very well be now. So we’ve rounded up some of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) outdoor deals to help you save.