Gear That Works, Books That Matter
I prefer to buy durable gear that I have to think about as little as possible to do the activity. I don’t really enjoy talking about gear, and I don’t like shopping. In fact, to be completely honest, I hate it, especially in this age of never-ending choice.
I recommend gear and books here because both are essential to my adventures. No matter how minimalist you aspire to be, some gear is indispensable. Books, meanwhile, inspire and instruct, offering new ideas and perspectives for exploring the world and tackling challenges.
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Affiliate links allow creators like me to earn a commission when you click and purchase. You don’t pay extra—it’s simply a gateway to the retailer, and I receive a small percentage (typically 4–15%) of the sale. Paid subscriptions to Next Adventure help too, but they’re not enough to fully support my freelance work, so affiliate links bridge the gap.
My Commitment to Trustworthy Recommendations
I promise to only recommend gear I’ve personally used and trust. My recommendations are grounded in real experience and aligned with values like sustainability, social responsibility, and quality craftsmanship.
A Note on Amazon
You’ll see some links to Amazon. While I’m not a fan of the Amazon economy, certain items are only available there. If alternatives exist (or you know of better options), I’ll gladly update my links to reflect them.
Tough Gear, No Nonsense: Brands That Do the Job Right
Three companies I look to for gear regularly are: Black Ovis, Scheels, and Patagonia—brands that combine performance, reliability, and purpose. Whether I’m chasing a summit, scouting a new trail, or planning the next adventure, these companies are my go-to.
Patagonia: Their stuff lasts longer than anyone else’s. I’ve sent clothing back to be repaired, which they’ve done for free. It's expensive, but not really when you consider how long it lasts. I also agree with most of their ecological and social mission. They don’t market their stuff to hunters or spin fishing, but it works excellently for other activities. I frequent their Sales page. My favorite pieces of Patagonia gear are:
Black Ovis: My go-to for reasonably priced hunting gear. They carry other excellent brands as well. They focus on the hunter, but plenty of their stuff could be used for camping, hiking, and other non-hunting activities.
Scheels: When I need to cast a broader net, I go to Scheels. Their in-person stores are impressive; I visited one in Colorado. Their online selection is exhaustive and is a good alternative to other outdoor behemoths like Dicks and Cabelas. I like shopping at Scheels because they are an employee-owned company, which sets them apart from other Department store retailers.
Stories That Stay With You
I recommend books for both practicality and inspirational value. The right story or idea can remind you why you love doing a certain activity or challenge a longstanding worldview.
A book like Cal Newport’s Deep Work or Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way provides helpful frameworks for productivity and a new way of looking at things. A book like Peace is Every Step by Tich Naht Hanh does that but goes a little deeper into philosophy. One book originally intended as a how-to style manuscript (How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life by Larry Benoit) has a lot of life wisdom throughout it; its my most often cited book.
When I’m looking for less heady reads, I’ll reach for books like Tracking and the Art of Seeing by Paul Rezenes or The Survival of the Bark Canoe by John McPhee; I re-read these on a regular basis.