My Current Favorite Things - Outdoors Edition

This week for Travel Tuesday I am going to mix it up a little and share with you some of my favorite things I am loving right now.  Because if you spend time in the outdoors, you may find you will love these things too!



I do want to start out by saying, I am not being paid to promote or talk about any of these products. I am reviewing and telling you about them purely because I love them, not because I was asked to share.


Hydro Flask Water Bottle
My new Water bottle. LOVE IT!  I bet you could guess I got this in pink too:)
Let me start off by saying this is not your ordinary water bottle.  This actually keeps drinks cold for 24 hours and drinks hot for 12 hours.  Thanks to it's double wall vacuum design.  It's also stainless steel which makes it easy to clean.

First time I used it, I filled it with ice cubes and water. (I bought the 24 ounce one so that the mouth was wide enough to drop cubes down.)
I left it sitting in my car in direct line from the hot windshield for 4 hours, on a hot 100+ degree day.  When I took it out of my car, that mind you everything else in it was hotter than a hades.  I unscrewed the lid, took a sip.  WOW it actually was still ice cold!  FABULOUS!
I was sold at that point!
I have used it several times, well pretty much daily and lets just say it hasn't let me down yet!
Granted I have not yet tried hot liquid in it, but if it works for cold, I am a believer it will work for hot too.
I take it hiking with me, it fits fine in even my smallest backpack.

Sure, you have to unscrew the lid to drink, so it takes a second or two longer to get to, but when you can guarantee a cold drink, it's worth the extra few seconds in my mind.

I will say, it is not exactly cheap.  But it's also not so over priced that people can't afford it.  You can find them at most of your higher end outdoor sporting goods stores, but also on Amazon. They range in price $30-$35 for the size I bought, but I have seen smaller sizes for around $20.

The Bug Band
If you hike, go outdoors or go anywhere near where mosquito's are, which lets face it, are most places this time of year.  Those pesky flying vampires can eat you alive.

I came across this at a sporting goods store, I saw them and asked the clerk if they work.  I mean, I was totally skeptical, wear a braclet and not get bit??? Hmmm
She told me they can barely keep them on the shelf, people swear by them.  She also said that customers have told her this brand works better than all the others on the market.

So I bought one, and took it on a trip.  Camped by a river, mosquito's swarming all over.  I put it on, and didn't get a single bit.
Ended up using it every morning/evening on the first trip.  Took it on a couple other camping trips, and it's still been working amazing.  I haven't had a single bit while wearing it.  But I did get bit when I wasn't wearing it.

I even was surrounded by biting flies at a lake once, so I put it on and once I did they quit biting me!

I love it!  Yes there is a strong scent to it, but it's not really all that bad. But it doesn't smell like bug spray, and the best part is I can just put it on my wrist and take it off when I don't need it.
I lasts 120 hours, so I store it in the plastic container it came with when I am not using it.  Best part is, I don't have to have layers of bug spray on me while camping anymore!

They say you can clip it to you anywhere and it will work the same.  Like belt buckle, shoe lace, or ankle, tank top strap etc...  I have always just worn it on my wrist. I mean it's not all that bad looking, just looks like a plastic bracelet.

Personally, if I was hiking through back country or in the deep woods, I would still want repellent with a good Deet #, for ticks an so on.  But if you are just in your backyard, or camping or trail hiking/running this is perfect.

Wet Ones
Some of you may already have been using these.  But my sister just introduced me to them earlier this year.
Before I had just used baby wipes, but these are soooo much better.  Let me tell you why I love them.

Not only can you wash off your hands when water isn't available.  But these also disinfect, they say they kill 99.9% of germs with a mild formula.  Plus they have skin conditioning in them.
Great for kids and adults.  I love them so much more than baby wipes because you can by them in different scents.

I actually keep a small canister in my car.  I also keep on in each of my hiking packs.
I have another set in my purse.
Also, as soon as I start racing again.  I will be taking them to every race I run, because they are just awesome!
When I do my next Ragnar, I am so taking these with me in bulk for the team, hello fabulous!

So tell me, have you tried any of these products before?  If so, what are your thoughts?
If you haven't tried them, are they things you might look into using for your adventure?