The LOWA Renegade Boots are very versatile footwear. I feel comfortable wearing them in a broad spectrum of hiking scenarios.  I have worn them while hiking along the PCT in the Marble Mountain Wilderness, the Russian Wilderness and Klamath National Forest. I have worn them while spelunking in the lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument, while climbing scree-sloped volcanoes, while tracing a river eddy for a fish survey project, walked through dense forests in all kinds of conditions, explored thermal features and even wore them on fire assignments.

From top: 20Five, Defcon and Clamor

Ryders has been making affordable sunglasses since the 80's and they have only improved with age. Their sunglasses are fully featured to fit with just about every outdoor activities needs. We’re focusing on the Defcon which is aimed at endurance sports, the Clamor which is geared toward active and casual activities and the 20Five designed as their retro 80's model.

Ryders' sunglasses have optically correct lenses that help eliminate distortion in the lenses making them comfortable to look through while minimizing eye fatigue. The lenses use a scratch-resistant coating making it harder to scratch under normal use. The lenses are also made to be shatterproof, and while a strong impact may damage the lenses, they will not shatter into little shards. All the lenses come with complete UV protection covering all three bands in the UV spectrum as well as harmful blue light in the 400nm wavelength. Those sunglasses that offer polarizing lenses help eliminate glare while giving increased definition.

There are countless choices for everyday footwear but most do not fit my definition of everyday. I need something that fits my feet comfortably, can work at the office, around town and even short hikes. The Cushe Xsige-WP is a slip on sneaker that is great for my everyday needs. The Xsige is part of Cushe’s Universal Traveller line which is designed for apres-outdoor sports and in transit.

Whether you prefer to evolve in small steps or giants leaps TrekSta has a shoe for you. The Evolution II is the latest progression from TrekSta and a great find for anyone on the trail. The Evolution II is part of TrekSta’s Mountain Trail Line and is a great addition for anyone who wears trail runners. The Evolution II comes in both men’s and women’s and multiple color options available. The Evolution II comes with two sets of laces. One set of laces are conservative in color while the other offer more flare. For example I received the black/lime color of the men’s Evolution II. I can go with grey laces which blend in with the rest of the upper part of the shoe or I can use the neon green laces.