In a previous lifetime, my idea of a long-distance hike was a music festival. For four days, I鈥檇 parade across dusty fields or clotted city streets, traipsing from stage to stage in pursuit of the next show. Who knows how many miles I clocked in those peripatetic bursts, but at that extended moment鈥攁 music critic in his 20s, way more committed to partying than pulmonary fitness鈥攊t was the exercise I knew best.

Not long after I crossed the threshold into 30, though, that lifestyle caught up with me. Headed west on Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee, I sank onto the sidewalk and pulled off my boot, squeezing my left foot as though trying to force it back together. It was broken, I knew, a stress fracture from all these steps; why else would each step now feel like another new knife fight, as though someone were jamming a blade between my bones? I endured, switched into a pair of sneakers and limped around Tennessee until the festival鈥檚 end.

Back home, my symptoms suddenly subsided, appearing only sporadically during the next few years as I became obsessed with distance running. But in 2019, soon after I entered Maine some 2,000 miles into a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, that old ache returned. Was my foot broken, my hike done? Nope.

After staying up late one night in an AT lean-to for a tailspin into online medical sleuthing, I realized it was cuboid syndrome, when the pointy joint on the side of your foot shifts slightly out of line for a spell. With just enough bandwidth to stream a , I learned something called the cuboid squeeze and fixed it myself.

But now, I don鈥檛 even need that technique. After 11,000 miles of hiking and countless more miles of road running in almost every state in the country, I simply never leave home without a 1.5-ounce piece of sculpted silicone that鈥檚 changed my fitness and the way I travel: toe spacers.

Wait, What Are Toe Spacers鈥擜nd Why Are They So Popular?

Toe spacers are having an unexpected moment. There are, right now, some 38 million that mention them. has suggested they鈥檙e a panacea, and the notes they are 鈥渢ransforming people鈥檚 lives.鈥� Neurosurgeon and frequent TV medical commentator , Philadelphia Eagles star , body-positive model : They鈥檝e all become advocates for a fitness craze I never expected to work, in late 2019, when I was desperate for anything to help me run again.

After finishing the Appalachian Trail, my first long-distance hike, my body was a mess鈥攅very attempt to return to running felt like another litany of physical insults. I鈥檇 already gone to multiple physical therapists and yoga classes, trying to recover, when a young pedorthist building custom inserts for my shoes took one look at my feet and told me I needed toe spacers. Bunions were forming on the sides of my feet, and my little toes were starting to scrunch into claws, or hammer toes. I needed, he said, to spread my toes back out after years of stuffing them into running and hiking shoes that squeezed them together. He pulled a clear zippered pouch from the wall and asked me to try them鈥�, curved ribs of silicone with three holes through which your middle toes slide.

For the next several months, I wore them almost everywhere, tucked between the toe socks he鈥檇 also recommended and inside shoes with wide toe boxes, like Topos or Altras. I winced when I had to take my shoes off anywhere, knowing someone would inevitably exclaim 鈥淲hat are those?!鈥� when they saw my spacers. But in the best way, my feet have never been the same again.

Which Toe Spacers Should I Buy and Try?

As best as I can tell, Correct Toes鈥攄eveloped by a podiatrist and runner named Ray McClanahan, who I interviewed for 国产吃瓜黑料 in 2022鈥攁re the most expensive models on the market, at $65 per pair. They鈥檙e also the only ones I鈥檝e ever needed, because they haven鈥檛 warped or ripped after five years of sporadic use. (More on 鈥渟poradic鈥� in a bit.) I鈥檝e never once resented what I paid.

But there are more affordable options now: There鈥檚 a on Amazon, though some reviews there suggest you indeed pay for what you get. s version for the same price looks more rugged, and I am certainly entertained by the idea of black toe spacers to match my endurance-black toenails. Correct Toes occasionally slip out from between my digits, so I like the way the and The Foot Collective鈥檚 wrap around all five. (The inclusion of an exercise band is a welcome bonus, too.)

You can even try with built-in toe spacers from Happy Feet, though I am slightly suspect of the oversized spacers that look more like toe bracelets from for a reason I鈥檒l get into right now.

So, How Do I Use Toe Spacers?

At the start, slowly. Have you ever stretched a muscle for the first time in a while, maybe because you noticed a new stiffness in your body? It was uncomfortable, right? That鈥檚 how toe spacers will feel for a bit, as you begin the business of prying apart bones, tendons, and ligaments that have been stuck inside narrow shoes for most of your life. I started with 15 minutes a day and gradually increased until I was wearing them almost all of the time, taking care to remove them before I fell asleep. (There is some suggestion that they restrict blood flow, especially at night; my toes simply feel stiff when I wake up with them still on.) Yoga Toes aren鈥檛 appealing to me, because they鈥檙e too big to slip inside shoes.

These days, I don鈥檛 use them all the time. My feet feel better, because I鈥檝e changed my entire routine鈥攆oot socks always, Topo tennis shoes with wide toe boxes unless I鈥檓 鈥渄ressing up,鈥� and a regimen of toe exercises using resistance bands. But whether I鈥檓 hiking across the country or going to another music festival, I always have a single toe spacer in my bag, ready to slot between my toes if my cuboid slips its position, as it sometimes does, or my arches begin to ache as though they鈥檙e on fire. I rarely travel with two toe spacers these days, because both of my feet generally don鈥檛 hurt at the same anymore. I鈥檝e spent years learning how to manage them, after all.

During a recent 1,200-mile trek along Wisconsin鈥檚 Ice Age Trail, I would often end 30-mile days by wearing toe spacers in my tent, letting my toes stretch as I massaged my legs and made my dinner. I don鈥檛 think you need to use toe spacers for the rest of your life; I do think, however, they can be crucial for taking care of the body part that actually makes contact with the ground and supports the rest of the body in the process.

Do Toe Spacers Actually Work?

Toe spacers have reached such a critical mass of popularity that you can easily find opposing answers to this question, bandied about from the to . I鈥檓 not a doctor or a foot-health researcher, so I won鈥檛 pretend to tell you anything prescriptive or definitive.

But in the last five years, or since I started using toe spacers, I have logged close to 20,000 miles on my feet, whether hiking long trails, running on roads, or, yes, attending music festivals. I also turned 40. But I have rarely felt stronger as a hiker or a runner than I do right now, and I鈥檝e had no substantive problems with my feet in a long time. My knees are better, too, and knee pain was often linked with the foot woes I experienced.

Again, I鈥檝e never seen toe spacers as a cure-all; I massage my feet, strengthen them, stretch them. But when they ache, whether I鈥檓 on a long hike or a reporting trip in another city, a day with toe spacers is my first line of defense. It鈥檚 perhaps the best $65 I鈥檝e ever spent on a piece of fitness gear鈥攕o much so, in fact, that I bought a second pair in an alternate color so that I can mix and match them as I travel. Hey, I鈥檝e got to keep them looking surprising and ridiculous, since so many people now seem curious about what toe spacers are and if they can change how you feel, too.

Grayson Haver Currin is 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚 thru-hiking and trail columnist. He finished the Triple Crown in November 2023, ending with the Continental Divide Trail, and has written about his and others’ adventures on trails across the country since 2019鈥攊ncluding, most recently, how you’re hiking downhill wrong, as well as the woman who smashed the Appalachian Trail record, and ridiculously expensive hiking shorts that chafed him anyways. He still takes toe spacers to music festivals and on his adventures.

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When I started hunting nearly a decade ago,听I balked at the absurd expense of hunting apparel. I was a lifelong penny-pinching minimalist. Did I really need a $400 jacket, $250 pants, and socks that rang in at $28 a pair? It seemed like overkill (pun intended).

But, on one hunting trip in Montana in 2017, winds and snow blew at rates far exceeding 40 miles per hour. Thankfully, a full set of truly windbreaking Sitka gear kept me comfortable鈥擨 moved easily across the open mountain ridge, completely unaffected by the gusts. Beneath the burly outerwear, First Lite鈥檚 merino layers wicked sweat and kept me warm. My feet were toasty and dry in wool hunting socks, and they remained blister-free in my well-fitted boots for all six miles of the loop hike. Eventually, I took one shot on a legal mule deer buck that I later field-dressed and packed off the mountain alone. It was my first solo big game animal tag, and if it weren鈥檛 for my gear, I would have turned around long before I ever had the chance to spot it.

Much of the hunting apparel in my camouflaged closet continues to perform year after year. Its durability surpasses that of most casual outdoor brands I鈥檝e tried, and I find myself using my hunting gear for many unrelated outdoor activities. It鈥檚 certainly kept me comfortable enough to hunt in conditions I鈥檇 have avoided before becoming a hunter.

Over the past ten years, I鈥檝e cross-country skied, snowboarded, snowshoed, ridden my horses, hiked, backpacked, traveled, and bundled up chilly friends in my hunting apparel. Below are the hunting-specific pieces that I’ve relied on most. The other good news: Hunting brands are starting to wake up to the versatility of their gear, so you鈥檒l find that every piece below is offered in solid colors in addition to camouflage.

At a Glance

• Best base layers:
• Best rain gear: and
• Best pants for women:
• Best pants for men:
• Best socks:

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

Best Base Layers

First Lite Kiln Base Layers

I bought my first pair of Kiln baselayers eight years ago, and I still wear the same ones today. After hundreds of wears and washes, the wool continues to hold up. We even featured the most recent edition of the Kilns听in our 2025 winter gear guide, because they’ve held up so well over the years. This 250-gram base layer is both the perfect weight for fall and winter hiking and backpacking, but it’s also the best-fitting base-layer legging I鈥檝e found for women. The very high waist provides maximum coverage and keeps seams above pack hipbelts, and the wide band resists rolling down and sagging over the miles. The Kiln line comes in a crew, quarter-zip, hoody, and for men, as well as hoody and long-jane options for women.

Best Rain Gear

Sitka Gear Dew Point Jacket and Pants

I’ve tested dozens of other brands, but I’ve yet to find one I trust more than Sitka for wet weather.听That’s especially true for the Dew Point. This three-layer Goretex jacket is lightweight, packable, and supple enough to move quietly鈥攚hich means no crinkling or swishing when you’re sneaking up on wildlife for a photo-op or trying to avoid waking your partner in camp. The packability is also ideal for many scenarios, like backpacking long miles when you need gear that won’t take up too much space in your pack.听Pit zips allow for dumping heat, and it鈥檚 the most breathable rain gear I鈥檝e worn to date.

Best Women’s Pants

Ditale Sofia 国产吃瓜黑料 Pant 2.0

Ditale is a boutique brand that鈥檚 newer to the hunting apparel scene, but that under-the-radar status isn’t likely to last long. Last year, I wore the Sofia 国产吃瓜黑料 Pant for everything from hiking and hunting to cross-country skiing, and I fell hard for them. It鈥檚 the best physical fit I鈥檝e felt as a curvy athletic gal thanks to the wide range of sizing and smart features like the full running crotch gusset and articulated knee darts. Compared to other brands, the waist is both stretchier and higher-cut, but curved like a great pair of jeans. They’re actually flattering. This, to me, is the best all-around hiking pant for spring-to-fall temperatures, and the DWR makes it a great option for rain and wet flurries, as well.

Best 惭别苍鈥檚 Pants

Stone Glacier De Havilland Lite Pant

Stone Glacier specializes in gear for men only, and the guys I hunt with are all clamoring to get a pair of听the De Havilland Pants. Offered in both a Lite and ($189), these pants boast all the technical details you need for three-season hiking, backpacking, and adventure travel. DWR-treated fabric, side zips, roomy side pockets, and a patented contour waist system听mean these pants can take whatever you throw at them鈥攁nd stay in place without slipping or chafing. The modern cut and neutral colors mean that you can wear them to work听or a casual dinner, and then hit the hills for an evening hike.

Best Socks

Farm to Feet Ely Socks, Full Cushion

Like many four-season adventurers, I have an obsession with wool socks. My favorites are the Farm to Feet Ely hunting socks. I have to hide them from my mother because she tries to steal them anytime she comes within striking distance. The light cushion version beats out every boot or ski sock I鈥檝e ever used, and the full cushion version keeps me warm and comfortable over long miles during the cold season. Gentle compression in the foot prevents blisters, and my Elys are stepping into their fourth year of use without any holes or threadbare patches to speak of. For under $30, I recommend treating yourself.

The post Need Hardcore, Durable Outdoor Apparel? Don鈥檛 Sleep on Hunting Brands鈥�. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Fifteen years ago, ultralight hiking gear was truly edgy. Every cottage brand had a 12-ounce silnylon pack. Half-length pads and body mapped designs were a compromise between full-on misery and smart packing. (or better yet, ) instantly marked you as a hardcore ounce-cutter. Critically, these experimental kits allowed thru-hikers astonishingly low baseweights.

. Ultralight hiking gear is still at the bleeding edge of the industry, featuring fancy new fabrics, bold innovations, and plenty of carbon and titanium bling. For the most part, it鈥檚 more durable, easier to use, and more comfortable. But is it actually lighter?

Those silnylon packs, so popular in the early 2000s with brands like Gossamer Gear, Six Moon Designs, and Mountain Laurel Designs, have been wholly replaced by heavier, more durable fabrics like (though a few products like are keeping the tradition alive). Minimalist pads are a rarity these days, with Therm-a-Rest cutting production of its lightest inflatable pad, the Uberlite. (Dedicated tinkerers sometimes cut and resealed the 8.8-ounce pad to save further weight.) The brand鈥檚 NeoAir Xlite weighs 4 ounces more, but is far more durable and warm enough for fall backpacking. Ultralighters have spent decades slowly boiling water with , but the best 鈥渓ight-enough鈥� canister stoves now perform so well that methenamine cubes are little more than a sideshow.

Does that mean we鈥檝e moved beyond the uberlight experiment? I think so. The industry has shifted in a way that mirrors the average ultralight hiker鈥檚 own experience dialing in their kit. I know my own experiments with gear followed a similar path. When I first decided to 鈥済o ultralight,鈥� I focused on a 10-pound baseweight as an easy-to-track goal. Once I achieved that, I set my sights lower. Could I swap out a lighter sleeping bag? Yes, but some nights I would get too cold. A lighter pack? Sure, but it wasn鈥檛 as comfortable. A lighter pad? No鈥擨 slept terribly. After a few years of trial and error, I had cut weight in a few places and added it back in others, and ended up roughly where I started. For me, more experience didn鈥檛 mean a lighter kit, after all.

Writ large, we鈥檝e all cast our votes for what is worth going ultralight for, and it turns out many of us have the same preferences. For most of us, it鈥檚 not silnylon packs. It鈥檚 not sleeping pads with cutouts to save weight. It鈥檚 not rain gear that can unfold into a tarp.

With the ultralight industry more competitive than ever, it seems like fewer brands are willing to experiment out on the fringes. A likely culprit is the growing size of the average ultralight gear company. When you鈥檙e a one-person operation making gear for a handful of dedicated customers, taking chances isn鈥檛 that risky. But if you have a dozen people on the payroll and a well-honed production line, a product that doesn鈥檛 land is a serious misstep. A bigger customer base comes with less patience for gear that breaks鈥攁nd more warranty claims.

To be clear, this is largely a good thing. The fact is, today鈥檚 ultralight gear is so good that most attempts to reinvent the wheel are going to fail. But that also means that in a decade鈥檚 time, we might see an industry that鈥檚 mostly unchanged outside of newer, even more expensive fabrics and materials.

As a longtime ultralight gearhead, I鈥檒l be disappointed if that future comes to pass. I grew to love the ultralight community for its bold personalities who were more comfortable charting their own path than following trends, even if some of those paths were dead-ends.

Maybe it鈥檚 inevitable that there鈥檚 less room for wild ideas as the community matures. But if the door to technical innovation is closing, that could mean other doors are opening. Maybe the way for a modern ultralight company to take risks isn鈥檛 with featherweight fabrics, but with , an ambitious sustainability goal, or engaging the community in a new way. Personally, I trust that the cottage ultralight community is creative enough to figure it out.

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In the corner of my basement sits a dusty Rubbermaid bin crammed with a decade鈥檚 worth of outdated and obsolete electronics, otherwise known as e-waste. It鈥檚 a tangle of cords, cables, clickers, cameras, camcorders, components, as well as graveyard of outdoor gear. There are wonky headlamps and dead camping lanterns, an old avalanche beacon and outdated GPS, some walkie talkies, and a couple of digital pocket cameras.

You probably have a similar bin. We know in our guts that this stuff doesn鈥檛 belong in the landfillI so we hoard it because a) we don鈥檛 know what to do with it, and b) it was expensive and maybe we鈥檒l need that random cord someday.

E-waste has become an enormous problem for our planet. It’s the fastest growing waste stream in the world, even larger than plastic, yet only 12 percent of it currently gets recycled. This unfortunate fact has huge ramifications for the environment, and for people living near areas where the items get dumped, says Justin Stockdale, director of zero waste hauling at , a nonprofit recycling center in Boulder, Colorado.

鈥淗idden inside all the random cords and contraptions are valuable and finite resources like lithium, copper, gold, silver, lead, and palladium,鈥� Stockdale says. 鈥淲hen these materials are disposed of improperly鈥攚hich they often are, in disadvantaged communities鈥攊t can be a disaster for the soil and groundwater and the health of the people nearby, particularly children.鈥�

Because e-waste contains so much valuable material, a shady form of 鈥渞ecycling鈥� has emerged. Companies pose as recyclers, luring consumers to donate their electronics, which are then packaged and shipped to developing countries. Basel Action Network, a nonprofit that champions global environmental health and justice, calls it 鈥�,鈥� and explains why on its website.听鈥淎s a result of this massive, global flow of e-waste, former farming villages in countries like Vietnam, China, and Nigeria are now e-waste dumps. In these impoverished communities, recycling鈥� often means burning circuit boards, soaking microchips in acid, and burning plastics to sort them by order. In short, it means poisoning people and the planet.鈥�

The good news: proper recycling of any and all consumer electronics is free and simple, as long as you know where to take them.

Before You Recycle E-Waste, Ask Yourself This

Is there still life left in that item? Does it still work, just not as well as you鈥檇 like? Does it just need a minor repair? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, your goal should be to find someone who will keep using it until it鈥檚 end of life. You could donate it to a local charity, resell it, or for outdoor specific items, send it to 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚 program. Just print out a free shipping label and send it off to our repair partner, Gear Fix, which will make needed minor repairs and resell it. We donate 100 percent of the proceeds to charity.

E-Waste Recycling Near You

Some communities have excellent local options (like Eco-Cycle in Boulder). The key is to look for a recycler that鈥檚 This designation听ensures that the valuable materials, like gold, silver, copper, lithium, aluminum, and palladium, as well as toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium are extracted and put back into the marketplace.

Electronics Recyclers International (ERI) is the largest e-Stewards recycler in the U.S. The company processes 100,000 tons of e-waste each year.

Thanks to ERI鈥檚 partnership with two of America鈥檚 mega retailers, recycling our e-waste responsibly is as simple as a drive to the nearest or . Both chains accept virtually any consumer electronics at no cost. This collected e-waste gets shipped off to one of ERI鈥檚 eight facilities around the country, where the recycling process听begins.

鈥淥ur first step when we receive materials is to sort out the items that may contain private data and immediately destroy it,鈥� says John Shegerian, chairman and CEO of ERI. 鈥淎fter sanitization, items are sorted to determine if there is still a useful life for a device through repair or re-use methods. This amounts to 2.3 to 3 million devices per year that we鈥檙e able to put back into use.鈥�

For items that can鈥檛 be repurposed, ERI removes all batteries, which are recycled separately. 鈥淲e鈥檙e left with what we call the electronic carcass which includes all the plastic, metals, glass, and precious metals,鈥� says Shegerian.听 This material goes into a series of proprietary e-waste shredders (check out the video below), which turn it into what looks like coarse gray flakes flecked with colored bits, but is actually a valuable commodity.

Once shredded, the material flows into a complex sorting apparatus that uses robots, artificial intelligence, magnets, and ocular technology to divide it into various and specific reusable commodities, which then get sold to smelters and manufacturers who put them back into the circular economy.

鈥淣inety-eight percent of the material we receive gets repurposed,鈥� says Shegerian. 鈥淟ess than two percent is waste and is diverted to landfills.鈥�

How to Recycle Batteries

Never throw a battery in your trash or a single-stream recycle bin. 鈥淚t will eventually lead to groundwater contamination,鈥� Stockdale says.

Although Shegerian says that ERI they can handle any batteries鈥攕ingle-use alkaline or lithium鈥攖hat remain in any devices that make it to them, some retailers (like Staples, currently) ask that you remove them before recycling. So, what should you do with your used batteries? Call2Recycle is an e-Stewards certified battery recycler with more than . Alkaline and lithium are often different waste streams, so before you drop your batteries in a bin, check the signage to make sure you’ve got the right one.

The bottom line, says Shegerian, is that there鈥檚 no reason any electronics should go to the landfill. 鈥淓veryone in the country has access to a Staples or Best Buy. Get your e-waste there, and we鈥檒l take care of the rest.鈥�

Doing right by the planet can make you happier, healthier, and鈥攜es鈥攚ealthier. 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚 head of sustainability, Kristin Hostetter, explores small lifestyle tweaks that can make a big impact. Write to her at climateneutral-ish@outsideinc.com.

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Women are everywhere in the outdoor industry, but few occupy owners鈥� offices at outdoor companies. These six standouts in the surfing, cycling, camping, and hiking sectors buck the trend. All six brands bring fresh products and perspectives to the male-dominated market and demonstrate how gender parity enriches the industry for everyone who recreates outdoors. Shop at the below brands this

Wild Rye

Cassie Abel, co-founder and CEO

When her business partner left Wild Rye as a fledgling apparel brand to pursue personal interests, Abel assumed full ownership and squeezed the throttle on company growth and development. A brand that began with a couple of ski and mountain bike pieces expanded into a complete active lifestyle collection, spanning Youth size 8 to 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 size 24. 鈥淥ur goal is to bring women beautiful, technical, and well-fitting apparel pieces that inspire confidence and welcome more women into the outdoors,鈥� Abel said. Now a certified B-Corp, Wild Rye achieved Carbon Neutral certification and contributes financial support to various women鈥檚 initiatives, including giving $20,000 to Planned Parenthood after the Row vs. Wade reversal and sponsoring women-led ski films and Ladies AllRide cycling camps.

ToughCutie

Brittany Coleman, founder and CEO

鈥淚 hope to inspire more women and people of color to be confident in getting into 鈥榦utdoorsy things,鈥欌�� explains Coleman, who hatched the idea for her hiking sock company in 2019 and launched it in 2021. She envisioned a company that practiced inclusivity in ways she hadn鈥檛 seen as a business analyst for the apparel and hosiery sectors. So, working primarily with female designers and high-quality domestic yarns, ToughCutie launched Eve, a lightweight hiking sock in three heights. Now, the company is developing offerings for winter sports and runners. 鈥淭here are so many ways to get outside and we want to play a role in helping our community get there,” Coleman said.

Shredly

Ashley Rankin, founder and owner

When they hit the market in 2012, Rankin鈥檚 wildly patterned women鈥檚 mountain bike shorts enjoyed instant popularity because they raised the bar on fit and aesthetics. Here were bottoms designed by women for women, with bold graphics that helped riders feel emboldened, too. Now, Shredly produces a full line of mountain bike apparel (including a jumpsuit) for youth and women size 00 to 24. Along the way, Rankin learned that the bigger the challenge, the greater the gratification. 鈥淎s a female owner of a women鈥檚 specific outdoor company,鈥� she says, 鈥淚鈥檓 now able to appreciate 鈥榟e challenge and approach it as an opportunity.鈥�

Hotline Wetsuits

Brenda Scott Rogers, founder and owner

An elite surfer at a time when few women attempted the sport, Brenda Scott Rogers won the 1978 World Cup at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, then founded Hotline the following year. She began by importing surf booties from Japan, then expanded to producing wetsuits鈥攚hich Scott Rogers designed for women as well as men. After launching the market鈥檚 first women鈥檚-specific wetsuits, Hotline expanded into products for various other water sports, including kids鈥� gear.

Good-To-Go

Jennifer Scism, co-founder, head chef and CEO

As a professional chef who trained at The French Culinary Institute in Manhattan and defeated Mario Batali on The Food Network鈥檚 Iron Chef competition, Jennifer Scism sought the finest ingredients and used sophisticated cooking techniques to dazzle diners at the top-rated restaurant that she ran with her business partner, chef Anita Lo. Her backpacking meals continue that commitment to quality food: Good-To-Go uses real foods, often preserved using methods that Scism pioneers herself, to make yummy camp dinners and breakfasts (such as the brand-new Ranchero Scramble). Next up: Carrot-Ginger Power Bowl and other salads that don鈥檛 require boiling water and let hikers enjoy quick, veggie-laden lunches with virtually no prep. Scism credits her strength and success to female collaborators who challenged and nurtured her: 鈥淭here is no lack of strong women,鈥� said Scism, 鈥淎nd once you create that dynamic group around your shared mission, you each become stronger.鈥�

Carve Designs

Jennifer Hinton and Thayer Sylvester, co-founders

While on a surf trip in Mexico, Hinton and Sylvester lamented the lack of board shorts that fit their bodies and handled real-world rigors鈥攁nd the duo determined to change the scene. Since 2003, the pair has produced sustainably-made apparel for surfing and now, swim and beach lifestyle. Each item is still designed and tested by women, and they strive to support their employees by offering flexible schedules and financial backing for other initiatives, like SheJumps, Brown Girl Surf, and the Send It Foundation.

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For years, I鈥檝e been searching for the best water bottle for travel鈥搊ne that lets me avoid plastic and single-use materials at every leg of every journey. This elusive bottle of my dreams needs to be leakproof and insulated. It needs a wide-mouth for easy filling and cleaning, but it also needs to be easy to drink from without dousing my face.

It needs to be compatible with cup holders. And it needs to be versatile鈥搒ometimes I want water, sometimes I want coffee, and sometimes I want a cocktail or glass of wine on the plane. One thing I never, ever want: to drink from a single-use container that will end up in the landfill shortly after I empty it.

In order to achieve this听goal, I鈥檝e historically had to pack two containers: an insulated bottle for water and coffee and a cup for in-flight beverages.

But no longer. ($52, 1 pound, 5 ounces) is the bottle I鈥檝e been searching for.

Things I Love About the CamelBak MultiBev

It holds 22 ounces, making it the perfect size for me. Not too big to lug around, not so puny I need to refill every 20 minutes. The slim profile means I can slip it in the side pocket of my pack and every cup holder I鈥檝e encountered. According to my tests, it keeps tea hot for 12+ hours and water chilled for 48+.

Still, you might say, many bottles do these things.

The clincher for the MultiBev is that the bottom screws off and becomes an elegant 16-ounce cup鈥損erfect for a cocktail or glass of Merlot at 40,000 feet or ideal for a bedtime peppermint tea in my hotel room. Speaking of that peppermint tea, the cap of the MultiBev hides another neat feature: a foldable silicone sipper lid that fits neatly onto the cup for dribble-free drinking.

On a recent campervan trip in new Zealand, I discovered that the cup also doubles as a coozie for a beer can! I like a nice cold beer on occasion, and when I slip a can into the cup, it keeps it cool for a good long time, even in the hot sun.

I also like the little details: the easy-to-carry to handle, the non-slip rubber base, and the fact that the whole shebang is dishwasher safe.

The Impact of Using the CamelBak MultiBev on a 3-Day Trip

On a recent business trip from Boston to Boulder that involved air, bus, and Uber travel, I packed the MultiBev. I estimate that it allowed me to refuse about 34 single-use containers in 72 hours: six coffee cups and lids, probably 20+ plastic water bottles, and eight plastic airline cups.

Aside from travel, the MultiBev has become my daily bottle for around town as I try to avoid putting any single-use plastic to my lips. We all know plastic is everywhere these days. I鈥檝e written about some of the sneaky ways (like through laundry detergent and cutting boards) it gets into our environment and our bodies. Plastic is even .

But one thing鈥檚 for sure. From now on, I won鈥檛 be drinking it.

Doing right by the planet can make you happier, healthier, and鈥攜es鈥攚ealthier. 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚 Head of Sustainability, Kristin Hostetter, explores small lifestyle tweaks that can make a big impact. Write to her at climateneutral-ish@outsideinc.com.

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I can remember my first ski coat clearly: a purple anorak made by Columbia that I got when I was 11 years old. It was the coat that kept me dry and warm as I learned to ski and, in my mind, it became an essential force field for the chairlift. I wore the damn thing until it shredded. I can also easily recall my first pair of higher-end ski pants. They were made by The North Face and were with me all through high school until they completely fell apart.

However, if you asked me to tell you what base layers I wore as I grew up skiing, I鈥檇 laugh in your face. Base layers, while essential, are totally forgettable. Up until last year I had a bucket of random base layers that I picked through when I would go hunting, hiking, or skiing, but none of them left any kind of impression. I would just choose a merino top if I knew I was going to sweat a lot, and a thicker, synthetic layer if it was really cold.

Then last fall, I came across the from Stone Glacier. At first it seemed like just another base layer top with a hood. My opinion changed, however, when I was forced to live in the Chinook for four days straight after getting caught in a storm while hunting in New Mexico. It snowed hard for the first two days, so we ended up tent camping, hunting, hiking, and cooking outside in foot-deep snow. I wore the Chinook under a midlayer, a down jacket, and a waterproof snow jacket as we hiked into camp and then never took it off for the entire four days, not even when sleeping. Wearing the top for nearly 100 hours straight made me realize that the Chinook stood out strongly in an otherwise boring sea of base layer tops.

The Chinook isn鈥檛 just a standard merino shirt meant to insulate and vent sweat in cold conditions like the other base layers in my pile. Thanks to clever, well-thought-out tailoring and design features, it鈥檚 a versatile, comfortable, and now essential piece of my outdoor kit.

To start, other base-layer tops tend to be hemmed like t-shirts, so when you raise your arms the shirt comes over your belly. The short hem on these shirts also tends to get pushed up by hip straps, so you鈥檙e constantly pulling the shirt back down. Thanks to a longer cut on the Chinook, I never had either of these problems. I also loved how it stayed tucked into my ski pants while skiing so I never got snow down my waistband.

Because it鈥檚 designed as a hunting layer, Stone Glacier offset the shoulder seams lower than normal so that they won鈥檛 rub your shoulders raw while carrying a heavy pack. This matters to backpackers and backcountry skiers as well, even if they carry less weight in their packs, since they haul those packs for long distances.

Stone Glacier chose a 17.5 micron merino wool, which is thick enough to work as your only layer when you鈥檙e huffing in temps near freezing. But it鈥檚 also thin enough to dump all your sweat and vent the majority of your excess heat. I鈥檝e worn it as my only top layer when climbing up to a glassing point to look for animals and for dawn patrol at my local ski area.

Last month I wore the Chinook while climbing the 14,000-foot Handies Peak in Colorado, and it was the only top layer I needed for a full morning of hiking in temps ranging from 38 degrees up to above 50. Not having to stop to add or shed layers made the trip easier and significantly more enjoyable.

The Chinook isn鈥檛 the only base layer with a hood, but the hood is better than any other I鈥檝e ever tested. Cut to snugly hug your head and cover your mouth when the front zipper is up, the Chinook hood is like a built-in balaclava. I regularly wear it under a ball cap while hiking and skiing to keep the sun off my face but not risk freezing my ears. It fits well under a ski helmet as well, and the face covering comes in handy when the wind is whipping and I need that extra bit of protection. The hood is so useful, in fact, that I often leave my beanie and neck tube at home, which means less gear to manage while out adventuring.

Finally, even after several hundred hours of use, the Chinook shows no signs of wearing out. Stone Glacier mixed the merino with a small amount of reinforcing nylon so I鈥檝e been able to get it stuck on tree branches, grind it under backpack straps, and generally abuse the material without ever worrying that I was going to put holes in the fabric. I know the Chinook will eventually shred like my other gear, but when it does I鈥檓 sure I鈥檒l remember it as clearly as my trusty purple anorak鈥攁nd I鈥檒l run out to buy a new one.

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Winter hiking is not our favorite term, to be totally honest. It puts too much emphasis on the winter part, making it feel like you should be building snow caves or crossing a glacier to qualify. For many, however, winter hiking is simply a cold, possibly wet day hike on your usual trail, or an afternoon tromp through some snowy woods. The best winter hiking boots of 2024 work for all of those scenarios, keeping you dry, warm, and planted wherever your cold weather adventures may take you.

Winners at a Glance

• Best All-Around: Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4
• Best for Easy Day Hikes: Oboz Andesite II Mid
• Best for Technical Terrain: Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX
• Best for Bushwacking: Meindl Bergell MFS Hiker
• Best for Deep Snow: Columbia Expeditionist Shield

The Reviews: The Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2024

Best All-Around: Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4 ($260)

Pros: Great for longer miles in mixed terrain
Cons: The aesthetic isn鈥檛 for everyone
Sizes:听惭别苍鈥檚 7-15, 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 5-11

The Thermo Rogue 4 is the unicorn of winter hikers; these boots strike the often elusive balance between a great hiker and a solid winter boot. They won us over as hikers thanks to a tall lightweight ballistic mesh and Gore-Tex membrane that provided plenty of ankle support but also snugged to our feet like a sock, creating a comfy, blister-free fit right out of the box. Their hiking chops are boosted by meaty, Vibram Arctic Grip outsole soles with five millimeter, terraced lugs lined with tiny teeth that bite into packed snow on otherwise sloppy terrain. During snowy treks in zero-degree weather, the boots provided just the right amount of warmth thanks to 200 grams of Primaloft Gold Eco Series synthetic insulation and Solarcore Aerogel for the insole and over the toe. Category manager Jakob Schiller wore these boots on a late winter hike in New Mexico鈥檚 Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where he tramped through 12 miles of rocky trail and post-hole snow. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e hiking mixed terrain that has dirt and snow, nothing beats these boots,鈥� he said.

Bottom Line: Burly winter boot protection without the bulk

Best for Easy Day Hikes: Oboz Andesite II Mid Insulated B-Dry ($210)

Pros: Versatile, springy, comfortable
Cons: Not enough support for long hikes
Sizes: 惭别苍鈥檚 8-14

Our top pick for chill, short treks in winter, the Andesite II is an ultra-comfy daily hiker that will keep your feet happy in a variety of cold and wet conditions. Albuquerque, New Mexico-based tester Kip Malone loved the mid-high design and nubuck leather uppers, which created just enough support and protection for shorter hikes on dry, rocky terrain and enough structure to handle snowshoes and traction devices. A B-Dry waterproof/breathable membrane kept wet snow from seeping through, and 200 grams of recycled synthetic insulation was enough to keep the cold at bay without turning the boots into a hot box during strenuous uphill efforts. Malone praised the boot鈥檚 rebound, which comes primarily from a single-density EVA midsole that put 鈥渁 noticeable spring in every step on packed or hard surfaces.鈥� While there鈥檚 a TPU shank sandwiched in the sole for support, testers found that the boots were too flimsy to qualify as long-haul footwear or a solid backpacking choice. They fit well out of the box, however, and were roomy enough to allow for midweight winter socks without sizing up.

Bottom Line: A good all-arounder for weekend warriors.

Best for Technical Terrain: Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX Boot ($300)

Pros: Rock-friendly outsole, rock plate, crampon compatibility
Cons: Expensive
Sizes: 惭别苍鈥檚 7-13, 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 7-11

Vanlifer Max Halbach is a German native who grew up scrambling over exposed terrain in places like Austria鈥檚 Wilder Kaiser and Scotland鈥檚 Black Cuillin Ridge. That made him especially appreciative of the Ortles Light Mid PTX boot, which is designed as a fully-waterproof light hiker that can handle mixed technical terrain, including rock, snow, and ice. Its dexterity on steep rock is owed to a grippy Pomoca Alpine Light outsole that smeared and held fast on smooth rock, but also provided solid protection in chundery, loose rock. The uppers are made from a PFC-free, Cordura-like fabric that was tough as nails, helped keep the weight down (only 20 ounces for a men鈥檚 size 9) and, in combination with extra padding around the ankle, provided Halbach with a snug fit. Burley bonuses like a midsole rock plate to prevent bruising and crampon-compatible heel welt vault this lightweight boot into light mountaineering territory. 鈥淭hese boots are overkill for the average hiker, but if you want to get after it, look here,鈥� says Halbach.

Bottom Line: Perfect for steep, technical hikes on mixed terrain

Best for Bushwacking: Meindl Bergell MFS Hiker ($320)

Pros: Ultra durable, supportive
Cons: Heavy
Sizes: 惭别苍鈥檚 7-12

In some winter scenarios, it鈥檚 better to not have insulation in your boot. That鈥檚 because insulated hikers can overheat when you鈥檙e really huffing up a trail, leaving your feet clammy and cold. When category manager Jakob Schiller chased elk through the mountains of New Mexico and hiked in Jackson Hole, Wyoming this winter, he reached for the Bergell MFS鈥檚. With thick leather uppers lined with a Gore-Tex membrane and a fleece layer under the footbed, the boots kept all moisture at bay better than a typical insulated boot, and, when matched with a medium-thick wool sock, created plenty of warmth for cold days down to 10 degrees. The boots are heftier than others we tested, weighing in at three and a half pounds per pair, and took a minute to break in, owing to that thick leather build, but were also the most durable and reliable boots in test thanks to a meaty, multidirectional Vibram outsole and full rubber rand. 鈥淣o matter where I put my foot鈥攊nto a bog, on a rock in a scree field, on a grassy slope鈥擨 knew I would be safe. I wasn鈥檛 going to lose traction or roll my ankle,鈥� says Schiller. Bonus: because the boots aren鈥檛 lined, they can also pull double-duty as summer backpacking boots in mild conditions.

Bottom Line: A burly boot for heavy loads and tough terrain in milder climates

Best for Deep Snow: Columbia Expeditionist Shield ($140)

Pros: Fully waterproof, light for the level of insulation
Cons: Not built for long miles
Sizes: 惭别苍鈥檚 7 鈥� 15

If you smashed together a duck boot, a deep-winter boot, and a regular hiker, you鈥檇 get the Expeditionist Shield. Columbia鈥檚 arrow-shaped treads and outsole held tight to packed snow, felt solid on icy patches, and was just stiff enough to not leave tester Kip Malone鈥檚 feet fatigued on dirt trails. Thanks to an entirely rubber bottom section, Malone found these boots were ideal for stomping through sloppy wet snow without fear of seepage. (There鈥檚 a waterproof membrane lining the full boot as well.) The deep-winter chops come from 200 grams of synthetic insulation and a reflective liner, which, when matched with a wool sock, was warm enough for snowshoeing on bitter days when temps dipped well below freezing. Malone stood around in the snow without moving for 30 minutes and was pleasantly surprised to find that his feet were still plenty warm. The Expeditionist Shields aren鈥檛 quite insulated enough for ice fishing in Minnesota, but they鈥檙e far more nimble鈥攑erfect for hikes in the three to five mile range.

Bottom line: Armor for all but the coldest conditions and unavoidable slush

How to Buy

The first question to ask about buying Winter Hikers: Where and how will I use them? Do you live in Colorado and love to snowshoe, or are you down in Georgia and just in need of something waterproof and warmer than a normal boot? Will you be running and fast-packing in the boots, or carrying a heavy pack over rough terrain and sitting around a campfire? Narrowing down your use-case is absolutely necessary because winter hikers are more specific in their design than normal hikers鈥攜ou don鈥檛 want to get stuck with a boot that鈥檚 too warm, heavy, or stiff. To help you make the right choice, here are the factors you鈥檒l want to consider.

Insulation

In our testing, most synthetic insulations are similar in terms of warmth. Pay less attention to the type of insulation and more to the amount. Hikers that will keep you warm in the snow but not overheat your foot often come with about 200 grams of insulation. Boots with more insulation are often designed for inactive use (apres, ice fishing, etc.) and not for hiking.

Traction

Just like winter tires that are designed to perform on snow and ice, some winter hikers come with winter soles designed to do the same. Vibram鈥檚 Artic Grip outsole has a proprietary compound (they鈥檙e very tight-lipped) that makes a noticeable difference in terms of traction on wet ice. And the lugs on Merrell鈥檚 Thermo Rouge 4 have tiny teeth that bite into packed snow and kept us from falling on our faces.

Waterproofing

If you鈥檙e serious about winter hiking, your boot should have a waterproof membrane. We鈥檝e seen folks head out with leather boots treated with waterproofing spray or oil and they never perform as well as a tried-and-true Gore-Tex (or similar) membrane. We鈥檙e sticklers about moisture, because wet, cold feet will mean the end of your hike鈥攐r worse.

Fit

Like all boots, winter hikers will tear your feet to pieces if they don鈥檛 fit well. Even if you can鈥檛 try on your preferred boots at a local store, go ahead and order them, wear them around your house for a couple days, and make sure your foot isn鈥檛 screaming to get out. You鈥檒l want to pay attention to things like heel slippage (which causes blisters), toe space, overall width (do you feel better in a narrow boot or wider boot?), ankle support, and how easy they are to pull on and off.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 8
• Number of products tested: 13
• Coldest temp experienced: -5
• Highest elevation reached: 12,500 feet

To qualify for our test, this year鈥檚 winter hikers needed to have the basics: strong hiking chops with added warmth for colder conditions. But that鈥檚 just the beginning. We field-tested and analyzed waterproofing, traction, comfort, and stability鈥攆our critical factors in winter climates鈥攊n conjunction with the level of warmth retention a boot offered.

To put these boots through their paces, we set out to the coldest, snowiest places we could find, including Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Alta, Utah, both of which set annual records for snowfall in 2023. Testers ran the gamut from carefree van dwellers who were criss-crossing the country to winter athletes to moms and dads with just a few hours to burn off steam. During the test we clomped through fresh snow, tried our best to slip in icy parking lots, post-holed on late-winter hikes, and stood around in snowbanks to see how long it took for our feet to go numb. But most importantly, we put in miles. If a boot wasn鈥檛 comfortable, supportive, and reliable, it didn鈥檛 make our list.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Kip Malone is a grumpy old man. At least when it comes to footwear. At 58 he鈥檚 moved past 鈥済iving things a shot鈥� and straight to 鈥渋t better work.鈥� He doesn鈥檛 have time to deal with shoes that give him blisters, come with unnecessary features, or leave his feet cold when he鈥檚 out trying to get miles in on the trails around the Sandia Mountains outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In other words, he鈥檚 the perfect tester. Over the decade he鈥檚 been testing for 国产吃瓜黑料, Malone estimates he has worn 200-plus pairs of boots.

Jakob Schiller is a former gear editor at 国产吃瓜黑料 and now a columnist. He also lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but traveled the country this winter in search of all manner of snowy, icy conditions. He tested various boots in places including Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Rockies outside of Denver, Colorado, trails around Flagstaff, Arizona, and in the mountains near Taos, New Mexico. He鈥檚 not as grumpy as Malone, but does have four kids that help him to appreciate the little free time he does have.

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I made my first backpacking stove in my college girlfriend鈥檚 backyard with a hole punch and a can of Fancy Feast. After emptying the cat food in the trash (she didn鈥檛 have a cat, and I was a dirtbag but not like that) and removing the label, I marked two alternating lines of holes on the can and punched them out. We inaugurated the stove that night at a primitive campsite in , boiling up hot cocoa while we watched the city lights twinkle on one side of the hills and listened to the waves lap at the shore on the other.

Years later, I found that stove in a box in my closet while I was getting ready to move house. I spent a minute turning it over, thinking about the miles I had logged with it, in California and New Mexico and Colorado, the coffee brewed and the meals cooked under a clear desert sky. Then, I threw it in the recycling. I鈥檝e never bothered making another.

Alcohol-burning stoves used to be de rigueur for ultralighters, and making your own鈥攚hether out of a Coke or cat food can鈥攚as a rite of passage. While it鈥檚 not clear when hikers started making their own, lightweight alcohol-fueled stoves have been around for well over 100 years, with Swedish manufacturer Trangia beginning to build theirs in 1925. But now, they鈥檝e become a tool on the margins, mostly found in the packs of and die-hard old-schoolers. With tech making them obsolete and a warming and drying world making them hazardous, it鈥檚 time to bid a fond farewell to the alcohol stove.

Alcohol burners may have been easy to make, but they weren鈥檛 what you鈥檇 call easy to use. My design, the 鈥淪uper Cat,鈥� was probably the simplest: You poured in some alcohol, touched a match to it, and put your pot on top. But it took some getting used to. I singed a few arm hairs lighting mine up or adjusting the tinfoil windscreens I used with it, and the lack of simmer control meant it was pretty much only good for boiling water. (Some more complicated models let you adjust the flame, though not as easily as a canister or liquid-fuel burner.) If you put in more than the exact amount of fuel you needed, extinguishing the flame was tricky; I usually snuffed it out with my empty pot, being careful not to burn myself. Where the learning curve on most modern stoves is gentle, I melted a puffy and spilled burning fuel in a couple of fire rings before I got the hang of the cat food can.

Is it any wonder, then, that modern backpackers are mostly giving them up? Lightweight canister stoves like the come in at less than 2 ounces, sip fuel, and turn off with the twist of a valve; direct-from-manufacturer versions . It鈥檚 the same trend that ultralight gear as a whole has charted over the past few decades: Where going light used to mean sewing a quilt and tarp yourself, today there鈥檚 a laundry list of manufacturers big and small using modern materials to create more reliable, durable, and easy-to-use lightweight gear than most people could ever craft at home. What鈥檚 more, the most extreme ultralighters have largely cottoned on to the fact that no stove will ever be as light as, well, no stove, and have chosen to cold-soak instead of mess around with alcohol burners.

Then there are the fire restrictions. As climate change drives temperatures higher and causes wildfires to burn faster, hotter, and , forests and even entire states are commonly spending months under fire bans. While those bans usually allow camping stoves, they consider alcohol stoves to be open flames and generally prohibit their use. Even if you still prefer your Coke can stove to your Pocket Rocket, you need to either find a backup or potentially give up on being able to eat cooked food in the backcountry during the summer and fall.

Alcohol stoves aren鈥檛 completely extinct. Some companies like and are still turning out commercial versions of my old Fancy Feast stove, and there鈥檚 something to be said for having a lightweight device that can burn anything when you鈥檙e flying somewhere camping fuel is hard to find. But for most backpackers, especially in North America, carrying one is like making a tarp out of Tyvek: something that you do because you want to prove you can or because you鈥檙e too stubborn to change. If you鈥檙e still rocking your old spirit burner, I salute you, and please check for fire bans before you light up. If you鈥檙e not? Don鈥檛 bother.

Counterpoint: Long Live the Alcohol Stove

Not so fast. I won鈥檛 be giving up my alcohol stove any time soon. I鈥檓 quite fond of it. It鈥檚 a that weighs 10 ounces and includes the burner, pot, windscreen, and plastic, lidded, insulated container that doubles as a bowl and cup. True, there are faster, easier cookers out there. But sometimes that鈥檚 not the point.

Sometimes I want to lean against a log and listen to the wind in the leaves instead of a roaring canister stove on high. Sometimes I want to wait patiently and gratefully for my water to bubble (about 8 minutes is all), especially when a delicious meal will follow. ( is my absolute favorite.) Sometimes I don鈥檛 want to lug around multiple fuel canisters and figure out how to recycle them after my trip. Sometimes I just want to go old school鈥搒imple, ultralight, and uncomplicated. And when I do, I鈥檒l keep going back to my trusty alcohol stove. 鈥擪ristin Hostetter, Head of Sustainability and Contributing Editor

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