Hikin' Good with Nau and Ibex, + Cold Splinters

My good friend from college, who grew up in Colorado like I did, just returned home for a visit, and boy did her pictures make me jealous (shown above). Not only is she rockin' 14ers, but she's looking super good doing it! I'm one of those people who shies away from buying activewear because a) it's expensive and b) ok, ok, i rarely put it to use. But she made me want to toss all that away and get buying (and hiking!). While this mostly just means a Goodwill scouting trip is in order, it also means it's time to share Nau, Ibex, and Cold Splinters.

Actually, first things first -- remember CO-based Topo Designs? Well they're still the shiz for daypacks (such as the one above, $98) and more, and they also told me that their fabrics are sourced reliably. So shop away!

Now, Nau:

The Nau m3 Hoody. Yeah, it's wool fleece AND it has a hood ($225 ... people love their active wear, and Nau explains thoughts on their prices here).

Nau Dualist Jacket, $265, perfect for everything from biking to looking really, really active and good. Again, the price is a bit much for me but they explain themselves, and items like this last you a lifetime.

Ibex Energy Tight, $135 (it comes with a lifetime warranty...)

Nau has put serious thought into its production, from where the fabric is sourced from to how to keep shipping to a minimum. They also determine where the garments are sewn by where the fabric came from, and make sure that wherever the workers are, they're treated well. (Read more.) In addition, Nau also donates 2 percent of every purchase to a nonprofit of your choice.

Ibex's focus started on making top-of-the-line exercise wear without the use of synthetic materials. The creator worked with everyone from sheep farmers to craftspeople to create the best wool around. In fact, a majority of the pieces use wool that is Zque certified, "ensuring environmental, social and economic stability, animal welfare, and traceability back to the source" (upcoming blog post? I think so...).

I'll keep my eyes out for more affordable activewear, but these companies' dedication to their production, fabric, and lifestyles is worth featuring their goodness.

As for where to look for outdoor inspiration, I just found Cold Splinters, the blog of a gentleman who owns a consulting agency called Cold Splinters (not sure which came first) after checking up on Of a Kind's newest feature. This blog is awesome, and helps me feel like I've returned to the backwoods enough to forget about the coconut tree in my front yard for just a second (it sounds romantic, but it's a small yard!).

July 19 entry, along with a music find.

Christopher McCandless's aesthetic creed.

Took it all the way back to November '08, and it was still good with this Zabriskie Point, Death Valley pic and music selection.

Well, there's your random outdoorsy collection to get you through Friday and the weekend (and maybe even get you outdoors!). Happy Aloha Friday!