Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears

Come back next week on July 17 for all new episodes of Gear Abby! Until then enjoy this flashback Friday episode and leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts! Do thru-hikers lose their trail cred if they car camp? What's the most responsible way to offload extra outdoor gear without sending it straight to a landfill? And how do you train for a spring trail race without freezing your ass off all...

Shawnté is on the trail and Colin is traveling for work. So it's time for another Flashback Friday! Mark your calendar for Gear Abby's return on July 17th and make Shawnté's birthday wishes come true by leaving a written review on Apple Podcasts. This week on Gear Abby Shawnté and Colin tackle outdoor ethics, bear safety, true confessions, and real-food fueling you’ll actually eat. Here's the rund...

Shawnté is on the trail and Colin is traveling for work. So it's time for another Flashback Friday! After a Gear Abby show update from Shawnté we revisit episode 12: Bougie Hikers, Dysentery Demons, and Busted Gut Feelings. As always, there are no dumb questions—just smart advice. Email your buring outdoor questions to Gear Abby! deargearabby@gmail.com Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

What is the purpose of an outdoor trade show beyond sales? Live from the floor of Switchback in New Orleans, Eoin Comerford sits down with thru-hiking expert Shawnté Salabert (Gear Abby) to break down the hits, the misses, and the future of the outdoor tradeshow. In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin and Shawnté dive deep into reactions of the exhibit hall. From the highly anticipated US Par...

New to Gear Abby? Then enjoy this trip back in time to our third episode! Shawnté Salabert and producer Colin “P.I.G.” True are back with another round of Gear Abby, where the gear questions get real... and sometimes a little gross. This week’s adventures include: • The Triple Crown of Hiking – Do you really need to hike the AT, PCT, and CDT to earn your stripes, or is the whole “Triple Crowner” t...

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté tackles one of the most persistent debates in backpacking: did Cheryl Strayed's Wild ruin thru-hiking? Then it's time for a surprisingly deep dive into backpacking water filters, freezing temperatures, storage tips, and how to avoid turning your water treatment system into an expensive paperweight. Finally, Colin asks the all-important question: "What's In Your Pack...

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté and Colin tackle some truly important outdoor questions: Why does the PCT seem to have a norovirus outbreak every year? Should beginner climbers always wear helmets outside? And if you were abducted by the Ice Planet Barbarians and taken to their frozen world, what three pieces of gear would you bring? Along the way, they discuss AI-generated Ansel Adams prints, shi...

Big Titty Mountain. Mushroom poop tabs. No-drop bike rides that definitely drop people. This week, Gear Abby explores weird outdoor place names, the science behind mycelium-powered bathroom kits, and how to handle a cycling group that isn't living up to its promises. Plus: thru-hiker drama, Poo Poo Point, mastodon boners, and a (not-so) shocking amount of poop-related expertise. Send your question...

This week on Gear Abby, we tackle one of the toughest trail dilemmas yet: what should you do when you come across a hiker who clearly looks in distress but refuses help? Then it’s time for an extremely important backpacking discussion: how many pairs of underwear should you bring on a trip, really? Gear Abby dives into trail hygiene, dirty chonies, wet liners, and why changing underwear at the tra...

Are those random stairs in the forest actually haunted or just leftovers from long-forgotten buildings? This week on Gear Abby, we dig into the eerie legend of “stairs in the woods,” exploring where the spooky stories came from and why your brain reacts so strongly when you see them on trail. Next, one ski-trip debate gets settled once and for all: does alcohol really hit harder at altitude? Shawn...

What’s the deadliest national park in the United States? This week on Gear Abby, we kick things off with a dark-but-fascinating question about where people are most at risk in our national parks and why the answer might surprise you. Next, a listener needs help convincing her stubborn boyfriend to use trekking poles on a Grand Canyon hike even though his knees suggest he absolutely should. Finally...

What do you do when your favorite adventure buddy suddenly turns every outing into a full-on GoPro production? This week, Gear Abby helps a listener figure out how to set boundaries when social media starts getting in the way of real-life fun. Next, we tackle a question many people are too embarrassed to ask: how do you handle your period on a backpacking trip? Shawnté breaks down practical tips,...

Ever wondered where those summit trail registers actually come from and where they go when they disappear? This week, Gear Abby digs into the surprising history behind those iconic peak notebooks. Next, a listener questions whether spouses should be allowed to assign trail names and whether there’s an official appeal process when you get stuck with a mediocre nickname. Finally, things get serious...

Is flying across the country for adventure worth the climate impact—or should you stay closer to home? This week, Gear Abby tackles a big question about balancing outdoor travel dreams with environmental responsibility. Then things get spicy: what outdoor gear or trends instantly give you the ick on a hiking date? Shawnté and Colin weigh in with their personal red flags and invite listeners to sen...

Do beautiful outdoor photos actually help protect wild places or is that just something we tell ourselves to feel better? Gear Abby digs into the surprising history of photography, conservation, and whether social media really makes a difference. Then: what happens when your hiking partner bails right before a dream trip? Shawnté shares honest advice for tackling fear, finding courage, and startin...

Why do you actually need a bear canister in the Sierra? Shawnté breaks down the wild (and very human-caused) history behind food-conditioned bears and why proper storage matters more than ever. Then: what do you do when a climbing gym regular crosses the line from annoying to straight-up creepy? Gear Abby delivers a no-BS guide to shutting it down and standing your ground. Plus, what’s in Shawnté’...

Should you geotag your favorite outdoor spots on social media or keep them secret? Do compression socks actually help runners, or are they just a glorified shin hug? And if your gear closet is full of old-school backpacking equipment, what ultralight innovations are actually worth upgrading? This week on Gear Abby , Shawnté Salabert and producer Colin True tackle the outdoor internet’s favorite ar...

What should you do if a storm rolls in while you're backpacking with no shelter in sight? How do you convince a partner to join you on a longer backpacking trip if they’re worried about trail hygiene? And how exactly do you get comfortable… going to the bathroom outside? This week on Gear Abby , outdoor educator Shawnté Salabert tackles lightning safety and storm strategy in the backcountry, offer...

Do you really need an InReach if your phone has SOS? How worried should paddlers be about alligators? And what’s that strange building on top of Mount Whitney? This week on Gear Abby , Shawnté Salabert breaks down backcountry communication devices and whether your smartphone is enough, explain how to paddle safely in alligator country, and dig into the surprisingly wild history behind the hut on t...

Should we rip down the railings in national parks and let natural selection take over? This week on Gear Abby , Shawnté tackles a heated question about safety features on public lands and debates where personal responsibility ends and park management begins. Then, a Camino hopeful writes in with a blister crisis after breaking in new boots. Shawnté dives deep into fit, heel locks, insoles, trail r...

This week on Gear Abby , Shawnté tackles a salty question about whether trail running has lost its “cool factor” now that it’s gone mainstream and whether gatekeeping the sport is just aging-contrarian energy. Then things get real: a listener shares how sobriety is changing his ski season and friendships. Shawnté digs into ski culture, alcohol pressure, and how to protect your joy on the mountain...

This week on Gear Abby , Shawnté tackles one of the most thoughtful (and emotionally charged) listener questions yet: how outdoor folks can show up when politics, safety, and public spaces collide. Joined by Garage Grown Gear founder Lloyd Vogel , the conversation digs into why the outdoors has always been political and what real allyship can look like. Then, things take a sharp (and familiar) tur...

On this episode of Gear Abby , Shawnté tackles four listener questions that range from trail life to public lands policy: Do brick-and-mortar outdoor retailers still matter in an era of DTC everything? What’s the best outdoor-themed true crime to read when you’re not alone in the woods? Is the Kula Cloth actually hygienic? Shawnté is joined by Kula Cloth founder Anastasia Allison to break down the...

Are there any truly ethical outdoor brands or is sustainability mostly marketing? This week on Gear Abby , Shawnté Salabert digs into what “ethical” and “sustainable” actually mean in the outdoor industry, how to spot greenwashing, and which brands are genuinely trying to do better. Then, Shawnté mounts a passionate defense of Death Valley National Park , breaking down why the desert is far more a...

What should you actually eat on a long trail? Is there a way to learn downhill skiing without blowing your entire budget? And how do you find a sports bra that truly supports a bigger chest for high-impact sports? This week on Gear Abby , Shawnté Salabert breaks down trail food favorites and regrets, shares realistic advice for trying to ski on the cheap, and welcomes sports bra expert Dr. LeJean...