Whatever outdoorsmanship you enjoy, whether that’s mountain biking, long-distance kayaking, ultra-marathoning, or simple hiking — one piece of gear is an essential before all others. Mostly because you need this piece of gear to carry all the others. We’re talking about backpacks.
If you’re always ready to head out for an adventure, your first-aid kit should be ready too. Make sure you keep it well-stocked with this checklist of essential items for successful first aid on any outdoor excursion.
The best thing about regions with outdoor recreational opportunities is observing the patterns of wild creatures. Where we may travel for hours, days, weeks or months at most, the critters calling our trails and parks home have an entire life lived out.
A map and compass are the quintessential dynamic duo of backcountry navigation – any time you head out for a hike, you should keep this route-finding Batman and Robin close at hand in an easily accessible pocket of your pack (even if you plan on sticking to the trails!). But what would happen if you found yourself caught off guard by a broken compass, or even worse, a broken compass and a missing map?
All modern explorers have felt the draw of trekking out into the wilderness alone, with nothing but some basic necessities and our wits for company. As great as it can be traveling with a group or even a few close friends, there’s something beyond compare in taking a few days of quiet solitude to reconnect with nature and contemplate our place in the world.
Depending on your personal relationship with the early hours of the day (and the extent of your caffeine addiction), you might consider a morning mug of coffee an occasional luxury, a pleasant pick-me-up, or an absolute necessity.
Camping trips are the ultimate summer getaway – what better way to take advantage of the warm weather than by shedding your responsibilities, sleeping out under the stars, and waking up to a breathtaking landscape, a whole day of your favorite outdoor activities waiting just around the corner (if not closer)?
It’s a bit of a misnomer: Beating the heat. In reality, it’s the one obstacle you can’t naturally overcome; you can’t power through dehydration or heat exhaustion. But you can prepare for the sweltering temps of summer instead of fighting the heat.
Staying fit takes hours of time in the gym — or does it? With the rise of the internet and fitness bloggers, clever ways of combining workouts and outdoor activities are endless. If being outdoors and keeping in shape are both important to you, take some ideas from the following list of common gym alternatives to combine them and save yourself some time.
Believe it or not, sunglass color is more than stylistic. Some may choose a blue tint for that perfect Instagram photo, or black lenses for their Matrix cosplay — but these tints are designed with specific benefits. For those who use sunglasses for sports and other athletic events, lenses can be a tool to optimize your performance.
With the summer months fast approaching, you’ll need a pair of sunglasses that are right for you, your needs and, most importantly, your face shape. Believe it or not, the shape of your face is essential when you’re trying to get the right sunglasses for you.
If you’re looking to spend some time out on the trail – trekking into the woods, along the coastline, across the mountains, or otherwise – you’ve got two basic options: hiking, or backpacking. These two cornerstones of outdoor adventure are extremely similar in their basic essence.
