Prepare for the unexpected - Gear to keep safe and ready for anything this summer

As the weather heats up, inevitably more people go outside to enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, camping, climbing, and trail running. It’s no surprise that a number of recreationalists will encounter bad situations outdoors and a percentage of those will suffer from severe injury or get lost. 

Even if they are relatively less severe than a broken leg, undesirable things such as sunburn, dehydration, or running out of food are still negative experiences and preventable if properly prepared for. 

The Colorado Search and Rescue Association counts 3,000 search and rescue missions each year for the state that’s considered to be the busiest for SAR rescues. Of course, the best way to stay out of bad situations is to plan and prepare. 

Luckily, our clients make gear that is just up to that job. Read on for some helpful tools to stay prepared and safe this summer. 

Scarpa Moraine with integrated RECCO Reflector 

The SCARPA Moraine is the first shoe in the lightweight hiker category to include an integrated RECCO Reflector. The shoe features a premium nubuck upper that’s supportive and durable, and the waterproof breathable lining delivers the weather protection hikers need on the trail. 

The integrated RECCO Reflector means that wearers can be picked up by thousands of SAR personnel around the world who use a RECCO Detector. Put simply, the RECCO Reflector bounces back the signal that is sent out by the Detector. The RECCO SAR Helicopter Detector is useful year-round since it allows rescuers to use a chopper to search larger areas, faster. North America currently has 10 Helicopter Detectors deployed in the Mountain West, Pacific Northwest and Quebec. 

SCARPA Moraine with integrated RECCO Rescue Reflector

“Being searchable with RECCO reflectors can speed up the time for a missing person to be found,” says Howie Howlett, director of training and technical support with RECCO. “When any search time is reduced, it’s a win for the missing person and a win for the search and rescue personnel.  Less time searching reduces the exposure to risk for everyone involved.” 

RECCO Reflectors aren’t just available in the Moraine or ski gear. Camelbak put one in its new Apex Pro running vest so trail runners can stay searchable no matter how far they run, and mountain bikers or gravel cyclists can likewise stay searchable in many of POC’s popular helmet models. 

As for the Moraine, don’t just take our word for it. The testers at Gear Junkie called the Moraine “solid, comfortable, supportive hiking shoes. And the built-in RECCO reflector offers a safety net that reduces the risk of going out your front door.”

Tailwind Nutrition Hydration Products 

It’s common knowledge that hydration is essential in sports, outdoor activities, and life in general. Drinking plain water is certainly a good thing, but when you are sweating you should be replacing crucial electrolytes such as sodium. What’s lesser known is that sugar can speed up the body’s hydration process. 

That’s the exact science that all of Tailwind Nutrition’s products use, including the recently released Rapid Hydration and Dauwaltermelon Endurance Fuel. These products use real cane sugar (as opposed to artificial sweeteners found in competing products) which trigger the body’s active transport process. This helps Tailwind drinkers hydrate 3x faster than if they were drinking plain water. 

On your next hike or lunch run, use Rapid Hydration, a low-cal electrolyte mix designed for shorter workouts, hangovers, or traveling. Endurance Fuel is high-cal for workouts longer than an hour. Recovery Mix will help muscles rebuild and recover.

Tailwind Nutrition Rapid Hydration electrolyte powder

Water Filtration 

MSR Guardian Purifier

Drinking enough water and electrolytes is essential, but things will go south if the water you drink is contaminated. Water filters or purifiers are just one solution endorsed by the American Hiking Society to prevent water-borne illnesses such as Giardia. 

MSR’s Guardian Gravity Filter was originally designed for military use, and now brings the same advanced technology to global travelers, backcountry users, and those stocking emergency kits. Fast and easy to use, this pump purifier offers the added viral protection you need when traveling in developing nations and popular wilderness areas. 

We also recommend the Platypus QuickDraw Filtration Family. In addition to other filtration solutions, the do-it-all QuickDraw Filter uses hollow fiber technology that allows the system to filter water fast (3L/m) while remaining compact and ultralight (2.4 oz). It’s designed to work seamlessly with a wide range of bottles and reservoirs, empowering you to assemble a filter system tailored to your preferences.

Clearly you’ll have to keep all that clean water somewhere. Staying true to the dynamic carry and ventilation that define the standard Zulu and Jade from Gregory, the LT option offers a simpler design in a daypack size range - 20, 24 and 28 liters - for fast and light missions.  The clean design matches ventilated comfort with an anatomical, body-wrapping fit that makes them the premium day hiking solution. These daypacks feature the ventilated VaporSpan suspension system that the Zulu and Jade family is well-loved for, with an open-air backpanel and an anatomically shaped 3D hipbelt.

Emergency Rain, Sun, and Cold protection 

Sticking with the water theme, if it starts raining or even snowing the human body will grow saturated and cold, risking hypothermia and a slew of other dangerous side-effects. The iconic, award-winning Helium Rain Jacket from Outdoor Research is a lightweight, ultra-packable outdoor essential to save away for rainy days. Pertex® Shield Diamond Fuse 2.5-layer fabric delivers rugged durability that breathes as your pace quickens while fully taped seams keep moisture and wind at bay on gusty ridges or drizzly descents and is available in Men’s and Women’s styles. 

Worried about the cold? The ultra-packable SuperStrand LT Hoodie is the brand’s lightest, softest, most compressible synthetic down hoodie for four-season warmth. Sharing a name with our VerticalX™ SuperStrand technology, the SuperStrand LT Hoodie is as light and lofty as 700-800 fill down while retaining warm-when-wet performance qualities. Its ripstop nylon fabric resists abrasions and shields against wind and light precipitation.

Finally, protect your skin from sunburns and the dangers of too much UV exposure with the Astroman Air Sun Hoodie. The line was updated this season with bluesign-approved, 85-percent recycled fabric, as well as increased air flow and new styling. The men’s and women’s Astroman Sun Hoodie gets added ventilation thanks to tiny, laser perforations under the arms. Built for hot, rugged places but completely at home lounging in the sun, the collection offers 30 to 50+ UPF-rated sun protection, depending on color. View OR’s entire sun range here. 

Outdoor Research Helium Ultralight

Are you interested in testing one of these products, just learning more, or speaking with a safety or product development expert at one of the brands? Get in touch with the Verde team here.