I wrote a guidebook!! I know, right?! Exciting stuff! It's called Hiking Texas Hill Country, published by the inimitable Falcon Guides. And it was a looooooot of work, so I'm stoked to finally see it come into the world! (Some of you may remember we lived in Austin for 8 years, give or take a year or so to travel). As a teaser, I wanted to share 5 of the best hikes near Austin that are included in the book to whet your appetite, encourage you to lace up your boots, and consider buying the book, which offers everything from descriptions of flora and fauna to turn-by-turn hiking directions to ep ..read more

Ever wanted to travel with your bike to a cool mountain bike (or gravel bike, or road bike) destination, but didn't because you looked at the cost of renting a decent steed for the week and had a low-grade heart attack? Fortunately, road trips aren't the only option if you want to travel with a bike: you can absolutely fly with a bike, too. Yes, fly with your bike. As in, check it as luggage when you’re jetting from one destination to another on a commercial airline. Exciting stuff, right? So we're gonna break down how to do it, what to expect, and then compare two excellent bike travel bags s ..read more

You know what they say about April showers (don't make me repeat the rhyme...)! But if you love the outdoors, you can't let a little precipitation ruin your plans. Heck no! Just don a rugged rain jacket and get out there to play (whether that involves walking your dog around the park or summiting the nearest fourteener. But not all rain jackets are created equal, when it comes to performance, but also sustainability. So ditch the rain gear with PFAS, and if it's time to replace your tattered old jacket, choose one of these more sustainable rain jackets instead. The post 3 of the Best Sustainab ..read more

It’s fun, it’s funky, it’s ultralight! It’s the LiteAF ECOPACK 40L Curve ultralight backpack! But we test a lot of ultralight gear here at Terradrift, so what makes THIS pack so special? It’s super durable and functional. The post LiteAF ECOPAK 40L Curve Full Suspension appeared first on Terradrift ..read more

I'm obsessed with barefoot shoes. It's pretty much all I own at this point. But here's the thing: you can't just dive right into wearing barefoot shoes full-time whether you want to wear them hiking, running, or just around town. It takes some transitioning to get used to minimalist shoes with plenty of ground feel, flexible soles, zero drop, and no arch support. So we chatted with John Wadley, the VP of product development at Xero Shoes, to talk about how to transition to barefoot shoes the right way! The post How to Transition to Barefoot Shoes appeared first on Terradrift ..read more

When it comes to the outdoors, there are a lot of myths about animals' survival, navigation, and more that people have perpetuated for years, sometimes decades. Like, for example, when people in Fayetteville, Arkansas, who have clearly never left the state say that the city is just like Austin, Texas. I've lived in both places, okay? It's really not. Anyway, it's the same with these 10 outdoors-oriented myths. One person says one slightly incorrect thing one time, and everybody feels like they have to repeat it. So, we're gonna straighten some things out right here, right now, so you're not sp ..read more

I'm very particular about my backpacks. I want the perfect balance of exterior pockets, interior organizational space, packability, and comfort. And I want to to not weigh much. I don't think that's too much to ask. And yeah, I want it to be sustainable as well. So, I was pretty stoked when I got to test the Deuter Speed Lite CV. Specifically the 23L SL version, which is the women's-specific model. There's also a 25 L unisex version. And frankly, I'm pretty impressed. Honestly, this backpack might just be my new favorite daypack. The post Deuter Speed Lite CV 23: A Super Lightweight Daypack! a ..read more

The term “sustainable” can feel like a pretty loaded word these days. I mean, literally everyone is slapping it on their products in an effort to get eco-conscious shoppers to buy their stuff. But a freakin’ ton of sustainability verbiage is total greenwashing (aka: B.S.). Here's how to identify clothing and gear that’s ACTUALLY more sustainable and how different sustainability can look from brand to brand or item to item. The post Sustainability is a Spectrum: A Guide to Understanding Ethical and Sustainable Outdoor Gear appeared first on Terradrift ..read more

I freaking love a good travel bag. Especially one that prioritizes organization. I travel too often to use luggage that doesn't keep all my stuff together and in its place. So when I got a look at the Matador SEG28 travel backpack, I had to try it. Here's what I thought. The post An Epic Travel Backpack or an Epic Dud? The Matador SEG28 Review appeared first on Terradrift ..read more

You know w're all about barefoot shoes here at Terradrift. We love barefoot adventure sandals, trail runners, and absolutely waterproof barefoot hiking boots. So when Xero Shoes dropped their shiny new Scrambler Mid II Waterproof (it's brand new this week) we had to test out a pair to see just how barefoot–and waterproof–they really are. The post A Waterproof Barefoot Hiking Boot?! This is the Xero Shoes Scrambler Mid II Waterproof appeared first on Terradrift ..read more