Indoor plants are growing in popularity in American homes and workplaces, and also in places like hospitals, shopping malls, and hotels.
National Indoor Plant Week (September 16-22) was established to promote and increase public awareness of the importance of live plants in interior spaces.
Anyone can participate in this holiday. You can do your part with something as simple as giving a plant to a friend, or picking up a new houseplant for your kitchen or living room.
Some of my potted plants spend the summer on the deck outdoors.
Houseplants and other indoor greenery improve your mental and physical well-being in a host of ways you’ve probably never thought about.
These days, with more people working from home, we’re spending more time inside our own homes than ever before.
By now maybe you’ve realized there’s a funky smell you’ve never noticed before, or the decor could use a little brightening – or maybe you’re just tired of watching screens and need to create something!
Plants can help clean indoor air, enhance your mood and create a soothing and cheerful living space.
Caring for a plant can be very rewarding.
I knew a guy who grew 200 potted marijuana plants in the attic of his apartment building… But that’s not the kind of “mood enhancement” we’re talking about here 🙂
Growing indoor plants can really help alleviate loneliness and depression.
Caring for another living thing is very rewarding, especially when you see that living thing bloom and grow, all because of you!
No matter what your indoor space is like, there are many plants that would thrive at home with you – and be useful, too.
It’s that time! Time to get ready for your Fall & Winter holiday gatherings.
Yay!!! And also: Oh, no!!
Everyone loves to decorate and make their home feel festive for the winter holidays, but before you can decorate, you also need to clean. (This is the worst part, honestly.)
Lighted trees in the snow in Big Bear, CA
And not only do you have to clean your house, but you might also need to freshen up your stored holiday decorations!
Unfortunately, some of our traditional decorations can harbor allergens that may irritate allergy-and-asthma-prone family or guests.
Some people are even allergic to Christmas trees – which is a point in favor of having an artificial tree.
Are you allergic to your Christmas tree?
And just think about all of the other decorations you put up, where you put them, and how long they stay there.
The key to avoiding hosting allergens (along with your guests) is to prep your home well in advance of your first holiday event, and choose your decorations carefully.
Below are all of our posts with info and tips to help you choose the best gear for hiking and all of your other athletics. Some of the posts include links to gear you can purchase.
If you’re specifically looking for some new hiking gear, or something to give as a gift, take a look at our Gear Shop.
If you’re looking for gear with the IRW Logo, or something fun to give as a gift – especially our snarky T-Shirt collection – take a look at our IRW Merch Shop.
Some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I will receive a small payment at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, and other marketing affiliations, I earn from qualifying purchases. I do not get paid for recommendations, all opinions on this site are my own. See full Disclosure page here.
Of course you should like how they look, and they should feel good when you try them on – but beyond that, what are the most important things to look for?
Meadow Trail at NCMA Park
Some boot features to consider:
Are they waterproof?
Do they have cushioned shock-absorbing heels?
Do they have grippy soles?
If your feet are wet or painful, you won’t be able to think about anything else – and might not even be able to complete your hike.
What you put on your feet is without a doubt your most important piece of hiking gear, so you’ve got to get it right!
Hiking boots or trail running shoes (not regular road running shoes) are your best hiking footwear options.
Aside from fit, one of the most important things to consider is what kind of trail you’ll be on, and how long you’ll be on it 🙂
Accumulated damage from years of dance, martial arts, high heels, various athletics and now a couple of decades and lots of miles of hiking means my feet hurt more often than they don’t.
Add metabolic aging of my feet now that I’m in my 50’s, and it’s a recipe for some VERY painful feet.
But I’ve found ways to alleviate my foot pain and prevent more injury so I can keep doing the active things I love!
But there are other things you can do to keep your feet happy beyond simply wearing good boots!
I love to be active outdoors and plan to keep on going for the long haul. That means investing effort in taking care of my feet and legs as much as I can.
These are some of my favorite tips to avoid or eliminate foot pain and keep your feet happy, healthy and ready for any adventure!
NOTE: Instead of illustrating this post with images of injured feet, I decided to share pictures of some beautiful things I’ve seen – while walking around 🙂
Unless you’ve been hiding out in the backwoods off the grid somewhere – which might actually happen with some of you guys! – you’ve probably heard of Amazon Prime and Prime Day.
If you haven’t heard of it, here’s everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2019:
What is Amazon Prime Day?
Prime Day 2019 is July 15-16
The deal is that Amazon – the huge online store that sells everything on Earth and delivers it right to your front door – has an annual humongous sale every summer that’s called Prime Day.
Other summer sales are okay, and Black Friday can be pretty amazing, but the annual Prime Day online shopping event is a major opportunity to nab some bargains on Amazon.
Products all across the Amazon site are discounted, as well as some product launches.
I’m not a fan of conspicuous consumption, but everyone needs things for their home, their kids – and of course outdoor gear – and I am a big fan of getting quality items that you need at the best possible price!
The Lake Pine Trail is a paved loop that circles the lake in Apex Community Park, located near the dividing line between the towns of Cary and Apex, close to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Lake Pine is a great trail for running or walking, is smooth and wide enough to use your stroller or baby jogger, too – and is good for all skill levels.
Apex Community Park entry sign at Laura Duncan Road
The trail runs between the lake and other natural areas, so there’s a good chance to see wildlife.
I’ve seen deer, otters, loons, cranes, turtles – and fish 🙂
Dogs are also allowed on this trail but must be kept on leash.
It’s the time of year when trees in the South release massive clouds of yellow pollen into the wind, to be distributed to allergy-prone noses and lungs everywhere.
Around here, it’s known as “The Pollening”.
Pine pollen is a huge problem in the South
Even if you don’t live in the South, it isn’t unusual to find your allergies heating up along with the air temperature.
The horrors of pollen season are so well-known that years ago, when my boyfriend told me he’d be unavailable for a few weeks due to severe allergies, I had nothing but sympathy for him.
Much later, I realized that my boyfriend’s allergies struck at exactly the same time as the “March Madness” basketball playoffs. Hmmm…
Basketball and pine pollen season arrive together
I’m not as gullible now, but I still have nothing but sympathy for people with allergies 🙂
If you have allergic asthma symptoms throughout the year (like I do), or even seasonal allergies and asthma, you can’t do much about what’s floating around in the air outside.
What you can do is take steps to control allergens inside your home, so you can breathe and rest easier year round.
You’ll need some good tread on your boots for this one…
Getting the right outdoor gear and clothing can make the difference between a happy hike and a miserable or even dangerous one.
There’s a lot of advice out there on what gear you’ll need and which products are the best.
On this page, you’ll find my picks for outdoor gear, clothing, and other stuff you might need for your hiking adventures.
If you’re looking for some travel pointers or ideas for your next adventure, check out my Travel Resourcespage.
For full service active tours at great prices, see myAdventures For You! page.
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I will receive a small payment at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, and other affiliations, I earn from qualifying purchases. See full Disclosure page here.
Don’t forget your hat! Click to purchase
Usually people say they won’t endorse anything they’ve not used personally.
That’s a good practice, and I’ve tried to do that as much as possible with my picks for you.
P
That said, I tend to buy decent quality stuff and hang onto my gear until it falls apart, so I haven’t been able to try out all of these brands yet.
But I’ve read the descriptions and/or looked over them in a retail store, and I feel confident recommending these products to you.
HIKING GEAR LIST
My selections below are a result of weeding through many products to give you a sample selection of reliable gear choices for any budget.
For a more in-depth discussion of what to consider for each type of clothing, take a look at my Day Hike Gear Guide.
You can also see some info about less expensive – but still good to have – bits of gear on this post.
NOTE: The photos and grids below show my top picks for you from a variety of brands through Amazon. (Click any photo for more info or to purchase. You can also use the Search bar to find more options.)
PANTS AND LEGGINGS
Decades ago when I was shopping for hiking gear, there wasn’t much available for girls and women that would stand up to actual hiking and sweating on the trail.
Everything seemed to be made of flimsy pastel fabric, and some even had ruffles. Eeeww.
Fortunately, my daughter and I were small enough to be able to get what we needed in the Boys’ department.
Today there are so many options – both in women’s and men’s – for pants, shorts, leggings and even hiking skirts that trying to choose the right ones will make your head spin.
What to Look for in a Pair of Hiking Pants
The main thing you’re looking for is comfort and mobility. (Looking good won’t seem so important if your thighs are chafed raw, so when in doubt go for the larger size!)
Hiking leggings – click to purchase
Lately I’ve noticed a lot of women and girls hiking in leggings.
I’m personally not a fan of this practice because non-athletic leggings aren’t breathable, and I don’t think anyone needs to see that much detail of my butt.
That said, wicking running tights or athletic leggings can work for hiking, especially in cooler weather.
I also always opt for hiking pants rather than shorts because even in very hot weather, long pants help protect my legs from getting scraped up or bitten by insects – and offer sun protection, too.
MID LAYER (INSULATING)
Men’s fleece – click to purchase
There are three basic categories of insulating layers: a thin fleece to hike in on colder days, a thin synthetic jacket, and a down puffy jacket for really cold weather.
(I also sometimes top this off with a rain shell too for an extra layer of wind protection.)
Even on a warm day, you should pack an insulating layer.
Women’s full zip fleece – click to purchase
On colder days, you’ll need more layers to put on and take off as the day (and you) warm up or cool down.
You’ll need to gauge the outside temperature and how hard you’ll be exercising to know how many layers you want to start with.
When you sweat and then stop for a break, you’ll get cold very fast.
That’s when it’s good to have a jacket or a fleece handy.
I like a fleece layer with a full zipper, so I can just inzip it if I don’t want to take it all the way off.
BASE LAYER
Your base layer is what you wear right next to your skin. In any season, it should keep your skin as dry as possible (e.g. use a wicking fabric), provide insulation and ventilation.
The purpose of wicking fabric is to pull moisture away from your skin.
Merino wool is a great choice and comes in different weights for any season. It also keeps on insulating you even when it’s wet.
Mens Merino mid-layer – click to purchase
As an alternative, synthetic fabrics dry fast so you won’t wear a cold layer on your skin, risking hypothermia.
Which reminds me – stay away from cotton: it’ll get wet and heavy, and is slow to dry.
I’ve also used wicking thermals to double as a base layer and camping jammies.
JACKETS
I always carry a lightweight rain jacket in my pack (along with a hat and gloves in case it gets chilly).
This is one of those items that every hiker needs, but does unfortunately wear out over time and has to be replaced.
If you hike in some really wet places with torrential rains, it’s also a good idea to keep rain pants in your pack.
Pick some with zippers running the whole length so you can put them on quickly, without taking your boots off.
My picks include a sampling of warmer jackets for cold weather and lighter ones for layering.
Some of the jackets below are waterproof and will also serve as rain jackets.
Each one offers something a little bit different and will fit different budgets and hikes in all types weather.
PACKS
High on the list of “must-haves” for your hike is a decent daypack or backpack.
Not only do your packs take care of your gear, they also can make or break your comfort level while out on the trail.
There are countless variety of good packs out there to choose from to get you started.
BOOTS OR SHOES
Hiking boots may be the most important item in your hiker’s kit.
If you don’t choose your boots correctly, you may be in for a lot of pain – and also the expense of getting a new pair!
Women’s mid-range boot – click to purchase
There are lot of choices now for outdoor footgear.
Trail runners, hiking shoes and hiking boots are all equally good and it really comes down to where you’re hiking, personal preferences, and the weather.
I prefer hiking in boots but I choose as light as possible for the season.
For boots, I prefer mid-rise because I have strong ankles. Waterproof boots are good for wet days and winter hikes.
Mens waterproof hiking boot – click to purchase
For shorter day hikes I might pick trail runners or hiking shoes.
If in doubt, it’s better to wear boots – especially when the terrain is rocky, the weather is wet, or you’re carrying a heavy pack.
When you get your boots, make sure you try them on wearing thick socks that you would wear for hiking.
Then walk around a bit, and make sure you have a little bit of room in front: if your toes hit the front, downhill trails will hurt you.
Remember, feet swell when you’re hiking, so make sure the boots aren’t too snug.
For more detail on how to choose the right boots, and more boot recommendations, see this article How to Choose the Best Boots.
And if you’re still looking for gear and gifts, take a look at our IRW Merch Shop.
You’ll find gifts with the IRW Logo, Holiday-themed mugs and water-bottles, and other fun things to give as a gift.
ONE LAST THING….
Amazon logo
There are some other Idratherwalk.compages about gear and other hiking stuff that feature Amazon products.
If you’ve been eyeballing something on the pages below, you should take another look to see if anything you want is on sale!
If your feet are wet or painful, you won’t be able to think about anything else – and might not even be able to complete your hike.
Fortunately, my daughter and I were small enough to be able to get what we needed in the Boys’ department.
Lately I’ve noticed a lot of women and girls hiking in leggings.
There are three basic categories of insulating layers: a thin fleece to hike in on colder days, a thin synthetic jacket, and a down puffy jacket for really cold weather.
On colder days, you’ll need more layers to put on and take off as the day (and you) warm up or cool down.
Your base layer is what you wear right next to your skin. In any season, it should keep your skin as dry as possible (e.g. use a wicking fabric), provide insulation and ventilation.
As an alternative, synthetic fabrics dry fast so you won’t wear a cold layer on your skin, risking hypothermia.
I always carry a lightweight rain jacket in my pack (along with a hat and gloves in case it gets chilly).
High on the list of “must-haves” for your hike is a decent daypack or backpack.
There are lot of choices now for outdoor footgear.
For shorter day hikes I might pick trail runners or hiking shoes.
