Tag: Gear

Boating safety tips for smooth sailing

Keep your trip above board.

Cool water is a great relief as summer heats up. So, many people take to the rivers, lakes, and oceans on all sorts of vessels. While this usually results in a fun day out, never underestimate the power of water. Accidents happen. Fortunately, a little preparation and education can minimize risks for you, your friends, your family, and your water-loving pets. Here’s what you need to know, with tips and accident stats from the U.S. Coast Guard and other venerable bodies. Whether you’re piloting a motorboat, pontoon boat, canoe, or kayak, reduce your chances of collision, drowning, and other water-related hazards with these tips.

Packing for a hike? Here’s the essential hiking gear to bring.

Gear up!

Hiking is just like walking, right? The only differences are being out in nature and going up and down hills. While that’s basically true, there are some important factors hikers must consider. In contrast to venturing out for an urban stroll, navigating uneven terrain near wild plants and animals and far away from city services requires specialized equipment. When packing for hiking, here are the essentials you’ll need.

This hiking gear list will help prepare beginners and refresh experienced hikers. And if you’re planning anything more than a simple trail walk, explore these safety tips and emergency preparedness essentials. Happy trails!

11 outdoorsy graduation gift ideas for adventurous grads

Find the perfect graduation present.

Is your beloved grad looking a bit green from all that time in classrooms? Are they wearing reading glasses more than sunglasses? Brow still furrowed from final exam anxiety? Maybe it’s time to step away from the textbooks and play outside.

If you have a new graduate in your life who yearns for some post-education adventure, consider buying a gift that sets them free from intellectual duties. There will be plenty of time for career development or graduate school later. This summer is a time to have fun on the water or in the mountains. After all, they’ve earned it.

12 Father’s Day gift ideas for dads who love camping

Great gear for a great dad.

Is your dad a camper? Then Father’s Day is the time to help him gear up. Every dedicated camper wants the best new stuff, whether that’s a more efficient stove or a comfier sleeping pad.

If Dad is a car camper who likes to have it all outdoors, maybe he dreams of deluxe camp furniture. Or if he’s a backpacking dad, we know he’s always searching for a tent that weighs two ounces less.

You’re in luck if you have a camping dad because they are so much fun to shop for. Get ready for Father’s Day with these gift ideas for dads who love camping.

Mother’s Day gifts for outdoorsy moms who swim, kayak, SUP, and more

Gifts for kayak, SUP, and swim moms.

Does your mom gravitate toward lakes, rivers, streams, and the sea? Do people accuse her of being a mermaid? If so, celebrate Mother’s Day with a gift that recognizes her affinity for water. Whether she loves to glide over the rivers on a paddle board, challenge the waves while surfing, plunge in for a swim, or dive deep with an air tank, these gifts will make her day. And consider getting yourself a new swimsuit and updating your gear, too, so you can join mom in her aquatic adventures. Because the best Mother’s Day gift is a shared experience that will make incredible memories.

Here are the essentials you need to take up birdwatching this spring

Join the birding world.

Devoted birdwatchers will tell you there’s never a bad time to go birding. But if you’re new to the hobby, you can’t beat springtime. Some species are starting to migrate, and nesting season is underway. Plus, the days are getting longer and warmer, so going out early is less of a chore than in, say, January.

Of course, it all depends on where you live. You might be fortunate enough to be in a spring migration pathway, where you can watch a mass movement of passing birds. Check with local birders. Also, keep an eye out for birding festivals, which are timed for maximal viewing. At the end of April, Corpus Christi, Texas’s Birdiest Festival in America takes advantage of spring migration along the Gulf Coast. The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival in May showcases migratory birds flying through the Midwest. Wherever you live, here’s the best birdwatching gear for your adventures.

12 archery ranges where you can let your arrows fly

Hit ’em with your best shot.

Historically, archery has been the domain of warriors and hunters. But even if you have no inclination toward warfare or slaughtering your own dinner, the challenging sport has health and psychological benefits. It can increase your confidence and improve your hand-eye coordination and upper-body strength. And talk about focus! Archers must be able to stand strong and steady while anticipating how wind, sun, rain, and other conditions will influence their arrows. People of all ages (though experts recommend children be at least eight years old) can enjoy the sport. Whether you’re an accomplished or aspiring archer, here are some archery ranges around the United States and Canada where you can let your arrows fly.

Here’s your guide to the best gifts for runners this year

Find the best sneakers, socks, and more for your favorite runner.

Do you have folks on your gift list who get up at the crack of dawn to go for a run, even on holidays? Do they brave the wind, rain, and dark winter mornings? Dedicated outdoorsy people like that love gear. Whether your beloved runner is hitting forested trails or county roads, dodging urban traffic or trotting down a deserted beach, every step is slowly wearing down their shoes, socks, and other running threads. It’s time to buy them more. Here are some of this year’s best gifts for runners. These picks will put a smile on their face before they lace up their sneakers and run out the door again.

This avalanche safety gear could help you avoid danger on a climbing trip

Pack these essentials before your next snowy adventure.

Snow lovers adore the quiet of a white-blanketed landscape and the glisten of sunlight on ice crystals. So beautiful. So serene. Until an avalanche hits. Hopefully, it will never happen to you. But if you participate in winter sports, avalanche intel is essential. Protect yourself with the right avalanche safety gear and a few helpful tips.

First, don’t try to outrun an avalanche. Instead, run perpendicular to its path to try to avoid the middle of it. If you’re stuck in its way, grab onto a tree or something else solid and hold on. Clench your teeth, and keep your mouth closed. If the avalanche does catch you, try to stay on top with a swimming motion.

We know. It’s terrifying. But you can prepare for the worst by bringing some of this avalanche safety gear on your winter expeditions.

From goggles to socks, ski in style with these winter weather accessories

Show up to the slopes in style.

Skiing is all about the thrill of flying downhill, the crisp wind filling your lungs, feeling your body react skillfully to the slope, and praying you don’t faceplant into a tree — right? Well, mostly. Fashionable skiers know it’s also about the joy of looking good before, during, and after skiing. Drop by Park City, Utah, or the French Alps, and you’ll see what we mean. It’s a veritable catwalk on snow, with skiers sporting the chicest ski gloves, goggles, and balaclavas. Find your style and keep up with ski fashions by bringing some of our favorite ski accessories on your next winter trip.