With a mission to “ensure that everyone can relieve themselves outdoors with comfort, confidence, and safety,” this female-led startup has created a pair of pants that *might* even make you look forward to peeing outside.

When I returned to Vermont from England this summer, I only had one pair of shorts in tow - my black Patagonia Baggies. Previously, my Baggies had been something I wore on hikes and that’s about it. This summer, however, would be different.

“All in all, if I could just say to these designers, finish strong! You were so close! You almost made a really good women’s performance pant! So why give up on these bits that are so easy? Give us regular pockets and keep your dumb buttons!”

“A few years ago I was backpacking the Tour Du Mont Blanc with my dad. It is stunning, and hence, quite a popular route. If you are lucky, maybe you will go 15 minutes without seeing a fellow hiker or mountain biker. Additionally, due to the whole circling Mont Blanc thing, most of it is at altitude and therefore quite exposed. Perhaps you can already see where this is leading.”

Trans hiker Lyla Harrod wrote this great gear guide for The Trek in preparation for an upcoming thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Check out Lyla’s gear list for another queer person’s top picks for outdoor adventure!

Fi is a nonbinary outdoorsperson who has worked outside for a decade. They enjoy backpacking, hiking, camping, swimming, mountain biking, bikepacking, skiing, boogie boarding, and did they mention swimming?

There’s a lot of outdoor clothing and gear in the world. It seems like every day there’s a new release, an updated model, and new technology - it’s hard to keep up! Once you sift through all the excess, though, you likely find a few items that stand out from the crowd - things that work for you in any situation, time and time again.

Knowing how to find affordable outdoor gear is a helpful skill to have in your arsenal. Here are some tips to get you started.