Summer is officially here, and it’s time to take advantage of the longest days of the season. To take the guesswork out of choosing the best summer gear, we put our expert roster of trail veterans to the task of testing the most useful—and fun—things for your summer days on and off the trail.
Summer Essentials for 2016…
This is a great time to be shopping for new gear. Outdoor related products aren’t just improving, they keep getting dramatically better. Even if you think you already have what you need, there’s a host of gear and apparel offering better performance, better fit, and better style. So with the season of the sun upon us, here’s a handful of our favorites that will take you through Summer and beyond.
Thule Stir Backpack
We’ve been through more than our fair share of daypacks. So trust us when we say that the new Thule Stir is light on weight, but heavy on features. By integrating Thule technology, design aesthetics, and lab and life testing, this new lightweight daypack allows you to put in the miles in comfort. Super-tough construction and features that other companies’ technical backcountry packs would be proud of make the Stir Pack your perfect trail companion.
A simple and clean design aesthetic along with torso adjustability, multiple easy-access pockets and rain cover make this pack perfect for longer day hikes. The Stir is as customizable as it is well designed, with a sliding backpanel to fit different torso sizes and a removable hip belt and sternum strap that give it a more streamlined look for around-town use. A side zipper provides easy access to buried layers, and pockets at the shoulder strap, front, side, and top supply convenient spots to stash your phone, water, rain shell, and snacks.
Vasque Inhaler II GTX
Your adventures call for more highly evolved footwear. You need footwear to combat loose gravel, jagged rocks and shallow streams – enter the Inhaler II GTX from Vasque. Available in both mid and low cut versions, these are the most lightweight and breathable boots in the Vasque collection to date and are used the Vasque team of thru-hikers on the AT, CDT and the PCT as their shoe of choice!
The GORE-TEX® waterproof, breathable liner with Extended Comfort Technology, sits just behind expansive air-mesh panels and 1.6mm leather, breathing as you bust out the effort. Ventilation ports at the toe and heel help keep the airflow high, making the Inhaler II Mid the perfect boot for lengthy summer days. Below all this respiration is a Vibram® Pneumatic sole, featuring Megagrip compound rubber—that excels on just about any and every terrain you’ll come across this summer.
Helle Knives Mândra Neck Knife
Carrying a knife when you’re outdoors is a no-brainer. And carrying an outdoor fixed blade knife is an indicator that sweet experience has taught you how to be an outdoor boss. When you’re running your adventure hard and fast, take a fixed blade knife to cut down on weight and eliminate the chances of your knife failing when you’re off the beaten path. Designed and tested in the rugged wilderness of Romania, the new Mândra neck knife proves that big things come in small packages.
Continuing a tradition of handcrafting knives designed and tested in the outdoors, Helle’s latest full tang knife is a collaborative work with with world renowned survival expert, Les Stroud of Survivorman. Measuring in at 5.85” overall with a 2.72” blade, the Mândra was designed and tested in the raw and rugged natural setting of Romania during filming of the latest Les Stroud Survivorman film project.
But this knife isn’t just snarl and grit. Because it’s Helle, it’s a beautiful as it is functional. Featuring a stout, full bellied blade forged of Helle’s triple laminated stainless steel this full tang knife offers proves the axiom that big things come in small packages. The Mândra comes with a full grain leather sheath with a securing strap and snap rivet.
Stio CFS Board Trunk & Pants
Stio is rapidly becoming one of our favorite outdoor brands and the CFS Board Trunks and CFS Pants are are prime example as to why. In designing the CFS collection, stio skipped over the cliché prints of tropical flowers and swaying palm fronds, and instead opted for gear that offers technical performance and impressive comfort all while respecting your mountain sensibilities.
Built with Sphero™ HO stretch poplin – a durable poly/spandex blend with a DWR finish that’s abrasion resistant & sheds water – this gear was built to not just swim in the river, but to get you there and back. Whether you go with the CFS board shorts, board skirt, or pants you get feather-light performance that’s up to the task whether you’re surfing, paddle boarding or sneaking in some bouldering on the way to that secret summer swim hole. Trust us when we say this CFS line ensures that your summer adventures will never be the same again.
STANLEY Adventure Stacking Vacuum Pint
Let’s be honest, the cornerstone of any worthy gathering involves plenty backyard BBQs and a few ice cold brews. To ensure your beverage of choice stays as cold as a mountain stream, the original inventors of Vacuum Insulation employ their reliable double-wall vacuum construction in these stacking tumblers. BPA free means it’s good for the body, and the Stainless Steel construction means less red cups in our landfills. Stack ‘em high to save space in your mess kit or kitchen cabinet, and go with the party pack to ensure everyone gets their own color version to keep track of their own drink. See… everyone wins!
SAXX Quest 2.0
Once you’re done with your quips and giggles (it took us a while) you’ll finally get around to trying a pair of SAXX and then you’ll quickly realize that the Quest 2.0 is the one pair you’ll pack every time. Whether you’re tracing miles on the John Muir Trail, chasing cobblestone walkways across Europe, or heading out for a day on the beach these boxer briefs are nothing less than perfect for extended travel where wash-and-go is your sole cleaning option.
The Quest 2.0 boxer briefs might just be the quintessential example of the idiom “details matter.” Placing a premium on ergonomic comfort, the Saxx Men’s Quest 2.0 Boxer Brief is comprised of antimicrobial material, 9-panel construction, flat lock seams (for added stretch), and an anti-fold waistband. But the revolutionary innovation of SAXX is the patented mesh panels in every pair. This comfort pouch keeps everything in place, preventing unwanted friction and movement to reduce chafe and allow contact-free support. Once you slip them on, you’ll never wear anything else again.
Chaco Z/Cloud Sandals
True, you may not plan on spending 40 years wandering the desert wilderness like the Isrealites, but you’ve still got big plans for your summer. Whether tackling class IV rapids, searching for those elusive swimming holes or trekking through the narrow cobblestone alleys of old Europe, the Z/Cloud is ready to help you find your way into the beauty of summer.
The Z/Cloud series offers all the legendary performance of the Classic Chaco, but with the added gift of pillow-top comfort courtesy of a top layer of ultra-soft PU for instant-cushion underfoot. Featuring the same custom adjustable strap system, the legendary podiatrist-certified LUVSEAT™ PU footbed, the Z/Cloud also features the new performance ChacoGrip™ rubber outsole for superior grip and traction. In our opinion, these are the best Chaco sandals yet.
LifeStraw Go
Whether you’re heading out for a simple day hike, or making an extended trek into the backcountry, there are two hydration truisms. First, drink more water. Second, the better water tastes, the more you drink. Enter the new LifeStraw Go which utilizes a two-stage filtration process which removes bacteria and protozoa to make microbiologically contaminated water safe to drink, while also reducing organic chemicals, chlorine and bad taste.
LifeStraw Go weighs less than eight ounces and holds 22 ounces of filtered water that meets stringent US EPA standards. It features a flip top bite valve and carabiner, is BPA free, contains no chemicals, and raw materials meet US FDA regulations. As an added bonus, users can express their personal style by choosing their water bottle in pink, purple, grey, green or blue. All told, if you love adventure you’re going to love the LifeStraw Go.