Tents were ready upon arrival at the retreat, and despite the crazy winds on the first day, the ladies of Wild Balance Adventures made sure the campsite was inviting and gave us a warm welcome with a dry bag that included homemade sunscreen, a towel, a beautiful set of Focused, Elevate Your Life with Words cards, and other goodies to use for the weekend as well as replenish the soul. Once we were all settled, we headed off to Unity Health and Wellness for a trapeze yoga class.

If you’re not familiar with trapeze yoga, think yoga with aerial silks and handles on the silks for pull motion exercises. I’d highly recommend it. You’ll be amazed at how much further of a stretch you can get with the aerial silks. Some of the poses will challenge you, but there are also positions that are beyond relaxing. Our teacher, KerryAnn, made for an incredible experience, and by the time the class was over, the knee pain I walked in with was all stretched out, and my body felt more limber and refreshed.

The second day was SUP/kayak (SUPs and kayaks provided by Dig Paddle Sports) and petroglyph day. On the first ride of the day, the majority of us loaded on a multi-person stand-up paddleboard with a few in kayaks. Synchronization of paddling on the multi-person SUP took a few paddles, but we eventually got into a smoother cadence to head to the hike where the petroglyphs were located.

Petroglyphs have always been sacred to me, because these are stories, significant events, spiritual beliefs, among other things that happened to someone. They are ancient and deserve to be respected. The area we were in had a whole smattering of petroglyphs carved on the rocks, and I wished that I could translate and determine the stories that were being told. 

After a hearty lunch, we had the option of doing another paddle on single SUP boards, tandem boards or kayaks into a different area. A few of us were apprehensive as the wind was picking up, but we were assured the area we were paddling to would be calm. The area was definitely calm and like a beautiful oasis surrounded by trees, a few fishermen, people relaxing in the shaded area, and cute dogs jumping after sticks and balls in the water.

The last day we were there started with a morning meditation followed by a gorgeous boho breakfast, Parisian style, set up by Kays Events and Picnics. We dined by the water, enjoying stories, laughter, and a bittersweet feeling that the end of the retreat was upon us. It was an enchanting sendoff from a fulfilling, laughter-filled, activity-fest of a weekend.

Wild Balance Adventures gave a spectacular Fit Chix Retreat! The three ladies that started this company to give women a chance to “rediscover your inner harmony with transformative women’s retreats” are all extremely admirable, determined, full-of-grit, and beautiful inside and out.

Between Michelle, Jen, and Tricia, they come with a love for the outdoors, experience in retreats, and a true heart to give you one of the best experiences that will leave you more grounded with an inner peace that some might’ve thought they lost.

Watch out for their next retreat coming in July! Their website is launching soon, but you can follow their Facebook page for updates and pictures in the interim.

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Versatile, Multipurpose Use

The Chrome Cobra 3.0 Hoodie arrived in late January. In Minnesota, January means snowshoeing, fatbiking, bike commuting, Nordic skiing, travel and staying warm when binging on Netflix.

Its construction and style make it stand out as both a mid-layer and an outer-layer, but doesn’t look like it fits specifically in any real sport or activity category. This is a good thing because its non-binary style and purpose increases its versatility—a must, in my opinion, if one is going to spend $180 on a garment.

Bulk-free Warmth & Performance

As I said above, the Chrome Cobra 3.0 Hoodie works equally well as a mid-layer and an outer-layer. With light-weight merino wool baselayer, I wore it as a midlayer with a Northface Apex softshell jacket or down vest while snowshoeing. The temperatures on these tests runs ranged from 10 to 20 degrees and I was plenty comfortable. Mostly, though, I wore it as an outer layer fatbiking, commuter biking and Nordic skiing with only a Kora Shola yak wool baselayer Merino wool baselayer.

As with anything, you have to temper your baselayers to the temperatures. For example, I was sweating like cold beer glass on a hot day the day I Nordic skied in 20 degrees with a heavyweight baselayer. When fatbiking on a -5-degree day with just a heavyweight baselayer, I was freezing (and with freezing comes whining, moaning, cryonics, etc). You get the picture. Use your best judgement.

Features

The Chrome Cobra 3.0 is a blend of Merino wool and recycled polyester to combine breathability, warmth and durability. While 100% Merino wool is my fave, I honestly didn’t feel any difference with the polyester blended in. A couple other interesting features that the Cobra 3.0 offers are:

Two-way Zipper

For fatbiking and commuter cycling, this is a must for me because I’m generally wearing bulkier bottoms. Opening the zipper four or five inches below makes for a more comfortable ride when in the aggressive cycling position in the saddle. The zipper pull here is nicely glove-friendly, too.

Thumbholes

Of all the garments I own that have thumb loops, the Chrome Cobra 3.0 is the only one in which I don’t feel any biting at the base of my thumb. This is because the arms are delightfully long. Noice.

Rear Pocket with a Full Pass-through

Great for carrying tools, ID, money, and what have you but they need to be re-thought. The zipper pulls are microscopic and most definitely NOT glove-friendly. The Cobra 3.0 is an evergreen staple in the Chrome line, going back a decade with incremental updates made each year. So I’m kind of scratching head wondering why nobody thought to add glove-friendly zipper pulls to the pockets on a Merino wool hoodie intended to be worn in cold weather. (Note: the front zipper pull is glove-friendly, just not the pocket zipper pulls.)

Style

Beautifully longer in the back as a cycling jacket should be, I love how it has an element of being form-fitting but still has just enough room to accommodate any size baselayer. I also love how high the front zipper comes up, how it doesn’t sit at my throat and the delightful snuggle-effect it gives when fully zipped. My only criticism on the style is the color. It’s only available in black. This is not to say I want an option that includes pink (hell no!) but maybe a nice dark red.

Final Thoughts

If I was anal enough to do a rating scale on a scale of 10, I would give the Chrome Merino Cobra 3.0 Hoodie a solid 9 (I had to subtract a point for the microscopic zipper pulls). It is a highly-functional, highly-versatile, warm, breathable, well-designed and durable cold-weather Merino-blend hoodie for absolutely every type of cold-weather activity on your agenda. It’s even a fantastic piece for the shoulder seasons and for Spring and Fall hiking and camping. Even you yoga-goers will love it.

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First, it must be said that these are ski gloves and I am not a skier. I tested these gloves on winter hikes, snowshoeing, ice climbing days, and dog walks. They have a medium-level bulk to them for a decent insulation to dexterity ratio and make good all-around winter sport gloves for folks recreating in snow.

Dexterity & Feel

For leather gloves, the breaking-in period on the Flylow Ridge gloves is very short. I found that they had decent mobility in the finger joints and palms right out of the package, and they softened up quickly with a couple of days of use. They don’t allow for particularly delicate tasks, but I could clumsily zip my jacket or tie my boot laces while wearing them. I had no problems with snowshoe bindings or trekking poles, belaying an ice climb and tying a figure-8 knot, or walking the dog. They were fine for swinging tools up an ice climb, but I prefer a thinner glove for ice climbing when the temperatures allow. Doubling back the strap on my crampons and using my keys proved to be tougher and I had to remove the gloves for these tasks. They’re truly hopeless for opening a beer can.

The leather itself is supple while retaining durability. Both the interior lining and stretch knit cuffs are soft and comfortable. For work gloves, they’re remarkably cozy. I never found myself fighting with the lining like I do with other gloves. When I put on my synthetic Hotfingers gloves, it sometimes felt like trying to put on a shirt that was turned inside-out in the sleeves. But this wasn’t a struggle I’ve faced with the Flylow Ridge gloves.

Insulation

Impermeable to wind, the Flylow Ridge gloves perform well down to 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit — and honestly, colder than that and you should really be wearing mittens anyhow. As long as I kept my hands in the gloves, Flylow’s proprietary SpaceLoft Micropuff insulation kept my digits warm. If my hands came out of the gloves and chilled, the insulation kept my fingers at the temperature they were going in. The gloves fit true to size to a little small and I couldn’t comfortably wear a liner glove inside the Ridges. If you find yourself taking your hands out of your gloves, consider sizing up to allow for liners or opting for mittens.

Waterproofing

As with any waterproof gear, these will require reapplication of waterproofing. The triple baking process with Sno Seal beeswax did a great job of keeping my hands dry the first few times. Particularly abrasive sports like climbing (specifically belaying), where the rope drags across the leather, will naturally require more frequent reapplication of a waterproofing wax like NikWax. After two days of belaying, enough of the waterproofing had been rubbed off that the leather was wicking water. This is not necessarily unexpected, but a reminder that gear performs better when you care for it according to your use.

You can see the wear patterns here in the photos above. The discoloration denotes where the gloves have soaked through on a particularly wet third day of ice climbing before retreating.

Final Thoughts

I like the Flylow Ridge gloves; they served me fairly well throughout the season. They’re on the more affordable end of the spectrum: at full price they retail for $50, whereas other waterproof, insulated leather gloves are two or three times the price at REI.

They’d be a good work-to-play glove for cold temps, taking you from chopping wood to the ski trails easily. If you want a sleeker evening look, they also come in black.

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In an industry where many manufacturers still embrace ‘shrink it and pink it’  and call it a day, it denigrates women’s apparel and products as a mere afterthought. Fortunately, these twelve women-founded, women-led companies make products for you, your body shape and all your adventures, be it hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, skiing, climbing, adventure travel, cycling, surfing, running and whatever you feel like doing.

AdventurHER Travel Adventure

Most outdoorswomen today were introduced to the outdoors and mentored by family or friends who were outdoorsy. But what happens when you don’t have that conduit? Founder, owner and guide extraordinaire of AdventurHER Travel Alli Neal set out to be that conduit. That mentor who nudges or (gently) kicks women in the rear to get outdoors “capably, confidently, and comfortably.”

Talk about women-found, women-led companies! To say AdventurHER is woman-led is to be literal about it. Alli leads women outdoors from all skill levels to camp, climb, surf, hike, bike, ski, SUP, you name it, all while ensuring supportive environment to build skills, confidence and, really, just have fun–whether it’s a weekend ice climbing clinic in Winona, MN or climbing and canyoneering in Moab, UT, inn to inn cycling in Ireland or something completely customized for you. | Adventurhertravel.com

Freshly Minted Socks

Suzette Ayotte is a Maine native and transplant to San Francisco. She founded Freshly Minted socks because she happens to be an avid cyclist with a designer’s eye. All Freshly Minted socks, which are made in Italy, have mid-century modern designs and colors for the cycling life. The price point is a very affordable and reasonable $20 and a portion is donated to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. Jump here to SpinCycle News to read more about NICA to get more kids on bikes. | Thefreshlyminted.com

Title Nine

If you’ve never heard of Title IX, it’s the much-needed legislation that passed in 1972 that opened up (most) sports to women. Missy Parks, the founder, saw that sports apparel manufacturers were in no hurry to accommodate women athletes. In 1989, Missy started Title Nine with the barest of bones office space in her Berkeley, CA garage: A rotary dial phone (with only 1 line) on her living room table.

Her first round of catalog distribution to 13,000 recipients netted a whopping 56 orders—of which only seven came from people she didn’t know. After several years of epic ideas and even more epic fails, Title Nine now has 23 stores in 11 states with a thriving catalog and website platform—and is still being led by Missy Parks. | Titlenine.com

Skirt Sports

Nicole DeBoom launched Skirt Sports the day after she won the 2004 Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon—wearing a prototype skirt she made at home. There are very few women founded, women led companies to begin with. Even fewere reach 15 years in business. Skirt Sports did just that in September 2019.

For active women of literally all shapes and sizes, Skirt Sports offers a vast line of running shorts, skirts, tops, leggings, bras and, for the cyclist, a skirt with a chamois. But the skirt that really hits the sweet spot is the Lotta Breeze Capri skirt with its flattering style and fun prints. | Skirtsports.com

Carve Designs

Carve Designs is an example of how the best ideas spring from lounging in hammocks, swaying in the breeze in San Pancho, Mexico. It was there that surfers Jennifer Hinton and Thayer Sylvester discussed the dismal prevalence of true surfing boardshorts for women—especially those of shapes and sizes that are never featured in catalogs.

Enter women-founded, women-led Carve Designs, which set out to fill the board short gap and then some. Today, Carve Designs, which is still run by Jen and Thayer, keeps true to their mission: Design athletic and casualwear for women of all shapes and sizes who push boundaries. Additionally, Carve Designs remains true to their sustainability initiatives by making a significant portion of their swimwear and activewear in California. | carvedesigns.com

Houdini

Like so many women athletes in modern dark ages, Swedish mountaineer and ski guide Lotta Giornofelice need clothes that didn’t exist: clothes climbing and ski touring that regulated body temperature for for start- and stop activities. So she made them herself, starting with fleece underwear for herself and some friends.

Today, Houdini creates minimalist styles that are functional for both women and men. But sustainability has—and always will be—the cornerstone of their brand: 100 percent of all the fabrics used in this season are recycled, recyclable, renewable, biodegradable Bluesign certified. | Houdinisportswear.com

Lightheart Gear

Not only is Lightheart Gear woman-founded and women-led, it was started as a sewing project by virtue of the Appalachian Trail. Founder and owner (and retired Air Force nurse, marathon runner, master sewer, AT and PCT hiker) Judy Gross was hiking the AT with a 4.5-pound one-person tent that was heavy and took up the bulk of her pack space. She believed that the current offering of lightweight tents on the market could be better so she approached her first tent design, a one-person shelter, with a problem-solving perspective.

She wanted lightweight. Had to be able to sit upright. Didn’t want to trip over guy-lines in the middle of night. And it couldn’t take up the bulk of the space in her pack. She designed and sewed the first prototype in her basement. Today, in addition to lightweight tents like the Lightheart Gear Firefly, the Lightheart Gear product line includes hiking skirts, rain gear all designed and produced in North Carolina. | Lightheartgear.com

Shredly

This woman-founded, woman-led company was started by Colorado mountain biker  (via a Kickstarter campaign) Ashley Rankin when she saw an opportunity to create a specialized niche of mountain bike shorts for women. And create she did! In a kaleidoscope of wild patterns with total trail functionality. There is no mistaking a Shredly short, especially the pro-unicorn Shredly Tina. In mountain biking apparel, Shredly is distinct. Today, she is still the designer and product tester and makes it all in Colorado. | Shredly.com

MuttRuk

Colorado native and outdoor/dog enthusiast Gretchen Dill founded MuttRuk because she wanted to create a backpack solution for hiking with dogs. After 12 years at a desk job as a Graphic Designer, spending lots of free time outdoors, and seeing a slew of local trails shut down to use by dogs, she felt it was about time to take action in both her career and impact on outdoor spaces.

Inspired by innovative gear, and using her background in design, she took the leap into the world of product design. MuttRuk represents an attitude of adventure as well as respect for our outdoor spaces. A brand that advocates for trail clean up by providing helpful solutions, and an advocate for rescue and training to help both owner and dog grow in confidence and bond together. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in June of this year, MuttRuk is now into production and the MuttRuck Hit the Trail Bundle Pack—which includes 14-liter pack and a rollout water dish for your dog! | Muttruck.com

Astrid Wild

Founder and owner of Maria Paulsson Ronnback designs outdoor clothing for women by women. Inspired by her Nordic roots, Astrid Wild Outdoor Fashion is 100 percent focused on design, the woman’s body, and versatile clothing made for wild adventures, recreation and the city outdoor life. Astrid Wild aims to inspire women to live a happier and healthier life, by spending more time in nature and connecting with like-minded women. | Astridwild.com

Blyss Running

Blyss Running hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Founder and owner Alyson Neel began running in her early forties by virtue of a Couch to 5k program. Running taught her that the athletic wear industry had no clue about what a woman needs and wants from her running apparel.

In 2015 Alyson used her background in fashion merchandising to design a pair of shorts. Then she made a running skirt. Today she designs and makes running wear for women like the Blyss Distance Short with deep pockets, longer lengths and higher waistbands—all while running marathons and designing and proudly making all her products in the US. | Blyssrunning.com

Krimson Klover

The heart and soul of Krimson Klover is adventure, which is what drove founder and creative director Rhonda Swenson to become a flight attendant. An unlikely beginning, yes, but connections she made while traveling soon morphed into designing sweaters and selling them through a small boutique sweater company—which she eventually purchased and became Krimson Klover.

Today, Krimson Klover remains a woman-founded woman-led company whose lineup includes slow-fashion style, like the Scandinavian-inspired Astrid Full-zip sweater for the adventurous woman. | Krimsonklover.com

Lo & Sons

Don’t let the “sons” trip you up. Helen Lo founded Lo & Sons to design and manufacture premium, thoughtfully-designed bags for travel and work. Helen, who has a PhD in social welfare, wanted a travel carry-on that was functional, not fugly, and environmentally-friendly. The first two points were easy to check off the wish list but the environmentally-friendly point wasn’t because it didn’t exist.

At 60 years of age, when many people are thinking about downshifting careers into the retirement, Helen gunned the accelerator. She believed it wasn’t enough to just“do no harm” when it comes to environmental impact. Lo & Sons is one of the growing number of brands that are leading the way to reversing decades of damage to the environment. | Loandsons.com

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What I Liked 

Weather-resistance

Humans were summiting 8,000-meter peaks and tending goats in January on the Steppes of Mongolia while wearing wool long before any lab-born textiles were even a remote idea in someone’s head. The Maloja OilinM Hoodie is constructed with heavy-weight Merino wool on the outside and was very effective at blocking cold gusty wind and repelling snow. When it did get wet it dried fast and still kept me warm. 

Naturally Odor-resistant and Breathable

During hot conditions and/or strenuous exercise, we regulate our body temperature through perspiration. However, it isn’t the sweat itself that drives body odor (sweat has no odor). Body odor is a result of high levels of perspiration pooling on the skin. Warm, wet skin is an incubus of bacterial growth and it’s the bacteria that causes us to smell like a compost pile.

What does this have to do with wool? Wool readily absorbs moisture and keeps the skin surface drier to deter bacteria. The wool then binds the odors within its fibers where the bacterial can’t thrive. This process is also what allows you to wear the same wool garment for days and weeks before it needs to be washed. When you add all this up, it’s a trifecta of Mother Nature’s most efficient product for outdoor apparel.

Multipurpose Use

The Maloja OilinM Hoodie’s construction and style makes it stand out as both a mid-layer and an outer-layer, which increases its versatility. As a mid-layer, I wore it under a Patagonia Adze jacket while snowshoeing on a -10 degree day. As an outer layer, its long waist and cut made it perfect for fatbiking or commuter cycling on 15-degree days when worn over a heavy-weight Merino wool baselayer.

It’s also ideal for Nordic skiing (see photo below), especially when paired with the Maloja BraidaM Ski Touring Pants. Basically, if you have $229 to spend on an active Merino wool jacket, the Maloja OilinM meets the qualifications for fatbiking, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, travel and the emerging “sport” of athleisure (e.g. binge-watching season 4 of Better Call Saul). Even you yoga junkies will appreciate the BraidaM.

Warmth without Bulk 

The coldest temperature I’ve worn the Maloja OilinM as an outer layer was about 5 degrees and I was cross-country skiing. On this particular day, I paired it with a Kora Shola yak wool baselayer. After I had been skiing for about fifteen minutes, I was comfortable. On days when it was twenty-or-so degrees, I paired it with a Brynje of Norway Lady Wool Thermo Mesh Long Sleeve shirt and the combination was comfortable. On extremely cold days—like below zero—its fitted style works best as a mid-layer. What’s nice about the cut of the Maloja OilinM Hoodie is that it works very well as a mid-layer under a heavier outerlayer when conditions call for it.

What Could be Better

It has two zippered side pockets that don’t hold anything larger than a set of keys. It would be nice to have a rear zippered pocket that is big enough to hold a smartphone or an iPod.

Final Thoughts

The Maloja OilinM Hoodie, with its highly-functional recycled polyester fleece on the inside and the superb moisture-wicking properties of Merino wool on the outside make this a jacket you can use for a variety of activities year-round.

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What I Liked

Warm

I tested the DAEHLIE Training Wool Baselayers while biking in 55° F and I felt comfortable.  I was not overheating or cold.  I also tested it Nordic skiing in 20° F and felt comfortable as well.  This is a huge feat to accomplish for me because I get cold very easily.  I am sure that the base layer did its job because I know I was sweating; however, the baselayers stayed dry. 

Comfortable

Wow! It is the DAEHLIE Training Wool Baselayers are most comfortable set of baselayers I have worn. It is a 60% Merino wool and 40% Polyester blend that is very soft feeling. I did not feel any rubbing or restrictions from the material. I had full range of motion in my shoulders and even though I was sweating I didn’t feel clammy after skiing. In fact I stopped and did my grocery shopping on the way home and felt dry and comfortable.

Fit

I have an athletic build and I’m short (5’ 1”). Most things don’t fit me well. This baselayer felt like it was designed for my athletic build.  I normally wear a medium top and a small bottom, however, in the DAEHLIE sizing I fit a small Sweater Training Wool Long Sleeve top and a small in the the Training Wool Pants and they were a perfect fit. It was nice to have the sizing chart on the DAEHLIE’s website for guidance on the sizing.

The Training Wool Pants have a looser mesh weave in the waist and hip area in the back and on the calf area on the pants (which is where things are often too tight for me). The Sweater Training Wool Long Sleeve top has the looser mesh area the length of the arm along the under part and extends from the armpit down into the rib area (again, areas that are usually tight on me). This looser mesh weave also helps with release of heat when I was too warm. The rest of the base layer material is made of a tighter weave that almost feels silky.  Both base layers fit under my outer layers of tight fitting tights and a lightweight soft shell jacket, easily without bunching in any area.

Multiple Wears in Between Washing

Have you ever worn something and after a while it smells even after you wash it? And no matter what you do, you just can’t get that smell out? I have not had that issue with these baselayers due to the 60% Merino wool and 40% Polyester blend. The Merino wool material absorbs the moisture from the sweat, which gives the smelly bacteria less to live on, and holds onto it until it is washed. I did not test out how many days I could go before they smelled however, I did make it at least 4 days before I washed them with out any hint of a stink.

What I didn’t Like

Nothing

I don’t really have a didn’t like.

Final Thoughts

I am very happy with the DAEHLIE Training Wool Baselayers. I am definitely taking good care of this under layer set. I want them to last a long time. I have some future adventures planned and they are absolutely coming with me!

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Kuju Coffee

One of the easiest to give of all outdoor gear gift ideas is coffee. If you haven’t tried Kuju Coffee, you’re really missing out. Kuju Coffee is a single-serve pour-over (Pocket PourOver®) coffee you can take on your camping trips, drink at home or just anywhere on-the-go. This is better than instant coffee, and the two brothers who started Kuju Coffee made it into an impact-conscious single-serve little packet. Think the size of a tea-packet. They have a nice variety of flavors from the bold to the light that will satisfy all coffee drinkers as it is premium quality.

You can buy 10-packs of the different flavors or they have great bundles that include mugs, cups, and a brew kit. 10-packs retail at $22.00-$30.00. You can buy online or find Kuju at REI, Whole Foods, and Sportsman’s Warehouse.

ProBar Food Bars

ProBar has always been a favorite when it comes to food bars and a great outdoor gear gift idea. There are so many different options out there that it can be a bit overwhelming to know which one would actually taste good. These real-food, plant-based bars have a variety of different options. These bars are a great alternative to a meal when you’re out adventuring in the outdoors. Some ProBar Meal favorites include Blueberry Muffin, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Superberry and Greens, and Wholeberry Blast.

Their Mint Chocolate Protein bar is fantastic. ProBar also has energy chews that will give you the extra OOMPH you might need to send that climbing route you’ve been working on for days. The Strawberry, Berry Blast and Cran-Pomegranate are some of the delicious options for chews. ProBar has something for everyone. The bars and chews are full of flavor, packed with nutrients, and a perfect meal/snack to take on your ventures. ProBar is available online, at Whole Foods Market, REI, Sprouts, Amazon.com, Natural Grocers, Scheels and several other retailers.

Outside Inside Games – Barrel Toss

Games are always a necessity when you’re out camping. Even though you’re out climbing, biking, hiking or whatever your outdoor activity is, it’s fun to come back to the campsite and have some camp games. Outside Inside Games offers an assortment of games to play whether you’re in your tent or around the campfire. Freestyle Mini Disk Golf is a favorite. This portable, collapsible set allows for you to set up anywhere, so you can make the game really challenging in the great outdoors.

It’s a quick set-up and includes one collapsible target, 8 disks, game instructions and a carry bag. Freestyle Mini Disk Golf retails at $34.95. The Freestyle Barrel Toss is another fun game. You score points by throwing and deflecting a frisbee into a barrel. This game is also compact and portable with a quick set-up. The set includes two pop-up barrels, 1 x 11” frisbee, six pegs, game instructions and a carry bag. Freestyle Barrel Toss retails at $39.95. These games can be purchased at REI, Amazon.com and Backcountry.com.

Cusa Tea

If you’re more of a tea lover than coffee, then Cusa Tea should be your go-to instant tea as an outdoor gear gift idea. Many instant teas on the market aren’t very high-quality as their production method damages tea characteristics which result in a final product that doesn’t reflect the flavor of high-quality tea. Founder, Jim Lamancusa, didn’t take any shortcuts to make sure Cusa Tea was premium high-quality. Through nine months of trial and error, Jim found a completely new brewing and dehydration process that delivered a perfect cup of premium organic tea in seconds.

The Cold Steep Technology retained all the taste and character of the teas, and this was how Cusa Tea was born. There are currently seven green and black tea flavors and four herbal flavors on Cusa’s line. Mango Green Tea, Peach Green Tea, and Organic English Breakfast are some favorites. These small packets are great for first thing in the morning before starting your adventures or something to wind down with at night by the campfire. Cusa Tea comes in a box of 10 and retails at $9.99 per box. Cusa Tea can be found online, at REI, Sprouts, World Market, and Amazon.com.

OluKai Pehuea Heu Slippers

OluKai Pehuea Heu slippers are a dreamy pair of shoes that are made of waterproof nubuck leather, a plush, shearling lining and hearty sneaker outsole. Your feet are surrounded by cushy comfort as the footbed is a dual-density anatomical PU with a gel insert that provides all-day cushioning, support and comfort with a soft, wool blend textile footbed cover. The outsole is a non-marking rubber outsole with Polynesian inspired artwork and design.

The patented Drop-In Heel® design offers both a shoe and slide functionality. These shoes are literally my go-to shoes for quick trips to the store, slipping on when waking up to a beautiful morning while camping and my après shoes for a full day of outdoor fun. The Pehuea Heu come in two different colors, lava rock and taupe grey, and retail at $130. You can find these at Sportsman’s Warehouse, Nordstrom, REI, Scheels, Kirkham’s Outdoor Products and Black Diamond.

Toad & Co Re-Form Flannel Shirt

The women’s Re-Form Flannel Shirt by Toad&Co is that wonderfully comfortable flannel shirt you want to have with you everywhere-but makes a great outdoor gear gift idea. This lightweight flannel is soft thanks to recycled cotton and recycled polyester (made from plastic water bottles). The Re-Form Flannel is moisture-wicking, made from 100% recycled content, Global Recycled Standard® approved fabric and has a button front placket, button through patched-on chest pockets and is 27” in length. The style of the shirt is going to get compliments no matter what color you choose. The Re-Form Flannel Shirt retails at $80.00 and is available at REI, Title Nine, and Sports Den.

Te Wave Recovery Tool

What do you usually do for recovery after a full day of climbing, biking, hiking or trail running? The Wave Recovery Tool is an all-in-one IASTM (Instrument Aided Soft Tissue Manipulation) tool for soft tissue release and helps address myofascial pain, restrictions and adhesions. The Wave is the most ergonomic IASTM tool on the market that’s designed to decrease hand strain during use and improve tissue health. It was formed by physical therapists and mountain guides inspired to develop innovative, superior physical therapy tools.

The versatility of the Wave is amazing. You have a massaging surface, trigger point knob, finger edge, stripping blade, adhesion + myofascial edge, tendonitis release edge, wide arc edge and levering disc all-in-one tool. I’ve had bilateral carpal tunnel surgery and have a desk job full-time. When the strain comes on, the Wave Tool gets utilized in a big way. And it’s not just the strain in the wrists. We’re talking wrists, full arms, and shoulders. After a climbing session outside or at the gym, the Wave does wonders for the major pump and strain in my arms and recovery time is quicker. If you engage in any outdoor sport or activity, pack a Wave Recovery Tool in your backpack. The Wave Tool retails at $49.99 and is available online with free shipping in the US.

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Title 9 Clamber Shorts

The Title 9 Clamber Shorts for women have got to be some of the most comfortable shorts. These rugged, yet stylish, shorts are ready for hiking, trekking, climbing, or whatever your choice of adventure might be. They’re made of ClambR, which is 93% nylon and 7% spandex with DWR. They have pockets on the leg, two front, and two zippered back pockets. The shorts are mid-rise with an elastic waist and have a snap closure.

The durability of these shorts proved to be versatile as they were worn mountain biking and climbing. The Clamber shorts came out unscathed after smearing up a granite wall, and the movement in these shorts was fantastic. The shorts are true to size, and they come in five different colors. There is a 5-inch and 13-inch length, and they retail at $65 and $69.

Sherpa Adventure Gear Rolpa Full Zip Fleece Jacket

Sherpa Adventure Gear’s Rolpa Full Zip Fleece Jacket is one of those that when you put it on, you don’t want to take it off. The jacket is made of 100 wt. two-sided brushed anti-pill fleece made of 100% polyester, and it’s the lighter-weight version of the award-winning Sonam. The detailing surrounding the zipper is Nepal inspired and just beautiful. The Rolpa has two hand warmer pockets that zip shut to secure your essentials. It doesn’t cause chaffing under pack straps as seams are placed away from the should tops and hips.

This jacket was perfect for the Utah weather we had at the beginning and mid-part of November this year. It was great for some day hikes and kept the warmth in very nicely. This will also be a great baselayer for some ice climbing and snowshoeing for the wintertime. If you purchase any item from Sherpa Adventure Gear, education and resources are provided for children in Nepal for the entirety of their education; elementary through college. You know your money would be well-spent. The Rolpa Fleece Jacket retails at $60.00.

Nite Ize Radiant 250 Headlamp

The Nite Ize Radiant 250 Headlamp is a great lightweight headlamp that features red and white LEDs, four modes plus lockout, a comfortable adjustable strap, and a body that tilts 90 degrees. The Radiant runs on AAA batteries with a beam distance of 213 feet. The easy push-button has a lockout feature, and for those of us who store our headlamps in backpacks or some place where the button can be pushed unintentionally, this is a great feature to have in order to avoid killing your batteries.

The beam distance on the Radiant 250 is 213 feet, and the headlamp can run for up to 46 hours. It’s impact-resistant up to two meters and water resistant. This is a perfect headlamp for camping and night hikes. The Nite Ize Radiant 250 retails at $29.99.

GSI Outdoors Selkirk 540 Camp Stove

GSI Outdoors is constantly coming out with some fantastic products, and the GSI Outdoors Selkirk 540 Camp Stove is one of those car camping stoves you want to have with you. This rugged, twin-burner, high-output, propane camp stove has a powder-coated steel exterior and wraparound windscreens along with stainless steel and nickel-chrome cooking surfaces. Those surfaces made it super easy to clean. You can cook for you and a good group of people with this stove.

This thing boils water fast, and the push-button is simple with the piezo ignition system lighting the stove quickly and singe-free. This camp stove is like bringing a mini version of your home-kitchen stove on your camping trip. The micro-control valves have precise tunability and output for each burner. And the look of the stove isn’t bad either. The orange that seems to be extremely popular these days serves as the lid and the windscreens. The bottom is a sleek grey/silver. The Selkirk 540 retails at $124.95.

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What I Liked

Heat Adjustment

The MSR WindBurner Stove Combo has a radiant burner with a boil-to-simmer control and a pressure regulator for consistent performance. That means it has an amazing wind resistant stove that produces heat that is easily adjustable. It was nice to be able to cook my food and not burn it.  I could fire up the stove on high for boiling water and use a lower heat for other foods like eggs and chili.

Wind Resistance

When I was camping with my lady friends it was rainy, windy and cold (not below freezing).  We had no problems with getting the stove lit or keeping it lit because of the wind-proof radiant burner.

Stable Stove

I have three sons and they are always moving.  With the tripod set up and the pans that sort of lock onto the stove, I am more comfortable using it around them.

Locking Strainer Lid

Usually when I camp I have to bring a strainer of some sort or I burn my hands and lose noodles trying to drain the water with the regular lid.  This is awesome to have the strainer built right into the lid, and be able to have the lid lock into place so I don’t burn myself while trying to hold it.  It also helped to poor the hot water into the French press for my morning coffee.

Locking Handle

The eight-inch ceramic coated aluminum nonstick skillet and the 2.5L ceramic-coated aluminum nonstick pot have a folding Talon handle. This handle opens up, locks into place and has a coating that does not get hot.  I have used other pans where the handle moves and gets hot. That becomes an issue when you forget and you lose some of your meal or burn yourself.  The handle also unlocks and folds up for easier packing. When you fold up the handle on the 2.5L pot it locks into the lid that is locked onto the pot. This is nice because then the handle won’t flop open.

Lightweight and Packable

The 2.5L pot weighs 12.2 ounces and the skillet weighs 7.7 ounces. They are very light for their size. The stove and an eight-ounce fuel canister fit nicely into the pot (shown to the right) and the lid locks into place on top of the pot. That makes it easy to pack into you kayak, car or backpack.

Felt Pot Protector

The MSR WindBurner Stove Combo came with a square piece of felt that is used to put under the stove and gas can in the bottom of the pot when packing it up to go.  I was relived to find this in the box.  I usually dig around my house in search of something to protect the pot with, and this time I didn’t need to do that.  You can also use it to wash out the pan if you wanted to. 

What I didn’t Like

Inability to interchange

The MSR WindBurner Stove, skillet and pot work great together! The pot and skillet have a circular addition on the bottom that sort of locks onto the stove for stability and efficient burning ability. They are an integrated system and do not work independently.

Non-compact skillet

The MSR WindBurner Stove fits into the pot with an eight-oz fuel canister nicely. Unfortunately, the skillet doesn’t fit in with the compact part of that.  The pot does fit into the skillet but it has room to shift around and you would need to remove the handle (which is very easy). Just don’t lose the handle. I would also put some felt or other material in between the pans so the pot doesn’t scratch the skillet.

Final Thoughts

This set up is bigger and meant for a larger group of people (4-6).  I believe it does this job well.  I will be using the MSR WindBurner Stove Combo a lot in the future.  It will be our go to for future kayaking adventures, canoeing adventures, car camping and group backpacking when having a bulkier set up isn’t an issue. 

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They also meet ANSI Z87.1 high velocity and high mass impact standards as well as US Federal OSHA 1910.133(b)(1)(1) standards.

What do all the above numbers mean? The WX Valor can withstand the weight of a 1.1-pound projectile dropped from a height of 50”, which ensures your eyes are protected from unexpected impacts. They withstand the impact of a .25” diameter steel ball fired at 150 fps or .15 projectiles fired at 640-660 fps.

In simple terms, these sunglasses are practically indestructible.

Durable Materials

The WX Valor sunglasses were taken on multiple mountain bike rides, which included a lot of downhill. There’s always the potential of flying off the bike if you hit loose dirt, fly around a corner a bit too fast, or get a tire stuck in a rock garden.

Not saying that it did happen, but let’s just say the sunglasses may’ve flown off the face, hitting a few rocks and landing in the dirt. Not one scratch or break on the lenses or the frame.

Outstanding Clarity

The clarity of the lenses on the WX Valor was incredible. My vision wasn’t distorted in any way, and they kept my vision clear of any glaring on the trails.

The sunglasses managed the brightness of sunlight to where I could just keep focused on the path and my line-of-sight wasn’t altered or affected by any reflective areas on the route.

Comfort and Reliability

The WX Valor sunglasses stayed put on my face, which can sometimes prove to be difficult as I have a fairly flat nose. The double-injected rubber temples did their job of non-slip comfort, and the nose pads never felt like they were digging into my nasal bone even after wearing the sunglasses for a while.

Wiley X knows what they’re doing when it comes to their sunglasses.

Final Thoughts

WX Valor is highly recommended whether you’re mountain biking, canyoneering, climbing, or whatever outdoor activity you’re engaged in.

They’re comfortable, versatile, and sturdy. The sunglasses come with a black zippered clamshell case, cleaning cloth, and a leash cord with rubber grips and retail at $75.00.

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