Imagine you could ask anyone for advice on the best sleeping pad or carabiner to take on your adventures. How about someone who leads outdoor skill classes and multiday treks, who’s spent years essentially testing various products in the field? Sounds like an REI Co-op outdoor guide. They’ve refined their packing lists over hours of hiking, camping, climbing, skiing and more—so when they rave about a beloved camp mug, you know they mean it. We polled some of our 400-plus REI guides about the gear picks they won’t leave home without, and they had a lot to say.
REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie
Name: Sarah Dolan
Guiding focus: I split my time guiding in both the Northern California and Northeast regions. During the summer months, you can find me leading multi-day backpacking trips in Yosemite. When the season ends, I road-trip back in my van to my home state of Massachusetts. On the east coast, I teach almost every program REI offers, but hiking, backpacking and navigation programs are my specialties.
Favorite gear: “I can’t say enough about the REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie. It’s been an absolute staple in my gear bag for years, from intense backcountry adventures in Yosemite to casual hikes with guests.
The sun protection is unparalleled. I’ve spent countless hours exposed to the unforgiving California sun, and this hoodie has saved my skin from countless burns. The UPF 50+ fabric is a lifesaver, especially at higher elevations where the sun’s rays are intensified. The hood is another standout feature. It’s generously sized and the internal drawstring ensures it stays put, even in gusty conditions. I’ve relied on it for protection during unexpected afternoon thunderstorms and early morning starts when the air is crisp. But what truly sets this hoodie apart is its breathability. The fabric wicks moisture exceptionally well, keeping me cool and comfortable during strenuous hikes. I’ve worn it on scorching summer days and found it to be surprisingly airy. And when it does get damp, it dries quickly, making it a practical choice for multi-day trips.
Whether I’m navigating challenging trails or leading a group, the Sahara Shade Hoodie is always in my pack. It’s lightweight, packable and offers unmatched protection and comfort. If you’re looking for a versatile hoodie that can handle anything the outdoors throws at you, this is it.”
Favorite past trip: Backpacking the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne in Yosemite. Incredible views for 45 miles over 5 days.
YETI Rambler Vacuum Water Bottle with Chug Cap – 26 fl. oz.
Name: Silvia Tenenbaum
Guiding focus: I love guiding in Hotlanta and the surrounding areas in all kinds of activities like SUP, kayaking, hiking and backpacking, but my passion is connecting people with all the excitement of rock climbing.
Favorite gear: “My YETI Rambler is my must-have piece of gear when I go out for work or pleasure in the out-of-doors. I received my first one as a gift from REI, when I was selected as a “Guide of the Year” by my coworkers. I treasure the memories that come with this bottle, but I also treasure that no matter how hot it gets outside, every sip from my YETI is ice-cold. I feel revived when I’m teaching a group how to paddleboard and I grab my YETI, to be greeted with ice cubes even though it’s been sitting on the board in the sun for hours. I also love how easily I can attach the water bottle to my board with a carabiner using the TripleHaul handle. I depend on that TripleHaul handle to clip my YETI to my harness when I go to set up climbing anchors on top of a cliff. I’m always telling my guests that it is important to stay hydrated and that small sips all day long are much better than just chugging a bunch of water after you feel thirsty, so I have to set a good example and my YETI makes that easy.”
Favorite past trip: For the past three summers, I have had the opportunity through REI to work with Camp Kingfisher kids. Working with the kids reminds me of all the great times I had as a Girl Scout Leader with my daughters. In mid-July, my co-guide Laura and I had the best time SUPing with a bunch of Kingfisher campers. This particular group of kids wanted to push the boundaries and didn’t want to just learn how to paddle the board, they wanted to learn some tricks. There were kids falling into the water left and right as they tried to perfect lifting the front of their boards out of the water while maintaining their balance on the back of the board, or trying to accomplish warrior III pose in the middle of their board—just to name a few of the tricks they tried. I strive to make all my guiding days like this one, where everyone goes home with a smile on their face.
Grivel Mega HMS Twin Gate Locking Carabiner
Name: Jack Fince
Guiding focus: I mainly teach climbing courses, but also do mountain biking and intro to backcountry skiing courses in the Northeast.
Favorite gear: “This (and other variations on the twin gate design) is my go-to locking carabiner for most purposes, as it auto-locks and takes the same amount of time to both open and lock the gate as just opening a standard non-locking carabiner.
There is a learning curve to the technique for opening it (middle finger pushes the outer gate while pointer finger pulls the inner gate), but once it’s embedded in muscle memory it is a lot simpler than using typical screw-gate carabiners or other types of auto-locking carabiners. It is very quick to verify that the gate is locked visually after performing a manual check on the gate, too. This ends up speeding up a lot of climbing and anchor setup, as both locking and verifying the lock on the carabiner are much faster. In winter, these carabiners especially shine since they are difficult to freeze shut. Short of dunking them in ice water and letting them sit outside during a cold snap, these carabiners function very reliably in the cold.”
Favorite past trip: Any of many days teaching ski touring with perfect weather!
Snow Peak Ti-Double 450 Mug
Name: Nikki Klein
Guiding focus: I teach kayaking, backpacking and wilderness survival in the Los Angeles region, guiding multi-day trips on Catalina Island. I specialize in backpacking, survival and snow sports.
Favorite gear: “I was born and raised in Western Washington, so my coffee ritual is a very important part of every morning. This titanium mug has been on every adventure with me for the last seven years, including desert miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, NOLS courses on the Escalante, weeks alone on the John Muir Trail, early misty mornings guiding on Catalina Island, and sunrise summit coffee on Mount Whitney.
I’ve sipped tea after afternoon rainstorms and heated hot chocolate in my vestibule during hail and surprise snow. I’ve enjoyed a hundred alpenglow sunrises in the Range of Light with my mug warming my fingers; it’s a comfort to me. I was lucky enough to score one in purple, which in my opinion is extra vibe credit for all of my gear. It’s double-walled so the coffee stays hot, but it’s not too hot on my lips or hands. Snow Peak offers an aftermarket lid, which I bring along on all of my less weight-conscious adventures. The handle of the mug folds so it nests nicely inside my Jetboil Flash system most of the time, unless I’m solo and feeling concerned about startling bears—and then I clip it to the outside of my pack to act as a bear bell.”
Favorite past trip: Five days on the Trans-Catalina Trail with the most interesting and fun-loving group of humans. The way everyone connected and interacted was magical. Watching different demographics of people form connections and friendships is such a wonderful thing to witness. Being outside together does that.
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS Watch
Name: William Zest
Guiding focus: Primarily climbing, but also paddling, hiking and snowshoeing.
Favorite gear: “The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS Watch hits the sweet spot for a sports watch with minimal smartwatch features. I wear it day and night, and track hours of GPS activities every week: running, biking, climbing, hiking, etc. Even so, I easily get over a week of battery life between charges, especially in the summer season when lots of solar charging is happening. Smart features are limited to just basic text notifications from your phone, allowing necessary information to come through without being a distraction. While guiding, I often use GPS tracking to inform decisions on the trail, such as when to turn around. It also allows me to give participants some statistics on what they accomplished at the end of the program. Finally, I love the aesthetics of this watch. It is disguised as a retro Casio G-Shock watch while being packed with great technology.”
Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
Name: Jordan Morrison
Guiding focus: I guide in the REI Arizona Adventure Center (Oct-May) and the Bay Area Adventure Center in California (May-Oct). I chase the great weather and enjoy the variety of working all trip types.
Favorite gear: “Sun hoodies have become increasingly popular on the trails in recent years, and rightfully so. As a guide, I spend a lot of time in the sun so the more covered up I can be the less money I waste on extra sunscreen or worrying about my skin.”
Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol Sleeping Pad
Name: Sibley Brown
Guiding focus: I frequently guide women’s backpacking trips in Joshua Tree National Park and the Superstition Mountains in Arizona.
Favorite gear: The Z-Lite “is super convenient to sit and nap on during the day, especially if the ground is wet. In the desert, where I guide in the winter, it provides protection for my inflatable pad from cactus needles and other prickly plant matter on the ground. In warmer weather when a high [warmer] R-Value is unnecessary, I leave the inflatable pad at home and just use the Z-Lite, and it’s so convenient to not have to blow up my pad in the evening. As a guide, I’ve lent the Z-Lite to guests several times when their pad has leaked, or their sleep system isn’t warm enough for the temperatures. I even bring it on day hikes in cold weather because I know it could be a valuable safety item.”
Nemo Fillo Elite Pillow
Name: Clay Windsor
Guiding focus: I teach almost every program we offer in Atlanta, but mountain biking, kayaking and backpacking are my specialties.
Favorite gear: “When I first saw a backpacking pillow, I thought, ‘That’s an unnecessary piece of gear.’” I had been stuffing my extra clothes in a sleeping bag stuff sack and using that as my pillow since childhood. Why would I want to carry the excess weight of a pillow, even if it was only a few ounces? I held onto this belief until an unexpectedly cold backpacking trip in the Unita Mountains in northeastern Utah, where I spent the night in all my layers, and my ‘pillow’ was gone. Unsurprisingly, I slept horribly. As my wife crawled out of our tent to start the day, I rolled over and stole her pillow. Immediately I realized how foolish I had been. I immediately fell back asleep. These few ounces were the difference between tossing and turning all night and a good night’s sleep. As soon as we finished our trip, I bought a backpacking pillow [the Nemo Fillo Elite Pillow], which I have carried on every backcountry trip since.”
Kula Cloth Reusable Antimicrobial Pee Cloth
Name: Jenna Stanze
Guiding focus: I specialize in kayaking and classic cross-country skiing.
Favorite gear: “The Kula Cloth has been my go-to pee rag since my early days as a camp counselor in western Wisconsin. It’s so much nicer than a bandana, easier than a funnel, and safer than using leaves. It’s easy to wash and is designed with silver-infused antimicrobial fabric resistant to odors. Plus, UV rays from our sun will help to sterilize the cloth as it dries on your pack.”
Silva Orienteering Compass
Name: Elisabet Christensson
Guiding focus: Backcountry navigation and wilderness survival in the Chicago area.
Favorite gear: “I got my very first Silva in 1955 when I was a Girl Guide in Denmark. A couple of years later, I bought the Silva that I still have today. [The compass] went with me to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1969 and I now show it to the participants in my REI Backcountry Navigation sessions here in Chicago. I believe the durability of the Silva is the reason I love to have it by me at any time.”
Bedrock Sandals Cairn Adventure Sandals & Teva ReEmber Slip-Ons
Name: Jentry Schirmbeck
Guiding focus: Backpacking, camping and lodge-based trips.
Favorite gear: “Camp shoes. If it’s freezing outside, I love my The North Face Thermaball Traction Booties. They have tread on the bottom which makes walking around camp and getting up to go to the bathroom in the darkness easy peasy. If it’s not too cold, I use my Teva ReEmber slippers. Super comfy and easy to slip on and off. If it’s hot, I bring my Bedrocks. Lots of options for optimal comfiness out in the backcountry.”
ENO SingleNest Hammock
Name: David Casson
Guiding focus: Sea kayaking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Favorite gear: “Whether kayaking, backpacking or sometimes even car camping, I’ve used my old ENO SingleNest nearly every night outside for over 25 years. Let’s face it, sleeping on the ground can be an experience of ‘rotisserie sleeping.’ You sleep for 20 minutes until your hips hurt, turn, sleep another 20, etc. But not in a hammock! I sleep pain-free and love it when a gentle breeze rocks me all night. Plus, if I do wake up, I’m looking up at the night sky. I find the gentle choreography of getting in without capsizing kind of fun—like gentle yoga. Bugs mostly haven’t been a big problem. Occasionally I’ll put a net over my head, but mostly I just cinch up the sleeping bag.”
Buff Original Multifunctional Headwear
Name: Karen Graves
Guiding focus: I teach backpacking, wilderness survival, map & compass, and lead snowshoe hikes.
Favorite gear: “I use my Buff Multifunctional Headwear year-round, and I have had the same one for years. I mainly wear it on my head in the winter for warmth and in the summer to keep sweat out of eyes while hiking. On cold nights while backpacking, I will wear it to bed. Occasionally, I wear it around my neck. I love the cute pink pattern. I would be crushed if I lost it. It always looks kind of strange on my head, but I love it.”
NEMO Chipper Reclaimed Closed-Cell Foam Seat Pad
Name: Matt Graber
Guiding focus: Climbing in the Chicago area, backpacking when out at the Bay Area Adventure Center.
Favorite gear: “Ultra lightweight, great to kneel on when making a fire or cooking, great to sit on when taking a break for snacks, hydration or reflection time. I also use it as a doormat outside my tent for cushy first steps in the morning.”
REI Co-op Swiftland Trucker Hat
Guide name: James Bratton
Guiding focus: Climbing, navigation and wilderness survival.
Longer quote: “Good hats are easy to find. GREAT hats are few and far between. This REI Co-op Swiftland Trucker Hat has been my go-to piece for about a year now and I wear it guiding snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park, instructing navigation courses in high winds around Golden, Colorado, and even under my climbing helmet when the sun is a bit too bright in Eldorado Canyon. It is so SO light and packable, breathes like an Olympic athlete, and cinches down tight enough that I have never felt like it would blow away, even on the breeziest days in the mountains. The mesh front panel is super absorbent and wicks away sweat like a dog licking peanut butter, and it is even comfy with sunglasses on. Trail-running-style trucker hats are all over the place, and if you can find one that can hold a candle to this hat, let me know because I would like to pick up a few ASAP.”
REI Co-op Nalgene Water Bottle – 16 fl. oz.
Name: Mackenzie Bell
Guiding focus: Southwest trips, including camping trips in Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks during the summer; backpacking in Joshua Tree National Park; and Sedona, Arizona-based lodge trips over winter.
Favorite gear: “This little bottle can do it all. It’s my coffee cup in the mornings, my electrolyte-drink bottle throughout the day, and my sleeping-bag warmer overnight. The best part is it fits inside my puffy jacket pocket, so it keeps me warm as I cook meals for guests in the early winter mornings and chilly evenings at Joshua Tree National Park. It’s also a totally accomplishable amount of water to drink so if I happen to feel dehydration setting in, I just gulp down my whole mini-Nalgene.”
REI Co-op Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle – 32 fl. oz.
Name: Joshua Knieff
Guiding focus: A little of everything out of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
Favorite gear: “Water is life! I have had many other bottles fail me, and only one really old Nalgene has ever broken on me. The Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle also measures water for recipes and threads onto my water pump. I won’t go anywhere without it.”
Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series
Name: Jaime Fantauzzi
Guiding focus: Water sports in Portland, Oregon.
Favorite gear: “I always have a first-aid kit. The moment I forget it is usually when I need it most.”
BSN Medical Leukotape
Name: Trisha Schlales
Guiding focus: I teach snowshoeing, wilderness survival, cycling, and other activities in the Portland, Oregon, area.
Favorite gear: “Leukotape is amazing for blisters, hot spots, gear repair/hole patching—a truly multiuse tape that I find to be more useful than duct tape (gasp!). I’ve got the horrifying thru-hiking feet pictures to prove it. The best way to take it with you: Wrap some around your trekking poles and it’s always just arm’s reach away.”
Interested in more staff picks and kits? Find more collections here.
Editor’s Note: This article originally posted on May 8, 2023, and has been updated with new material.
The post REI Guides Know Gear. Here’s What They’re Loving Right Now. appeared first on Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication.