I’ve been a mosquito magnet since birth. On group hikes, camping trips, or family backyard gatherings, I wind up with dozens of bug bites when everyone else gets two or three. Last summer��I counted 31 mosquito bites on just my legs after a weekend of camping��in Acadia National Park. The itching was so bad that I put ice cubes in my leggings in hopes of numbing the bites��enough so��I could��sleep. It didn’t work: they stayed��itchy and then I just had��wet pants.

But I soon came across a TikTok featuring the , a 0.32-ounce piece of plastic that functions like a syringe but with a suction hole on one��end. It supposedly pulls mosquito saliva out of bites to relieve itching, and it’s designed to work on other bites or stings from bees, wasps, ants, and more. The Thing was created by two entrepreneurs, Kelley Higney and her mother, Ellen McAlister, who started selling the product out of their garage before appearing��on an episode of�� in 2019 to get funding. They succeeded, and it’s been a bestseller on Amazon ever since.

I was excited but skeptical. After decades doubling as a human blood buffet and trying��every remedy under the sun to prevent bites and treat them, it seemed too good to be true. But because the Bug Bite Thing only cost $10, I decided to give it a shot.

Reader: it works.

I still can’t believe it. But it does. In my experience, while it doesn’t make the bites or itching go away entirely, it does offer instant itch relief that lasts for about six to twelve��hours. When I’m out, get bit, and my bites begin to bother me again, I simply re-suction��them and the itch disappears��once more. I’ve also found that the Thing reduces��the overall time that bites remain��on my body—about one to two days instead of a week.

Anyone who doesn’t regularly fall prey to mosquitos will still find the Bug Bite Thing a worthwhile investment.��It handily sucked out a nearly invisible splinter from my partner’s hand, and its lightweight and compact nature means it’s easy to fit it into your pack or car for any adventures you have planned. I have not been stung by a wasp or bitten by an ant to test it on those claims, but so far I’ve found it to be trustworthy and reliable.

I’ll be purchasing several more of these to dole out to friends and family, and this gear discovery alone is reason enough for me to say: please, please let us keep .

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X-Treme Organics Paw Balm ($36)

X-Treme Organics’ blend of butters, oils, and waxes�� heals scratches, protects your dog’s pads from burns and other hazards, and should last all day so you don’t have to reapply.

Bocce’s Bakery PB & Banana Supplemental Calming Chews, 2mg CBD ($16)

CBD can be a boon for pups that need help relaxing in the car. Both the two and five milligram ($29) dosage options are THC-free and contain additional soothing -ingredients like chamomile and peanut butter.

Klymit Moon Dog Bed (starting at $60)

The inflatable, spacious Moon comes in two sizes to fit dogs up to 100 pounds. The laminated polyester can withstand sharp claws, and it packs down to the size of a bread loaf.

Yeti Boomer 4 Dog Bowl ($40)

The Boomer won’t dent or break, and food-grade stainless steel makes it easy to clean. After months of use, this bowl looks and functions like it did the day we got it.

Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag (starting at $100)

Now available in a large size for big dogs—and as cushy as ever—the Highlands is lightweight and packs down small enough to stash in your bag. Water-resistant fabric makes it easy to wash.

Fido Pro Airlift Emergency Carrier (starting at $70)

In the event of backcountry canine emergency, you’ll be thankful for the Airlift’s lightweight, easy-to-use design—just spread it out and lift your pup into it. We were able to carry a 65-pound dog a -quarter-mile without any issues.

Herzog Silicone Leash (starting at $39)

Finally, a reasonably priced leash that’s durable, eco-friendly, and stylish, with three colors to choose from. Made from PVC-free recyclable silicone and a sturdy canvas handle, Herzog’s stain-resistant tether will keep your dog right where you need him.

United By Blue Dog Waste Bag Dispenser Pouch ($22)

This take on the rubber poop-bag dispenser looks like a miniature backpack, and can hold��treats, keys, and a cellphone to keep hands free for ear scratches.

Kurgo RSG Dog County Harness (from $63)

We love gear that can pull double duty, and the County harness delivers: it quickly transforms into a backpack with attachable add-ons like a dog first-aid kit ($33), hydration flask ($27), and a dog treat bag ($22).

The post The Best Dog Gear of 2020 appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Like many ���ϳԹ��� staffers and readers, I’m fortunate to be accustomed to daily outdoor time. Walks or hikes or hot spring visits always do wonders to recharge my internal battery and keep me in a positive mindset.

This time has become all the more precious since we started social distancing and working from home due to the spread of COVID-19. But every day, new guidelines emerge for how and where we can go outside safely. Some national parks have closed, a man was for surfing at a closed beach in California, and even parts of the Appalachian Trail are . We’re all wondering: How safe am I on this walking path? Did that biker going past me get too close?

With these questions on my mind, I headed to a��hiking trail near where I live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with my dog over the weekend. Because I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to do even this distanced of an activity, the excursion took on a greater sense of urgency. However, it quickly became apparent that hiking would not be on our agenda: cars were lined up along the road and filling makeshift dirt lots near every trailhead. People were trying to social distance while getting outside, but we all headed to the same place.

Faced with crowds of outdoor enthusiasts, I decided to ditch the hike altogether. I walked down the road from the trailhead where I parked and strung up my in a quiet spot—close to the road but away from the masses.

This felt like a failure at first: more lounging around, when I had been sitting at home all week already. But as I swung gently in my cozy nylon nest, the sun hitting my face and the sound of rustling leaves filling my ears, I realized that my hammock was exactly what I needed. I was outside, not thinking about or reading the news and away from other people. I felt the calmest I had in days.

The coming weeks and months promise more uncertainty and continued or increased social distancing measures as we work to get through the pandemic. I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to that trail or to my nearby park next week or next month. But I feel lucky that I can sling up my hammock in my yard whenever I want, letting the sun on my face remind me that I made it through another day. For now, that’s more than enough.

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This is part of��#���ϳԹ���FlannelWeek, a celebration of the fabric we all know and love.

In the Gingras household, right around the time we replace Halloween decorations with turkeys and cornucopias, the biggest seasonal transition of all occurs: the beds are stripped and remade with flannel sheets.

I grew up with New Englander parents��thinking that everyone did this��every fall, only to learn last year��from my naive coworkers that��no, Flannel Savings Time is not a marking of cooler weather and shorter days for other families. I remain baffled that so many people haven’t caught on to this simple hygge hack, so allow me to enlighten you.

Flannel sheets are as critical to fall and winter as hot apple cider and a good pair of waterproof boots. At the end of a long day of work and exercising in the bitter cold, you slide into your flannel nest and feel like you’re��wrapped in the world’s coziest hug. They are the OG anxiety��bedding (move over, weighted blankets), keeping the gloom of winter at bay and my toes warm no matter how hard the wind howls outside my window. Doesn’t that sound better than shivering while your boring regular sheets warm up to your body temperature, only to roll over and hit a cold spot once more?

“Alright,” you say, “I’m ready to embrace the hygge-est of home goods.” Congratulations on this monumental step in your self-care routine!��I recommend from L.L.Bean. It’s not too warm in case you sleep hot, but it’ll still elevate the comfort factor of your bed significantly.

Until you’re ready to change out your sheets in spring, I promise the next few months will be full of snuggly nights and mornings of hitting the snooze button for just five more minutes of bliss. Go ahead, you’ve earned that shelter from the cold world outside. Welcome to your best fall ever.

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What makes a great documentary? It needs action, soul, and some seriously mind-boggling images that stay with you long after the credits have rolled. We polled the members of our ��on Facebook to hear their thoughts on the films every adventurer should see. Here’s what they said.

‘180° South’

Director Chris Malloy Jeff Johnson as he recreates Patagonia founder��Yvon Chouinard and The North Face founder Doug Tompkins’ 1968 journey from Ventura, California, to Patagonia. Lots of you expressed affection for this one:

“It’s beautiful, for starters, and gives me a real sense of wanderlust every time I watch it.” —Conagher Haun

“I could watch 180° South every night of the week with no complaint. Great soundtrack, too.” —Michael Crowe

“I watch it at least once a year and then obsess about dropping everything to head South in a van.” —Fern Harmon

‘M�����’

Power directing team Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin were behind this deeper-than-most sufferfest documentary. Chin, Conrad Anker, and Renan Ozturk set out to climb Meru Peak in the Himalayas starting in 2008, and fail at least one time.

“So compelling—three climbers at the top of their craft struggling to complete the climb after much adversity. Filmed with care and heart.” —Brett Thompson

‘B��������ھ�����’

“I don't know that any documentary has ever impacted me quite the way Blackfish did the first time I saw it. I remember finishing it and then immediately restarting it, because I wanted to absorb everything I had just seen more fully. The backlash from it was swift and still resonates today, showing just how powerful this medium can be. If you haven't read them yet, I highly recommend the two ���ϳԹ��� features Blackfish was inspired by, ‘The Killer in the Pool’ and ‘Blood in the Water.’” —Abbey Gingras, assistant audience engagement editor and book club moderator��

‘Encounters at the End of the World’��

Werner Herzog meets the people who live and work in Antarctica, like maintenance workers at McMurdo Station and volcanologists. Grizzly Man, another Herzog classic about Timothy Treadwell, a man who lived among Alaska’s bears, also got an honorable mention.

“It’s not exactly about outdoor sports, but this movie depicts a harsh and isolated locale that is still magical, and it captures the spirit of exploration that has driven a diverse group of individuals to create a unique community in the most unexpected of places.” —Marika Robak��

‘Free Solo’

“O�Ա��� Alex Honnold, it seems, could deliver a documentary premise that would get the entire world talking about climbing. Free Solo��presented a feat that anybody would find astonishing—climbing El Capitan! Thousands of feet! Attached to no ropes! And with Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin directing, the film had the heart and humor to do justice to the story every climber was already talking about. No wonder it won an Oscar.” —Erin Berger, senior��editor and book club moderator

‘Step into Liquid’

“The documentary chronicles a love of surfing all over the world, with profiles of classic pros and footage of unique spots like Ireland and Wisconsin. Shows the diversity of the sport and lifestyle. Shot beautifully, and the soundtrack is fun. Saw it for the first time as a kid and it really encouraged me to get out there!” —Mackensie DuPont Crowley��

‘The Endless Summer’

This 1964 documentary follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August on a surf trip from north to south as they chase summer around the world.

“The ultimate classic. Bruce Brown’s narration, late 1960s surfing, a surf-rock soundtrack—it’s definitely dated and some portions aged better than others, but I can’t help but to see its influence throughout adventure-minded documentaries from that point on. I could easily watch it a hundred times (and probably have).” —Jennifer Dustin

‘The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young’

Directors Annika Iltis and Timothy James Kane��give the cult Barkley Marathons the offbeat documentation it deserves.

“A�� ultramarathon in the Tennessee woods that costs a pair of socks with no announced start time… loved it. It’s a must-watch even if you’re not a runner.” —Megan Redford

‘The Dawn Wall’

Behind the scenes of the feat we all remember: the first free ascent of the Dawn Wall on El Capitan.��

“The Dawn Wall is probably my favorite climbing movie so far. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson are two very talented and charismatic climbers, and the contrast of experience between these two when they started to team up brought an interesting perspective. We have the chance to witness through the documentary the growth of their friendship and it makes us feel like we are a little part of it. I recommended this movie to many non-climber friends and they all loved it.”��—Salomé Aubert

‘Mile… Mile and a Half’

Five film-savvy friends set out on the John Muir Trail and capture a fun little slice of hiking culture over 211 miles.

“I stumbled upon Mile… Mile and a Half��when��I was only about 17. I had always used backpacking before then as a detox from all technology, but I loved how they showed you can include technology into your hikes without it detracting from them (and possibly even getting to use the technology to motivate others!) Also, I had never heard of the John Muir Trail��before seeing it and now I’m working on planning my thru-hike of it for 2020!” —Maria Arguelles

‘Valley Uprising’

“gave us the definitive climbing history of Yosemite in all its goofy and legendary glory, from Royal Robbins and Warren Harding to Alex Honnold and Lynn Hill. It also embraced a dynamic and immediately recognizable style of animating old photos to give them new life, which is now used in so many outdoor documentaries that it feels like our new Ken Burns Effect.” —E.B.

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When I read that WOW Air, Iceland’s budget airline, suddenly went�� on Thursday, a memory immediately came to mind. I was at a pool in Hofsós, in far northern Iceland, where the land meets the sea and snowy peaks loom in the distance, and my friends and I were swimming in the heated water while our hair froze in the air. If you looked at our pictures, you may have thought we were just a group of��high-rolling globetrotters��hanging out at some exotic five-star resort. But you’d be wrong. That pool was public and only cost $5, and after we were done soaking��we got $3 gas-station hot dogs for dinner and headed to our hostel for the night.

I was just a few months shy of my college graduation in 2017, and my friends and I were spending our last spring break in Iceland, courtesy of some ridiculously cheap round-trip tickets that we snagged for just $200. That’s less than any flights we could find to the gulf shores of Florida, Alabama, or Mexico, and it was��all thanks to WOW. Like thousands of travelers before us, we could never have afforded that bucket-list adventure without the��no-frills airline. ��

Which is why when I read the news about WOW, my heart broke for how many trips like mine will never happen again. While the cause is still unclear, according to ,��it seems like lower demand and the cancellation of a last-minute��deal to purchase the budget carrier were the final straws.��The airline defined, and perhaps created, the modern era of Icelandic tourism by offering a multitude of flights from major U.S. cities to Iceland and Europe for under $250��round-trip. It’s why everyone you know suddenly had photos on their Instagram of them hanging out in the Blue Lagoon or strolling along the country’s famous black-sand beaches. In fact,��, in 2018, 30 percent of Iceland’s tourists got there via WOW. Now that the airline is no more, how many young travelers will be able to afford to visit this Nordic country? The answer is not nearly as many. ��

And maybe that’s a good thing. Iceland has become oversaturated in recent years as a result of these cheap flights and free one-to-three-day “” in��the country en route to other destinations, and it’s no secret that the tourism boom has caused its�� of�� for the tiny island nation, from one-lane highways ill-equipped for tourists speeding in rental cars to�� after�� of people not prepared for the rough terrain and unpredictable weather. Earlier this week, the country�� canyon after tourist crowds��wreaked environmental damage.��(Perhaps the crowds were drawn to the canyon��because it was the location of a Justin��Bieber music video.) But with all those problems came money—so much money that according to the , 8.2 percent of Iceland’s GDP came��from tourism in 2018,��making it one of the�� countries in the world. According to Bloomberg, some��estimates��predict that the closing of WOW could snatch away nearly��.

When I was there not too long ago, it was still possible to leave the tourists behind in the so-called “golden circle” that surrounds the capital city of Reykjavik and explore the country’s primordial landscape alone. There’s a reason practically every adventure show and movie from Star Wars to Game of Thrones films there. When you drive along the barren northern coast, you still feel like you are the first outsider to ever lay eyes on its craggy shoreline and fishing villages. ��

of people are�� at WOW Air—the company’s closure and cancellation of all planned flights left travelers stranded around the world, with no idea how they would get home or if they would get their money back. But when the dust settles and people find other flights, all those of us who traveled there��on a budget will be left with are the memories of great adventures that could never have happened without airlines like WOW.

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I love airline travel. The predictable flow of airports soothes me, and I get giddy during takeoff because I still don’t quite understand the science (read: magic) that keeps planes aloft. But there’s one thing I hate about flying, and it’s not the overpriced tickets or the baby crying three rows ahead of me in economy class.

It’s the people who recline their seats with total disregard for the��person behind them.

Let me be clear: reclining is perfectly acceptable on flights longer than, say, four or five hours, especially if it’s an overnighter. If you are flying long enough to need real sleep, recline away. But if you’re reclining your seat on a two-hour, midday puddle jump, I hope you miss your connection and get stuck at LaGuardia��Airport without even an $8 coffee to comfort you.

It’s no secret that airlines have spent the last two decades removing everything from flying that made it remotely comfortable. Seats have gotten smaller ,��and legroom has all but disappeared. According to a deep dive by the Telegraph, seat pitch—the distance between any point on your seat and the same point on the seat in front of you—has been slashed by an average of on long-haul flights over the last three decades, with one carrier cutting as much as six inches. It’s not uncommon for some carriers to offer just 28 inches of pitch. The Telegraph found that seats are getting slimmer, too, with some major airlines cutting width by as much as four inches. According to Forbes, all that suffering heaped upon those of us in economy class has led to a on the average plane, because carriers have been able to jam in a few extra rows.

So when we all pile into our clown car in the sky, we do so knowing that for whatever time we’re at cruising altitude, we’re going to sacrifice some personal space and our legs are going to fall asleep. Which is why my fellow economy-class members who recline their seats are the worst.

Let’s get real. Those extra three degrees of slope on your reclined seat back aren’t going to make you more comfortable. Your leg room isn’t magically larger. All you’re doing is encroaching upon the person behind you who also paid $324 to be shipped to Dallas. Did they have a drink on their tray table? You didn’t think to check before you reclined onto their warm Diet Coke, did you? Were they working on their laptop? Now their screen is hunched forward at an angle that makes productivity impossible.

The thing is, you know you suck when you hit that recline button, but just in case you truly are ignorant, hear��this: your actions have direct consequences for the people around you—any space you take is taken from someone else.��The person behind you deserves the same respect you give the person in front of and beside you by not kicking their seat or elbowing them��over the armrest. Meanwhile, what do you have against your spine? It’s begging you to sit up straight for once.

So if you want to lounge back and make life a little bit worse��in an already untenable situation, I suggest you get rich, leave us common folk behind, and live it up in business class, which United is expanding while, you guessed it, . Until then, please return your seat to its upright position.

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I’m constantly taking my dog, Koda, on hikes. While we work on his off-leash skills, our time outside happens with him tethered to me. This presents a lot of obstacles, the largest of which is finding the right leash for both of us. I want something that will hold up to wear and tear,��but won’t give me rope burn if Koda, who weighs 60 pounds, suddenly pulls. It also needs to be long enough to let my dog explore,��but short enough that he can’t weave out of control. A leash from ($75) answered all my dog-mom concerns and then some.

What first caught my eye about the Wild One lead is the material. After being tied to picnic tables at muddy campgrounds and carried around in dust and snow, my dog’s rope leashes all end up a dull gray color with fraying threads. This one is made of flex-poly coated nylon, which looks and feels like rubber. That makes it easy to clean (a quick rinse under warm water has it looking like new) and ensures that it’ll hold up to wear and tear.

Beyond that, you form the handle loop by clipping the leash to itself, which allows you to quickly tie your dog to a pole or tree (a lifesaver at campgrounds), and you can adjust the length to 5.5 feet in open spaces or 3.25 feet if you need a shorter lead, like in a crowded area. Best of all, it’s comfortable on the skin even with your dog yanking at full force. (I tested this at White Sands National Monument, where Koda was excitedly running up sand dunes while I slogged behind him—no pain or digging whatsoever.)

At $75, this leash is on the pricey end of dog gear. But if you’re looking for one leash that can get dragged through mud and pulled along trails and come out looking (and working) like new, this is it.

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If getting dogs presents for Christmas is wrong, I don’t care. And I’ll admit it—some of these gifts are more for me and my fellow dog parents than the pups themselves. But they’ll all help us go farther and longer��on adventures with our best friends, so I promise outdoor dogs will approve (or��at the very least, they’ll enjoy destroying the wrapping paper).

Kurgo Loft Wander Dog Bed��($59)

At ���ϳԹ���, our pooches come with us just about everywhere there isn’t a “No Dogs” sign posted. Svati Narula, our associate social media editor, brings this camping to make sure her Lab mix, Cabot, still has some of the comfort of home. I guarantee your dog will love the fleece top so much that they won’t try to push you off your sleeping pad at night. Bonus: the Wander can also be thrown over the back seat to keep your car free of muddy paw prints.

Rad Dog Release and Run Retractable Leash��($40)

If your dog is your constant hiking and running companion, this ��is a great investment. When you get far from the trailhead and Fido wants to run, simply drop the leash and it’ll retract into the collar. And the durable nylon build ensures that the Release and Run holds up, no matter how many bushes or creeks your dog charges through.

Orvis Dog Overnight Travel Kit��($29)

For an overnight backpacking trip or day at the crag, ��is an easy way to keep all of your dog’s necessities in one place. The roll-top food bag holds about two days’ worth of food, while the collapsible water bowl is easy to store. It all comes in a burly 600-denier zippered pouch with extra pockets for treats, medicine, or anything else you need.

���ϳԹ��� Medical Kits Workin’ Dog ($73)

You have a first-aid kit for yourself, so you should have one for your dog, too. This one, from ,��is totally decked out with everything to help you prepare for the worst when you’re far from the emergency vet clinic—gauze, forceps, a skin stapler, a cold pack, and even a headlamp come included. (There are also smaller and more affordable kits,��if you want to minimize pack weight on shorter, less risky adventures.)

Musher’s Secret Paw Protection Wax ($13)

My husky mix, Koda, loves romping in the snow just as much as a kid on a day off from��school, so I take him out whenever there’s fresh pow. This ��makes sure his feet are protected from clumps of ice, sharp rocks, and grit, so he can run the trails and chase after me as I snowshoe. Musher’s Secret also moisturizes and helps heal split pads, a godsend in drier climates like Santa Fe.

Zuke’s Power Bones ($27 for 12)

I love to give Koda one of these protein-packed bars��once we reach a summit or at the halfway point of a hike—it’s just the hit of energy he needs to finish out the day, and it doesn’t take up much space in my pack. Buy in bulk if you frequently tackle full-day hauls or long runs. The chicken and cranberry flavor is sure to be a pup pleaser.

Buy Now

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In the three months��I’ve had my��husky mix��Koda, he’s camped and hiked with me in six states. He’s the perfect adventure companion, but bringing him along requires extra planning and packing, especially when it comes to his food. While bringing large containers of dry food works for car camping, it’s less than ideal for backpacking—especially if I want Koda to carry some of it in his backpack, which fills up with kibble quickly. Then I discovered����($19 for two pounds), and a weight was lifted off my shoulders (literally).

The Honest Kitchen’s dog food weighs significantly less than dry kibble or wet foods do—one four-pound box makes 16 pounds of prepared food—and works similarly to our favorite Mountain House dehydrated meals. The dehydrated food is kept in one large resealable bag, preserving freshness and making it easy to measure out, and individually bag, meals for trips into the backcountry. To prepare it, simply add warm water to the food in your dog’s bowl, stir, and wait a few minutes before serving. Since Koda eats breakfast and dinner when I do, it’s easy to heat up water once on my camp stove for both of our meals. He was happy while he was eating, but��he was not a fan of waiting for the food to cool after he could see and smell it.

The food comes in a variety of flavors, like chicken, turkey, and beef, so you can find one that matches up with your dog’s regular food, and there’s��a ��to make repeat purchases less expensive. Some flavors are a little pricier—like the beef and turkey—and can be more expensive than regular kibble.��

And��just in case you ever end up in a survival situation, this food is 100 percent human-grade and tested by Honest Kitchen employees themselves. I actually gave it a taste, and although it doesn’t��look the most appealing—think earthy green oatmeal—it tasted pretty good.

When I got Koda, I knew I wanted him to come along on every adventure I had. The Honest Kitchen’s food makes sure I’ll never run out of pack space and have to leave him at home.

��

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