Outdoor Gear
Many of my favorite travel moments occur out in nature either hiking or just relaxing while I take in the scenery. If you’re planning a trip where you know you’ll be spending time outside, make sure to look through the gear below so that you’ll have everything you’ll need.
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This long-sleeved shirt for men from BALEAF is my favorite piece of outdoors gear. The material offers good protection from the cold and wind while still being thin enough to keep you from getting hot if you’re somewhere the weather can change quickly. The quick-dry material also helps against light rain if you get stuck out in a sudden storm. These shirts aren’t just great for hiking, but they’re also my go to shirt when going for a run or walk in cooler weather.
And if you’re shopping for women’s outdoor wear, here’s the same shirt for females.
Like BALEAF’s shirt, their hiking pants are another great piece of gear if you’ll be in the outdoors. These pants offer excellent protection against the elements or any plants if you’ll be hiking in high grass or tight spaces. They also have lots of zipper pockets for keeping keys, phones or whatever else stored safely.
And here are similar hiking pants from BALEAF for men!
We’ve all been there: It’s a beautiful day when you’re on the trail and all of a sudden, the sky turns black, and the clouds open up dumping rain all over you. This rain jacket from Columbia is the perfect answer to that crisis. It’s lightweight and can easily be stuffed into a backpack for quick retrieval without weighing you down throughout the hike. The material deflects rain very well, too, keeping you dry as you keep on your way.
Here’s a similar Columbia jacket for women to help against rain and wind.
Here’s one more piece of Columbia gear I recommend. It’s their men’s lite jacket, but I think of it as more of a light coat. The material is thick enough to keep you warm in colder temperatures but still flexible enough to not bog you down if you’re doing a lot of walking.
And one more time for the ladies! Here’s a similar Columbia jacket for you.
These men’s Merrell trail runners were my best friends for several years until I finally beat them up enough that I couldn’t use them anymore. They’re perfect whether you’ll be using them for hiking or trail running. The soles offer just enough grip for sandy or slippery surfaces while not being as cumbersome as more rugged hiking boots. That said, they’re not meant for really technical trails or extremes of elements, but I used them for hiking Old Rag in Shenandoah and the national parks in Utah without any issue at all. They’re also light enough to make running on single track trails a breeze.
The Venture Pal 40L backpack has been my go-to hiking and daypack for a few years now. It’s lightweight and comes with several different compartments, including one waterproof pocket, is ideal for carrying around whatever I need when hiking or sightseeing. It’s also sturdy, too. I use this as a small carry-on when flying to haul my laptop, iPad, chargers, a hoodie, and other odds and ends I might need on the plane.
After trying many different water bottles over the years, the Iron Flask takes the cake as the best. It’s been the most durable by a wide margin, which has always been my biggest pet peeve with reusable bottles. It also does an amazing job at keeping beverages cold over long periods of time even in intense heat. What’s more, you can get it in large sizes to help keep you hydrated over the course of a long day. If you’re in the market for a new water bottle, don’t hesitate on this one!
While the Iron Flask is my favorite reusable bottle, these collapsible bottles are Michelle’s. They don’t hold as much volume, but they’re incredibly handy if you aren’t carrying around a backpack to hold something the size of the Iron Flask. They fit perfectly in her handbag while also having a clip to hang from the strap when filled with water.
For hiking, this is Michelle’s water container of choice. This water bladder comes in 1.5-, 2.0- or 3.0-liter volumes making it ideal for hiking most distances. It fits in the main pocket of your backpack and has a handy straw for easy access without having to go through the hassle of removing and replacing a water bottle so you can keep on the move while having your hands mostly free.
The LifeStraw can be an actual lifesaver if you’re out hiking and run out of water. These filters can be used for up 4,000 liters of filtration and have been shown to filter out 99.999999% of bacteria like e. coli and salmonella and 99.999% of parasites like giardia. That’s a whole lot of filtration! But why use them only for hiking? They can also be used to get clean, filtered water when you’re on the go traveling, too.
As someone who has been in a moderate emergency situation while hiking, I can attest to how important it is to have a first aid kit handy when you’re out hiking. Imagine being up on top of a mountain when you slip on ice and get a gash in your forehead that eventually requires 20+ stitches. That’s where I was! Fortunately, we had this first aid kit on hand, and Michelle was able to at least clean me up to prevent an infection while we made our way back to civilization. It’s best to always be prepared!
You’ve seen the signs about leaving no waste while hiking, but why not take it a step further and leave no waste at all, even once you’re back home. These reusable, sealable baggies are a great way to take food on the trail with you without creating any waste. Simply throw them in the dishwasher after they’re used and keep on using them again and again.
Similar to the reusable bags above, the PackIt freezable bag allows you to store food over and over again without using single-use plastics. The difference is that this bag can be stored in the freezer similar to an ice pack to allow you to bring foods that need to be kept cold. It’s another great addition to any hike or even just a day of sightseeing.
I love these spray-on bottles of suntan lotion from Neutrogena. If you’re like me and you hate the grimy feeling of suntan lotion on your hands after rubbing it in, then this lotion is for you. You still need to rub it in for full protection, but it doesn’t leave nearly as much residue on your hands. I also find that it’s much quicker to apply than traditional suntan lotions.
I don’t know where I’d be without my Garmin Forerunner 245. This GPS watch comes with a ton of features from tracking your hike to, more importantly, providing directions for getting back to where you started. Fortunately, I haven’t needed that latter setting yet, but it’s nice to know it’s there if I ever get lost. It’s also just fun sometimes to see how many steps I’ve taken after a long day of sightseeing!
The Anker Portable Charger is a lightweight, efficient charger for your devices when you’re on the go. It’s capable of fully charging a standard mobile phone three times and a tablet once on a single battery. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android, this portable charger is a great option if you’re planning a long day of hiking.
The Errbbic Solar Power Portable Charger is another device worth carrying if you’ll be out on the road for a long time. Its battery can be charged with sunlight to provide your mobile device with an extra boost in case of emergency. These chargers also come with a flashlight and compass for additional layers of support if you get lost.
A pair of binoculars can come in handy when visiting any outdoor spaces, especially if you’re somewhere that’s known for its wildlife. This pair from Occer comes with low light vision to help in the early morning or late evening. They’re also small and easy to carry along with you. They’re by no means a high tech, fancy piece of equipment, but they’re perfect – and affordable – for the average person who just wants to see wildlife from afar.
These next few items are for the people enjoying the great outdoors with their doggos in tow. First up are these Earth Rated poop bags. They’re handy to have so you can pick up Fido’s messes on the trail, but they go a step further by being made from recycled plastics to help reduce the environmental impact of throwing these out.
Another handy item to have when hiking with dogs (pun intended) is this hands-free dog leash. Simply strap the waistband around your torso, clip the leash to your dog’s harness, and you and your pup are ready to go. The leash is elastic allowing your dog to walk around you at ease without constantly pulling at your waist. This leash also comes with a small zip-up pouch for storing things like poop bags and treats.
These portable water bottles for dogs are another great addition to your repertoire if you take your pooch out for long walks or hikes. They come in 12- or 19-ounce sizes and can be folded for easy storage. When your dog gets thirsty, you can unfold the bottle to dispense water into its handy little bowl.