How exactly do tarantulas mate? Is Walmart’s Ozark Trail camping gear actually good enough for beginners? And has Shawnté found a water filter she likes even more than the Platypus QuickDraw?

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté celebrates the show’s first anniversary by diving way too deep into tarantula mating season, explaining why inexpensive camping gear can be perfectly fine for casual car campers, and revealing her newest What’s In Your Pack? favorite: the LifeStraw Peak Solo water filter.

Plus: marmot slander, Glory Hole Falls, forgotten bidets, and more discussion of pedipalps than anyone asked for.

Send your questions to [email protected].

See all the Oboz has to offer by heading to www.obozfootwear.com

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté tackles three very different outdoor dilemmas:

• What should you actually do if a wildfire breaks out while you’re deep in the backcountry?
• Should you worry if your spouse takes off their wedding ring whenever they hike, climb or backpack?
• And which women-owned outdoor brands are doing great work around sustainability, accessibility and giving back?

Plus: marmot slander, sausage fingers, silicone wedding bands and a whole lot of sweating. Advice that doesn’t suck.

Send your questions and spooky stories to [email protected]!

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté digs into what happens when airplanes crash in national parks, including the absolutely wild story of Yosemite’s infamous Dope Lake, before settling an important outdoor relationship dispute: are fanny packs dorky overkill or ridiculously useful?

Then Shawnté and Colin face a truly devious question: if you could only eat one protein bar for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?

Plane wrecks, waist packs, weed, snack fatigue and more outdoor advice that doesn’t suck.

Ask Gear Abby your burning outdoor question! Email the show at [email protected]

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

What should you do if a ghost steals your Garmin on trail? Which of your favorite movies were actually filmed inside national parks? And just how desperate do you have to be before stale tortillas, canned chicken and sun-melted Kraft Singles qualify as a gourmet meal?

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté shares some haunted Sierra lore and offers up her best ghost etiquette, then takes a trip through national park movie history from Star Trek and Star Wars to Indiana Jones and The Shining.

Plus, she digs into the weirdest things she’s eaten while backpacking, the foods she’ll never touch again, and the one meal she still dreams about on trail: enchiladas.

And Gear Abby wants your outdoor ghost stories for October send them in now.

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Why does Leave No Trace tell backpackers to pee away from water but rafters to pee directly into the river? And why do so many hiking memoirs seem to require their authors to endure a dark night of the soul?

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté explains the surprisingly logical bathroom rules of river trips (and the origin of the wonderfully named groover), then digs into why trauma, suffering and misery have become such reliable ingredients in outdoor books.

Plus, What’s In Your Pack? returns as Shawnté reveals her new favorite backpacking pillow and somehow she and Colin turn that into something wildly inappropriate.

Send your burning outdoor questions to [email protected].

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

What do you drink after a night of passionate mountain romance? Is there actually reason to be hopeful about Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante? And are Crocs secretly the ultimate outdoor shoe?

This week, Shawnté tackles one of the most unforgettable hydration questions we've ever received, breaks down what's really happening with America's national monuments and welcomes thru-hiker, ultrarunner, and FKT legend Jeff Garmire to settle the Great Crocs Debate once and for all.

Plus: viral poop content, sexy marmots, and Colin's anti-Crocs rant.

As always, send your questions to [email protected] because no outdoor question is too weird for Gear Abby.

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

This week on Gear Abby: Should backpacking be about slowing down or moving as fast as possible? Shawnté and Colin debate FKTs, explain the difference between trail angels and trail service providers, and welcome Lloyd Vogel of Garage Grown Gear to talk about ultralight backpacking, base weight, and the gear that's actually worth carrying. Plus: bison, British accents, and frozen Snickers.

Got a question? Set an email FKT and send it to [email protected].

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Gear Abby is back!

This week, Shawnté and Colin dive into the unwritten rules of the outdoors. First up: what's the proper etiquette for skinny dipping at alpine lakes and hot springs and how do you avoid becoming that naked person?

Then they explore whether Indigenous peoples climbed North America's highest peaks, how to respectfully visit culturally significant places, and why some sacred landscapes deserve a little more consideration from modern recreationists.

Finally, they settle a classic trail debate: who actually has the right of way hikers, mountain bikers, horses, runners...or snakes?

Along the way: a mysterious one-star review, marmots, vasculitis, trail stories from the Sierra, and enough butt cheek jokes to last at least until the next episode.

Got a question? Naked or not, we'll take your email. Send it to [email protected].

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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 winter?

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté Salabert tackles outdoor gatekeeping, gear hoarding, and cold weather running!

Got a question? Send it to [email protected]... no trail cred required.

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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 rundown:

• More Michelino: What should happen when athletes break trail rules (education > prosecution).
• Bear cans: When to carry them even if not required (+ quick gear picks).
• Confession booth: Gear Abby reveals her biggest on trail sin: A very real wag-bag fail on Whitney.
• Fuel without gels: Do you really need to eat power food when you're riding mountain bikes?

Got your own question for Gear Abby? Send it to [email protected] and it just might end up on the pod.

Thanks for listening! Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.