The most overlooked part of every training program? Motivation. It鈥檚 the key to showing up, pushing through your plateau, and making big gains in performance. But staying motivated is easier said than done. That鈥檚 why we talked to coaches and athletes and training experts and got their top tips on getting your mental game in shape. Put their advice into action, and there鈥檚 no limit to what you can achieve.

Choose a Just-Right Goal

Beginning a fitness routine without a clear goal in mind is like setting off on an expedition without a map鈥攅ven with the best of intentions, there鈥檚 just no telling where you鈥檒l end up. Instead, pick a measurable objective, like a personal record in a 5K, completing a century ride, or competing in your first triathlon. Your goal should be a stretch, but still feel attainable.

Keep It Personal

“Almost anybody with the proper training and mindset can accomplish big goals,鈥� says cycling coach Kristen Bonkoski. But keep your goals personal, like finishing your first half-marathon or beating your previous pace. 鈥淲hat you don鈥檛 want to do is set goals based on other people, like 鈥榝inish in the top 20,鈥欌�� Bonkoski says.

Expand Your Goal Setting

Don鈥檛 be afraid to include mental goals, says Brianna Cope, a pro surfer, avid runner, and ambassador for KT Tape. For example, in Cope鈥檚 last marathon, her goal was to squash the negative self-talk that plagued her in past races. Also consider social goals, like running a 10K with a friend or family member, or joining a group ride on a new route.

Set a Schedule

Whatever your goal, you鈥檒l also need a deadline. How long it will take you to train depends on your current fitness level, but six to eight weeks is reasonable for a shorter-distance goal, like your first 10K. For longer distances or bigger reaches, give yourself more like 16 weeks. Setting a realistic schedule helps with motivation because you鈥檙e less likely to get discouraged by what seems like an impossible task.

Stick With It

Everybody has moments when enthusiasm wanes. That鈥檚 normal. But you can prevent these moments from undermining your training. Try connecting with a trainer, friend, or local club鈥攊t鈥檚 harder to bail when someone is expecting you. Calendar out your workouts for the week to make sure a day doesn鈥檛 get away from you. Lay out your gear the night before your workout so you鈥檙e ready to go when it鈥檚 training time.

Embrace Recovery

A surefire way to sap your motivation? Working out too much. Your body needs recovery time to build strength between workouts, and without it, you鈥檙e more likely to feel tired and sore, and suffer the kind of mental fatigue that keeps you home on the days you should be going hard. Here鈥檚 how to best incorporate rest into your training.

• Take at least one rest day per week, maybe two. For athletes who are training hard, Bonkoski also builds in a rest week every month, with much reduced effort.
• Don鈥檛 confuse 鈥渞est day鈥� with 鈥渟pend the whole day on the couch.鈥� If it feels good, try a more mellow activity: swimming, yoga, a walk with a friend. This kind of 鈥渁ctive recovery鈥� keeps blood flowing, helping flush out the waste products you鈥檝e created during exercise and aiding in muscle repair.
• Take care of the basics. Get at least 8 hours of sleep; eat fruits, veggies, and complex carbs to refill your body鈥檚 stores; and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Boost Recovery

Tape It: Many athletes and trainers swear by kinesiology tape for sore or painful spots. 鈥淭ape allows more blood flow to the area, which can increase recovery,鈥� says , a sports chiropractor and KT Tape ambassador. With , you get flexible support that maintains full mobility and is long-lasting (wear it for up to seven days). Reducing post-workout soreness helps you feel your best for your next effort, and helps keep you on track to reach your goals.

Cool It: For decades, sore athletes have reached for an ice pack to help reduce post-exercise pain. Icing is popular because it reduces swelling and relieves pain鈥攂ut you can do better than sticking a bag of frozen peas on an achy joint. The is a reusable, flexible compression sleeve that comes in three sizes for comfortable use everywhere from knees to elbows to ankles. There鈥檚 no leaking, sliding around, or warming up too quickly: Just store it in the freezer and slide it on after a workout.

Since 2008, has been revolutionizing the sports medicine industry with the most technologically advanced and recognized kinesiology tape and recovery products. KT Tape kinesiology tape provides localized increase in blood flow to relieve pain and provide support for muscle pain and common injuries. And now, KT has introduced a line of KT Health products to include topical pain relief, diabetes care, ice/heat treatment, footcare, and more. The purpose of KT is to provide solutions that empower movement to unleash every body’s potential for everyone from everyday athletes to the pros.

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Longer days. Warmer weather. Finally, a dry track. For the , all signs point to spring training. These professional runners are kicking their workouts into high gear for the upcoming season鈥攁nd making sure their nutrition keeps up.

Wherever you are in your running life, you can learn something from the Brooks Beasts. The team includes Olympic medalists, national champions, and world record setters in distances from 800 meters to 5,000 meters. These 15 athletes from around the world train in Seattle under coach Danny Mackey and a full support staff, including two assistant coaches, a physiotherapist, and nutritionist Kyle Pfaffenbach, PhD.

Pfaffenbach, a health and human performance professor at Eastern Oregon University, tailors individualized nutrition programs to each athlete to build the strongest possible base for performance. 鈥淣utrition is a key pillar to performance, along with training, sleep, and mental health, for our athletes. The complete athlete will have a strong, evidence-based approach in each of these areas. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Individual needs vary based on factors like the person, the time of year, and the event they compete in. Nutrition is critical to this personalized approach, and we work together as a team to put our athletes in the best position to perform great and be healthy,鈥� he says.

Here鈥檚 how the Brooks Beasts fuel up for a new season, from building a strong base to fine-tuning their nutritional intake to incorporating the best supplements into their daily routine.

Warming Up to Warmer Weather

鈥淎s the weather gets nicer, track sessions seem to get a bit more intense and long runs start getting longer,鈥� Pfaffenbach says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to make sure to be well-fueled for these sessions.鈥� That means paying extra attention to carbohydrate intake to ensure athletes have the energy they need for harder workouts, but also maintaining enough protein and fat to provide longer-burning fuel and help with recovery.

Hydration needs also increase along with the temperature. 鈥淎s the weather warms up and we get acclimatized to the heat, people tend to sweat more,鈥� Pfaffenbach says. Waleed Suliman, a Brooks Beast 1,500-meter runner with four NCAA titles to his name, makes sure to add electrolytes to his water this time of year. 鈥淚 need to replenish the lost minerals to stay hydrated and avoid fatigue,鈥� he says. Suliman swears by NOW庐 Sports (favorite flavor: lemon lime), an easy source of electrolytes from the team鈥檚 official sports nutrition partner.

鈥淲e trust products,鈥� Pfaffenbach says. 鈥淭hey make straightforward supplements, often with only a single ingredient, and their testing procedure is extremely rigorous.鈥� NOW庐 Sports uses clean, research-backed ingredients when formulating its products, and its in-house lab ensures that its supplements are free of all substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency鈥檚 banned list. Many of NOW鈥檚 products are also Informed Sport Certified for added purity assurance.

Building a Base of Good Health

Performance starts with an all-around healthy diet full of fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats. 鈥淪upplements need to be just that鈥攕upplemental to a good diet,鈥� Pfaffenbach says. That said, he notes, runners often don鈥檛 get enough vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and promoting a healthy immune system. Athletes can also benefit from creatine supplements, an amino acid compound that improves muscle mass but is hard to get enough of through diet alone. Pfaffenbach also recommends that runners take collagen to keep tendons and ligaments healthy.

For all-day energy, NOW庐 Sports鈥� and both promote consistent energy production with a suite of B vitamins and other key nutrients, plus caffeine for alertness.*

Fueling Up for Workouts

A successful workout starts well before the Beasts lace up their running shoes. 鈥淲hile maintaining protein and fat intake on a day-to-day basis, most people will experience a noticeable difference in energy if they intentionally eat more carbs in the two meals prior to their long run,鈥� Pfaffenbach says. 鈥淐arbing up before a long run ensures that muscle glycogen is topped off and there is plenty of energy on board.鈥�

Proper hydration also takes time: Start the day with 16 to 20 ounces of water with electrolytes for base hydration, then drink the same amount of fluid again before workout sessions.

What does a pre-workout meal look like in practice? Suliman goes for a simple breakfast of a plain bagel with two slices of turkey, a slice of cheese, and two eggs. He adds a bowl of yogurt topped with honey and drinks a cup of black coffee, plus a cup of collagen with electrolytes.

NOW庐 Sports offers several supplements for an extra pre-workout boost.* combines ingredients like betaine, creatine, beta-alanine, and caffeine for endurance and optimized muscle output.* And features branched-chain amino acids, caffeine, and electrolytes for both energy and recovery.*

Recovering from Tough Sessions

What you consume after a workout is just as important as what you eat beforehand. Pfaffenbach has most of his runners down a drink made with NOW庐 Sports as soon as possible after a training session to help muscles recover and strengthen. Suliman also likes to get some post-workout protein from a turkey sandwich.

Athletes should also look into recovery supplements, like NOW庐 Sports鈥� , which comes in watermelon and grape flavors. This caffeine-free powder features branched-chain amino acids aimed at muscle recovery. (It鈥檚 also a useful endurance supplement before or during exercise.)* help the body shed excess ammonia, aid in protein synthesis, and support a healthy immune system.*

Suliman considers proper nutrition to be right up there with consistent training and mental well-being when it comes to his athletic success. As he works toward his big goal for the season鈥攅arning a spot to run for the United States in the 1,500-meter鈥攜ou can bet he鈥檒l be dialed in on all three.

products have been recognized among the best in the industry, backed by world-class research and development standards and quality-sourced ingredients, to support a range of sports nutritional needs for professional to amateur athletes.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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I know it鈥檚 coming. No matter where we are or what we鈥檙e doing, no matter how recently they鈥檝e eaten, I have 15 minutes, tops, until I hear, 鈥�Mooommm, I鈥檓 hungry!鈥� My kids, ages four and seven, are, shall we say, extremely food motivated on our frequent hikes, boat trips, and nordic ski sessions in our home state of Montana. Woe to the parent who forgets to pack snacks for such outings.

It鈥檚 not just food to remember. They say that she who fails to prepare prepares to fail, and nowhere is that more true than on a backcountry adventure with kids in tow. Packing the right stuff, from clothing to bandages to bug spray, can be the difference between a fun family outing and a tear-soaked sufferfest. Trust me, I鈥檝e been on both sides. You already know about the ten essentials鈥攃onsider this your addendum to that list, family edition.

Snacks (and More Snacks)

The single most important ingredient for success on our family trips? Having enough fuel on hand鈥攁nd not just any fuel. You want your kids to love the outdoors, so bring snacks they love. Forgetting this simple truth has resulted in my children sobbing, screaming, and refusing to continue down the trail more times than I鈥檇 like to admit. But doling out a steady supply of tasty snacks will keep them going鈥攈appily! And I鈥檓 not above using the promise of food to entice them up those final steps to the summit or back to the car.

One snack that has stood the test of time for us over the past few years: , which come in six flavors, including apple cinnamon, blueberry, and our favorite, raspberry. They鈥檙e made with whole grains and real fruit and are delicious enough to satisfy a kid鈥檚 palate, and their soft-baked texture means no melting, freezing, or crumbling when shoved into a backpack in any weather. , with their real fruit and cookie-like flavor, paired with whole-grain oatmeal, are also big hits with my kids. also offers brownies in double chocolate and salted caramel flavors, made from whole grains, real cocoa, and dates. Bonus: All of the above are vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free, so they鈥檙e great for slipping into my daughter鈥檚 lunchbox at her allergen-free preschool.

Oh, and when you鈥檙e packing? Start with how much you think your kids will eat, then double it.

Water Bottles

The second most frequently whined about topic on our trips: thirst. Hey, I get it鈥攚ater is essential for keeping kiddos hydrated and healthy, particularly on hot days. Each of my kids has a reusable stainless-steel water bottle, because these vessels are durable, sustainable, and easy to clean. Mermaids, princesses, and personalized sticker art are highly encouraged. (I swear it helps them drink more.)

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Extra Layers

Of course you want a midlayer or jacket for each little in case the temperature dips or the wind picks up, but don鈥檛 stop there. Take it from a mom who once had to cut a sledding trip short because her son managed to a) find the only source of running water for miles, and b) break through the ice on top, completely soaking his boots and socks. It鈥檚 not overkill to bring multiple pairs of extra socks and even footwear. Now we pack another pair of secondhand winter boots for each kid on cold-weather excursions, just in case, along with spare mittens. If you have very little ones, also consider a whole spare outfit, even on summer trips. (Pee happens, right?)

First-Aid Kit

We have a lightweight first-aid kit in a durable zippered pouch, and of course we pack it on every trip. Except the one time I didn鈥檛, and my daughter sliced her finger open on a tree branch. (Luckily, another hiker had first-aid supplies on hand.) You can buy convenient packaged kits or build your own. Be sure to include tweezers for removing splinters or ticks, gauze for bleeding, antibiotic ointment, blister treatment, children鈥檚 pain reliever and antihistamine, antiseptic wipes, and lots of bandages.

Sun and Bug Protection

Sunblock is a must, all year round. We reach for a water-resistant, reef-safe type with an SPF of at least 30. My kids squirm through an application of the typical goop styles, but those last much, much longer than spray-on brands. Tip: Try a face stick for easier application. Lightweight long-sleeve shirts also provide tons of coverage, no squirming required. Add a wide-brimmed sun hat and child-size shades on the sunniest days.

Most of us will also need bug spray, particularly in the wettest parts of the season. Picaridin and lower concentrations of DEET are considered safe for children, and both are effective in our experience. (Pediatricians recommend on kids under age two.) Many parents are tempted by 鈥渁ll-natural鈥� formulas, but generally, these just don鈥檛 work very well. One that does: oil of lemon eucalyptus products, but note that they鈥檙e not considered safe for children under age three.

Toys and Books

Yes, rocks and sticks serve perfectly well as playthings. But just like with adults, special treasures can go a long way. A friend of ours always packs a stuffed animal on hikes; she repeatedly runs ahead and hides it along the trail, then the children have to find it. (They forget they鈥檙e even hiking.) Legos and Magna-Tiles on the picnic table have distracted my kids long enough to let me cook camp dinner in peace. And soon after my son learned to read, he loved packing a book to read in the tent.

I can鈥檛 promise that following all these hard-won tips will guarantee you a whine-free outing. But I can say that packing thoughtfully will put you in a strong position for making those quality family memories happen. And that鈥檚 about as good as it gets with parenting, right?

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Hendrix Prather had a rough entry to school. When the now nine-year-old started kindergarten, he struggled to focus on his ABCs and counting,听chafing against the expectation that he sit still and be quiet. First grade brought more of the same. 鈥淭here was a lot of discussion with his teachers about his participation in class, keeping him engaged and staying focused,鈥� says his mother, Lindsay Prather. 鈥淗e was capable, but couldn鈥檛 focus to move forward. He was labeled a problem kid.鈥�

Lindsay pulled him out of his public school and homeschooled him for two years. Then, when Hendrix asked to return to a classroom for fourth grade, she enrolled him at a very different kind of institution: Woodson Branch Nature School in Marshall, North Carolina where she now serves as the school鈥檚 director of education. There, he spends the morning working on reading and math in the classroom, then moves outdoors for nature-based art projects, engineering assignments involving branches and rocks, and planting projects听in the school garden. Best of all, though, 鈥淣ow I have an hour of forest time out in nature, and I get to go to a different place every day,鈥� Hendrix says. 鈥淚t helps me focus more and get my energy out.鈥�

鈥淣ow he鈥檚 extremely focused during his academic time,鈥� Lindsay says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just thriving academically.鈥�

The Evidence Is Clear

Search the scientific literature, and you鈥檒l find paper after paper reporting on nature鈥檚 cognitive benefits. Interacting with nature to pay attention and complete difficult mental tasks. Urban environments have the opposite effect. The nature effect is largely true across鈥�even听with听short exposures to nature or听when subjects just looked at photos of wild places. around homes and schools correlate to better cognitive development in kids and better mental function 听in adults. Researchers have even documented physical changes to the brain with MRI scans: found kids with more access to green spaces had more gray matter, which is linked to higher-level thinking and processing. reported that simply showing people photos of nature improved connectivity between different parts of the brain.

The evidence that nature boosts brain power is 鈥渆xtremely strong,鈥� says Marc Berman, director of the Environmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Chicago.听鈥淥ur interaction with nature improves working memory performance and executive attention performance鈥攖hose are the ones that keep replicating,” he says.

Executive attention, also known as executive functioning, simply means our ability to complete higher-level thinking. Being able to plan ahead, work toward goals, weigh complicated decisions, maintain focus, and keep control of emotions鈥攁ll of these skills fall under executive function.听Neuroscientists think these skills originate in the prefrontal cortex, the front part of the brain that was the last to develop, evolution-wise (and individually, too鈥�).

Rejuvenate Your Brain

Every school day, Hendrix spends his forest time in a creek, on a hill, or in the woods on Woodson Branch鈥檚 30-acre campus. 鈥淵ou play in the creek鈥搕oday I built a dam,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here are really good climbing trees, and you can build bridges. There鈥檚 also a big hill that鈥檚 really good for hide and seek.鈥�

The case for nature鈥檚 benefits on the brain is so strong, Berman says, that the major research question has changed: 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 about nailing down why.鈥�

As anyone who鈥檚 spent too long staring at math problems or balance sheets knows: concentrating听on something gets exhausting. Not only that, but daily life for most of us is also full of distractions鈥攅verything from an officemate鈥檚 cell phone pinging to a flashing banner ad online to email alerts piling up to a screeching garbage truck out on the street鈥攖hat grab our attention, often inadvertently. Switching attention from one thing to another is also cognitively taxing, says Jason Duvall, concentration advisor and lecturer at the University of Michigan鈥檚 Program in the Environment. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 really do multitasking, we do task switching,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n order to do that, we have to keep each of those things active in the brain, so it can be recalled and we can return. For every task that we add, we get worse at any other subsequent task.鈥�

The outdoors, on the other hand, is in many ways the opposite of the busy, distraction-packed world we live in. One of the leading explanations, , first introduced by University of Michigan environmental psychologists Stephen and Rachel Kaplan in 1989, posits that the outdoors allows the overtaxed prefrontal cortex to rest and replenish. 听Attention Restoration Theory says that nature inherently brings us to a state of 鈥渟oft fascination鈥�: We find natural settings interesting and pleasurable, but they don鈥檛 require a lot of mental effort. 鈥淲e think nature puts your brain into a rest state, that allows you to rejuvenate your attention resources and get back to work again,鈥� says Berman.

There may be other things going on, all of which could be complementing Attention Restoration Theory. Researcher Roger Ulrich proposed the Stress Reduction Theory in 1991, which says that nature promotes relaxing physiological effects in the body, like lowered heart rate and blood pressure. 鈥淲hen people are less stressed, they tend to be more expansive and creative in their thinking,鈥� says Duvall.

There’s also a concept called perceptual fluency. 鈥淭he idea is that elements of the natural environment tend to be easy for our visual system to process,鈥� Duvall explains. 鈥淥ne explanation is that natural features have fractal patterns, or repeating patterns at different scales,鈥� like snowflakes or tree branches. 鈥淔rom an information-processing perspective, the brain has an easier time making sense of what鈥檚 going on. That may explain why people feel more refreshed after those experiences鈥攖he cognitive load is lessened in natural environments.鈥�

The why is important, but perhaps less critical than the simple fact that it just works: If a mountain of neuroscientific evidence tells us that regular nature exposure optimizes brain function, well, we should listen. Whether that means an hour of forest time at school, a daily bike ride, or a lunchtime walk around the park, getting outside is a lot more than just fun or relaxing. It鈥檚 essential.

NatureDose is an app that measures your therapeutic time in nature. Set your weekly goal, then go outside and feel good. .

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Every year, technical shells get lighter, more breathable, and more tricked-out with clever features. This year鈥檚 bunch represent a banner year in all departments: Designers have come up with stellar options in pretty much every corner of the category, whether you want a superlight, waterproof shell or a fully featured, alpine-ready shield. These ten women鈥檚 technical shells impressed testers enough to rise to the top of the pile.

The Winners at a Glance: Hardshells

Best Backup Rain Shell: Salewa Pedroc 2.5L PTX Light Jacket

Best Lightweight Backpacking Shell: Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket

Best All-Arounder: Norrona Senja Gore-Tex Active Jacket

Most Comfortable: Columbia Mazama Trail Rain Shell

Most Stylish: Cotopaxi Cielo Rain Trench

Most Bombproof: Maloja TolpeiM

The Winners at a Glance: Softshells

Editor鈥檚 Choice: Crazy Jacket Fly

Best For Trail Running: Montane Featherlite

Most Luxurious Softshell: Mountain Equipment Aerotherm

Best Lined Softshell: Patagonia R1 Cross Strata Hoody

How We Test

Number of Testers: 36

Number of Jackets Tested: 40

Number of Miles Hiked, Biked, and Run: 1,117

Highest Elevation Achieved While Testing: 14,158 feet

Most Consecutive Days of Precipitation: 10 days straight in Anchorage, Alaska

Fastest Wind Weathered: 40 mph in Ram Valley, Alaska

To give this season鈥檚 crop of 40 new hardshells and softshells a workout, we tapped 36 backpackers, trail runners, mountain bikers, hunters, and mountain guides across North and South America. These women spent at least six weeks putting their shells through the paces, from cycling in Jackson, Wyoming to trail running in Vermont鈥檚 Green Mountains to building a cabin in continuous rain in Sitka, Alaska. Testers evaluated key criteria like weatherproofness, breathability, durability, fit, and features, then reported back their hard-won performance details.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

Missoula, Montana-based Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan is the women鈥檚 shells category manager for 国产吃瓜黑料. She鈥檚 been testing and reviewing technical jackets for 11 years, a gig that has taken her from Turkey to Ireland to Colombia and many points between.

Becca Stubbs

Becca Stubbs has been one of her tried-and-true testers almost as long, and Stubbs鈥檚 recent move to rainy Sitka, Alaska bodes well for her gear reviewing future.

Annette McGivney

Southwest Colorado-based Annette McGivney has decades of gear testing experience and no fear of hiking during monsoon season.

The Reviews: The Best Women鈥檚 Hardshells of 2023

Best Backup Rain Shell: Salewa Pedroc 2.5L PTX Light Jacket ($230)

Weight: 5.3 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XS-XXL
Pros: Superlight and packable, yet breathable
Cons: Small hood, especially with hair in a ponytail; tighter-fitting chest means busty women might need to size up

This shell鈥檚 wispy weight was the first thing to draw our attention. But when our Pacific Northwest tester Ciera Shaver reported off-the-charts breathability, we did a double-take. Many shells in the ultralight, just-in-case category can get swampy, but whether she was hiking in humid, 50-degree weather in Washington鈥檚 San Juan Islands or bike commuting on misty Seattle mornings, 鈥淭his shell kept me dry, but enabled me to still exercise without getting overheated,鈥� said The proprietary 2.5-layer fabric amply fended off precipitation, elastic cuffs kept out drips but were stretchy enough to slide up easily, and the adjustable hem was simple to cinch even while on a bike. While it packs down to tennis ball size, you still get two hand pockets and a full zipper. A few dings: The small, elastic-lined hood doesn鈥檛 reach to the hairline when wearing a ponytail, and though it zips up to just under the nose, doing so makes the hood too tight to wear. The streamlined cut accommodates a light midlayer, but a tighter fit around the shoulders and chest combined with the 12-denier nylon face fabric 鈥渕ade me worried I鈥檇 tear it while biking, though it never did,鈥� Shaver said.

Bottom Line: The Salewa Pedroc is a great pick for active pursuits like trail running, hiking, and cycling. Its weight and packability are ideal for precipitation insurance while backpacking, but it鈥檚 not durable enough for extended or rugged wear.

Best Lightweight Backpacking Shell: Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket ($230)

Weight: 7.4 oz. (unisex large)
Sizes: S-XXL
Pros: Lightweight and protective, with body-mapped fabrics to enhance durability and breathability in key zones
Cons: Unisex fit means smaller bodies are out of luck; tight wrists and small hood

If you like your shells light and diminutive鈥攖his one packs down to the size of a small cantaloupe鈥攜et able to handle backpacking in most weather, the Tushar is a worthy contender. The body-mapped construction pairs a more durable, hydrophobic version of Toray鈥檚 Torain 3D membrane on the back and shoulders to prevent pack strap abrasion, with a more breathable, hydrophilic version of the same membrane on the chest and armpits. The result kept sweat manageable when temps were in the 60s and below (breathability suffers in warmer weather, though pit zips help), while also protecting our tester during a downpour in Colorado鈥檚 Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. 鈥淲hen it was raining hard, I appreciated the long sleeves that covered my hands and the long drape that covered my butt,鈥� said tester , 鈥渢hough I wished for some type of visor on the hood to shield my face.鈥� The supple, 20-denier nylon face fabric is quiet, not rustly, a roomy cut allows for layering, and you get one chest pocket big enough for a smartphone. But the elastic-lined hood 鈥渂arely fits over a ball cap鈥� and elastic cuffs 鈥渙ffer no wiggle room, so I couldn鈥檛 pull up the sleeve to look at my watch,鈥� McGivney reported. Fit note: Unisex sizing means women should size down (get a medium if you normally wear women鈥檚 large), and there are no options for women鈥檚 small or extra-small.

Bottom Line: Weight-conscious hikers and backpackers will like the Outdoor Vitals Tushar for mild to moderate weather, but its small hood and moderate breathability aren鈥檛 ideal for extended rainy days.

Best All-Arounder: Norr酶na Senja Gore-Tex Active Jacket ($549)

Weight: 9.7 oz. (w鈥檚 L)
Sizes: XS-L
Pros: Fully featured yet lightweight; highly protective; very breathable
Cons: Pricey; some awkward features

When you don鈥檛 want to compromise on weather protection, breathability, or weight, the Senja lets you have it all. Its three-layer material with a Gore-Tex Active membrane (Gore鈥檚 lightest option) passed the 鈥渟hovel 4,000 pounds of dirt in the heavy rain鈥� trial for tester 鈥淎fter hours of rain, my clothes were perfectly dry.鈥� It performed just as well on a wet, 50-degree hike to Colorado鈥檚 12,979-foot Mt. Toll, keeping sweat down with the help of pit zips and extra vents: one on the back (with mesh) and two zippered side vents. Features are a mixed bag: Some, like a rump-covering hem and helmet-compatible hood with a sturdy brim, drew cheers. But the small wrist pocket and 鈥渂utt pocket that allows you to sit on your phone鈥� felt awkward, and an internal waist strap (meant to make stowing the shell in its own back pocket convenient) poked uncomfortably under a hipbelt. The streamlined cut fit a couple of thinner layers, and the 20-denier nylon face proved durable over several months of testing. Of course, there is one compromise: It costs as much as a cross-country flight.

Bottom Line: The Norr酶na Senja is a great wet-weather shell for those who want features without too much weight.

Most Comfortable: Columbia Mazama Trail Rain Shell ($230)

Weight: 14.1 oz. (w鈥檚 S)
Sizes: XS-XXL
Pros: Excellent wicking and next-to-skin feel
Cons: Bulky

Kiss that muggy feeling goodbye in this uber-comfortable shell. Not only does the honeycomb lining, made from brushed tricot polyester, feel super-cozy, it also works overtime to banish sweat. 鈥淲hen bushwhacking through thick, wet brush over my head in the Quinault Rainforest, I kept the hood up and pit zips closed,鈥� reported tester Kristen Phillips, a field biologist on Washington鈥檚 Olympic Peninsula. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel sweaty at all despite the humid, low-70s temperature.鈥� The raised lining wicked moisture and kept the shell off of her skin. 鈥淓ven in a sleeveless baselayer, I was very dry,鈥� said Phillips. The proprietary 2.5-layer fabric works from the outside in too, of course鈥攊t sheltered her in an hours-long rainforest deluge that completely soaked her softshell pants. The 40-denier nylon face shrugged off scrambles through blackberry and devil鈥檚 club, while the two-way stretchy material provided full mobility. The streamlined cut works best with a thin layer or two underneath, and the longer-cut hem and sleeves are better for taller, long-limbed hikers. You also get a standard set of features: adjustable hood and cuffs, two pockets (ding: the hand pockets sit under a hipbelt), and pit zips. Weight and bulk sit in the middle of the pack.

Bottom Line: Hot-natured hikers and humid-weather explorers, the Columbia Mazama is for you.

Most Stylish: Cotopaxi Cielo Rain Trench ($200)

Weight: 14 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XXS-XXL
Pros: Long cut for extra protection; stretchy; nice price
Cons: Bulky; not very breathable

Maybe your waterproof gear gets the most use when you鈥檙e walking to the subway. Does that mean you need to buy a second jacket for drippy dayhikes? Not with this versatile, trench-cut number, which has the style for everyday use plus the chops for leaving the pavement. The stretchy 2.5-layer fabric (100-percent recycled polyester face) stood up to two days of steady rain and 20-mph winds in Colorado鈥檚 Collegiate Peaks, and the long cut adds warmth and protection without impeding mobility. The fit is spacious: 鈥淲hile backpacking in the Buffalo Creek Wilderness, I comfortably wore the coat with just a t-shirt under it during the day, then added a fleece, vest, and puffy,鈥� said tester 鈥淚 was still able to maneuver to build a fire and retrieve water from a creek.鈥� You get a cinchable hood, waist, and cuffs, plus two huge hand pockets and a freestanding collar for extra wind protection. Tradeoff: Testers steamed up hiking even in 45-degree, windy weather, and there are no pit zips.

Bottom Line: A casual shell that can stretch into wet-weather hikes, the Cotopaxi Cielo isn鈥檛 breathable or packable enough for more than that.

Most Bombproof: Maloja TolpeiM ($599)

Weight: 15.6 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XS-XL
Pros: Burly; breathable; fully featured; four-season
Cons: Heavier; spendy

When your objectives include the windiest, snowiest, highest-elevation destinations, reach for the burliest shell in our test. 鈥淚 got stuck in Puerto Montt, Chile, for a week,鈥� said tester and guide 鈥淚t was raining like crazy with tons of wind, but I was the only one who stayed dry day after day.鈥� Thank the proprietary three-layer fabric, plus storm-ready features like a two-way-adjustable hood (which fits over a helmet), super-high collar, and adjustable cuffs. And though it鈥檚 light and packable enough for summer backpacking鈥攊t smushes to Nalgene size鈥� its 50-percent recycled polyester face also handled shouldering skis on a backcountry tour in the Argentinian Andes. But you don鈥檛 sacrifice breathability: 鈥淚 wore this jacket when bootpacking up couloirs and felt like it was very breathable, and I loved the pit zips,鈥� McNeil reports. More four-season features: four pockets (two chest and two hand) that fit skins or gloves and a medium cut that accommodates winter layers. But all that protection comes at a steep price.

Bottom Line: The Maloja TolpeiM is a shell for heavy-duty backpacking, mountaineering, ski touring, and alpine climbing missions.

The Reviews: The Best Women鈥檚 Softshells of 2023

Editor鈥檚 Choice: Crazy Jacket Fly ($220)

Weight: 1.6 oz. (w鈥檚 S)
Sizes: XS-L
Pros:听Class-leading weight and packability; not clammy; excellent wind protection
Cons:听Few features; fragile fabric

It鈥檚 become cliche to describe ultralight windshells as 鈥渂arely there鈥濃�攁nd if we鈥檙e talking weight alone, that鈥檚 fair enough. But in terms of breathability and comfort, you can definitely tell you鈥檙e wearing the average wind jacket. That鈥檚 why the Jacket Fly, from Italian brand Crazy, impressed us. Despite smushing down to baseball size and weighing less than two ballpoint pens (the lightest on the market, as far as we can tell), this shell鈥檚 most laudable quality is how you don鈥檛 notice it when it鈥檚 on鈥攂ut miss it when it鈥檚 not. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first windshell I鈥檝e found measurably more comfortable and breathable than the ultralight rainshells in my closet,鈥� said tester Ariella Gintzler, who loved it for backpacking in breezy, low-60s conditions in New Mexico鈥檚 Cibola National Forest and sunny, 50-degree runs near Santa Fe. 鈥淎nd the fabric is incredibly soft and stretchy.鈥� An acrylic resin anti-stick coating on the inside also prevents clamminess. None of that means you鈥檒l sacrifice wind protection: 鈥淒uring a blustery bike ride at 8,000 feet, my core stayed extremely warm,鈥� noted Eastern Sierra tester Lara Kaylor. 鈥淚t was like the wind was just whipping around me but not actually cutting through to my skin.鈥� Features are necessarily spare in a jacket this light, but the elastic-lined hood adds welcome warmth, the elastic cuffs stay in place, and the collar is cut wide enough not to rub against your chin when fully zipped. Note: The 7-denier, 鈥渢issue paper鈥� nylon deserves careful treatment, though we didn鈥檛 rip our samples. It all adds up to one more cliche that鈥檚 actually true, said Gintzler: 鈥淭his thing is so light, tiny, and comfortable, there鈥檚 never a reason to leave it at home.鈥�

Bottom Line: The Crazy Jacket Fly is the best, lightest windshell we鈥檝e seen.

Best For Trail Running: Montane Featherlite Windproof Jacket ($109)

Weight: 3.2 oz. (W鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XXS-XL
Pros: Really is featherlight; great breathability; nice price
Cons: Delicate; few features

Do you own a scale specifically for weighing gear? Then this ultralight windshell should make the cut. And even non-ounce-counters will appreciate the comfortable breeze protection this mandarin orange-sized piece provides. 鈥淚 wore this trail running in Salida, Colorado,鈥� reported tester . 鈥淚t was 43 degrees and sunny, so I assumed I鈥檇 have to take it off, but I kept it on for a 90-minute run and never felt hot,鈥� though it effectively blocked mild to moderate winds. At this weight, features are few: a full zipper, chest pocket that fits a smartphone, a hem cinch, and reflective spots on the back. It鈥檚 slightly stretchy, with a trim fit and long sleeves with partially elastic cuffs that stay in place. The 20-denier nylon with a DWR treatment demands TLC, though we didn鈥檛 manage to tear our sample.

Bottom Line: Ultralight trail runners and fastpackers will appreciate this streamlined windshell, especially if they鈥檙e on a budget.

Most Luxurious Softshell: Mountain Equipment Aerotherm ($280)

Weight: 9.5 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XS-XL
Pros: Great weather protection and breathability; full features; comfortable lining
Cons: Expensive for a softshell

This premium softshell does all the things well. Wind protection is dialed, commented tester Miranda Mosis: 鈥淭his has become my go-to for biking to work in Jackson, Wyoming. Temps are in the 40s, wind speed is 20 to 25 mph, and it does a great job of blocking the wind and keeping me warm.鈥� Details like a full-coverage, rollaway hood (it doesn鈥檛 fit a helmet), long-cut sleeves, and effective water resistance to light rain add to the protection factor. As we鈥檇 expect, breathability is excellent, and a soft, micro-waffle polyester lining 鈥渞eally keeps it from sticking to the skin,鈥� Mosis reported. The 20-denier nylon, double-weave fabric stood up to snaggy sagebrush in the Tetons. You also get three spacious pockets, an adjustable hem, and elastic wrists, and the stretchy material fits several layers underneath. And even with those features and durability, it still packs down to honeydew melon size.

Bottom Line: The Aerotherm is the Glenfiddich of this season鈥檚 softshells, with a matching price tag.

Best Lined Softshell: Patagonia R1 Cross Strata Hoody ($189)

Weight: 10.5 oz. (w鈥檚 S)
Sizes: XXS-XXL
Pros: In warm weather, it鈥檚 a midlayer and softshell in one
Cons: Constricting cuffs

Many jackets claim to work as both midlayers and outer layers. This one actually does. As an outer shell, the DWR-coated, 90-percent recycled polyester, 10-percent spandex double-weave fabric provides excellent wind protection. It kept Colorado tester toasty in 30-mph gusts on top of 14,006-foot Huron Peak. 鈥淢y other body parts were chilled, but my core was warm and comfy with just a short-sleeve wool shirt underneath,鈥� she said. And it was breathable enough to wear from windy days in the mid-30s to sunny, 60-degree hikes, though we did have to unzip for venting at the upper end of the range. But the Cross Strata also served as a comfortable midlayer under a hardshell, thanks to a light-yet-cushy, fleecy zigzag pattern on the inside and ample stretchiness. That flexibility makes it a true multitasker. 鈥淚f temps were above 40 degrees, I don鈥檛 think you鈥檇 need anything extra, like a puffy,鈥� said Mino, who took it backpacking in Wyoming鈥檚 Wind River Range. The feature set includes pack-compatible hand pockets, a chest pocket with extra pouch that鈥檚 perfect for sunglasses, and an elasticized hood that fits well over ponytails and ball caps. Cut is slim, with a shorter hem (not ideal for taller people) and frustratingly tight wrist cuffs.

Bottom Line: Truly versatile enough to earn its 鈥渃rosslayer鈥� moniker, the Patagonia R1 Cross Strata will save space in your pack and your gear closet.

How to Buy Shells

Hardshell vs. Softshell

Your first decision: Do you need a fully waterproof jacket, or would you rather have a bit more breathability and a bit less weather protection? If it鈥檚 the former, buy a hardshell; if the latter, a softshell is for you. Though technical hardshells are getting more breathable by the season, their waterproof membranes will still impede body heat from escaping to some degree. Another significant difference between the two is stretch. Softshells traditionally have a lot more flex to them, making them more comfortable to wear, but there are a handful of truly stretchy hardshells on the market these days as well.

What to Look for in a Hardshell

Durability

Think about what activities you鈥檒l be doing most. If you鈥檙e a hardcore mountaineer, you鈥檒l need a durable shell (check the fabric鈥檚 denier; the higher the number, the tougher it is) with high-quality features like a helmet-friendly hood and large pockets.

Weight

These bombproof shells are clutch in mountain weather, but they鈥檙e the heaviest and among the most expensive available. If you鈥檙e a dayhiker or ultralight backpacker (or just live in a dry climate), a much lighter hardshell will save space and weight in your pack.

Feature Set

Climbing? Make sure your shell fits over your helmet, has a harness-compatible hem and pockets, and enough stretch for you to move freely.

Breathability

Breathability is the major X factor in all hardshells. Different people prefer different technologies, but air-permeable membranes (like NeoShell, Outdoor Research鈥檚 AscentShell, and Pertex Shield Air) and the Gore-Tex family of fabrics are all good bets. Pit zips and long side zips or vents allow you to cool down quickly, no matter the membrane.

What to Look for in a Softshell

Softies are further divided into 鈥渞egular鈥� softshells and windshells. Windshells are the lightest of the light, meant to block wind and add a touch of warmth, and ideal for trail running and dayhiking. More traditional softshells weigh a bit more and often have the same features hardshells do, such as hoods, adjustability, and pockets. They usually provide a decent amount of water resistance, but won鈥檛 save you in a downpour.

When it鈥檚 time to upgrade your gear, don鈥檛 let the old stuff go to waste鈥揹onate it for a good cause and divert it from the landfill. our partner, Gear Fix, will repair and resell your stuff for free! Just box up your retired items,听, and send them off. We鈥檒l donate 100 percent of the proceeds to听.

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Grace Gibson-Snyder鈥檚 summer break from college this year will be full of the usual: practicing her kayak roll in the Clark Fork River. Backyard campfires with friends. Hiking the forested hills near her house. Except, of course, in mid-June, when the rising sophomore plans to hop into her dad鈥檚 Prius and make the two-hour drive from her hometown of Missoula to the Montana state capital of Helena. There, after huddling with her lawyers, she will take the stand in a historic lawsuit against her home state.

The Backstory: Held v. State of Montana

Gibson-Snyder is one of 16 youth plaintiffs suing Montana over climate change in the case Held v. State of Montana: specifically, the state鈥檚 active promotion of fossil fuel interests, which they assert deprives them of their constitutional rights. 鈥淭he climate crisis is degrading and depleting Montana鈥檚 unique and precious environment and natural resources, which the Youth Plaintiffs depend on for their safety and survival,鈥� reads the lawsuit, which a team of lawyers from Our Children鈥檚 Trust, Western Environmental Law Center, and a Montana law firm filed on the group鈥檚 behalf in March 2020. 鈥淎lthough Defendants know that the Youth Plaintiffs are living under dangerous climactic conditions that create an unreasonable risk of harm, they continue to act affirmatively to exacerbate the climate crisis.鈥� The complaint challenges parts of Montana鈥檚 , which promote fossil fuel development, and the in the 1971 Montana Environmental Policy Act, which prohibits officials conducting environmental reviews from considering impacts that stretch beyond Montana鈥檚 borders (as carbon emissions do).

When a district court judge in 2021 brushed aside the state鈥檚 motion to dismiss the case and allowed it to advance to trial, Held v. State of Montana hit a crucial milestone. Though other groups of young people have filed similar climate lawsuits against states and the federal government, this is the first one that will see its day in court. That success hinges on a key section of the Montana constitution, which guarantees the right to 鈥渁 clean and healthful environment.鈥� Only six states have similar provisions; Montana is the only one in the West.

Why Gibson-Snyder Joined the Climate Fight

Suing her home state might be a drastic move for a 19-year-old, but for Gibson-Snyder, it was the logical outlet for an environmental passion with deep roots. Like many kids lucky enough to live in a mountain town, she grew up enjoying the outdoors. Hiking and mountain biking trails lace the foothills ringing Missoula, and deep, grizzly-filled wildernesses are an easy day trip away. Gibson-Snyder spent most birthdays celebrating with her family at Yellowstone National Park, and her high school graduation bash with a group of friends involved a bike ride up Going-to-the-Sun Road and hiking the trails of Glacier National Park.

鈥淚t鈥檚 part of my family鈥檚 tradition to be in Montana and be outdoors,鈥� she says, noting that she鈥檚 the great-great-great-granddaughter of a settler who traveled the Bozeman Trail in 1866 to build a home near Virginia City, not far from where she grew up herself. 鈥淢y whole family are hunters and fishers. I鈥檝e been so fortunate to grow up with this amazing access to the outdoors. It鈥檚 so close to my heart, and it鈥檚 so important to me to try to protect it.鈥�

Climate change is no abstract, faraway threat for Gibson-Snyder鈥檚 generation. These young people have experienced it as an obvious and persistent force. At the start of her freshman year in high school, smoke from a nearby wildfire鈥攁 natural phenomenon of the West, but supercharged by a warming climate鈥攄erailed her soccer season. 鈥淲e had a lot of practices and some games canceled,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so unpleasant to try to play soccer in the smoke. It settles in your lungs. It鈥檚 like breathing tar. Your nose, your mouth, and your eyes get itchy. It鈥檚 to the point of being dangerous because smoke gets so dense in Missoula. I was aware that it was climate change.鈥� Even her graduation trip to Glacier carried reminders of loss. After a 10-mile hike into the backcountry, Gibson-Snyder and her friends stared at a glacier in rapid decline. 鈥淪eeing the changes happening in front of my eyes鈥攊t was painful,鈥� she remembers.

By then, Gibson-Snyder was already an environmental activist. At 13, after attending a teen leadership forum that encouraged attendees to develop service projects in their own communities, she launched a campaign to get rid of single-use plastic containers in Missoula鈥檚 fast-casual restaurants called BYO. After two years of meeting with restaurant owners and health experts to figure out how to incorporate reusable containers without violating public health policies, she鈥檇 built up momentum and support鈥攗ntil spring 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic shut the program down. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a valuable idea,鈥� she says now. 鈥淚 would love to go back there at some point.鈥�

Gibson-Snyder also served as the president of her high school鈥檚 environmental club, which led her to the Held v. State of Montana听case. A guest speaker gave a presentation to the club鈥擥ibson-Snyder doesn鈥檛 remember her name, or even what she was talking about鈥攁nd mentioned a lawsuit in the works that needed young plaintiffs to sign on. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楾hat would be me,鈥欌�� Gibson-Snyder says. 鈥淚t was a really, really lucky turn of events for me. I had been doing some local environmental work, so to have this opportunity to learn about Montana as a whole region and more policy oriented, at a slightly larger scale that was still so close to home both literally and emotionally, was just a perfect opportunity.鈥�

Adding her name to the lawsuit as a 16-year-old (the other 15 plaintiffs ranged from ages two to 18 at filing) would carry emotional weight in ways Gibson-Snyder didn鈥檛 fully anticipate. 鈥淚鈥檓 empowered in a way I wasn鈥檛 before to protect Montana,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ne of the things I鈥檓 very grateful for is to have the support on our case, from Our Children鈥檚 Trust and from people all over the country and the world. It means emotional support that I didn鈥檛 know I needed in this line of work. It鈥檚 so emotionally challenging to be working to protect something you care about so much.鈥�

But the case has also stirred up plenty of frustration and anger for her. When the Montana government attempted to dismiss the case, a spokesman for Attorney General Austin Knudson essentially called the young plaintiffs pawns to an out-of-state 鈥淭o me, it鈥檚 so evident that the whole point of government is to protect its citizens,鈥� Gibson-Snyder says. 鈥淭o see them, in my perception, actively disregarding that duty and ignoring the needs of their citizens鈥n favor of maintaining the tradition of fossil fuel dependence is agonizing.There鈥檚 definitely this sense of betrayal.鈥�

Courtroom Activism for Climate Change

This June, when Held v. State of Montana is finally set for trial, Gibson-Snyder will take the stand to describe how climate change has been and is affecting her life. She hopes听to convince the court to issue declaratory relief鈥攚hich would mean ruling Montana鈥檚 energy policies unconstitutional. Gibson-Snyder believes such a ruling would 鈥渞esult in a transition away from the active promotion of fossil fuels.鈥�

The case could resonate far beyond Montana鈥檚 borders. 鈥淚t shows a type of action that people can take that鈥檚 different from protests or lobbying,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t demonstrates to the wider community how many ways there are of fighting for our constitutional rights and to combat climate change. I hope that it can be inspirational, to say the least, and motivate people to act.鈥�

No matter what happens in court, Gibson-Snyder plans to make tackling the climate crisis her career. 鈥淚 decided long before I got involved with Our Children鈥檚 Trust that I was going to be involved in climate work my whole life,鈥� she says. Whether that means working within the system, as a politician, or outside of it, for a non-governmental organization, she鈥檚 not sure. She expects to start with a major in global affairs, concentrating in environmental policy. 鈥淚 have no plans, in short, but I have a lot of hopes and dreams,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e wanted to be President for a really long time鈥攚e鈥檒l see about that.鈥�

The post Is a Clean Environment A Constitutional Right? This Lawsuit in Montana May Set a Precedent appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Becca Droz still remembers how anxious she was on her first hike with her now-partner, Nikki Nichols. The rock climbing instructor, 32, who is based in Boulder, Colorado, was used to a constant stream of conversation on the trail鈥攂ut Nichols was quiet. 鈥淭hat made me really uncomfortable,鈥� Droz says. 鈥淚t made me wonder, do we not have something to talk about? It stressed me out.鈥� No such problem existed, it turned out: Nichols, 29, simply liked quiet time to think. That personality difference, made obvious by their trail time, quickly led to a conversation about communication. The couple, together for two and half years now, figured out a potential relationship tripwire right away. Today, if Nichols wants silence when they鈥檙e together, she says so up front鈥攁nd Droz knows that doesn鈥檛 mean their relationship is in trouble.

It鈥檚 no accident that Droz and Nichols figured out their communication styles through spending time outdoors. Years of research has documented how time in nature benefits individuals, and clued-in couples therapists across the country know that exposure to the outdoors translates to stronger relationships, too. If you love the wilderness, it probably feels obvious that spending time hiking, skiing, or catching a sunset with a significant other will nurture your bond鈥攎aybe even help you through a rough patch. But what, exactly, is going on under the surface?

狈补迟耻谤别鈥檚 relationship-healing powers begin deep in each partner鈥檚 nervous system. Think about how you felt during your last unproductive argument: heart pounding, fists clenched, rapid breathing. This is the fight-or-flight response, a hardwired human reaction to a perceived threat. Though it鈥檚 invaluable in helping us survive true emergencies, fight-or-flight gets in the way of healthy communication and conflict resolution.

Nature works as an antidote to that stress response. Study after study going back decades suggests that outdoor time leads to , , and Researchers even found that watching a or simply looking at are associated with reduced blood pressure and relaxation. Doctors now prescribe outdoor time to patients as a way to activate this part of the nervous system, with benefits for immune, digestive, reproductive, and psychological health. So being outdoors together sets the stage for tackling issues productively. Megan Newton, MA, LPC, LPCC, NCC, and co-owner of psychotherapy practice, counsels couples on public lands in and around Boulder, Colorado. 鈥淭hat implicit connection to nature allows the nervous system to calm,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e operating in the therapeutic process on a completely different level just to start with. We鈥檝e decreased the perceived level of threat in someone鈥檚 body. Most people will name that right away: 鈥極h my gosh, it feels so good to be out here.鈥欌��

The outdoors also has a way of quickly tapping into our emotions, says Jeff Adorador, LMFT and founder of Earthwalker wilderness therapy practice in Northern California. He leads three-day group backpacking trips for couples called Relationship Quest, guiding clients through outdoor exercises promoting cooperation, communication, and intimacy. 鈥淣ature very much gets us into our bodies in a sensory state,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat will get you out of your head and into your feelings.鈥�

Doing an outdoor activity together like climbing, mountain biking, or skiing can extend that effect. 鈥淥ur bodies are moving in sync, like dancing,鈥� says Emily Isaacs, MA, LPC, who practices in Boulder and Golden, Colorado. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a body-up way of connecting, rather than talking鈥攖hat鈥檚 mind-down. It鈥檚 a different thing from the body up, with nervous systems and bodies syncing, that translates to, I really feel connected to this person.鈥�

Outdoor activities also tend to shine a spotlight on ways partners aren鈥檛 connecting, as that first hike did for Droz and Nichols. 鈥淗ow we are one way, is how we are everywhere,鈥� notes Isaacs. 鈥淥ur core issues manifest. Any couple that has recreated outdoors together knows this stuff will come up.鈥� Maybe one person is hiking too quickly, or not listening to the other鈥檚 feedback on the water. Being outdoors together can make those relationship issues obvious, she says. That鈥檚 partially why Adorador incorporates backpacking into his Relationship Quest. 鈥淏ackpacking really reveals a lot about the power within a relationship,鈥� he says. 鈥淲ho鈥檚 leading, who鈥檚 following? How does a couple communicate? Is there more compassion or contempt? [How much] joy, happiness, and play is there, versus a strategic, mission-driven mindset?鈥� What Adorador observes on the trail then plays into each couple鈥檚 therapeutic sessions.

This effect can work in reverse as well, where couples cultivate healthy relationship habits outdoors that then move into the rest of their lives. 鈥淭he beautiful thing about outdoor activities, like paddling a raft or climbing, is they鈥檙e really collaboration-demanding activities,鈥� says Isaacs. Similarly, communication is crucial. 鈥淧eople need to state their needs,鈥� she adds, noting that a climber with a partner on belay can鈥檛 beat around the bush if she needs more slack on the rope. You鈥檝e gotta be pretty direct.鈥�

Perhaps the most fundamental way spending time in nature supports love, though, is the simplest one: it鈥�s fun.听鈥淣ature is a beautiful place where couples can engage in play together,鈥� notes Newton. 鈥淲e know that reconnection and learning happens through play.鈥� You鈥檙e out doing some of your favorite activities, bathed in endorphins, and sharing that joy with a partner鈥攑owerful stuff.

These benefits aren鈥檛 confined to only romantic partnerships, of course. Nature can also work its magic on any relationships, particularly family connections. has demonstrated that time outdoors together can boost parent-child connectedness and communication and improve parenting skills.

Ready to reap the benefits? Nature-based couple鈥檚 therapists suggest these practices to intentionally incorporate the relationship-building qualities of the outdoors into your adventures together.

Make It About You Two, Not the Activity

It might sound obvious, but getting too hung up on a goal can cause more relationship problems than it solves. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a big difference between saying 鈥業 want to summit all the Fourteeners in Colorado鈥� and 鈥業 want to go out in nature and be with you,鈥欌�� Newton says. Figure out a way to get out there that makes you both feel connected to each other. If one person lives for black diamonds and the other is nervous on the bunny slope, then skiing probably isn鈥檛 it. 鈥淔or some people, it feels really connecting to be like, I climbed this thing and you were with me the whole way, supporting me on belay,鈥� Isaacs says. For others, snuggling in a tent and stargazing is the way to go.

Take the Tough Talks for a Walk

For some people, trying to have a serious discussion while facing a partner can be triggering and lead to a deep-seated fight-or-flight response.听 Instead, , Adorador says, 鈥淲alking shoulder to shoulder with a partner can be really beneficial to process intense emotions.鈥� So the next time you need to work through a problem, take it outside鈥攁nd side by side.

Be Rookies Together

Stretch your comfort zones a bit by trying something new, be it mountain biking or orienteering. 鈥淭he process of discovery itself shared with another person can be such a powerful connection point,鈥� Newton says.

Build a Routine

Once you find your favorite ways to bond in nature, make a habit of it. 鈥淭o cultivate intimacy requires returning to connection over and over,鈥� Newton says. The trick is to make it manageable鈥攖wo weeks on the beach in Tahiti will probably make you feel closer, but a nightly after-dinner walk or weekly ski date will ultimately benefit you more. Such routines can also open the door to better communication, says Adorador. Many of us suppress emotions just to get through daily life, but setting aside this time with a partner gives them space to surface. 鈥淪ometimes you don鈥檛 even know that stuff鈥檚 there until you take that evening walk,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hen, you get real.鈥�

It works for Droz and Nichols. The duo take a regular hike five minutes from their front door, climbing into the foothills to one of their favorite spots to sit and take in the view. 鈥淚t gives us the spaciousness to stop and talk about things that probably wouldn鈥檛 have come up during the busy-ness that our minds are in during everyday life,鈥� Droz says. 鈥淲e process much better while outside and moving.鈥�

NatureDose is an app that measures your therapeutic time in nature. Set your weekly goal, then go outside and feel good. .

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Patagonia sells its Snap-T fleece for $149 or less鈥攂ut the colorful midlayer could be worth a lot more than that if things go the brand鈥檚 way in court.

Last week, Patagonia filed a lawsuit against Gap, accusing the apparel company of copying its longstanding Snap-T fleece design. The complaint includes a photo of one of Gap鈥檚 pullover fleeces, calling it a 鈥渓ook-a-like product鈥� that is 鈥渦sing a highly similar rectangular logo, all designed to make it appear as though Patagonia is the source of Gap鈥檚 products or has collaborated with Gap.鈥� Both garments feature a bright, colorblocked pattern; a snap-closure neck; a triangular, snap-closure chest pocket; and a rectangular logo above the pocket featuring a mountain skyline. Gap鈥檚 version is currently available for $79.95.

According to the lawsuit, which the brand filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Patagonia launched the first version of the pullover in 1985 and added the snap pocket four years later, 鈥渁nd an iconic design was born.鈥� The piece appeared in a 2017-2018 exhibition called at New York鈥檚 Museum of Modern Art; the show鈥檚 catalog noted that the Snap-T鈥檚 鈥渇unctionality and bright color palette took fleece out of the woods and onto the street.鈥� The Snap-T was also featured in the 鈥淰alues of Design鈥� exhibition, which debuted in 2017 at the Victoria and Albert Gallery in Shenzhen, China. The fleece has remained in Patagonia鈥檚 line for decades.

鈥淎 brand鈥檚 value is in its distinguishing features,鈥� says Sarah Hartley, a partner at international law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner who specializes in part in outdoor industry legal issues (she is not involved in this lawsuit). Not only can trademark infringement take away a brand鈥檚 sales, she notes, but it also devalues a company鈥檚 reputation. 鈥淧articularly with Patagonia鈥檚 forward-looking and progressive political stances that they鈥檝e taken, there are people who want to be associated with them. That consumer connection is really valuable. You want to make sure that you don鈥檛 have people trying to trade off of the goodwill that you鈥檝e built up with your customers over many years.鈥�

The document, which does not name a specific dollar amount for damages, lays out a long list of harms Gap has caused, including making the public falsely believe Patagonia has partnered with Gap, damaging Patagonia鈥檚 reputation, diluting its trademarks, and deceiving customers. It even includes a one-star Gap customer review for the pullover calling it an 鈥淥bvious Pata*gonia ripoff鈥� and noting 鈥淚 had to zoom in just to ensure that the logo was Gap.鈥�

Patagonia鈥檚 lawsuit also alleges that 鈥渢here is no question that Gap鈥檚 copying has been willful and deliberate,鈥� based on how similar the two designs are. It adds that Patagonia has warned Gap in the past to stop infringing on its products and logo. A spokesperson for Gap declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation; a Patagonia representative also declined to speak with 国产吃瓜黑料.

This legal action joins a similar lawsuit Patagonia filed against Walmart and one of its suppliers, Robin Ruth USA, in early October. That suit accuses Walmart and Robin Ruth of copying its famous 鈥淧-6鈥� trout logo on products like a T-shirt bearing the word 鈥淢ontana鈥� instead of Patagonia. 鈥淚n the nearly-50 [sic] years since Patagonia鈥檚 business started, PATAGONIA brand and its P-6 logo have become among the most identifiable brands in the world,鈥� the lawsuit states. 鈥淒efendants鈥� actions have caused and will cause Patagonia irreparable harm.鈥�

鈥淭his is not an out-of-the-ordinary kind of lawsuit for a business to bring,鈥� Hartley says. 鈥淚n order to maintain the value of your company, you鈥檙e going to do what you need to do to protect your brand.鈥�

The post Patagonia Sues Gap Over 鈥淚conic鈥� Fleece Design appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Even if you don鈥檛 know all of their names鈥攜et鈥� you鈥檝e felt the presence of the changemakers, trailblazers, and dreamers on this list. All 20 are making their mark on the outdoor industry, whether through passionate advocacy for diversity and inclusion, opening doors of opportunity for others, pushing the limits of what鈥檚 possible, or expanding our minds through art and storytelling. And though we鈥檝e broken them up according to their corners of the industry, these winners transcend easy categorization. With these pathfinders leading the way, the future of this business is in very good hands.

How’d We Choose?

First, 国产吃瓜黑料 Business Journal crowdsourced nominations from every corner of the industry. Our team winnowed more than 300 nominees down to 50, based on an evaluation of four criteria鈥攙ision, ethics, measurable impact, and ability to inspire others鈥攁nd then turned the process over to our panel of judges. The judges considered the same criteria while making their selections. To compensate our judges for their efforts, OBJ will donate $1,000 in their names to The Outdoorist Oath, a nonprofit working to broaden inclusion in the outdoors and empower individuals to become better allies to the planet.

Meet the Judges

• Jon Dorn, VP/Outdoor Group GM, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Mandela Echefu, owner of Wheelzup 国产吃瓜黑料s in Cumberland, MD
• Stephanie Maez, executive director of Outdoor Foundation
• Kim Miller, CEO of Scarpa North America
• Mirna Valerio, ultrarunner, author, and inclusivity advocate

Athletes

Andrew King
Explorer and founder of The Between Worlds Project

Andrew King, 34, is well on his way to becoming the first African-American climber to conquer both the Seven Summits and the world鈥檚 seven tallest volcanoes. But he鈥檒l be the first to tell you that those successes pale in comparison to his work uplifting others. 鈥淲hat gets me out of bed is progressing humanity forward,鈥� the Los Angeles-based athlete said. That鈥檚 why he started The Between Worlds Project, a nonprofit focused on helping people facing racism, sexism, climate change, and other challenges; it鈥檚 why he鈥檚 working to make giving back to community a key part of athlete sponsorship; and it鈥檚 why, in his own estimation, one of his biggest accomplishments is negotiating with Subaru to hire a BIPOC filmmaker and donate to a local Indigenous nonprofit when the brand made a promo video about him this year.

Next big project: 鈥淭his year I鈥檒l be climbing some of the highest peaks in the Alps to speak out about climate change and the lack of diversity in mountaineering,鈥� King said.

Alex Showerman
Professional freeride mountain biker and advocate

Alex Showerman went from working for congressional campaigns and lobbying to doing public relations for outdoor brands to her current job, competing on the women鈥檚 pro freeride circuit鈥攚hat she sees as a natural evolution. The move 鈥渞eally fell in line with what I鈥檝e been wanting to do in the industry, which is breaking down barriers for underrepresented folks, and advocating and creating space for women and LGBTQ+ folks,鈥� said Showerman, 32, who is a queer trans woman. 鈥淏eing an athlete, I can use my voice and platform to advocate for bigger systemic change across the industry.鈥� Her vision: an outdoor industry that proactively invests in communities that have traditionally been excluded from outdoor pursuits. 鈥淚t鈥檚 everything from paying underrepresented athletes what they鈥檙e worth to investing in products that work for different body types and different genders,鈥� she said.

Next Big Project: Producing a film about her journey that challenges traditional attitudes about who can be an action-sports athlete.

Connor Ryan
Hunkpapa Lakota skier and Filmmaker

Connor Ryan, 29, is proud of the way his 2022 film, Spirit of the Peaks, allowed him to start a conversation about how having a spiritual connection to a place through recreation also means having an obligation to it. Even better: the way the movie has created real-world change, allowing Ryan to send film proceeds to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and start a scholarship for Indigenous skiers and snowboarders. 鈥淭hat process of having a vision, putting it out there, and then seeing the ripple effects of positive change鈥攖hat鈥檚 the blueprint I want to build from,鈥� Ryan said. The pro skier, who鈥檚 based in Boulder, Colorado (Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute ancestral lands), wants the outdoor industry to reckon with the country鈥檚 dark history regarding its original inhabitants. 鈥淢y goal is to help make the outdoor industry not an extractive industry, not a settler-colonial industry,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to make all this money off of being on this land, a lot of that needs to come back to tribal entities and Indigenous people.鈥�

Who Influences Him: Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass. Filmmaker Isaiah Branch-Boyle. Dr. Len Necefer, founder of NativesOutdoors. Biologist Ellen Bradley.

Trevor Kennison
Professional skier

Perhaps you know Trevor Kennison, 29, for sending Corbet鈥檚 Couloir at Jackson Hole Resort鈥檚 Kings and Queens of Corbet鈥檚 event in 2019 in a sit ski鈥攖he first athlete to do so. Maybe you鈥檝e heard of him as the sit skier to hit the X Games Big Air jump this year鈥攁nother first. Soon, you鈥檒l definitely know him as the star of Full Circle (scheduled to premiere this fall or winter), a documentary that follows his journey back to the spot in the Vail Pass backcountry where a 2014 snowboarding accident paralyzed him from the waist down. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been three years in the making鈥攁 lot of time, a lot of patience, a lot of hard work,鈥� said Kennison. 鈥淚 really believe it鈥檚 going to touch so many people, whether they ski or don鈥檛 ski, disabled or not.鈥�

Who Influences Him: 鈥淩oy Tuscany [founder of the High Fives Foundation]. He鈥檚 such a great leader. He鈥檚 helped so many lives. I look up to how hard he works.鈥�

Advocates

Jenny Bruso
Founder of Unlikely Hikers

For too long, 鈥渙utdoorsy鈥� people were represented as thin, white, and straight鈥攁nd Jenny Bruso had had enough of it. So in 2016 the Portland, Oregon, resident founded the group Unlikely Hikers, an Instagram account, hiking club, and now podcast that welcomes and celebrates people of all body types, races, sexual orientations, and abilities to the great outdoors. Membership and followers skyrocketed, leading Bruso, 40, to be invited to help create the industry鈥檚 first plus-size line of backpacks with Gregory Mountain Products (released spring 2021). And Bruso鈥檚 just getting started: 鈥淚 want to see plus-size clothing taken to whole other levels. I want to see more representation in brands鈥� feeds about plus sizing. I want to see more people who don鈥檛 fit the mold. And, of course, I would love to see the outdoor industry actively create employment that鈥檚 more representative of the racial demographics of the United States.鈥�

Next Big Project: 鈥淟ook out for more outdoor gear for the plus-size adventurer,鈥� Bruso said, rather cryptically. 鈥淪omething is coming out in fall 2022, then spring 2023.鈥�

Rue Mapp
Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro

Few in the outdoor industry celebrate and support Black connections to nature like Rue Mapp. The Vallejo, California, resident, 50, has been on the outdoor scene since 2009, when she launched Outdoor Afro as a blog; in 2015, it became a nonprofit dedicated to the education and development of Black outdoor leaders. Since then, Mapp has been invited to the Obama White House, helped advise Michelle Obama鈥檚 鈥淟et鈥檚 Move鈥� campaign, overseen the Stewardship Council鈥檚 Foundation for Youth Investment for two years, earned a National Geographic fellowship, and now serves as chair for The California State Park and Recreation Commission (to name just a few accomplishments). She can add author to that list when her book, Nature Swagger, comes out in October. 鈥淚t鈥檚 several essays from me and contributions from over 30 people around the country who represent so many different facets of Black joy,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 filled with gorgeous photography.鈥�

Who Influences Her: 鈥淥prah, obviously. And I have a lot of admiration for Steven Rinella [of MeatEater]. He really has changed the narrative about hunting. He鈥檚 widened the aperture of who can participate.鈥�

Teresa Baker
Founder of the In Solidarity Project and co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath

Another giant in the outdoor DEI space, Teresa Baker is the force behind the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge, an initiative that asks brands to commit to inclusion. She also founded the In Solidarity Project, a DEI organization that works with industry leadership. And she鈥檚 one of the faces behind the new Outdoorist Oath, along with Pattie Gonia and Jos茅 Gonz谩lez, a program that rallies everyday recreationists to commit to 鈥減lanet, inclusion, and adventure.鈥� (That鈥檚 not an exhaustive list of Baker鈥檚 bona fides, either.) But more meaningful to her than her impressive r茅sum茅 is serving as a role model to her niece, 12. Baker recalled a recent time when she advised her niece to start an environmental campaign with her girlfriends: 鈥淪he said no, that will not work because it鈥檚 not inclusive of boys.鈥�

Next Big Project: 鈥淲e need to move beyond these conversations into action,鈥� Baker said. 鈥淲e hear so many conversations and see too many panels. I think if we can weave inclusion into our everyday work, then we can see it, versus constantly just hearing about it.鈥�

Jos茅 Gonz谩lez
Founder and director emeritus of Latino Outdoors and co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath

Jos茅 Gonz谩lez, 40, calls himself a 鈥淕reen Chicano鈥濃�攁 combination of conservationist, environmentalist, Chicano, and educator. The outdoor industry calls him a pillar in DEI work. Gonz谩lez, who lives in Sacramento, California (ancestral lands of the Maidu and Mi-wuk), founded the nonprofit Latino Outdoors in 2013 to help connect Latinx families to nature. Last year, he joined with Teresa Baker and Pattie Gonia to launch The Outdoorist Oath. That鈥檚 on top of his work as a partner at the Avarna Group, a DEI-focused consulting firm for outdoor clients, and as an illustrator. Gonz谩lez envisions an outdoor industry truly inspired by nature: 鈥淣obody goes outdoors and says, 鈥榃hat a beautiful monoculture of a forest.鈥� The awe, the stoke, the restoration鈥� it all comes from a place that鈥檚 so interconnected, interdependent, and holistic. That鈥檚 my vision, for the outdoor industry to be as reflective and representative as the very spaces that it鈥檚 in.鈥� In other words: 鈥淲e take down structural oppression.鈥�

Who Influences Him: Filmmaker Faith Briggs. Writer and cultural geographer Dr. Carolyn Finney. Ynes Mexia, a Mexican-American botanist and Sierra Club member in the early 1900s.

Goods & Services

Andrea Kelly
Divisional merchandise manager for inclusive sizing at Columbia

Andrea Kelly remembers well the first time she went snowboarding in pants that actually fit. On a 2015 trip to Mt. Hood Meadows near her home in Portland, Oregon, she wore a pair of stretchy, plus-size pants made by her employer. 鈥淔or the first time ever, I didn鈥檛 find myself getting off the lift and adjusting,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he only thing I cared about was how the snow felt under my board.鈥� That鈥檚 exactly the experience Kelly, 52, has been fighting to provide for people of all body types through almost a decade of advocating passionately for size inclusivity, helping Columbia expand product choices, and pushing for better representation of body diversity. 鈥淣obody should have to settle for sub-par product to get them outdoors to do what they like to do,鈥� she said.

Who Influences Her: 鈥淚 have met so many people on trails in Portland, through social media, and online, folks who are just getting after it regardless of size and shape and race and age. Those are the people who keep me on track,鈥� Kelly said.

Jonathan Cedar
CEO and co-founder of BioLite and co-founder of Climate Neutral

BioLite鈥檚 headlamps, stoves, and solar lights are its most visible products in North America, but that鈥檚 only half the story. Brooklyn-based Cedar, 41, uses 鈥減arallel innovation,鈥� a business model in which BioLite鈥檚 camping gear sales fund and support its development of clean and affordable stoves, lights, and chargers for off-the-grid homes in Africa and Asia. 鈥淲e鈥檝e built a company to solve big issues around energy poverty outside the U.S.,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e also found a way to connect the passion of outdoor consumers to drive that mission forward.鈥� Cedar also co-founded the nonprofit Climate Neutral in 2019, which helps companies neutralize their carbon emissions. To date, it has certified more than 330 partners.

Who Influences Him: Patagonia鈥檚 Yvon Chouinard and social entrepreneurs motivated by making the world a better place, like Sam Goldman and Ned Tozun, founders of the global solar energy company d.light.

Alyssa Ravasio
CEO and founder of Hipcamp

Ravasio鈥檚 Hipcamp connects campers to glamping tents, farm stays, and idyllic lakeside retreats. But there鈥檚 a lot going on under that simple premise. 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the business model that iterated into Hipcamp,鈥� said the Marin County, California-based Ravasio, 33. 鈥淚t solves a really important problem for outdoor enthusiasts by creating new places to play while also creating income for rural communities and landowners to better steward their resources.鈥� Expanding natural spaces underpins Ravasio鈥檚 nine-to-five as well as her vision for the outdoor industry: everyone advocating not just to protect what we have, but to push for more. 鈥淲e need to be on the front lines of creating more of those protected spaces for supporting nature for the future,鈥� she said.

Who Influences Her: Jay-Z: 鈥淐onfidence in marching to the beat of my own drum.鈥� E.O. Wilson: 鈥淭he hypothesis that we need 50 percent of our land and water protected for wildlife.鈥� Jane Goodall: 鈥淭he emphasis she places on hope.鈥� Rue Mapp: 鈥淗er insight and her vision.鈥�

Abby Dione
Owner of Coral Cliffs Climbing Gym

Abby Dione may have bought her business, Coral Cliffs Climbing Gym in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, back in 2011 on a whim, but she sure doesn鈥檛 run it that way. As the first queer Black woman in the country to own an indoor climbing gym, Dione has been intentional about creating an inclusive, welcoming climbing community for everyone who walks in the door, with an emphasis on mentoring young climbers. Her community has her back, too: when Dione had to close her doors during the pandemic鈥檚 first year, she raised $120,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to keep the business afloat. She鈥檚 an American Mountain Guides Association-certified climber, has taught clinics at outdoor festivals like Color the Crag and Flash Foxy, and serves on the Access Fund鈥檚 board of directors. Dione couldn鈥檛 be reached for comment because, as part of the Full Circle Everest project (the first Everest summit by an all-Black American team), she was high in the Himalaya at press time, making the final summit push.

Media

James Edward Mills
Author, journalist, and independent media producer

鈥淎ll I do is tell the stories of other people,鈥� said Mills, 56. We say he鈥檚 selling himself short. Over his decades-long career in the outdoor industry, Mills, who lives in Madison, Wisconsin, has dedicated himself to highlighting underrepresented people and communities, from writing his book The 国产吃瓜黑料 Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors to co-writing and co-producing a documentary about the first all-African-American ascent of Denali (An American Ascent). Mills鈥� vision for the industry is, in short, better representation: 鈥淭here won鈥檛 be any substantial change in the industry until the effort is made to have more people of color, women, and people with disabilities in positions of power.鈥�

Next Big Project: Two upcoming books: a look at Black history through the lens of the National Park Service and a chronicle of the Full Circle Expedition, the first all-Black American team to summit Everest.

Latria Graham
Writer

As a writer, Latria Graham, 35, trains her lens on everything from farming to the Grammys to mental health to e-bikes. Many will remember how she took readers by the throat in 鈥淥ut There, Nobody Can Hear You Scream,鈥� an unflinching look at being Black in nature, first published in 国产吃瓜黑料 in September 2020. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, resident draws inspiration from 鈥渇olks who are relegated to the margins of history,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he fact that they were able to craft a life for themselves and exist in a space that was incredibly hostile to them is no small thing. I think about them a lot in the work that I do.鈥� Behind the scenes, Graham asks magazine editors for more diverse representation in images and requested a Black artist to illustrate her steady column for Garden & Gun. 鈥淢ost of the stuff I鈥檓 really proud of is invisible. It鈥檚 not, 鈥業 did this thing.鈥� It鈥檚 the vibe shift at large that I hope I鈥檓 a part of.鈥�

Next Big Project: Uneven Ground, her first book, scheduled for publication in 2024. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about my personal story with Black land loss, my family farm鈥攚hat that place becomes, how we lose it鈥攁nd all the ins and outs of heirs, property, and rural gentrification,鈥� she said.

Jimmy Chin
Filmmaker, photographer, and professional climber/skier

Outdoor-industry types don鈥檛 often show up onstage at the Academy Awards鈥攁s Jimmy Chin and his wife, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, did when their film Free Solo won Best Documentary in 2019. But for alpine media鈥檚 biggest star, making Oscar-winning films is just part of a r茅sum茅 that includes first ascents and ski mountaineering feats across the globe, widely published photography, and the release of his first book, There and Back: Photographs from the Edge, in late 2021.

Next Big Project: Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi are co-directing their first narrative scripted film, Nyad, starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster.

Parker McMullen Bushman
Founder of Ecoinclusive and CEO of The Inclusive Guide

Parker McMullen Bushman鈥檚 200,000-plus TikTok followers know her as Kween Werk, the 鈥渟ocial media diva鈥� talking up inclusion and environmental justice while hiking mountains and soaking in alpine hot tubs. That鈥檚 also the focus of her day job as head of a DEI-centered consulting group for outdoor organizations, Ecoinclusive. 鈥淚 feel like this is the most important thing I can be doing right now to save the planet,鈥� the Denver-based founder said. 鈥淭o be able to solve big environmental issues like climate change, we know we need everyone at the table.鈥� McMullen Bushman, 43, also founded the annual Summit for Action, an event aimed at moving DEI initiatives from talk into concrete improvements. 鈥淎 truly inclusive outdoor industry is what I鈥檇 like to see,鈥� she said, one that 鈥渉onors and values the different ways people use and connect to the outdoors.鈥�

Next Big Project: Growing her Inclusive Guide, a Yelp-like, crowdsourced resource about how welcoming and accessible parks and other public spaces are to diverse visitors.

Retail & Community

Jahmicah Dawes
Co-owner, co-founder, creative director, and head janitor of Slim Pickins Outfitters

When Jahmicah Dawes, 35, and his wife, Heather, opened Slim Pickins Outfitters (SPO) in 2016 in Stephenville, Texas, it was the only Black-owned gear shop in the country. Not anymore: over the past few years, Intrinsic Provisions and Wheelzup 国产吃瓜黑料s have followed their lead. 鈥淥ne of the things I鈥檓 most proud of is that we were the first, but we鈥檙e not the last,鈥� Dawes said. 鈥淲e definitely want to leave a trace of how this can be done, how this can be scaled for owners of color.鈥� Opening up doors for people to reconnect to nature through his shop is just as important to Dawes鈥斺�渢o undo the toxic narrative of 鈥楤lack people don鈥檛 blank in the outdoors,鈥� swim, hunt, fist, car camp, slackline,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot only do we do that, but we鈥檝e been here from the discovery of these lands, before they were America.鈥�

Next Big Project: SPO recently launched a clothing line in partnership with Public Lands, and the Daweses are serving as two of the first leaders in the Outbound Collective鈥檚 community-building City Project initiative.

Devaki Murch
Tradeshow Producer of Grassroots Connect

鈥淐onnecting people is really one of my special powers,鈥� said Devaki Murch, 47. That鈥檚 been a throughline of her career, from her days managing athletes for prana (2003- 2007) to her stint coordinating Outdoor Retailer attendees (2012-2015) to her current gig pulling off the annual Grassroots Connect tradeshow. One of the best parts of her job, said the Southern Utah-based Murch, is strategizing creative ways to present new entrepreneurs and artists to the industry. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes it all worth it, to be able to bring in these new brands and energy in a way that allows them to thrive when the time is right,鈥� she said.

Who Influences Her: Sally McCoy. Rich Hill, former executive director of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. Beaver Theodosakis, founder of prana. Kenji Haroutunian.

Kenji Haroutunian
Director of The Big Gear Show and principal of Kenji Consults

If you鈥檙e part of a brand, retailer, media outlet, sales agency鈥攐r any corner of the outdoor industry, really鈥攖hen you鈥檝e probably felt Kenji Haroutunian鈥檚 influence. As the former vice president of Nielsen/Emerald Expositions and show director of Outdoor Retailer (from 2007 to 2014), the Culver City, California-based Haroutunian has his fingerprints all over the way we do trade shows, from floor plans to tech to sustainability. And in launching The Big Gear Show in 2021鈥斺�渙ne of the most audacious things I鈥檝e ever done,鈥� he said鈥擧aroutunian, 61, introduced a new trade event to the industry, one that includes activities like cycling, paddling, and overlanding. He also served on the Access Fund鈥檚 board from 2011 to 2020 and runs his own consulting firm focused on business and diversity solutions. Overall, 鈥淚鈥檓 proudest of my ongoing work encouraging equity and inclusion in the outdoor industry,鈥� he said.

Who Influences Him: Yoon Kim (founder of Outdoor Media Summit). 国产吃瓜黑料r Steve Edwards. Skip Yowell. Sally McCoy.

Mark Boles
Owner and CEO of Intrinsic Provisions

Mark Boles, 52, started his Hingham, Massachusetts, outdoor shop in 2019 to highlight a different approach to retail: a thoughtful, highly curated one that partners only with brands that have a positive social impact. 鈥淲hen I started, I fully intended to fly under the radar,鈥� Boles said. 鈥淚 did not want to have a conversation about being a Black-owned business.鈥� Boles鈥攚hose maternal grandfather is legendary civil rights leader Whitney Young鈥攃hanged his mind during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, particularly as he watched his teenage daughters grapple with what was going on, and decided to lean into it. Both moves are paying off. As e-commerce boomed during the height of the pandemic, 鈥淚 started getting orders from everywhere,鈥� Boles said. 鈥淭hat told me that the message we were putting out there about values and having really quality stuff was resonating with people.鈥�

Next Big Project: Expanding his warehouse space this summer, and looking into opening two more locations in Boston and Portland, Maine.

Runners-Up

These changemakes also stood out during the nomination process, and were all finalists during the judging round.

Athletes

• Jeremy Jones
• Caroline Gleich
• Ryan Montgomery (@ultra.ryan)
• Melissa Arnot Reid
• Eric Larsen
• L. Renee Blount

Advocacy

• Jessica Wahl Turner
• Stacey Bare
• Leah Thomas (The Intersectional Environmentalist)
• Mikah Meyer
• Ron Griswell
• Wyn Wiley, a.k.a. Pattie Gonia

Goods & Services

• Earl B. Hunter, Jr.
• Ryan Gellert
• Leo Tsuo
• Davis Smith (Cotopaxi)
• Jake Lah
• Kimberly Ang

Media

• Chris Burkard
• Gale Straub
• Faith E. Briggs
• Ali Carr (Basecamp Outdoor)
• Brooklyn Bell
• Irene Yee

Retail & Community

• Dana Howe (Grassroots Outdoor Alliance)
• Todd Spaletto
• Wilma Wallace
• Rich Hill (Grassroots Outdoor Alliance)
• Emily White (Roads Rivers & Trails)
• Brendan Madigan

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