The right equipment + gear + and resources are the difference between having a fun, simple, and seamless trip and a stressful, miserable trip. That’s why we are compiling our recommendations for gear and sharing our tips , and resources to help you explore the world– one weekend at a time. *Note: we only recommend products we really believe in, actually use, or will be purchasing.
• must have gear •
- Summer tent: This tent is not high quality. In fact, it’s pretty cheap. But it weighs 7.9 pounds and sleeps 4 (more like 3). I do love it because, it’s primarily mesh, so you can easily star gaze from the comfort of your tent. The mesh is also why I say it’s a summer tent- you definitely don’t want to take this one out when it’s really cold outside.
- CamelBak: If you are going hiking and you do not have a CamelBak or something similar, you are seriously missing out. I use this as a backpack and water pack. Totally worth it- especially if you are doing hikes in the warm weather.
- Sleeping bags: Unfortunately, I have not have the best luck with sleeping bags. I bought some cheap ones from Wal-Mart and was not impressed. So if you have any suggestions, please let me know!
- Swell Water Bottle: This thing is Godsent! It really does keep your drinks ice cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. I cannot go hiking without this thing! They are kind of pricey, but well worth the expense in my opinion. I use my Swell water bottle if the weather is nice + I don’t have to worry about heat exhaustion.
- Vagabonding by Rolf Potts: A great book that will open your eyes to how you can travel the world on a small budget. Well worth the read!
- GoPro Hero 4 Silver: This little camera is so handy! The fisheye lens is great for capturing more of a shot. Perfect for waterfall pictures and you can even take pictures at night or do night-lapse. It’s pretty much my favorite portable camera!
- Canon Rebel t5i: On occasion, we will bring the Canon with us to take higher quality, beautiful pictures. Please note, that just because you get a nice camera does not mean you will take high quality pictures. It does take some playing with, but you will be so proud of your pictures.
- Hiking Shoes: My shoes are Salomon hiking shoes that I found on clearance at Sierra Trading Post Outlet. I adore them! You don’t have to spend a ton of shoes, but they do make a world of difference when hiking various terrains. Check REI, Sierra Trading, or even Amazon- there are some really good deals out there.
• resources (handy sites) •
- Instagram: I use this to help me plan our adventures. Search tags for your state and get some really great ideas. For example, if I want to go somewhere for a weekend getaway, I will search #Idaho to see cool places close by and look at everyones pictures. (I’m a creeper, I know!)
- Recreation.gov: This site needs to be bookmarked! It will help you plan your next trip + give you ideas of where to go and what to do.
- Fire lookouts: Rent an old fire lookout. Guys, this is a game changer! Just do a quick Google search for fire lookouts and you will see why these are so cool. You have 360 degree views of the forest and it is absolutely breathtaking! You actually rent these on recreation.gov, but can get a lot of information here. Another perk, they are very inexpensive and can be rented for $20-$60 per night. My favorite and future summer trip is Acker Rock Lookout.
- Google.com/Flights: Probably one of the coolest things. If you could care less about where you want to go, but want to get a good deal this is the site for you. You can search specific dates and then click on “Explore Desitnations,” you will see prices for flight all across the world.
- Airbnb.com: A great go-to site for booking full condos, rooms, and getting a great deal on lodging while traveling.
• wish list •
Our wishlist gear + places to see is coming soon!