{"id":200731,"date":"2025-09-02T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=200731"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:44:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T23:44:29","slug":"forever-favorite-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/forever-favorite-gear","title":{"rendered":"Forever Favorites: REI Co-op Staff Members\u2019 Must-Have Trail Gear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Any hiker can tell you there\u2019s nothing better than taking out that favorite broken-in boot, the well-loved mid layer, trail-tested snacks or the mud-stained pack that fits like a glove. REI Co-op staff are no different: Even with access to the freshest outdoor gear, many of us are creatures of habit. We reach for the same old standbys we\u2019ve hiked with for years\u2014even if it\u2019s our fourth pair of the same boots, or a backpack we\u2019ve patched a half-dozen times.  

If you\u2019ve ever wondered what REI Co-op employees and partners lace up, pull over, zip up, snack on or sling over a shoulder, we\u2019ve got some insight for you. Read on to learn about some of our trailside must-haves, available at REI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s in Nick’s Kit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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REI Green Vest Nick M. used to chase thrills on his BMX bike. Photo courtesy of Nick M.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nick M.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Green Vest, REI Co-op in Austin, Texas<\/strong> 
Favorite activities: <\/strong>Swimming, hiking, road cycling, yoga 
Favorite gear:<\/strong> Patagonia R1 Air Full Zip Hoody<\/a>, Patagonia R2 TechFace Hoody<\/a> Patagonia Nano Puff Insulated Jacket<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick M.<\/strong> is a Green Vest at the REI store in Austin, Texas, where you can usually find him scoping out the best swimming hole, plotting his next bike route or building up hours in his yoga app<\/a>, where he puts biweekly classes. Growing up in Idaho, he was always more interested in riding bikes and being outside than sitting in front of the TV or computer. (\u201cI did<\/em> have a little video game phase when I was younger, but I quickly outgrew that and just always wanted to be outside,\u201d he admits.)\u00a0\u00a0

After spending years ripping around on BMX trails, he swapped his knobby wheels and muddy frame for road biking\u2019s sleek aerodynamism\u2014and slightly lower injury risk. \u201cI recently kind of settled down on it because I have had four knee surgeries and I broke my neck and back when I was living in New Zealand,\u201d he says. He rode pretty hard even after that fourth surgery but ultimately decided that his body wasn\u2019t as happy as he was in the saddle, even on great days. \u201cThe risk just isn\u2019t worth the reward anymore.\u201d Instead, these days he\u2019s all about road biking, yoga, hiking and immersing himself in nature\u2014especially if there\u2019s a place to swim. \u201cI love being in water\u2014hot, cold, salty, fresh, as long as it’s clean I love it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick was getting ready to head to hike, climb and swim at Lake Tahoe when we asked him what was in his pack. Without missing a beat, he said he wouldn\u2019t leave home without his R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody<\/a> from Patagonia<\/a>, and his R2 TechFace Hoody<\/a> as a just-in-case. \u201cIf I know the weather\u2019s going to be perfect, I wear the R1, but if I think there\u2019s going to be a little bit of rain, I always pack the R2 as my backup because it\u2019s warm, and that one also blocks you from the wind if it starts to get a little bit windy,\u201d he says. \u201cThose two layers are my absolute favorite to take on mountain hiking trips.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody, $189. Buy women’s.<\/a> Buy men’s.<\/a> Photo credit: Luke Webster for REI Co-op.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Sometimes, though, even the best hoodies need a little extra on top. Being from Idaho, Nick knows a little something about the cold, so he reaches for another Patagonia standby: the packable, buttery soft Nano Puff Insulated Jacket<\/a>. \u201cWhen I travel home in the fall or winter months, I always pack that layer because it\u2019s great for just wearing around town. It blocks the wind, it\u2019s slightly water repellent and it\u2019s super warm and cozy. With a base layer, it\u2019s plenty warm for me. I love mine.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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REI Co-op Green Vest Nick M. hikes in a Patagonia Nano Puff Insulated Jacket<\/a> and Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX Hiking Boots<\/a>. Photo credit: Luke Webster for REI Co-op<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Whether he\u2019s scrambling up to a peak or charging through the brush, his Nano Puff has held its own, showing very little wear and tear. \u201cI\u2019ve had it for like 5 years and I\u2019ve only had a few light, little snags on the sleeve. You know, one great thing about Patagonia, they repair their products for free, so they fixed it for me,\u201d he adds. \u201cThe fact that you can have it forever, plus what that brand stands for, I\u2019m like, take my money.\u201d Nick loves recommending Patagonia products to customers, he says, because \u201cnot only do I use it and know that it\u2019s good for what you\u2019re putting it through, the fact that you can essentially have it forever is the greatest thing. The fit, feel and smell of those worn-in pieces is so great, it\u2019s like an extension of you, you know?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What’s in Kelsi’s Kit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kelsi I.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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REI Co-op Green Vest Kelsi I. enjoys a hike in Hawaii, where she grew up. Photo courtesy of Kelsi I.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shipping and receiving, REI Co-op in Nashville, Tennessee <\/strong>
Favorite activities: <\/strong>Hiking, running 
Favorite gear: <\/strong>La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX hiking boots<\/a>; Osprey Tempest pack<\/a>; REI Co-op Stretch Sahara Convertible Pants<\/a>; Honey Stinger Waffles<\/a>, Gels<\/a> and Gummies<\/a>; Bobo\u2019s Oat Bars<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Nashville, REI Co-op shipping and receiving specialist Kelsi I.<\/strong> is always on the lookout for a good waterfall hike, which means needing to be prepared for muddy, wet conditions, and plenty of steep terrain. What\u2019s her favorite destination? Foster Falls, a 60-foot-drop waterfall inside the 12,166-acre South Cumberland State Park. Hikers find it at the end of the 12.5-mile Fiery Gizzard Trail, which offers creek swimming, lush forest strolls and breathtaking overlooks between the falls and Grundy Forest. \u201cIt\u2019s the first fall hike I went on after moving to Nashville, and just seeing all the fall leaves for the first time like that was so magical,\u201d says Kelsi, who grew up in Honolulu. \u201cIt was just beautiful, because we don\u2019t have fall in Hawaii. That hike holds a special place in my heart.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Boots, $219. Buy women’s.<\/a> Buy men’s.<\/a> Photo credit: Luke Webster for REI Co-op<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For Kelsi, being outside is a necessity. \u201cI was born and raised in Honolulu, and there were hikes everywhere. I could walk up the street and do like an 8-hour hike; the beach was like maybe a 15-minute walk down the road. Every time I go back home to visit, I\u2019m like, \u2018Wow, it is really beautiful here.\u2019 Growing up in that environment has just allowed me to be enthusiastic about being in the outdoors.\u201d Hiking and long-distance running are Kelsi\u2019s favorite ways to get outside, and she never leaves home without a few different pieces in her kit\u2014starting with a pair of Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX boots<\/a> from La Sportiva<\/a>, \u201cmy favorite boots I\u2019ve had in my entire life.\u201d Kelsi says, \u201cI love them so much, I\u2019ll use them when I know it\u2019s wet or cold outside, or on longer hikes\u2014longer than 5 miles, because of their extra support. They\u2019re so lightweight and comfortable, they fit my foot so well, and their grip is just like no other boot, you feel so safe in them.\u201d 

\u201cI always have my daypack, the Osprey Tempest<\/a>. It\u2019s just the perfect size\u2014and actually, I have it in three sizes!\u201d she laughs. \u201cIt\u2019s sort of a problem but I love them all.\u201d She reaches for her Tempest daypack as a carry-on when traveling, knowing that she can also use it if she decides to explore the local trails. \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect size for a jacket, snacks and water, which is really all I need.\u201d  

Another must-have for Kelsi is a really good pair of pants, especially when hiking in mountainous Tennessee, where unpredictable weather and protection from insects are nonnegotiable. \u201cHere in Nashville, we have to be pretty aware of covering up because of ticks, unfortunately, so I really like wearing convertible pants,\u201d like the Sahara Stretch Convertible Pants<\/a> from REI Co-op<\/a>, which easily transform into shorts (without even pulling off your boots). The lightweight, breathable recycled nylon-spandex fabric hits the sweet spot of stretch and comfort, versatility, and UPF 50+ protection.  

There\u2019s one other thing Kelsi never leaves home without, and it\u2019s earned her a reputation among her trail mates. \u201cMy friends know I always have a snack bag with me!\u201d Whether she\u2019s heading to the falls or meeting up with pals for a volleyball game in the park, she\u2019s always brings the same favorites: \u201cI\u2019ll have the Honey Stinger Waffles<\/a>, I\u2019ll have the Honey Stinger Gels<\/a>, and a bag of the Energy Chew gummies<\/a>, and then I\u2019ll probably get a lemon-poppyseed bar<\/a> from Bobo\u2019s Oat Bars<\/a>. Plus, some nuts or trail mix on the side.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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REI Co-op Green Vest Kelsi I. wears a pair of La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Boots<\/a>. Photo credit: Luke Webster for REI Co-op<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tell us your forever favorites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s your go-to trail-worthy gear from REI Co-op? Let us know in the comments. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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REI Co-op Green Vests (left to right) Kelsi I. and Nick M., both wearing Patagonia<\/a>. Photo credit: Luke Webster for REI Co-op<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Any hiker can tell you there\u2019s nothing better than taking out that favorite broken-in boot, the well-loved mid layer, trail-tested snacks or the mud-stained pack that fits like a glove. REI Co-op staff are no different: Even with access to the freshest outdoor gear, many of us are creatures of habit. We reach for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30740,"featured_media":200737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387,1463],"tags":[719,401,250],"internal-tag":[2011],"class_list":["post-200731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","category-our-people","tag-la-sportiva","tag-merrell","tag-patagonia","internal-tag-home-secondary"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/forever-favorite-gear","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Forever Favorites: REI Co-op Staff Members\u2019 Must-Have Trail Gear","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/forever-favorite-gear","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/forever-favorite-gear"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Webster_20250507_0057_FilmScan_med.jpeg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Webster_20250507_0057_FilmScan_med.jpeg?fit=2560%2C1965"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ever Meister"}],"creator":["Ever Meister"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["la sportiva","merrell","patagonia"],"dateCreated":"2025-09-02T13:00:00Z","datePublished":"2025-09-02T13:00:00Z","dateModified":"2025-09-17T23:44:29Z"},"rendered":"