Summertime in the outdoors here in Idaho is my favorite time of the year. With nearly unlimited activities available within just a few hours, the hardest part is picking what to do next. Now that both of our boys are old enough to start really adventuring we have a full calendar this summer. To get things started we took a full day raft trip down the North Fork of the Payette River with Cascade Raft and Kayak. Instead of my normal rafting shirt, I wore the Outdoor Research Next To None Tee ($99 at Amazon).
This quick-dry shirt came in handy, not only because we had four fantastic Class 3 rapids to do that day but my 11-year-old son decided he was brave enough to “ride the bronco” (this means sitting on the front of the raft like a horse). This also meant that dad had to go for a swim once we got through the rapids. I thought this would temper his enthusiasm until we got to the next rapid and he was right back on the bronco.
The Next To None dried quickly and when it was wet it didn’t feel like it was wearing a wetsuit. It also was great for our daily hikes when in McCall and although we worked up a real sweat on a few it wicked the moisture perfectly. It has AirVent™ technology to keep you cool on the run and ActiveFresh™ odor control to keep you from smelling like you just ripped out a 5-mile trail run. The Next to None is also SPF 30 and works as a base layer or main top depending on what adventure your on. I would love to get a full-length version of this shirt for slightly cooler weather.
The Trail Mix smart fleece pullover is my new go-to campfire top. This soft, breathable, and unbelievably warm smart fleece top came on each night as the sun went down. It has a subtle grid pattern that almost feels quilted and looks fantastic. The Trail Mix layers well and is a perfect match to the Next To None Tee. The thermo-regulating ActiveTemp™ treatment is built to help regulate body temperature no matter the adventure. I like the wide, snap neck and full kangaroo pocket that can store anything from cold hands to a soft water bottle. The Trail Mix pullover is a slimmer fit than most other pullovers and looks sharp. It packs down small and is basically wrinkleproof as far as I could tell when I pulled it out of the bottom of my pack after getting home.
When my wife and I found ourselves on the dock late at night with a bottle of wine I never got cold, well that is until she looked cold and I gave it to her.