Gear

Ask anyone who spends a significant amount of time hiking, trail running, kayaking or walking their dog and they’ll tell you: a hat is an essential piece of outdoor gear. A good one keeps the sun out of your eyes (especially in conjunction with a good pair of sustainable sunglasses), protects the delicate skin around your face and neck from harmful UV rays (pair it with a long-sleeve sun shirt and sunscreen for even more protection), and keeps sweat and hair out of your eyeballs on high-output adventures. A good hat is indispensable. But not all hiking hats are created equal. So we tested out the best hiking hats for men and women across a range of styles to see which are the best of the best and which ones are ideal for specific types of adventure.

We love ultralight backpacking here at Terradrift. In fact, it’s the only backpacking we ever want to do. But finding the perfect ultralight backpack can be tricky. So we tested out the new Gossamer Gear Skala 38 to see how it performed, what features were valuable (or not) and whether we’d carry it again. Let’s dive in.

Women/femme/petite folks: You don’t have to “make do” with a pack not designed for your body anymore! Allow us to introduce you to the Symbiosis Gear Aspen Backpack: a 38L ultralight backpacking pack designed by women, for women.

We’re all in on ultralight backpacking here at Terradrift. In fact, it’s the only way we trek into the backcountry at this point (check out these articles about our sub-10lb couple’s base weight and what UL gadgets we do and don’t love). But until recently, we had yet to test a pack from one of the biggest names in ultralight backpacking: Hyperlite Mountain Gear. So we got our hands on one of Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s top tier packs and took it into the wild to see how it functioned (and if we’d carry it again). Here’s our full Hyperlite Unbound 55 Review.

We’re all in on ultralight backpacking here at Terradrift. In fact, it’s the only way we trek into the backcountry at this point (check out these articles about our sub-10lb couple’s base weight and what UL gadgets we do and don’t love). But we had yet to test packs from one of the biggest names in Ultralight backpacking: Zpacks. So we got our hands on a Zpacks backpack–the Super Nero 50 Ultra, part of the Zpacks Nero backpack series–and took it into the backcountry to see how it performed (and whether we’d carry it again).

What’s better than a roomy two-person tent when spending a few nights in the outdoors? A three-person tent, of course! They offer more room for duos, plenty of space for ultra plush double sleeping mattress and bag setups, are a mansion for single campers (whether or not you’re bringing your dog), and offer way more livable space for changing, lounging, or waiting out inclement weather. We recently tested two solid 3-person tents on a 10-day road trip to Utah’s national parks and compare them both here and now in this REI Half Dome vs Big Agnes Copper Spur tent comparison.

This is a sponsored post paid for by InfinaCore. A good backup battery (or power bank, power brick, or whatever you want to call it) is essential these days whether …

Summer is here! And we couldn’t be more excited. It’s by far our favorite season because it means long days for hiking, warm nights under the stars, it’s kayaking and paddle boarding time, and yes, it’s swimsuit season! But not all swimwear is created equal. Many of the options out there aren’t made in a sustainable or equitable way. So if you’re upgrading your swimwear this season, opt for sustainable swimwear from responsible brands that are as versatile as they are functional and look good doing good.

Summer is here! And we couldn’t be more excited. It’s by far our favorite season because it means long days for hiking, warm nights under the stars, it’s kayaking and paddle boarding time, and yes, it’s swimsuit season! But not all swimwear is created equal. Many of the options out there aren’t made in a sustainable or equitable way. So if you’re upgrading your swimwear this season, opt for sustainable swim trunks from responsible brands that are as versatile as they are functional and look good doing good.

Whether you’re planning an extended road trip full of nights spent under the stars or you’re just looking for the ultimate comfy sleep setup for you and your partner/dog/best bud/just you, there may be no better option than a cushy self-inflating sleeping pad and a big ol’ roomy sleeping bag. Especially if you plan to get cozy with a camp buddy 😉. Heck, even if you’re on your own and you just love to sprawl when you sleep, a double sleeping bag and mattress are a stellar addition to your car camping setup.