Looking for the best gifts for outdoorsy women? You’ve come to the right place. Since 2014 I’ve been blogging about my outdoor and van life adventures and sharing all the gear I’ve tried along the way. In this 2024 Outdoorsy Women’s gift guide, I’ve rounded up my favorite apparel and gear, along with some fun and cute accessories, that I know that the lady in your life will love. Looking for more gift ideas? Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers Gifts … Continue reading “25 Cute and Useful Gifts for Outdoorsy Women (2024)”
30 Unique and Thoughtful Gifts for National Park Fans
As someone who’s spent countless hours exploring our national parks, I know how meaningful it is to have pieces that remind me of those experiences. So, I’ve rounded up 30 of my favorite national park-themed gifts that are perfect for the park lover in your life—or maybe just for you! From beautiful artwork and jewelry to practical gear I’d personally recommend, these picks capture the magic of our parks. Need more gift suggestions? Here are my other 2024 Gift Guides … Continue reading “30 Unique and Thoughtful Gifts for National Park Fans”
Van Life Gift Guide: 35 Practical Gifts All Van Lifers Need (2024)
I’ve lived in 3 different Sprinter Vans since 2016, so I know that finding the perfect gift ideas for van lifers can be difficult. What do you get the person who lives tiny and doesn’t have a lot of storage space? In this 2024 Van Life Gift Guide, I’ve rounded up the best van life gear I’ve used over the last 8 years. These gifts are practical, multi-functional, and take up minimal room – ensuring your favorite van lifer will … Continue reading “Van Life Gift Guide: 35 Practical Gifts All Van Lifers Need (2024)”
75 Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers (2024)
If I’m going to buy gifts for family and friends during the holidays, I want to make sure that whatever I buy is going to get good use. That means I generally try to gift awesome outdoor gear to help them get outside. In this 2024 outdoor gift guide, you’ll find my gift recommendations for every kind of adventurer in your life – whether that’s hikers and backpackers, van lifers, car campers, outdoor chefs, powder chasers, adventurous parents, and more! … Continue reading “75 Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers (2024)”
Day Hiking Essentials: What I Bring on Every Hike
What I love about day hiking is it doesn’t require a huge upfront investment in gear. A backpack, some good hiking shoes, extra layers, food, water, and a few safety items are really all you need. Maybe you’ve heard of the Ten Essentials for Hiking? This is a list of recommended items you bring on every hike that was invented waaaayyyy back in the 1930s. Obviously, the hiking world (and gear) has changed a lot since then, so what you’ll … Continue reading “Day Hiking Essentials: What I Bring on Every Hike”
Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket Review: Is it worth the price?
Arc’teryx just released the brand new Arc’teryx Beta SL rain jacket – their lightest Beta rain jacket to date. This summer I’ve been testing it while hiking in heavy thundershowers, and it’s performed beautifully. It’s kept me bone dry, is comfortable to wear, and has all of the features that I look for in a solid rain jacket. Arc’teryx is also making environmental strides with the Beta SL by eliminating the use of forever chemicals (PFCs) that are almost always … Continue reading “Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket Review: Is it worth the price?”
Kula Cloth Review: Why I Love this Reusable Pee Rag
Back in 2014, I spent 22 days hiking the John Muir Trail. Prior to that, the longest backpacking trip I had been on was 5 days, so there was a lot I didn’t know. One of those things was knowing how to deal with peeing and wiping on the trail. Using toilet paper and packing it out was not a good option since I’d have to carry a ridiculous amount of TP for 22 days. So it seemed the only … Continue reading “Kula Cloth Review: Why I Love this Reusable Pee Rag”
How to Choose a Backcountry Campsite (that follows Leave No Trace)
After a long day of carrying a heavy backpack on the trail, I know what it’s like to just want to set up your tent, make dinner, and fall asleep. When you finally reach the point where you’re going to set up camp for the night, you might be tempted to just take whichever spot is closest without a second thought. If you’re new to backpacking, you might also wonder: Is it ok to camp next to the water? What … Continue reading “How to Choose a Backcountry Campsite (that follows Leave No Trace)”
Backpacking 101 for Beginners: My Tips for Your First Trip
Backpacking is my favorite way to get outside. Backpacking gives you the opportunity to completely unplug, immerse yourself in nature, challenge yourself physically, and forget about the worries of everyday life. If you’ve never been backpacking before, it’s likely one of these things that is inspiring you go on your first backpacking trip. My first time backpacking was in 2005, and when I started backpacking, I made a lot of common backpacking mistakes. The weren’t a ton of backpacking 101 … Continue reading “Backpacking 101 for Beginners: My Tips for Your First Trip”
My 3-Day Backpacking Checklist (with PDF)
Packing for a backpacking trip always feels a little stressful. It’s a careful balance between overpacking and underpacking. Bring too much, and your pack will be uncomfortably heavy. Bring too little, and you could end up cold, hungry and miserable. I know because I experienced both situations when I first started backpacking 20 years ago. Since then, I’ve backpacked more than a thousand miles which has given me lots of opportunities to dial in my backpacking checklist so it has … Continue reading “My 3-Day Backpacking Checklist (with PDF)”