Let鈥檚 face it: It鈥檚 a tough time to be anything besides a white male. And while the outdoor industry has long been a fantastic place to find our joys in nature, the industry鈥攍ike many others鈥攈as been male dominated, especially when it comes to leadership roles at the brands that make the gear we all use to play in the great outdoors.

This Saturday, March 8, is International Women鈥檚 Day. The designation for the day was first acknowledged by the United Nations in 1977, but National Women鈥檚 Day in the U.S. tracks back to 1908 when women garment workers protested working conditions in New York. Today, the United Nations defines as, 鈥渁 day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.鈥�

In honor of the occasion, we reached out to three executives at some of our favorite outdoor brands: Joy Allen-Altimare, Global Chief Marketing Office of; Lindsay Shumlas, CEO of; and Arielle Knutson, CEO of.听 We prompted them with the question: 鈥淲hat is it like being a woman leader in the outdoor industry right now?鈥�

These three women, and many others, are shaping the running and outdoor industries with their expertise, insight, and leadership. Here鈥檚 what they had听 to say:

Joy Allen-Altimare, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Saucony

“First and foremost, I take immense pride in being a woman. I also deeply appreciate the opportunity to navigate this industry as a woman. In spaces where men are predominantly represented, I have found it essential to be intentional in fostering an inclusive environment that uplifts and supports other women. Advocacy for creating space and providing support for women is a value I hold dearly. Early in my career, I recognized the profound importance of championing women within the corporate landscape鈥攚hether as a director, manager, or peer. It is crucial to stand up for women, both in meetings and in social settings. This support is vital because a decade from now, the leaders you uplift today will be the ones standing beside you.

Lindsay Shumlas, CEO of Cotopaxi

鈥淏eing a leader today means balancing strength with empathy and resilience. In a world where women are increasingly shaping leadership, empowering each other is the key to success. At Cotopaxi, mentoring and supporting one another to reach the top isn鈥檛 just about breaking barriers鈥攊t鈥檚 smart business. Women make up a large portion of our customer base, so when women lead, business thrives, and positive outcomes reach far beyond our four walls.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 also true across the business community. Research consistently shows that companies with women in leadership tend to perform better because we bring unique perspectives that foster innovation, strengthen decision-making, and promote a culture of responsibility and excellence. Together, we must continue to create environments where women can lead, mentor, and inspire, and collectively redefine lasting impact.”

Arielle Knutson, CEO at Oiselle

鈥淚t’s always been incredibly important (but particularly right now) for female leaders to foster connection with each other and with the community around them. For many women, the world feels like a heavy place at the moment, and even the very best leaders don’t innately know how to lead through the kind of uncertainty and change that we’re experiencing in our own country. Women have a tendency to put others first (and themselves last) both at home and in the workplace, and the leader-to-leader connection is such a key support system for grounding, problem-solving, and in having a safe space to be human. I have learned a tremendous amount from my female mentors鈥攆rom fundraising advice to structures for strategic planning, to supply chain and operational efficiency. But one of the most helpful reminders that I often walk away with is to put on my own oxygen mask first.

鈥淪omething I have noticed about being a female leader in today’s climate is that I get asked about imposter syndrome a lot. Do male leaders get asked about imposter syndrome so much, too?

鈥淚’ve often been the only female in a room of leaders, and in those instances I find myself falling into female stereotypes — like being the person in the group advocating for people and culture. Do I believe this softer, more relationship-oriented side of business is important? Yes. I actually think it’s the most important, because without people there is no business. But I have often wondered if I am unconsciously pushed into this particular role because I am the one (or one of the few) women present in these instances. It’s interesting, because I currently work with an all-female staff, and the share of voice and labor is the most evenly split I’ve ever seen.鈥�

More Women Leaders

On the theme of honoring and learning from women in leadership, in November, 国产吃瓜黑料 hosted a panel of three women running industry leaders at The Running Event trade show in Austin, Texas. We gave the microphone to Marion Minary, Senior Director, Global Footwear Product & Merchandising at , Whitney Petretto, Head of Apparel at , and Kylee Barton, Head of Global Product at,听 to speak about topics like women鈥檚-specific shoes and gear, marketing efforts geared towards women, and where the running industry was headed. Here’s a video of that discussion:

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Mud season. Dealing with spring snowmelt, rain, mud, and muck is what brings the American Northeast, Southeast, and Northwest鈥攁nd most places in between鈥攖ogether. If you live outside of an urban center and spend your time outdoors, odds are you own a pair of boots for mud season. Rubber boots are ubiquitous where I live in Bozeman, Montana. Knee-high rubber boots like the popular Xtratufs go on easy, provide sure protection from mud, snow, and water. Paired with good insulation, rubber boots can keep your feet warm through sub-zero temperatures. But knee-high rubber boots are also heavy, don鈥檛 breathe at all, and are often so clunky they鈥檙e a pain to walk in.

I wear rubber boots daily.听I’m about to pull on a pair of my ($230)听and traipse through gross ankle-deep snow melt while running afternoon errands around town. The Alphaburly Pros are the absolute warmest boot in my collection, but also the heaviest and clunkiest.

When my backyard isn’t socked in with feet of snow, I keep a pair of ($225) by the back door, and reach for them to chase a dog around or grab something from my truck. They’re a lot lighter听than the Lacrosse boots and track a lot less mud into my kitchen, but the Xtratufs are prone to holes and tears.

I keep a set of ($150) at the cabin. Bogs are super easy to put on鈥攑erfect for when one of my dogs needs to go outside to pee at a moment’s notice. But their generous dimension also mean they don’t hold your foot securely through more active wear.

I keep a pair of fancy leather-lined Le Chameu Chasseurs around as sort of my going out rubber boots. But at $650, those aren’t exactly a practical choice, and even at that spend, forego any insulation, so are again relegated to spring and summer wear only.

No matter the weather or activity, my feet get a little damp in every one of these boots. Rubber boots are utilitarian and stout, but I have yet to find the perfect pair. Montana-based Sitka Gear is trying to change that.

Sitka, a high-tech apparel brand that’s making the leap from its hunting roots into more general outdoorswear,听has never made a shoe or boot before, but for their first foray into footwear they’re aiming to make a better muck boot. Rather than rubber construction, these new VentLite boots ($399, on-sale now) are made from a waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex membrane housed in a layered textile shell that works a lot like a modern rain jacket.

鈥淪itka really hangs its hat on providing a systems-based approach to technical apparel,鈥� says Mike Ekstrom, the company鈥檚 new footwear product line manager. 鈥淎nd how can you have a full body system if you don鈥檛 have footwear?鈥�

From the inside out, Ekstrom says the boot is constructed using a four-millimeter thick neoprene liner, then a layer of Primaloft Gold insulation, followed by the Gore-Tex membrane and a high-denier textile shell fabric with a DWR coating. Ekstrom says that outer fabric is similar to the one used in some of Sitka鈥檚 pants. Mapped polyurethane overlays add abrasion and penetration resistance to key areas, while low-wear areas go without the protection in order to maintain breathability.

The result? 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 become a bucket of sweat,鈥� Ekstrom says.

Before joining Sitka, Ekstrom pitched for Major League Baseball teams including the Padres, Rays,听and Rockies, then spent nine years managing athletic shoe lines for Nike. So it鈥檚 no surprise that his new boots 鈥渇it more like a sneaker,鈥� says Ekstrom.

Cold water conducts heat away from your body Companies judge technical apparel by its ability to wick sweat away from the skin. Staying dry is crucial to staying warm through cold weather. As a result, Ekstrom explains that Sitka achieves听equivalent warmth to very heavily insulated all-rubber competitors in a lighter, slimmer boot.

Ekstrom says Sitka benchmarked the Lacrosse Alphaburly Pro 1,600G during development, which combines heavy-duty rubber construction with 1,600 grams of Thinsulate insulation. Where a single Lacrosse boot weighs 45 ounces, Sitka says the Ventilate measures just 35 ounces.

Sitka is the first company to employ Primaloft鈥檚 new 1006f insulation material in North America. Ekstrom is hesitant to quote a grams-per-square-meter figure out of concern that customers may simply compare that number to heavier alternatives, and come away with the mistaken impression that other boots will be warmer.

鈥淲hat we鈥檝e found through lab testing is [breathability] creates a more efficient way to provide warmth,鈥� Ekstrom says.

Also unlike existing designs鈥攚hich pack insulation around the foot only, leaving only your socks, long underwear, and pants to provide insulation from your ankles up鈥擲itka has carried its layered construction throughout the entire 18-inch height of the boot. Not only does packing more insulation add to the boot鈥檚 warmth, but Ekstrom says it also delivers a 鈥渦niform fit and feel throughout the boot.鈥�

For traction, Sitka tapped Vibram for its latest Litebase Megagrip outsole, adding its own proprietary A-shaped lugs to the central portion of the tread. Ekstrom explains that this will be a hallmark across a growing range of footwear Sitka plans to build out in the near future.

What鈥檚 next? 鈥淲e want to complete the head-to-toe systems wherever Sitka shows up,鈥� Ekstrom says. 鈥淸VentLite] is just the starting point.鈥�

Wes Siler grew up on a horse farm in England where it was his job to collect the manure. Rubber boots helped a lot, until the manure got inside them. Wes now writes about important topics like politics and vehicles on , where you can also talk to him about those topics and more.听

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After five years of trailblazing as a plus-size apparel entrepreneur, Raquel V茅lez recently shuttered her outdoor apparel company, , due to a lack of profit.

Alpine Parrot was one of a handful of outdoor brands dedicated to the plus-size market, which makes up more than 65 percent of Americans. V茅lez started with sizes 14-24 and ultimately expanded to size 30. Her biggest sellers were sizes 22 and 26, she said.

鈥淪topping isn鈥檛 the same as quitting,鈥� said V茅lez, who started the company in 2019 after she fell in love with skiing but found she had limited options for gear as a plus-sized woman. She left her work in the tech space, took up sewing, and self-funded Alpine Parrot for the first two years before opening up to investors such as REI. All along, her mission was to make clothing that allowed those with听bigger bodies to feel comfortable and confident in nature.

Since announcing the decision in late 2024, she said she has had legions of customers and fans reach out disappointed because they were rooting for the brand.

鈥淲hether you were a customer, a cheerleader, or simply someone who believed in our mission, you’ve been an integral part of this adventure. Together, we’ve made a genuine impact on people’s lives and pushed the outdoor industry to rethink inclusivity,鈥� V茅lez wrote in the brand鈥檚 .

Ultimately, Alpine Parrot鈥檚 clothing wasn鈥檛 selling at a rate to support the company or future product.

In the blog announcing the closing, V茅lez cited consumer spending habits, outdoor industry inventory challenges, rising interest rates, cashflow issues, the company鈥檚 ability to secure loans, and the culture鈥檚 shift from body neutrality to diet culture in the advent of weight loss medications.

Meanwhile, she told us, retailers didn鈥檛 have the bandwidth to adapt their stores to meet the needs of the plus-size shopper, who has very different retail patterns. For example, straight-size shoppers find the style and look for their size, V茅lez said. Plus-size shoppers, on the other hand, look for their size (which often isn鈥檛 there) and then considers style.

Also, V茅lez said she had trouble winning folks over on the value proposition. She tried to explain how the price included her ethical sourcing and living wage, but it proved to be too high,听 even though she sold her Pondorosa name pants for $139, which is about average in outdoor gear.

The pants sold when discounted, she said, and her inventory flew quickly when on final sale. Had that much volume been sold at full price, Alpine Parrot would have been able to hold out a bit longer, she said. Any remaining items were donated to non-profit organizations where the product will be loved long after Alpine Parrot closes its doors.

V茅lez鈥檚 work and advocacy made space for other up-and-coming brands, said Arwen Turner, co-founder of听 , which also specializes in plus-size pants.

“Alpine Parrot paved the way for plus-size-owned brands to finally be seen, heard, and legitimized in the outdoor industry,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淎s a plus-size adventurer, walking into a shop and finding hiking pants beyond a size 2X made for plus-size bodies on the rack鈥攇etting to try them on and then spotting them out in the wild on friends鈥攊s nothing short of a game changer. It was the start of something much bigger, not the end.鈥�

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In its 2021 Olympic debut in Japan, surfing took place at a nice little beach break, and it made for a fun watch. 2024 has been an entirely different animal. Held at Tahiti鈥檚 infamous Teahupo驶o, a storm brought thick, house-sized barrels detonating onto razor-sharp coral reef while the world鈥檚 best surfers deliberately put themselves in harm鈥檚 way in the quest for gold. But medals weren鈥檛 the only hardware on display.

If you鈥檝e been watching the competition, this is likely the first time you鈥檝e seen surfers wearing helmets. Even if you spend a lot of time at the beach, you鈥檝e probably never seen them on surfers before. In round one of the Olympic surf competition, a whopping 17 out of 24 female surfers wore a helmet, and five of the men did, too.

We didn鈥檛 have to wait long to see why helmets were so popular. Early in the contest, France鈥檚 started without a helmet, then wiped out on her first wave and went headfirst into the reef, splitting her forehead open. She immediately requested a helmet, which staff delivered to her via jet ski and put onto her still-bleeding head. She would later require four stitches, but she was extremely lucky that the impact wasn鈥檛 worse. Not everybody has been so fortunate recently.

Check out our coverage of the winning mountain bikes and the at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

A Brief Helmet History

I reached out to team (Lenny is arguably the best big wave surfer in the world), who has some experience with this subject. Earlier this year Lenny went down on a seemingly innocuous wave at Oahu鈥檚 famous Pipeline. It was one of the first times he wore a helmet surfing, but something that morning told him it was a good idea.听 He ended up driven into the reef with so much force that the impact split his helmet in half. Lenny was somehow able to get himself to shore, but he was badly concussed, and has virtually no memory of the incident. He spent months recovering and dealing with all of the nightmarish brain-injury symptoms you hear about from NFL players. It鈥檚 almost certain that and the debate about wearing a surf helmet has picked up since then.

That said, surf helmets aren鈥檛 actually all that new. Surfers have been wearing them at hard-bottom breaks since at least the early 鈥�90s. Australia鈥檚 Tom Carroll famously wore a helmet during his dominant performance at the 1991 Pipeline Masters contest. Takayuki Wakita, Naohisa Ogawa, and Atsushi Imamura were a trio of legendary Japanese chargers who all donned helmets. Even more recently, France鈥檚 Jeremey Flores and Australia鈥檚 Owen Wright each won first place while wearing helmets in the Tahiti Pro (also held at Teahupo驶o) in 2015 and 2019, respectively. So, surf helmet use is by no means unprecedented, but it鈥檚 never been common, which is why seeing nearly half of the surfers at the Olympics feels like something of a sea change moment.

The Gath Eva Hat helmet ($169) (Photo: Courtesy Gath)

Anatomy of a Surf Helmet

Broadly speaking, there are two types of surf helmets: Soft and hard-shell. As the name suggests, hard helmets have a plastic shell on the outside with a layer (or multiple layers) of foam underneath. These are more akin to bike helmets and ski/snowboard helmets. Most are uniform round shells for less drag in the water, with significant ports around the ears to prevent water from accumulating there. The soft helmets look a bit more like something you鈥檇 see in a martial arts competition. While they鈥檙e lighter and more comfortable, they also don鈥檛 offer quite as much protection. As far as I could tell, everybody in the Olympics contest was wearing variations of the hard-shell design.

The three biggest players in the surf helmet game are and hard shells, and . Gath helmets look not-unlike bowling balls, with bits of ventilation here and there, and they typically go for $170-$190, depending on the model. They offer solid protection for the top, back, and sides of your head. Simba helmets go a bit further, with helmets that stretch downward from the sides to cover more of the sensitive jawline, which gives them more of an intense gladiator look. They go for about $200. ($79) offers the least protection, but it鈥檚 made with a soft, non-absorbent foam to keep it from getting waterlogged. It鈥檚 also the lightest and one of the cheapest options.

There are other brands that make surf helmets as well, and it鈥檚 not unusual to see kayak-helmets used for surf. Kai Lenny is now developing his own surf helmet, which will have carbon fiber. Like bike helmets, plastic surf helmets are actually designed to break on impact to help diffuse the energy of the blow. Carbon fiber breaks, too, but as it does it distributes the force more evenly around the entire shell, theoretically decreasing the energy transferred to your skull and brain. There’s no word yet on the timing of its release or how much it will cost.

Some Olympians, like Defay, were wearing what appeared to be bike helmets in the lineup, with cutouts all over them for ventilation and drainage. They had some ear coverage, too, so I don鈥檛 believe they were literally bike helmets, but the point is any protection may be better than nothing if you鈥檙e heading into some heavy water.

To Wear or Not to Wear?

There are a few reasons helmets aren’t ubiquitous at the beach, though. While it鈥檚 universal that it鈥檚 preferable to have a helmet on if you鈥檙e going to hit a hard object such as a reef, a rock, a surfboard, or even a hard-packed sand bottom, those are still thankfully rare occasions. What you are almost guaranteed to encounter in every surf session, however, is turbulence when duck-diving or tumbling in the whitewater, and that鈥檚 where surf helmets may actually be a disadvantage. Because they increase the relative mass of your head, that means more torque on your neck when it鈥檚 being pushed around underwater, which could potentially increase your chances of getting neck-strain or whiplash. That鈥檚 one of the reasons you want to make sure you absolutely nail the sizing, and wear it as tightly yet comfortably as you can. The helmet can act like a sea-parachute and pull your neck back if too much water gets inside.

The other reason is the cool factor, or lack thereof. A lot of surfers are afraid that wearing a helmet will make them look like a kook. It鈥檚 worth noting, though, that helmets were practically non-existent at ski resorts through the 1990s, yet now they鈥檙e everywhere, regularly worn by pros, and nobody thinks twice when they see them. There were so many notable surf-related brain injuries this year that I think we鈥檒l see more influential pro surfers get on board. Jamie O鈥橞rien, Koa Smith, and Kai Lenny are all notable proponents, and as demand grows, the helmets will continue to evolve and improve.

Personally, I鈥檓 going to pick one up myself. I probably won鈥檛 wear it on smaller days, or at my local beach break, but the next time I paddle out when it鈥檚 big and heavy, and there are lots of rocks around, it will give me peace of mind to have my noggin protected. I actually started snowboarding better once I wore a helmet regularly, so who knows鈥攎aybe that will happen in the waves, too.

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When we鈥檙e hungry for a look at the upcoming year鈥檚 brightest gear innovations, we head to the media show, a biannual hands-on preview between the people who sell and market gear and the folks who cover it. Our look at 2025鈥檚 haul did not disappoint, with fashion-forward hiking apparel, featherweight sleeping pads, and some awesome new car camping tech. Here’s what’s on our release radar for this fall and early spring of 2025.

, hands down. The major downside? They take ages to inflate and deflate. A few years ago, they came out with the Widget Pump, a battery powered pump, lamp, and powerbank all in one. It was a vast improvement, but it鈥檚 relatively slow, and doesn鈥檛 help with deflation, which often looks like a one-sided wrestling match given all of the mat鈥檚 foam and air capacity.

The Mega Pump is faster and has both functions, making the process relatively painless. With some included adaptors, you can use this pump for most non-Exped car camping pads, too. The best part? .

Seniq Apparel (Available Now)

focused on fashion-forward hiking apparel. It really stood out at OMA, where the cut, colorways, and features of apparel and outer layers are almost indistinguishable across outdoor brands. Seniq鈥檚 co-founders and lead designer are women, which is important for an all-women鈥檚 hiking apparel company, and it donates one percent of sales to outdoor equity and mental-health focused foundations. Really, though we just think this stuff looks rad. There鈥檚 a careful balance of fashion and function going on here that we鈥檒l be excited to test out on the trail.

Rossignol Vizion Ski Boot (Fall 2024)

Skiers who are tired of wrestling to get their ski boots on and off (and let’s be honest, that’s most people) should get excited about Rossignol鈥檚 new Vizion ski boot line. A new proprietary buckle and spine mechanism on these boots allows the cuff to open much wider than a traditional four-buckle overlap boot, allowing skiers to slip into the boot easily and hands-free.

In terms of getting the boot on and off, it鈥檚 like a rear-entry boot; but once buckled up, it feels like a traditional alpine boot that you can actually ski in (as opposed to most rear-entry options). Rossignol鈥檚 new Vizion boot family ($650-850), which comprises 10 models ranging from 130 flex down to 80 flex, will hit shelves this fall. .

Thule ReVert Bike Rack (Fall 2024)

Thule is finally releasing a hitch-mount vertical bike rack that comes with the kind of smart design features the Swedish brand is known for. The new ReVert, launching in September, will come in a four-bike ($900) and six-bike ($1,100) model.

Each carries bikes via wheel baskets that require zero frame contact (so carbon frame owners can chill out). The ReVert鈥檚 Dual Tilt Assist tech in the arm is also sweet, providing weight assistance on the way up and down to make it easy to lower and raise the rack even when loaded down with six mountain bikes. Both models of the Revert can fit 20- to 29-inch wheels, though you鈥檒l need to purchase wheel adapters (sold separately) to accommodate 20- to 24-inch tires. Thule will also offer accessory wheel baskets for plus-sized tires.

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro (Spring/Summer 2025)

We were amazed at how light La Sportiva’s new trail racer felt when we picked it up, weighing in at a scant 8.9 ounces for the men’s model and 7.9 for the women’s. Touted as a “super shoe for the mountains,” the Prodigio Pro ($195) promises super shoe performance for tricky terrain. That鈥檚 been a tough guarantee to live up to for competing models that try to use bouncy foams and plates off-road.

The shoe has a blend of nitrogen-infused TPU and EVA foam (lighter and bouncier than that in the highly-praised Prodigio), paired with La Sportiva’s signature, deep-lugged, sticky rubber sole and a crazy-looking 鈥淧ower Wire鈥� mesh upper made from polyester, TPU, and nylon. It lacks a rigid plate, allowing it to adapt to uneven surfaces underfoot, while the aggressively rockered geometry looks like it鈥檒l keep you rolling quickly down the trail.

Diorite Gear Trekking Pole Attachments (Spring/Summer 2025)

Diorite makes some of our . They telescope out long enough to support a pyramid tent without a weight penalty and are incredibly sturdy for carbon construction. They鈥檝e always been very field-repairable (including the tips,) but now Diorite is coming out with interchangeable EVA handles built for mountaineering and skiing.

Using some simple-but-sturdy hardware, you can attach things like Skimo picks and potentially even whippets at home without special tools. Put simply, Diorite is designing modular, quiver-killer poles that you can use year-round. That means spending less money on specialized poles and the ability to repair your set indefinitely.

MSR Switch Stove (Spring/Summer 2025)

We love integrated 鈥淛etboil-style鈥� backpacking stoves for their speed and wind-resistance. But you can鈥檛 do much more than boil water in those superheated cookers. MSR recognized this was a bit of an annoyance with folks who wanted to occasionally do some actual cooking on its WindBurner and Reactor stoves. The Switch is basically a WindBurner pot that鈥檚 been redesigned to work on a specialized canister-stove. (Bonus: the stove is pressure-regulated for cold weather and half-empty canisters.)

A ring on the canister stove locks into the hard-anodized aluminum pot鈥攚hich has a convex bottom for maximum surface area鈥攆or the usual speedy, water-boiling purposes. Flick a few arm extenders out, though, and you can set an actual pot or skillet on top for measured cooking. While Jetboil already sells an accessory that has a similar function, it doesn鈥檛 work particularly well in practice.

NEMO Tensor Elite Sleeping Pad (Spring/Summer 2025)

In the race to design the lightest-but-still-comfortable sleeping pad on the market, Therm-a-Rest has always lead the pack. Now NEMO is taking a stab at a boundary-pushing inflatable pad with its Tensor Elite. Unlike the rest of the brand鈥檚 Tensor line, the Elite comes in just regular and short mummy sizes. Allegedly, it weighs just 8.3 ounces, has an R-value of 2.4, and packs down to the size of a pint glass. That鈥檚 a few grams shy of TAR鈥檚 discontinued, extra-lightweight (and easily-punctured) .

In the comfort department, the Elite looks better than its defunct competitor. It has 3 inches of thickness and uses the brand鈥檚 Apex Baffle construction, which is an improvement over horizontal baffles. We won鈥檛 know until testing whether the Elite is an ultralight game-changer or just another extra-delicate pad to stress about on long backpacking trips.

Deuter Hiline (Spring/Summer 2025)

At first glance, Deuter鈥檚 new mountain biking pack looks like it has the usual feature set: helmet-holder clips, bike pump attachments, and plenty of space for hydration and spare tubes. But the Hiline, which comes in 8 and 14 liter sizes, has some real tech on the inside.

It鈥檚 got a removable memory foam SAS-TEC multi-impact spine protector “for enduro fans.” The new hotness is a 3D-printed breathable back panel for airflow. Not only does 3D printing reduce material waste in the production process, but it allows for multiple levels of texture鈥攅ssentially a complex honeycomb structure鈥攖hat looks like it鈥檒l work better than most airflow-improving designs on the market during intense climbs. (It could be a total gimmick, too.)

At $375 for the 14-liter version, the Hiline’s tech ain’t cheap. Deuter鈥檚 rep hinted that it might be headed for the brand鈥檚 backpacking packs, as well.

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In an ever-evolving world of athlete support models, and in light of landmark 2021 NCAA legislation allowing college athletes to be compensated for endorsing products, many running brands are getting on board the name, image and likeness (NIL) deal train, which allows them to monetize their own personal brand while endorsing a brand鈥檚 products or services.

Tracksmith has a novel proposition with its newly announced program, which will provide support and development opportunities to college track and field and cross-country athletes who are hoping to transition to the next level of competition after graduating. Members will receive a Tracksmith gear stipend and mentorship from Tracksmith鈥檚 Amateur Support Program athletes throughout the year, and will travel to Europe for training and competition at the end of their 2024 collegiate seasons, a perk they likely wouldn鈥檛 get from their college programs alone, says Nick Willis, Tracksmith鈥檚 global community manager and program director for Varsity Club.

In addition to allowing athletes to obtain gear and earn a small amount of money, these programs also aim to help aspiring professional runners navigate the transition from post-collegiate running, which, for many athletes, doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean a full-fledged sponsorship contract immediately upon graduating. Molly Sughroue, 28, an elite middle-distance runner based in the Denver area, who joined Tracksmith鈥檚 Amateur Support Program in 2022, notes that while she was fortunate to find a group of women who were also unsponsored and trying to find their way, this is something she could have used when she graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2019.

鈥淓ven though I didn鈥檛 end up with a professional contract, I felt like I had unfinished business on the track and I wanted to keep going,鈥� Sughroue says. 鈥淚 was really lucky to have that group of women to help me learn things because I just felt so clueless. Any type of support and guidance, especially right after college, really helps.鈥�

Former professional middle-distance runner Mary Cain, who founded the nonprofit with the goal to provide athletes the opportunity to be financially supported to train and race while building their professional skills and giving back to the next generation, shared that sentiment.

鈥淯nlike in college, where most programs put athletics first and make it easy for athletes to prioritize their training, it can be harder to find balance with [another different] career and this adjustment can be tough for a lot of people,鈥� Cain, who also previously worked as a community manager for Tracksmith, says. 鈥淥ur sport often romanticizes training 鈥榝ull-time,鈥� and people are used to seeing how post-collegiate running is done from that lens versus having role models who’ve learned how to balance both their careers and sport.鈥�

鈥淲ith the enjoyment and success that we鈥檝e had with the amateur support program and how it鈥檚 helped athletes with post-collegiate running, we realized 鈥榳hat better way to help prepare them before they get to that point?鈥欌�� Willis, who is a former professional athlete and five-time Olympian for New Zealand, says. 鈥淣ow that we have a legal ability to support collegiate athletes, it was an opportunity to get ahead of the game so we can support and equip them, and provide them with experiences and resources so that when they finish with their college eligibility, they鈥檙e already pre-equipped to handle the challenging space they鈥檙e entering after college.鈥�

What is an NIL Program?

NIL programs allow college athletes to use their name and promote themselves through products and services to earn money. In this instance, they will be able to do so by wearing Tracksmith gear in their everyday lives as college students and athletes, as well as in their own social media posts and platforms, in addition to Tracksmith鈥檚 social media and other content.

Since 2021, NIL programs have allowed college athletes to partner with brands for sponsorships and other marketing opportunities. NIL programs have also traditionally served as legal protections that allow collegiate athletes to pursue partnerships with brands and other professional domains.

Through the Varsity Club program, which will be made up of 10 selected athletes, Tracksmith will give student-athletes the resources they need to compete at the highest level and the opportunity to gain firsthand experience and learn what it takes to be the best on and off the track. Program benefits include:

• The opportunity to travel Europe for a week-long trip including competition, training, and spectating opportunities. Travel, lodging and meals are included.
• Gear stipends for Tracksmith apparel, footwear and accessories, as well as access to the latest Tracksmith product introductions and consideration for wear-testing programs.
• An assigned mentor from Tracksmith鈥檚 Amateur Support Program, as well as access to bi-monthly seminars and Q&A sessions with elite athletes, agents, coaches, and media personnel to help with preparation for post-collegiate athletics.

鈥淲e want to connect these athletes with all of the important players in the post-collegiate world when it comes to navigating the space on their own,鈥� Willis says. 鈥淗aving been a professional athlete for 15 years, hopefully there are also small elements of my career that I鈥檓 able to lean on that they can relate to and ask questions to me as the program director as well.鈥�

鈥淲illis has been a big help, as I don鈥檛 have an agent, in getting into races and meets if can, or about other races that should be on our radar,鈥� Sughroue adds. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have anything like that after college. I didn鈥檛 know how any of that worked at all, so having any sort of mentorship would have been a huge help for me.鈥�

鈥淕etting the chance to learn from athletes who balance their training and careers could be really beneficial to young people who plan to balance their running and work,鈥� Cain adds. 鈥淗ere in New York, there are so many post-collegiate clubs where athletes can learn directly from other athletes how they balance sport and work, but it’s new to have something where a brand directly supports that mentorship.鈥�

Of course, in today鈥檚 ever-evolving world of social media, young athletes in particular need to keep their own well-being in check when it comes to what they鈥檙e agreeing to do as part of these sponsorship deals. Cain noted that while it鈥檚 important for athletes to be celebrated and valued for more than just their performances on the track, it鈥檚 also key to make sure they receive legal guidance before signing any type of contract.

鈥淭he NIL system is still so new and it’s really important for athletes to work with true professionals who are only working in their best interests,鈥� Cain says. 鈥淚 believe finding new ways to bring money into the sport is huge, since sponsorship money has been dropping over the years as using social media influencers (both paid and unpaid) have become a bigger strategy for running brands.鈥�

Program Requirements

Through the Varsity Club, Tracksmith aims to support athletes as they navigate the transition from collegiate to post-collegiate competition. At the same time, the brand will also ask that selected athletes abide by the following guidelines:

• Wearing Tracksmith performance and lifestyle products when appropriate (such as at practice and around campus) and at any non-NCAA competitions
• Working with Tracksmith鈥檚 marketing team to craft authentic and engaging social media posts and other content that feature Tracksmith products to elevate the brand鈥檚 storytelling and leadership in running culture
• Actively participating in events throughout the year to help maintain community and social interaction with their fellow Varsity Club athletes

鈥淲e want these athletes to connect together, so these programs will be the drawing point that will bring them together, though hopefully there will be some communication among the athletes throughout the process so that when we make the trip to Europe together, everyone will relationships that have grown so they feel a strong bond and connection as we head over there as a team,鈥� Willis says. 鈥淟ong-term, the real benefits will be from the experience and the knowledge they鈥檒l gain from this program and hopefully they鈥檒l feel more prepared for life after college afterward.鈥�

Who Should Apply?

The Tracksmith Varsity Club program is open to current track and field and cross country athletes competing at the national level across all NCAA divisions. Athletes who best demonstrate how the specific offerings of the Varsity Club will further their competitive goals during and after college will be selected. While only American athletes are eligible, Tracksmith encourages athletes of diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to continue to boost representation within the sport. Prospective student-athletes can be at any point in their collegiate career and will have to reapply each year that they wish to continue with the program. Athletes wishing to compete in next year鈥檚 Olympic Track and Field Trials will have an impact in selection as well, Willis says.

鈥淏eing a team player is just as important as performance,鈥� Willis says. 鈥淚n my experience with the Amateur Support Program, those who foster and cultivate an experience with the team together and as a unit make it helpful to have personality types who will get off the couch and walk across the room and introduce themselves and help bring the group together. So if people are able to show that they have their own skillset as well, that鈥檚 also an attribute we鈥檙e looking for.鈥�

, student-athletes should submit a short video lasting 2 minutes or less sharing why they love competing, their goals for the year, and how the Varsity Club will facilitate their growth as an athlete and future leader of the sport. Applicants are encouraged to be authentic and creative. Video submissions are due Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Questions about the program or the application process can be sent to community@tracksmith.com.

鈥淵ou feel like you have to have a sponsorship or a contract to keep running post-collegiately, but that isn鈥檛 always the case,鈥� Sughroue says. 鈥淗aving a support system is the biggest thing, as well as just giving yourself the time to adjust to a new phase of life.

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You鈥檝e seen the labels: eco-friendly, sustainable, recyclable, recycled, compostable, biodegradable, natural, plastic-free, and more. And because you care about the planet, you probably buy products听based on those claims, thinking that you鈥檙e doing the earth a solid.

But here鈥檚 the thing: they鈥檙e often听just words鈥搗ery carefully chosen marketing words intended to make you feel good and virtuous about buying that product. Sometimes they鈥檙e legit. But oftentimes, they鈥檙e bullshit. When it’s the latter, it鈥檚 called greenwashing, and it鈥檚 a real problem. Why?

鈥淭here are currently no binding federal laws around sustainability claims,鈥� says Meg Carney, host of , and author of a book by the same name. 鈥淲hat that means is that it’s kind of the Wild West. Marketers can say whatever they like; unless someone files a lawsuit and brings them to court, they get away with it. Unfortunately, it鈥檚 up to us, the consumers, to sort through the greenwashing and find the truth.鈥�

That鈥檚 presumably what Maria Guadalupe Ellis did before filing , one of several high-profile greenwashing cases against mega-retailers. Ellis鈥� suit claims that Nike 鈥渄eceives consumers into believing that they’re receiving sustainable products, made with recycled fibers,鈥� and will reduce one鈥檚 carbon footprint. Ellis says that of the 2,452 products in Nike鈥檚 sustainability collection, 鈥渙nly 239 products are actually made with any recycled materials” and that she would 鈥渘ot have purchased the products if she had known that they were not sustainable, not made from sustainable materials and not environmentally friendly.鈥�

In plain terms, Ellis was greenwashed, and she鈥檚 fighting it. If you want to do the same, first, you must understand what greenwashing is.

What Is Greenwashing?

Greenwashing is a marketing technique used to convince consumers that a product is more eco-friendly than it actually is. In a nutshell, it鈥檚 false advertising.

The term in 1986. He was visiting a resort in Fiji when he spied a card in the bathroom鈥攚e鈥檝e all seen them by now鈥� asking him to hang and re-use his towels in an effort to save water and natural resources. It dawned on him, as he looked around and saw the resort expansion in progress, that this plea to reuse towels had little, if nothing, to do with protecting resources. The hotel had an ulterior motive: .

Greenwashing can take many forms. It can include using imagery that has an aura of sustainability, patently false information, vague and misleading claims, or even just exaggerated ones. But let鈥檚 just call it what it is: deceitful.

The most common forms of greenwashing are lies of omission. You might see a product proudly claiming to be made from ocean plastic, algae, or recycled content. But what percentage? Sometimes it鈥檚 a scant amount of the overall material mix, but the marketing entices well-meaning consumers to buy it.

鈥淕reenwashing makes me angry,鈥� says Kiana Kazemi, co-founder and programming director of the . 鈥淚t鈥檚 taking advantage of people who are trying to do the right thing. None of us have the time to deeply research everything we buy, so it feels overwhelming, exhausting, and frustrating that we can鈥檛 trust companies to just be transparent about their sustainability.鈥�

And in some cases, it鈥檚 downright heartbreaking, 鈥渆specially when it relates to health issues and people trying to make responsible choices end up harming themselves.鈥� Kazemi points to the , which make women鈥檚 period underwear marketed as safe and sustainable, but is said to contain harmful PFAS, a.k.a. forever chemicals, to absorb moisture and reduce stains. Another common example, among a sea of examples: plastic cutting boards marketed as eco-friendly when they are far from it.

Why Isn鈥檛 It Illegal?

As a form of false advertising, greenwashing can technically be illegal if you can prove that the company knowingly and patently lied. But companies can make misleading statements (without blatant lying) to paint a green picture that wins your business, and it’s hard to take legal action against that.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) created the in 1992 with the intent of helping marketers avoid making misleading environmental claims. However, the Guides are not legally binding. Not yet, anyway.

鈥淲e do see guidelines that have translated into regulations in other industries,鈥漵ays Debbie Read, head of corporate communications and Corporate Social Responsibility at Equip Outdoor Technologies, makers of Rab and Lowe Alpine gear and apparel. 鈥淭he obvious is food nutrition labeling, but similar [regulations] have occurred in appliances with energy ratings and even car tires with fuel efficiency, noise, and weather ratings in the EU. So we expect to see more coming into our sector as consumer and retailer interest increases.鈥�

In the outdoor industry, Equip is taking this effort to the next level. Equip recently announced a bold听move towards transparency with its program. Starting in September 2023, all Rab apparel and sleeping bags sold will include a QR code which leads customers to what amounts to a nutritional label for that item including detailed, easy-to-understand information on recycled content, fluorocarbon status, and production details. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to keep ahead of [these coming regulations] by designing products responsibly and communicating meaningfully to consumers,鈥� says Read. 鈥淗aving more clarity at a federal level would make things easier and prevent some of the ambiguity and complexity we are all facing.

5 Easy Ways to Fight Greenwashing

 

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• Find good information. Within two clicks on any website, you should be able to find information about a company鈥檚 sustainability efforts, says Carney. Look for a mission statement or at the About Us page. If sustainability is front and center for a company, it will be implicitly mentioned and easily found, no digging required. You鈥檒l know it when you see it and if you don鈥檛, move onto another brand. Another shortcut is to shop from a company that does the legwork for you. is an online marketplace that sells clothing, housewares, outdoor lifestyle gear, and food. The team meticulously vets for greenwashing and curates products according to rigorous sustainability and social impact standards, saving you time and headspace.
• Seek third-party certifications, like Fair Trade, B-Corp, and Oeko Tex. 鈥淭rusted certification programs reduce the burden on consumers, but there鈥檚 a caveat 鈥� says Kazemi. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e expensive and time consuming, and often smaller brands can鈥檛 afford them. It doesn鈥檛 mean they鈥檙e not worthy of certifications and being transparent, it just means that certifications aren鈥檛 accessible to them.鈥�
• Look for complete transparency. Vague words like 鈥渆co-friendly鈥� or 鈥渟ustainable” that aren鈥檛 accompanied by initiatives, data, goals, and reporting on those goals, are a major red flag. You shouldn’t have to go down a rabbit hole to find quantifiable sustainability information.
• Beware of short product life cycles. This is why fast fashion is so harmful to the environment. Watch to see if your favorite brands are constantly releasing new products, colors, and creating new trends. If it’s all new all the time, they are not prioritizing durability and longevity, says Kazemi.
• Ask questions. If you can鈥檛 easily find an answer to a sustainability question on a website, use the Contact Us page to reach out to a brand. In her book, Outdoor Minimalist, Carney provides tips and templates to inspire productive conversations. If you get back a vague, dodgy, or automated response鈥搊r worse, no response at all鈥揳ssume greenwashing. If the company doesn鈥檛 have a good and timely answer, move on to a brand that does.

Doing right by the planet can make you happier, healthier, and鈥攜es鈥攚ealthier. 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Head of Sustainability, Kristin Hostetter, explores small lifestyle tweaks that can make a big impact. Write to her at听climateneutral-ish@outsideinc.com.

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Love a summer road trip? So do we, and this year, the Get 国产吃瓜黑料 Tour has been hitting the road with one mission: Get everyone outside.

And we鈥檙e not done yet. Our road trip rolls on through October, so there鈥檚 still time to come on out and join us! We鈥檝e got a full lineup of events including guided excursions, skills clinics, gear giveaways, fundraisers for nonprofits, inspiring speakers series events, and celebrations of all things outdoors. We can鈥檛 wait to see you!

Upcoming Events for the Get 国产吃瓜黑料 Tour

We鈥檙e stoked to be part of these events coming up soon, and there are dozens more on our calendar.

Aug. 18-19 | PCT Days
Cascade Locks, OR
Come party for Backpacker鈥檚 50th Anniversary! Join us on Saturday for a fun-filled conversation on the world of backpacking, along with live music, food, beverages, and gear giveaways.

Aug. 18-20 | Outerbike
Crested Butte, CO
Crank it up with the Get 国产吃瓜黑料 Tour in Crested Butte. Grab a demo bike and join our group ride and intro to mountain biking clinic. Plus: Say cheers at the Outerbike Happy Hour.

Aug. 25-27 | Outerbike
Duluth, MN
Drop in to Duluth with demo MTBs, a group ride, and an intro clinic. Don鈥檛 forget about the Outerbike Happy Hour celebration and fundraiser.

Sept. 15-17 | Telluride Blues and Brews
Telluride, CO
Get ready for three action-packed days of music, craft beverages, and outdoor adventure鈥攊ncluding our annual 4-mile group hike to Bear Creek Falls!

Sept. 22-24 | 14er Fest
Buena Vista, CO
Headed to Colorado鈥檚 best multi-sport festival? Stop by the 国产吃瓜黑料 booth in downtown Buena Vista and enter to win great prizes from our gear showcase.

Oct. 7-8 | Outdoor Experience
Dayton, CO
Camp, connect, compete, and experience dozens of outdoor activities at this outdoor adventure festival. Join the Get 国产吃瓜黑料 Tour at the Outdoor School for a wide range of clinics.

Oct. 10-13 | GoFest
Roanoke, VA
Test drive a bike, demo a stand-up paddleboard, learn to fly cast, join a race, and sample craft beer, all in one afternoon! Plus: Stop by the 国产吃瓜黑料 booth to enter our Great Gear Giveaway.

See Our Full Calendar

Want to Win a Vanload of Gear?

Plush Avocado Green Mattress dog beds. Trail-tested Gregory backpacks. Cozy Rumpl blankets. We鈥檙e giving away all these goods and so much more on the Get 国产吃瓜黑料 Tour, and we want to share the stoke! Enter our sweepstakes for your chance to win a sweet gear package worth $5,000 from our sponsors:

Avocado Green Mattress 听 | 听 Cutty Sark 听 | 听 DripDrop 听 | 听 FieldStation 听 | 听 goodr 听 |听 Gregory听 听 | 听 KT Tape听 听 | 听 LifeStraw听 听 | 听 Nationwide 听 | 听 Rumpl 听 | 听 Vandoit 听 | 听 The Woolmark Company

Photography Credit:

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Out of 100 of the most visible brands in America, Patagonia ranked number one for reputation, according to an .

More than 16,000 Americans were asked to list 鈥渃ompanies that either excel or falter in society,鈥� as part of the survey. From that, pollsters curated a list of 100 companies, which were then scored across nine reputation-gauging attributes including trajectory, vision, culture, and trust.

As Patagonia celebrates 50 years in business, the scoring marks the brand鈥檚 second time in first place; it also but dropped to third in 2022. Compared to the other mega corporations on the list with thousands of employees (Costco has over 200,000 employees in the U.S. alone), Patagonia is tiny, employing around 1,000 people. Patagonia is immediately followed by Costco, John Deere, and Trader Joe鈥檚. The bottom end of the list includes Bitcoin, Meta, Twitter, and in spot 100, The Trump Organization. Other notable companies on the list include Apple, Amazon, Ford, Nike, Adidas, and Google.

Why the Patagonia Clothing Company Outranks All Others

On the discussing the results, journalist Margaret Talev credits Patagonia鈥檚 notoriety to the brand鈥檚 unwavering commitment to environmental efforts, with a recent example being last year鈥檚 restructuring. Founder Yvon Chouinard gave control to two private entities: a trust that owns Patagonia鈥檚 voting stock and an environmental nonprofit called Holdfast Collective, which receives all earnings not reinvested in the business鈥攔oughly $100 million a year. The combination of Patagonia鈥檚 consistency, dedication to its values, and doubling down on its commitment to various causes resulted in the positive public perception, she says.

鈥淧atagonia is a company ideologically that has a center-left appeal, and yet you have many Republicans who like Patagonia as well,鈥� Talev says. 鈥淲hat consumers have been saying consistently in this survey is that they like a company that knows what it stands for and isn’t just chasing consumers with marketing employees, but that sticks to its message.鈥�

A Strong Reputation Means Everything to Brand Prosperity

Reputation has always been a strong indicator of success in the world of business. You鈥檙e not going to recommend a company that has poor quality or service, nor will you go back for more business. And on the flip side, brands foster loyalty through quality and reliability.听But companies face a far less forgiving landscape than in the pre-Yelp era. Factors like ethics, values, and leadership can either boost or threaten its future also, says Daniel Powell, managing attorney at Minc LLC, a firm that provides online reputation management.

He adds that companies can now receive blowback from customers for making cultural or political statements鈥攐r saying nothing at all. And a CEO with harassment allegations can be just as detrimental to a company鈥檚 bottom line as hundreds of bad reviews.

According to Weber Shandwick and KRC Research鈥檚 State of Corporate Reputation in 2020, global executives attribute 63 percent of their company鈥檚 market value to its overall reputation. The research also reveals that 91 percent of executives care about their company鈥檚 reputation.

The equation is simple: 鈥淭he better your reputation is, the more marketplace interactions you鈥檙e going to have,鈥� Powell says. 鈥淲hen your reputation is bad, you won鈥檛 even get the chance for that interaction.鈥� Patagonia鈥檚 earnings are private, but CEO Ryan Gellert earlier this year that company revenues are around $1.5 billion annually.

In a time when public opinion can shift overnight, Powell says he advises clients to 鈥渏ealously safeguard their reputation.鈥� That includes monitoring any red flags and pumping up any good press. 鈥淓veryone is going to get hit with something negative,鈥� Powell says. 鈥淥ne negative review can have catastrophic cascading consequences if you have nothing to counteract it.鈥�

The Patagonia Lawsuits: Taking a Brand Stand

And Patagonia has recently had to play defense. This spring, the company in California court against Nordstrom for allegedly selling thousands of counterfeit goods. Up until this year, the department store was an authorized dealer. Also recently, Patagonia and Gap settled a lawsuit after the outdoor outfitter alleged that Gap had deliberately copied its iconic Snap-T fleece pullover design.

Besides protecting itself, the brand also fields an aggressive offense. The company puts a lot of energy toward environmental and human rights activism, and despite getting involved in politics鈥攚hich many brands still avoid鈥攊t still comes out on top. Some of its most buzzworthy moments include suing President Trump in 2017 over the reduction of two national monuments. At one point, the Patagonia鈥檚 homepage read, 鈥淭he President Stole Your Land.鈥� Then it endorsed two political candidates. Patagonia went viral again in 2020 when someone discovered a hidden message on the underside of a tag: 鈥淰ote the assholes out.鈥� It even publicly entered the abortion rights fight in 2022, agreeing to pay bail for employees arrested in abortion protests and denouncing the Texas abortion ban.

The company鈥檚 success is the result of a complicated and hard-won combination of action, service, and renowned consumer goods. The number one placement on the Axios and Harris Poll is a resounding indication that it鈥檚 working.

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The first full month of spring is always a relief. There is still a lot of temperamental weather, but no matter how harsh the winter has been鈥攐r continues to be鈥攖here are signs of the impending shift. The sun spends longer in the sky, buds emerge, and the birds begin to sing. 国产吃瓜黑料 editors and contributors shed layers, and doubled down on our time out of doors. This is the gear that helped us do it.

SunGod Ultras Sunglasses ($180)

April threw every kind of weather at those of us living on the high plains, from blizzards to high-80s heat waves. The only thing guaranteed on my runs was wind. So I was glad to have these full coverage glasses to keep out the blowing snow and grit. But I didn鈥檛 fall in love with the coverage alone. The lens clarity is remarkable, particularly in a flexible nylon that’s tough enough that they’re guaranteed for life. The fit is comfortable and secure鈥攚ith grippy temple tips and a choice of four easy-to-swap nose pieces. Given their light weight and frameless, wrap-around design that stays out of my peripheral vision, I often forget I’m wearing them. I also appreciate that the company is carbon neutral, a certified B corp, and gives one percent of its revenue to sustainably-focused non-profits. Bonus: they sponsor beloved ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter, too. 鈥擩onathan Beverly, senior editor

Bior茅 UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen 50 SPF ($18)

I spent most of my life not wearing sunscreen, and I’m now at the age where I regret it. My aversion was primarily due to the greasy or filmy feeling most sunscreens left on my skin. This offering by Japanese beauty brand Bior茅 is the first one I’ve tried that doesn’t leave that residue, and I鈥檓 finally wearing sunscreen regularly. It absorbs quickly, smells nice, and doesn’t leave a white cast. It’s not advertised as water- or sweatproof, but I wear it for hot summer mountain bike rides and warm spring skiing days, and it keeps me protected. I love it so much I’ve given it to other sunscreen-resistant friends. 鈥擥loria Liu, contributing writer

Hudski Doggler City Bike ($2,220)

Finding the just-right commuter bike has been hard for me. At first I rode a piece-of-shit road bike that was unreliable and sometimes left me stranded. After I became a gear reviewer at 国产吃瓜黑料, I started using high-end gravel bikes that were amazing, but also made me anxious because I never wanted to leave them locked up outdoors. So I was very happy to discover Hudski, a brand which has worked hard to design a smart city (you can also buy it in gravel or mountain configurations; the difference is mostly in the tire and wheel sizes). The frame is made from aluminum but to spice things up they鈥檝e included a carbon fork, high-quality tires, mid-range components, ultra-comfy handlebars, and a dropper post. The result is a not-too-heavy, plenty reliable, fairly cushy, and fun commuter bike that I left locked outside several times this month. Even better: if I were to slap some knobby tires on this bike (there’s plenty of clearance) it would immediately be a capable gravel bike that could handle forest roads all day long. And thanks to a ton of mounting points on the frame, I could sling it with bags and also use it for a milder bike packing trip. 鈥擩akob Schiller, contributing writer

Epiphany Outdoor Gear Pocket Bellows ($15)

Want to up your fire-building game? This featherweight, collapsible fire straw has been my best friend all winter long, making fire-building in my wood-burning stove 100 times easier and faster. Just extend the metal sections and blow. The straw laser-directs your breath into a mighty gust that gets even punky wood and tinder crackling in no time. I keep one near the stove and one in my car-camping kit. 鈥擪ristin Hostetter, head of sustainability

Ron鈥檚 Bikes Fabio鈥檚 Fanny ($170)

This exceedingly handsome bag lives on the front of my do-it-all rigid mountain-commuter-bikepacking bike and carries my essentials on every ride. The main body (12.5 by 8 x 4.5 inches) houses a repair kit with plenty of room for layers, snacks, and a camera. Two slim side pockets are large enough to hold wallets or cell phones. It secures tightly to the handlebars, thanks to two six-inch Voile straps and a drawcord cinch that wraps around the headtube. But my favorite features are its two transforming tricks. As you may have gathered from the name, it is also a fanny pack. There鈥檚 a wool sleeve at the back of the bag that houses a waist strap that you simply slide out when you need it. (That wool panel also pads your bike and your waist.) The second trick is that the top of the Fanny is expandable: when you have it in normal mode, the spare fabric folds into the body of the bag. When you need to carry a half dozen burritos on top of your normal gear, simply pull the fabric upwards, load it up, and fold the top flap over to one of three magnetic clasps to secure your cargo. And there鈥檚 no need to worry about it busting at the seams: it鈥檚 made by hand in Connecticut with burly, waterproof听 X50 X-Pac (500-denier Cordura) that is very light and durable. I鈥檝e been using this thing for nine months, and besides a little dust, there aren鈥檛 any signs of wear. It鈥檚 going to last for years and just look better as it ages. 鈥擶ill Taylor, gear director

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Trail Cap ($36)

This is my go-top hat for running, hiking, and traveling. It weighs just 1.7 ounces, features UPF-50 sun protection, and is made of a Bluesign-approved nylon-polyester blend that dries extremely quickly. I love the soft, crushable brim, which lets me stuff it in a pocket or a bag without worrying about it losing its shape. The top breathes well on hot days and is great for dipping in the water at a creek crossing for a quick cool down. I very often forget I have it on my head and that, in my mind, is what makes for a good cap. 鈥擶.T.

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