Things We Love: The Matador Team's 9 Favorite Pieces of Travel Gear and More This Month

Kuhl Getaway Shorts

Photo courtesy Kuhl

Until I obtained the Kuhl Eclipser Hoody at the beginning of this summer, I’d always thought of Kuhl as the brand for middle aged outdoorsy dudes who’ve yet to reconcile with their escaped youth. I’m 40, spend 100 days a year in the mountains, and listen to Blink-182 every day, and Kuhl continues to surprise me with how “cool” its clothes actually are. Its Getaway Shorts are perfect for me. I’ve hardly taken them off since they arrived, having now worn them on multiple camping trips, to a baseball game, and a couple dozen times to the gym. They’re flexible but the waist holds firm, and are therefore perfect for bike commuting as well as trail time. In casual Colorado where I live they’re appropriate for just about any happy hour or dinner engagement. All of this adds up to a pair of shorts that have received more than their fair share of use in just six short weeks – and I look forward to not swapping them out until the inevitable crisp of the forthcoming winter forces me to do so. – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

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Patagonia Provisions x Deschutes Brewery Kernza Lager

Photo courtesy Patagonia Provisions and Deschutes Brewery

I love beer. And what’s not to love about certified organic beer? We’ve come to expect nothing less from Patagonia Provisions, which focuses on sustainable and often regenerative food and drink products built for the outdoors. The brand partnered with Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery to make the Kernza Lager, available in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties. The beer is light and slightly creamy, great for a post-adventure toast at the trailhead. I tried both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, and found the punchy one to go down smoother — though this could be because I’m more accustomed to beers with a kick. Deschutes brews all its booze-free beers in-house using Sustainable Beverage Technologies’ BrewVo® technology. The beer is made of organic Kernza from the Perennial Promise Grower’s Cooperative, Regenerative Organic Certified® rye malted by Admiral Maltings, organic 2-Row barley malt from Briess Malt & Ingredients Company, Roy Farms organic Adeena hops come from Roy Farms, and organic Helios hops from Hopsteiner. Grab the beer at a store near you. – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

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¡Ya Oaxaca! Mole sauces for camping

Photo courtesy ¡Ya Oaxaca!

The thing about campsite cooking is that it gets boring. Everything must be easy to pack and either be dried, non-perishable, or storable in a small cooler – and therefore adding flavors that pop and make for a memorable meal is tough to do without an RV kitchen. I learned this summer how easy it is to boost the quality of my campsite meals after getting a hold of a three-pack of flavors of mole sauce from ¡Ya Oaxaca! – Mole Negro, Mole Coloradito, and Mole Rojo. Grilling veggies and protein for fajitas has long been a go-to camping meal for my crew, but until this year I’d never bothered to switch up the recipe at all. I love mole – it’s my go-to at Mexican restaurants – and these jars of sauce store easily in the cooler without taking up much space. Cue the best camping dinner ever. – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

Buy Now: $24.99

KeepGoing First Aid Kit

Photo: Amazon

The KeepGoing First Aid Super Kit is impressive. It is a family-owned company, and you can tell that this was a product made by parents. It’s got everything you could ever need for a family trip, including instruments like tweezers and a tick remover tool, which comes in handy on those hikes in tall grass. There are many fabric bandages with fun prints like dinosaurs, sports, and tie-dye. There are tons of triple antibiotic ointment packets, burn gel, and lip balm! There are even stickers to help kids feel better after those unexpected bumps and scrapes. As a producer who needs to be prepared for anything, it’s comforting to know I have anything I could need in this lovely little pack. It fits easily into a backpack and has cute packaging with a great handle. It’s so well organized that you don’t have to search long for anything. – Alex Halky, senior producer

Buy Now: $31.96

Tevas Women’s Trailwinder Low

Photo: Amazon

The Teva Trailwinder shoe is the perfect travel shoe. If you want something nice and light, just in case that friend decides to go on a hike on vacation, you’ll be prepared to join them. They’re super lightweight so they won’t add much to your bag. There are tiered traction lugs that are excellent to keep you from slipping on the trails. The NAVILOCK internal bootie system gave me a secure fit. There is a heel pull tab, which makes it more accessible for slipping on. There is also excellent arch support, and the LITE-COMF insole provides responsive comfort. – Alex Halky, senior producer

Buy Now: $129.95

FACTORFIVE Soothing Facial Mask

Photo: Amazon

I’ve never understood how certain people can walk off a long-haul flight and look fresh. I claw at the cabin door to get off and be welcomed by an airport mirror reflecting what can only be described as a shriveled-up cherry tomato at the back of a refrigerator drawer. Ok, I’m being a smidge too hard on myself, but my skin, after a long flight, always takes a beating. Despite being the queen of hydration, the mix of air conditioning with lack of sleep does nothing for my complexion. To combat this, I recently tried out FACTORFIVE Soothing Facial Mask. As a self-proclaimed sheet mask expert, I was intrigued by the brand’s addition of adult human stem cell factors (as well as aloe, green tea extract, and hemp seed oil). “What dat?” I hear you say. Ethically derived stem cell therapy in skincare is relatively new. The idea is that stem cells contain proteins and amino acids that signal other cells to regenerate, resulting in (over time) younger-looking skin. If the sound of this makes you as perplexed as Hocus Pocus 2, Vogue’s in-depth article on the topic is worth a read. I’m not sure if I’m quite at the stage of drinking stem cell Coolaid, but I have to say this mask was delightful. I loved the tingling sensation and scent of peppermint, and after 15 minutes, my skin looked plump and fresher. I’d happily put a FACTORFIVE mask in my carry-on for future inflight facials. – Katie Scott Aiton, Lifestyle Editor

Buy Now: $22

Arc’teryx Liatris Down Parka

Photo courtesy Arc’teryx

I’ve been looking for a down parka for some time now. Despite my Scottish heritage, I don’t get along well with cold weather. After a wet Scottish summer in Arc’teryx’s outdoor hiking gear, I looked at its down jackets and came across the Liatris parka. I also needed something substantial for the current trip I’m on to Northern Norway. And substantial it is. It feels more like a comforter than outerwear. Yet it’s not cumbersome – which was a welcome surprise. You can zip the jacket from top to bottom, but it also unzips around the ankles, making walking and sitting easy. I can’t describe how comfortable and warm this parka is, other than perhaps feeling like a hug from my husband. The pockets are also great. It took me a while to navigate them all. Because there are so many, I lost my car keys in the padding a few times. They are deep, zippable, and beautifully lined. Thanks to the airy goose down, it’s also lighter than it looks, and the GORE-TEX shell is exceptional. I have no doubt this parka will get me through many winters to come. It might even live out me. – Katie Scott Aiton, Lifestyle Editor

Buy Now: $1,000

Pistil’s Trent Sun Hat

Photo: Amazon

I have such fair skin that even my scalp gets sunburnt. Because it’s tricky (but not impossible) to use sunscreen on top of my hairy head, I prefer to wear a hat when it’s sunny outside. While I like stylish straw hats and own a couple of them, they are hard to travel with – packing a straw hat in a piece of luggage is bound to damage it. Pistil’s sun hats, while less chic than a straw hat, are a lot more practical. Because they are made of soft and light fabric, they can be folded and packed easily without getting destroyed. Also, their UPF 50+ and wide brim mean that your scalp, your neck, and parts of your face are protected from the sun. Other attributes that make Pistil’s sun hats a good choice is the adjustable chin cord which helps keep the hat on your head even when there are strong winds, and the lightweight, quick-dry fabric which means you can put it on your head even when your hair is wet without damaging the material. I mistakenly bought the men’s version of Pistil’s sun hat, but it fits very well and certainly doesn’t look too masculine. After 15 years of usage, I reserve my pretty straw hats for special occasions and use my Pistil sun hat for the beach and all my trips abroad. – Morgane Croissant, Deputy Editor

Buy Now: $56

Camper’s Match Textile Sandals

Photo: Amazon

Nothing can beat Birkenstocks when it comes to comfortable, yet stylish sandals, but the problem with Birks is that they can’t get wet – ever. Because the footbed is made of cork, when wet, it starts disintegrating. A pair of water sandals is much more appropriate for the beach or for light hiking, canoeing, or kayaking, but they tend to be chunky and unattractive. After a lot of digging, I managed to find a pair of water sandals that are both cute and practical: Camper’s Match Textie Sandals. These sandals come in a variety of bright colors and offer the same rubber soles, sturdy textile straps, and velcro closures as other brands. They are comfortable, dry quickly, and look fun and fashionable. Warning: if you have wide feet, they may be too narrow for you. – Morgane Croissant, Deputy Editor

Buy Now: $82.34