Tubb's Women's Wilderness Snowshoes

All terrain, all action Women's Wilderness snowshoes from Tubbs

 

Tubbs (originally of Vermont) makes some of the best women specific snowshoes on the market. I still use my old school Traditional Bear Paw Wood framed snowshoes and they are still kicking it after more than 10 years. They are handwoven by native peoples who have passed the craft down from generation to generation. Truly a functional work of art!

 

My Traditional Tubbs Snowshoes still rock.

Tubb's Women's Wilderness Snowshoes

These are the same women specific snowshoes designed for the Tubb's Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer events. These are the perfect all terrain snowshoe that can go nearly anywhere, even up hill thanks to the ActiveLift™ heel bar.  We have a large estate so we took these out in the woods on our own land which includes uneven gulleys and streams. They handled it all!

 

Built for speed, these modern fitness snowshoes can replace your running shoes in the wintertime. Snowshoeing burns tons of calories, (between 400-1,000 per/hr) and is one of the best outdoor exercises you can do. They are lightweight and you can even choose the degree of float desired according to your weight. The bindings are very easy to adjust with gloved hands, (I wear Scott Snowboarding Gloves).

   

Tubb's Women's Wilderness Snowshoes

The ultimate adventure starts with the right gear. Packed full of great features like the 180Pro binding and the Fit-Step™ frame, the Wilderness snowshoe is the perfect blend of technology, comfort and convenience. And now with the ActiveLift™ heel lift, there’s no adventure this snowshoe can’t tackle!

 

 

Snow and Winter Survival Essentials

Fresh snow on the back acre of my New Jersey estate.

I really enjoy snowshoeing and everything snow related in the winter-time. In fact my fondest memories are of my father taking us all sled riding in deep winter at night. Super cold but we loved it! So I've learned a few things about keeping warm and safe in snowy-winter conditions, especially if you have to unexpectedly spend extended times outdoors.  Here's what I pack:

Hiking-Snowshoeing-Skiing
Make sure you dress in breathable layers like wool but skip the cotton. When you sweat, cotton stays wet and will eventually chill your core. Same thing for your socks and footwear. Pack an extra pair of Smartwool socks to change in case snow gets inside your boot. Weather-proof your boots with Sno-Seal or NikWax to help keep moisture out.

Hardshell Pants
Over top of my wool socks and boots, I wear Gore-Tex Paclite Snowboarding Pants. The zippers go all the way up and are sealed to keep snow and water out. The knees are articulated making them easy to bend and move in.

Warm Gloves

Lole of Montreal's Chunky Knit Ski Cap

I have many pairs of gloves but the ones I wear most in winter are made of soft kid leather and fur lined. Just like my boots, I give them a quick treatment with Sno-Seal once a year. This keeps them soft and supple because water exposure is what dries out the skins. Mittens may be warmer but won't help much with ski or snowshoe bindings.

Headwear 
I've said it before but it bears repeating that covering your noggin and neck area is perhaps the best way to prevent heat from escaping. 

A Balaclava which also covers your chin and mouth is ideal especially when worn as a layer beneath a loose knit wool hat.

The Kestrel 4500 gives you both weather tracking and compass directions.

Weather Tracker & Compass
You may be able to use your cell phone to get updates on the weather but what if you are out of signal range? Also remember that the information you get from that source is from the nearest weather reporting facility, not necessarily where YOU are at the moment.

I take along my Kestrel Weather Tracker because it calculates the changing atmospheric conditions where I am, alerting me to a falling barometer and wind-chill factors that can precede hypothermia. Additionally it has the ability to track wind speed and direction via a very accurate compass.  If you get turned around in white out conditions, the compass will be very handy to help show the way home.

Hot Food & Drink
Bringing along some hot soup is a really good idea as well. Even if you want to take a smaller sized 12oz thermal container, this will both hydrate, nourish and warm you while you are in freezing temperatures. 

Hot soup, broth or tea will help warm your core on the trail.

Fire!
Even if it is something as simple as a fire-starter, keep one with you in case you are lost, injured or just need to get warm. I keep one on my key-chain and always have one plus fire starting materials in my backpack. Cotton balls smeared with petroleum jelly work great to get a fire going. Don't leave home without it!

Camp axe, British Army Knife and Aurora Fire Starter all from Camping Survival.

First-Aid Kit
You don't have to go crazy but throw together a few bandages and antiseptic for the trip. Adventure Medical Kits has a not so bare bones Ultralight-Watertight .3 Kit that is just that and a lot more. I keep one with me in my handbag but for outdoor expeditions I will take a larger kit in the same series as I am carrying in for my hike companions. Every kit I've tried has been complete and totally worth bringing.

Adventure Medical Ultralight/Watertight Kits are perfect for snowy dayhikes.

Now you can certainly add other things to your winter backpack, but these are the essentials I take every time because they are lightweight and really earn their space. With the metal Klean Kanteen you can heat and melt snow for extra water while hiking so you needn't haul extra gallons. Definitely the way to travel light in the snow.

The main goal is to get home safe and stay warm!

Tips For Keeping Warm Outdoors

Having the right accessories such as these snowboarding gloves means warmer hands because you don't have to remove them to adjust your bindings.

Wintertime is always a challenge for getting outdoors. I have and love my Gore-Tex Hardshell Snowboarding Pants which have sealed full length zippers down the leg. These help with my skis or snowshoe boots so that I don't have to take them off needlessly.

Glove Love
The same thing with gloves. If you get a pair that are well articulated (read "fingered") you'll find that they can remain on while you adjust your snowboard or snowshoe bindings. Also, I use my Scott Snowboarding Gloves with my camera and to do other things that mittens won't allow.
Tip for Keeping Hands Warmer: Dry skin is really the bane of maintaining warmth. Try applying a good coat of either Vaseline Petroleum Jelly or Coconut Oil to your hands before putting your gloves on. Your skin will be very soft and your hands will stay much warmer.

Soup it Up
If you don't already have one, this is the time to invest in a Thermos or insulated container. They are reusable and can keep soup and or coffee piping hot for up to 8 hours! My favorites are made by Klean Kanteen who has also just come out with thermal food containers. I haven't tried them but their Wide Mouth Insulated containers come in 12, 16 and 24 oz which fits most of my soup and coffee needs. The larger container even holds enough soup for two.
Quick Hot Soup Tip: On the way out with no time to heat your soup? Put a cup of water in the microwave for 2 minutes. Add to your thermal container and add your soup if it's condensed. If not, leave the hot water in for about five minutes, then pour it out and add your cold soup. It will heat up enroute.

Dress the Part & Layer Right
If you train or ride your bicycle during the winter months, try to get a few cycle specific pieces like a jacket and pants which block the wind. Gore-Tex Windstopper fabric is lightweight, non-bulky and can be layered with a Merino Wool undershirt like those from Bluey Australia. Please DON'T layer with cotton though. During the wintertime, cotton holds sweat instead of wicking like wool causing you to chill down and freeze. Wool or silk baselayers work much better. However one of the best cycle wear that looks like street wear would have to be the Portland Jacket by Showers Pass. Fully tricked out as a technical jacket, it won't stand out when you stop for that Latte or Cappuccino Mocha.

Showers Pass Portland Jacket is warm yet breatheable. Perfect for layering and riding in the rain or snow.

Showers Pass Waterproof Pants

Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can sneak up on us during the winter months especially. All the same, if you are dehydrated, you run an even greater risk of hypothermia. Try sipping warm or hot liquids during your hike, ride or run. This is where carrying some hot soup will actually do double duty. The broth will replace much needed water in your system while warming you from the inside out. Don't over-do the coffee though. Caffeine actually acts as a diuretic, causing you to lose even more precious moisture! Soup or even hot cocoa made with milk is more nutritious, keeping you warm and energized for the trek.

Stay hydrated by taking along extra water for the trip.

Weekend Ski Trip - Packed in 10!

You just got a call to join your friends skiing this weekend.  Don't panic.  Have you got 10 minutes?  Here's our "get up and go" packing list of clothing & gear essentials for a super-fun weekend on the slopes!    You won't have much of a good time if yo're not warm and dry so baselayer must haves include: Exofficio's super - wicking Chica Cool Hoody, Craft's Microclimate Layer 1 Tee, and Smartwool's Midweight Turtleneck.  

Exofficio's Chica Cool Hoody

Outerwear packables include a pair of warm UGG Boots (Bailey 3 Buttons), Kahtoola MICROspikes Crampons, Moonstone's Lucid Down Jacket and Hardshell Banshee Snowboarding Pants with matching black Snow Beanie (fits smoothly under your ski helmet).

Top if all off with Rudy's Project's Technically Cool Klonyx Snow Goggles and you are SO ready for a great weekend on the mountain!

Don't forget your toiletries, a portable humidifier and guitar for those cozy lodge evenings!