I had my first panic attack the morning I dropped my 10-month-old son off at day care for the first time. I wasn’t worried about him starting school; in fact, I was excited to finally have a quiet house and the space I needed to run my business. But my body had a different idea. Huddled against the steering wheel of my gray Honda CRV, I shook and hyperventilated. I sobbed in a way I never had before, like I was breaking into a million pieces. Images flashed across my vision: The ultrasound picture showing a baby without a heartbeat. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team huddled around ..read more

As a thru-hiker with more than 11,000 miles under my hipbelt, I know exactly what I want and need in order to thrive on trail. I keep my gear light, strong and multipurpose so I can carry a kit that carefully balances weight, comfort and functionality.  The lighter my gear, the less strain on my body while I hike, reducing my risk of injury and allowing me to hike farther while expending fewer calories and carrying less water. Proper technical clothing and supportive, well-designed gear keeps me comfortable for long days and in varying conditions. I choose items that can perform multiple ..read more

Imagine yourself in a park on a sunny afternoon, surrounded by a swirl of laughter, birdsong, maybe a breeze blowing through the leaves. Or on the beach some summer day, laying out hot and relaxed on a blanket, listening to the water, smelling the humid air, watching the sunlight glint off your friends’ and lovers’ shades.   These images can help us feel at ease and comfortable in our own skin, and for good reason. When we go outside, we aren’t just in nature, we are nature—free to be exactly who we are and live in harmony with the world around us.   That’s the concept beh ..read more

There’s nothing like looking out at a spectacular sunset from a ridgeline or leaving your worries behind as you trek through a thicket of trees. Many of our most special moments are experienced outside. But what’s better than enjoying them with someone else? Whether you’re a novice hiker or an alpine climber, a hiking companion can transform your adventures: They can amuse you, share their skill sets and cheer you on when the going gets tough.  Here are our top tips and tricks for a seamless trek with a trailmate. Hike with Someone You Like Hiking is one of the best ways to reconnect wit ..read more

Spring is the season of daffodils and bird migration—and marks the arrival of new books, where David Henkes, the buyer for books, maps and government passes, faces the (fun) challenge of choosing from many titles for limited shelf space at REI. Henkes curates selections tailored to each store’s unique clientele, drawing on his experience as a former independent bookseller.  Different physical stores offer different selections. It’s Henkes’ job to place the right mix of books in the right stores. A new guidebook to Olympic National Park, for instance, will be sold at stores in the Pacific ..read more

The rage one human can feel toward 1.5 pounds of dual-density polyurethane and rubber compound, it turns out, can be all-consuming. When I so much as glance at my old hiking sandals, all I feel is contempt, vitriol and an increased heart rate. It’s embarrassing, really, the effect this footwear has on me.  But when I glance at my new hiking sandals—technically, a secondhand pair I almost didn’t buy—I feel eagerness and joy. Before them, I thought hiking sandals weren’t for me; that I wasn’t hard-core or skilled enough to sport them; that I somehow lacked the grit and intelligence to figu ..read more

You probably know Amy Tan from her novels The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter’s Daughter or from her memoir, story collections and children’s books. But the National Humanities Medal winner is also a passionate animal lover. And as with her writing, Tan never does things halfway.  When Tan decided she loved Yorkshire terriers, she soon became co-owner of a Yorkie that won at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. She also has crusaded against puppy mill owners. “Animals are a big thing,” Tan says.  So in 2016, when Tan began to pay attention to birds, her curiosity soon grew into wh ..read more

1. Agreeing to the hike The absolute peak moment of an outdoor adventure is when your friend sends a stunning Instagram post of a breathtaking view from the top of a moderate-to-hard trail, and you reply, “OMG, so beautiful––we should go!” while you’re blissfully horizontal on the couch.  2. Getting in the car after the hike  Folks, fasten your seat belts––we’ve now reached cruising altitude. You haven’t fantasized this much about getting in your own car since you were clutching your learner’s permit. Everything about this moment is a win: the significant barrier between you and the ..read more

Co-op members know that REI is a different kind of company: Not only can you can find top-quality gear and a wide range of expertise to aid your outdoor adventures, but a visit to REI can also start lifelong family camping traditions, help you hike to more breathtaking destinations and maybe, if you’re as lucky as some members, introduce you to that special person. (Don’t worry: Expert store staff can help you buy a tent for two when the time’s right.) Over the years, REI members and customers have sent in heartfelt handwritten notes (and emails, too) sharing how the co-op and wider REI commu ..read more

Transcript Alastair Humphreys is an author and adventurer who has walked 600 miles across Southern India, ran an ultra marathon through the Sahara Desert, and hiked and rafted across Iceland. Alastair’s newest wild idea is to embrace the concept of “microadventures,” an adventure that is short, easily accessible, and affordable while still being fun, challenging, refreshing, and rewarding.  Connect with Alastair:  Website Instagram Order Alastair’s new book, Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One: Check out the REI C ..read more