Five Favorite Gear Picks for Black Friday & Beyond
Overwhelmed by all of the Black Friday / Small Biz Saturday / Cyber Monday deals on Outdoor Gear out there? Have no fear, Girl Gotta Hike is here to help you snag a few staples, and save a few bucks!
Here are but a few of my favorite items that always make my time on trail more enjoyable, and will all but guarantee you (or any adventurer on your list) a great time outside!
1. Good To-Go - dehydrated meals
Get 35% off site-wide + free shipping on orders over $99 through midnight on Sunday, December 1st.
Good To-Go is my hands-down, number one choice for dehydrated backpacking meals! It is not only what I pack for my own dinners on a solo backpacking trip, but also the sole brand that I serve my Girl Gotta Hike clients when camping out.
As if being woman-owned, handmade in small batches in my (2nd) favorite state of Maine, and having no preservatives wasn’t enough — their meals actually taste like real food you’d get at a restaurant! They’ve got a bunch of flavors to choose from, come in 1 and 2-person sizes, are gluten free, allergen-friendly, and are absolutely delicious!
2. Far Out Guides - for navigation
Get 30% off all guides and subscriptions through Monday December 2nd.
Yearning for new adventures next year? Then check out Far Out — the navigation app for the best in long-distance hiking, biking, paddling and horseback trails in the US and across the globe. Purchase a stand-alone trail guide or two, or subscribe for unlimited access to adventures all year long!
The guides utilize GPS, so you’ll always know right where you are, what’s coming up, and have access to up to the minute trail info at your fingertips.
After being introduced to this magical app (then known as Guthook) on The John Muir Trail back in 2016, I’ve used Far Out for navigation on sections of the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, The Long Trail, Wonderland Trail, Colorado Trail, and most recently, the Tahoe Rim Trail! Having access to fellow user comments has been clutch - from knowing if an upcoming water source is flowing on trail, to finding the best burgers & beer during a resupply stop in town.
3. Gossamer Gear - backpacks, tents, trekking poles and more
Gossamer Gear packs have been a staple on my back for nearly a decade now, when I first headed out west for multi-week trip in the Sierras. Not knowing how I my body would handle hiking at 10,000 ft, I turned to GG’s 60L Mariposa pack to save weight, and have never looked back. It was plenty big enough to hold all my gear, the required bear canister, and weighed in at an astounding two pounds empty!
I love that they are continuously improving upon their designs and offerings, and am fully aligned with their “take less, do more” ethos. Their LT-5 trekking poles are insanely light, and sleeping inside their minimalist tent “The One” has saved me even more weight, making my solo excursions even more enjoyable. Oh, and I’ve fully stocked my gear closet with a plethora of their packs so all Girl Gotta Hike campers can try em too!
Hear! Hear! For all things Gossamer Gear!
4. AllmansRight — ultralight gear handmade in the Bronx, baby!
AllmansRight founders and Bronx-based designers Jennifer and Livio are inspired by the Swedish tradition of allemansrätt, the right of everyone to freely roam and explore the outdoors, and they’re creating outdoor gear with minimalist designs that anticipate your needs—whether you’re an expert outdoorsman or a weekend explorer roaming the nearby woods.
Using their Krafs stuff sack and Bjorn food bag has made everyday backpacking chores so much easier to handle, especially at the end of a long day! I tried them out for the first time on the Colorado Trail, and quickly learned how awesome design can be. I was racking up the miles and hiking until dusk on many nights out there, but even when my hands were cold, the light dim, and my brain wiped, these sacks were so easy to use! The clasps felt intuitive, the waterproof DCF material kept my food & toiletries dry, and the reflectorized strip made hanging my food in the dark a breeze. They’ve been my go to ever since!
Psst — if you’re local to NYC, you can save money on shipping and pick your items up right from their gear lab in the Bronx. You can even join me there next Saturday, December 7th, 2024 for a Make-Your-Own-Gear Workshop and Girl Gotta Hike Holiday party rolled into one— can’t wait!
5+. Garage Grown Gear - support small brands!
Garage Grown Gear showcases the best in the small, cottage, and ultra-light outdoor brands on the market. The niche and nifty gear you’ll find here is not often found on the shelves of larger outdoor retailers, but spend five minutes pursuing this store, and you’ll wonder how you ever hiked before!
Some of my most used items you can get at GGG:
Cnoc Vecto Water Container — The zip top makes water collection a breeze, the texture is easy to squeeze, and the threaded screw neck works seamlessly with many filters, including Sawyer, Platypus, LifeStraw and Katadyn. Save 10%
Kula Cloth — An eco-friendly antimicrobial pee cloth, that comes in ton of fun designs, and has significantly reduced the amount of tp I carry on trail. Plus Kula Cloth founder Anastasia writes the most fun outdoor-based newsletter that I follow, and she even sent me one with a Girl Gotta Hike logo on it — more on that later! Save 20%
Nitecore Rechargeable Headlamp — So bright, so light, and lasts a long time between charges. A must have for every hike. Save 10%
Nightcore 10,000 MHz Power Bank — A lightweight power supply for charging all the things. I use the 20,000 MHz for longer treks to charge my camera too, but the 10,000 is generally plenty for a day hike or overnight! Save 10%
Rawlogy Cork Massage Balls — I used the mini-sized one to soothe my achy muscles before bed every (and I mean ev-er-y) night on recent thru-hikes of the Colorado Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail. Weighing in at just 7 grams, even the most weight-conscious hikers out there will want to carry one! Save 15%
Revelation 20º 850 fill Quilt by Enlightened Equipment — This quilt revolutionized how I camp in the backcountry! I shaved off two whole pounds when I made the switch from a synthetic mummy-style sleeping bag to this. The warmth and compressibility of down can’t be beat, and these rarely go on this much sale — so be sure take advantage of the 20% off!
Please know — I recommend gear that I’ve personally tried, tested, and want to share with you. While some of the above products and brands contain affiliate links that may earn me a small percentage of your sale (thanks!), others are just awesome items & brands that I stand behind.