I’m a pretty particular person when it comes to things that go on my head. I had a bunch of beanies accumulating around my house from years past, but none of them were quite right. One 20% off REI coupon last winter had me trying on every cold weather hat in the store. That’s when I stumbled across the Arc’teryx Bird Head Toque. This has been the best beanie I’ve tried yet.
When I signed up for #HellHikeAndRaft, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I imagined long, strenuous days climbing mountains with an epic group of people more fit than me. I’d been rocking the Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot when I said yes to the adventure. They’re still my go-to shoe for a good chunk of my hikes. But I’m the type of person that sprains an ankle while standing still. I wanted something a little sturdier for the unknowns of Idaho, and eventually Mt. Whitney that fall.
After a bunch of perusing and hemming and hawing, I settled on the Salewa Alp Trainers Mid GTX hiking boots.
For #HellHikeAndRaft last year I needed a pair of shoes for the rafting portion. I don’t partake in too many water sports so I turned to Ahnu Footwear for some help. Ahnu sent over their Tilden IV, the most rugged sandals in their line for me to brave the waters of the Snake River and beyond.
Everyone’s adventuring with a smartphone in this day and age. GPS tracking, Instagramming, tweeting, or even just looking at photos of maps, we’ve got our phones close and handy. When winter closes in, phone usage gets a little tricky. Gloves on, gloves off, tap the screen, hands freeze, gloves back on again. The Outdoor Research PL-100 Sensor Gloves make things a little easier.
Boreas Gear, sister company of Alite Designs, is a San Francisco-based company specializing in ultra-cool packs and tents. I got the chance to test out their lightweight & minimalistic commuter bag, the Topaz 25, over the past few months.