Below are brands that we’ve used, are familiar with, and can recommend for Adventure Treks trips. Please use this more as a guide—not a definitive or exhaustive list (you are not required to buy these brands). (We try to keep these links up to date, and we apologize in advance if any don’t work!)
Please refer to your student’s specific packing list (available in CampInTouch) for more detailed information regarding each item.
Gear shops
Popular online gear shops
- Backcountry.com
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Public Lands (formerly Moosejaw, now owned by Dick’s)
- REI
- Amazon, Target, and Walmart (activewear and outdoors sections, for more inexpensive items like baselayers, fleeces, headlamps, etc)
Pre-owned/used gear (many items sold in like-new condition)
- Patagonia Worn Wear
- REI Re/Supply (good pre-owned options in-store, too)
- The North Face Renewed
- Arc’Teryx ReGear
- Sierra.com
- Steep & Cheap
- Gear Trade
- Below are some “right place, right time” kind of online shops, but they have good stuff:
Many of these brands also participate in online cash-back sites, like Rakuten, so we recommend taking advantage of that.
Many cities also have second-hand or consignment outdoor gear shops (like Asheville’s Second Gear
Soft-sided duffels (no wheels)
- Backcountry.com (various brands)
- Eagle Creek
- Osprey
- Patagonia
- REI.com (various brands, including REI Co-op
- The North Face
- Under Armor
For your head
Polarized sunglasses
These do not have be expensive, but please only purchase sunglasses with polarized lenses—very important! It’s worth getting two pairs of the more inexpensive brands in case your child loses a pair on trip.
- Walmart, Target, or any big-box store
- Goodr
- Tifosi
- Croakies (leash/retainer)
- Chums (leash/retainer)
- Amazon
Neck gaiters/bandanas
- Buff
- Outdoor Research
- “Cooling” gaiters (perfect for warmer trips, like California or Belize)
Mosquito head nets (these go over a hat with a brim)
- Amazon.com (various options)
- Coghlan’s
- Sea to Summit
For your upper and lower body
Rain jackets
- Columbia (men’s, women’s)
- Marmot (men’s, women’s)
- Mountain Hardwear (men’s, women’s)
- Outdoor Research (men’s, women’s)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- The North Face (men’s, women’s)
Rain pants
- Columbia (men’s, women’s)
- Marmot (men’s, women’s)
- Mountain Hardwear (men’s, women’s)
- Outdoor Research (men’s, women’s)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- The North Face (men’s, women’s)
Synthetic (not down) insulated puffy jackets (not included on every trip’s packing list)
- Columbia (men’s, women’s)
- Marmot (men’s, women’s)
- Mountain Hardwear (men’s, women’s)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- The North Face (men’s, women’s)
- Uniqlo (men’s, women’s)
Non-cotton fleece jackets or pullovers
- Champion (women’s)
- Old Navy (or Athleta)
- Columbia (men’s, women’s)
- Kuhl (men’s, women’s)
- LL Bean (men’s, women’s)
- Outdoor Research (men’s, women’s)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- The North Face (men’s, women’s)
Wool or synthetic (non-cotton) baselayer tops & bottoms (aka “long johns”)
- Backcountry (men’s, women’s)
- Champion
- Columbia (men’s, women’s)
- Helly Hansen (men’s, women’s)
- Icebreaker (men’s, women’s)
- Kari Traa (women’s only)
- Nike
- Old Navy (or Athleta)
- Outdoor Research (men’s, women’s)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- Smartwool
- Hot Chillys
- Stoic (men’s, women’s)
- The North Face (men’s, women’s)
- Under Armour (non-cotton workout apparel)
Sun shirts (long-sleeve) with UPF protection
This is more like a very thin shirt (often with a hood), not a thicker/neoprene rash guard.
- Amazon
- Carve Designs
- Columbia (men’s, women’s)
- NRS (men’s, women’s)
- O’Neill (men’s, women’s)
- Outdoor Research (men’s, women’s)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- Speedo
- Under Armour
Hiking pants & shorts
- Columbia (men’s, women’s)
- Kuhl (men’s, women’s)
- Mountain Hardwear (men’s, women’s)
- Outdoor Research (men’s, women’s)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- Prana (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- Royal Robbins (men’s, women’s)
- The North Face (men’s, women’s)
Fleece sweatpants/joggers (not included on every trip’s packing list)
- Champion
- Nike
- Patagonia
- Outdoor Research (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op
- The North Face
- Under Armour
Outdoor/active underwear
- ExOfficio
- Icebreaker (men’s, women’s)
- Kari Traa (women’s only)
- Patagonia (men’s, women’s)
- REI Co-op (men’s, women’s)
- Smartwool (men’s, women’s)
Gloves or mittens (please check your specific packing list for fleece vs waterproof)
For your feet
Hiking boots (please check your specific packing list on whether you’ll need waterproof boots)
Have your child try on at least several pairs (with their hiking socks) to see which brand fits the best! Please purchase mid- to full-height boots (not low-height shoes).
- Adidas (men’s, women’s)
- Altra (men’s, women’s)
- Asolo (men’s, women’s)
- Hoka (men’s, women’s)
- Keen (men’s, women’s)
- La Sportiva (men’s, women’s)
- Lowa (men’s, women’s)
- Merrell (men’s, women’s)
- Oboz (men’s, women’s)
- Salomon (men’s, women’s)
- Vasque (men’s, women’s)
Wool or synthetic (non-cotton) hiking socks
Sandals/water shoes
Sandals must have a heel strap—Crocs do not count.
- Astral (men’s, women’s)
- Or look at the Brewer, which can be used as a two-in-one shoe (water shoe and sneaker)
- Chaco (men’s, women’s)
- Keen (men’s, women’s)
- Salomon (men’s, women’s)
- Teva (men’s, women’s)
Gaiters (not included on every packing list)
- Amazon.com (various options)
- Black Diamond
- Kahtoola
- Outdoor Research
- Rab
- REI Co-op
Outdoor gear
Technical daypack (only required for Peru)
Camp chairs (with no legs)
Trekking poles (please check your specific packing list for required vs optional)
- ALPS Mountaineering
- Amazon.com (various options)
- Black Diamond
- Kelty
- Leki
- Mountainsmith
- REI Co-op
Headlamps
Water bottles & hydration bladders
- 32-oz, 1-liter bottles (wide-mouth bottles are easiest to use)
- 80-oz, 2-liter hydration bladders (just the reservoir itself, not the accompanying pack)
Quick-drying camp towels
Make sure to buy a larger size for showers.
Nylon stuff sacks (optional)
- Amazon.com (various options)
- Eagle Creek
- Granite Gear
- Osprey
- REI Co-op
- Sea to Summit
Camp pillows (optional but recommended)
- ALPS Mountaineering
- Amazon.com (various options)
- Cocoon
- Klymit
- NEMO
- Sea to Summit
- ThermaRest
Sleeping bag liner (optional but recommended if your child gets cold easily)
- ALPS Mountaineering
- Amazon.com (various options)
- Cocoon
- Klymit
- Rab
- Sea to Summit
- Slumberjack
- Western Mountaineering
And don’t forget your flair! Below are some of our favorite flair outfits from both students and instructors.
