Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears

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.

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! [email protected]

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 Participation Report presented by Kelly Davis to navigating the timing clash with regional shows like GOA, they examine what it takes to build a true national show. Plus, the duo doesn’t hold back on their unfiltered booth reviews, praising the stunning blonde-wood aesthetics of Snow Peak, Fjällräven, and Teva, while calling out the underwhelming setups from other brands.

Tune in for an inside look at the latest gear innovations shaking up the market, including Dometic’s interchangeable tumbler system, GRAYL’s Carry Project pack line, Butt Napkins’ upcoming submarine bidet wand, Date Fix’s intense food culture mission, Rumpl’s clever cape clips, and the mouth-watering backpacking meals from Lux Fly. Whether you are a specialty retail buyer, a major outdoor brand, or a gear junkie, this episode is your ultimate backstage pass to the business and culture of the great outdoors.

Then later in the show, Eoin sits down with Switchback Event Director Sean Smith to share his impressions and break some news about a time change for next year.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind!

• Connect with Eoin Comerford: LinkedIn Profile

Support the brands that make this show possible:

• ENDVR – The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. Visit www.endvr.io.
• Crux Retail – Creating bold retail displays for bold brands. Visit www.crux-retail.com.

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” thing kind of overrated?

• Chafing in the Wild – From sticky thighs to “fire crotch,” Shawnté breaks down how to prevent, treat, and laugh about the outdoor chafe life.

• Strava Love & Hate – Is tracking your runs and hikes inspiring, or just another way to feed the ego monster? Shawnté shares her thoughts on “Kudos culture.”

• Cutting Switchbacks – The eternal debate: is it really that bad if you shave a little distance? Abby has some strong words for the shortcut crowd.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever chafed, bragged on Strava, questioned the Triple Crown mystique, or been tempted by a too-good-to-ignore shortcut.

Click here for Gear Abby's footnotes and even more from this episode!

Send your questions to [email protected] and they might make it onto a future episode!

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

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?" which somehow leads to a passionate discussion about street corn grits, Renaissance Faires, and the backpacking meal Shawnté can't stop thinking about.

As always, there are no dumb questions—just smart advice.

Email your buring outdoor questions to Gear Abby! [email protected]

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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, shirtless climbers, trail hygiene, college outdoor clubs, and why hand sanitizer isn't enough when norovirus comes calling.

As always, there are no dumb questions... just smart advice.

Send your questions to [email protected]!

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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 questions to [email protected]. There are no dumb questions, just smart advice.

Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.