When temperatures drop, wind picks up, and rain chases most people back to the house, there are still lots of great adventures to be had outdoors. Whether you’re chasing fall foliage or getting in some late-season backpacking, you’re going to need different gear than what you used all summer.

Sea to Summit has built a well-deserved reputation for quality in the outdoor space. Its products can be pricey, but I consider them worthwhile investments. This season’s gear drop is no exception. Ward off bad weather, stretch out in your tent, and get snuggly with a must-have camping comforter.

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Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bags

If you have a pack full of soggy clothes, you might as well have no clothes. The same goes for wet electronics. A simple dry bag can mean the difference between a fun camping trip and a stressful, cold hike back to the trailhead.

Sea to Summit lightweight dry bags are perfect for keeping your gear dry in your pack, no matter how hard it rains. The 70D nylon comes with a DWR finish to keep moisture out and weight to a minimum. Use them to keep your gear organized and separate clean clothes from dirty clothes. They’re available in 1.5-, 3-, 5-, 8-, 13-, 20-, and 35-liter sizes. Five colors are available, so you can remember what’s what when you need to grab something out of your pack.

Larger dry bags make great pack liners. I use the 35-liter lightweight dry bag to waterproof a 35-liter pack when I expect bad weather. Smaller sizes are my go-to for sensitive camera gear and power banks during photo shoots in the wild. I’ve used these bags in the rain and soaked them with a garden hose, and they’ve never let me down.

Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bags

Lightweight dry bags are great at protecting your gear from water, but they aren’t built to resist punctures and tears. For hardcore toughness, you’ll want Sea to Summit Big River dry bags. 

The rugged Big River line benefits from 420D waterproof fabric with a TPU film, a triple-layer base, double-stitched and taped seams, and exterior mounting points. I use one for my sleeping bag and strap it to my pack to free up space inside. Bags come in 5-, 8-, 13-, 20-, 35-, and 65-liter sizes and four colors. 

Comparing Big River and lightweight dry bags side-by-side shows the huge difference between the two. Big River bags weigh a little more, but the added durability means you can strap them to the outside of your kayak, bicycle, or vehicle and trust that your gear will stay clean and dry. These are a fantastic upgrade for anyone who needs to haul lots of equipment across gnarly terrain with confidence.

Sea to Summit Tanami Camping Comforter

Outdoor-friendly blankets like the Sea to Summit Tanami camping comforter are one of the most underrated pieces of gear out there. They’re more versatile than a sleeping bag, more cozy than a jacket, and worth every penny.

Unlike normal down comforters, the Tanami uses 30D nylon on the outside to hold up to frequent use around the campsite, including getting trampled by four-legged friends. The inside uses soft-touch 20D nylon. It’s light and packs down to a portable size (preferably in a lightweight dry bag), with baffles to keep the 750-fill down from clumping. If you want to use it instead of a sleeping bag in warm weather, there’s a drawcord to keep it secure on your sleeping pad.

The Tanami is one piece of gear I find myself reaching for all the time. I use it around the fire pit and in the house, and I’ll definitely make it part of my camping kit next summer when it’s too hot for a sleeping bag. I tested the 50-degree blanket, but there’s a 35-degree version that would be excellent in colder weather or to keep in the car as an emergency blanket.

Sea to Summit Ikos TR3 Three-Person Tent

Sea to Summit recently expanded on the Alto family of ultralight tents, and the brand is on a roll with the more robust Ikos TR3. The tent offers the same durability and waterproofing we expect from Sea to Summit in a package that’s easy to spread—load with your camping buddies and set up in no time.

This all-new tent is rated for three people and three-season use (a two-person version is available, too). The mesh canopy comes with a waterproof floor and rainfly made out of 68D nylon, and the whole thing weighs just under seven pounds. Sea to Summit calls the roofline of the Ikos TR3 a tension ridge; I call it more headroom. The lofty crest and vertical walls provide lots of space for everyone to sit comfortably. 

One of the best features of this tent is the creative rainfly design. Once the tent is up, you can roll up the fly to have it out of the way and ready to deploy in seconds. It’s also free-standing, so you can use it separately from the tent in hangout mode. This also lets you take down the tent when it’s raining without getting it wet—a huge advantage for multi-night camping trips in wet climates.  

While I haven’t been able to get my hands on an Ikos TR3 for testing, initial feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and I have no reason to start doubting Sea to Summit now. If you aren’t bothered by the weight or $529 price, this might be the last tent you ever need to buy.

The post We Tested the Sea to Summit Fall Collection—Here Are the Must-Haves appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

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Skis and Ski Gear

You can’t go skiing without skis. Make sure that you have a pair that offers stability and agility for an excellent day on the slopes. These skis from Salomon have excellent reviews and are best for downhill skiing in groomed and powdered snow conditions. Of course, be sure to get the best skis for the type of skiing you’re looking to do. Don’t forget your boots, as well as binding brakes to ensure a smooth and safe ride. And don’t forget your poles. 

Make safety a top priority by adding a helmet to your gear that’s ready for intense activity and has a slick, minimalist style. Be sure to have a pair of goggles ready to protect your eyes from the sun and the snow when you’re out on the slopes. This pair from Smith is great for skiers with smaller faces and offers a dual lens that disperses moisture to prevent fogging. 

Winter Apparel and Layers

Stay warm on the slopes with moisture-wicking base layers and a cozy, warm ski suit. You’ll also want to make sure you have a cozy pair of gloves and socks. When you’re not skiing, you’ll want to make sure you have a comfortable pair of snow boots for good traction when you’re walking around.

Snowboarding

Skiing isn’t your thing? No worries, you can still get out on the slopes. If you’d rather snowboard than ski, make sure your gear is ready for the season. If you’ve been in the market for a new board, check out this one by Arbor Ethos, currently on sale on REI. Designed for women, this board is great for all-mountain snowboarding. It’s tough, highly durable, and incredibly user-friendly—great for beginners. Don’t forget boots and bindings for a comfortable ride down the mountain.

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Step 1: The Basics

Once you’ve fallen in love with ice climbing after taking lessons, you’re going to need to start gathering your own gear. Make sure you start with safety, pick up a climbing helmet, like this one from Black Diamond. The Vapor is great because it is lightweight, keeping you light on your climbs (plus it’s currently 50% off). You’ll also want to find a great and reliable harness that will be comfortable and breathable when you’re out on the mountain.

Similarly to rock climbing, ice climbing requires ropes, and they come in different sizes and widths. Make sure you find one that feels right for you, is dry-treated, and is UIAA-tested to be safe for falls.

Another important basic is a good – no, a great – pair of climbing shoes. This pair from Butora has a fuse sticky rubber outside and a natural hemp lining that will keep you comfortable when you’re hanging on the side of the mountain.

And as is the case for most great adventures, you’ll want to have a sturdy backpack that can hold all of your extra gear, snacks and anything else on your way to the climbing site.

Step 2: Important Gear to Keep in Your Pack

Pack extras. Extra ropes, extra socks, extra gloves, extra carabiners, and extra pulleys. The colder, the wetter, the more relieved you’ll be to have more gear, not less. You’ll also want to ensure that you have belays and rappels available to you to ensure a safe descent down the rope. For safe measures, you can also pack some cords in your backpack to ensure that you have extra rope. 

Step 3: Dress for the Occasion

When it comes to climbing in any weather, it is important to note that the higher you get, the cooler it will become. Put on your favorite base layers to prepare for your chilly adventure. Make sure you have a good pair of wool socks to keep your feet warm and treat your hands to up a good pair of rappelling gloves. A sturdy, but lightweight hard shell will also keep you warm when you’re climbing up the side of a cold, icy mountain.

Ice climbing is an intense, and potentially very dangerous activity if you aren’t fully trained, prepared, and focused. Make sure you’re ready to go with proper lessons, conditions, and the top equipment.

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The Candela C-8 is a water-going EV with room for you and seven lucky passengers. Its 69-kilowatt-hour battery is good for a range of up to 57 nautical miles and a top speed of 27 knots. That isn’t fast, but Candela isn’t building a speedboat (yet). What is fast is the boat’s ability to recharge its battery. With a 135-kilowatt DC charger, you can get the battery from 10 to 80% in 35 minutes.

Electric power and a carbon fiber hull are cool, but what really makes the C-8 special is the way it moves. Once the boat is in open water, it can deploy two active foils from its hull. These underwater foils generate lift just like the wings on an airplane, hoisting the C-8’s hull above the waves for a silky smooth ride that’s more than four times as efficient as a typical hull. 

Anyone who’s been bounced out of their seat knows that horsepower usually isn’t what limits your speed in a boat—rough water is. In the C-8, waves up to 3 feet high might as well not exist.  

Hydrofoils have been around for ages, but they’ve never been a mainstream feature on consumer boats—partly because they’re inherently unstable. Candela pairs active foils in the back half of the vessel with active radar in the bow to detect and account for waves before they make contact. 

A computer called the Flight Controller uses input from the C-8’s GPS, gyroscope, and accelerometer to manage the boat’s roll, pitch, and height at a rate of 500 times per second. This system allows the C-8 to lean into turns just like an airplane or conventional boat. For passengers, that means you feel pressure pushing you down into your seat rather than sliding off it. In other words, Candela has created a seaworthy magic carpet. 

You can order the C-8 with an open top, T-top, hardtop, two-deck configurations, and limited color options. Candela just announced a collaboration with Swedish EV manufacturer Polestar to offer the C-8 Polestar Edition, trimmed with even more iconic Scandinavian style.

As with any EV, the biggest obstacle to ownership is charging availability. It’s safe to say that anyone who has $400,000 to drop on a recreational boat can afford to install a charger at their home, but keeping the battery topped off is going to be more challenging than finding gas or diesel on the water for quite some time. Fast charging helps, and the Candela C-8 recently set a world record for miles traveled by an electric boat (483) in 24 hours. 

Conventional boats aren’t going away anytime soon. Candela is showing us what the future could hold, though, and this technology is going to reshape the way boat makers think about speedboats, pleasurecraft, and commercial vessels. 

If the C-8 is any indicator, we have smooth sailing ahead of us. 

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The company says its customers started telling stories about outdoor adventures with their Stanley cups, and an odd number of these stories involved bears. Understandably, the company felt that a bear needed to be incorporated into its logo design.

Here’s an example from the Stanley website: 

Dear Stanley,

My wife and I went camping. After a few drinks and swinging some tunes around the campfire, we decided to turn in for the night. I was fast asleep and could have sworn I was dreaming when I heard something ruffling around the tent—it was a bear. I woke up with adrenaline running through my veins, reached for my Stanley, and turned in the dark to hit the bear. I was aiming to be a hero, instead I ended up hitting my wife on the head. Well, she turned and whacked me on the side of my head. While the two of us saw stars, the bear didn’t want any part of this and hit the road.

Sincerely,

The guy with a wife tougher than his Stanley bottle

Bear stories are gold, and we applaud Stanley for realizing that a bear should be part of its identity as a nod to the outdoors community that enjoys its products. Today, “Stan” the Stanley Bear is a part of all of the company’s gear. 

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Adults

When was the last time you got a pair of actual snow boots? Your Dr. Martens do not count. If you’re heading out on a snowy outdoor adventure, remember that you need strong tread to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground, and you’re also going to want something that will keep your feet warm, even in the harshest winter conditions.

This pair of Columbia Fairbanks Omni-Heat snow boots for men offer extra heat, protection from the elements, and a strong grip on the icy ground below you. They feature tech-lite midsoles and keep water out with their Omni-Tech waterproof membrane. 

For women, you can always size down a pair of men’s boots, if that’s what you’re most comfortable in, but if you’re looking for something that was made with your feet in mind, check out this pair from Oboz. This pair of Sapphire 8-inch waterproof boots offer a thermal insole that keeps your foot warm and stable on the ice and snow. 

Kids

Unfortunately for us adults, our snow boots are way less exciting to look at than the ones that are made for kids. Looks aren’t everything, though. If you have a little one who needs a new pair of boots, look for something that’s comfortable and that’s going to keep them warm in even the coldest conditions. The Merrell Snow Bank waterproof boots for kids are a great option for a pair of casual winter boots, and they’ll keep your kids’ feet warm in temperatures as cold as -25 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your little adventurer is a lover of all things outdoors, you may want to equip him or her with a pair of snow boots made for sports, rather than the casual romp and snow angels. Sorels Yoot Pack Nylon winter boots are an excellent choice for kids going on big outdoor adventures like a winter hike. These boots will keep your kids warm in the cold weather, and they have a hand-crafted vulcanized rubber to keep the water out.

Pets

There are times when your dog may need a pair of boots to keep his feet protected. Give your pets the grip they need to walk on the icy ground and protect their paw pads from sharp ice and other dangers that could be on the trails with a pair of Ruffwear Polar Trex Dog Boots.. 

It’s also important to remember that the rock salt that gets put down to melt the ice can hurt a dog’s feet, but a pair of boots will help. If you are putting salt on your property, try a pet-friendly brand like HARRIS Kind Melt. 

Accessories

Once you’ve got the family’s boots sorted out,  pick up some socks made from Merino wool. These will keep everyone’s feet warm and toasty.
Looking to keep your shins warm and dry? Try these Skyline gaiters from OUTDOOR DESIGNS. They’re made to fit snuggly over clothes and boots, so you’ll stay warm and comfortable in the cold weather. They’re made with a velcro closure to ensure a tight fit.

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Product: Midland Radio Two-Way Radio

This set of two-way radios by Midland Radio has a 38-mile range, making them great for a long day out exploring the wilderness. There are 36 channels and 121 privacy codes, and you can even scan for weather alerts. They’re sold as a pair and offer three different ways to charge. They even make five animal calls, in case you hear a noise and want to cross check to see what it might be.

About Midland Radio

Midland Radio Corporation has been at the forefront of two-way radio and weather technology since its founding in 1959. As the first CB radio manufacturer in the United States, Midland Radios are a reliable form of communication for adventurers, and they are well-loved by farmers, truck drivers, and radio enthusiasts alike. 

Reviews for the Midland Radio Two-Way Radio

Reviewed by outdoor enthusiasts and professionals, these come highly recommended as an excellent set of long-range radios. However, a number of reviewers have mentioned that you’ll want to make sure they’re fully charged before heading out to the wilderness for the weekend. 

I had the opportunity to try these out a few weeks back, and I was impressed with their quality right away. As a kid, I used walkie-talkies and I figured that the two-way radios would work similarly, but in fact they’re way better. The radios came almost fully charged, and the sound quality is great, making it easy to understand the person on the other end. 

I really like the weather scanning option, which helps ensure you’re ready for the day ahead, even if you lose service on your phone and can’t look at the weather. I also appreciate that this set comes with a belt clip, which is awesome because we all know that ladies’ pants have ridiculously small pockets.

I would recommend topping off the batteries on your radios before heading out on a big adventure, but it shouldn’t take too long for them to be ready to go.

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Camp Counselor

A simple costume that you can always keep in your back pocket is a camp counselor. Throw on a tie-dye shirt, a pair of khaki shorts, and your most comfortable pair of sneakers, and you’re all set. Step it up your game with a pair of binoculars that you can throw around your neck, and you’ll look ready to head out on a great camping trip.

Zookeeper

Never been to summer camp? No worries. Another quick and easy costume that involves a pair of khaki pants is a zookeeper. All you’ll need to add to those khakis is a green shirt. Though a button-down shirt might look more professional, a t-shirt will do the trick, if you’re in a pinch. If you don’t think that’s going to be enough, pick up a magnetized stuffed animal that will sit on your shoulder so everyone knows you’re the cool zookeeper that all the animals like.

Jack-O-Lantern

In a pinch? Pick up an orange shirt and a black fabric marker. Simply draw a jack-o-lantern face on your orange shirt, and voilà.  It’ll work great in a pinch. 

Lumberjack

Grab your favorite flannel and beanie and you’re pretty much done, if you choose to dress up as a lumberjack. Assuming it’s too late to grow a beard, you can always buy one, or just use face paint or eyeliner.

Shark Attack

It’s definitely not beach season, but for this last-minute costume idea, you’re going to break out the bathing suit just one more time. But wait, what’s that in the water? It’s coming right towards you . . . it’s a shark! (Okay, so maybe it’s just a shark sock, which is something you’ll need on one of your hands  to complete this costume.) Add your favorite beach accessories like sunglasses and a hat, and you’re ready to hit the party.

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This year’s National Croc Day release is the not-so-understated Croc-Cowboy Boot, which retails for $120. We’ve seen a number of excellent and polarizing roll-outs in recent years, including the All-Terrain Crocs.

How do you feel about Crocs? 

The post Love ‘em or Hate ‘em, It’s National Croc Day appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

The Motorola Talkabout 250

Walkie-talkies are still used in some situations, but cell phones helped usher in the end of an era for these handy devices, including the most popular one, the iconic Motorola T250. Motorola introduced the T250 in 1997, and the rugged two-way radio quickly became a favorite means of communication for campers in remote locations. These powerful devices boasted a long-lasting battery as well as an impressive range of up to about two miles. Constructed of thick plastic (bee-like yellow and black was an especially popular color combination), the units eliminated long antennas and annoying static and added a user-friendly earbud receiver and built-in voice activation feature for hands-free operation.

Trekking Sandals

Trekking sandals, especially ones from the brand Teva, had their heyday in the early 1990s. These strappy sandals, known for their breathability, were a major fashion trend at the time, and they were just as ubiquitous on city streets as they were on wilderness paths. Tevas still have plenty of devoted fans, but many outdoor enthusiasts choose more technically advanced sandals that provide more protection and support.

Smartwool Socks

Smartwool Socks first hit the market in 1994 and quickly became a camping favorite because of their warmth, comfort, and durability. The Colorado-based company was founded by two ski instructors who swapped out the notoriously scratchy wool commonly used in winter socks for soft merino wool, a novelty at the time. The socks quickly became a mainstay for outdoors enthusiasts.

Sierra Designs Sleeping Bags

In 1995, Sierra Designs launched one of the first sleeping bags designed for women. Rather than the more traditional mummy-style bags, the company notes these were “tailored to fit [a] woman’s shape and warmth needs with unrestricted movement.” Cheryl Strayed was a big fan, and she still has the one she used on her Pacific Crest Trail trek that would become the basis of her memoir-turned-movie, Wild. “It was only in the 1990s that it occurred to people that women have different bodies — these things called hips,” she once said.

GoLite Breeze Pack

Before the late 1990s, backpacks tended to be clunky, but Ray Jardine, who was known as the father of ultralight hiking, helped change all that with the introduction of the hipbelt- and framesheet-free GoLite Breeze Pack. This minimalist pack weighed in at less than one pound, making it a standout among its bulkier pack peers. The Breeze was incredibly durable and could take a beating thanks to its lightweight ripstop nylon and ultra-strong Dyneema threads. Backpacking was forever transformed after the GoLite Breeze’s introduction as outdoors enthusiasts increasingly tended toward the backpack and other ultralight gear.

Patagonia R1 Fleeces

In 1999, Patagonia transformed the world of fleece with the introduction of the groundbreaking Patagonia R1. Unlike its bulkier and less breathable predecessors, the mid-layer garment effectively regulated both heat and moisture because it was constructed with innovative thinly woven polyester sheets. The Patagonia R1 was a pioneering active-insulation fleece that spawned a huge tech-fleece market, and it has endured as a leading Patagonia product for cold weather conditions ever since it closed out the ’90s.

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