Gear Room

CALIFORNIA COWBOY HIGH SIERRA SHIRT

“Meet the first and only shirt ever designed specially to enhance your ability to destroy Après.” California Cowboy’s promotional verbiage is witty and spot-on representative of their style and function. The High Sierra Shirt is a luxury flannel made of super soft cotton with a thermal lining, plus a ton of other features I had never thought I needed but totally appreciate and use—features such as a bottle

opener pocket, a dry pocket that’s lined to

THIRD EYE HEADLAMP

Designed in California by a contemporary artist and adventure junkie who wanted to make “rad looking headlamps that never quit,” Third Eye Headlamps have truly created something unique. They are made with non-toxic plastic and are the only headlamp company that’s a member of 1% for the Planet, but the thing that really sets them apart are the awesome headlamp headband

As many as 322 plastic utensils are used by the average American every year. Flatware is an innovative, eco-friendly, re-usable utensil set that is so compact it fits in a compact purse or wallet. The slide-out stainless steel fork and spoon

GOSUN FLATWARE TRAVEL CUTLERY SET

keep phones from getting wet (from spilled beer, rainstorms, and falling in snow banks, I guess), a bottle or can beverage holder pocket, a loop on the inside of the jacket for hanging gloves, a pen pocket, and a loop for hanging sunglasses on the front of the jacket. This deluxe, handsome flannel will be a favorite for years to come. MSRP: $148. Shop.californiacowboy.com (Derrick Knowles)

styles. I chose Galaxy, which looks like you might expect a psychedelic glimpse out into deep space might look. It’s 168 lumens with six brightness settings, red and white lights, and it’s waterproof and comes with a lifetime warranty. You can also buy just the headbands to fit a headlamp you already own from another brand for $12. MSRP: $49.99. Thirdeyeheadlamps.com (Derrick Knowles)

are a great size for eating on the go, fit into a thin plastic case (3mm thick), and are dishwasher safe. Keep a couple in your car or camper and do your part to limit single-use plastics. MSRP: $39. Gosun. com (Wil Wheaton)

KINIS NOMAD MINIMALIST WORKOUT SHOE

KINIS is a minimalist footwear company focused on helping people move in more natural ways. And KINIS Nomad is a sock/shoe hybrid that promotes natural foot biomechanics that’s great for indoor workouts, especially come winter when floors are likely to be cold or going barefoot isn’t an option. The company notes that many modern athletic shoes change foot movement that over time can contribute to weakening the structure of the arches, toes, and ankles. Minimalist footwear like KINIS can make feet more durable and injury resistant. MSRP: $65. Kinis. com (Wil Wheaton)

NOMADIX TOWELS

This multi-purpose towel is soft, light (16 oz), and stylish— perfect for travelling or summer beach days and backpacking. Made with post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, it’s quick drying, water absorbing, and somehow resists becoming a hot, sandy mess. MSRP: $39.95. Nomadix.co (Wil Wheaton)

RAB EQUIPMENT CIRRUS ALPINE JACKET

A new synthetic jacket made from 100% recycled materials by Rab Equipment, the Cirrus Alpine Jacket solves many of the problems modern mountain men and women grapple with. Synthetic insulation is seeing constant progress right now as manufacturers try to match the warmth-to-weight ratio of down, which led to Rab creating its synthetic Cirrus insulation for this jacket. It was noticeably lighter than it looked when I first put it on and fits more comfortably than many similar jackets I’ve tried in recent years, especially the hood. It’s warm, light, versatile in wet mountain conditions, and better for the planet. MSRP $180. Rab.equipment/us (Derrick Knowles)

GORDINI CACHE GAUNTLET MITT

Based in Vermont and independently owned, Gordini has been an innovator in glove design for over 60 years. New this season is the company’s Clutch™ Synthetic Leather, a waterproof/breathable, animal-free alternative that outperforms traditional leather and suede. Clutch is also a highly durable material shown to be four-to-six times more abrasion resistant than leather and highly breathable to

TOADFISH COASTAL KITCHEN COLLECTION

This set of award-winning seafood tools is packaged together for easy gifting, but if you’re a seafood lover, you’ll have a hard time giving it away. The set includes three tools for preparing fresh seafood: a Put 'Em Back™ Oyster Knife—an ergonomicallydesigned knife with a bent tip and handles made from recycled plastic bottles for shucking oysters; a Frogmore™ Shrimp boot. Gordini sells gloves and mitts made of Clutch, but I chose the Gauntlet Mitt with Primaloft insulation that comes with fingermitt construction to maximize warmth on colder days in the backcountry when my fingers tend to go numb too easily. I got to give them a whirl on a very-early season fall ski tour in unseasonably frigid temps and was stoked to still feel my fingers at the summit. MSRP: $80.99. Gordini.com. (Derrick Knowles)

Cleaner—an original tool that peels, deveins, and butterflies shrimp in one smooth motion; and a Toadfish™ Crab Cutter that slices through crab shells instead of smashing them. Toadfish notes that the company also invests in marine ecosystems, by planting 10 square ft. of new oyster habitat for every product sold. MSRP: $88. Toadfishoutfitters.com (Wil Wheaton)