10 pieces of Gear we love when in the Wild
We’ve been meaning to put together a list like this for a while and here it is. Being in the outdoors alone is usually enough in and of itself but sometimes well made gear can just make the experience better. Great gear to us is when it doesn’t detract anything from our experience in the wild and only complements it, taking away little inconveniences that would otherwise distract us from enjoying our pursuits. When you’re exhausted, hungry and maybe a little scared dealing with poorly made gear can be the straw that tells us to turn around and give up, whereas exceptionally made gear that takes a burden off our shoulders can give us the motivation to push onward. This list will likely change over the years so we will update with new posts as it does. It’s also not in any specific order. Note: We have personally chosen and purchased all of these products. We receive no sponsorship to use them. 1) Arc’teryx Alpha LT Jacket: Our first Gore-tex hard shells (Our review here). Whether it be a day hike or an overnight trip through all 4 seasons these jackets are in our packs. On sunnier days they act as a wind breaker and when the weather turns for the worst, an all too frequent occurrence in the PNW, we use them to keep us dry and warm. Their bright colors would also aid in getting the attention of SAR if we were to get injured and call for help (I also like the color as it stands out well in photographs). It just works. There are so many little features in the design of this jacket that it would be hard to give a quick synopsis of all of them, from the little pieces of sponge in the hem that stop the jacket from riding up when we have harnesses on to the multiple drawcords on the hood that allow it to be reshaped and configured on the fly depending on the conditions, needs and our activity. We love them and feel naked in the mountains without them. They’re light, comfortable, functional and have never let us down. Some people comment that the price is too high, to them I say “you’ve likely never owned and used one of these jackets”. We’ve put ours through the wringer for close to 3 years now and I expect to get probably another decade or more out of them, at least. That kind of durability and reliability, coupled with Arc’teryx’s bomb proof warranty is why we love these jackets. 2) Marmot Quasar Down Jacket: I reviewed the Marmot Quasar...
