Gear Abby: Trail Cred Is Fake, Gear Hoarders Anonymous & the Cold Run Manifesto
- colin7931
- 5 minutes ago
- 43 min read
In the latest episode of Gear Abby, host Shawnté Salabert and producer Colin True tackle some of the most quietly judgmental corners of outdoor culture—those moments where people wonder if they’re doing the outdoors “right,” hoarding too much gear, or willingly subjecting themselves to freezing misery for a good cause. The result is an episode that dismantles outdoor status games, celebrates thoughtful decluttering, and offers a no-nonsense manifesto for winter running without losing your will to live.
Question 1: Does Car Camping Destroy Your Trail Cred?
The episode opens with a listener wrestling with a deeply online anxiety: if you’re a thru-hiker, do you lose your “trail cred” by enjoying car camping?
Shawnté wastes no time shutting the entire premise down. Trail cred, she argues, is a made-up currency enforced by people who need to hike their own hike a little harder. Outdoor identity isn’t a purity test, and enjoying one style of camping doesn’t invalidate another.
She makes the case that car camping—especially dispersed camping on public land—can be a meaningful way to spend time outdoors with friends who don’t backpack, eat actual food that didn’t come from a foil pouch, and still get the kind of reset people chase in the backcountry. The real takeaway: if someone is judging how you sleep outside, that’s their issue—not yours.
Question 2: Gear Hoarders Anonymous (But Make It Sustainable)
Next up, a listener admits to owning duplicate tents, packs, stoves, and shoes after years of trying different outdoor sports—and wants to know how to responsibly let go of perfectly good gear.
Shawnté walks through a thoughtful hierarchy of options, starting with resale for those who want to recoup some cash, and moving toward more altruistic paths for those ready to part ways without profit. She covers consignment shops, brand-run resale platforms, gear-specific marketplaces, and local buy-nothing groups—while also acknowledging the reality that not all donations end up where we hope they do.
Her strongest recommendation? Put usable gear directly back into circulation with intention—whether that’s through community groups, outdoor clubs, gear libraries, or organizations serving unhoused populations. The segment reframes decluttering not as loss, but as an opportunity to lower barriers to entry and extend the life of gear that still has plenty of miles left.
Question 3: Climbing Kilimanjaro, Responsibly
A retired listener writes in about planning a Kilimanjaro climb with his wife and asks for advice on booking, packing, and preparation—especially as first-time international trekkers.
Shawnté emphasizes the importance of choosing guide companies that work with and fairly support local staff, encouraging listeners to research porter treatment and seek out ethical operators. She highlights the value of trekking with local guides—not just for logistics, but for the cultural exchange that comes with it.
On the practical side, she shares what she was glad she packed (snacks to share, a pillow, gallon freezer bags, painkillers) and what she wishes she had (hand warmers, an eye mask, dry shampoo, an insulated bottle). Her advice balances realism and respect: be prepared, tip well, treat people like people—not servants—and recognize that how you travel matters as much as where you go.
Question 4: The Cold Run Manifesto
The episode closes with a listener training for a spring trail race who hates being cold but refuses to quit—and needs help surviving winter runs.
Shawnté delivers a clear, practical framework: fuel first, warm up properly, and understand the difference between being cold and being dangerously underprepared. She explains the often-misunderstood mantra “be bold, start cold,” emphasizing smart layering that avoids sweat buildup while keeping extremities protected.
She shares her preferred cold-weather setups, traction options for icy conditions, and small tricks that make winter miles more tolerable—like timing runs for warmer parts of the day and accepting that some days, discretion really is the better part of valor. The segment becomes less about toughness and more about sustainability: how to keep moving through winter without burning out or freezing your ass off.
The Takeaway
From dismantling fake outdoor hierarchies to rethinking how we consume gear and endure cold weather, this episode of Gear Abby is a reminder that the best way to recreate outside is the way that works for you. Whether you’re sleeping in your car, downsizing your gear closet, climbing overseas with intention, or running through winter for a cause, Shawnté and Colin make the case that judgment has no place on the trail—and that thoughtful choices always beat performative toughness.
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Episode Transcript:
Shawnté Salabert
00:00:03.200 - 00:01:12.150
You got questions going out of your mind. Someone with answers. Now that's hard to find, like the what and the why and the how stuff works or just where to go to avoid all the jerks.
She's Gear Abby. Gear Abby. Gear Abby. Advice that doesn't suck. Gear Abby.
Hello there, my outdoorsy friends, and welcome to Gear Abbey, where we tackle the common, controversial, weird, obscure and taboo topics that other outdoor podcasts refuse to touch.
I'm outdoor educator and writer Shantae Salibare, and I'm here to answer your burning questions about our relationships with outdoor people, products, places and pastimes. And I want them all because remember, there are no dumb questions, just smart advice. All right, here's how it works. I know, you know, I know.
We're all going to know together. You're going to send questions to DearGearAbbyMail.com and I'll answer a couple week here on the show.
We're getting a lot of emails lately, so keep them coming as always. Joining me today is my partner in Gear, the producer of Gear, Abby, and a guy who feels like my little brother even though he's older than me, Colin.
True.
Colin True
00:01:13.270 - 00:01:26.310
How is come I am clearly the mentor here, all right? Because like, if it weren't for me, you would not be embracing your true algorithm on Instagram. All right?
You know, I was so, so boring before and I've unleashed your tidal wave.
Shawnté Salabert
00:01:26.710 - 00:01:37.410
Wow. What tidal wave is that? I don't think I co sign. I think, I think that is not a tidal wave I would like to participate in. Thanks.
I need the water wings for that tidal wave, if you know what I'm saying.
Colin True
00:01:38.530 - 00:01:41.650
I can't remember the one as I sent you today, but I was like, oh my God, that's so funny when.
Shawnté Salabert
00:01:41.650 - 00:01:46.770
I said this, you send me wonderful, wonderful, terrible reels all the time, so I thank you for that.
Colin True
00:01:46.930 - 00:01:52.610
Maybe it is more little brother behavior. That's all I know. I'm only little brother. I'm the youngest in my family, so it's still.
Shawnté Salabert
00:01:52.610 - 00:02:07.390
Oh my God. And I'm the older sister. My younger sister is lovely. She sends me a lot of reels on Instagram too.
She also sends me voice memos now, which I am not good at returning. I'm trying. She calls them her podcast. Yeah.
Colin True
00:02:07.390 - 00:02:10.230
I mean, come on. Like that's. That's such an under 40 thing.
Shawnté Salabert
00:02:10.230 - 00:02:24.990
I know, I know. Well, Colin, listen, you know what, speaking of the Internets, not to brag, but I'm going to.
We just got another five star review on Apple podcasts So thank you for that person who took the time to actually rate, review and subscribe.
Colin True
00:02:24.990 - 00:02:26.710
Yeah, everyone's welcome to do it. By the way.
Shawnté Salabert
00:02:26.710 - 00:02:27.430
It's helpful.
Colin True
00:02:27.430 - 00:02:30.590
You don't even need to listen on Apple podcast for you to go rate and write a review.
Shawnté Salabert
00:02:30.750 - 00:03:56.580
You can write a haiku. There's no formatting, you know, issues here. You could just like inverse. You could use our names as a. What is it called?
An anacrostic when you do the each letter of the name. Is that what they do? But you know, just things to think of people. Okay.
But I'm gonna say this particular review did ask us to, and I quote, please turn off the notifications on your devices while you're recording.
Which made me realize that this is probably from the recent books segment where Colin just went absolutely apeshit with a little dinging sound, which even drove me a little crazy. So love five star reviewer. You are not alone.
But I'm kind of glad you mentioned this because those dings that you were hearing in every episode were Colin's way of kind of signaling a special call out in the show notes which we forget to mention sometimes there are amazing show notes over on Rockfight Co. There is no M. It's just CO for every single episode.
So on that particular episode, which sounded like some kind of deranged Carol of the Bells during that segment he dinged every single book and linked to it everything I talked about. So we, we're gonna, we're gonna retire the dings for now just in case other people are confused about them. But we are not retiring the show notes.
It is incredible what Colin does every week. There's always bonus content if there.
If you're a total gear Abbey nerd, it's about 50% helpful links and I'd say 50% Colin making cracks about something I said. So highly enjoyable.
Colin True
00:03:56.580 - 00:04:05.220
In any case, look, I'm just gonna. I appreciate your. Your way you're handling this there gear, Abby. I'm just gonna say it. I'm very disappointed in our listeners that.
Shawnté Salabert
00:04:05.220 - 00:04:08.880
They'Re not giving us more. More written reviews or that they don't.
Colin True
00:04:08.880 - 00:04:24.840
Obviously not a phone. Number one. Okay. Number two, go look at the show was a little trigger. Like what is this? Let me find out more. It's in.
It's in the show notes in your podcast app. It's over on the website. I can't have a list of footnotes now without the dings. Well, would that make any sense?
You wouldn't even know what I'm talking about.
Shawnté Salabert
00:04:24.920 - 00:04:29.880
Make a Noise in the background. I feel like we were trying to workshop this the other day. Hello?
Colin True
00:04:30.760 - 00:04:41.820
No, it's fine. We'll take it out. I'm sure that this person. I appreciate that we still got the five star review and they made this mention.
It is just kind of a little, little bonkers to me that we didn't connect the dots. But that's okay. I get it. I move on.
Shawnté Salabert
00:04:41.820 - 00:05:15.200
I'm not going to shame any of our listeners for giving us five star review. Colin. So I'm just saying thank you.
Dear person, I don't remember what your years, your name was, but it was just like a lot of letters smushed together. So I appreciate your hard work. Everybody else go leave us really exciting comments so we could read them on air. Yes, we're gonna start reading.
I think starting with next week we've got, every once in a while we get really cool emails in and I'm gonna start excerpting them views. Whatever you want, send us, send us fan mail. Make sure it's all addressed to me and we'll read some of them.
Colin True
00:05:15.280 - 00:05:24.000
Yep, yep. End of an era. First 15 episodes have footnotes. If you belong for that journey, hope you enjoyed it. It's over.
Shawnté Salabert
00:05:26.160 - 00:05:31.680
All right. While we're doing housekeeping, which maybe is a new, a new segment. The housekeeping segment's real sexy.
Colin True
00:05:32.480 - 00:05:33.360
I brought my broom.
Shawnté Salabert
00:05:33.360 - 00:06:11.930
Yeah, I've got a, I've got a robot vacuum. Yeah, I wish, I really wish actually. So just a heads up, all of y'. All.
So next week's episode which will air on December 25, it's going to be a little different than the norm and I'm not even going to tell you what that is if you are a faithful listener. You might have heard us tease part of that episode here and there, but it's gonna be a little special.
And after that we're going to take a two week break just so we can stare into middle distance for a little while like maybe we all will and prepare for the new year. And then it's a great for you to ruminate on what you want to email us about. So take, take advantage.
Colin True
00:06:11.930 - 00:06:15.730
Maybe you get something for Christmas or Hanukkah and you have a question about the gear, send me.
Shawnté Salabert
00:06:15.730 - 00:06:22.130
Maybe you got some gift cards and you want to know how to spend them. We can even spend them for you if you send them to us.
Colin True
00:06:22.210 - 00:06:26.450
Sure. Dear curaby@gmail.com and keep all the stuff.
Shawnté Salabert
00:06:26.610 - 00:06:33.330
I don't. What did you mean by keep all the stuff? Colin, you just told Everyone to keep.
Like keep all the stuff we get for Christmas or we will keep all this stuff.
Colin True
00:06:33.330 - 00:06:35.030
You're giving me your gift card. I'm gonna keep.
Shawnté Salabert
00:06:35.340 - 00:06:54.940
I'm going to keep this up. I just have to clarify what you meant there. I'm on board. So yes, we will keep all your stuff. This is like your way you could tip us.
It's like, it's like either a five star review with a really beautiful email, you know, or just send us a gift card. But speaking of asking, Colin, what is the first question for the day?
Colin True
00:06:55.020 - 00:07:19.030
Okay, our first question today is Dear gear Abby. Will a thru hiker lose their trail credit if they car camp? I mean you never hear about a thru hiker raving about car camping being where it's at.
Even boondocking in the middle of nowhere can be epic. So that's the question. Do they lose their trail credit? Trail cred. And that is signed Sarah. Sarah, I'm assuming not her trail.
Shawnté Salabert
00:07:19.030 - 00:07:22.590
You don't know. This could be. This could be anybody. You don't even know the gender of this.
Colin True
00:07:22.590 - 00:07:33.590
I'm gonna keep the, the, the email notifications that the name that is not going away. So if you all think that that is our. Our phone's going off. That is our sign off for our listeners. They get a little bing.
Shawnté Salabert
00:07:34.210 - 00:07:48.130
What? No. Okay. Okay. No. I do like your sound design, Colin. I feel like we should give you props for that.
I do get a lot of comments that the production on this podcast is pretty damn good. And that is all due to you, sir. So bravo.
Colin True
00:07:48.130 - 00:07:50.610
Thank you. Sorry sir, I didn't mean to step on.
Shawnté Salabert
00:07:50.770 - 00:07:56.810
Sorry we didn't say thank you for writing in say he was paying attention to anything other than his impressive production.
Colin True
00:07:56.810 - 00:08:01.330
Skills and not to step on what gear. I was going to say, but who are these that are making you feel bad about car camping?
Shawnté Salabert
00:08:01.330 - 00:08:12.000
Come on. This actually reminds me of some of those early questions we got about some strava and running vests. I don't. You know, you remember those?
Namely will somebody judge me for doing this thing or you?
Colin True
00:08:12.240 - 00:08:13.720
Am I doing outdoor wrong?
Shawnté Salabert
00:08:13.720 - 00:08:31.840
Yeah. Am I outdoorsing wrong? Wearing this thing? I like. You know. My short answer is Sarah. Anybody else who's listening? Who cares? Okay.
What, like what is trail cred? And I'm saying that in heavy quotes like who's. Who's keeping score here? Is it the Equifax through hiker Credit Bureau? I don't. I don't.
Colin True
00:08:32.320 - 00:08:33.080
Maybe we should.
Shawnté Salabert
00:08:33.080 - 00:08:41.540
We should start that. That's going to be when we launch Only fans. That's what the content is going to be. We're just going to judge all of you.
It's where we get out like all of our ladies.
Colin True
00:08:41.540 - 00:08:42.700
That's such a good idea.
Shawnté Salabert
00:08:42.780 - 00:09:27.600
So where everybody could be a dick together. So, yeah, I think listen through hikers.
Let's all just put down the ramen noodles and tuna packets and just take a beat to think about what's actually important. Okay. All right. Now, I could leave it there because really that's all the answer that needed to happen here.
But I'm going to dig in a bit deeper because you the people deserve it. So first of all, yes, I. I'm judging anybody who judges somebody else for doing an activity that they don't personally like or think is cool.
I always go back to the classic thru hiker phrase, which clearly these people have forgotten. Hike your own hike, which essentially means do your thing. Okay.
Or perhaps even the, you know, it's like the we don't kink shame of backpacking is kind of how I like to think about it. Right, Colin?
Colin True
00:09:27.760 - 00:09:32.080
I think the evolution of kink shaming on this podcast, it's not about sex at all.
Shawnté Salabert
00:09:32.320 - 00:09:53.220
We have T shirts, something. Any. I. Somebody, actually. So Colin and I were at the running event, which is an outdoor trade show for. You're gonna.
You're gonna be shocked to hear this running.
We were there a couple weeks ago and somebody walked up to me at one point and just pointed their finger at me and said, we don't kick shame on this podcast. And it was all I needed in my life. So thank you for picking up.
Colin True
00:09:53.220 - 00:09:54.500
You could die happy at this point.
Shawnté Salabert
00:09:54.500 - 00:09:57.860
Really. That was it. We could shut down the podcast. Yes. That's it.
Colin True
00:09:57.860 - 00:09:58.580
We've won, man.
Shawnté Salabert
00:09:58.580 - 00:10:29.420
But you know what? I think there are dualities that exist within us outdoor nerds.
Okay, getting back to the camping here, some someone can be a hardcore alpinist and still enjoy doing laps at the local. Craig somebody could be a whitewater enthusiast and still enjoy paddling around on a lake.
And yes, somebody can enjoy backpacking and sleeping miles away from any roads or flush toilets. You know, they probably have their bidet with them and still dig the car camping experience.
Although I do think we've all learned by now that Colin would rather not do any of those things.
Colin True
00:10:29.420 - 00:10:42.450
No, but I tell you what, because, like, that's exactly what I think of, like, it's actually I get nervous admitting, like, I'm not a camper, but I love doing outdoor stuff. You know what I mean? Because you're like, oh, you don't camp? Well, then I'm going to take away your outdoor car.
Shawnté Salabert
00:10:42.450 - 00:11:17.870
I'm only judging you because you're my little brother, not because I think it's wrong that you don't camp. I do think it's wrong that you haven't been to Yosemite yet.
But we're going to fix that in the new year and I'm going to watch Lord of the Rings with you in theaters. So we're going to make it happen. We're going to meet in the middle and we're going to rectify a lot of things this year. Okay, I can't wait.
But yeah, I mean, I honestly, I'm going to just, just throw this out there. I really, really, really, really don't like staying at front country campgrounds.
I am a really light sleeper and I hate being kept up by somebody blasting EDM and putting on like a full laser light show. Yes. And you think I'm like exaggerating here. That has happened to me twice.
Colin True
00:11:17.870 - 00:11:19.070
No, it's happened to me too.
Shawnté Salabert
00:11:19.150 - 00:11:19.590
Twice.
Colin True
00:11:19.590 - 00:11:35.460
Yeah.
No, part of it is like, I, I would prefer to backpack if I'm going to camp because it's like, then it's like, now it's an immersive experience or bike pack or whatever it is. It's like, it's part of the thing when it's like, hey, you can sleep at this campground with the EDM music or drive two hours and sleep in your bed.
Shawnté Salabert
00:11:35.460 - 00:11:39.460
It's like, you're right. Well, we'll get to that in a second because I got some ideas here.
Colin True
00:11:39.460 - 00:11:40.060
Oh, sorry.
Shawnté Salabert
00:11:40.060 - 00:12:53.730
No, no, I love it. I love it. You're thinking ahead, Colin. You're thinking ahead about your own comfort, which is really important. So.
No, but you know, as much as I dislike camping in campgrounds, it's not the car camping I dislike. I actually really enjoy doing car camping. You know, experiences with friends.
And part of that is just obviously you get to bring a bunch of stuff for sure that makes you comfortable. You get to bring really good food usually that has not been pre dehydrated.
And you know, I also think that car camping just lets me spend time outside with friends of mine that aren't into backpacking, but we still get like a full value experience out there, you know, so this is going to get to your point. Colin and Sarah actually mentioned this in their email. I love camping in areas where dispersed camping is allowed.
Now, that is going to be a term a lot of people don't know and it just means that dispersed camping is camping on some sort of public land that's undeveloped. So there's no bathrooms, no pit, you know, like no picnic tables, no fire pits.
And in a lot of places this is generally blm, that's Bureau of Land Management land or national forests. I also love researching options on the most exquisitely named website. Freecampsites.net. that's right.
Colin True
00:12:55.090 - 00:12:56.610
That sounds like it's going to give you a virus.
Shawnté Salabert
00:12:56.610 - 00:13:00.970
It looks like it was built in 1990 when the, you know, when elsewhere invented the Internet.
Colin True
00:13:00.970 - 00:13:03.210
Pixelated torches with like the visitor counter.
Shawnté Salabert
00:13:03.210 - 00:13:08.290
The Oregon Trail wagon is just going across the bottom. Yeah, that's pretty much what it looks like.
Colin True
00:13:08.610 - 00:13:10.050
I don't know where Carmen Sandiego is.
Shawnté Salabert
00:13:10.050 - 00:14:31.520
I'm going to find her at this free campsite. Yeah, it's, you know what, for as old timey as that website is, it's actually really useful and it's used a lot by people who.
In that you can actually search for this people who boondock and that just are. That's just people who like to do this in an RV or a camper instead of a tent.
So, you know, that website for all of its old Tim is great, but also you could just google boondocking and the area you're going to be in and you're going to be able to find these places that are off the beaten path but where you don't have to hike in. You know, you can just kind of drive in, set up, sleep in your car, set up some tents, do your thing.
But yeah, any of you listening who are in fact through hiking snobs worried about trail cred, I really cannot recommend enough that you just, just give it a chance. See how the other half lives.
I have some friends, Nina and Enrique, that we, we backpack together sometimes, but I actually really love car camping with them because they will set up every single time a full taco bar with like absolutely legit homemade salsa and guac and carnitas and all the fixings. And they let me sleep.
They have this kind of 4x4 built out camper truck situation and they'll always let me sleep on the bottom level, which is all cushy and stuff. And I love it. It's truly one of my favorite things in the world. So it's almost ruined me for instant mashed potatoes and thermoresti pads.
So just consider yourself warned.
Colin True
00:14:31.520 - 00:14:42.000
I think I'm just happy that like the.
Of all these sort of like core or hardcore activities you can do as an outdoorsy person, you would think Maybe that thru hikers would be the most chill of all.
Shawnté Salabert
00:14:42.000 - 00:14:42.760
No, no, no, no.
Colin True
00:14:42.760 - 00:15:12.220
It's like I get like. Right. I get ultra runners or hardcore rock climbers or, you know, cyclists, like gravel cyclists or competitive mountain bikers.
Like, if you're like, this is the way you do it and fuck off if you don't agree with me kind of thing.
The fact you think, like, who in the through hiking community is going to be judging you for saying, like, hey, I hiked the the at, but now I want to go car camping and someone's going to shame you for that? Like, come on, give me a break. But I mean, it's kind of so reassuring to know, like, no, that is this just. This is an outdoor problem.
Yeah, it's a cross category problem. Yes, exactly.
Shawnté Salabert
00:15:12.220 - 00:15:27.020
Maybe people need to get outside a little bit more and touch some more grass. You know what I'm saying? Ah.
All right, Colin, so we're gonna stop talking about you and your bougie sleeping habits and let's tackle another question, shall we?
Colin True
00:15:27.180 - 00:15:33.340
We had some less than bougie pillows at that hotel where the running event was. They were not good hotel pillows.
Shawnté Salabert
00:15:33.340 - 00:15:37.060
Your hotel pillows weren't good? I had like a whole kingdom of pillows. It was great.
Colin True
00:15:37.060 - 00:15:42.860
There was a lot of pillows, but they were small. And I like to kind of do like a, like a wrap situation, you know, and I just feel a little shorter.
Shawnté Salabert
00:15:42.860 - 00:15:58.550
I'm trying to imagine what this looks like. Are you just smothering yourself in your sleep? I mean, we don't kink shame like we said.
All right, I want you to find with king shaving, I don't know, it's everything now. Wow. All right, well, let's. Let's move along here.
Colin True
00:15:58.790 - 00:16:18.920
All right, next question.
Dear Gear Abby, after years of outdoorsing in multiple sports, I'm holding on to duplicates of tents, stoves, backpacks, climbing shoes that didn't work out, and much more. Can you recommend sustainable options for getting rid of perfectly good gear? Signed Hoarder Anonymous. I swear this was a listener email.
Shawnté Salabert
00:16:19.400 - 00:16:19.960
This was.
Colin True
00:16:19.960 - 00:16:22.680
Wait, not something we ported over from a rock fight conversation.
Shawnté Salabert
00:16:23.800 - 00:16:26.280
No, no, this is. This is great.
Colin True
00:16:26.600 - 00:16:27.640
Yeah, really good email.
Shawnté Salabert
00:16:27.880 - 00:17:36.990
First of all, Hoarder, I love your use of the word outdoorsing. That is very creative. I appreciate it. And I also want to say I'm very proud of you, Hoarder.
It's not just that you're clearly trying to simplify your life and maybe even confront your own consumption habits, but I really like that you also want to be thoughtful about what you do with your stuff. Good news, there's a lot of stuff you could do that isn't just dropping it off at a thrift shop.
I think a lot of people understand by now that a lot of what gets donated in this country just, you know, ends up in a landfill or it gets shipped to other countries. So I always recommend trying to get your things back into circulation with a bit of intention. So we're going to try to put you on that path today.
So the first question is, do you want to make money on your stuff or does it not really matter? Outdoor gear and clothing as we know is very expensive.
So I'm not going to judge you if you do want to claw back a little bit of that money you spent on all of your stuff. But here's some ideas if you do want to get some of that money back.
Now, I have never used it, but my sister is an absolute fiend for Facebook Marketplace, which may or may not be a cesspool of creeps and bad checks like, you know, you know, buyer beware, seller.
Colin True
00:17:37.150 - 00:17:38.870
Judging your sister with that comment there?
Shawnté Salabert
00:17:38.870 - 00:19:31.930
Yeah, yeah I am.
Again, I can judge my younger siblings like my sister and you, Colin, but you know, a perhaps less murdery option is to see if there are any local outdoor shops that sell used gear and see if they take things on consignment. There's actually, especially if you're in a bigger city or if you're in a very outdoorsy sort of area. That's not uncommon at all.
You could also see if the brands themselves, you know, let's say you've got clothing by certain brands, you could see if they offer some sort of online used gear marketplace. You know, Patagonia sort of popularized this with their warnware program, but some other brands have picked up on it.
North Face has one, arc' Teryx has one. REI has their own in house thing.
And for people who don't like the idea, because I've heard this, this criticism before of those programs for people who don't like the idea of all these brands taking a second cut and profiting for a second time on the things sell. This is, this is a personal choice thing.
I recommend looking out for some kind of brand agnostic services like Articles in Common, rerouted and Gear Trade and all of those are super specific to outdoor gear and sporting goods and that could be a really awesome option for getting things back out there. And I'd say also non specifically, you can try general resale sites. I've used Poshmark and ebay there's also Thredup and some other ones out there.
I do recommend doing a little bit of research before you post things, just to see what similar things have sold for what they're currently being listed for. Just so you can be competitive and try to get it out the door as, you know, quickly as possible.
For all of you altruistic people who don't care about making money, there are a ton of options and all of these may. I don't want to promise anything here, but they may confer instant outdoor sainthood upon you, so that's something to consider.
Colin's smiling because he would like to be. Do you want to be an outdoor saint, Colin?
Colin True
00:19:31.930 - 00:19:33.530
I just hope it doesn't ruin my trail cred.
Shawnté Salabert
00:19:34.970 - 00:19:37.210
I think that's the ultimate trail cred, isn't it?
Colin True
00:19:37.850 - 00:19:41.770
Aw, do I get a halo?
Shawnté Salabert
00:19:41.930 - 00:24:05.730
Yeah, maybe. Well, probably made out of Dyneema. We'll get with Lloyd of Garage Groom gear on that. Yeah. So.
All right, as far as giving away your stuff, just start with the people you know. First of all, I have given away so much gear this, this way to, to friends of mine, to students in an outdoor class that I used to teach.
I'm also super active in my local buy nothing group, and that's a group that is hosted on Facebook. So if you use Facebook, you can look for one, see if there's one in your area. And it's just people giving out of.
They call it giving out of your abundance, what you have and, you know, getting it into the neighborhood. One of my best finds actually was a pair of heavy ass kettlebells that would have easily cost like 90 bucks at the store, I think, minimum.
So I was very thrilled that day, let me tell you. But yeah, you, you could also look into your community.
Items like warm clothing, tents, sleeping systems are really helpful for people who are unhoused and could use a little bit of comfort and warmth.
If you're not comfortable approaching someone in public, because a lot of people aren't, you could just reach out to local organizations that work with homeless, you know, populations, and see if they can help you figure out how to distribute those items. That's definitely something you could do to just get things out there.
I also recommend reach out to local organizations, nonprofits, education programs, college outdoor clubs, and see if there's even any gear libraries in your area. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not saying anything shocking. Outdoor gear is expensive.
So if you can put it back out there and give people a chance and remove that barrier to entry as we like to say it's a really cool thing to do. Again, instant sainthood. So. And finally, I'd say you can also look for non local organizations so online programs that accept gear donations.
One that I know of offhand is called the Gear Fund Collective. And their whole perspective is kind of a mutual aid model that, you know, processes and distributes your gear to people who can use it.
So I'd say otherwise. Hoarder if you have any snowshoes, I could really use them because I think mine are finally busted beyond repair. Please and thanks.
While daydreaming about future backpacking trips, I had an epiphany. Maybe I could have an even better time out there if I lighten my pack. That's when I decided to try out my very first trekking pole tent.
Gossamer Gears the One. And honestly, it was a match made in ultralight heaven.
Weighing in at just 18 ounces, the one sets up in minutes using just trekking poles and a handful of stakes. And I'll tell you what, the One didn't just lighten my pack.
It simplified my camp setup so that I had more time to enjoy the natural beauty all around me and allow me to spend more time with my favorite bidet. Oh yeah. Gossamer Gear designs products for people on the move rooted in a legacy of simplification.
Their philosophy is that taking less allows you to do more.
And if you want to test this philosophy yourself, head over to gossamergear.com and use code GearAbby at checkout to save $20 off your order of a hundred dollars or more. Well, hello my outdoorsy friends. It's your favorite time of the week. That's right.
It's time to head over to the official Gear garage of Gear Abbey Garage Grown Gear. That's right. Our friends over at GGG are here to make sure that all of my friends have the newest outdoor stuff they need for their next adventure.
What kind of stuff? I know you always ask. Well, here are some examples this week. Are you a human? Do you love gear? That's right.
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And last, but not Least, you silly human gear lover, you nab the go pee personal urination device. Oh, yeah. You know, I love that. And that one. 15.99, but really priceless if you ask me.
Whatever you're looking for, Garage grown gear and Gear Abby are the perfect outdoor combo. So get shopping by heading over to garagegrowngear.com right now.
Yeah, now I'm just remembering the creepy emails I have received in the past about my clothing. So I don't know what kind of can of worms I just opened, but let's all say a little bit, a little prayer for Gary. Abby.
Colin True
00:24:06.370 - 00:24:08.250
Well, that's how you could afford those new snowshoes.
Shawnté Salabert
00:24:08.250 - 00:24:20.730
If we'll just add it to the only fans. Oh, my gosh. All right, well, let's move along here to perhaps less gross topics.
Colin True
00:24:20.730 - 00:24:22.610
I don't know what to find out.
Shawnté Salabert
00:24:22.770 - 00:24:23.490
We'll find out.
Colin True
00:24:23.730 - 00:24:32.130
Let's see. Dear Gear Abby, I retired this year and my grandson sends me different podcasts for me to try, and I've really come to enjoy yours.
Shawnté Salabert
00:24:32.370 - 00:24:34.610
Aw, I love that. Thanks, grandson.
Colin True
00:24:35.320 - 00:25:06.440
You and your sidekick. I guess I'm the sidekick. Always get some laughs out of this old guy.
Anyways, onto the topic, you've mentioned climbing Kilimanjaro, which is on my retirement bucket list. My wife and I hope to start planning a trip for next year, and I would love to know any tips you have companies to book with, things to pack.
Anything else we should keep in mind for a successful trip? We are avid travelers, but have never attempted a hiking adventure overseas and want to go in well prepared.
Yours truly, George, and you can also include my lovely, adventurous wife, Denise.
Shawnté Salabert
00:25:07.960 - 00:25:12.920
Well, thank you for putting up with all of our terrible jokes, George. And lovely, adventurous Denise.
Colin True
00:25:13.480 - 00:25:16.560
I think our jokes are amazing. Thank you very much, Kieran.
Shawnté Salabert
00:25:16.560 - 00:25:27.680
They are little brother sidekick. They absolutely. I'm gonna start introducing you now as my sidekick.
By the way, I know you, like, produce on whatever, and everyone's like, oh, he's so funny, but actually being me.
Colin True
00:25:27.680 - 00:25:29.720
And my sidekick Colin is pretty cool. I like that.
Shawnté Salabert
00:25:30.030 - 00:25:30.750
You would like that, would you?
Colin True
00:25:30.750 - 00:25:31.470
Yeah, that's. All right.
Shawnté Salabert
00:25:33.150 - 00:25:40.270
Well, I. I'm here to please Collins, so we'll work on that. Your. Your personal branding on this podcast. I don't think anybody did.
Colin True
00:25:40.270 - 00:25:41.670
I just get a trail name. Is Sidekick.
Shawnté Salabert
00:25:41.670 - 00:25:45.390
My trail sidekick is your trail name. Now you have to go to Yosemite with me.
Colin True
00:25:45.390 - 00:25:46.030
Okay.
Shawnté Salabert
00:25:46.030 - 00:25:51.070
Okay. We can reenact, like, if you need it to be a thing, we can reenact something from Lord of the Rings, like.
Colin True
00:25:51.150 - 00:25:58.330
Well, no, I Want you to do like a beginning of the Lion King thing where you hold me up as the sun is coming up over El K Cap or something like that, you know?
Shawnté Salabert
00:25:59.370 - 00:26:02.850
Yes. That's gonna. We'll wait till that time of year when you get the firefall.
Colin True
00:26:02.850 - 00:26:06.490
The firefalls, yeah. There you go. That's coming. Is that spring?
Shawnté Salabert
00:26:06.730 - 00:26:16.450
Yeah, it's always in the spring. You got to make a. Make a reservation ahead of time. If you're not sure what that is, you can Google it. It's a nice little phenomenon.
It's very similar, by the way, to manhattanhenge. Do you know what that is?
Colin True
00:26:16.450 - 00:26:23.330
I do know that. Yeah. Where the sun's aligned. Yes. I would only put a footnote noise here, but the listener ruined that for everybody.
Shawnté Salabert
00:26:24.440 - 00:26:26.880
But they gave us a five star review, so I don't care. Damn it.
Colin True
00:26:26.880 - 00:26:27.800
I'm so conflicted.
Shawnté Salabert
00:26:29.560 - 00:26:32.600
Oh, man. All right, let's. Let's. George and lovely Denise.
Colin True
00:26:33.320 - 00:26:33.800
Yes.
Shawnté Salabert
00:26:34.360 - 00:27:25.320
You see the patience you have to listen to us. I swear. All right, let's start with booking your trip. You asked about companies. This applies to anybody considering an overseas trip.
I mean, most of this stuff is going to apply to anybody considering an overseas trip.
But I cannot recommend enough booking directly with local guides or at least ensuring that the guiding company you choose partners with a local company.
I think a huge part of responsible tourism is just making sure that as much as possible, your money actually stays in and benefits the communities that you're visiting. I just think that's something we should all be keeping in mind anytime we travel.
But also, I really do believe that you get to have a deeper experience with a place when a local shares it with you. You know, they're giving you their perspective.
So I. I honestly can't remember the company I went with because it was like 900 years ago, but I shared a Tanzanian guy.
Colin True
00:27:25.320 - 00:27:25.760
Very old.
Shawnté Salabert
00:27:25.840 - 00:27:26.720
I'm very old.
Colin True
00:27:26.880 - 00:27:28.480
You are older than me. I am your little.
Shawnté Salabert
00:27:28.720 - 00:27:45.600
I told you. See, I'm very wizened. Yeah. So I shared my guide, who is amazing Ayubu. I shared him with two other travelers and he shared a pee. We did, actually.
We did. I'm not. We peed back to back on the.
Colin True
00:27:45.600 - 00:27:48.160
Mountain on seven of the first episodes. We talked about that.
Shawnté Salabert
00:27:48.160 - 00:28:32.690
Yeah. Didn't we? Yeah. That's good memory. Thank you. Yeah. So he and his entire crew were just a huge part of what I loved about my trip.
You know, they shared sort of their connection to the mountain and to the surrounding community. They gave me insider tips on checking out Arusha where they were all from.
They taught me a couple different card games that we played at camp, which was really fun. And I got to practice my very, very bad Swahili a few times, which actually came in way more useful. It was just so amazing.
When I was ready, when we were starting our hike, you're at the national park, you're at the front gate, and there's just a thousand dudes that are trying to sell you, like, you know, T shirts and sunglasses. So that was my. My crowning glory was saying, no, I am not interested in Swahili, which I don't remember, so don't ask me to say it.
Colin True
00:28:32.930 - 00:28:35.370
That's. You got that part nailed down before you got there. Yeah.
Shawnté Salabert
00:28:35.370 - 00:28:54.390
Yep, I really did. Yeah.
So anyway, I had a blast also just answering every single question they had, most of which were about 90s hip hop and whether or not I personally knew the incredible artist Ja Rule. I swear, he was convinced. He's like, you must know Ja Rule. Like, I do not. Not personally.
Colin True
00:28:54.470 - 00:29:02.150
Wasn't Ja Rule the one involved with the. The fire. The fire. What was the Fire island party? What was the big. What was that party? What was that?
Shawnté Salabert
00:29:02.150 - 00:29:03.270
The one that happened?
Colin True
00:29:03.270 - 00:29:05.190
Fire Fest. Yeah. Was that Ja Rule?
Shawnté Salabert
00:29:05.510 - 00:29:09.870
I think that might have been. Maybe we can get Ja Rule on the podcast to talk about festivals.
Colin True
00:29:09.870 - 00:29:11.550
Let's go, Ja Rule, ask me a.
Shawnté Salabert
00:29:11.550 - 00:29:13.110
Question about Fire Festival. Just please.
Colin True
00:29:13.430 - 00:29:14.150
Exactly.
Shawnté Salabert
00:29:14.310 - 00:30:21.070
Oh, man. But yeah, George, I don't know if that's your area of expertise, but, you know, like a conversation. Ja rule, 90s hip hop. But really, it's.
It's super fun to talk to. To local folks and hear, you know, about their lives, have them ask you about yours. Like, to me, that's part of the fun of traveling.
So anyway, I also recommend, you know, speaking of the human, you know, component here, I recommend you research the working conditions for the porters when you are choosing a guiding company. There is a lot of variation here. Some people are treated amazing. Some people are treated like crap out there. And you'll see it on the mountain.
You'll see people who are wearing really bad, falling apart footwear, Porters who are not sleeping in tents, even, like, do a little research. It's actually quite easy these days to just google the companies and see what people say online.
And if you're curious about this idea of porters and how they're treated, I highly recommend checking out something called the Porter Voice Collective. That's. The website is the portervoicecollective.org.
this is a really cool Project that pushes for fair working conditions for porters on long treks around the world, which is a really amazing work.
Colin True
00:30:21.390 - 00:30:26.190
Better URL than freecampsites.net Just slightly better, yes.
Shawnté Salabert
00:30:26.430 - 00:30:31.590
The website. The website is a lot more modern. As it turns out. It was made in the last century, so.
Colin True
00:30:31.590 - 00:30:32.190
Oh, good.
Shawnté Salabert
00:30:33.790 - 00:30:44.350
Just. I'm telling you, all I can think of now. Next time I go in there is going to be the Oregon Trail wagon. Somebody's going to get dysentery.
I mean, honestly, at a free campsite, you may get disinter.
Colin True
00:30:44.350 - 00:30:45.390
What do you want? It was free.
Shawnté Salabert
00:30:45.790 - 00:31:25.500
Exactly. Free viruses for everyone. Yeah. All right, so a couple other things you asked about packing. Any guide company is going to give you a pack list.
So I'm not going to cover any of the basics here, because they will. But I will say bring whatever they tell you to bring because you're actually going to need it and use it. I promise you that.
But just in case these things aren't listed, here are a few things I loved having with me. Drink mixes, snacks, and extras to share. Swedish fish or a huge hit with Ayubu and the crew. I actually ended up sending them.
I sent Ayubu a package with just. Just filled with Swedish fish because he loved them so much.
Colin True
00:31:25.900 - 00:31:26.740
Only red, though.
Shawnté Salabert
00:31:26.740 - 00:31:28.940
Only red. Yes, of course. Of course.
Colin True
00:31:29.020 - 00:31:32.860
Other Swedish fish are. I don't even know why they make them anywhere. Just eat the red. The red rule.
Shawnté Salabert
00:31:33.100 - 00:31:34.780
No, the red is my favorite flavor.
Colin True
00:31:34.780 - 00:31:35.500
Hell, yeah.
Shawnté Salabert
00:31:35.660 - 00:31:36.300
Thank you.
Colin True
00:31:36.380 - 00:31:36.780
Yes.
Shawnté Salabert
00:31:36.780 - 00:31:39.630
Okay. We can remain friends. Thank you, little brother.
Colin True
00:31:39.710 - 00:31:42.030
Did I make amends for my bad Cheetos takes?
Shawnté Salabert
00:31:42.110 - 00:31:48.670
Oh, the bad Cheetos. Did you y'. All. Speaking of the footnotes that Colin creates every week, I went in and looked best.
Colin True
00:31:48.670 - 00:31:51.710
Actually, it's okay to end with that one because that was the best footnote ever.
Shawnté Salabert
00:31:53.390 - 00:32:17.020
So terrible. Ripping on my Cheetos. He was like, ranking snack choices and cheetos were, like, 197 on the list. Jackass. Anyway, that's fine.
I will enjoy my powdery orange treats to myself. But Swedish fish, I don't know if I'll share mine with you now. I'm going to be sitting at the Lord of the Rings movie theater extravaganza.
Just not sharing at all.
Colin True
00:32:17.020 - 00:32:19.100
More of a Junior Mint sky at the movie theater, actually.
Shawnté Salabert
00:32:19.580 - 00:32:49.290
Whatever. You can have all the green Swedish fish just for that. A lot of places. Okay, we're going to get back to George and lovely Denise here.
A lot of places will give you a sleeping pad and a bag if you want to use them. But I recommend bringing your own pillow because that's not too common. You're also gonna have a lot of downtime in that tent at night.
So I had a journal and a book. But in the modern age, you know, for those of us who aren't vampires and hiked 900 years ago, an E reader would work.
Bring a battery pack, which I also didn't have. I was just like praying that my things would last.
Colin True
00:32:49.530 - 00:32:55.450
Also, a lot of downtime in your tent is why you don't want to use their sleeping bags. Just want to say bring your own sleeping bag.
Shawnté Salabert
00:32:56.410 - 00:32:59.210
Oh, no, we're gonna. Oh, boy. All right.
Colin True
00:32:59.210 - 00:33:00.030
I am king shaming.
Shawnté Salabert
00:33:00.340 - 00:33:09.660
That is just the tip. Okay? We always. There has to be one point in every episode where we just both devolve for a second into a 13 year old.
Colin True
00:33:09.660 - 00:33:10.260
Has to happen.
Shawnté Salabert
00:33:10.980 - 00:36:23.420
Yeah. I apologize. Sorry to everybody. Sorry, not sorry. All right, so pack. Pack your sense of humor apparently, George.
And also I recommend gallon freezer bags. Great for wet clothes, great for dirty laundry. Great for doing your laundry.
Ibuprofen or whatever painkiller you love because I guarantee you will get a headache at least some at some point, if not multiple points. The highest I'd been before this was 14,505ft. That's the summit of Mount Whitney to Maguya. And I.
The headache that blasted through my head at 16,000ft, I thought was going to take me out for good. It was so bad. And finally, I would not be on brand if I did not mention a pee bottle.
If you take Diamox at all, and Diamox is a drug that can help people acclimatize faster. A lot of folks take it. You take it before you leave on your trip and then while you're out there, you are going to pee a lot. Like a lot a lot.
And I had a very distinct Nalgene that I marked up all around it within bold letters, do not drink. And I practiced using it a lot at home and it really came in handy in the tent for a few nights.
You can also just try to take the Diamox earlier in the day so that your bladder isn't just being an asshole at night. Pro tip that I didn't use myself. Yeah, and here's a few things, George, that I wish I had.
I wish I had an eye mask because everybody getting up on summit day, it's just their flashlights shining in your tent all night. My hair also turned into an absolute rat's nest out there for eight days. I wish I'd had Dry shampoo and a comb or wipes. Anything, anything.
Because I was disgusting by the end of that trip. And I'm a person who doesn't mind being disgusting. It was that bad.
I would also have given my non existent firstborn to have hand warmers like those little packets you can slip into your gloves. Would have been so great. Summit day was just cold as shit.
I also wish I had an insulated bottle because again, summit day was cold as shit and everything froze. My water froze. I nearly cried when we got up to the rim.
You're still about an hour out from the summit at this point when Ayubu just produced a insulated flask of hot chocolate, I wanted to hug the man. It was, I actually cried. It was very beautiful. But yeah. Anyway, I could spend an entire podcast just regaling you with stories and suggestions.
But we gotta get to one more question on this episode, so I'm gonna move it along. But to tie it all back to the beginning, get to know your guide team, George. Lovely Denise. Get to know them. These are people.
Don't treat them like servants. I saw a lot of people on the mountain doing that, which was really disgusting if you ask me. Tip them well.
Consider leaving your gear behind if you don't need it or if you just want to. It's a lot harder to get gear in places like Tanzania than it is here in the States Heights.
You've got incredible opportunity to not just spend time in an incredible, beautiful place, but also with some really awesome people. The girl. The girls that I shared Ayubu and his crew with were total. They only talked to each other.
They did not participate in any of the camp activities and they refused to eat like 90% of the food. Although I will say that worked out really well for me because I got to eat double at every single meal. Oh yeah, that's right.
I was actually very proud to make the summit, but. But maybe more proud. When Ayubu looked at me at one point and went, you are a good eater.
Colin True
00:36:24.860 - 00:36:29.020
I was like, you were like a toddler to him. Like, good eater.
Shawnté Salabert
00:36:29.260 - 00:36:50.370
Good job, good job, good eating. I was, you know, they fed us on this trip. It's the thing, because you're. When you're. In this national park, you have to get a guide.
You can't just go by yourself, which is what I'm used to. Yeah, it was weird. It was weird for me. But I will say they cooked some bomb ass food. It was a lot of starches, which I love.
Just like constant root vegetables, which thrilled me. To no end.
Colin True
00:36:50.690 - 00:37:05.410
Yeah, any. Anytime you have guides. The best part is them making your food for you.
And I would say if you have sort of like a lingering like, oh, I gotta do it myself and it's not something you're used to doing. Go get a guide. It's great when someone's handing you a plate of food that you didn't have to cook. It's the best.
Shawnté Salabert
00:37:07.250 - 00:37:10.610
Yeah, I need a guide in my house. Like just after I've been working all day.
Colin True
00:37:10.610 - 00:37:11.170
That's right.
Shawnté Salabert
00:37:11.170 - 00:37:12.450
Are you available, Colin?
Colin True
00:37:12.770 - 00:37:13.560
No, no, not.
Shawnté Salabert
00:37:13.560 - 00:37:24.080
I actually don't want you cooking for me, as it turns out. So that's fine. It is the time of the week that is always bittersweet. It is the time for question number four.
Colin True
00:37:24.160 - 00:37:24.840
Here we go.
Shawnté Salabert
00:37:24.840 - 00:37:33.040
Why did I say it like that? It's like these are the days of our lives. It's almost asmr. At this point.
Colin True
00:37:33.120 - 00:37:34.200
It all is really.
Shawnté Salabert
00:37:34.200 - 00:37:36.560
That's only fantasies in our future.
Colin True
00:37:36.560 - 00:37:37.040
Yeah.
Shawnté Salabert
00:37:37.360 - 00:37:38.640
We're gonna make so much money.
Colin True
00:37:39.040 - 00:37:45.810
So much money. All right. Dear, Dear Abby, basic ass question for you. I like the way this has started.
Shawnté Salabert
00:37:45.810 - 00:37:47.250
I don't think George wrote this email.
Colin True
00:37:47.250 - 00:38:14.660
I don't know. I don't think so either. Sorry it's not more exciting.
I'm really trying to stick to a running schedule this winter because I'm training for a big trail race with my brother this spring. I hate being cold more than life itself. So I'm kind of pissed that I decided to do this. But whatever.
We're raising money for charity, so there's no way I'm backing out. So I need to figure out how to get through the next few months without about freezing my ass off out there. Any tips, gear you like? Thanks.
Signed a guy who makes dumb decisions for good causes.
Shawnté Salabert
00:38:16.740 - 00:38:19.140
I like that. Some good sign offs on this episode.
Colin True
00:38:19.300 - 00:38:20.660
Seriously, right?
Shawnté Salabert
00:38:20.740 - 00:38:32.020
Well, I, as I am somebody who commits to running even when I'm visiting my family in Wisconsin every winter. Unless it is that kind of cold where your nose hairs stick together and Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Colin True
00:38:32.020 - 00:38:32.820
I know what you mean.
Shawnté Salabert
00:38:33.250 - 00:38:34.490
Oh, it's. It's the worst. But I.
Colin True
00:38:34.490 - 00:38:36.210
No, that's what frozen boogers feel like.
Shawnté Salabert
00:38:37.010 - 00:38:44.730
It's just. They really like growing. Oh. It was the. You know, those were the coldest days when you walked out of the house and your nose just went. Oh. Oh.
Colin True
00:38:44.730 - 00:38:45.970
Oh God. I can feel it.
Shawnté Salabert
00:38:46.050 - 00:39:37.960
So horrible. I can. I. I'm having a sense memory right now and I don't like it. But really, I listen, I salute you. My dumb decision making guy.
I actually think it's a good decision, but for real, it's not that bad. As long as you are properly equipped. And this goes for most things in life, right? So I'd say start by thinking of your body as a machine.
You're asking it to do work. You got to heat up the engine, if you know what I'm saying. And that is not a euphemism. Although use it as you will.
For me that means a combo of eating something before I go out there and I try to lean heavy into carbs. And just as a life, this is my mantra in life. Eat carbs, a little bit of protein, a little bit of fat so you get a little more slow burning energy.
I do peanut butter banana a lot of time and then I do a dynamic workout. Sorry, a dynamic warm up. You don't need to do a full workout before you go running.
Colin True
00:39:38.120 - 00:39:39.360
Go to a CrossFit class.
Shawnté Salabert
00:39:39.360 - 00:39:40.600
This is how you stay warm.
Colin True
00:39:40.600 - 00:39:41.640
Then you're ready to run.
Shawnté Salabert
00:39:41.800 - 00:39:50.160
Yeah, that's right. Do the workout of the day. Yeah. So do a little dynamic workout at warm up. I just really want you to do this.
Colin True
00:39:50.160 - 00:39:51.360
Rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?
Shawnté Salabert
00:39:51.360 - 00:40:29.230
Go do some Pilates. Yeah, yeah, that's, that's for me. You gotta get your body pre, pre warming. Okay.
It's like for those of you who live in cold climates, you gotta preheat your car before you get in it. This is what you're doing for your body. Um, I also will throw in a little bit of a brisk walk to start my run. Just also to keep the engine going.
Especially because I'm gonna be bold, start cold, which I'm gonna talk about in a little bit. Um, but yeah, I just wanna make sure all my limbs are functional and I want to just double check to make sure it's not nose hair. Freezing cold.
Cuz if it is, then I'm just gonna run back inside and say something like tomor day and my weird Katherine Hepen accent.
Colin True
00:40:29.630 - 00:40:31.230
I think she said that in a movie once.
Shawnté Salabert
00:40:31.310 - 00:40:32.510
Tomorrow's another day.
Colin True
00:40:32.590 - 00:40:33.230
There it is.
Shawnté Salabert
00:40:33.390 - 00:41:27.980
That's right. Yeah. So I also will just. I'm just going to admit to this. I will sometimes wait till it's a little warmer in the day.
So instead of running at 6am I might try to do a lunchtime run or something like that. It's marginal, but I'll take what I can get.
I'd say you also obviously want to dress appropriately and so this is where we're going to get into that little Mantra I mentioned. Not the eat carbs one, a different one. So listen buddy, Mr. Dumb decision making. Good decision making guy.
You want to be very careful to avoid overheating out there because you don't want to get to the point where you're sweating a bunch since wet skin is just going to suck the heat right out of your body. So this is the mantra which I absolutely ignored when I first learned it. Be bold, start cold.
And all that means is just don't go out there dressed like the Abominable Snowman. Okay. This is what I looked like on Kilimanjaro. It was so bad that Ayubu actually had to palm my ass at one point.
Like, like push me up the steep part of the hill.
Colin True
00:41:28.060 - 00:41:29.980
True. He wasn't just like copying a feel.
Shawnté Salabert
00:41:30.460 - 00:42:56.370
I don't think he could feel anything through the 17 layers I was wearing, to be honest. I mean, is there a butt under here? I don't think he knew what he was touching, honestly. It was just like a massive Gore Tex and fluff.
Um, but yeah, for me, for running I tend to do if it's really cold, I'll do a light wool legging. I love the Ridge Marino tights. Um, and I'll do a lightweight long sleeve shirt. Uh, I might also pop on a vest or bring.
I, I've talked about wind shirts before on here.
I'll bring my wind shirt if I think it's going to maybe a little extra cold and I want to keep my core a little more warm and, and gloves, headband or like a headband and a hat, something like that. That's crucial for me. I want my hands and my head covered.
I personally a lot of times in winter when it's not crazy nose hair cold, I will do a long sleevel shirt and shorts like a freak compression socks maybe.
I also love having a little mitten on like a fleece mitten and so I can do that and still be warm as long as my extremities, like my hands and my head are kept warm. I'm actually trying. I got these, these, this things called White paw run mitts when I from Title 9 recently and I am very excited to try them.
They're kind of like fleecy tubes with a flap that covers your fingers. There's actually no thumb portal place for your thumb.
You just put the thumb in there and it actually helps keep your hands warmer in theory because all of your fingers are together cozying up like some.
Colin True
00:42:56.370 - 00:42:57.530
People call those socks.
Shawnté Salabert
00:42:58.490 - 00:43:04.330
Yep. Yeah. Well, they're kind of sockish. I'm not gonna lie, I haven't.
Colin True
00:43:04.330 - 00:43:10.330
They're a little too tight for rebranding and taking advantage. Like, hey, you know what we could do? Hey, we could take those socks.
Shawnté Salabert
00:43:10.330 - 00:43:11.570
What about socks for hands?
Colin True
00:43:11.570 - 00:43:14.010
Flip it around. Call them hand tubes.
Shawnté Salabert
00:43:14.090 - 00:43:28.310
Hand tubes? They call pa. They're white paw run mitts. Okay. They're not hand tubes. They're easy hand tubes.
No, you know what I like about them though is that they, you can actually push them down on your wrist like little sweatpants hands if you get too hot.
Colin True
00:43:28.790 - 00:43:31.430
So anyway, it does open up at the top so it's not too soggy.
Shawnté Salabert
00:43:31.430 - 00:45:04.970
It does. They're nice. Yeah. But if you want to put them on your feet, Colin, that's on you.
I would also say, I know you asked about not freezing your ass off, but you should also want to not bust your ass on the ground for. You know, it gets cold out there, it gets icy. So I personally will use, I have Katula micro spikes.
I also will take black diamond distance spikes when I travel. They're a little more compact and lightweight. Um, but there are a lot of different traction devices out there.
Icebug actually makes winter running shoes that have built in steel ice cleats that will help you grip. Now keep in mind though, this stuff isn't for you to run on snow, it's to run on ice and like really hard pack.
Um, if you are running on snow, which some people really do like to do, there are some kind of weird foamy snowshoes you can use for that. Um, but yeah, but just get a little grip in there so you don't end up falling in your ass which will make you colder. Okay. Okay.
I think personally when I wear them, I feel, I do feel like a little bit of an ice Frankenstein. Just sort of stumbling around when I've got my micro spikes on. So this is. I am intrigued by the ice bugs with the built in cleats.
So just making a note of that. But yeah.
Anyway, speaking of shoes, I do tend to run in my trail runners year round, but I'll swap over to waterproof ones in the winter so I can try to pretend that my socks are going to stay dry. Of course, as we know, when you sweat in the waterproof shoes, it does negates everything anyway, so don't come out. Yeah, just don't, don't sweat.
Colin True
00:45:04.970 - 00:45:10.410
It's really cold. I can't add. It's like, it's like a, it's like a barrier that actually helps keep your feet, helps your feet stay Warm. So.
Shawnté Salabert
00:45:10.410 - 00:45:43.420
Yeah, exactly. So they go to Wisconsin with me every year.
But yeah, finally I'd say guy, your question actually reminded me of a piece I wrote about winter trail running, or winter running in general for Adventure Journal a couple years ago.
And a tip, a specific tip that my friend Tanya gave when I was interviewing her, she said that she carries a small flask of whiskey on longer winter runs.
So I know that we all know that alcohol dehydrates us, but I think maybe it'll also keep your spirits warm if you take a little nip out there, if you know what I'm saying.
Colin True
00:45:43.820 - 00:45:49.180
Yeah. The whole, you know, be bold, start cold thing, I'm like, off with that. Whoever said that? I mean, because here's that.
Shawnté Salabert
00:45:49.180 - 00:45:50.460
Why you live in San Diego County?
Colin True
00:45:50.460 - 00:46:18.840
Well, it is now, but I mean, but when I was living in cold areas and that's when I was running the most, it's like, hey, you know what? Actually, when you walk outside and you're warmed up and then it's actually like invigorating, like, don't you want to.
That's a great place to start when you're ready. So, like, yeah, do not. To the point. To your point where you're like dripping sweat, but get. Do push ups, do squats, whatever.
To get to the point where you're like, just about like, oh, I'm starting to feel like I might sweat a little bit. And you go outside and you're like, oh, my God, this feels great because I'm so warm from my workout.
Well, and then your point, layering all that stuff, you know, that's the right way to go.
Shawnté Salabert
00:46:18.840 - 00:46:30.380
The people, be bold, start cold. Is not that you want your body to start cold. I covered this, Colin. That was the whole, like, body as a machine thing.
The B, bold, start cold, is to not overdress. Don't put a bunch of layers on. You don't need them.
Colin True
00:46:30.860 - 00:46:32.380
That's what it's about. Interpreting that.
Shawnté Salabert
00:46:32.620 - 00:46:34.420
Yeah. I want you to take it back now.
Colin True
00:46:34.420 - 00:46:35.500
Okay, I take it back.
Shawnté Salabert
00:46:35.580 - 00:46:36.220
Thank you.
Colin True
00:46:36.300 - 00:46:44.060
It's still the right way to go. And also, by the way, no, no tights until it's under 30 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's above 30 degrees, wear shorts. You're running, for God's sakes.
Come on.
Shawnté Salabert
00:46:44.220 - 00:46:49.740
What do people have really cold shins? You don't have everybody's shins. It's not a very insulated part of the body.
Colin True
00:46:50.060 - 00:46:59.870
We all know that cold shin syndrome is a, is a problem that afflicts us all. Coming this fall to garage growing gear fleece shin covers.
Shawnté Salabert
00:47:00.270 - 00:47:01.870
I want shin chaps.
Colin True
00:47:03.870 - 00:47:08.270
Should we just start a Chaps brand that says it's just like finger chaps?
Shawnté Salabert
00:47:08.350 - 00:48:10.810
We didn't even say, listen, y', all. I know we've talked about rain chaps. We just talked about our new invention, shin chaps. At the running event, we.
We stopped and had a meeting with the satisfy folks. Saw all their fancy cool clothes and they had. They had arm chaps. So I just want to say there's something. There's a chap out there for everyone.
Well, that's it for this episode of Gear Abby.
Until next time, send your burning questions about chaps or your relationships with outdoor people, products, places and pastimes over to DearGearAbbyMail.com and I'm going to do my best to answer them or find someone who can. And of course, head over to your podcast listening service of choice and subscribe rate and leave a haiku to support the pod and make my day.
And follow us on Instagram @GearabyPypod. In the meantime, today's episode was produced by David Karstad and this guy, Colin True, my little brother.
Art direction provided by Sarah Gensert, who I am not related to. I'm Chante Salibair. And remember, there are no dumb questions, just smart advice.
