One of the perks of my job is it takes me to some enviable locations to explore trails, and try new activities – several times a month I’m boarding a plane or a train to some mountain locale so that I can write about it. Sometimes I make a hotel my base and I can bring a larger duffel bag like my that stays in my room while I'm outdoors, but often I’m camping or and carrying all my luggage on my back. Whatever I’m doing, I never want to have to so I’ve been working on refining my packing skills to ensure I have everything without being overloaded.
The season, destination and activities all determine how much gear I need to carry and whether or not I’m negotiating bulky or a , but when the weather is warm or mild, there are some items that I never leave home without. To be honest, I never really took hiking sandals seriously until I got my . Prior to that, I always thought they looked a bit weird and let’s be honest, I didn’t think they’d really hold up to the demands of the trail.
So I’d compromise and wear trainer-style (or ) for the journey, then pack sandals for going to the beach or out to dinner. I love , so I’d also pack and suddenly I had three pairs of shoes for every trip and little room for anything else. The Elle Backstraps changed all that for me, however – they look super beachy but they’ve handled rough trails on trips to and this year with ease.
When I want to switch gears and hit the water, they protect my feet from rocks and stones, .
