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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For me it was the late 80’s in a European’esq coffee house in Flagstaff, AZ where I was going to college. That’s when and where I made my pledge. While today you can pick up a bag of small-batch, sustainably grown and roasted whole bean or fresh-ground in any grocery store, in the dark years of the late 80’s, the choice was Folgers or Maxwell House. It would be years before pretentious coffee habits could be had by a visit to the local grocery store.

Today, thanks to the Miir Pourigami, pretentious coffee habits can be had on the trail, at camp or while traveling!

Setting up the Miir Pourigami

The Miir Pourigami is a compact pour-over system comprised of three powder-coated stainless steel panels. All panels have an interlocking edge and groove that allows them to connect to each other, Origami style, to form a little three-sided boat that sits atop a coffee cup. I used a Miir 12-ounce Camp Cup.

And that’s it. The first few times through it was a little fiddly with more misses than hits but now it’s second nature.

Making the Coffee

Like setting up the Miir Pourigami, the first few times were hit and miss, mostly misses. I either made the coffee too strong, too weak, or the grounds splattered and caked to the sides of the filter, making for uneven saturation and an inconsistent brew. One ill-fated trial resulted in only the dripping of boiling brown water into the cup. My pour technique clearly needed work so I turned to Sam Spillman for guidance.

I finally came up with a decent brew that was a blend of pour speed, swirl technique, amount of water, amount of grounds and the size of grounds.

Because I was using a 12-ounce mug, I finally settled on four rounded tablespoons of medium-ground Caribou Coffee Mahogany dark roast. The dark roast is simply personal preference. I like the intensity of it. I poured a bit of water into the filter to make it conform better to the Pourigami and then dumped it out. Next, I added just enough boiling water to bloom the grounds. When the grounds were bloomed, I slowly added more boiling water, evenly and gently, and swirling it from the center out and back to center. Then I added the remaining water, achieving brewvana.

The Result

I don’t usually make pour-over coffee. French press is more my style. But now I get it. Pour over has its place! The blend of the Miir Pourigami and medium-ground Caribou Coffee Mahogany dark roast created a rich, robust, full-flavored coffee.  

Clean-up

Clean-up is easy, depending on where you are. If you’re making pour-over coffee at home or in the office, you just toss the used filter into the trash. The Pourigami itself just needs a quick rinse with water.

If you’re making pour-over coffee while camping or backpacking, there’s a few more steps to dispose of the grounds and filter properly. If you live and breathe Leave No Trace, you will need to pack it all out – soiled wet filter and grounds – in your pack. If you have a little wiggle room in your Leave No Trace ethos (e.g. me), dig a hole to bury the grounds and then seal the soiled filter into a Ziplock bag and pack out. Rinse the Pourigami, dry it, pack it into its case and hit the trail.

Weight & Size

The Miir Pourigami on its own is 5.1 ounces (the website says 4 ounces, but it’s 5.1). When packed into its storage case, which is a little smaller than a smartphone, the total weight comes to 5.3 ounces. When I brought this backpacking, I was also carrying the Miir 12-ounce Camp Cup which, at 9 ounces, isn’t featherlight. All told, the Pourigami, storage case, and Camp Cup tilt the scales at 14.3 ounces – on top of all the other gear I carried, like tent, sleeping bag, camp pad, food, etc.

If you’re an ultralight backpacker, 14.3 ounces worth of coffee-making gear is enough to make your lumbar discs bulge and burst. No judgement!

Final Thoughts and a Parting Shot

I think the Miir Pourigami is a brilliant set up. It’s compact, it’s simple, it brews a great cup of coffee no matter where you are. You can use it with any camp mug or cup, too. Filters are required but you can purchase them anywhere and you can stash the filters in the storage case.

But it isn’t perfect for every mission due to its weight. I really loved the flavor of the coffee the Pourigami delivered in the morning. Pairing it with the Miir Camp Cup made it all that more enjoyable because its double-wall construction and sippy cup lid kept the coffee hotter longer. Still, for home or office use, or for travel that does not include having to carry it on your back in a backpack, it’s brilliant.

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To do their part to flatten the COVID19 curve, North x North is offering 15 percent off all online orders and donating a further 10 percent of proceeds to DirectRelief.org to help supply frontline doctors and nurses with the PPE they need to stay safe, healthy and able to help those in need of medical attention. 

None of us really knows how long the COVID19 pandemic will last. What will last, however, is our new-found awareness. A single sneeze or cough has the potential send someone to a hospital ventilator, clinging for life. Czech researchers are showing that when worn by an infected person, even a homemade mask can trap up to 100 percent of potentially infected microdroplets.

We’re the most contagious before we start showing symptoms—and that’s if we show any at all. Along with practicing social distancing and preventive measures, wearing a mask protects others. The advantage of wearing a (for example) North x North wool kerchief or neck gaiter lies in its long-term sustainability.

Made from certified muelsing-free Australian Merino wool, one Kerchief or Hooded Neck Gaiter is a necessary piece of gear for hiking, camping, backpacking or skiing because it can be washed and reused over and over. It also has a wide range of usability, making it highly useful as a mask.

North x North’s founder, Chad North, perhaps says it best: “If you can give, give. If you can sew, sew masks for those in need. If all you can do is wear a mask when out, then wear a mask. A million masks ain’t worth a damn if no one is wearing them.”

Thanks to North x North, buying a multi-purpose kerchief not only protects yourself and others, they will donate ten percent of the proceeds to help protect our frontline healthcare workers.

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What I Liked

Insulation

The most important thing in an insulated bottle is, of course, how well it insulates. In factory conditions, the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist will supposedly keep your hot beverages hot for 18 hours and your cold beverages cold for 32 hours. In our field testing with temperatures ranging from seven degrees Fahrenheit to -5 degrees Fahrenheit, we gathered 12 hours of data from three insulated bottles and one non-insulated bottle as a control.

The other two insulated bottles were the Yeti Rambler 30 oz Tumbler with double wall plastic Magslide©  lid and the Klean Kanteen 32 oz Insulated Growler with Swing Lok© cap (no longer sold on the Klean Kanteen site). Each bottle was filled with boiling water (212 degrees F) and tested after 3, 8, and 12 hours. 

The GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist was a clear winner, even though the Klean Kanteen claims it will retain heat for 30 hours and cold for 80 hours.

In practice, after a number of frigid Minnesota days at the Sandstone Ice Park, I learned that if I wanted to drink my coffee, I had to temper it with a splash of iced coffee. Otherwise, it stayed too hot for me to drink without scalding my mouth. The insulation in the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist works so well that if you’re going to drink the contents within 8 hours of filling it, you should make sure the liquid is drinkable when it goes in.

That said, this means that the Microlite 1000 Twist lets you plan easy comforts far ahead in your outdoor adventures. Let’s say you’re winter camping and know you’ll want a hot drink or hot soup at the end of a long first day: fill the thermos with boiling water or scalding hot soup before you leave, and 12 – 18 hours later, you’ll still have hot water. Or let’s say you’re in hot conditions: fill the the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist with cold water and ice, and you’ll still have a liter of cold water the next day after everything else (you included) has baked in the sun. That ice water is going to feel great on your second day of summer adventure.

Construction

The size and shape of a Nalgene, the Microlite 1000 Twist holds a liter of liquid and still fits into any pack pouch the crowd favorite non-insulated water bottle does. With 2mm stainless steel 18/8 walls, it’s incredibly lightweight for its insulating power. The screw cap top seals easily and tightly, protecting against both leakage and heat loss, and unscrews just as easily with gloves on. The lid supposedly has a “leverage enhancing lobe making frozen bottles easier to open,” though I honestly didn’t notice much of a difference. The bottle is pretty durable, too, having been hit by falling ice from 40 meters with no real visible damage.

Price

Even though the Microlite 1000 Twist outperformed the other bottles in every technical way — weight, temperature retention, size — it is less expensive than the other bottles of similar caliber. At time of writing, it was $34.95 compared to Hydro Flask at $44.95, Yeti at $49.99, and Klean Kanteen at $54.99.

What I Didn’t Like

Washability

GSI Outdoors recommends hand washing the Microlite 1000 Twist only, compared to Yeti and Hydro Flask bottles, which are dishwasher safe. That’s it. That’s the only thing.

Final Thoughts

In full disclosure, before testing the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist, I was a diehard Yeti groupie. After spending a season on the ice with the Microlite, it’s my go-to bottle. If you’re searching for an insulated bottle and you can survive hand washing — I know, really roughing it here — there’s no better thermos on the market right now than the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist.

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Escape, by Carolyn Jessop

I added this book to the COVID-19 reading list not because it’s empowering and uplifting (it’s not) but because it’s so gripping and engaging you will finish it in a day. That’s a full day of not thinking about COVID-19. Escape is Carolyn Jessop’s memoir of growing up in the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) freak show and the pivotal turning point that made her say, “What the fu–???” and escape. Except that she couldn’t exactly hire a good divorce lawyer and get in her car and abscond with her kids and dignity. It required a great deal of planning and finagling…

Gear Pairing for Escaping a Religious Cult

A pair of Brooks Ghost 12’s. You’ll appreciate their responsiveness and performance and fluffy cloud-like feeling of their 12mm drop.

Deep Water Passage, by Ann Linnea

The pace of Deep Water Passage is as relaxing and unhurried as a sea kayak on Lake Superior. Which is exactly what it’s about, making it a good choice for the COVID-19 reading list. Ann Linnea—nature writer, lecturer and avid sea kayaker—realized one morning that she wasn’t getting any younger and it was time to do some serious thinking about her life and her future. Significant topics, indeed. Is there any better place to contemplate them than in a sea kayak on Lake Superior? It also happens to be one of the few places you can escape COVID-19. If she succeeds, she’ll be the first woman to do so…

Gear Pairing for a Sea Kayaking Lake Superior

An Icemule Classic Cooler. I’ve used this on Lake Superior paddling the Apostle Islands. The size medium drybag design fits into my sea kayak’s large dry hatch behind the seat and it holds ice cubes for about 24 hours.

Into the Forest, by Jean Heglund

The term “social distancing” was still at least a decade away when Jean Heglund wrote this page-turning novel about a dystopian future in which a strange and unnamed highly contagious disease cripples the country. The main characters of this book are two sisters who are socially distancing themselves from the unnamed viral plague in their rural home in a northern California forest, trying to survive. While it’s ending is somewhat predictable, I did find within in its rapidly turning pages essential COVID-19 survival tips and new ways to cook vegetables!  

Gear Pairing for Food Preparation when the Electricity goes out

The GSI Pinnacle Backpacker stove. I fell in love with this stove sea kayaking the Apostle Islands for six days because its set-up (two-liter pot and strainer lid, skillet, two 14-ounce insulated mugs and two 14-ounce bowls) allowed a wide variety of meals beyond ramen noodles and instant oatmeal. The carry bag also doubles as a wash basin.

Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens

The main character of Where the Crawdads Sing is a young girl who grows into adulthood while living completely on her own without no parental supervision in a North Carolina marsh. What could possibly go wrong! There was so much I loved about this book—the will of the main character to survive, her resourcefulness to make money to buy food, to learn to read, keep herself safe. All the things children don’t normally have to worry about when they have parents or responsible adults in the home. This is on the COVID-19 reading list because you’ll also find plenty of survival tips and recipes in this book as well. What I loved most though was the ending…

Gear Pairing for Living Alone in the North Carolina Marsh

An SOG Terminus XR knife. A good knife is an indispensable piece of kit for nearly any situation. It’s in a class that some refer to as an “Everyday Carry” or EDC, making it eligible to perform a variety of everyday-type tasks from gutting a trout to carving a spear for hunting and self-defense. 

A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar, by Suzanne Joinson

If you like cycling, and plots that run parallel between past and present, A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar will take you for a pleasant ride – pun intended. In the 1920s, Evangeline English follows her missionary sister to the ancient city of Kashgar, a stop on the Silk Road. While the missionary sister spews hellfire and damnation 24/7, Evangeline is shredding the gravel trails on her bike and penning a memoir about her cycling adventures. Meanwhile, in modern day London, another character strangely inherits the contents of an apartment that belonged to a dead woman she has never heard of. This is by no means an apocalyptic book. It’s on the COVID-19 reading list because we can still ride our bikes — something we all should be doing while we can. Some cities have mandated shelter in place rules.

Gear Pairing for Gravel Riding in Kashgar

A set of ReTyre Ice Racer tires for that one set of bike tires for year-round use that easily zip on and zip off from summer slicks to winter studs.

Circling the Sun, by Paula McClain

Circling the Sun is both a biographical novel about Beryl Markham, an aviator, horse trainer and overall path-blazer in 1920s Kenya. Freedom is what Beryl is searching for. I’m not giving away any spoilers when I say that it’s obvious from my opening sentence that she achieves plenty of it by pursuing occupations, adventures and hobbies that are not needlepoint, sewing or sketching local flora and fauna. Within McClain’s pages you’ll experience the beauty of Kenya and a woman who spat on traditional roles. But just don’t plan any travel to Africa right now. They have reported their fair share of COVID-19 cases.

Gear Pairings for Racking up Frequent Flier Miles

A Deuter AirContact Lite SL 60+10 multi-day backpack full of ethically-sourced clothing perfect for long hours at 35,000 feet.

Wild, Cheryl Strayed

Wild isn’t exactly a happy book to read. Hiking solo on the Pacific Crest Trail has its moments of metaphorical, emotional, psychological and physical peaks and valleys. But important to remember that hiking is something we can all still do during these times of COVID-19 quarantines and social distancing. What better way to lift your mood and spirits than a long hike outdoors? That’s why it made the COVID-19 reading list.

Gear Pairing for Thru-hiking Solo

A pair of Garmont Tower Trek GTX hiking boots. If they could take our writer Julie to Everest Base Camp, the Pacific Crest Trail will be its bitch. 

The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Of all the books on the COVID-19 reading list, this one is the most relevant. Many of us have read this series as young’uns. Who doesn’t enjoy a story that takes one back to a time before overpopulation and pollution began killing our planet? The Long Winter is Laura’s tale of the brutal winter of 1880-1881 that shut down the railroad, leaving the residents of DeSmet, South Dakota on their own to make it through the long winter without even the barest of necessities that were available at the time. Even salt pork and molasses couldn’t be had! They were starving, cold, scared and hopeless. Given the circumstances, stockpiling toilet paper was the least of their concerns. We would all do well to remember that these days.

Gear Pairing for Sheltering-in-Place

Dreams of warmer places and happier days ahead, like Long Caye, Belize or scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Candy Girl, Diablo Cody

Candy Girl is Diablo Cody’s memoir about her year as a stripper in Minneapolis. To be perfectly transparent, I find the “strippers have the power!” justification to be ludicrous. Power is not about convincing some guy into withdrawing stacks of twenties from the ATM machine to stick in a 95-percent-naked-dancer’s thong while she strokes his ego for two minutes before moving onto the next one. But I add this one to the COVID-19 reading list because Cody knows all of this and isn’t glamorizing it. Its fast-turning pages are packed full of original quips and hilarious revelations like, “Could there be anything more grosser than pleading with undesirable men for three minutes of their company? The whole ritual defied logic, nature and the time-honored tradition of ‘Schlub Chases Babe’”. We could all use a diversion of continuous laughter these days. You may need a pair of Depends should you read this.

Gear Pairing for Recovering Strippers

The MSR DynaLock Explore Backcountry poles—to make the transition from stage and thong to the hiking trails effortless and enticing, like.

The post COVID-19 Reading List (and their gear pairings) by Women Authors appeared first on gritandgearonline.com.

Long Caye, an island off the coast of Belize on Glover’s Reef, checks off everything on my Gilligan’s Island wish list: Accommodations in a rustic, private thatch-roofed beach hut with ocean views. Rainwater collection system for drinking water and showers. No electricity, cell service or internet. Endless supply of coconut water for drinking. But with the luxuries of scuba diving, sea kayaking, surfing, paddle boarding and morning yoga.

Teva Original Universal Sandals

A warm-weather bucket list destination requires a pair of Teva Original Universal sandals on the Long Caye packing list. Not too much has changed from the original-original Teva sandal of 35 years ago (that’s a good thing) beyond new colors and designs. But it’s the straps that are a big stand out. Teva has made a substantial and impressive commitment to sustainability to reduce its environmental impact. In our current era of climate change, sustainability is somewhat of a pipe dream still for many companies. Teva, however, is walking the walk by embedding sustainability into its organizational culture. This goes a lot further for the environment than evolving colors and new designs. As of 2020, 100 percent of Teva’s iconic straps are now made from traceable, verifiable, plastic using REPREVE® yarn, which is made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and other recycled content. This keeps plastic out of landfills, lakes, rivers and oceans while offsetting the use of petroleum and reducing greenhouse gasses. | teva.com

Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve Shirt

It’s not COVID-19 that keeps me up at night about traveling to Belize. Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, common sense and a little bit of Howard-Hughes’ishness will mitigate my risk. It’s the fauna. Specifically, the eight-legged variety. I Googled “Bugs of Belize” just to see what I was getting myself into. While I was disappointed that the Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve Shirt will not likely fend off the Jumping spider—of which there are over 5,000 species and can jump more than 50 times their own body length–it’s still on the Long Caye, Belize packing list. If any little mosquito bugger comes lands anywhere on my shirt, the Insect Shield® will politely repel them. But it also repels ticks, which are rampant in Minnesota in the spring. What makes it ideal for Belize is that TempraTech body temp activated thermoregulation technology will keep me comfortable on the warm days, it’s easy to hand-wash and it dries quickly. | royalrobbins.com

Helle Mândra Knife

I signed up to review the Helle Mândra Knife for its size, versatility and cutting power as a critical packing list item for backpacking and sea kayaking. I now realize its potential to be on the Long Caye, Belize packing list. The Mandra knife was designed in cooperation with Les Stroud (aka Survivorman). It is a full tang knife with a petite but menacing 2.7-inch blade, making it excellent for slicing and—if it comes to it— fending off large hairy spiders with eight eyes who can jump up to fifty times their body length. Oh who am I kidding? If I encounter one of those things, I’ll run shrieking in terror the other way. I like that the knife comes with a hand-sewn leather sheath that can be hung from a neck lanyard. | helle.com

Julbo Spark Sunglasses

The sun shines a lot on Long Caye, Belize and the Julbo Spark made the packing list. These full-coverage sunglass are made with REACTIVE All Around 2-3 Photochromic lenses. This means that the lens gets darker or lighter as light conditions change. When I’m indoors, or outside when it’s cloudy, they look like they’re just normal tinted eye glasses. But when outside in the blazing sun, the lenses transform into full-on, sun-protection sunglasses. Clarity of the lenses is very crisp. | julbo.com

DESO Fontanillis Hoodie 

The textile industry is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the world. Add in unethical labor practices and unsustainable production and suddenly you may vow to never shop again. DESO Apparel was a brand that stood out for me at the 2020 Outdoor Retailer Winter Show. They make all make all their garments in the heart of San Francisco, California, in small batches by experienced tailors, who are paid a livable wage. In addition, DESO aims to source all materials and manufacturing withing a 30-mile radius to reduce their carbon footprint and are working on knitting their own fabrics. To me, that is the breed-standard of a sustainable brand. Since Long Caye is an eco-island, the snuggly eco-friendly DESO Fontanillis hoodie made the packing list. The soft stretchy Polyester and Spandex blend will be perfect for wearing on the plane, on the boat to Long Caye and for island nights when the cool breeze blows off the ocean and for morning yoga classes on the beach. | desosupply.com

Title Nine Namaka High Neck Bikini Top and Holy Grail Bikini Bottom 2.0

No matter your age or size, you can and should wear bikinis because your body is beautiful and you should be proud. I don’t have the body that I had when I was twenty-five and living in Southern California. These days I have the body of a fif—woman of a certain age—and I’m proud of it, even if the six-pack I had in my twenties is hidden under a case of beer and my once-chiseled thighs are lined with a thin layer of cellulite that seems to get thicker each year. I’m one COVID-19 case from my ideal weight for Belize! That’s why I love the Title Nine Namaka High Neck Bikini Top and Holy Grail Bikini Bottom 2.0. The Holy Grail 2.0 bottoms provide better coverage in the front and the rear, meaning that when I’m soaking up the sun on a beach chair my bits and body parts will remain left to the imagination rather than in your face ala Jennifer-Lopez-Hustlers-style. They also won’t feel bunchy under my wetsuit when I’m surfing or scuba diving. The Namaka High Neck Bikini Top is a halter-style top that will keep the blazing Long Caye sun from scorching the delicate epidermis of my pasty-white Minnesotan.  décolletage. I think the crochet’d racerback is a fun touch. | titlenine.com

Title Nine Paddle Board Swim Skirt

To be clear, the Title Nine Paddle Board Swim Skirt is not the swim skirt my grandmother sported in family photos circa 1920. It offers a nice amount of coverage while not completely covering me up. It has an integrated bikini brief so it’s meant to be worn as a swimsuit bottom. Some “swim skirts” are intended to be pulled over bikini bottoms. These really aren’t but I did test this method of cover-up and it worked. Kind of. I’ll use this for paddle boarding (as per the name) and for when I want to walk about the beach or travel from beach chair to cabana on Long Caye. | titlenine.com

Title Nine Double Dare Dress

If it seems like I’m Title Nine-heavy on this trip, it’s because Grit and Gear is a women-centric organization that promotes and elevates the accomplishments of women in the outdoor industry. Title Nine is one of my favorite women-founded, women-led companies. The Title Nine Double Dare Dress is a snappy little frock for dinner and cocktails in the communal palapa. But the real reason I’m packing it because of its SwiftSnap snap at the hem. With just a snap, it converts to a baggy romper that resists blowing wind. Or, if I was traveling someplace where I needed to jump on a scooter or bike I’m “covered”. It’s made from a soft, wrinkle-free fabric which makes it ideal for travel and it dries quickly on its own if it needs to be handwashed in a hotel bathroom sink. Its semi-fitted so I can also use it as a beach cover-up. | titlenine.com

Osprey Tempest 40

The journey to Belize from Minneapolis requires a connection of about 45 minutes in Atlanta. The flight arrives in Belize around noon on Friday. Delta Airlines only has one flight per day. The boat from Belize City to Long Caye departs around 7am on Saturday. The boat only goes out to the island once per week. Lots of variables that equal a heightened risk for lost luggage that likely won’t catch up to me. So I’m carrying all my clothes and necessities with me in an Osprey Tempest 40. Forty liters is ideal because its large enough to carry everything I need but small enough to fit in the airplane’s overhead bin. Note: I’m carrying the Helle Mândra Knife in a Deuter Helion 80, is a cavernous, big-gear hauling wheeled Sherpa for travel on land, air and sea—that was sadly discontinued. | ospreypacks.com

Slickrock Adventures

The outfit that is making it all happen. So, really, Slickrock Adventures counts as a Long Caye, Belize packing list item. I have always shied away from any kind of guided travel because I like to get away from crowds. They own Long Caye on Glover’s Reef and are committed to maintaining it as an eco-friendly island. Their communication updates have been top-notch and timely, they arrange for transport from the Belize City airport, a get-to-know-your-fellow-islander-for-six-days happy hour at the hotel in Belize City, and provide transport to and from Long Caye. On the island they offer every activity I love to do in warm-weather destinations but they don’t force you to do any of it. Their role is to put it out there. If I want to partake, I can. If I want to hang out in my thatched-roof hut all day with a book, I can. Full disclosure: I paid for this trip out of my own pocket. No media discounts, no kick-backs, nothing. Bonus points that beer is included in the price. | slickrock.com

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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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The Backstory

Recently I was able to accompany my friend, Annie, for a couple of days on a 40-mile section hike of the Superior Hiking Trail. Afterward, I cycled with my gear back to the trailhead where my vehicle was parked. That wasn’t the end of the journey for Annie.

She would continue forward to attempt a halfway-thru-hike of the North Country Scenic Trail. Annie loves what I call “endurance hiking,” whereas my passion lies in endurance cycling and bikepacking. I’d never backpacked such a distance but looked forward to the challenge and opportunity to learn from an experienced hiker. We can learn so much from our fellow outdoor allies, even when it’s not our specific interest. 

A Hiker’s Tale

Annie’s and my conversations varied at great length. However, our most ardent discussion circled our experiences as outdoors-women who do solo adventures and how common it is to be asked if we are doing our adventures “…alone?!” And we weren’t mistaken.

Only a short distance into our first day, we ran across a couple who asked the standard questions one might ask when seeing hikers with packs. I let Annie do the talking since this was her quest. After describing her mission, it was quickly met with the exclamation, “Alone?!” 

Annie: “Yes.” 

Hiker: “Don’t you have a job?” 

Annie: “Well, I had a job, but I left it to pursue this hike.” 

Hiker: “Does your mom know you are doing this?” 

Annie: “Yes, she encouraged me to do it. My mom is very supportive.” 

The woman, seeming a bit bewildered, let out a very unsure sounding, “Okay…” as we marched ahead. As soon as we were out of earshot, I laughed, “She asked our favorite question!” We quipped over how she asked if Annie’s mom knew. I joked, “Nope, I disappeared and told no one.” We had a good chuckle. Surely, she did not mean any harm with her questions, but concern. 

A Bikepacker’s Narrative

I told Annie about a similar experience I had while biking from Seattle to Portland several years prior. Cycling in the winter months, it was quite wet, cold, and no other bikepackers were out. I was prepared with rain gloves but knew they would soak through. Finally, when they had, I wished I brought a pair of plastic medical gloves to keep me warmer.

Planning on picking some up when I arrived at my first destination, I continued pedaling. Lucky for me, I didn’t need to wait; there was a paramedic station a short distance from where it crossed my mind. I pulled up to their open garage door and was met by two friendly (cis-male appearing) paramedics. Again, they asked all the typical questions.

Finally, one asked, “Are you married or have a boyfriend?”

“No,” I replied.

“I thought so, or he probably wouldn’t let or want you to do this.”

I proclaimed, “What makes you think I’d marry or date someone that wouldn’t support me doing this? I’d marry the guy who says, “Let’s go!”

The Statistics

Why is it when we learn of women in the outdoors alone, we assume they are at serious risk? Are they indeed at more risk than in their daily lives in any other part of the country?

Statistics show, in the outdoors, you are safer. FBI Crime Statistics detail that in 2017, there were 1,247,321 crimes committed nationwide (including aggravated assault, robbery, murder, and rape). With a US population of 325,150,000 at that time, that results in a .38% chance of being the victim of violent crime. Compared to the National Park Service’s 2017 stats, there were 630 total crimes, 47% of which were crimes against another person. There were only 181 new cases in 2017. That is 181 cases, with a population of 325,150,000. Let’s just say that your chances of victimhood have dramatically decreased. You are much safer in the woods than anywhere else. 

We know the Risks, that’s why we Use Common Sense

Annie and I (as well as most solo women adventurers) are well-aware of our risks in the outdoors. These include a lack of water or food, injury, a highly improbable negative encounter with wild animals, and not listening to your instincts and taking necessary precautions. For Annie’s hike, she uses a satellite device and has a well-established set of safety protocols. Annie never stood too close to ledges to prevent unnecessary risk, took a wilderness first aid course before her hikes, and carried a first aid kit.

On my adventures, I also carry a first aid kit and have safety protocols in place so that folks know of my whereabouts. As a cyclist, when I’m on or near a busy road, I break or stop riding at sunset while the sun is at horizon, which makes me less visible to drivers due to glare. While there are minimal risks to these wildlife trips, the benefits are immeasurable. 

Annie and I surmised that no matter your pursuit, this is a frequent question that solo adventurers are asked – particularly when you are a woman. I wondered if cis-males experience the same questioning or surprised response when they are approached on a solo adventure. Although not scientific, my brief survey of a few cis-male friends informs me that they are sometimes asked, but not met with replies of disbelief.

Pondering these experiences, I’ve created a list of ways for how to be a positive ally to women solo adventurers.

How To Be An Ally 

1. Don’t add Fuel to the Fire

First and foremost, if you are not a woman or woman-identifying person, recognize where our frustration lies. To do so means understanding the reality of our everyday lives. Throughout our lifetimes, we are continuously reminded of the dangers of our mere existence – and these aren’t unwarranted. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 1 in 6 American women are victims of attempted or completed rape.

Tips like, “don’t walk alone at night, lock the doors as soon as you enter your vehicle, put your keys in your hand to use as a weapon, always notify people of your whereabouts, don’t look lost,” are hardwired into our brains. Be this the case, we are already confronting our fears when realizing a solo adventure; darkness, noises, sleeping, running into crazy folks. Provided our life experiences and the ways we must safeguard our person on the daily, I promise we all have them. What we need most is validation and support, not more reminders that our existence is dangerous.

2. Provide her Positive Reinforcement

When encountering a solo woman adventurer, it’s okay to ask if they are alone. But please, try to respond in a non-shocked, “Oh my goodness, you are in so much danger!” – sort of way.  A reply like, “Wow, that’s awesome!” or “Cool! What an adventure!” is encouraging. Positive affirmation makes us more willing to continue talking. Note: Sometimes, women will lie about this. (You won’t know the difference anyway.) Maybe she’ll choose not to respond and derail to a new topic or is unwilling to engage in conversation period. Respect this. Not sharing may be a woman’s form of protecting herself. Don’t continue to prod with questions about her route, etc. 

3. Don’t Assume she’s Adventuring in Secret

Don’t assume she doesn’t have a partner, spouse, or has disappeared into the wilderness without telling anyone. It seems pretty obvious, but the above encounters indicate otherwise. I’d argue that most women outdoor enthusiasts have a solid support group who know their whereabouts and encourage them to achieve their goals. It doesn’t mean they aren’t concerned for their safety, but understand it is a calculated risk. Like Annie and myself, they presumptively have emergency and safety plans in action.

4. Offer your Support

We are happy for offers of support. When you have a conversation and discover a woman may be on her own, feel free to offer help. We appreciate it like any traveler. Volunteer to drop a water cache, your yard to tent for a night, couch to sleep, shower, or place to have a hot meal. Who doesn’t like an amenity here and there?! Are you familiar with the hiking or biking route? Know of road closures or obstacles? We love tips! Respect her response if she declines. 

These are some fantastic ways to be an ally to solo women outdoor adventurers – some I’ve experienced firsthand. Follow these and you’ll probably receive a few less audible sighs and perhaps some more adventuring friends. 

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What I Loved

Timeless Heritage Style

Every fall, the runways of New York, Paris, Milan and London inflict upon us the “new styles” that we’re all expected to empty our 401ks to buy. Some aren’t bad but many are just the crackpot experiments of designers that are absurd and unrealistic. Thanks to its heritage style and timeless design, the Toad & Co Tangerine Falls jacket will be relevant twenty years from now–and it only costs $150.

Functionality and Warmth

The Toad and Co Tangerine Falls jacket exudes “Trail to Tavern” from every fiber of its organic cotton and canvas blend. Thanks to its DWR finish, it repels light drizzle on the trail or while out and about shopping, running errands or commuting to work. Aside from its DWR coating, the Toad & Co Tangerine Falls jacket contains 60 grams of insulation in the body and 40 grams in the sleeves. On the inside of the jacket is a lightweight flannel lining and the two hand pockets are lined with a lovely, silky fleece. Its 30.5” length does a great job of keeping the bum warm in temperatures down to the low-forties.

Substantial

When I hold this jacket I do not feel a lightweight jacket at all. I feel a substantial jacket that has enough weight to provide warmth. I was checking out some similar looking jackets on the racks at Nordstrom’s a few weeks earlier. They were in the style of the Tangerine Falls jacket but were feather light. They had no lining, no insulation, and no weight to them. Their purpose was fashion and only fashion. They were not jackets. The Tangerine Falls is the antithesis of those jackets with its heftier weight, warmth and heavy duty zippers and snaps.

Size

It’s accurate. I’m normally a small in tops and jackets and the size small of the Tangerine Falls jacket fits correctly. While I have somewhat broad shoulders, I did not feel that it was tight in the shoulders at all. Sleeve length is about as perfect as one can get. For layering, I wore either lightweight or mid-weight long-sleeved shirts. I experimented with mid-layers and bulky wool sweaters but found that it wasn’t such a good idea. The additional bulk made the jacket too tight.

What Could be Better

Nothing. I honestly can’t think of anything that would make the Tangerine Falls jacket better. I think Toad and Co nailed it here.

Final Thoughts

There are times when a piece of clothing comes along that isn’t necessarily ground-breaking or earth-shattering in its design but I love it anyway. For $150, you can’t go wrong with the Toad & Co. Tangerine Falls jacket and its classic, timeless and beautiful heritage style.

For day hikes on cool days with moderate wind, or even wearing around town in the early spring or late fall, and the clouds unleash a drizzle, it’ll definitely do what you need it to do—without bleeding your 401k.

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