Matador Network's Blog, page 677
March 31, 2021
The best frequent flyer programs
“Frequent flying” is pretty much the opposite of what we’ve been doing this past year. But as vaccines continue to roll out around the world, and people look forward to much-needed summer vacations, frequent flyer miles are starting to look a lot more enticing. There are countless frequent flyer programs out there, and it can be daunting to figure out which one is right for you. WalletHub compared the 10 largest domestic airlines’ loyalty programs and found the best frequent flyer programs for you to choose from.
WalletHub used 21 metrics to determine their findings, including the value of a rewards point, miles, and blackout date policies. These are their top-rated frequent flyer programs:
United Airlines – MileagePlusAlaska Airlines – Mileage PlanDelta Air Lines – SkyMilesAmerican Airlines – AAdvantageHawaiian Airlines – HawaiianMilesThere’s also a tool you can use to calculate the best program based on how much you spend annually on airline travel. For example, if you spend $1,000 on travel annually, United is your best bet, followed by Delta. If you spend $5,000 annually, United is still the top choice, but the second best option becomes Alaska Airlines.
United’s MileagePlus dethroned Delta SkyMiles to take the top spot in the ratings. SkyMiles held the title for the past five years. Delta’s SkyMiles, however, did rank number one for having the most additional features. Hawaiian Airlines offers the most rewards value at $24.19 per $100 spent. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and Frontier are the five major airlines whose miles don’t expire due to inactivity.
WalletHub also ranked the frequent flyer programs’ co-branded travel credit cards, which allow frequent travelers to earn free flights with purchases. United MileagePlus was ranked best overall and best for airline and partner coverage. Alaska Mileage Plan was ranked best for redemption policies and partner coverage. Delta SkyMiles was noted for its many additional features. American Airlines AAAdvantage won out for airline coverage, and Hawaiian Miles ranked best for rewards value and redemption policies. 
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New York's digital vaccine pass
New York’s new Excelsior Pass is one of the first vaccine passes launched in the US. Its goal is to allow restaurants, sports venues, and other facilities to fully reopen safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital pass is free and voluntary, and it was developed in partnership with IBM. The pass confirms the user’s recent negative PCR or antigen test, or proof of vaccination.
According to Governor Andrew Cuomo, “The innovative Excelsior Pass is another tool in our new toolbox to fight the virus while allowing more sectors of the economy to reopen safely and keeping personal information secure. The question of ‘public health or the economy’ has always been a false choice — the answer must be both. As more New Yorkers get vaccinated each day and as key public health metrics continue to regularly reach their lowest rates in months, the first-in-the-nation Excelsior Pass heralds the next step in our thoughtful, science-based reopening.”
The app will function similar to an airline boarding pass where the user can either print out the necessary information or store it on their phone using the Excelsior Pass Wallet app. Each pass will have a QR code, which participating venues can scan to verify that you meet their health requirements, including testing and vaccination. During the initial phase of its launch, the app can be used at select theaters, stadiums, and wedding receptions and catered events, like Madison Square Garden and the Times Union Center. On April 2, the pass will also be usable at smaller venues as well.
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This immersive exhibit will transport you into a science fiction world
An exhibit in New York City’s ARTECHOUSE called Geometric Properties debuted on March 1 and promises to push the limits of the peoples’ imagination through sounds and imagery organized in intricate mathematical patterns.
The immersive audio-visual installation was curated by the Dutch artist Julius Horsthuis. The goal of the exhibit is to take attendees on a journey led by the “beauty of mathematics, nature, and architecture,” encouraging a deep dive into self-reflection and pondering life’s existential questions. Although this Horsthuis’ first solo exhibit in NYC, his work has previously been featured in the movie Manchester by the Sea and in National Geographic.
Photo: ARTECHOUSE
“Our collaboration with Julius Horsthuis has always focused on finding innovative approaches to exhibiting fractal artworks in a real-world setting. Now in our second exhibition together, we have pushed the boundaries further than ever with the most technologically-advanced fractal experience yet,” Sandro Kereselidze, founder and chief creative officer of ARTECHOUSE, told Travel + Leisure. “Combining Horsthuis’ beautiful immersive worlds of endless patterns and our state-of-the-art systems, we were able to create a groundbreaking exploration of the depths of mathematics and digital nature.”
Photo: ARTECHOUSE
The exhibit was chosen to open the ARTECHOUSE 2021 season. ARTECHOUSE is a digital art center with locations in NYC, Miami Beach, and Washington, DC. Its mission is to inspire, empower, and educate while stimulating interest in the limitless possibilities of art and challenging what’s possible. You’ll be able to visit “Geometric Patterns” between now and September 6, with tickets available online.
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These beautiful Airbnbs are the most wish-listed family-friendly homes in the US
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Family reunions can be hectic to plan. You need a big home, activities for the kids, a few good restaurants to sample, and easy escapes for a bit of fresh air. Fortunately, half the work’s done for you with these gorgeous Airbnb homes that are perfect for family gatherings with members of all ages. Check out Airbnb’s most wish-listed family-friendly stays, perfect for your next big get-together.
The Frenchman Cottage — Narragansett, Rhode Island
Photo: Airbnb
This stunning Rhode Island cottage is outfitted with furniture imported from France, where the host is from — making the property’s name all the more appropriate. Your family will enjoy easy access to outdoor activities and the community beach, as well as restaurants and the famed Newport Bridge. The fully equipped kitchen makes cooking family meals a breeze, and the best part is that you can enjoy them outside by the fire pit and on the large deck.
Price: $141 per night
Lux family chalet — Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Photo: Airbnb
Steamboat Springs is known for expansive mountain views, and this large, spacious family vacation home offers some of the best. This four-bedroom luxury chalet has four bedrooms and large living quarters that fits the entire family and includes a pool table, TV room, a full custom bar, and a private hot tub overlooking the valley. And of course, the ski resort, hiking and biking trails, and diverse dining scene of downtown Steamboat are all nearby.
Price: $502 per night
Beautiful Berkshire family house — Monterey, MassachusettsPhoto: Airbnb
Experience Massachusetts beyond Boston with this beautiful and comfortable five-bedroom Berkshire family house. The home is located in the woods just off the Appalachian Trail, and is equipped with an outdoor grill, several dining areas (inside, on the large deck, or in the screened porch), and a large lawned garden with swings. Surrounded by nature, there’s no better place to experience New England alongside your family.
Price: $457 per night
3 mi to Beach-Quaint family friendly vacation home — Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Photo: Airbnb
Santa Rosa Beach is among the most underrated beach destinations in all of Florida, and this home is the perfect base for your family to explore the area. Relax on the sand, walk to nearby attractions and restaurants, or simply spread out and enjoy the house. Rent a golf cart and explore the many offerings on Grand Boulevard while leaving your car in the garage. There is a lot of room for kids to explore and play.
Price: $198 per night
Family Friendly Home One Mile from Beach — Long Beach, California
Photo: Airbnb
In Southern California, one mile is akin to one inch when it comes to getting around. As such, this home is prime real estate, a mere stroll from the ocean in a quiet, family-friendly neighborhood. Cook on the outdoor grill, chill by the fire pit, and let the kids enjoy the mini playground and games while you challenge your uncle to a wicked game of foosball. The home can accommodate eight guests.
Price: $97 per night
Lakehouse Getaway — South Haven, Michigan
Photo: Airbnb
A lakehouse is the dream home of the Midwest, and this beauty on the shores of Lake Michigan is technically both a lakehouse and a beach home. Meander down to the beach, spend the day playing in the sand and the mellow waves of the lake with the kiddos, and then head into downtown South Haven for dinner. With room for ten guests, this house is perfect for the mini-family reunion you’ve been craving.
Price: $361 per night
Lux family 4 BR in the Heart of Franklin — Franklin, Tennessee
Photo: Airbnb
Franklin is Tennessee’s best destination for families, with a walkable downtown, cool shops and cafes, and plenty of space for the kids to burn off some steam. Experience the town in mid-century modern style in this large house right in the middle of the city. The rental comes with free cruiser bikes to ride around town, and a fire pit to relax around after returning. S’mores, anyone?
Price: $303 per night
Saugatuck Modern Farmhouse — Saugatuck, Michigan
Photo: Airbnb
Your entire family will feel like Hollywood royalty as you pull up to this near-mansion in Saugatuck. The home is laid out for a massive family get-together, with ground-floor sleeping arrangements for those who need it and upstairs hideaways for the kids or couples wanting a bit of privacy. Oval Beach is ten minutes away by car, and downtown Saugatuck and its dining options are a short walk away.
Price: $446 per night
Huge family house near downtown — Atlanta, Georgia
Photo: Airbnb
This baby-proofed house in central Atlanta is the perfect gathering spot for up to 16 family members. It’s quaint, simple, and convenient, and comes with plenty of toys to keep the kids busy and sans-screen. No stay in Atlanta is complete without a family porch chilling session, which is easy at this house thanks to the many rocking chairs, picnic table, and porch swing made available to guests. Plus, you’ll have the chance to show the youngsters how you spent your free time as a kid while simultaneously channeling your inner hipster on the classic Nintendo Entertainment System console.
Price: $374 per night
Siesta Key, large family home — Siesta Key, Florida
Photo: Airbnb
Nap by the heated, saltwater pool or on the patio at this large Siesta Key estate with room for 10 guests. The home has a brand new kitchen and quartz countertops to match its bright, coastal vibes that will make it nearly impossible for your entire family not to catch the “Keys Disease.” If you do decide to leave the property, you can easily walk to the beach or into town for some freshly caught seafood.
Price: $460 per night
Funky, family-friendly cabin — Hancock, Vermont
Photo: Airbnb
Gather eight family members for the ultimate mountain getaway at this cabin in Vermont. Hike or bike through the surrounding Green Mountains, relax over a meal behind sun windows looking out into the forest, and have a picnic by the on-site waterfall. This property also has farm buildings and plenty of green space to explore.
Price: $105 per night
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The coolest caving experiences in the US can be found in Arkansas
Beneath the forest of the Ozark Highlands of north Arkansas lies a unique, delicate, and fascinating ecosystem. Over thousands of years, the limestone bedrock in this part of the state has been dissolved by groundwater to create a karst environment full of sinkholes, disappearing streams, and incredible caves.
Of the nearly 2,000 documented caves in the Natural State, seven are privately-owned, commercial tour caves open to the public while the US Forest Service operates Blanchard Springs Caverns, the crown jewel of them all. Some of the smaller show caves contain decorative, living cave formations, while others have fewer formations. The latter often have great stories associated with them, such as being hideouts for outlaws or sites of unfound, hidden treasure.
Numerous undeveloped caves can be found throughout the Ozark Mountains. However, many of these wild caves on public lands are no longer open to the public due to an effort to stop the spread of white-nose syndrome in bats. This fungal disease causes hibernating bats to lose their stored fat needed to sustain them through the winter. With that being said, there are numerous underground adventures available. Here are five unique caves to visit in Arkansas.
Blanchard Springs Caverns, north of Mountain View
Photo: Arkansas State Tourism/Facebook
One of the most beautiful underground discoveries of the 20th century, Blanchard Springs Caverns has lighted walkways leading to stunning limestone formations and massive rooms, one as long as six football fields.
Guided walking tours through this active cavern system feature sparkling calcite formations, such as stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, draperies, cave bacon, and columns. Blanchard is a three-level cave system. Two levels with handrails on a paved trail for easy walking are open for tours. There’s also a Wild Cave Tour option for the physically fit. Don headlamps and knee pads for this one to walk, crawl, and climb through an undeveloped portion of the cave to a large formation called “The Titans.”
Blanchard is open all year with a restricted tour schedule during winter months. The visitor center contains a gift shop, books, maps, educational material, and a movie. The Blanchard Springs Recreation Area and Campground is popular for its crystal clear streams, a large flowing spring (12,000 gallons/45,000 liters per minute), a small lake, scenic trails, picturesque bluffs, swimming, and fishing. Like other caves mentioned here, Blanchard works hard to utilize preventative measures to stop the spread of white-nose syndrome.
This epic underground system is the only developed cave operated by the US Forest Service. It’s located deep in the Ozark National Forest in the small town of Fifty-Six, near Mountain View.
Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Parthenon
Photo: Beckham Creek Cave Lodge/Facebook
Located inside a natural cavern on a high bluff overlooking the valley, Beckham Creek Cave Lodge looks like the setting for a hobbit movie on the outside. Inside, it is 5,800 square feet of pure luxury. It sleeps 12, has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a big screen smart TV with satellite, Wi-Fi, lofts and balconies, and a natural waterfall in the living room. The numerous rooms have natural cave walls with unique cave features such as stalactites. There are outside seating areas, a fire pit, a catch-and-release pond, and a walking path to an overlook called “Eye of the Needle.” Situated in a tiny town named Parthenon, the lodge is located on 256 pristine and remote acres at the end of a road.
Cosmic Cavern, Berryville
Photo: Arkansas
Prospectors for lead discovered a large cave and underground lake in 1845 in northwest Arkansas. While the cave has had many names and proprietors since then, today it is known as Cosmic Cavern. Randy and Anita Langhover have owned the cave since 1980 and had a discovery of their own in 1993 when Randy found a large passage of more than 1,000 feet and another subterranean lake.
Now Cosmic Cavern is the state’s largest privately-owned show cave containing the Ozarks’ largest underground lake.
The guided walking tour is about one hour and 15 minutes through the warmest cave in the Ozarks at a steady 64 degrees. The cave features a nine-foot soda straw and two bottomless cave lakes, the first of which has had trout in it for nearly 50 years. Visitors can also opt for a Wild Cave Tour experience. We recommend checking the site for requirements and you need to prebook. Cosmic Cavern is located in Berryville near Eureka Springs.
Eden Falls Cave at Lost Valley
Photo: Keep Arkansas Beautiful/Facebook
The Lost Valley Trail, located near the upper section of the Buffalo National River, is a popular spot for good reason. It serves up nature at its best with a cascading creek, waterfalls, towering cliffs, large bluff shelter, natural bridge, hardwood forest, and a cave.
The trail follows Clark Creek up to its headwaters and ends at Eden Falls Cave, a small undeveloped cave. The cave is a tight squeeze for approximately 200 feet ending in a large room with a 35-foot-tall waterfall. Take a flashlight for exploration. The first mile to Eden Falls is level and easy going, and then it becomes a steep climb to the mouth of the cave.
It’s around a 2.4-mile round-trip hike and it is recommended that visitors are physically fit. It’s also wise to check weather conditions and depending on the time of year, Clark Creek, a tributary to the Buffalo River, tends to dry up or go underground. The waterfall flow is affected by the seasons as well, but the cave is fun to climb regardless of the season.
Mystic Caverns, Marble Falls, Harrison
Photo: Arkansas
This cavern features guided tours of two spectacular caverns, Mystic and Crystal Dome. Mystic contains a 30-foot-tall calcite formation called the “Pipe Organ” and rare calcite formations such as helictites, shields, and spherical stalactites. Crystal Dome is nearly 70 feet high inside with pristine formations, including a dripstone of pure white calcite.
Both tours have stairs and are not recommended for people with walking difficulties or health problems. Mystic Caverns is located eight miles south of Harrison in Marble Falls.
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Two new state parks to open in Utah, one named after a dinosaur
Utah is getting two new state parks and one of them comes with a peculiar name.
The first will be called Utahraptor State Park, named after the state dinosaur and is located 15 miles north of Moab. The other will be named Lost Creek State Park after a state reservoir and lies 10 miles northeast of Croydon. The two parks will officially be Utah’s 45th and 46th state parks.
The park is named Utahraptor after dinosaur fossils were found in the Dalton Wells area in Grand County in 1975. The Utahraptor was said to be a large, heavy-built carnivore that roamed North America on two legs. Scientists believe that the species was over 23 feet long and weighed more than 600 pounds.
“Utahraptor is the largest dromaeosaur in the family,” paleontologist Angelica Torices at the University of La Rioja told Smithsonian Magazine. “The claws on the hand seem to have been more specialized for cutting than other dromaeosaurs.”
Torices went on to explain that the Utahraptor had teeth at the front of the lower jaw that angled forward substantially farther than in other raptors, which made them efficient eaters. There is hope that naming the park after the dinosaur species will stop the stealing of fossils which is currently an issue in the Moab area, reported Fox 13.
The creation of the two new state parks comes as a $36.5 million investment under House Bill 257. “This bill has been over 100 million years in the making, and its time has come,” said Steve Eliason, the Utah state representative who pushed the initiative forward.
The new parks will come with a plethora of hiking trails and campgrounds for visitors to enjoy.
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Alaska Airlines summer deals
Alaska Airlines is encouraging summer tourism by offering a major sale on flights. Anyone purchasing a ticket to or from Alaska from now to April 4 can get 21 percent off main-cabin fares and 10 percent off first-class fares by using the code “BUCKETLIST.” The sale is valid for travel dates between May 1 and June 30.
Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines’ regional vice president, told Travel & Leisure, “Alaskans take pride in our great state and it’s time to safely welcome guests back to the Last Frontier. This past year has been difficult and all of us that call Alaska home are ready for visitors. Alaska is the perfect destination to reconnect and create memories that will last a lifetime.”
The sale is available on flights from all cities in the contiguous US that are served by Alaska Airlines. It also includes flights from Alaskan cities like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, though it excludes flights to Prudhoe Bay.
Scott Habberstad, Alaska’s director of sales and community marketing, told Travel & Leisure, “As a life-long Alaskan, Alaska is the hometown airline with the best service and most routes to get you directly into an amazing Alaska summer. And with our Next-Level Care service, travelers can rest assured their Alaska adventures will be off to a great and safe start.”
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March 30, 2021
Free bagels for ordering in Yiddish
If you’ve been considering firing up Duolingo and learning a new language in your downtime, chances are you’re thinking about Spanish, French, Mandarin, or one of the other commonly spoken world languages. That might be a mistake. As far as we know, Duolingo won’t give you free empanadas for learning Spanish or croissants for learning French. They will, however, buy you a free bagel for learning Yiddish.
To celebrate the launch of the website’s new Yiddish language course, Duolingo is treating customers in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Pittsburgh to free bagels — if you order in Yiddish, of course. To receive your free bagel, all you need to do is stop by a participating deli, place your order in Yiddish (as best you can) and leave with a free bagel.
We’ll help you get started. “I would like a bagel with schmear” translates as “Ken ikh hubn a baygl mit shmirkeyz” in Yiddish.
Participating delis include:
In New York CityWhere: Katz’s Deli, 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
When: April 6, 8 AM-11 AM
Where: Factor’s Famous Deli, 420 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
When: April 6, 10 AM-4 PM
Where: Manny’s Cafeteria & Deli, 1141 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60607
When: April 6, 9 AM-2 PM
Where: Zak The Baker, 295 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127
When: April 6, 7 AM-3 PM
Where: Pigeon Bagels, 5613 Hobart St, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
When: April 6, 7:30 AM-2:30 PM
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Drone footage of Icelandic eruption
It’s no secret that photographers will go to great lengths to capture the perfect photo. Allowing your drone to be melted, however, is really taking that dedication to a new level. When the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland erupted recently, photographer Garðar Ólafs flew his drone so close to the heat and lava that part of it actually melted. Luckily, the drone didn’t perish on its mission and he got some pretty epic footage of the eruption.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Garðar Ólafs | Iceland 🇮🇸 (@gardarolafsphotography)
Ólafs told PetaPixel, “I was flying my drone around the eruption and decided it would be cool to see it from straight above. I slowly lowered the drone until all I could see was erupting lava, and when I looked up, I didn’t see the drone anymore. Basically, I was inside the crater of the volcano.”
After the drone flight, he noticed that the volcano had melted the light on the underside of the drone and also damaged its obstacle-avoidance sensors. Although the drone does still fly, it doesn’t perform quite as well as it used to thanks to its battle scars.
Ólafs doesn’t seem to regret the treacherous flight, though. “It’s a special feeling having an erupting volcano 15 minutes from my home,” he said. “Reykjanes has always been an underestimated part of Iceland, but today it’s probably the most known part, funny how things can change in one night.”
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Spring trekking and backpacking gear
We hope you love the gear and products we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to make a purchase.
Spring is officially here, and that means it’s time to get outside for a season’s worth of activities that have been snowed-in for the past few months, at least in many places. Success on the trail, water, or peak depends on having proper gear, and Matador has you covered with our spring gear guide. Here you will find the best products to ramp up your outdoor adventures this spring, with a special focus on keeping dry — because you want to feel as good when you finish the trail as you did when you began.
Chrome Industries Merino Wool Cobra 3.0 (Men’s and Women’s)
Photo: Chrome Industries
Layering is the key to successful spring recreating. The Merino Wool Cobra from Chrome Industries is the ideal Merino wool hoodie to have on when the temperature or weather looks to shift while you’re out. Because it’s made of Merino wool, the Cobra 3.0 is built to absorb sweat and moisture on the inside without soaking you out. And on the outside, the Cobra 3.0 — available in men’s and women’s versions — keeps your upper body protected from early morning and late evening chills while being flexible enough to move in. As an added bonus, this hoodie looks super stylish, so if you stop in for a pint or a bite after your workout, you know you’ll look as fresh as you did when you left home.
Price: $144
The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent
Photo: REI
Spring camping requires versatility. The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent has you covered. The three-season tent features a seam-taped canopy that’s ideal for breaking spring winds and keeping you as comfortable on chilly evenings as you’d be in the heart of summer. The tent weighs fewer than six pounds all-in and comfortably sleeps two. Because it’s lightweight and can easily be packed, the Stormbreak 2 is great for those early season backpacking trips or to keep in the back of your vehicle for car camping in national and state parks, campgrounds, or that beautiful mountain overlook you came across on your last drive through the hills.
Price: $159
YETI Rambler 36 Oz Waterbottle with Chug Cap
Photo: YETI
The YETI Rambler is the sturdiest and most effective yet. The lid is firmly secure with no leakage possible, and it won’t break, come loose, or have issues with the mouthpiece like so many other adventure water bottles. Thirty-six ounces is enough for one person on a short to medium hike, and the insulation keeps your beverage of choice at desired temperature for far longer than other insulated bottles. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe, which means even the crustiest of adventurers can easily wash their waterbottle at least once every few months.
Price: $54.99
Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Jacket (Men’s)
Photo: REI
Spring conditions are often wet, and unpredictably so nearly as often. Be prepared for those spring drizzles with the Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Jacket. With it, you’re protected from wind and rain without sacrificing the versatility and dexterity needed for getting after it outside. It’s built from Patagonia’s 3-layer H2No Performance Standard waterproof and breathable polyester with a microfleece-lined neck guard. If the rain no-shows, the jacket stuffs itself into its own handwarmer pocket so you can then leave it in another pocket or in the car without taking up much space. And because it’s Patagonia, the jacket is partially made from recycled materials.
Price: $149
Outdoor Research Apollo Stretch Rain Jacket (Women’s)
Photo: REI
Outdoor Research combines the best of women’s outdoor gear into the Apollo Stretch Rain Jacket. Vent yourself with pit zips when it’s warm but wet, or keep the vents closed when it’s cooler out. The jacket is made to stretch, meaning you can layer it easily over a hoodie or sweater, work hard, and not worry about misshaping or ruining the jacket. The stretch is built to mirror your movements, so, kind of like a Memory Foam mattress, the more you use this jacket, the better it fits you. This also gives you a reason to say “no” when your best friend asks to borrow it.
Price: $89.73
REI Co-op Coolmax Hiking Socks
Photo: REI
Stock up on these before heading out this season. REI Co-op Coolmax Hiking Socks get your feet toasty and comfortable before leaving the house and help them stay that way while you’re out on the trail. REI has mastered the art of the active sock that doesn’t slide down your ankle mid-hike, no small feat in a sport riddled with cut ankles. And the spandex yarn used in this sock helps it fit to your feet and stay snug even when moving up or down steep sections of trail. Since it’s made with recycled polyester, you can rest easy after the hike knowing your purchase kept a small bit of plastic from the landfills, at least temporarily.
Price: From $10.93
Keen Midweight Waterproof Hiking Boots (Women’s)
Photo: REI
If you’re sensing a theme with all the gear in this list, you’re spot on — waterproof is absolutely necessary for spring outdoor gear. The Keen Midweight Waterproof Hiking Boots are the best women’s hiking boots on the market for spring treks because, in addition to Keen’s already stellar reputation for producing top-notch boots, these are made with KEEN.DRY membranes designed to seal out moisture and a water-repellent surface. If you sweat, don’t sweat your foot odor as these boots also contain anti-odor footbeds. Soft trails on hot afternoons? Carry on.
Price: $119.73
Salomon OUTLine GTX Hiking Boots (Men’s)
Photo: REI
On the men’s hiking boot side, the Salomon OUTline has GORE-TEX waterproof liners to keep your feet dry in spring and thick toe caps in case you run up against rocky stairs, roots in the trail, or the back heel of the person hiking in front of you. The boots’ Contagrip bottom is designed to stick to nearly any trail surface, a necessity during this time of year when trail conditions change rapidly. These boots lend themselves to versatility in that you can move quickly on the trail if necessary without worrying about losing your footing.
Price: $150
Black Diamond Distance II Trekking Poles
Photo: REI
Trekking poles should be firm but adjustable, sturdy but easy to grip. The Distance Z poles from Black Diamond epitomize these characteristics, with one-pull deployment that brings them from collapsed size (a third of active size) to ready for use in a split second, much like a good snow probe. Another thing that separates these trekking poles from others is the interchangeable rubber and carbide tips, so you can optimize them for the weather and trail conditions ahead.
Price: $99.95
REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pants (Men’s and Women’s)
Photo: REI
To stay dry and flexible on the trail in spring requires a good pair of hiking pants, and the REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pant, available in men’s and women’s versions, does the trick perfectly without breaking the bank. The pants feature UPF 50+ rating to protect against the sun; have plenty of storage for your phone, keys, pen and small notepad, compass, or any other pocketwares you carry on the trail; and the lightweight stretch fabric is impressively breathable.
Price: $69.95
CamelBak Sequoia 22 Hydration Pack (Women’s)
Photo: REI
CamelBak has long been the pioneer in hydration backpacks, mastering the oft-overlooked skill of helping adventurers stay hydrated while also carrying their tools for the trade. The ventilated back panel keeps you breathing and moving easily whether you’re at the base or the summit of the journey. What makes the CamelBak Sequoia 22 the best women’s spring pack are the stretch overflow pockets — big enough to store an entire layer of clothing — and the trekking pole loop that actually secures the poles to the pack and prevents them from whacking your side repeatedly or coming loose.
Price: $99.73
REI Co-op Trail 40 Pack (Men’s)
Photo: REI
A backpack can make or break an adventure any time of year, even more so in spring when you have to pack for a variety of weather conditions and temperatures. This pack, made from recycled material, steps up the typical trail pack by making it more accessible via four-zippered entrances. The water bottle holders on the sides actually fit a water bottle large enough for a solid day hike, and the mesh-covered straps stay cool while hugging tight to your body (everyone hates a slouch pack, right?). But the best feature of the Trail 40 is that the hip belt fastens securely without pressuring your abdomen — whether ascending or descending, you’re sure to appreciate the dexterity.
Price: $129
Billabong x Chris Burkard Collab Surftrek Perf Dune Lines Board Shorts
Photo: Billabong
Surf may peak around much of the world in winter, but spring still sees solid swells along with warming temps. This new collaboration from Billabong and renowned adventure photographer Chris Burkard puts you on the beach in style, in a pair of surf shorts that function as well as appeal. If you’re hiking in warm or humid weather but there’s a chance of rain, board shorts can be a great option for staying flexible and dry. The elastic waistband keeps them tight but feeling loose, and they look good enough to lounge in at the beachside bar after your session.
Price: $59.95
The post All the outdoor gear you need to keep moving and keep dry on the trail this spring appeared first on Matador Network.
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