At Terradrift, we prioritize reducing overconsumption and buying versatile products to lessen the massive amount of waste created by the outdoor and apparel industries. It’s far more sustainable to own one item that can do five things well than five items that each do one thing well (also, it makes more room in our closet to store luggage…). So when we learned about the Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG, a minimalist barefoot hiking boot billed as sustainable, lightweight, water-resistant, ultra-flexible, and hyper-versatile, we were intrigued. So we tested them out to see if they lived up to the hype.

If you’re in the market for a robust GPS training watch, the Polar Grit X2 Pro GPS watch might be on your radar. After all, it’s not only new, but Polar’s top-of-the-line offering. But is it feature-rich and functional or a flop? We got our hands on one to test it out ourselves so we could highlight the features, pros and cons of this watch to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you and your training style.

We love mountain biking here at Terradrift. Hiking and backpacking may be our first loves, but boy did we fall head over heels for riding on dirt on a pair of wheels! So naturally, we were keen to discover what sustainable bike gear and apparel existed to make every ride more enjoyable (and safe). Here’s some of our favorite sustainable mountain bike gear and clothing this year!

In the list of states long overlooked when it comes to hiking, biking and outdoor adventure, West Virginia ranks pretty high on the list. But for those who know, this little state that’s as much the north of the south as it is the south of the north is brimming with wide open spaces to explore. There are tons of wilderness areas, state parks, and forests to get lost in (please don’t get lost), so we recently headed to Tucker County, home to Blackwater Falls, Canaan Valley, and Dolly Sods, to see what makes the region so special. Here’s how to spend a long weekend to a week biking, chasing waterfalls, and hiking in West Virginia.

It’s time for the annual REI 4th of July Sale! Which means great deals on tons of camping and backpacking gear. Here’s 12 of our favorites.

If you’ve been hanging around Terradrift for very long, you know that we’re all about ultralight backpacking. It’s one of our favorite things to do (along with mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking, of course). And we’ve tested a lot of great ultralight backpacking gear, including two standout packs: the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 and the Light AF ECOPAK Curve 40. But we decided it’s high time to test them back to back, side-by-side in the ultimate ultralight backpack showdown: LiteAF vs Gossamer Gear! Find out which pack reins supreme.

We’re all about backpacking here at Terradrift. Specifically ultralight backpacking. So we took a bunch of UL gear out on the Allegheny Trail in West Virginia in late spring conditions to see how light we could get our packs and how the gear performed. Here’s what we carried.

Until two years ago, when I attended PCT Days in Cascade Locks and then spent a few days on the Pacific Crest Trail with a thru-hiker friend of mine, I had never been to the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood area. But it was perhaps even more captivating than what I had seen and experienced in other areas of Oregon. So I couldn’t wait to return and explore the outdoor adventure opportunities and hikes near Hood River and nearby Mt. Hood. After all, the Columbia River is wide and impressive, the sun bright, the mountain views pretty dang spectacular, and the trails abundant. So we recently spent a few days exploring, hiking, biking, and discovering some of what there is to do in the region (mostly where trails are concerned). Spoilers: we found plenty. So if you’re ready to plan your own adventure, here are some of our favorite hikes near Hood River and Mt. Hood!

Trail running. It’s what makes running bearable, in our opinion. 😅 Seriously, though, it wasn’t until I ran on dirt (as opposed to cement sidewalks or asphalt streets) that I realized running could be fun. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the scenery, the distraction that come with moving fast (or at least semi-fast) over uneven terrain make an activity I always thought I hated…fun! Now I look forward to lacing up my shoes and hitting the trails to see how much elevation I can gain in an hour and how the mountains outside my window change from season to season (and sometimes week to week). And if trail running is more than an occasional hobby, if it’s your passion, the right clothing and gear can make a big difference. So if you’re ready to level up your trail running wardrobe and tech game, these are some of our favorite pieces of sustainable trail running gear to get you pumped to head outdoors.

We shout a lot about barefoot shoes here at Terradrift. But that’s because we believe in the concept not just as a more comfortable and freeing way to exist in the world, but as a way to promote better foot function, balance, stability, and natural movement. After all, our feet were designed to move just the way they are, without all the extra support and cushioning (and the decidedly non foot-shaped design of modern footwear), so let’s let them! So if you’re headed out on a hike soon, check out what we think are the best barefoot hiking boots and shoes in town and free your feet.