CAMELBAK Groove Portable Filtration System

If you filter your tap water at home, you know that it's not something you think about until you are out and about and have a taste of restaurant tap water.  Then you realize how good the water tastes at home.  Check out the Camelbak GROOVE water bottle that filters your water on the go.

This is fantastic for air travel.  Since you can't take your water through security anymore, this bottle saves you from having to buy expensive bottled water (that's likely no cleaner or better than tap water anyway) on the other side.  It's more eco friendly, and you have the benefit of using the bottle throughout your trip. You just refill it anywhere there's a fountain or tap.  They don't filter out harmful microbes, it's just for taste, so you don't want to be using it in a stream or in a country where you would normally filter your water to avoid bacterias, viruses and microbes you're not accustomed to. For domestic travel, or even for taking to work where they may have yukky tap water, it's perfect.

The water gets filtered as you drink, with a plant based carbon filter integrated into the straw.  It's very straight forward, just fill it up bite down, and sip away.  The spout folds down to stay clean when not in use.

The insulated version is taller and a little bulkier, but I love having the option of keeping my drink colder longer.  The double wall also reduces condensation and the tritan copolyester is BPA free and durable.

Both bottles fit in backpack pockets and most bottle holders.  Replacement filters are less than five bucks each and last for up to 48 gallons, which is a good bit of water. Find both bottles HERE.

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Osprey Ariel Backpack

Need a super comfortable, super light, women specific backpack?  You have to check out Osprey's newly updated Ariel series.  They come in three different sizes, a 55, 65, and 75 Liter.  I think the 65 liter is just the right size--not too big, not too small.  This pack is highly customizable, coming in several sizes and with a moldable hip belt that you can have heat molded to fit your body.  The pack compresses nicely, so if you need it for a smaller load, you can just cinch it down and still keep a good balance.

There is a good bit of ventilation on this pack, really great for keeping cool on hot days.  The integrated hydration system works great and I love how Osprey's water bladders have a handle which makes it easier to fill.  The side pockets fit Nalgene bottles for that extra water supply.

The lid comes off and turns into a lumbar pack for day trips.  I personally am not a fan of lumbar (fanny) packs, but you don't have to carry it that way, you can sling it as a cross body and wear it in the back.  It's nice to have this option if you are backpacking and want to stay put for a couple of days but still enjoy some hiking or exploring the area.  Trekking poles stow right on the outside of the pack as well as lots of loops and straps for extra gear.

Access is easy, you can get into the main body from the top or the front.  There's a sleeping bag compartment and overall good organization.  It's a great color and will help you remain visible through the woods, which I think is good for safety.  As a nitpick, I would have liked to have seen a pocket on the hip belt and a rain cover (though sometimes you get better coverage by lining your pack with a garbage compactor bag), but other than that I think this pack is well thought out, comfortable, and fits the bill. Osprey has an iron clad "All Mighty Guarantee" to back up their gear, adding even more value.  Find it HERE. 

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Outdoor Underwear Roundup

When you're traveling or backpacking, you know every little thing you pack is important.  You want the best functioning stuff you can find and you want to be comfortable and look good.  And you want to keep that weight down.   Everything should be fast drying and wicking, even your underwear.  That way you're more comfortable and can hand wash your stuff in a hotel sink or the back country to wear the next day.

Wool underwear has been around a while, but I was never that interested.  It just didn't sound very comfortable to me.  Well guess what--it's so comfortable it's luxurious.  Of course it is, wool keeps you cool when it's hot and warm when it's cold, I just never equated it to under garments.  Now I'm hooked.

Wool has the added benefit of being odor and moisture resistant, so it's perfect for when you can only have a few pieces.  Check out this Siren Cami and matching Hipkini by Icebreaker.  I love the feminine details--I don't care if I'm out in the middle of nowhere, I still like to wear pretty things under my clothes.  But this is subtle, it's not overly girlie, it's more elegant and fits in perfectly with a natural setting.  I also like Icebreaker's Siren Tank which can be worn alone or as another great layering piece. The straps are adjustable for a more custom fit.   The tank is gorgeous in black and can easily be worn alone as a top.

Sizing on the Icebreaker can be tricky for me.  I wear a size 8 pant and with the underwear, the medium is perfect.  On top, I'm a 10, and usually a medium in most things, however with Icebreaker I tend to take a large.  With the cami, I could have gone medium.  Icebreaker offers free shipping and returns so you don't have to worry about getting the right fit, you can easily exchange if you need something different. 

Ibex makes some wonderful undergarments as well.  Check out these cute Balance Briefs which fit and feel great.  I love their Ibex goat logo on the front--I am not a logo person.  Normally I really don't care for logos much at all and wish they weren't there.  Ibex's logo is more like art, I love it and was happy to see it on the underwear.

The Woolies Camisole is great for layering or wearing alone.  The Ibex is especially soft, and a little thicker than the Icebreaker undergarments.  I found the underwear to run small, so you might want to order up.  I needed a large for the underwear, but for the cami, a medium was fine.  I think you could wear this as a tank by itself with a pair of jeans or skirt, it's butter soft and very cute.

Next we have Smartwool.  Of course they make great underwear, their socks are fabulous and so are their clothes.  Smartwool also has a cute and unassuming logo by the way, not found on the  underwear.  I love their camis and the underwear also does not disappoint.  It comes in a hipster, thong, and bikini styles and my favorite is the bikini.

Size-wise, I take a medium in the Smartwool, usually both top and bottom.  They're a great weight, and super comfortable.  Now is the time to stock up on Smartwool, Ibex and Icebreaker, and I have found some amazing and irresistible deals on all three brands on Amazon and Departmentofgoods.  I found some things I couldn't believe I was getting such a great deal on--I found some hundred dollar tops for $30, so don't let the expense of wool put you off, there are great deals out there.  And even if you do pay full price, the wear is so worth the extra cost, this stuff lasts forever and it's so high performance I find it to be worth every penny.

And last but not least, Ex Officio underwear is legendary for being the perfect underwear for travel and adventure.  Have you heard about the person that took one pair of underwear around the world and they were in perfect shape when they finished their trip?  That was Ex Officio underwear.

I love the Give-N-Go Lacey Low Rise Bikini.  They are feminine, come in pretty colors and fit great.  I took mediums in the Ex Officio underwear and they were very comfortable.

The Give-N-Go string bikini is cute and fits great.  You would never know these two styles are performance underwear at all.  There is a texture to the fabric which makes them easier to clean, you can work up a lather with very little eco friendly soap.  I don't know how they did it, but this underwear is feminine and also hard core at the same time.  I'm new to Ex Officio, but so far I can really see why people love this brand. 

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KEEN Newport H2

I'm a huge fan of KEEN, and have been wearing them for what, about eight years now.  They are one of my top favorite brands because one--I can't wear a pair out, and two--they're as cute as they are comfortable.  Having said that, I have never tried their flagship shoe--the Newport Sandal.  Honestly, I never thought they were KEEN's best looking style.

But, last year I got my son a pair and after seeing them on him every day they really started to grow on me, they really are very cute!  This year I discovered that KEEN has a washable version--the leather free NEWPORT H2.  You can just throw them in the wash, fabulous!  How perfect for all the Summer activities like wading around in water, kayaking, frog catching, puddle stomping, etc.

They're perfect for in between weather too, when flip flops are too little, but a shoe is overkill. These are the perfect Summer hybrid of sandal-shoe-hiking boot. The soles are beefy and shock absorbing and you can hit the trails in these (light trails).  They're versatility lends itself to travel.  Really great Summer shoe, find it HERE. Remember to order up a half size with most KEEN shoes.

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BEARVAULT

Why use a Bear Resistant Canister?  Several great reasons.  Many state parks require bear kegs, it keeps you safe, it keeps the bears safe, and it keeps food from being taken and you going hungry in the back country.  A lot of backpackers like to hang their food from trees at night, which might work for a lot of people.  However, bear experts say that bears will go through unbelievable trials to get at food in trees, even injuring themselves trying to climb out on fragile branches that are way too small for them.  Keeping your food high in a tree is not a guarantee it will be safe.

Bears will break into cars to get to coolers and food items as small as a stick of gum.  They break right through the glass and have been known to tear through the back seats to get into trunks.  Their sense of smell is incredible, topping that of dogs by 100 percent.  And the shenanigans they will go through to get to your food are legendary, they are very smart and relentlessly determined. 

This can be dangerous for humans and for bears.  And thankfully, state parks began instituting precautionary measures back in 1999 which have really helped to curb this problem.  Damages and injuries went way down with bear management programs and the key has been to require humans to lock up their food.  This way bears have no desire to come in contact with us.  They say that bears so quickly discovered the futility of messing around with bear canisters, that many, when they see them, just walk right by them.  That's a win-win.  Keeps us safe from bears and keeps bears safe from having to be put down because they are too motivated to enter human camps looking for food.

A great solution are BearVaults.  They are easy for us to open and close, yet bear proof, certified by the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group for Black Bears and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee for Grizzly Bears.  They are clear blue plastic and you can see the contents from the outside, the wide opening makes it easy to get at food, and they make for a good little chair around camp.  They come in a Solo size, weighing 2 lbs 1oz and large enough to contain 4 days worth of food for one person.  The larger size weighs 2 lbs 9 oz and will hold enough food for seven days for one person.  There are grooves on the vault to help you strap it on the outside of your pack if you desire, and they are rain proof.  At night, you put all food, bars, body products like toothpaste and lip balm into the BearVault and place a good one hundred feet away from where you are sleeping.  If you can, try to wedge it between rocks or logs and you're good to go.

If you're going to be camping and backpacking in bear territory, you need a Bear Vault.  Find one HERE. 

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SteriPEN Freedom, the Latest Edition

Did you know that city municipalities use UV light to treat our drinking water?  How cool is it that SteriPen has figured out a way to make a hand held version for travel and outdoor use?  They make several models of the SteriPen, and the Freedom is the latest, a rechargeable version, featuring a new option to charge via USB port or AC adapter.  Since most people travel with devices now, and those charge with USB connectors, this new recharging method is a great option. It's also smaller than the other SteriPens, making it more convenient and better for travel.

In just a few seconds, the SteriPen gets rid of bacteria and viruses that can make us sick and ruin a trip.  You may need to filter the water first, depending on where you are.  SteriPen makes a pre-filter that fits right on a standard Nalgene bottle, or you can use a different method of pre-filtering.   If you are just in a hotel room in Mexico for instance, you can get water right out of the tap and treat it.

All you do is take off the lid, immerse in water, stir, and when the green light comes on, you're done.
You get up to 40 treatments per charge.  There's an LED light option on the end of the SteriPen, which you can activate by rotating it three times--will I remember this on travels, I don't know.  It will stay on for three minutes, or you can turn it off the same way.

While I think this is ideal for traveling, it might also work for backpacking trips, it only weighs 2.6 oz, with the included case, cord, and adapter, it's 6.4 oz.  Some solar chargers have USB ports, I'm thinking of the ones that you can just clip to your backpack.  One of those and this SteriPen would make a nice pair for the back country.  I hesitate a little here because I have personally never been able to find an effective solar charger, but I have hope in that direction.  I also question the practicality of carrying a solar charger when two AAA batteries are lighter and more universal.   But in the end, I think the SteriPen Freedom takes the best of the previous models and condenses that technology into a very practical and necessary device.  It's appropriate for a wide audience from the business traveler, world trekker and the back country folks.  Find it HERE.

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Three Things for Your Beach Bag

Eco Friendly REVO Sunglasses.  Check out these fabulous earth friendly sunglasses by REVO.  You would be amazed at how much clearer the world looks through these lenses, what a difference!  Everything is crisp and glares disappear due to the polarization.  How exactly this works, I am not sure, but it works.

This comes in so handy around water, and really cuts down on eye strain.  I love the Bearing sunglasses which are big and provide a lot of protection.  I'm actually sensitive to light and these glasses are a dream come true. 

Vapur Bottle.  The new Element Vapur Bottle has a different lid, a bigger, more manageable one that you can just flip open and shut. 
I think this is an improvement over the regular style because I can open it with a flip of one hand, there's no cap to fall off, and I don't have to use my teeth.

What  I love about these bottles (both styles) is that you can freeze them.  I keep one in the freezer all the time and it can double as an ice block in our cooler and I've even used it as an ice pack for an aching neck.  If you pack a frozen one, when it melts you have water to drink.  It's a great design.  After you're done drinking, you just roll it up and tuck it into the clip reducing the space it takes in your bag. 

Badger Balm Sunscreen Stick.  I am not a fan of most sunscreen, it's toxic and buns my eyes.  Even some of the more "natural" ones that you find at the co-op can be really irritating and not so natural.   The Badger balm sunscreens are fabulous.  They contain organic ingredients and don't irritate.  My favorite is the stick which you can rub all over your face (and your child's face) and it doesn't melt or sting your eyes.  Very convenient and not toxic. 

Image Credit: germeister

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