The air is crisp and clean and the leaves are golden. It’s time to get out on the trail and water with our favorite high-output gear.
SEE IT
Aspire Celebrated
Sick of your sunglasses breaking where the arms meet the lens? These slick shades use a sturdy-but-flexible hinge rather than screws to keep everything attached. Beyond that, Aspire builds its sunglasses with proprietary SDN-4 material that makes them surprisingly light, bendable and gives the brand the ability to create a wide range of styles. $290; aspireeyewear.com
LOOK THE PART
Meridian Line Tees
Climber and artist Jeremy Collins wanted to create a t-shirt company that espoused the way he engages with the world—mindful, impassioned, inspired, smart. Sure he illustrated these tees, but The Meridian Line is about more than art: The blend of 50-percent polyester, 25-percent rayon and 25-percent cotton in these shirts harnesses the best qualities of each fabric, and they are made right here in the U.S.A. $29; themeridianline.com
FISH
Hobie i11s
Is it a SUP? A kayak? A paddle boat? The answer is a little bit of both, and the best damn fishing vehicle you will ever haul to the reservoir. The i11S uses Hobie’s foot-operated MirageDrive with Glide Technology for quick locomotion (you can always paddle, too). The board has all the sleekness of a SUP paired with a comfy seat and rudder that give it the stability of a sit-on-top kayak. $1,999; hobiecat.com
BATTEN DOWN
Fjallraven Abisko Eco-Shell
Swedish brand Fjallraven created a fluorocarbon-free weatherproofing treatment (not the case with the usual DWS, the treatment that makes precipitation to bead up and roll off the standard hard shell) for this 2.5-layer recycled polyester testament to sustainable innovation. While the jacket may not provide quite the same performance as more toxic models, that difference is negligible if you are not out in the wild for long periods of time. $400; fjallraven.us
CLIMB
La Sportiva Tarantula
Hate to wear those torture instruments known as climbing shoes? The Tarantula is for you. The fit accomodates big, blocky toes and the Velcro straps make it easy to tighten and loosen in a flash when the pain sets in. $88; sportiva.com
HIKE
Oboz Scapegoat Low
Here’s one shoe that can handle the full platter of fall activites. Oboz’s tough, grippy, light Thru-hiker sole imparts the type of unencumbered durability serious hikers demand, whether they are scrambling up 14ers or clambering down into tight Utah slot canyons. $130; obozfootwear.com
HEAR IT
Braven 105
With the power to deliver your tunes for eight hours on a single charge, this active speaker is just the ticket for those who like to feel the beat when they head out for adventure. It’s fully waterproof and fits in the palm of your hand (or straps to a pack or bike handlebars) and it still pumps out some sweet sound. $50; braven.com
SPIN DIRT
Giant Any Road Comax
Cooler days are ideal for putting some serious miles down on those massive networks of rugged dirt roads on the Front Range. This composite-frame steed handles the rough stuff with extra stand-over height and disc brakes, but the geometry still feels fine on pavement. $1,850; giant-bicycles.com
RUN FAST
Hoka ONE ONE Speed Instinct
Here’s the ideal weapon if you have plans for racking up some quick trail miles this fall. Weighing in at 8.4 ounces in a men’s size 9, this kick employs Hoka One One’s PRO2Lite technology, which keeps the heel nice and protected and gives you a lot of response in the forefoot, making for a very effective, comfortable gait over nasty terrain. Plus, the rocker here helps keep some spring in your step and the lugs stick to bare rock. $130; hokaoneone.com
RUN FAR
Altra Lone Peak 3.0, Neoshell Mid
Meet the world’s first mid trail runner. Utah based Altra-created this light (11.9 ounces!), super-stable baby for the demands of the Wasatch 100 trail ultra, but we think it’s the perfect shoe for power hiking/running 14ers, ridge traverses and other big, fast adventures up high in the
Colorado peaks. A Polartec NeoShell exterior (no inner membrane) keeps out the wet while keeping things light. $160; altrarunning.com
PACK IT IN
Mountainsmith Mayhem 45
At a roomy 45 liters, this well balanced top loader can do it all. The spacious inner compartment sucks up all the rope and rack gear you need for a day at the crags or for minimalist overnighters up in the peaks. And the cush suspension system that makes it feel as if you are hauling a lighter load.$160; mountainsmith.com
ROCK SINGLETRACK
Alchemy Arktos
We love to support local brands and Denver-based Alchemy has been crafting some mighty fine road bikes. This year, they impressed us even more with this singletrack machine that has all the chops to take on enduro races or just head out for some trail time with your bros. With a dual-link Sine suspension, it climbs remarkably well for a six-inch travel bike. And style? The bold colors and custom options will make sure you stand out on the trail. $3,799; alchemybicycles.com
BIKE TO BREW
Club Ride Deer Abby
This may be a cycling jersey, with all the fabric performance qualities to keep you warm and wick sweat on a ride, but it also looks and wears so well we have used it for everything from backpacking to post-ride barhopping. $60; clubrideapparel.com
PADDLE
Boardworks SHUBU X Rocket
This inflatable SUP was designed for fitness, with a shape that contains the DNA of Boardworks racing boards, but it’s got some added stabilty, so it’s more than just fast. This SUP is versatile enough for any time on the water, whether you are training for a big event this fall or simply want to get out on some quiet water and enjoy the golden light of autumn. $1,199; boardworkssurf.com
