If you’ve already set the goal to tackle a fourteener (or two, or three, or four) this year, than you’ve most likely already thought about the big gear that you’ll need to get you up and back down the mountain safely. Your hiking boots are probably comfortably worn in by now, you already have that lightweight pack and functional layering system down. But before you embark on your journey to the summit, make sure to check out these 10 pieces of gear extras that will make your peakbagging season that much sweeter.
GRAYL Ultralight Purifier
Keeping your body hydrated is one of the most important factors to reaching the summit. GRAYL’s lightweight and easy-to-use Ultralight Purifier bottle makes it easy to purify water from fresh streams and alpine lakes along your hike, ensuring you have plenty of water to keep hydrated throughout your hike. With one press, the GRAYL bottle filters 99.9999 percent of viruses, disease-causing bacteria and protozoan cysts as well as sediment and silt, chlorine and heavy metals. Purifier cartridges last up to 300 uses and replaceable cartridges can be purchased for $24.95, making it a reliable water purifier for your fourteener adventures for years to come. $59.95; thegrayl.com
Smartwool Men’s Merino 150 Micro Stripe Boxer Brief
Unmentionables are the most underrated piece of outdoor apparel, which is why more brands are offering technical underwear and bras to hold up to a variety of adventures. Smartwool has an entire collection of undergarments for both women and men, like the Men’s Merino 150 Micro Strip Boxer Brief that utilize Merino 150, a breathable, soft and lightweight fabric that helps regulate body temperature, stave off odor, and resist moisture — ultimately making your lengthly, sweaty hike a more comfortable one. $45; smartwool.com
Sierra Designs Elwah Pant
Colorado’s finicky weather isn’t much of a secret. One minute it’s blue skies and sunshine, and the next you’re caught in a downpour, which can be dangerous and make for an uncomfortable hike if you’re not prepared. Enter Sierra Designs Elwah Pant. Made from a breathable stretch polyester rip fabric, these pants pack up into the rear pocket, taking up minimal space in your pack, and feature fully waterproof taped seams, and an elasticized waist and storm flap zip system that makes it easy to quickly pull these pants on over your boots at the onset of inclement weather. Available in both men’s and women’s sizing. $79; sierradesigns.com
Fits Light Hiker – Crew Socks
Nothing puts a damper on hiking excursions quite like blisters. They’re the worst, and once they’ve infiltrated your foot, there’s nothing you can do to get rid of them. So prevent them, by investing in some of the best tech socks on the market. Year after year, Fits continues to garner a big following the hiking community thanks to their patented Full Contact Fit, which hugs the contours of your foot, leaving less room for slippage, and blisters. The crew fit is the company’s most popular hiking sock. Made from a combination of merino wool, nylon, polyester and lycra, this sock will keep your foot dry, and provide extra cushioning in the heel, toe and arch areas. $21.99; fitssock.com
Buff Multi-Functional Headwear
Fourteeners are no joke, and while the journey to the summit typically start before sunrise, it’s best to be prepared to trudge it out for long periods of time under the Colorado sun. Not only does Buff’s line of headwear come in many fashionable prints and colors, it’s multi-functional and can be worn in 12 different ways to block up to 95 percent of UV rays from the head, face, neck, ears and sunburn prone places on your upper body. Buff’s headwear also features COOLMAX® PRO technology that wicks moisture and dries faster, and a Polygiene treatment designed to resist odors. $25; buffusa.com
Body Glide Outdoors
Whether it’s your first, or fourteenth, conquering any fourteener should be done in well broken-in hiking boots. But even when you think your boots are ready to hit the trail, there’s still a chance that you’re hiking in your favorite footwear will end with blisters, which is why Body Glide released a balm to help prevent that from happening. Simply rub some of outdoor balm around your heel and foot before pulling on your tech socks and hiking boots and stop blisters, and painful afternoons on the trail, before they start. $9.99; bodyglide.com
Mountain Hardwear Women’s Breeze VNT™ Long Sleeve Hoody
Adding a breathable long sleeve base layer to your peakbagging kit is not only important to keep up with the changing weather throughout your hike, but important to help shield your shoulders and arms from the sun. Mountain Hardwear’s Women’s Breeze VNT™ Long Sleeve Hoody is so comfortable and breathable, you won’t mind wearing it, even when the chill of the early morning wears off and the blistering sun sets in for the day. This lightweight layer is extremely packable and handy in facing changing weather on the mountain. $85; mountainhardwear.com
Honey Stinger Cracker N’ Nut Butter Snack Bars
Tasty, energizing trail snacks should be a staple in any hiking pack, and Honey Stinger makes some of the best. Stash a few of the company’s delicious and organic Cracker N’ Nut Butter snack bars and enjoy the honey-based energy boost and peanut butter protein power when you need a little extra help blazing your way to the top. $26.40/ box of 12; honeystinger.com
Topical Edge Performance and Recovery Lotion
There’s a point in every strenuous hike where your muscles start to scream, and that moment is what inspired the Topical Edge Performance and Recovery Lotion. Available in stashable individual packets or 10 ounce tubes, this lotion releases sodium bicarbonate directly through the skin to help strip out acid build-up in muscles, reducing muscle soreness by 53 percent. This tried and tested performance and recovery lotion is perfect for those moments along the trail when your calves are crying out and your legs need a little extra help pushing forward. $35 per 10 ounce tube; topicaledge.com
BarCountry Pocket Cocktails
Let’s be real, the idea of sipping on a cold adult beverage on the summit of your favorite peak is a major motivational driver. If craft beer isn’t quite your thing, than load up a small flask with your favorite liquor and stash one of Pocket Cocktail’s dehydrated cocktail mixes in your pack to easily mix your own delicious drink to savor at the top. Pocket Cocktails are available in fun flavors like Coconut-Lime Margarita, Bloody Mary and Cherry-Infused Old Fashioned.
$9.99; barcountrycocktails.com
