No sponsorships. No filters. Just three pieces of gear that have earned a permanent spot in our outdoor lineup.
TIFOSI SLEDGE LITE FOTOTEC GLASSES
I first heard about these sunglasses on the Girls Gone Gravel podcast. Tifosi is known for durable lenses that can withstand stray gravel kick-up without the high price tag.
After browsing the Tifosi site, I went with the Sledge Lite Fototec Glasses. The lenses automatically darken in bright light and lighten in the shade — no swapping lenses or removing your glasses mid-ride.
It’s my first time using photochromic lenses, and I’ll never go back. They may not be the most stylish, but when racing or biking, convenience trumps fashion. Ryan even grabbed a pair for himself. Now we’re just waiting for more color options.
BOLT ORGANIC ENERGY CHEWS
Ahhh Bolt Organic Energy Chews. I’ve been hooked on these since my marathon training days in 2017. I can’t do gels — the texture is a no for me — but Bolt Organic Energy Chews are perfect.
We stocked up on Probar items for the Shenandoah Epic 24-hour race using our USARA membership discount. The meal bars? Meh. The energy bars? Okay. But the chews? We can’t live without them (except the mixed berry flavor — hard pass).
For any activity over 45 minutes, we pack a Bolt pouch. Half a pack every 45–60 minutes keeps us going, with extra snacks for longer outings. They’re now a go-to for hiking, biking, and trail running.
27 GAL. TOUGH STORAGE TOTE WITH LID
Yes, a storage bin makes our gear list. We bought our first one for the Chisholm Trail 12-hour adventure race and quickly realized why every racer uses them.
Longer races (8+ hours) often recommend bins for transition areas, and these are perfect. If you’ve competed in adventure racing, you’ll see these bins everywhere. It’s a sea of black and yellow at transition areas and to the point where you better have your name or some sort of identifying sticker on it, or it’s going to be lost.
Adventure racing aside, we now have bins for cycling, racing, and camping gear — labeled and ready to grab. When we’re living out of the van, it means zero scrambling for stray gear.
It’s possibly the most boring, but most useful item we own.
Your Turn: Got a piece of gear you can’t live without? Share it — we’re always looking for the next great addition to our setup.