I was on my fourth and final lap around the track during the mile run for my fifth-grade Presidential Fitness Test when it happened. My stomach gurgled, I stopped abruptly, and I bent over and heaved. I’d already embarrassed myself by lasting for all of five seconds of the flexed arm hang (the girls’ alternative to the boys’ pull-up test鈥攄on’t get me started). As I stood there, puking into the grass while my classmates zoomed by me, I cursed the biannual听ritual of torture.

Launched in 1958, during the Dwight D. Eisenhower presidency, the was a response to a study that suggested that American kids were 53 percent less fit than their European peers. To combat this discrepancy, Eisenhower signed an executive order to launch an advisory committee called the President’s Council on Youth Fitness to motivate Americans to lead healthy lives. The Council unveiled the standard Presidential Fitness Test, which originally included a standing long jump and a softball throw, along with some of the more familiar components: pull-ups, a shuttle run, and a longer run. It continued to evolve well into my childhood until it was officially dropped in 2012 when President Barack Obama replaced it with the more holistic FitnessGram.

But on July 31, 2025, the White House issued a that announced the return of the Presidential Fitness Test. “President Trump is addressing the widespread epidemic of declining health and physical fitness with a time-tested approach celebrating the exceptionalism of America鈥檚 sports and fitness traditions,” the release read.

While it’s not yet clear what kinds of events will appear in Trump’s version, I, for one, am still recovering from the trauma of those days in gym class. But what if the test were made up of activities we actually enjoy? I asked my colleagues what might appear in the 国产吃瓜黑料 Fitness Test.

The Poop in the Backcountry Assessment

With the miles under your belt and a Mountain House freeze-dried meal听rumbling in your tummy, your ability to poop in the backcountry solidifies your survival skills. There are many different routes you can take while going on this grand adventure: , , or the . However you’re taking care of business, just make sure you’re adhering to the region’s听rules and etiquette by either digging your six-inch-deep hole or packing out your poop.

鈥擳eaghan Skulszki, social media editor, Backpacker and Climbing

The Fix a Flat with an Audience Test

No bike ride with friends or family is complete without the requisite unplanned stop to fix a flat tire. And there鈥檚 no test of physical skill and emotional strength quite like having to repair a puncture听while your friends and family watch. You are guaranteed to drop your tools, dirty your bike clothes, or suffer a minor injury as you fumble with the quick-release axle and brakes. You will have to calm your bubbling anger when onlookers critique your methods and offer vague and unhelpful advice. You are also likely to pinch your spare tube while using a lever to wedge the tire back into the wheel rim. If you are able to听complete听the repair in under 20 minutes听and avoid chucking a water bottle at one of your friends, you have passed the test.

鈥擣rederick Dreier, articles editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

The Post-Race Flight of Stairs Evaluation

You gave it your all, and you’ve got the engraved medal around your neck to prove it鈥攁long with the post-race soreness that sneakily stiffens your quads and hammies the next day. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, seems simple on the surface: descend a single flight of stairs. But as you tentatively bend your knee, grasping the railing for dear life and wondering if it’s better to just tuck and roll, you just may start to wonder if that free banana was worth it after all.

鈥擪risten Geil, gear and affiliate director, 国产吃瓜黑料

The Ski Season Readiness Drill

It鈥檚 the first day of ski season. Technically, the 12th, but it hasn鈥檛 snowed and you鈥檝e been busy. You鈥檝e got two hours to meet friends for some bluebird groomers, but first: the gauntlet. Can you find all your gear? Base layers? Check. They鈥檙e still in the camping tub from summer. Your coat? Still has Aperol Spritz stains from closing day, but it鈥檚 accounted for. Bibs? Right where you left them, pocket bacon still intact. But now panic sets in: one glove is MIA, your goggles have vanished, and your favorite buff is nowhere to be found. The clock is ticking. Will you make it to the lift on time, or will you be felled by your own gear closet? This is the true test of ski season fitness.

鈥擪atie Cruickshank VP, partner solutions + client service

The Golden Marshmallow Benchmark

Everyone knows the perfect s鈥檓ore can only exist with an evenly roasted marshmallow at its center. This is no easy feat! You need to rotate your ‘mallow consistently enough to toast every side, keeping it close enough to the fire to turn its center to goo鈥攂ut avoiding making it so gooey that it slides off your stick and into the dirt. And if your marshmallow goes up in flames? Consider that a failed test.

鈥擜bigail Wise, brand director, 国产吃瓜黑料

The Alpine Start

On a day of their choosing, and with no advance notice, your P.E. teacher comes to your house and wakes you up at 3 A.M.听Once you open your eyes, the timer starts. Throw on seasonally appropriate clothes, gather the ten essentials and add them to your pack, pound a caffeinated beverage of your choice (shotgunning is acceptable) and get out the door to stop the timer. Manage it in less than 15 minutes for a bronze, less than ten for a silver, and less than five听for a gold. If your gym teacher shows up and finds a note on your pillow that says 鈥淪orry I missed you! Got up early to go hiking,鈥� you are now legally part of the President鈥檚 Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition for the rest of their term, whether they like it or not.

鈥擜dam Roy, editor-in-chief, Backpacker

The Rope Coil Challenge

Luckily, there鈥檚 no wrong way to coil a rope, except that there totally is. While multiple methods exist, PE instructors across the nation must now test their students in performing a backpack coil of a 60-meter听rope, then running one mile with the rope loaded upon their backs. The beauty of the Rope Coil Test鈥攚hen enhanced with the run component鈥攊s that it鈥檚 truly a full body exercise. With the potential to engage the muscles used in pull-ups, push-ups, and the sit-and-reach, coiling a rope is truly a vigorous activity demanding the fitness level of a president. After the test, disillusioned students can uncoil the rope and rappel into another country.

鈥擬aya Silver, editor-in-chief, Climbing

The Tree Talking Check

Lots of people have been talking to trees lately; we have , the “Tree Whisperer,” to thank for that. Her videos of her speaking lovingly to her tree, in which its leaves and branches seemingly to her voice in her backyard, have gone viral, and other outdoor lovers have hopped on the bandwagon. To pass this test, you must: 1) Choose a tree, preferably one that looks friendly. 2) Assign the tree a name. If the branches stem wildly from the trunk, you might call her Medusa, for example. 3) Next, come up with five compliments (e.g., I’m grateful that you provide me with shade from the blazing sun.) and speak them aloud to the tree. (If you notice people staring at you and get distracted or embarrassed, you’ll fail and have to start the test over. You’re bonding with nature here, not worrying about what other people think about you!) 4) See if the tree responds to you and write down what you feel as you build a relationship with your tree.*** 5) Take a selfie next to your tree. (***FYI: If the tree doesn’t respond to you, that’s ten points off your overall grade. May the trees be ever in your favor.)

鈥擜yana Underwood, senior editor,听国产吃瓜黑料

The Hot Yoga Sweat Test

Complete your favorite flow in steamy temps. Here’s the catch: you must Avoid touching any other sticky classmate or slipping on the sweaty floor during class. Bonus points if you can make it home without dripping all over your car and keep your grip on your phone despite your sweaty hands.

鈥擳aylor Blair, social media manager,听国产吃瓜黑料

The Bear Bag Simulation

The stakes are high for this, which entails tossing your food bag over a branch. Nail it on the first throw and you鈥檒l feel like a gold medal winner. But failing this test is more than embarrassing. Not only could you lose your food (bad for you and the bear), you could injure a campmate with a poorly aimed toss. You don鈥檛 need a Cy Young arm to hang a bear bag, but you鈥檒l want to avoid a few common mistakes. Choose an appropriate branch鈥攊t just needs to be out of reach of a bear, not out of your range. You don鈥檛 want to explain how you got a throwing injury on a backpacking trip. Make sure the rock is tied securely to your line (didn鈥檛 know there鈥檇 be a knot test, too?) and don鈥檛 wait until after dark. Actually, go ahead and wait until after dark. This is a Presidential Fitness test, make it real.

鈥擠ennis Lewon, director of custom content

…Or the Bear Bag Avoidance Screening

Everyone loves a group backpacking trip鈥�hiking with your friends, playing trail games, setting up camp, swimming in alpine lakes, cozying up for sleep with your book and headlamp. But everyone hates to be the one who has to hang the bear bag. This challenge is all about finding the perfect excuse at the perfect moment鈥攔ight after dinner, just as the sun goes down. Hear someone mention putting food away? Boom: time to pee. See people drifting toward their tents? You鈥檙e already in yours, zipped up and “asleep.” You do not want to be the poor soul left fiddling with a rope, a rock, and a stinky bag in the dark woods. You want to be cozy, cared for, and dreaming of adventures of tomorrow.

鈥擜llie Noland, social media strategist, 国产吃瓜黑料

The post The Presidential Fitness Test Is Back. Here’s Our Outdoor-Inspired Version. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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It鈥檚 6 A.M., and I鈥檓 looking over a small canyon with my baby strapped to my chest and my two labs darting zoomies around my legs. In the distance, I can make out Black Rock Mesa and the snow-capped Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and I haven鈥檛 seen another person on the trail all morning. We鈥檝e got four miles left to hike, and then I鈥檒l be back at my home office in time to log on to work for the day.

This is the beauty of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM): in the Southwest, where I live, it鈥檚 the land in between鈥攖he vast patches of beautiful nothingness that make up many of our backyards. One-tenth of land in the U.S.鈥� acres to be exact鈥攊s managed by the BLM, making it one of the most accessible places to recreate.

It鈥檚 also one of the freest. Unlike other public land agencies that are riddled with rules and regulations for outdoor recreationists, on BLM land, pretty much anything goes. Dogs can run off-leash, dispersed camping is allowed for two weeks at a time in most areas, and even ATVers and off-roaders are tolerated. Extreme sports like BASE-jumping, climbing, and highlining are accepted鈥攁nd celebrated in BLM meccas, like Moab, Utah.

Have you ever heard of Burning Man? The Moab Easter Jeep Safari? Creeksgiving? Many of the desert meet-ups, festivals, and wilderness rallies that form the axis of outdoor culture are pretty much only possible on BLM land, where the horizon seems to stretch on forever and you can truly forget that the rest of the world exists. And while entry to Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion National Parks will set you back $35, recreation on most BLM land costs a few bucks or nothing at all.

From the natural arches of California鈥檚 Alabama Hills to the glittering hot springs of Soldier Meadows in Nevada, BLM manages some of the most scenic recreation hubs in the country. For those of us who seek solitude in the outdoors, BLM is our first choice. If you think the outdoors are getting crowded, you just haven鈥檛 been to BLM land recently. While hordes of visitors flock to many of our most sought-after national parks, BLM receives notably less traffic. Last year, a record people visited national parks, but only went to BLM.

So while some sighed with relief on Wednesday, when Utah Senator Mike Lee鈥檚 revised plan to sell public lands excluded the Forest Service and limited BLM land sales to , my hackles remained up. Under the revised proposal, 1.2 million acres of our precious land remain at risk. The bill also maps out that only land within five miles of 鈥減opulation centers鈥� will be for sale.

Remote spots like Indian Creek and Burning Man鈥檚 Black Rock Desert might be safe, but that doesn鈥檛 mean the new plan isn鈥檛 without huge loss. Those parcels near population centers are the most accessible areas to recreate. They鈥檙e where many of us hike, bike, and run our favorite backyard trails. But most importantly, selling off any of this precious land sets a bad precedent and opens up the haunting question of what might be next.

The post Op-Ed: BLM Is the Best Public Land, and If We Sell It Off, I’ll Scream appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I take gift-giving very seriously. Every year, I spend weeks strategizing the perfect present for friends and family. Each gift has to be unique and something they probably wouldn鈥檛 buy themselves but still something they鈥檒l use religiously.

Between skiers, runners, and gym rats, I鈥檝e got a lot of outdoor athletes on my list. Here鈥檚 what I鈥檓 buying for their stocking stuffers this year.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

For the Gym Rat

Smokin’ Buds True Wireless Earbuds ($25)

As anyone with dogs or toddlers knows, earbuds often disappear, and you can never have too many. With a 20-hour battery lifespan, different audio modes for various types of sound, and built-in microphones, Smokin鈥� Buds are good for blasting a favorite playlist at the gym鈥攁nd taking calls, listening to podcasts, and watching movies in day-to-day life. Plus, they鈥檙e water-resistant and ready to handle a good sweat from a tough training day at the gym.

For the Runner

Amazon Basics High-Density Foam Roller ($8)

国产吃瓜黑料 editors test a lot of gear, and after nearly a decade of working for this publication, my home鈥檚 closets are littered with fancy foam rollers. But my favorite of the bunch doesn鈥檛 have varying foam densities or fancy pressure points; it鈥檚 a simple, smooth, black cylinder that gets the job done without unnecessary bells and whistles. The roller I鈥檝e been obsessed with for the past five years has since been discontinued, but I found a comparable and equally affordable option in Amazon鈥檚 collection that I鈥檓 gifting to a couple of the runners in my life this year.

For the Skier

Patagonia Gear Patch Kit ($19)

Who needs a new hardshell when you can repair the one you鈥檝e already loved for years? Patagonia鈥檚 Worn Wear Patch Kit comes with four sticky patches that adhere to all kinds of outdoor fabrics, from nylon and vinyl to rubber and plastic. The kit is perfect for any skier to mend a jacket on the fly but can also be used to patch up tents, sleeping bags, and all kinds of apparel.

For the Yogi

Hugger Mugger Yoga Wipes

Nothing throws off a practice faster than a stinky mat. Give the gift of freshness this holiday season with Hugger Mugger鈥檚 yoga mat wipes. Add water to the compact pods and they expand into towelettes. They’re made with bamboo and scented with lavender essential oils. Bonus: They can also be used to clean your face or feet.

For the Hiker

Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks ($25)

I鈥檝e always been a sucker for Darn Tough鈥檚 bold color schemes and Goldilocks thickness: bulky enough to feel substantial but thin enough to fit into any pair of shoes or boots. I鈥檝e even been known to throw them on beneath road running shoes for chilly winter jogs. A blend of 61-percent merino wool, 36-percent nylon, and 3-percent Lycra spandex make the Hiker Micro. Like every Darn Tough sock, if these don鈥檛 turn out to be the longest-lasting pair of socks your giftee has ever worn, they can ship them to the company and receive a in return.

The post Affordable Stocking Stuffers for the Fitness Enthusiast on Your List appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Sasha DiGiulian is busy. When she鈥檚 not training at the gym, traveling around the world to climb, or walking her good boy, Moose, near her home in Boulder, Colorado, she鈥檚 working as the CEO of , her plant-based nutrition bar company that she co-founded in 2022.

Because of her packed schedule, DiGiulian, a three-time U.S. National champion with more than 30 first female ascents under her belt, looks for convenience in the products she uses. Think: creams that moisturize and protect her skin听from the sun at the same time or face wipes that hydrate and clean.

Even her company鈥檚 bars fall into this category. DiGiulian wanted a convenient food to grab on the go that also fulfilled her health needs.

鈥淪end Bars are how I get my greens and fuel when I鈥檓 at the crag, biking, or hiking,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here is so much health washing on the market, and I just want clean, real food with no refined sugars, preservatives, or unnatural flavorings鈥攖hat tastes really good.鈥� It doesn鈥檛 hurt that she can throw one in a bag on the way to the airport, either.

国产吃瓜黑料 of her tried-and-true bars, here are the products this busy climber swears by.

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes

Ursa Major’s 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic is made with superfood-sounding ingredients, like radish root ferment, rosemary, and willow bark extract. It also features witch hazel, green tea, and aloe vera, to name a few, for a formula meant to clean, exfoliate, soothe, and hydrate. These individually-wrapped wipes are easy to toss in a pocket or bag for a quick way to freshen up on any adventure. “I like to keep these bamboo face wipes in my pack to clean and hydrate my skin after a sweaty and dirty day out climbing,” says DiGiulian.

They’re sold in packs of 5, 20, or 40 wipes.

Sun Bum Lip Balm

DiGiulian relies on this 30 SPF lip balm to protect her lips from wind and sun when she’s getting after it outside. The product features eight percent zinc oxide for sun protection and shea butter and vitamin E, which, she says, soothe and repair her lips.

Suntegrity 5-in-1 Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer

The climber applies this tinted sunscreen moisturizer before spending any time outdoors or even just running errands. It’s made to protect skin听from the sun with 30 SPF, as well as hydrate and add a hint of color as it goes on. With ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber extract, and sunflower seed oil, it’s also free of fragrance, cruelty-free, and vegan. “I鈥檓 big on sunscreen, and I find that this is also a nice tinted one to smooth out blemishes and bring a little color to my face,” she says.

Love from Yours Sunny Side Up SPF 30 Mist

DiGiulian uses this mist as a way to re-up her sunscreen on big outings. “Normally, my days are pretty long outside,” she says. “So I like keeping a mist like this with me to maintain the protection.”

She also loves that it doesn’t go on oily or shiny and can be applied over her makeup without feeling caked on or like it’s clogging her pores. Plus, it鈥檚 cruelty-free.

Olive and June Nail Polish

Just because she covers her hands in climbing chalk for a living doesn’t mean DiGiulian doesn’t like a good manicure. She uses Olive and June’s tab press-ons when she’s going from the crag to dinner, she says. She appreciates that the tab variety doesn’t require glue, which saves her from the strong scent鈥攏ot to mention everyone else听around her when she’s applying them on a plane or in a car.

“They go on and pop off so easily that they鈥檙e perfect for post-adventure meetups where you want fun nails,” says DiGiulian.

The post Sasha DiGiulian鈥檚 Self-Care Essentials appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) World Series Finals kick off on August 26 and run through September 1. is made up of three races: the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc Orsi猫res-Champex-Chamonix (50K), the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix (100K), and the classic UTMB (100M), across France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Sure, crowds come for the world-class athletes and spectacular views of the Alps, but, some might argue, another big draw is the food鈥攁nd even the race participants get a taste on the course. Much of the fuel at aid stations are sourced from nearby communities, who bring their best. Think: locally made croissants, bread, cheese, and prosciutto.

But for those of us who haven鈥檛 had the pleasure of running by tents filled with freshly baked French baguettes on our long runs, here鈥檚 the weird, the specific, and the sometimes gross on how we fuel our adventures.

The Food 国产吃瓜黑料 Editors Eat for Ultramarathons

Birthday Cake

On a 13-hour, nearly 10,000-vertical foot ridge scramble/romp through the high peaks in New Mexico a few years ago, I fueled with the food of the gods: birthday cake in a bag. I had somehow scammed my way into having three cakes at my birthday dinner a few nights prior and figured the calorie-to-weight ratio of buttercream frosting couldn鈥檛 be far off from Gu. So I cut a generous piece of birthday cake, put it in a Ziploc, and stashed it in my pack. By the time I went to eat it, it had lost all structure and I could easily squeeze it directly into my mouth from a hole I cut in the bottom corner of the bag.

鈥擜bigail Barronian, senior editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Raisin Scones

The last time I ran 100 miles, it was a self-supported multi-day journey through the English countryside. The bad news: no aid stations. The good news: pubs and cafes at far greater frequency. I was able to refill my vest with raisin scones and coffee every ten miles. By itself, a scone is pretty dry. But combined with a mouthful of coffee (or even water), it becomes an easy-to-digest, carby snack that鈥檚 just the right amount of sweet. Plus, it鈥檚 perfectly sized to fit in a chest pocket.

鈥擟orey Buhay, interim managing editor,听Backpacker

Real Food

I have been blessed with a rock-solid stomach and have never had gastrointestinal issues during any run or race. That gives me the freedom to consume just about anything, but I notably veer away from energy gels and opt for real food鈥攅ither the breakfast burritos or ramen noodles available at aid stations or听peanut butter tortilla wraps (sometimes with Nutella) and Pay Day candy bars (because they don鈥檛 melt and have a good blend of calories, carbs, fat and protein). I have also been known to drink pickle juice straight from the jar听for the sodium content. I love the taste!

鈥擝rian Metzler, editor-in-chief, RUN

Trader Joe鈥檚 Many Things Snack Mix

I鈥檓 all about having a variety of guilty pleasure snacks on hand during an ultra! My favorite is a specific mix from Trader Joe鈥檚 called Many Things Snack Mix, with honey-roasted peanuts, sweet and spicy Chex-like cereal squares, pretzel sticks, and bread chips. It鈥檚 basically Chex mix. I put it in a Ziploc bag and relish being able to eat it without guilt during my run (because when I eat it at home, it鈥檚 never really fulfilling any kind of nutritional need and I always eat too much of it!).

I鈥檒l also pack a Ziploc bag with gummy bears, and then another one with half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Peanuts and peanut butter go down easy for me while also providing a bit of a 鈥渟tick to your ribs鈥� satiety, while the gummy bears have a fun texture and come with a sugar rush. A听PB&J sandwich kind of combines both sides of that, and then the Chex mix鈥攁s long as it has some spicy pieces鈥攚akes up my taste buds.

鈥擲vati Narula, contributing editor,听国产吃瓜黑料

PB&J

My go-to is a good old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It鈥檚 simple, reliable, easy on my belly (maybe I’m just used to it), and gives me the perfect balance of carbs and protein鈥攑lus, all the nostalgia of my childhood days. I love it so much.

鈥擬ary Mckeon, director of audience development, 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc.

Spam Musubi

My go-to rolls are the perfect combination of salty and sweet and are packed with carbs and protein. Plus, as a runner who鈥檚 prone to an upset stomach after the ten-mile point, they鈥檙e bland enough that they tend to stay put when other snacks come right back up. Best of all: Spam musubi鈥檚 a hand-held roll that travels well and is just as tasty at room temperature after a couple of hours in my pack.

鈥擜bigail Wise, contributing editor,听国产吃瓜黑料

Good Vibes

I prefer to subsist on basically nothing but good vibes and enthusiasm for about three or four hours before inevitably crashing and burning due to a lack of fueling.

鈥擬att Skenazy, features editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

The post The Incredibly Specific, Occasionally Gross Food We Eat to Fuel Our Ultras appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

As I jogged up an arroyo at high noon on a local trail near my home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I felt the sun beating down on my head and shoulders. I glanced at my phone鈥檚 weather app, which informed me that it was 78 degrees Fahrenheit, but the 鈥渞eal feel鈥� was 87 degrees. My shirt was drenched in sweat, and my fingers had started to swell. I reached for the last sip of water from my running vest as I hit mile three.

In my late twenties and early thirties, I听ran ultramarathons, and sports drinks filled with electrolytes were part of my training kit. Powders to dump into my water sat alongside my collection of GUs and energy bars. However, I haven鈥檛 run an ultra in years, and my electrolyte stash has dwindled in tandem with my average weekly mileage. These days, when I head out for a run, I grab my phone, a hat, and a water bottle, depending on how long I plan to be out.

I squeezed the last drops from my water bottle and checked the map鈥攋ust one mile to go. As my shoes pounded the sandy trail, I began to wonder if I was hydrated enough for my quick lunch run. I鈥檇 definitely underestimated how hot 78 degrees would feel. Should I be supplementing my water with electrolytes while exercising in the Southwest鈥檚 summer heat?

The answer, it turns out, is slightly complicated.

Do I Need More Electrolytes When I Exercise in Hot Temperatures?

Electrolytes are essential minerals, like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, that give off an electrical charge. They鈥檙e key for helping cells in your nervous system, heart, and muscles function normally, and they play a role in regulating the amount of fluids in your body.

But not everyone needs extra electrolytes just because of high temperatures, says Hayden Hess, an听assistant professor at the University of Buffalo鈥檚 Center for Research and Education in Special Environments.

Whether you need additional electrolytes depends on how much you鈥檙e sweating and the sodium concentration in your sweat. The short answer, says Hess, is that the intensity of your sport, activity, or workout鈥攁nd your environment鈥攁re the two most important factors in determining whether you need to down extra electrolytes. 鈥淗igher intensity physical exercise and a hotter or humid environment will require more fluid and potentially electrolyte replacement,鈥� he says.

Can I Get Enough Electrolytes from Natural Foods, or Should I Use Drinks or Supplements?

The average electrolyte replacement supplement ranges from 150 to 1,000 milligrams of sodium, which, Hess says, is usually sufficient when paired with 16 ounces of water. But still, he points out, the average person probably doesn鈥檛 need it. 鈥淢ost people in the U.S. exceed the sodium recommendations of 3,500 milligrams per day,鈥� he says.

Our tendency to consume too much sodium is primarily due to the high salt content of . Because most people are already getting enough salt, and sometimes too much, there鈥檚 usually no need to add more through special drinks and supplements. The exceptions, says Hess, are when someone is working out for a long time鈥攖hink longer than two hours鈥攁nd doing so in an especially hot or humid place. Or they might be what Hess calls a salty sweater鈥攕omeone with a high concentration of sodium in their sweat. (You might qualify as a salty sweater if your sweat burns your eyes or tastes very salty, or if you have salt on your skin and clothes after your sweat dries.)

For either of these exceptions, working a regular electrolyte drink or supplement into your exercise hydration probably makes sense. Suppose you鈥檙e looking for more precise information about your own sweat and electrolyte loss during workouts. In that case,听Hess suggests using an听 that provides runners and cyclists with听an estimate of their sweat rate and sweat volume.

When I plugged in the data for my recent four-mile desert trail run, the calculator听told me that I was most likely dehydrated if no fluid was consumed during my workout. But听because I was running for less than two hours, I knew it was OK that I鈥檇 left my听Propel powder at home.

Abigail Wise used to run ultras, but now aims most of her mileage at exercising her four good dogs or pushing a stroller on shorter trails near her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.听

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In my twenties, chips, gummy bears, and the cheesiest burritos I could make once fueled all of my runs, climbs, and camping trips. Now well into my mid-thirties and trying to set a better example for my growing toddler, I鈥檝e spent the last two years rewriting my usual travel menu. I鈥檝e largely replaced Skittles with real fruit and beer with La Croix. Flaming Hot Cheetos no longer claim permanent residency in my glove box. These days, as I stock up on snacks at the grocery store, my cart overflows with berries and carrot sticks.

But I can鈥檛 seem to kick my chip habit. After all, what鈥檚 a camping trip without a good bag of chips? On a recent snack run, I scanned the rows of Lays and Doritos, and quickly walked by the impostors鈥攃auliflower crackers and freeze-dried broccoli don鈥檛 count鈥攗ntil my eyes fell on the row of SunChips.

Nostalgia washed over me as I reached for a red bag of the Garden Salsa flavor. Growing up in the nineties, SunChips were the snack. I distinctly remember opening my childhood best friend鈥檚 pantry with envy and grabbing the always-present bag of French Onion SunChips.

SunChips鈥� Appeal to Health-Conscious Outdoorsy Types

In retrospect, I鈥檓 not sure I totally understand the hype. Sure, they鈥檙e totally delicious鈥攎outhwateringly salty, with a slightly sweet aftertaste. Each flavor brings something a little different, from the gentle bite of Garden Salsa to Ranch that bursts with tang. And there鈥檚 something about the way they crunch: hearty, like you鈥檙e biting into a snack of substance. But there are a lot of other good chips out there. SunChip鈥檚 secret to success was, of course, that millennials like me grew up assuming they were better for you than regular chips.

During its 1991 debut, SunChips leaned into the healthy branding: 鈥渕ultigrain snacks鈥� appeared in big letters on the bag, next to a bright sun and a stalk of wheat. A few years later, the company added 鈥�30% less fat than regular potato chips,鈥� pandering to nineties diet听culture. Today, SunChips鈥� packaging still screams, in huge font, 鈥�100% Whole Grain.鈥�

Back then, with flavors like Harvest Cheddar and Garden Salsa, who were we to argue? In the early days, SunChips weren鈥檛 only highlighting ingredients and fat percentages; they were specifically targeting outdoorsy types. One ad from the nineties pans over a desert scene as a couple munches on SunChips on top of a camping trailer, enjoying the sunset.

SunChips鈥� intentional alignment with the outdoorsy, sporty crowd created an aura of health around the snack, so鈥攔egardless of whether the claims were totally true鈥攖he brand leaned in more. There were puns about sunblock and sunscreen in many of its commercials. Then, in 2008, SunChips appeared on shelves in what the brand claimed was the world鈥檚 first compostable bag.

But planet-friendly packaging and camping commercials don鈥檛 equate to health food. Consumers actually pushed back against the 鈥溾�� SunChips bags, and the brand quietly returned to its less eco-friendly, but quieter bags two years after that particular marketing push fell flat.

Are SunChips Healthy?

Health has been front and center in SunChips鈥� marketing campaigns over the last 33 years, and they at least had me convinced for a few decades that the chips were a healthier option than other brands. But lately, as I overhauled my family鈥檚 summertime shopping list, I started to wonder whether I鈥檇 been duped.

The answer, according to registered dietitian nutritionist , is complicated. SunChips really are made with whole grains, which are key for sufficient intake of fiber and nutrients, like B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. Neglecting whole grains in your diet could increase the risk of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer, due to missing out on the protective antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties found in these foods.

That said, SunChips still have salt and fat鈥�110 milligrams and 6 grams per serving of the original flavor, respectively. Sodium and fat are key parts of a healthy diet, but Manaker says you should听eat them in moderation.

鈥淚deally, people are getting their whole-grain fix from ancient grains, whole-grain bread, and other similar foods that do not contain large quantities of added salt and fat,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut since most Americans are missing the mark, these can be a healthier choice than a deep-fried potato chip.鈥�

When I compared the nutritional facts of SunChips鈥� Garden Salsa (my personal favorite) with Kettle鈥檚 Air-Fried Himalayan Salt chips and my guilty pleasure, Flaming Hot Cheetos, I was surprised to see that Kettle was the overall healthiest. Cheetos carried 11 grams of fat, compared to SunChips鈥� and Kettles鈥� 6 grams, and both SunChips and Cheetos had some saturated fat鈥攁t 0.5 grams and 1.5 grams, respectively鈥攃ompared to Kettle鈥檚 zero. Kettle has a whopping 370 milligrams of potassium and 2 grams of protein; the others have neither. When it comes to sodium, Cheetos come with 210 milligrams per serving, SunChips have 140 milligrams, and Kettle听chips have听135 milligrams. And finally, for all of its marketing around whole grains, SunChips has 2 grams of fiber, which is a bit more than Kettle鈥檚 1 gram and Cheetos鈥� less than a gram.

Numbers aside, for me鈥攕omeone who strives to make fresh produce and simple whole grains the main part of my diet鈥擨 don鈥檛 see any harm in grabbing a bag of SunChips on my next trip to the store. I鈥檓 also trying to unlearn the 鈥済ood-food, bad-food鈥� language that most millennials grew up with. I want my two-year-old to eat food because he鈥檚 hungry and it makes him feel good, instead of slapping labels on his meals and snacks. So if the two of us听want to munch on some chips of the Garden Salsa variety from the comfort of our camp chairs, that鈥檚 exactly what we鈥檙e going to do on our next trip.

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As a working mother of an eight-month-old, I鈥檓 in a near constant state of sleep deprivation. I stumble through workdays in a haze. More than once, I鈥檝e arrived at the office and realized that I鈥檇 left my laptop at home, 20 miles away. I yawn in meetings and only keep up with my to-do list by the grace of a $10-a-day coffee habit.

So when my editor assigned me a story that required sleeping every day at work, I felt a surge of gratitude. For a period of three weeks, I鈥檇 lie down for 30 minutes each afternoon. I鈥檇 track my productivity, mood, and energy level to gauge whether a daily siesta made me better at my job鈥攁nd happier overall.

Research shows that napping can boost memory and improve mood. But I soon discovered that dozing off at the office is considerably harder than it sounds. On the first day, I got so wrapped up in meetings that I forgot about it entirely. The next day didn鈥檛 go much better: I unrolled my yoga mat on my office floor and shut the door. But instead of drifting off, I lay there obsessing about what I had to accomplish before the end of the day. 鈥淚 have been up with the baby since 4 A.M.,鈥� read the post-nap recap, 鈥渂ut I kept listing all the things I still had to do. Did not sleep for one minute.鈥�

It went like that for two weeks, until finally I enlisted the help of Kelly Murray, a sleep consultant who works with both adults and babies. We quickly determined my problem: I was trying too hard! The more I forced it, she said, the less success I鈥檇 have. She urged me to dial back the pressure. If a nap felt unattainable, I鈥檇 practice breathing exercises, which can bring about a meditative state of deep rest. According to Murray, deep rest quiets the mind and offers benefits similar to sleep, like reducing stress and promoting learning.

Murray also suggested some changes to my napping environment. Ideally, I would hole up somewhere other than my workstation. The lights should be low, and maybe some calming lavender oil would help. I also needed to cut back on caffeine.

Next I called Valerie Cacho, a behavioral sleep physician, who explained that winding down is a process. 鈥淎t the gym, you don鈥檛 go straight to the heaviest weights. You jog or warm up,鈥� she said. She suggested a little pre-nap journaling to free myself of my busy thoughts.

Armed with these strategies, I dived back into the experiment. I worked from home, which allowed me to take naps in bed. It was easier to drink less coffee when I was the one who had to make it, rather than a barista at the caf茅 near the office, and that helped me scale back on caffeine. Every day around noon, I dimmed the lights, jotted down the afternoon鈥檚 tasks to clear my head, and once or twice even applied some lavender lotion. Then I focused on my breath, counting my inhales and exhales. And something truly magical happened: I drifted off into a light sleep.

Did I step back to my desk happier and refreshed? I did. Was I more productive? That, too. But the truth is, I missed my coffee habit more than I reveled in these gains. The morning after the experiment ended, I headed straight to the caf茅.

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Many people in my home state of Minnesota spend weekends at their cabins 鈥渦p North.鈥� It鈥檚 not a practice reserved just for the wealthy either, as these basic structures are usually passed down through generations so that middle class families often own a rustic second home, too. Many of these properties feature homemade saunas, for cutting the chill year round.

In elementary school, my best friend鈥檚 family shared one that we鈥檇 visit multiple times each year. We鈥檇 drive up in humid summer months and spend evenings in the property’s rickety, old sauna before taking a dip in the lake, just a few feet down a grassy hill, dodging mosquitoes all the way. We鈥檇 splash into the cool, murky water, climb out, and stop to stare at the stars from the dock before heading back to the sauna to do it all over again. We slogged up north in frigid months, too, bathing in the sauna long after the main cabin鈥檚 water had been shut off for the winter to prevent bursting pipes.

So for me, saunas are a nostalgic representation of some of my happiest childhood memories. When I found out that , a small canvas tent company based in western Wisconsin, was releasing a portable sauna tent last fall, I had to try it.

国产吃瓜黑料 columnist Wes Siler raves about the perks of winter camping in one of Snowtrekker鈥檚 stove-heated canvas tents, which has a lot in common with the design of the Sauna Tent. They鈥檙e both heated by small wood-burning stoves that are light enough to easily throw into the back of your truck (depending on the stove size you opt for, they weigh between 17 and 25 pounds). And the camping and sauna tents are made from woven seven-ounce cotton treated with the water-repellent Sunforger to ward off mildew and rain. The key is that, unlike your nylon backpacking or car camping tent, the fabric still breathes well and won鈥檛 melt with a roaring stove three inches away from its wall.

When the shipment first arrived at my front door, a heap of stakes, poles, and unions, assembly seemed intimidating. But after glancing at the included instructions, we realized everything was color-coded, and it came together in about 20 minutes, fully ready to fire up. It鈥檚 easy to use, too: build a fire in the stove, adjust the front and back stove vents for airflow, zip up the canvas, and you鈥檙e ready to go. I added a bunch of rocks to the top of the stove, which I pour water onto when I want a wet sauna. If things get too hot too fast, you can always open one of the built-in vents or crack the door.

Three months later, it鈥檚 still sitting in my backyard where my husband and I use it a few times a week.

“When we moved to northern Wisconsin in the early nineties, we were introduced to sauna and fell in love with it,” says Jonah Lottig, operations manager at the family owned and operated business. “As a tent manufacturer, it felt natural to develop a quality portable sauna that was not limited to a single setting and still provided a true sauna experience.”

Here’s the catch: Snowtrekker鈥檚 Sauna Tent isn鈥檛 cheap. The canvas retails at $4,200. Plus, it’s $300 for the frame (or DIY following included instructions for closer to $100) and $560 for the stove. But it鈥檚 a lot easier than building your own, and its retro style looks so good, you won’t mind having it set up permanently in your backyard. The canvas is incredibly high quality and traps heat nicely. It鈥檚 also portable; my husband and I plan to take it on a camping trip this winter. The tent itself is too small to camp in while the fire’s roaring, so we’ll need to bring another one to sleep in. But I can鈥檛 think of a cozier way to warm up before crawling into your sleeping bag.

Nights in northern New Mexico, where I live now, have been consistently in the twenties, sometimes dipping into the teens. Last night, eager to warm up after a particularly chilly day, my husband and I lit up the Snowtrekker stove. We opened both the front and back vents to rev up the fire, and within 15 minutes, our little canvas bubble was piping hot. I grabbed the pitcher of water we now keep in the sauna tent, and slowly poured it over the rocks on top of the stove. They sizzled and a mist of steam rose up. As the pine bench we sat on drank in the humidity, the smell of wet wood filled the tent, bringing me back to the sauna of my childhood. The only thing missing? A lake in our backyard to take a cold plunge in after.

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