Search results for: travel

We love mountain bike apparel of all kinds and for all seasons, but padded bike chamois may be the most universally important item of clothing to get right if you want to enjoy long, comfortable rides that don’t leave your sit bones so sore you can’t sit on a park bench without wincing for three days. So we tested a handful of more sustainable options of padded cycling shorts for women to help you decide where to invest your gear dollars. We’ll break down how comfy each option is, whether it stays put like it should, what types of rides each is best for, and how much squish you can expect from the padding. And yes, we tested them all, so you can be confident in our review.

There’s a whole wide-spread saying about cotton and other plant-based fibers in the outdoor industry: Cotton kills. Which might lead one to believe it should be avoided at all costs for any and every outdoor adventure. But is that really the case? Should you truly avoid it at all costs, or can it sometimes be the right choice for hiking, biking, or other outdoor activities? We’ll dive into the pros and cons of hiking in plant-based fibers like cotton, bamboo, and hemp so you can make the right (and the safe) decision.

When I head into the mountains, either the Wasatch range near my home, the Austrian or Swiss Alps, or the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, I am always moved. Sure, I love to move fast and summit peaks as much as the next outdoor lover, but for years immersing myself in nature has been as much about the peace and calm I find there, enjoying the majestic scenery, and taking time to bear witness to the power of nature. But when I got to go to Alberta, Canada recently and spend time in the Rockies around Banff and Jasper (the tailbone of Turtle Island–a.k.a. North America), the wonder I have always felt in the outdoors was amplified each time I set out to explore with the region’s Indigenous guides. Here are 5 Indigenous tours I heartily recommend in the area.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Whether you don’t like to hike or travel solo, can’t convince anyone from your friends or family group to join you on an exploratory hiking trip, or you simply like the camaraderie and all-inclusive pre-planned schedule group trips offer, a fully guided group trip may be for you. And if you love the outdoors, chances are you’ve heard about REI Adventures trips, which are packed with hiking, camping, lodges, and plenty of other outdoorsy fun. But are REI Adventures worth it (or any group hiking trip, for that matter)? I recently joined REI on their Sedona, Arizona luxury hiking trip to see what these sorts of experiences are all about and who is sure to enjoy them (and who probably won’t).