This June, we tested gear while climbing on Squamish’s crags, jamming out at the ϳԹ Festival in Denver, and running the Mont Blanc 23k in Chamonix, France. Here’s the gear that kept us cool, calm, and collected in hot and sticky situations.
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Arc’teryx Kragg Shoe
Last month I raved about Arc’teryx’s new one-shoe-wonder, theVertex Alpine, which confidently tackled techy single tracks, slick slabs, and alpine scrambles. But there’s one thing the Vertex can’t do that its new sibling, the Kragg, excels at: chilling the hell out.
The Kragg lies somewhere between supportive approach shoe and laissez-faire slider—but it leans far closer to the recovery-shoe end of the spectrum thanks to a thick foam insole, a light, breathable upper, and a collapsible heel that allows you to wear it like a slipper.
But believe it or not, there’s real tech behind this moon-boot-cum-slipper-cum-Yeezy-slider. While wandering around Squamish’s Smoke Bluffs, the Kragg’s Vibram Megagrip outsole provided plenty of friction on slick wet granite, and a sturdy toe cap gave some protection while tripping over roots and talus. I won’t be clipping these shoes to my harness or hauling overnight loads in them anytime soon, but sliding into the Kragg after a long day of climbing is akin to flip flops after a spring ski mission: heavenly. —Anthony Walsh, digital editor, Climbing
Peak Design Ball Mount Adapter
I didn’t realize how annoying my car’s smartphone setup was until I picked up one of Peak Design’s Ball Mount Adapters. As someone who spends a great deal of time on forest roads, I’ve been a long time user of, a souped-up phone mount that’ll keep your phone cemented to your windshield or handlebars when you’re vibrating along washboard and ruts. The downside? The vice grip requires two hands to open and often ends up jamming down on my smartphone’s side buttons.
Peak Design’s adapter (meant to work with their smartphone cases) lets you utilize whatever burly mounting system you already have while swapping the phone mount itself with a super-strong magnet with wireless charging. Now I can slap my iPhone straight onto the mount without fiddling with the spring-loaded grip or plugging in my phone—a huge time-saver whether you’re navigating offroad or driving to the grocery store. —Benjamin Tepler, senior gear editor
Merrell Moab Speed 2 Shoes
I spent a few weeks in Chamonix, France this June to test gear and hike and run the French Alps’ epic trails, and eventually ran the 23k route from the Marathon du Mont Blanc (I was too late to sign up for the real race on June 30th, so I just ran the route during my own time). In what could have made an epic mistake, I decided to bring a pair of shoes I hadn’t yet worn to Chamonix to train in and eventually run the 23k in. Though they’re technically hiking shoes, I wanted a burly enough pair to handle lots of wear and tear during weeks of both hiking and running on Chamonix’s gnarly trails.
Fortunately for me, the Merrell Moab Speed 2’s kept me exceptionally comfortable and performed wonderfully on the muddy, slippery, and sometimes snowy alpine trails. The 4-millimeter Vibram traction lugs kept me securely on the ground over 60 miles of hiking and running, even when I had to cross a long and steep snow patch on extremely tired legs during the last mile of the 23k. It rained almost every day I was there, and the Moab Speed 2’s nylon ripstop and TPU upper kept my feet as dry as I could have hoped for without locking in moisture.
Though they’re too clunky to wear while running on gravel paths (I found myself feeling a bit bogged down after 6 miles on a fire road), that’s not what they’re designed for. I plan to wear these shoes for long trail runs and hikes as long as they last me this summer. —Kelly Klein, gear editor
Outerknown California Hoodie
I recently watched “,” a documentary that follows a group of professional surfers who would go on to rule the sport for generations. Kelly Slater is part of that group and it was insightful to see how obsessive he can be about something he loves. Surfing will always be his number one, but as surfing has slowed down with age he’s turned his obsessive energy toward several brands, including Outerknown, which he co-founded in 2015. Sort of like a Patagonia spin-off, the brand has a deep commitment to sustainable manufacturing and fair labor practices, but also to making some of the nicest everyday clothing I’ve ever tested.
The $200 sticker price on the California Hoodie is a bit of a shock, but for that mini investment you get a midlayer that’s made from responsibly-grown California cotton and a garment that’s sewed by folks, also in California, who are part of a well-established fair labor program. The sweatshirt itself is soft but durable and, like the best cotton garments, absorbs dirt and stains almost like a personal patina. I lived in this hoodie during high-mountain camping trips, plane rides, and in offices where the air conditioning was turned too high, and it’s been the perfect companion in every scenario. —Jakob Schiller, contributing writer
Path Projects Wadi LS Hooded Tee
It can be 95 degrees in Albuquerque, New Mexico where I live but feel worse than 110 degrees in Phoenix because the high-elevation sun out here beats down in a way that makes you feel like you’re under some kid’s magnifying glass. As a result, sun gear, particularly long-sleeve sun hoodies, are a necessity on bright days, and my new favorite is the Wadi from Path Projects.
Made from an airy Japanese Toray fabric that has tons of built-in stretch, this hoody moves sweat and heat off my body faster than anything I’ve ever worn while running or hiking. That means I get plenty of sun protection but don’t feel like I’m sweltering inside some kind of personalized steam room. Other highly breathable hoodies I’ve tested tend to be fragile, but I recently took the Wadi on a camping trip where I lugged around firewood, scrambled over rocks on a hike, and got pummeled by sparks from the campfire, and the hoodie is no worse for the wear. —J.S.
Paka Men’s Alpaca Underwear
Summer might seem a strange time for wearing wool underwear, but these alpaca-blend briefs have kept me comfy and cool on hikes, while watching my nephew’s baseball games, and during long days out in the sun working the ϳԹ Festival. The blend of 49 percent Tencel, 33 percent organic cotton, 14 percent Royal Alpaca, plus 5 percent spandex in the waist band is light, airy and oh-so-soft against the skin. They fit close to the skin without compressing anywhere or restricting movement, and breath so well I rarely notice they are on.
In this June’s heat I have sweated enough to soak them a few times, and, when wet, they are clingier than a synthetic shorts liner but less clammy than cotton briefs—and still softer than either, with no chafing. Plus, they dry so quickly and thoroughly, and avoid odor so well, I’ve worn them on multiple hot, humid days without washing and without noticing a difference in feel. —Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor, gear
Ignik Growler 3.8 Deluxe
Ignik’s propane growlers are a genius solution to the disposable camp propane bottle problem, offering portability in a reusable package. Their new Growler 3.8 Deluxe size is the perfect weekend car camping fuel option. It weighs just eight pounds and holding as much propane as four green bottles. Plus, it comes with a four-foot adaptor hose. And when the tank is nested inside its carrying case, it makes for the perfect side table to hold your beer. I know from experience. —Graham Averill, gear and travel columnist
Rumpl Camp Pillow
Sure, you can just crumple up a fleece and stuff it under your head when you’re camping. But you’re a grown-ass person, so splurge on this new pillow from Rumpl, the most comfortable camp pillow I’ve tested. It’s double-sided, with a warm polar fleece on one side and a slick, cooling polyester on the other.
But the true genius of this pillow is the adjustable loft. The fill is a blend of removable memory foam and polyester to dial in the perfect firmness. And the entire pillow is made from 100 percent recycled materials, so you can sleep easy at night, both literally and figuratively. —G.A.