Threads of Thought: 007
The (not so) rugged outdoors: my current Youtube obsession and my favorite day hiking gear
Hello and happy Sunday and happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers in our lives! What are you doing to celebrate today? We’re headed to Topgolf with our entire family - dads love golf. A quick check-in today as it’s been a busy week for me.
My Current Youtube Obsession
I thought Father’s Day would be the perfect day to tell you all about my recent Youtube obsession, The Outdoor Boys. Luke, a dad to 3 boys, films videos of his camping adventures in Alaska with his family. I’m not sure why I was so drawn to this content, but it’s been my favorite thing to watch the past few weeks. I love that these adventures are so different than my everyday life and that no matter if they catch 10 fish or none, the act of camping itself was fun. I think that’s been an important lesson for me to focus on these past few weeks, as it can be quite easy to focus on “big achievements” and “hallmark moments” and forget to just enjoy the very act of doing something fun with loved ones.
My Favorite Day Hiking Gear
Unfortunately, there isn’t a ton of hiking or camping close to Austin due to our hot and flat terrain, but I did have a chance to do quite a few hikes when we went to Hawaii last fall! Although I’ve recently gotten into the idea of camping, I think I’m still most comfortable “glamping” or doing day hikes. Maybe I’ll work myself up to an overnight camp in the next few years. Here are a few of items I found most useful on the day hikes I did in Hawaii (ranging from 1.6 miles to 8 miles) - no affiliate links or sponsorships, just sharing in case helpful:
Osprey Dyna 6 Pack: Technically listed as a trail running pack, I loved carrying this for day hikes as carrying a full backpack felt like overkill. I didn’t use the hydration pack that came with the pack as it smelled a bit funny and I felt a bit weary of mold and being able to keep it clean, but instead used a collapsible water bottle (listed next) in the back pouch instead. It was the perfect size to hold a light layer, water, a snack, hat, sunscreen, bug repellant, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, and a few other bits and bobs.
Hydrapak Stow Water Bottle: I love this collapsible water bottle as it can squeeze into any bag you need it to fit into, although the center stitching helps provide some stability when full so it isn’t sloshing about. I didn’t experience any leaks and an unexpected surprise was that it was very packable for hand luggage! I have a hydroflask I use for everyday activities but it can get quite clunky during air travel - I just collapsed this hydrapak and was able to fill it up inside the airport when needed without the container taking up too much space or getting too heavy. I ended up using it again when I traveled to Boston last Christmas, because I loved it so much.
Columbia Women's Newton Ridge Lightweight Waterproof Shoe Hiking Boot: It felt like overkill to purchase hiking boots for day hikes only, but after slipping over slick rocks on the Kalalau trail for hours, I was so glad I purchased these. I found them on Amazon for $60 and I loved the ankle and toe protection they provided. One thing to note is that the higher ankle did rub into my skin slightly, but I purchased some high ankle socks which helped resolve the issue.
What is your favorite hiking gear?
Catch you next Sunday,
Cost per Fit 💰