These Shoes are Made For Walking....So Why Are They In The Back Of My Closet?

Gear and Outdoor clothing are frequently on the brains of many of my friends. Whether they work in the Outdoor Industry or are outdoor enthusiasts (or both) I know they're always excited to see what's new and what to add to their collections. At this time of year winter gear is still being purchased and the spring and summer wishlists are being made. Many of us don't "need" new gear or clothing. It's hard to justify items and sometimes we accumulate so much that it sits in the queue.


This was recently the case with me and trail shoes. I had four pair. Now, no, it's not a lot but it's more than what I truly need. I have two pairs that get worn frequently and two that were waiting to be used. The shelved pairs are both great shoes, I just thought I would wait until the current shoes are done then move on to the next. Then I had a friend in need.

A friend was going on an vacation that included hiking and spending time in the great outdoors. While my friend is active and energetic she is not what she would describe as an outdoorsy lady. Knowing how expensive good trail shoes can be, especially if you never know if you'll use them post trip, I offered her a pair of mine.

After the trip she told me she loved them. If she had tried to do the trip in tennis shoes she wouldn't have been comfortable. She told me she wants to try to get outdoors more locally and with the right shoes she would. I almost cried when she told me this. I remember, as a late bloomer it wasn't so far ago, when I first branched out into the outdoors. I didn't know about appropriate clothing for climate variances or what the ten essentials were. I had no one to show me the ropes or lend me gear. I just worked through trial and error.

So the shoes are hers. They're doing so much more good on her feet then they were sitting in my closet.

Now I have to ask, how much gear or clothing or musical instruments or art supplies or any other stuff have you accumulated that just waits to be used? I know we think "I spent so much on it though!" or "It will fit again someday" or "I know I haven't touched that guitar in three years but some day I will". Chances are if it's been hanging out more than a year or more than what is seasonally appropriate without being used, you're not going to use it. Someone can. Someone will.

Consider taking stock of what you have and aren't using. Do you know someone who would benefit? Ask them if they want it. Maybe you know a non-profit that could use it like a women's shelter or outdoors organization. Maybe you'll just take it to your local non-profit supporting thrift store and be done with it. Bottom line, give it up and you'll feel good knowing that it has a much better use of being used than it ever did in your closet. Just maybe in the process you'll be opening up a world of opportunity to someone who didn't know where to start.

Luggage Love: Briggs and Riley's BRX Explore Upright

If you're like me you have a lot of packs. Backpacks, day packs, hydration packs, and more. Packs are great for excursions into the wilderness but navigating airports or weekend trips that don't involve camping call for something else. So when I was given the chance to try a bag from Briggs and Riley's new BRX line I jumped at the chance.

With the current state of travel and checked bags costing an additional $25+ each way on most major airlines it seems that carry-on is the way to go. However after carrying my pack from the main terminal to the end of Concourse A at Denver International Airport on a trip a few months ago wheeled luggage seemed like a nice little luxury. So I opted for the BRX Explore Upright 19. The bag is a great size for weekend trips and comes in Amber, Ocean, and Slate. When I got the bag I could tell it was different than traditional luggage.

Since the BRX line is Briggs and Riley's "Adventure" line I wasn't sure what to really expect then I realized it's designed intelligently with great features like you would expect from "Adventure" gear. The first detail I really noticed was the outer slash pocket. So many times you have this pocket on a piece of luggage but you would be lucky to stuff a newspaper in there, they're just not designed to be functional. The pocket on the Explore is generous without being bulky and you can easily fit a magazine, a book, or even a light jacket in it.

In addition, the outer slash pocket there is a full organizer pocket that is lined in bright orange (on the Ocean bag at least). This may seem like a silly detail to love but most items are lined in black or dark grey and it's hard to find items inside. With the bright orange I easily located hair bands, pens, bobby pins, my black wallet, any of it. The pocket is also set-up well with enough interior pockets to hold a laptop and be useful but not so many that you feel overwhelmed by the need to over organize. Other great features on the exterior of the bag include compression straps (it's about time we see this on a wheeled bag) and a strap to attach an additional carry-on or purse, which tucks away in it's own zipper compartment when not in use.

One other item you'll notice on the bag is the exterior handle system and wheels. They're of good quality and feel rugged but light. Even better the exterior handle systems means more usable space in the main interior compartment and if you're bringing along gear the more room the better. The interior features a built-in compression system to help keep gear and clothing in place as well as a roomy lid pocket.

I found the bag to be easy to roll, easy to take corners, and easy to lift when full. Being 5'2" a bag that can be hoisted over my head with ease when full is very important during air travel and storing luggage so this is a major win for me. While the bag works great for someone at my stature I believe someone taller would also find it appealing because the handle system expands to a generous length.

At $260 I believe the bag is priced right. It has a lot of great features and it offers a Lifetime Warranty which is good for manufacturer defects, as well as airline damage and "any reason" damage. Where else are you going to find that? Seriously.