Gear

The minute I donned my crisp new bibs and jacket, I knew they were gonna rock. The materials were top notch, they left room for layering, and daaaang, they looked good. Plus: the pockets! But it wasn’t until after hours of skiing in below-freezing temps that I realized just how awesome this new kit was. So yes, as we near the end of the season, I finally found my favorite new ski kit. Here’s why it’s so rad, from fit and functionality to sustainability an material technology.

You know we’re big fans of barefoot shoes here at Terradrift. We love barefoot hiking boots, barefoot sandals, and barefoot shoes for daily wear. But one category we haven’t focused on yet is sustainable waterproof barefoot hiking boots for cool weather! So we did some digging, tested a few pairs in the cold and snow, and share what we think of them right here, right now.

When it comes to getting kitted for skiing and snowboarding, there may not be a more fun piece of gear or apparel to shop for than ski goggles. The strap patterns! The colors! The mirrored lenses! I mean, we love a solid insulated jacket, but if you know how passionate we are about sustainable sunglasses, it should come as no surprise that we’re almost as easily excited by sustainable ski goggles. So we did some digging to find a selection of more eco-friendly snowboard goggles, put them to the test, and are gonna let you know how they performed, how sustainable they are, what size faces they’re gonna work best for and more, right here, right now. So read on, and protect those peepers when you’re out on the snow.

What’s a hiker to do when shopping for trekking poles and one is twenty bucks and the other is $200? What? What they heck is the difference to require such a massive price difference? And are expensive trekking poles even worth it? We break it all down to help you decide if you should save your hard-earned cash for other gear or splurge on fancy new sticks.

If there’s one piece of gear or article of clothing that’s universally necessary come wintertime whether you’re hiking, skiing, or building a snowman in the backyard, it’s winter gloves or mittens. After all, fingers are delicate little appendages and need to be protected! But not all hand coverings are created equal, especially if you’re looking for options that are sustainable, vegan, and PFAS-free (read more about PFAS here). Fortunately, we found a bunch of delightfully cozy, sustainable winter gloves and mittens that are all of the above and more so you can gear up responsibly.

Merrell recently released the new Merrell Trail Glove 7. But is it an improvement on the Merrell Trail Glove 6, which we reviewed a while back? We tested a pair to find out.

It’s a debate as old as time itself (ok, maybe just as old as modern DWR technology, but still, the debate rages): Shell vs insulated ski jacket. Which is better when it comes to winter sports? An insulated ski jacket? Or a non-insulated shell jacket? We break down the pros and cons of both and what each is best for (and which one is superior).

Not all day packs are created equal. But some daypacks are so similar to their competitors that when it comes time to purchase a new one, you’re not really sure …

A sturdy, dependable duffle is a beautiful thing. We compare two–the Patagonia Black Hole and the Cotopaxi Allpa–to see which is tops.

Watch this video directly on YouTube. Barefoot shoes. We freaking love them here at Terradrift. And when it comes to barefoot shoes, we’ve tested a lot because I’m all in …