Things We Love: The Matador Team's 8 Favorite Pieces of Travel Gear and More This Month

PAKA Men’s Thermal Crew and Bottoms, Women’s Mountain Crew sweater

Over the past couple years I’ve become quite the fan of PAKA’s alpaca wool clothing. I have the hoodie, the Joggers, and recently acquired the Thermal Crew and Thermal Bottoms for the upcoming splitboarding season. I’ve since tested them on a splitboard tour and on an early morning mountain bike ride in 20-degree weather. On each occasion I remained warm and loose, as though the temperature were 20 degrees warmer. What separates these thermals from the baselayers I’ve worn in previous seasons is that they’re wool rather than cotton or poly. Although the clothes are slightly thicker than my prior long johns and crew, they fit more comfortably because they don’t cling to the skin in the same manner. I especially appreciate this about the crew shirt. The shirt is comfy and presentable enough that as the day warms I can drop outer layers if necessary and just rock the crew, even for beers in the parking lot after a tour. I value versatility in my outdoor clothing, and PAKA offers that in spades. – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

Price: $135 crew, $125 bottoms

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I like a wool sweater. Not only do they keep you warm and toasty, but natural fibers are more sustainable than synthetic ones, and longer lasting. But there is one issue with wool sweaters that keeps many people from buying them: they itch. PAKA’s Mountain Crew sweater is different, however. Made of 60 percent traceable baby alpaca, 15 percent fine Merino wool, and 25 percent Nylon, it is extremely soft and totally itch-free. Not only that but every single one is hand-knitted (there’s even a tag inside the sweater with the name of the knitter, a skilled Quechua artisan) in such a way that it’s not stiff the way wool sweaters can be, but very flexible, almost like a cotton sweatshirt. I put on my gorgeous eggplant-color Mountain Crew sweater right after taking it out of the box over a month ago and I have worn it nearly every day, including on a 10-plus hour flight, which is a testament to how comfortable it is. I have not washed it since I received it and have worn it in multiple situations, including while pulling a heavy suitcase across several cities, in plane and train rides, and at a casual work event, but thanks to its odor-resistant and antimicrobial properties, it doesn’t smell at all. While PAKA’s Mountain Crew sweater is branded as a piece of outdoor clothing, it does not look it: the beautiful stitching and high-quality look make it perfect for everyday wear, too. – Morgane Croissant, Deputy Editor

Price: $145

Shop Now – Women’s Mountain Crew

Shop Now – Men’s Mountain Crew

Denon PerL True Wireless Earbuds

Denon has crafted a pair of wireless earbuds that have relegated my trusty AirPods 4 to the back of my drawer. As a long-time AirPods user, I can confidently say the Denon PerL True Wireless earbuds are a game-changer. I rely heavily on earphones for my daily routine – intense workout sessions, household chores, or long travel hours. The PerL earbuds offer an exceptional listening experience thanks to their innovative features.
One tap instantly switches on noise-canceling mode, immersing you in your audio. Another tap activates “social mode,” allowing you to hear enough of what’s happening around you and interact with others. But what truly sets the PerL earbuds apart is the personalized audio experience. First, you need to download the app, which will take you through easy-to-follow instructions, including analysis via Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology, which tailors the sound to your specific preferences and hearing profile. They also have a six-hour battery life while in use and 18 hours with the case. They are also currently 37 percent off in the Black Friday Amazon sale. – Katie Scott Aiton, Lifestyle Editor

Price: $113.44

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Grit Lit Box

It seems like subscription boxes were all the rage several years ago, and then it started getting a little too excessive, and fell out of favor. Now, what I’m seeing more and more are monthly or quarterly boxes that don’t have a subscription, but come on a regular basis – so basically, you can buy as many in advance as you want, or buy them on a box-by-box basis. One I recently tried is the “Grit Lit” box from The Cairn Project.

It checks a lot of boxes (no pun intended), especially as a holiday gift. Each includes a book from or about a female adventurer, a snack to go along with it from a female-owned company, and a few other small surprise goodies in each box. I wish I knew more teenagers or young adults to gift this to, as the Grit Lit box both encourages reading (yay) and elevates the stories of ground-breaking women, but also supports the Cairn Project’s goal of increasing access to outdoor adventures for girls and young women. Boxes are $45 and you can buy a single box, or a year at a time. – Suzie Dundas, Commissioning Editor

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Abode Outside Sweaters

With easy access to materials, production facilities, and quick web design, it feels like new Mom-and-Pop clothing “brands” are springing up every day. And while I’m all in favor of supporting small businesses, it can be hard to know which are actual brands, and which are just someone with an internet connection slapping their logo on a mass-produced T-shirt or pair of joggers.

But oh my gosh, am I glad I took a chance on a Minnesota-based brand Abode Outside. It’s clear from the website that all its clothing is focused on sustainability, from using only recycled yarn to responsible wool sourcing and running the brand office with solar power. But what I didn’t realize until I tried on a piece was the “quality yarns” side of the promise. My Basecamp Sweater is softer than cashmere – what I like to call “puppy ear soft.” All sweaters are unisex, though based on a men’s size chart, as women are advised to size down. If you’re all about getting away from fast fashion – but also can’t afford to spend $300 on a high-end, organic sweater – I’d strongly advise poking through Abode Outside’s mountain-inspired offerings before looking anywhere else. – Suzie Dundas, Commissioning Editor

Price: From $89

 

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Paravel Aviator Trunk + Packing Suite

Some trips are hard to pack for. Recently, I went from very chilly British Columbia to mild but very windy and rainy western France for a few days, to a warm-weather Mediterranean cruise for a week, and back to France for Christmas. Upon packing, I knew that my suitcase needed to carry both winter and summer clothing, dressed-up clothes for work events and the upcoming holidays, and a ton of room for all the Christmas gifts I was transporting. While I am the owner of many pieces of luggage, only one suitcase was able to haul the 50 pounds of stuff I needed: the Paravel Aviator Trunk and its Packing Suite.

Tall and roomy enough to transport my 10-year-old niece in comfort, the 95-liter Aviator Trunk by Paravel is large but not so much as to be considered oversized by airlines, allowing overpackers to carry an awful lot in just one piece of checked luggage. The Packing Suite, which consists of seven packing cubes (five large ones and two smaller ones) makes it easy to keep all your stuff neatly organized inside the trunk, especially thanks to the many customizable labels that come with it. Despite its size, and even when packed to the brim, the Paravel Aviator Trunk rolls very smoothly thanks to four double-spinner wheels, and is very stylish with vegan leather details reminiscent of vintage trunks. Beyond its practicality and good looks, it’s the sustainable aspects of the brand that won me over: the Paravel Aviator Trunk and its Packing Suite consists of 99 percent recycled polycarbonate, with recycled aluminum handles, recycled zippers, and the lining and packing cubes are made from dozens of recycled plastic bottles. – Morgane Croissant, Deputy Editor

Price: $700 for the Paravel Aviator Trunk + Packing Suite; $575 for the Paravel Aviator Trunk alone; $165 for the Packing Suite alone

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Shop Now – Aviator Packing Cubes

Shop Now – Aviator Suite

Roll Recovery shoes

Nearly 30 years of snowboarding have done in my knees and feet. I also have a noticeable bunion that’s developed on my right foot over the past decade. As I age, I’m increasingly gaining awareness of how I need to focus as much on recovering from adventures as I do on preparation for them, and in line with this I recently acquired a pair of Roll Recovery shoes. The brand is known for its Deep Tissue Massage Tools, and the shoes are effectively that for your feet. They meld to them in a form-fitting manner that gets better each time I put them on, with soft lining moves with the feet instead of constricting them. Basically, they don’t cramp your feet like most shoes, and are the next best thing to getting a foot massage.  – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

Price: $110

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Ilegal Mezcal Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish

I’ve had an insatiable thirst for mezcal ever since spending two months in Oaxaca city in 2019 (okay, admittedly, since long before then – mezcal was part of the reason my wife and I booked that time there). I tend to horde fine mezcals in my liquor cabinet, and the latest entry is the newly released Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish from Ilegal Mezcal. The spirit spends time in two oak barrels before being bottled and sold – first, it spends four to six months in American oak barrels, before being finished in 215 barrels that previously aged 8-year Caribbean rum. This gives a beachy flavor to a spirit produced in the high country, and the combination is undeniably unique and satisfying. Not only is this great for your own stash, but it also makes a great gift for anyone who appreciates fine agave-based spirits. – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

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