Outdoor Adventure Guide
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Adventure is wherever you find it! Here's our Special X-Training Get-Away Guide for getting the most out of your outtings. PHOTO: Dr. M in ExOfficio's Insect Shield Baja Shirt. British styled straw pith helmet by Brookstone.
Part of fully enjoying your outdoor or even urban excursions is planning well. You will actually save a lot of time, worry and money by packing these few necessities. Dressing for the weather and terrain is a must but be sure to pack light. How many times have we all lugged needless items along that we never used or wore? We'll show you how to gear up, starting with travel and adventure wear for a day or weekend trip.
ExOfficio's Insect Shield Baja Shirt in Palm
When packing for an outting, it is wise to wear clothing that is versatile for whatever conditions you may find yourself in. We've gone through three eco-systems in only one day. Woodlands, salt marsh and open fields. The Insect Shield Baja is the one shirt that can keep up with all of these changes. This shirt is wrinkle resistant and lightweight, (a bit more than 6 ozs), so it packs easy but that's only the beginning. It's 65% polyester/ 35% Cotton blend has wicking action with a special ventillation system of panels that can be opened under the arms. Just where you need it! The roll-up sleeve tabs allow you to go from long to short sleeves in a snap. Better still is the fact that the material itself offers Sunguard of 30+ which means you're protected when you move from forest to open spaces with no shade. One of the other things that bothers me when going into a swampy zone is mosquitos. They love me! The Insect Shield Baja is so named because it offers invisible and odorless protection from bugs. This protection lasts through 70 launderings, so no worries on it losing its vibe anytime soon. See all of ExOfficio's travel wear at: http://www.exofficio.com
Dorfman-Pacific's Solar Protection Hat on the water. Model is also wearing SperryTop-Sider Figawi2 Boating Sandals which are quick drying and slip proof.
Just as the Baja shirt offers protection for your body a hat should do the same for your head and neck. This hat completely blocks out sunlight due to the specially made brim. It is very lightweight, quick drying and easy to pack. Often times high winds on the water kick up but this hat stays put due its design and adjustable tie. The brim of your hat should be wide enough to give shade not just your head but to your neck as well. This way you'll be better protected from the sun's rays which also reflect more strongly off the water.
Speaking of water, you'll need to make sure your clothing, tents and gear are waterproofed. We've found NIKWAX to be especially useful in not only waterproofing but solarproofing all types of fabrics. We use NIKWAX Tent & Gear Solarproof which sprays onto our windbreakers, hats and tents with ease. Our shoes get their Waterproofing Wax for Leather. Our feet stay extra dry now without that awful seepage you usually get after being caught in a heavy rain. NIKWAX works by coating treated items with a network of elastic, water repellant molecules. Water just doesn't get in even when forced such as what happens during a downpour. The extra solar protection NIKWAX offers to our tents and gear is a real bonus. UV damage is often the main cause of material becoming degraded and brittle thus shortening its lifespan. It is also a bit of extra protection for your jackets and outerwear because a certain amount of sunlight passes through them too. NIKWAX is highly recommended to use now before the season gets underway. That way you'll be ready for sunshine or rain. See all of their fine water & solarproofing products at NIKWAX http://nikwax.com
Hydration 101: Using a Stainless Steel Water Bottle shown here helps save the environment and money.
One of greatest challenges we face when traveling to remote areas is keeping hydrated. Fatigue, poor judgment not to mention death can be the unhappy result of not having enough water to drink. Pre-filled bottles of water are so yesterday. Think of them all littering the roadways and in garbage dumps. Instead, purchase a stainless steel, reusable water bottle as you see me with here. It is the new canteen! It has a leakproof seal and if I add a few ice cubes, it stays cold for hours. It also holds more water than your average plastic bottle can. You can fill it with your own spring water, juice or even a protein shake. Rainbow Light makes a fantastic line of Protein Energizers in four different flavors. Each gives you a serious boost of vitamins, minerals and 15 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber all while helping to keep you hydrated. I add Ovaltine, fresh berries as a smoothie and many other ingredients to come up with my own energy drinks to go. I really like Starbuck's bottled Mocha concoctions but really this is a much better alternative. If I still crave one I can use a flavored coffee or flavoring syrup and add that to the protein powder for nearly the same thing. Here is a quick recipe using one of Rainbow Light's new flavors of Protein Energizer, Acai Berry:
Acai Berry Blast
1 scoop Rainbow Light Acai Berry Blend
1 cup Rice or Almond Milk
1 1/2 cups Spring Water
1/2 cup Frozen Wild Blueberries
Blend everything until smooth, (extra water or ice may be added), pour into your stainless steel bottle and go. The protein in the drink mix is from rice while Acai and wild Blueberries offer a super blast of antioxidants. Real smooth!
Check out all the flavors at Rainbow Light, http://www.rainbowlight.com
Ready to go? Here's my packing list for a weekend adventure:
1 Packable Windbreaker
1 Sun Protecting Hat (Dorfman-Pacific Solar Blocking Hat)
1 large silk scarf
2 Shirts (Insect Shield Baja is a must-take)
1 Pair Quick Drying Pants
1 Pair Quick Drying Capris - Zoic Cyling Capris
1 Cotton Skort
1 Pair of Waterproofed Shoes
1 Pair of Quick Drying Sandals - Sperry Top-Sider's Figawi2 2 strap sandals
2 pairs Quick Drying Socks - Pearl Izumi Cycling Socks shown here
1 Convertible Bra, (consult Victoria's Secret)
2 pairs Quick Drying Underwear-ExOfficio's Give-N-Go Bikini shown here
1 Silk Nightshirt (can double as a camisole)
Stainless steel water bottle
Mini First-Aid kit replete with aspirin
Cosmetic Bag with tinted Sunblock, toothbrush & comb
Charged cell phone and GPS unit, both can double as a flashlight
I've been able to fit most of these items in my small backpack. When flying, I've fit everything into my onboard bag so that it did not have to be checked. This way I have everything with me when I land giving me plenty of time to make my connection. This packing list can take you anywhere in the world in style but is very light indeed. Quick drying materials allow you to rinse them out in the sink and wear them the next day. You can visit all of the company websites on the upper right for more details.
Sperry Top-Sider Figaw2-2 Strap Sandals are perfect for the water with its non-slip soles yet look great on land too.
These sandals are super light, do not absorb much water and dry very quickly. A little bit of a wedge makes them perfect for wearing with a skort for a night out on a yacht! One of my favorites from Sperry Top-Sider at, http://www.sperrytopsider.com