Here at Durango Outdoor Exchange we see just about everything outdoors and even some items not made for the outdoors! In this post we want to highlight some of those not-traditionally outdoorsy items that we have come to consider integral to any outing.
Zip ties: Did you know that you can fix anything with enough zip ties? Well, maybe not anything but you sure can fix a lot. We carry these things just about everywhere for in field fixes from bike repairs to zipper pulls.
Crocs: These legendary and wildly stylish shoes just so happen to be great for camping and backpacking. Crocs are comfy, light weight and can get wet which makes them a very practical camp shoe. You can wear them casually, with the strap pulled forward, or in “adventure mode” with the strap secured behind your heel for a quick jaunt near camp.
New Skin: If you haven’t seen or heard of New Skin before, it's a hard drying liquid bandage ideal for sealing off hard to cover cuts. It essentially acts as an antiseptic super glue and we swear by it. As many people who regularly travel outdoors know, it’s a good idea to bring a first aid kit on any outing and this little vial of liquid gold should be the first addition to any basic first aid kit. We love it so much we carry it at the shop for$5.99.
Glitter: We don’t feel like we need to say much about this one. Packs small, is lightweight and dramatically increases morale in all outdoor settings. Of course, we encourage everyone to splurge on biodegradable glitter to avoid putting micro plastics in our natural spaces. It should be noted that tutu’s and other costumes have a similar effect to glitter when it comes to boosting morale but glitter wins as far as “packability” is concerned.
When it comes to outdoor sports, a quality jacket can make all the difference between comfort and misery. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, climbing, running, climbing, or simply out and about nature, a jacket serves as your first line of defense against the elements.
That said, there are a LOT of jackets out there, in different styles, materials, weights, and weather proofness. How do you know which is best for you? We put together this guide to help you sort out what jacket you need and when you should whip it out.
Keep in mind that these jackets can be ridiculously expensive, and buying a ski jacket, rain jacket, puffy, light puffy, and a wind jacket new can easily mean you run up a tab of $2,000 or more. What’s the solution? Qualityused gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
It’s snowy and cold, but you want to get out. Downhill skiing is too expensive and backcountry skiing is too difficult. What’s a happy medium? Snowshoeing.
Think of snowshoeing as hiking in the snow, but you can traipse across deep snow and go where there are no trails. You only need basic equipment to get started and it you have ever skied then you probably have most of it already. Here’s a primer on where to go and what to bring. Oh, and when it comes to gear, save money buy buying used gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
Maybe you’ve seen other telemarkers carving beautiful turns on the mountain, maybe you are looking for a new challenge, or maybe you want to really work those quads–either way, getting into telemarking is fun and challenging.
Telemark skiing is a blend of Nordic and alpine skiing that combines the grace of cross-country with the thrill of downhill turns. Central to this style is the telemark binding, which allows the heel to lift, enabling a skier to lunge gracefully through turns.
Ready to pick up some telemark gear? Here’s some great news: Unlike downhill bindings, telemark bindings don’t get put on indemnified lists, meaning there is no set age at which they cannot be mounted. This meansbuying used telemark gear can be a great deal.