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

Transcript In 2013, Thor Pedersen left his home in Denmark for the trip of a lifetime. His goal was to travel to every country in the world. He had three rules for his journey. He had to spend at least 24 hours in each country. He couldn’t return to Denmark until he had crossed off every nation on the list. And last but not least, no air travel. Connect with Thor: Website  Instagram Check out: Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!! REI Re/Supply Sign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series”  Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One: Check out the ..read more

Award-winning nonprofit Ghetto Film School (GFS) and REI Co-op Studios created the “Inside/Outside” mentorship and incubator program to help three filmmakers as they navigate the development and production of their films. Kristy Hyunsoo Choi (she/her or they/them), Julieta Lozano (she/her) and Alyse Arteaga (she/her) were each invited to develop and produce a project responding to the prompt: What does time outside mean to you or your community? Each filmmaker received a $50,000 production award to develop their projects, as well as mentoring and insight from industry veterans who offere ..read more

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Transcript Lael Wilcox is known as one of the world’s best ultra-endurance cyclists. She’s ridden over 150,000 miles in more than 50 countries. Now, Lael is going after her wildest idea yet: to break the record for cycling around the world. Her goal is to ride more than 18,000 miles in 110 days. Connect with Lael: Website  Instagram Check out: Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!!  Sign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series”  Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about loca ..read more

In August 2022, REI Co-op product developer Lauren Bowman asked hundreds of gear testers of all shapes and sizes to hunker down in sleeping bag samples.  Bowman wanted to take measurements while actual people used the ​bags ​to pinpoint optimal fit for real-world backpackers. So while testers played cards and read books in the bedding, she noted where the baffles pinched, gapped, sagged and bulged. The goal: to create better-fitting bags.   These fit sessions were part of a comprehensive REI Co-op initiative that looked critically and exhaustively at how well this piece of gear served th ..read more

Transcript Glen Van Peski is known as the king of ultralight backpacking. While backpackers will hit the trails with a pack that weighs upwards of 20 pounds, sometimes even up to 50 or more, Glen’s pack usually only weighs around 12 pounds. Glen is also the founder of the functional lightweight backpacking and hiking gear company, Gossamer Gear, and the author of Take Less. Do More.: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker.  Connect with Glen: Website Instagram  Gossamer Gear Instagram Glen’s new book, Take Less ..read more

My husband and son are avid backpackers. Last August, they set out with their packs and trekked 30 miles inside Yosemite National Park. They saw deer, foxes, wildflowers, salamanders, streams and lakes along the way. But the most valuable part of the trip was the time they spent together. There were games of UNO, ghost stories, sing-alongs and even newly invented camp recipes. My son is 15, so these precious moments are few and far between—and, truth be told, I was jealous. I love the outdoors, and I love time with my family even more. There’s just one thing that keeps me from venturing out o ..read more

Transcript At the age of 50, Ruby Gates left her career and home to get on a sailboat for seven months. At the time, she knew nothing about sailing, but the trip changed her life. Now, nine years later, Ruby has decided to go after the wildest idea she’s ever had. She’s circumnavigating the world by sailboat. Connect with Ruby:  Sail with Ruby Instagram  Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees TEVA Check out: REI Re/Supply Outside in 5 REI Co-op Adventure Travel The post Sa ..read more

Transcript What if your wild idea no longer brings you joy? Retired pro skier, Grace Miller, is intimately familiar with a change of course. Grace grew up in Alaska and started skiing at a young age. Before she was out of high school, she was recruited to compete at the highest level, but at age 23 after competing on the world stage, Grace decided to leave skiing behind to pursue some new wild ideas. Connect with Grace:  Instagram Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees TEVA Check ..read more