One of my biggest challenges with face masks is being able to wear sunglasses and not have them fog. With Boulder County reinstating mandatory face masks due to COVID-19, I knew I needed a solution.
Luckily Phunksun was debuting a new face mask, the PHurther Ergo Face Coverings, and sent me some samples to try out.
PHurther Face Coverings
The PHurther Ergo Face Covering is one of the more comfortable face masks I’ve used. The material is light and breathable and it works really well with eye covering.
PHurther Face Coverings
The top of the mask has a built in nose-bridge that you can shape around your nose for a tighter fit. That way your eyewear doesn’t fog.
I’m as excited as the next guy for COVID protocols to be over, but in the meantime I am happy to have the PHurther Ergo Face Covering as an option. And one that won’t cause my sunglasses to fog up.
When I first got the Poler Sleeping Bag Poncho, I was—to be completely honest—confused. I kept looking at it trying to find a good situation to test it in.
Poler Sleeping Bag Poncho
Even when I took it camping with me, I couldn’t find the right situation to throw it on. In part it was because of my responsibilities at the campsite and my family. It was too much stuff to be around me while I was cooking or chasing after the kiddos.
But this past weekend, I was at a mountain retreat preparing to consume five grams of psilocybin and I was cold and wanted something comfy. I went to my camp box and pulled out the Poler Sleeping Bag Poncho, threw it on, and proceeded to prepare myself for some medicine work.
Poler Sleeping Bag Poncho
This poncho is the perfect companion for a mushroom trip. There were so many times where I fluctuated from being too hot to too cold and this was the perfect thing to throw off and on or just to hold onto for some soft, fluffy comfort.
It has also become a companion to my meditation practice. It’s the perfect size to drape over my entire body as my legs are folded underneath me and provides a nice, grounding weight as I try to connect to something deeper than my own ego.
Poler Sleeping Bag Poncho
While not everyone will be on the same journey, if you are looking for something soft and fluffy to chill or just be in, the Poler Sleeping Bag Poncho is the way to go.
I have been getting gradually more frustrated with the amount of things I carry in my pants pockets: phone, wallet, keys, and with mask mandates going back into effect, a mask.
My pockets are bulgy and not in a funny “or are you just happy to see me?” sort of way.
With fanny packs becoming in fashion again (thanks, Matthew McConaughey), I’ve been casually browsing various outdoor brands looking for the right fit and after visiting the KAVU booth at Outdoor Retailer, I found my match: the KAVU Spectator Fanny Pack.
KAVU Spectator Fanny Pack
There are a lot of Fanny Pack’s the choose from, but the reason I settled on the KAVU Spectator Fanny Pack was because of its simplicity in design and it’s wide range of color options.
First, when it comes to design, it is a two pocket fanny pack. The smaller pocket is perfect for my wallet and keys, while the larger pocket comfortably holds my iPhone 12 Pro, a pair of sunglasses, and a mask.
And with its wide-range of designs, I was able to pick one that I felt captured my current life phase. They have a lot of fun designs, and I ultimately settled on one that had a bit of an outdoorsy vibe that didn’t clash with my wardrobe.
Since jumping on the fanny pack bandwagon, I couldn’t be more happy. My KAVU Spectator Fanny Pack is setup so that it’s ready to go. My wallet, keys, sunglasses, and mask are always in there. I no longer have to hunt for each, which is a great time saver.
Additionally, those times where I’m in my car and need to access my wallet or phone (not while driving, mind you), I don’t have to shimmy to gain access to my pants pockets and then dig around to find what I need.
KAVU Spectator Fanny Pack
Now, while it is called a fanny pack, I tend to wear it as a front pack. My hips and butt don’t like fanny packs. The design of the pack also allows you to utilize it as a sling, which I have done on some bike rides when I just need those essentials.
If you’re ready to come aboard the fanny pack train, look no further than the KAVU Spectator Fanny Pack.
Everything you need to eat with is contained within a zippable travel pouch: fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks, straw, and straw cleaner.
Each utensil is made with premium, food-grade stainless steel and is super durable. Just for giggles, I used their knife and fork on a steak and a raw carrot. While it didn’t cut through amazingly well, neither utensil bent or broke.
The EcoVessel WanderWare Utensil Set is a great addition to my go-box, but it’s also a great solution for those times where I know I’ll be eating somewhere with disposable silverware. Their chopsticks are also a great replacement for the wooden disposable ones, as well.
If you’re trying to eat a little greener, this is a great option for you!
U-Konserve has a solution for consumers looking to reduce their waste with their line of reusable containers. They sent me a few of their stainless steel containers with platinum-grade silicon lids to try out.
U-Konserve to-go containers come in a variety of sizes. They are perfect for school lunches, spontaneous picnics, or other outdoor activities. The silicon lids slide on easily and fit tight enough so that there wasn’t any leakage.
We tested them over a few weeks in a variety of ways.
Daily, my kids use U-Konserve containers to pack dry snack food for their school days.
U-Konserve Food Storage
We also used it to store leftover spaghetti (thinking of the most stainable food to test with) and the silicon lid didn’t turn pink after a day or so in the fridge.
For a recent camping trip, I pre-cut vegetables for cooking and stored some seasoned steaks in them (separately of course). What I appreciated about this test scenario was that I would usually use gallon plastic bags or glass to store in. And this provided a solution that didn’t cause waste or have a potential hazard at the campsite (e.g. glass).
If you’re looking for food storage solutions, these are a great option.
Sleep like a baby: Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad Review
Jason Nelson | September 2021
Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad
I love to camp, but I don’t like sleeping. It doesn’t matter how much melatonin or CBN I take, I always sleep poorly for the first couple of nights. Eventually, my body will adjust and I will sleep through the night by the third night.
Part of my challenge is that I am a side-sleeper. Not 100%, but there’s always points during the night where I will roll onto my side.
My other challenge is that I have back and neck issues. If I sleep slightly out of line, my neck and back will be jacked up for a few days after.
When I was at Outdoor Retailer, I saw a potential solution for my sleep issues: the Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad. It was a glorious vision: a think padded bed with—I couldn’t believe it—memory foam.
Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad
The Klymit booth had a model setup that I laid on; first on my back and then rolling to my side. And it felt good. I mean, really good!
Klymit was kind enough to send a sample so I could do a full test.
Before I could take it out camping, I had an opportunity to try it out at home.
We just brought home a new puppy, Parker, and he wasn’t settling down in his crate at night. My first night on the sofa was pure torture, so the second night I got out the Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad and I slept like a baby.
And that’s no light feat. There have been many times in the past with sick kids where I’ve camped out in their rooms on one of my other sleeping pads and it would always be a fitful, restless night.
But on the Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad, I slept through the entire night and didn’t wake until Parker asked to go outside the next morning.
A week later, I took my oldest to Cub Scout camp in the mountains west of Boulder.
Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad
One thing I noticed about the Klymit KLYMALOFT Sleeping Pad was that it didn’t make a lot of noise. Other pads, when I’d role from my back to my side, would screech, but the KLYMALOFT would only make the slightest sound. So once my son was asleep, I was able to move about the tent without making much noise.
And, more than anything else, once I fell asleep, I slept really good.
I was also responsible to cooking breakfast the next morning. I can’t tell you how good it felt waking up and not feeling the stiffness that I normally would have on my other pads.
I highly recommend this pad for anyone doing car camping. It is lightweight and packs down nicely, but it’s memory foam topper makes it a bit heavier than something you want on the trail.
Now that my hair is longer, I have been trying various solutions to keep my hair out of my face. Hats of various shapes and sizes are the obvious choice, as are various hair ties. But what about headbands?
I’ve tried a couple that I flatout didn’t like. They were too tight or they wouldn’t sit on my head; constantly rising and rising until I had an unattractive pile of hair on top of my head. I wanted something that looked good and felt good and would hold up with some sweat.
That’s why I was excited to receive a sample to test from HeadPeace.
HeadPeace Headband
HeadPeace specializes in making various styles of headwear, including headbands.
The sample I received was lightweight, soft and extremely comfortable. I immediately pulled it on and went outside to work up a sweat working on the lawn. During my time wearing it, I didn’t have to make any adjustments. The headband stayed in place and didn’t move around.
Plus, HeadPeace’s designs are pretty awesome. Their designs are fairly gender neutral and they have everything from fun and funky color combinations, to designs that are a bit more earthy. My favorite on their site is one that incorporates mushrooms into its design.
But sure, there are a lot of headband companies out there. What makes HeadPeace so special?
A big part of their specialness is their mission.
All of their products are made in Nepal by a socially-ethical, fair trade manufacturing company that helps women coming out of slavery and trafficking situations get back on their feet.
If you’re looking for a headband or even a lightweight hat, neck gaiter, or kids bands check out HeadPeace and support a really great mission.
Sometimes you’re feeling great and your mental and physical state is feeling more balanced than it has in days. But sometimes it hits you and while you’re not sure what entirely triggered it, you just don’t feel quite yourself. Your stomach is in knots. You feel a heavy weight in your chest. And when you feel into enough, you begin to feel queasy.
My son and I both have these symptoms. While I have had years to deal with them and to figure out how to manage them, he hasn’t. When it hits his emotions get really big until he starts to cry or flops on the floor (which sometimes leads to injury).
When Reliefband offered us the opportunity to test their Reliefband Sport, we were interested. What if amongst the CBD and DHA and Magnesium there was something else that could help treat the symptoms in the moment.
RefliefBand is an innovator in wearable technology that prevents and treats nausea and vomiting systems. Their wearable devices generate a pulse that stimulates the median nerve which is located on the underside of the wrist. The pulse travels throughout the body’s nervous system to the place in the brain which controls nausea and vomiting. The pulse has a rebalancing effect which normalizes the nerve messages from the brain to the stomach and reduces the symptoms.
They recently released their new Reliefband Sport model. This is their first waterproof model that includes a flex fit comfort band. It’s battery can provide up to 30 hours of use on a full charge. It has several modes so that you can control the strength of the pulse on your median nerve.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard my son complain about nausea when his anxiety has spiked. And for him, it’s debilitating. He freezes and freaks out, causing myself, as a parent, to freeze and freak out about how I can help him. And when he’s complained about nausea in the past, we don’t know, in the moment, if it is anxiety or sickness related and it’s caused him to miss school or activities.
With us being an active family, having to wrestle through his anxiety to get out the door for hikes, camping trips, or other outdoor activities has been challenging.
But the Reliefband Sport works.
For his first day of school, my son woke up complaining that he felt like he was going to throw up. I got the Reliefband Sport, but the conductivity gel on his wrist, strapped it on, and turned the pulse setting on it’s lowest setting. And he calmed down after a few minutes and his nausea went away.
Now, while Reliefband is a FDA-cleared treatment for nausea and vomiting symptoms, it is intended for adult usage (at least from a FDA standpoint). If the story about my son resonantes and you’re thinking about using this for your child, please talk to your pediatric doctor first.
I have to tip my hat to Showers Pass. Consistently, the products I am sent to test quickly become new favorites and their Wildwood Running Cap is no exception.
And let me be clear: I have a lot of hats. My wife reminds me of that fact constantly. So it takes a lot for a hat to make it to the top.
But I am beyond stocked that Showers Pass continues to expand its portfolio of running specific products.
It’s the perfect companion for trail runs with the wide brim for sun protection (UPF 50+), but also its material wicks away sweat and is incredibly light (only 2.5 ounces) and comfortable. The material is also incredibly breathable. This summer has been a scorcher and this hat has been a great companion on hotter days as I’m pulling out all stops to not overheat.
On the technical side, the style of the Wildwood Running Cap is a classic five-panel style. It sits lower on my head, unlike some of the other running hats that are a trucker style. It’s easy to adjust with a rear buckle strap. The material is a nylon/spandex construction, so it has some flexibility and stretch.
If you’re looking for a new running hat, look no further than Showers Pass.
Here at Huck Adventures, we have tested a lot of minimalist shoes for the outdoor space: running shoes, trail running shoes, hiking boots, winter boots, and sandals. But there hasn’t been a shoe that I could say was my go-to, work-from-home, wear everyday shoe. Until now.
Softstar Rogue
The Softstar brand has been on my radar since I started wearing barefoot, minimalist style shoes 11 years ago. But this sample of the Softstar Rogue was the first time I had actually tried out the shoe.
The Rogue’s upper is made of soft leather that makes the shoe feel almost slipper-like. When I say that this shoe is incredibly comfortable, I really mean it. Most days I wear them without socks and I always feel like my feet are being nestled in a cozy cocoon.
While I have tested these shoes on the trail, I would classify these shoes as a camping shoe versus a hiking shoe. The bottoms are made from 8mm zero-drop Vibram Geo sole. While it has solid traction, it doesn’t handle as well as a trail or hiking shoe that has lugs for traction on light gravel or rocky trails.
Softstar Rogue
However, I brought these with me to a recent Cub Scout camp. After hiking for a couple hours, we made it back to the campsite and these immediately went on and it felt soooooo good.
With the Softstar Rogue, I also received sheepskin insoles. These insoles are perfect for Fall or Winter. It takes the natural coziness of this shoe to an entirely different level. Soft and wooly, my feet loved them. A little warm for the summer months, but they will definitely be permanently installed as the weather gets cooler.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t spend a few minutes talking about Softstar itself. All of their shoes are handmade in Oregon. They’ve been making shoes since 1985. All of their materials are sustainably and ethically sourced, as well. Their shoe designs, like the Rogue, follow a similar moccasin style, creating a flexible and lightweight design.
While I can’t fully recommend these shoes as your next minimalist hiking shoe, I do endorse these for everyday wear and for light outdoor activities.
