As a 25-year resident of Colorado (and someone whose passion for getting outside started in the mid-Atlantic region in the 70’s and 80’s), there are few activities that have not been woven into my life. Be it rock and ice climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, backcountry skiing, fly fishing, camping, etc…there is not enough time in the day (or in the year for that matter) to tackle all that our hearts desire. And speaking of hearts, I had a rather gigantic health scare last year when some routine exams following a yearly physical revealed potentially deadly blockages building up in my arteries that left untreated, likely would have killed me. In April of 2022, at the age of 48, I had a quadruple bypass surgery and set my sights on bouncing back into a life of adventure ASAP. A good buddy of mine proposed the idea of a surgery-versary trip…looking out one year from the surgery and marking the occasion and comeback with a trip.
Winter is officially here, and it's got us daydreaming about hitting the slopes. Whether you're a skier or snowboarder, keep reading for gear hacks that'll help you shred smarter.
I’ve been a personal fitness trainer for many years and have coached hundreds of people of all different levels along the way. I know it can be hard just getting through your workout sometimes. Storing and organizing your gear doesn’t have to make it harder. This summer, I had the good fortune to be introduced to a few Nite Ize products that have changed the way I store my gear and pack my gym bag. If you need some slick ways to clear out the clutter and level up your gym bag, read on friend.
May is National Bike Month – a chance to observe the many benefits of cycling, and to get more people rolling on two wheels. Biking is not only good for your health, it also has positive environmental impacts by reducing carbon emissions. Whether you’re a bike newbie or a seasoned cyclist, everyone needs a way to carry their phone when hitting the roads or the trails. A bike bar mount for your phone is a great way to have easy access to your device in case you need to pull over and snap some photos, keep your screen in view for GPS, or have it close-at-hand in case of emergency. With several options to choose from, we’re going to break down which phone mount might be the right fit for you, based on the type of ride you’re going to be doing.
Like many Americans who live in temperate climates, when winter hits, it hits me hard. Year after year, when the clocks fall back, I lose a little pep in my step. The lack of sunny days and abundance of cold, dark days take hold of my mood, leaving me with little energy or excitement for the weeks ahead.
As professional adventure racers and race directors my husband Jason and I love big endurance training trips. But as new parents of Max (4) and Revel (1.5) it has been a fascination to look for ways to incorporate more adventure, play and training into our family life. One of our most favorite ways to check all of these boxes is to go on family bike-packing trips. When we had just one kid, it was much easier to go on backpacking trips (one person carried the kid, the other the camping gear), but once we added little brother Revel to the mix, we quickly turned to looking for other alternatives that allowed for us to manage even more gear and weight.
We just got back from our fourth bike packing trip through Central Oregon and it was amazing. We took 4 days (3 nights) to do 120 miles, most of it on dirt roads with lots of play stops along the way. Every night we ended at a different lake or river to ensure easy water access and lots of water, dirt and sand play (a kid’s dream). On average, we rode hard for about 2-3 hours before our first stop and tried to do a second push in the early to late afternoon after the kids had worn themselves out. A few days into the trip, we hit a small town, which proved to be a fun stop for the kids and enabled us to carry less weight in food and water knowing that we could refill during the trip.
Summer is here and we’re more excited about it than ever. Considering how limiting our summer activities were last year, we’re looking to make up for lost time and make the most out of each and every long day this season. Here are 10 ways you can celebrate summer to the max, plus a piece of gear for each activity that will make the experience easier and/or more fun.
With the weather now warming up, it’s that time of year to break out your bike and get back in the saddle. May is Bike Safety Month and the optimal time to make sure you’re hitting the roads and trails safely. Read on to see our tips to help get you ready for the cycling season.
Let’s face the grim reality: we’re all hopelessly reliant on our smartphones. Whether we’re having GPS guide our way to our next destination or taking ‘gram-worthy photos on a hike, it’s likely that wherever we go, our phones go with us. While we’ll spare you the sociological examination of our society’s relationship with our devices, we will give you a breakdown of our favorite mobile accessories to help simplify your life and keep you connected around the house, on the road, and beyond.
Spring has sprung and the smell of summer barbeques is so close we can almost taste them. Meanwhile, thoughts of springtime adventures stir in our minds. Whether your spirit of adventure leads you to explore new local parks or faraway destinations, we have a few tips and tricks for adventuring safer and smarter with your smartphone. For better or worse, smartphones and technology have generally changed the way we explore and experience the world around us. Rather than packing up maps, a camera, a video camera, a GPS, and relying on the kindness of strangers to lend directions, we bring along one trusty, compact smartphone. So, here are a few ways we recommend keeping your device protected and accessible on your next adventure, as well as a few ways your phone can keep you safe and enhance the experience.
