Brynn's Adventures

Heads up! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you click and buy something, I might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Think of it as tossing a few marshmallows into my campfire fund 🔥🫶 I only recommend stuff I actually use and love, thanks for helping keep the adventure going!

Everyone loves to talk about the hottest new trail runners or the cutest new matching set (guilty). But no one talks about the ugly stuff, the weirdly practical gear you picked up from crappy tire on a whim that turned out being your new fav piece of gear. So here are mine!

Gaiters

Look, I’ve tried to make gaiters look cute but they will just always be aggressively ugly. That said, they’re definitely one of the more underrated pieces of gear that I own. They keep your boots free of snow, dirt, and other random stuff. They also prevent sogginess from creeping into your socks from the top down. I wear mine early season when post-holing is inevitable or when I’m venturing off trail, in bad weather, or muddy terrain.

Hiking Poles

Yea, these aren’t just for your grandma. I used to think I looked ridiculous using them until I realized how good they make my knees feel. I have dancer’s knees (read: weaker than average and dramatic), and poles have seriously improved my knee pain on long hikes and steep descents. Once you reap their benefits you’ll forget you ever thought they were cringe.

Kula Cloth

If you know, you know. If you don’t, you should definitely join the club. The Kula Cloth is an antimicrobial pee cloth designed for women in the outdoors. No more awkward leaf situations or having to pack out your TP. It’s discreet, hygienic, and you can clip it right onto your backpack. I have 2 of them and I talk about them often because I want everyone to know about them! They are so great!

Individual Fork, Knife, and Spoon

Okay let’s be honest here, as I always am on my page, sporks are a scam! They’re neither a good fork, nor a good spoon. I am a strong believer in cutlery sepratism. my camp cutlery setup includes one real spoon, one real fork, and one solid knife. It just works better. Plus, it’s one of those small ‘quality-of-life’ upgrades that makes meals on the trail feel just a bit more comfortable and a lot more enjoyable. I enjoy being able to bring my meal to my mouth in an efficient manner to avoid hangry post-hike rage.

Sam Splint

Some people may think that carrying a sam splint in my first aid kit is overkill, but I don’t think so. I’ve been in a situation where we needed one and nobody had one in their pack! Everyone always says ‘oh, I’ll just use a stick.’ Yeah, okay. Try that when it’s winter and most of the trees in the area are buried in the snow… Just one example. A sam splint is lightweight, reusable, and wildly useful.

Mosquito Net

Now this is definitely not a sexy item to carry around but it definitely does the trick. You know when you’re at camp, the sun is setting, the vibe is absolutely perfect, except…there is a literal swarm of mosquitoes aiming for your orifices on every breath. I’ve literally retreated to my tent at 3pm to avoid mosquito bites in unfortunate places. Then I got a mosquito net for my head. It will make you look silly, but you’ll actually get to enjoy the view you hiked to in peace.

Anti-Chafing Stick/Body Glide

Self explanatory.

Technical Underwear

This one’s kind of sexy? In a functional way. People will spend hours researching the perfect rain shell or base layer but forget about the literal first layer that touches their body. Technical underwear, like quick-dry or merino wool, is a great investment. It keeps you dry, prevents chafing, and even though it’s a bit pricey, it is durable as well. Once you try a good pair you’ll understand the hype.

Foam Roller

Obviously I’m not hauling a foam roller up the mountain with me. But while I’m back at base-camp for the night, whether that’s my car or my living room, it’s become a non-negotiable. It helps your muscles recover faster, which means fewer rest days and more time doing the things you love. And if you’re anything like me, you need a giant, in-your-face reminder to actually stretch. This is it.

Outdoor gear doesn’t always need to be cute, new, or instagrammable to be an essential. Sometimes the ‘un-sexy’ stuff is what keeps you the most comfortable or stoked to just keep going. I absolutely love a good gear haul but I also love not being wet, chafed, or covered in bug bites. So reminder! Don’t sleep on ugly gear!

What’s one piece of un-sexy gear you swear by for your adventures? Let me know in the comments!