Tag Page outdoorgear

#outdoorgear
NebulaNymph

Sweating it out: my battle with Mid-Atlantic heat and Lyme paranoia

Moving from the gentle breezes of the West Coast to the sticky, suffocating heat of the Mid-Atlantic was a shock I never saw coming. I always thought I was tough, but nothing prepared me for the feeling of my shirt clinging to my back before 9 a.m. The locals smirked as I fumbled with my wardrobe, sweating through my old cotton tees and cursing every bug bite. I needed a solution—fast. I started hunting for shirts that could survive both the trail and the office. The so-called 'fishing shirts' from big brands like Columbia and ExOfficio promised breathability and sun protection, but after a week, I realized they were just overpriced plastic bags. The sweat pooled, the fabric stuck, and the smell—don’t get me started. Desperate, I tried a lesser-known brand recommended by a crusty old hiker at a local outfitter. He swore by RailRiders, claiming their shirts could survive a hurricane and still look good for a Zoom call. He wasn’t wrong. The fabric felt cool, dried in minutes, and actually looked sharp. But the price? Let’s just say I had to skip a few dinners out to justify it. Then came the tick paranoia. Everyone here seems to know someone who’s been wrecked by Lyme disease. The pharmacist gave me a look of pity when I asked about permethrin for my socks and underwear. She muttered something about 'city folks and their chemicals.' But after pulling a tick off my calf, I didn’t care. I doused everything I owned in permethrin, even though my neighbor warned me it would 'rot my skin.' Now, every morning, I suit up like I’m heading into battle—long sleeves, treated socks, and a wary eye on every blade of grass. The scenery is stunning: mist rising off the rivers, forests so green they hurt your eyes. But the beauty is always edged with danger. I love it, I hate it, and I can’t stop talking about it. If you think you’re ready for the Mid-Atlantic, think again. This place will chew you up and spit you out—unless you’re willing to fight back. #MidAtlanticLife #TravelConfessions #LymeDisease #OutdoorGear #CultureShock #Travel

Sweating it out: my battle with Mid-Atlantic heat and Lyme paranoiaSweating it out: my battle with Mid-Atlantic heat and Lyme paranoia
TwilightTiger

Hidden ring, exposed secrets

Last summer, I set out on a mountain trail with a secret burning in my pocket—literally. I was planning to propose to my girlfriend, but the so-called 'women’s hiking pants' I bought were a joke. The pockets were so tiny, I could barely fit a lip balm, let alone a ring box. I tried stuffing the box in, but it stuck out like a sore thumb. Desperate, I went to three outdoor stores. Every time, the salespeople tried to convince me that 'women don’t need big pockets.' One even laughed and said, 'Just give it to your boyfriend to carry!' The double standard was infuriating. Men’s cargo pants had pockets deep enough to hide a water bottle, while women’s pants were all about 'slimming silhouettes.' I ended up buying a pair of men’s cargo shorts, rolling up the legs, and hoping she wouldn’t notice. The proposal was beautiful, but the experience left a bitter taste. Why are outdoor brands still stuck in the past? Why do they think women don’t need functional gear? It’s time for the industry to wake up and realize that women hike, propose, and need real pockets too. #HikingProblems #OutdoorGear #ProposalStory #GenderBias #RealTalk #Travel

Hidden ring, exposed secrets
EclipseElephant

Ultralight Backpacking & Camping Gear

This time we went on another two-day, one-night heavy-load hike. We chose a route that avoided the crowds, and along the way the terrain was incredibly diverse: Wide open ridgelines Steep stone steps through pine forests Occasional stream crossings Dense fields of reeds We even ended up hiking a short stretch in the dark before finally setting up camp on a mountaintop — and spent a truly “memorable” night there. ⛺️✨ As for gear, I’ve been gradually upgrading bit by bit. The lowest temperature on the mountain this time was around 0–5 °C, so I switched to my winter setup. With three bottles of water and food included, my pack came to 9.6 kg total. At this weight, my new pack performed really well — the carbon fiber frame distributed the load nicely, and it felt surprisingly light without putting pressure on my back. After setting up camp, I layered up with down + AD + Evolve + OCTA, and despite being lightweight, it kept me warm against the cold night. Here’s the full gear list: 🎒 Backpack Backpack – Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50L ⛺️ Shelter System 2. Tent – Zpacks Duplex 3. Freestanding poles – Zpacks 4. Groundsheet – Zpacks 5. Stakes – Springwavee 6. Chair – Helinox Chair Ground 7. Seat pad – Pitz 💤 Sleep System 8. Sleeping bag – Nanga 450SPDX 9. Sleeping pad – Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm 10. Pillow – Sea to Summit 11. Travel eye mask – MUJI 💡 Lighting & Electronics 12. Lantern – Zanearts 13. Headlamp – Claymore 14. Lamp pole – Shuworks 15. Camera – Ricoh GR3 16. Earphones – AirPods Pro 17. Power bank – Anker MagGo 18. Watch charger – W&P 19. Air pump – Flextail 20. Thermo-hygrometer – RMG 🍴 Cooking System 21. Titanium pot – Snow Peak 22. Stove – Snow Peak 23. Spork – Snow Peak 24. Chopsticks – Snow Peak 25. Knife – Opinel No.8 26. Flask – Snow Peak 27. Water filter – Katadyn 👕 Clothing 28. Rain jacket – Yamatomichi UL All-weather Jacket 29. Down jacket – Arc’teryx Cerium 30. Fleece – Lanqi Evolve 31. Pants – Lanqi OCTA 32. Camp tights – Yamatomichi Light Alpha Tights 33. Gloves – Snowline 34. Sweatband – Lululemon 35. Patella strap – Bauerfeind 36. First aid kit 🦯 Others 37. Trekking poles – Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork #Hiking #Outdoors #OutdoorLife #OutdoorGear

Ultralight Backpacking & Camping Gear