Hiking

If you find yourself in Aspen or its surrounds during ski season, but downhill skiing isn’t really your thing, fear not! There are plenty of winter hikes near Aspen to keep you occupied. Just lace up those waterproof boots, grab some traction devices or snowshoes, and hit the snowy trails! You’ll get epic views, great photo ops, and have a great time on uncrowded paths that don’t require expensive lift tickets or waiting in long lines. Here are 5 winter hikes near Aspen, all within a 45 minute drive (give or take).

Fredericksburg, Texas, located centrally within the state in a region warmnly known as Hill Country, is known far and wide for its wine. Dozens and dozens of wineries call Fredericksburg home and a drive into town from Austin or San Antonio will take you past many of them. In the spring, wildflowers pop up everywhere and in the fall you may even spot a few fall colors on the deciduous trees. But whether you’re headed to Fredericksburg for the wine or the German heritage or the holiday festivities, if you find yourself getting a little antsy and eager to explore, these hikes near Fredericksburg will not disappoint.

There are a pair of shiny new hiking pants for women on the market and they. Are. Legit. Why? They are designed to finally give anyone who has to pee sitting down the chance to laugh directly in the face of the patriarchy. Why? How? They allow women to pee in the outdoors with their pants still 100% on and their privacy protected. Got your attention? We thought so. Well, buckle up, because we’re gonna talk about these new SheFly Go Anywhere Pants, what we thought of them, and whether they’re worth the price right here, right now.

Winter is coming. (Sorry, I had to…) And that means it will soon be time to gird your feet in more insulated, protective shoes. (Permit me a moment of mourning as I put away my hiking sandals…) And that means it’s time to break out the winter hiking boots! But if you’re concerned with sustainability and/or are searching for warm vegan hiking boots, the pickings are slim to say the least. So we did some digging to find the best sustainable and vegan winter hiking boots on the market this season. These three are tops in our book!

I freaking love hiking sandals. If given the opportunity, I will always hike in sandals, kayak in sandals, wander around town in sandals, travel with sandals…If it’s warmer than 65ºF, you better believe I am in sandals. Even in the southwest where spiders, snakes, and cacti abound, you’ll still find me in hiking sandals. So we tested 6 of the best hiking sandals on the market and broke down the pros and cons of each to help you figure out which ones are right for you whether you’re an avid sandal adventurer or just looking for the perfect pair for close-to-home activities. (Bonus: They’re all sustainable and vegan, too!)

Think you might want to go on a solo backpacking trip? We highly recommend it! It offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the outdoors at your own pace, listen to the sounds of nature, make new trail friends, and enjoy some quiet time with just you and your thoughts. I’m a big fan. But not everyone feels comfortable hiking or backpacking alone, especially women. But it’s not just women who are often afraid to embark upon a solo hiking adventure: people of color and LGBTQIA+ folks, even men from time to time, often feel uneasy on their own in the outdoors, too. Fortunately, there are ways to assuage that fear and go boldly into the backcountry with no company but your own. Here are a few tips on how to safely hike alone.

Winter is a phenomenal time to get outdoors to explore. There are fewer people crowding trails, it’s quieter, the views are spectacular, and frankly, snow makes everything more magical. But if you don’t have the right gear, getting out to hike in snowy or icy conditions can seem scary. But it doesn’t have to! All you need are the right tools and gear to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground (literally). And that means hiking spikes. But if you’re wondering what kind of traction devices you need for winter hiking, we’ll break down the three main types, right here, right now.

The perfect headlamp is a thing of beauty: It should be bright, comfortable, not too heavy, and small enough to stash in your pocket or backpack for a quick trip. So we rounded up the best of the best. Here are our favorite ultralight headlamps; the 6 best headlamps for backpacking, climbing, late-night kayaking, you name it, all under 3 ounces.

Avid outdoorists are often guilty of getting so immersed in the culture of outdoor recreation that we throw around technical and highly specialized terms as if the whole world uses them in casual conversation. Usually, they don’t. Sorry about that. So we thought we’d throw together a quick backpacking dictionary full of commonly used hiking terms so if you’re new to the whole trail slang thang, you can nod knowingly when someone talks about getting beta for their thru-hike where they might have to do some bushwhacking and hope they don’t have to call SAR if they lose sight of the cairns. See what we mean? So read up and a carry on a hiking convo like a pro!

I know, I know. When we first learned that Counter Assault bear spray was more eco-friendly, we were all, whaaaat? Can bear spray even be NON environmentally friendly? So we dug in to learn more. Here’s what we found.