3 days ago
5 Essentials For A Perfect Summer Adventure
NRS Eddyline Shorts NRS
What do you need for a perfect summer adventure? Here are five easy pieces that can help elevate your game before you head to the airport for parts unknown or embark on a long road trip.
It's summertime, the living is easy, and shorts rule. NRS may not be a familiar brand name to you, but the company has been manufacturing whitewater rafting gear for over 50 years. Who better to turn to for a pair of lightweight, rugged shorts that can handle a Western River or a Central Park outing during the recent heatwave in Manhattan? The NRS Eddyline Short is made from ultra-light fabric, offers a well-cut yet loose fit, and cool colors. Made from a polyester/elastane fabric, the shorts provide a comfortable, airy fit with ample freedom of movement. A stretch waistband, three mesh-lined pockets, two standard front pockets, and a single zippered rear pocket are all you need in this garment, which retails for $59.95.
Nocs Provisions x Bird Collective Binoculars Nocs Provisions
I have long been a fan of Nocs Binoculars, which are lightweight yet rugged, made with high-quality optics, and offered at a reasonable price point. They're essential if you're an avid hiker or boater, let alone a birder. The latter category comprises an astonishing one in three Americans, according to a 2024 report by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Nocs has just issued the Nocs Provisions x Bird Collective collaboration, a collection that honors the pastime of birding with a design that celebrates birds. The Nocs Provisions x Bird Collective range features two of Nocs Provisions most popular waterproof binoculars: the Pro Issue, Nocs' top-of-the-line 10x42 with phase-coated BaK4 prisms and IPX7 waterproof-rated, for $329.95 The Field Issue is a lightweight, durable, and waterproof 8x32 bino with a compact form factor and premium optics, at $195. The patterns celebrate the egg colors of the Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal. Both come with a woven tapestry strap with geometric patterns that reflect the birds' native landscapes. These new binos are available exclusively at REI stores and
OR Stratoburst Stretch Rain Jacket OR
OR makes some of the best outdoor wear that I've ever used, pieces that are great for hiking, skiing, and seemingly everything in between. They're well-made, well-tested, and seem to last forever. Their new Stratoburst Stretch Rain Jacket is a case in point. This ultra-lightweight jacket is designed for the trails – think hiking and mountain biking - but I love it for travel. It's barely noticeable in a backpack, but it's there when you need it in a downpour in Paris, Oslo, or Galway. It features essential elements like pit zips for ventilation and adjustable cuffs, making it ideal when a downpour darkens your day. It features a hood lock, allowing for a customizable fit. Speaking of fit, it utilizes stretch panels in its design, which are flexible and meant to mimic your body's natural movements. To get technical for a second, it utilizes breathable bluesign-approved 2.5-layer Ventia™ fabric. There are fully taped seams that seal out wind and moisture, and stretch to move with the body, making them ideal for cool-weather climbing or hiking. The newly updated DWR treatment provides wet-weather protection while not releasing harmful toxins into the environment during production. The jacket features a YKK zipper for a tight seal. Additionally, you can pack the entire jacket into its own chest pocket, which doubles as a stuff sack. At $165, it may be the ultimate travel shell.
Marsh Wear Buxton Tech Hood Marsh Wear Marsh Wear Buxton Tech Hood
It's hot out there, and that's why Marsh Wear, a Charleston, South Carolina company, caught my attention. They make a range of outdoor wear with sunny, Southern coastal living and adventures in mind. I've test-driven their Buxton Tech Hoodie, which retails for $59, and the results are in. It's lightweight, has a roomy, loose fit, and it's ideal for fly fishing when the temps start to rise. It's no surprise that it's the company's best-selling sun shirt, because it feels like your favorite well-worn t-shirt, made from a polyester and rayon combination that offers UPF 40 protection, and comes with thumb loops for maximum coverage.
Ibex GOAT Short Sleeve Crew Ibex Ibex GOAT Short Sleeve Crew
Summer is the season for T-shirts, but nothing says adventure quite like a merino tee. Ibex, a long-time leader in the merino wool tech space, has just released their GOAT collection, which they claim includes their most technically advanced tees. Made of 89% merino wool and 11% nylon for durability, it's a near-weightless wool fabric designed for all-season wear. Very soft, breathable, and thermoregulating, it possesses the two essential traits that merino devotees expect: it's antimicrobial and odor-resistant, which is the entire point of the garment. That three-week trip to Morocco? Doing the Mont Blanc circuit? Exploring the canyons of Utah? You can pack light, because these shirts don't need to be washed very often. I prefer the short-sleeve option, which retails for $85, but it is also available in tank, polo, and long-sleeve styles.
