Outfitted: Shoulder season
Outfitted
Courtesy Photo
The spring shoulder season here in the mountains is a mud-covered, flower-blooming, snow-slushed, summer-teasing gift.
Between the mixed bag of weather and the glorious calm before the summer tourism storm, any given day can have you venturing out on a newly-dry trail or can have you turning the heat back on and staying in for a session of gear closet organizing. Below are some items I’ve been enjoying as this off-season moves way too quickly to its end.
1. Helinox Chair Two
As spring presents itself, it’s time to bust out the outdoor chairs. With mobility and packability in mind, this Helinox chair, a sibling of their famous Chair One, has a little more beef to its back for added comfort and stability. Weighing only 2 lbs., 10.5 oz., the Chair Two can hold up to a whopping 320 lbs. It easily packs into a zip case that makes it convenient to throw into a tote or strap onto a pack with its daisy chain and webbing handle. Other features include a headrest flap to hold a pillow or rolled-up jacket for head support, as well as two pockets on the sides. Due to its low profile vs. high function, I always keep this chair in the back of my jeep to have on hand for impromptu hang outs.
$140, Helinox.com
2. Mammut Innominata Light ML Jacket
A basic, zip-up fleece really is a year-round, every-day essential for me. However, when warmer weather presents itself, I tend to venture to a lighter-weight version. Mammut’s Innominata has been a recent favorite of mine for its seemingly perfect weight-to-warmth ratio. In fact, I have it on right now as I write this column. It’s made from recycled, traditional polyester fleece and is solution-dyed to reduce environmental impact. It’s small enough to throw into a bag to have on hand for when the temps turn chilly but is thin enough so you won’t overheat. Available in women’s and men’s sizes and colors.
$109, Mammut.com
3. Peak Design Everyday Totepack
Peak Design is notorious for their well-thought-out carry solutions, and its recent Totepack is no exception. Designed to be a hybrid of a tote and a backpack, this bag is full of features for fine-tuned organization to fit your specific needs. I love how sleek it is but is robust enough to carry the essentials. For example, you can easily fit your laptop, notebook, packed lunch, wallet, light jacket, phone, keys, sunglasses, and passport. Did I mention this pack is a dream for traveling? For you photographers out there, it’s also designed to provide a custom fit for camera bodies and lenses. The bag comes with Peak Design’s FlexFold dividers to mount inside as well as a roll-top feature to provide an extra 5 liters of expansion if you need it. To fully understand how to utilize all the features on the bag, I recommend watching the YouTube video on the website.
$180, PeakDesign.com
4. Royal Robbins Hempline Pant
While the temps are slowly getting warmer, it’s not quite time to bust out the Daisy Dukes. These hemp pants from Yosemite-born company Royal Robbins are great for the in-between. The inclusion of elastane gives them a little stretch, and the addition of polyester keeps them durable. I love the feel of these since they have linen-like qualities but don’t wrinkle as much and are friendlier to outdoor pursuits. The addition of UPF 30+ protects you from the sun, and the taped seams on the cuff allow them to be rolled up a bit for a shorter look. Available in women’s and men’s sizes and colors.
$92, RoyalRobbins.com
5. Gregory Alpaca Gear Basket 70
Favorite pack company, Gregory, came out this spring with a new line of organizational items to make storing and traveling with gear easier. I’ve been using this gear basket so much in the past two months that I’m considering buying another. Kind of like a large laundry basket on steroids, the Alpaca has a tough, anodized aluminum frame with integrated grab handles, a padded and reinforced bottom, double-wall construction on the sides, and reflective gear loops, so you can spot it at your campsite in the dark. And the amazing this is that all this collapses down and fits into its bag for easy storage — although, I haven’t stopped using it long enough to put it away. This has been great to easily throw in the car with essentials for an overnight jaunt to Fruita or to use in the house as I organize my gear closet.
$80, Gregory.com
6. Hoka Speedgoat 5
As I put away my winter boots and snowshoes, I’m hoping to hit the ever-increasing stash of dry trails in the valley. The Hoka Speedgoat has been a favorite for some years, and the 5th version does not disappoint. Designed for technical trails, this shoe carries little weight for its heft. A lug-heavy Vibram sole adds extra traction, and the rocker profile and stacked height bring that quintessential Hoka comfort. One reason I like the Speedgoat for this time of year is that the extra height in the sole adds some distance between me and the inevitable mud I find on the slippery spring trails. I also appreciate the double-layer mesh upper to provide a little ventilation but not so much that my feet get cold. Available in women’s and men’s sizes and colors.
$155, Hoka.com
Meg Simon is an Aspen-based freelance writer, graphic designer, and founder of Simon Finch Creative. She can be reached at meg@simonfinchcreative.com.
Outfitted: Gifts for the outdoorsy dad
Father’s Day is one of my favorite gift-giving holidays of the year. Since I hit the jackpot in the dad department, I love honoring him with something new, classic, or out-of-the-box to spruce up his daily happenings. Below are a few items that I recommend for the dads in your life.
