We a good ultralight backpacking tent here at Terradrift. Any ultralight backpacking gear, really. So we couldn’t have been more stoked to get our hands on the Durston X-Mid 2. We put it to the test recently to see if it was impressive enough to replace our beloved UL Big Agnes Tiger Wall. Spoilers: It sure the heck is. Read or watch to find out how and why.
They’re shorts! You can pee in! Yup! If you were stunned and amazed and oh-so-impressed with our Gnara Go There Pant review, then you’re in for a treat, because this summer, the brand launched our new fave pair of hiking shorts, the Gnara Go There Short: shorts you don’t have to remove in order to pee outside, even if your anatomy dictates that you have to squat to pee. So if the idea of shorts intrigue and delight you, read or watch, fellow sit-to-pee-er. You’re gonna dig these.
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but we’ve gotten really into mountain biking over the last year here at Terradrift. Apparently that happens when you move to Northwest Arkansas, home of the mountain bike capital of the world. And we’re all-in. So we tried out the Sena M1 Evo mountain bike helmet, complete with Bluetooth tech and the brand’s famous Mesh intercom system. Here’s what we thought.
Whether you’re backpacking, bikepacking, trail running, cycling, or whatever the heck else it is you do, it’s kinda important to keep your body fueled and engine running. Almost as important as staying hydrated. But a lot of easy, tasty options out there for fueling quickly on the go aren’t vegan, including some energy gummies and chews (many contain gelatin, which is made of fish or animal bones). Fortunately, there are some baller and delicious vegan energy chews out there for the plant-based crowd. Huzzah! Here are 5 that we’ve tried and why we dig ’em.
Allow me to introduce you to the tolerably ultralight, totally undyed Crown 3 60L backpack from Granite Gear, a backpacking pack I’ve been wanting to get my hands on for quite some time now. Firstly, because I’m a huge fan of undyed gear (it’s more sustainable that conventionally dyed gear, plus stands out in a crowd–and in photos–and is stupendously fun to get filthy). So to test it out for ourselves, we took it on a backpacking trip to Grand Teton National Park to see how it performed Here’s what we thought after we both carried it for several days over mountainous terrain.
Anyone who’s been hangin’ around Terradrift for more than about 10 minutes is likely aware that I’m a big fan of barefoot shoes. I’ve reviewed lots of them, from sandals to boots to trail runners. And at this point, it’s safe to say I’m all in on barefoot hiking boots. So I thought it was high time we compared the Vivobarfoot Magna Lite SG with the Xero Shoes Scrambler Mid. I tested them both out, so let’s dish about how they differ and who’s gonna wanna check out which one.
There’s a new ultralight backpack in town and it’s kicking it’s predecessor to the curb: the Ultralight Osprey Eja 55 Pro, also available as a men’s version, called the Exos, and it’s not only the newest Osprey ultralight backpack, it’s replacing their old one: the Levity (for men) and Lumina (for women). But is that a good thing? We tested them both to find out.
Summer is just about everyone’s favorite time to get outside to play. Days are long, afternoons are warm, and road trips, camping, and all manner of outdoorsy activities are on the schedule! Whatever you’ve got planned, the right gear can make all the difference. So here are 10 of our favorite pieces of outdoor gear for summer, tested and approved by Terradrift.
It’s summer! And that means the sun’s out, it’s hot, and you gotta protect those peepers (just like you do your skin) from UV! But not all sunglasses are created equal. Those cheap gas station varieties may be everywhere, but if you want a pair of shades that respects Mother Nature as much as you do, consider one of these pairs of adventure-ready, sustainable sunglasses instead.
Backpack coolers. Every adventurer needs one. Ideally, it would be made of sustainable materials and from an environmentally responsible brand. But those options are few and far between. Fortunately, we found 4 rad options for every type of outdoor adventure. So whether you’re kayaking, camping, hiking, or just hoofing it around an outdoor music festival, these sustainable backpack coolers promise to keep your six packs and tofu wraps chilled for hours, no matter where you wander.