Lightweight, durable organization and compression During my months-long trip in Sweden I have been using Tripped packing cubes to help me organize clothing, compress several jackets, and provide me with storage for some odd-sized items.  The lightweight nylon Tripped packing cubes have sturdy zippers with zipper pulls that help me find the zippers quickly. I tested white cubes with dark grey zippers, but the cubes come in a variety of colors.

Today on my adventure I saw four bunnies near the bike path; they scampered across as I rode along the canal near the beach. Later, at the bathhouse, I saw three white swans and lots of little black birds on the sea. I started my outing by pedaled over to my favorite swim spot, Scaniabadet, just to see how rough the water was, and I have to tell you, it was clearly not a day for open water swimming.

Hardworking, durable merino socks for men and women. I’ve been wearing Bridgedale’s Ultra Light T2 Merino Sport 3/4 Crew socks several times a week for the past five months for hiking, walking, and cycling outings, and they have performed at the highest level.  Made out of a merino wool, nylon, and LYCRA® blend, the Bridgedale Ultra Light T2 Merino Sport 3/4 Crew sock has been ideal for my needs.

The new AOP design offers an early glimpse of the brand’s upcoming spring color story, rendered in mottled splotches and soft gradients that feel at once natural and artificial. The pattern can read like a moody winter sky or a frozen, reflective pond—or just as easily like colored lights bleeding together or spray paint on concrete. It’s intentionally ambiguous: a kind of Rorschach test for your vision of spring.

Lightweight hiking sock for men and women I’ve been traveling in Sweden for almost five months, and I only packed a couple pairs of socks, including Bridgedale’s Hike Lightweight T2 Coolmax Performance Boot Sock. Made out of a high tech blend of 56% Coolmax®/Polyester, 43% Nylon/Polyamide, and 1% LYCRA®/Elastane, this lightweight, versatile crew sock feels soft like cotton but works hard like wool.

Ideal flannel mid-layer for fall and winter Digging out a suitable autumn shirt from my closet can mimic a bad episode of the Three Bears. One shirt’s too cold, one shirt’s too hot, and that one, the one all the way in the back of the closet, that shirt fits horribly, never held up, lost its buttons, and should just get scrapped.

Lightweight, wicking exercise top The Duluth Trading Company’s Alaskan Hard Gear (AKHG) Renew Bamboo ¼ Zip Mock is supposed to be durable, comfortable, and stylish enough to wear around town. I've been putting through some tough workouts, and it has performed well. The AKHG Renew Bamboo ¼ Zip Mock is made out to 58% rayon (made from bamboo), 38% recycled polyester, and 4% spandex.

Warm, breathable all-purpose lightweight merino jacket. My open water swimming gear (including two wetsuits and lots of neoprene accessories) takes up most of the room in my large suitcase, so I have to make smart clothing choices when I pack for a month-long trip spanning two or three seasons. Every garment must work for multiple outings and activities and not take up much space in my luggage.

Lightweight windbreaker vest. I was looking for a way to add a bit of warmth to my fall activities without adding weight and bulk, and found that Stio’s Dawner Vest provides everything I need for cool and cold outdoor activities. Warm, Breathable The Stio Dawner Vest is available in women’s and men’s styles. I started wearing the Women’s Dawner Vest over a…

Lightweight merino blend performance tee Available in women’s and men’s sizes, Mammut’s Tree Wool FL T-Shirt has been a fantastic travel shirt for my adventures in Sweden. Made out of 50% wool and 50% Lycocell (a durable fiber made from trees), this ultra-thin, lightweight tee is a dream to wear because it does a great job of breathing and wicking away sweat, it resists odors (so I can wear it 4 or 5 days in a row before I feel like I need to wash it), and its loose cut gives me a very comfortable fit for every activity. 

Dependable Travel Backpack for Long and Short Trips After traveling with a 45L pack that was too heavy for me on my last trip to Europe I was looking for a smaller, more manageable pack. Osprey’s Transporter™ Travel Pack 36 has been an ideal traveling companion for long and short trips. Somehow it’s both spacious and compact, with room and organization for all my clothes, toiletries, and gadgets.

Ultra lightweight merino tee. I was looking for a comfortable merino tee that I could wear as a base layer for fall activities, and found exactly what I was seeking in the Minus 33 Women’s Wool V-Neck Tee. Available in women's and men's sizes, this micro-weight tee is very, very thin (17.5 microns fibers), and the material feels soft against my skin.

Merino-blend tee ideal for hiking and travel.  Available in men’s and women’s styles, Stio’s versatile Alpin Lightweight Merino Tee SS is ideal for hiking, travel, and any other activity where you want to have a breathable, easy-to-care-for top. Made out of a lightweight blend of 42.5% Merino Wool, 42.5% TENCEL™, 10% Nylon, and 5% Spandex, this soft short-sleeved tee has the benefits of wool (breathable, odor resistant), plus added durability from the TENCEL™ fibers.

High-performing, all-purpose wool top. My daily summer routine starts with coffee, throwing on my Royal Robbins Rockcraft Wool Hoodie, and walking out to the garden to do some stretching and pick tomatoes, peppers, and basil for breakfast. The air temperature often skirts around the upper 40’s F during the Washoe Valley's summer since the sun doesn't quite clear the eastern slope of sage-covered hills on the east side until later in the morning. 

Lightweight cotton-alpaca blend tee. Paka’s Women’s Essential V-Neck made out of a lightweight blend of 85% organic Pima cotton and 15% alpaca fiber. The fabric is very soft against my skin. I can’t be sure, but it feels like this thin tee breathes a bit better than my typical cotton shirts. I also like the v-neck cut. I’m always looking for comfortable t-shirts, and Paka’s Women’s Essential V-Neck has been a dream to wear because it’s so thin and lightweight, ideal for these warm summer days.

All Good Goop is one of very few body products I always have on hand because I use it for everything. It’s all-natural formula does everything I need for my skin.

Stable yet nimble trail shoes. I’m fairly particular about my trail shoes, but who isn’t? The right fit is just as important as an adequate level of support and a tread pattern that stands up to the terrain. Still, it’s too easy to get attached to a brand and stop looking at what else might be available. So, when I had a chance to test Merrell’s Moab 3 Hiking Shoe I was eager to try it out.

Spacious, zippered pouch for toiletries. As part of their commitment to plastic-free packaging, All Good Body Care has created a canvas pouch that’s big enough for all my toiletries and small enough to fit in my daypack or gym bag. I have a staging area in my bedroom with everything I need to start my day, so it’s easy to grab the items I need (everything from deodorant and hand sanitizer to floss and a bottle of…

Lightweight, warm fleece pants in women’s and men’s styles. The North Face Women’s Summit Series FUTUREFLEECE™ Pant has become a staple in my winter gear rotation because it’s comfortable, versatile, and packable. I’m not usually a fleece fan, but I love the lightweight, stretchy FUTUREFLEECE™ fabric (55% polyester and 45% recycled polyester). It has a plush grid pattern on the inside that’s soft against my skin and a poly-feeling flatness on the outside.

Stainless steel camping utensils.  HydroFlask’s stainless steel Utensil Set is the perfect solution for away-from-home meals. Made out of food-grade 18/8 stainless steel, the fork, spoon, and knife were designed to be stacked and stashed into their own Velcro-sealed nylon pouch for storage and transport. The pouch has a nylon cord loop on one end, making it easy to hang on my gear wall when not in use.

All-purpose Turkish cotton blanket. Blankets are in a special category for me, gear I love having but often forget I need. Teema’s The Stone Blanket is helping me remember how beneficial a good blanket can be. So Many Uses Made out of 100% organic Turkish cotton, this large (84" x 71”), stone-washed woven blanket has a comforting lived-in look and feel, like my favorite sweatshirt but better because it’s made out of tightly-woven cotton that’s elegant in its simplicity, durability, and versatility.

Lightweight lined canvas chore jacket. Just like my favorite pair of jeans, I have a jacket that is always in my outerwear rotation, my Orvis Barn Coat. It’s the coat I grab when I’m going to run errands, take down the holiday lights, or help my friend move some boxes in her garage. Stylish Functionality Image from Orvis.com Available in men’s and women’s styles, the Orvis Barn Coat is far more fashionable and refined than my old brown canvas chore coat.

Lightweight puffer jacket in men’s and women’s styles. I’ve been wearing The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie around town for weeks now, and it has kept me toasty warm on blustery, cold winter days. Made out of Pertex® Quantum, a 100% recycled nylon woven ripstop fabric, and insulated with ThermoBall™ insulation (made out of 100% post-consumer recycled polyester) that is blown into the horizontal baffles, the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie provides a lot of protection against the elements while remaining lightweight and not overly puffy.

I am grateful to have my favorite music available now in so many different exercise and movement settings. Strength training is so much more tolerable, and lap swimming goes by so quickly. 

I have worn the Rab Kangri GORE-TEX PACLITE® Plus Jacket on many walks and hikes, and it has always kept me dry, with so many adjustment options.