Essential Gear: Hiking Apparel From Top to Bottom
Prime hiking season is upon us. And this coming long weekend is one of the best times to head uphill.
Are you geared up for adventure? Let’s take a look at six new items for fall that have us excited to tackle the trails:
Columbia OutDry Extreme ECO Jacket
($280; columbiasportswear.ca)
The Specs: We’ve been fans of OutDry Extreme from day-one—this waterproof-breathable fabric puts a diamond-tough membrane, plus seam tape, on the exterior of the shell. This means it doesn’t rely on DWR, nor will it ever wet-out like traditionally constructed jackets. It’s essentially like a rubber rain-slicker that also breathes.
Why We Love It: OutDry Extreme ECO ups the environmental ante—made of 21 recycled plastic bottles, plus recycled material on the zippers and trim, and without dyes or intentional usage of PFCs, it’s weather-protection you can feel good about buying.
Toad & Co. Trailbreak Short Sleeve Crew
($40; toadandco.com)
The Specs: This soft-touch polyester shirt wicks and wears well and provides odour control and UPF 20 sun protection. It’s ideal for hot-day hiking when you’re planning on being drenched in sweat.
Why We Love It: It’s poly that feels like cotton—and it’s made from recycled coffee grounds. Really! Plus, the presence of upcycled Java beans might even infuse some caffeine-energy to the wearer for tackling those uber-hard treks. (We checked—it doesn’t.) Regardless, it’s a fun conversation-starter to say your shirt is made of coffee.
Salomon Wayfarer Shorts
($90; salomon.com)
The Specs: We like products that simply work, and work well. Enter the Wayfarer. Constructed of a stretchy, soft-yet-tough woven nylon and elastane, these shortpants move with the wearer, breathe well and can handle a brambly bushwhack. Four pockets, belt loop and waist adjustments round out the package.
Why We Love It: They’re also rated to UPF 50, which helps us from getting sunburned thighs (which really hampers hikes). And they look good enough to wear off-trail too.
Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Pattern Mid Crew Socks
($30; smartwool.com)
The Specs: Socks matter as much as shoes. So we always make sure to have quality merino-blend hiking socks on our precious tootsies whenever we hit the trail. These meet the mark with 57 per cent merino (plus nylon and elastane, for strength and fit), a “virtually seamless toe” and padding where it’s needed.
Why We Love It: With a mid-height (six inches total), plus mesh where it matters, this sock won’t leave your dogs overheated on a toasty summer’s hike.
Danner Mountain 600
($235; danner.com)
The Specs: The classic boot-builder is once-again making waves in the hiking world. Take the Mountain 600—with a new Vibram midsole designed for all-day comfort and ground-grabbing Vibram lugs made to grip multi-surfaces at multi-angles, this is a worthy boot for a multitude of trails. Plus, the waterproof breathable membrane offers genuine protection from the rains to come.
Why We Love It: It looks awesome. We love the roughed-leather upper and Danner embossing. Merging retro style with modern tech makes a winner in our books. (Weighs just over a kilogram for the pair.)
And Never Travel Without:
SOL Traverse
($30; surviveoutdoorslonger.com)
The Specs: Water purification, water storage bag, space blanket, fire-steel, tinder, signaling device, first-aid and more—these are your wilderness essentials. The whole package weighs only 210 grams and is the size of a novel, so it’s easy to stash in a daypack.
Why We Love It: The retro tin conjures up images of old-school Boy Scout equipment—the stuff that embodied the motto: “Be Prepared.”
Are You Geared Up?
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