Travel photographer Erin Sullivan takes us on a journey to explore the impacts of the social media-fueled photography and the importance of being responsible and respectful visitors while recreating in the lands we love.

Learn more about geotagging on the Co-op Journal: https://www.rei.com/blog/news/....rei-presents-in-our-

Watch Episode 2: https://youtu.be/l54geRyDCQc
Watch Episode 3: https://youtu.be/OL2Ho_RLxVg
Watch Episode 4: https://youtu.be/xHyyv-9u-E4

About the series:
As a co-op, we believe that a life outdoors is a live well lived. We’re dedicated to protecting and advocating for the lands we love, and that starts with understanding the macro issues and trends that impact these outdoor places and the people who recreate in them. The 'In Our Nature' series is created to help us all become more informed and active stewards of the environment. Have a topic you’d like us to explore? Let us know in the comments below.

You have two choices when it comes to clipless bike pedals: 2-hole and 3-hole. Which one is right for you comes down to your style of riding. In this video, Katie talks through the differences to help you get the best pedal for you. Check it out, then head to your local REI for all the gear and advice your need.

And check out our video on how to choose bike pedals: https://youtu.be/QZ2fhziyE-k

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At Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), we love to get outside and play, and we know first-hand the importance of quality outdoor gear. We stand behind all our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we design our own line of award-winning REI brand gear and clothing. Whether you're new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, we gladly share our enthusiasm for our products—and the trails, slopes and waterways where we play.

Shop REI.com: https://www.rei.com/
Take a class: https://www.rei.com/learn.html
Travel with REI: https://www.rei.com/adventures
Learn something new: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice
Find a trail: https://www.rei.com/h/adventure-projects
Read: https://www.rei.com/blog
REI Membership: https://www.rei.com/membership/benefits

"Although we might be measured alone, you never get there alone." After Devon Yanko dropped out of her western states 100 mile race in 2010, she rallies a new crew and a new team to help conquer the ultimate challenge. With Sally Bergesen and the team at Oiselle at her back, she's reminded to always keep her head up and her wings out.

Learn more about Oiselle at:
http://blog.rei.com/run/oiselle-flock-finish

You can ride a bike in just about any shoes, but anyone who rides regularly can benefit from shoes designed specifically for bicycling. Learn how the right bike shoes can provide more efficient energy transfer as you pedal. Shop REI's selection of Bike Shoes at http://www.rei.com/c/cycling-shoes

Transcript:
Hi, I'm Braden with REI. Cycling shoes are a great way to improve efficiency and control in riding. We've got plenty of options but ultimately your riding style and the types of pedals you use will help narrow the field. Cycling shoes fall into three categories; road, mountain, and city. Road biking shoes are designed primarily to work with three hole clipless pedals although some are compatible with two hole pedals. Their soles are really stiff which provides excellent power transfer but road soles are smooth and have a cleat protruding from the bottom so they can be difficult to walk in. These shoes are favored by cyclists wanting to ride longer distances on roads; casual riders may find them less convenient than other options.
Most mountain biking shoes work with the two hole system. Their soles are fairly stiff which improves pedaling efficiency and they also typically have deep lugs and a recessed cleat for traction on loose trails. Other mountain biking shoes are designed for use with platform pedals, these have flat soles with sticky rubber to better grip the pedal. These shoes are of course great for mountain biking but many people also use them for road cycling and commuting because they're more comfortable to walk in and they make it easy to get in and out of the pedal.
City cycling shoes are essentially casual shoes with built in bike functionality. Most use the two hole system with recessed cleats to give you all the benefits of riding clipless in a good-looking, easy walking shoe. These shoes are perfect for commuting, biking through town, and even indoor cycling classes. They are just as at home walking down the street as they are clipped into a pedal. Shoes with laces offer a custom and comfortable fit but you need to make sure they're tucked out of the way during your ride. Hook and loop straps better handle wet conditions and some shoes use a cam buckle to really clamp them to your foot for extra power.
When trying on cycling shoes, you may notice that your heel slips a little bit more than you're used to, that's because these shoes are really stiff. Keep in mind that they won't break in like other footwear so choose a pair that's comfortable right out of the box. For more information visit your local REI or REI.com.

The experts at REI show how to properly clean and service a bicycle drivetrain. Regular cleaning of the drivetrain is a must and will help extend the life of your bike. Check out REI's selection of drivetrain components at: http://bit.ly/reidrivetrain

For the people behind Arc’teryx, obsession is the key to craftsmanship. Working at their manufacturing and design centers in the Canadian Coast Mountains, Arc’teryx designers challenge what exists, pound out new ideas, and test each iteration in the wilderness right outside their door. Take a behind-the-scenes look at an iconic outdoor brand’s relentless design process.

Shop Arc'teryx at https://www.rei.com/b/arcteryx

Graham and Shannon are experienced athletes in alpine climbing and ultimate frisbee, respectively. But the adventurous couple is on a quest to try new outdoor sports together. In 2017, they tried mountain biking for the first time. This time they’re giving packrafting a go.

After eight months of planning and training, they embark on a 10-day adventure to the remote Aniakchak caldera in Alaska. From wind and rainstorms to popped packrafts, they quickly learn that nothing could have fully prepared them for the adventure that ensues.

Watch their mountain biking adventure here: https://youtu.be/--uhy_cG1CY
Read Shannon's travel tips on the Co-op Journal: https://www.rei.com/blog/paddl....e/rei-presents-aniak

When choosing your next pair of ski goggles, consider lens shape and color, ventilation and fit. Finding the right pair will protect your eyes and help you see the terrain more clearly. Learn how to choose the right goggles for you in this Expert Advice video, and when you’re ready to shop, go to http://bit.ly/reiskigoggles.

Shop for hiking boots while at home so you’re ready to go when trails reopen! Miranda walks you through how to size and choose hiking footwear… and yes, there is more cat content 😉

Shop Hiking Footwear: https://www.rei.com/c/hiking-footwear

Learn about hiking boot basics: https://www.rei.com/learn/seri....es/hiking-boot-basic

Learn how to break in boots: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/breaking-i

When shopping for binoculars, you’ll discover wide price ranges on similar-looking styles. In this video, Katie helps you understand specs like magnification, objective lens diameter and eye relief to help you narrow down which pair works best for your needs. Check it out, then head to your local REI to try out a few pairs.

For more info on choosing the best pair of binoculars, check out our article: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/binoculars
And shop REI’s selection of binoculars here: https://www.rei.com/c/binoculars

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At Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), we love to get outside and play, and we know first-hand the importance of quality outdoor gear. We stand behind all our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we design our own line of award-winning REI brand gear and clothing. Whether you're new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, we gladly share our enthusiasm for our products—and the trails, slopes and waterways where we play.

Shop REI.com: https://www.rei.com/
Take a class: https://www.rei.com/learn.html
Travel with REI: https://www.rei.com/adventures
Learn something new: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice
Find a trail: https://www.rei.com/h/adventure-projects
Read: https://www.rei.com/blog
REI Membership: https://www.rei.com/membership/benefits

Kick turns are an effective way to change directions on skis and learning to do them is a key skill for exploring off-piste terrain. In this REI Expert Advice video, Mac Lyon, from the Professional Ski Instructors of America, explains the steps involved in doing a kick turn, including where to place your poles, how to bring your downhill ski around, shifting your weight and how to bring your uphill ski around.

Shop REI’s selection of skis at rei.com/c/downhill-skiing

Transcript:
I'm Mac Lyon from the Professional Ski Instructors of America. Kick turns are awesome tools to be able to use to change direction without losing any sort of elevation. I use kick turns whenever I encounter terrain that I don't want to ski. Whether that be cliff, or if the snow conditions aren't very good.

To do a kick turn, what I want to do is I want to take my downhill hand and pole. Place it uphill and behind me. I'm using both of my poles and my uphill foot to really establish my balance point. I'm trying to place my weight evenly amongst those 3 points. I want to kick my downhill leg, move it forward and upward, in a sweeping motion until my downhill foot is facing the opposite direction. I want to shift my weight onto that downhill leg. Once you've found that balance point, pick your uphill hand and foot, step them around to match the foot that you moved originally, and push on out of the terrain.

Kick turns are incredibly necessary in steep, technical terrain, but are used everywhere on the ski hill. If I'm at the lodge and I want to turn around quickly without running into anybody, I'm going to use a kick turn. If I get off the chair, I'm facing the wrong way, and there's people strapping in, I'm going to use a kick turn. It's really, really useful for day-to-day skiing.

Before you can carve your way down the mountain, you need to get into your gear. In this video, Robin Barnes of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) shows you the best way to get your boots and skis on so you’re ready to hit the slopes.

When you’re ready to click in, check out our video on how to ski: https://youtu.be/n-UBie4Ioqo

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At Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), we love to get outside and play, and we know first-hand the importance of quality outdoor gear. We stand behind all our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we design our own line of award-winning REI brand gear and clothing. Whether you're new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, we gladly share our enthusiasm for our products—and the trails, slopes and waterways where we play.

Shop REI.com: https://www.rei.com/
Take a class: https://www.rei.com/learn.html
Travel with REI: https://www.rei.com/adventures
Learn something new: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice
Find a trail: https://www.rei.com/h/adventure-projects
Read: https://www.rei.com/blog
REI Membership: https://www.rei.com/membership/benefits

Meet Angel Tadytin, Navajo ambassador to @womenwhohike, a lifelong lover of red sandstone, and our second Faces of the Canyon feature. Hear how @aatadytin shares her Navajo culture today by leading hikes in and around the Grand Canyon and what this magical place means to her. Tap the link in bio to hear her story. #BornInTheCanyon #FacesOfTheCanyon @bimarianfilms

Visit: https://www.teva.com/faces-of-the-canyon/

Some ski boot liners can be heat molded for a custom fit. If your ski boot liners are heat moldable and you want to do it at home, we’ll show you how with rice, a microwave, a short two-by-four, and several pairs of socks. Shop REI’s selection of ski boots at http://www.rei.com/c/downhill-skiing-boots.

Transcript:
The most basic boot liners mold to your feet as you ski, while others can be heat molded for an immediate custom fit. If your liners are custom moldable and you want to do it at home, here's what you'll need: three to four pounds of uncooked rice, a microwave, a short 2x4, a couple old socks you can cut up, a pair of long, thin tube socks, and your thin wool or synthetic snowboard socks.
Start by filling the long, thin tube socks with rice and tying a knot in the ends. Put a bit more rice in one sock than the other. Make sure the rice fills the socks uniformly so they don't get hot spots, and microwave them. Use this chart to determine how long to leave them in the microwave. Remove the foot bed from your liner and replace your liner in your boot. Keep your boots loose to make it easy to insert the rice sock. When the socks are ready, pick up the more full sock by the knot and place it in the liner. Make sure the boot is very loose and tap it on the heel and the toe until the rice has fully filled the foot section of the liner. Then close the cup and place the other sock in the top. Lightly tighten the boot to keep the liner even. Leave the rice in the liner for ten minutes.
While you're waiting, you can cut the toe off the two old socks. Wearing these as extra padding will help expand the toe area of your boot for some extra wiggle room. Put the toe cap socks over your toes and pull your ski socks on. Make sure they are smooth and wrinkle-free. To keep your legs in a natural position, you'll want to wear both boots during this process, even if you're only molding one boot at a time.
After ten minutes, remove the rice and put the foot bed back in the liner. Then place the liner into the shell, step into the boot, and loosely tighten it. Make sure to keep it far looser than when you actually ski to avoid overcompressing the foam. Step onto the board with your knees bent and your feet shoulder width apart, and lean forward gently. The board will help you naturally flex the boot. After ten minutes of molding, the liner will have cooled enough that you can take it off and repeat the process on the other side. To recap, microwave the uncooked rice inside a tube sock. Add the rice and let it heat your liner for ten minutes. Prepare your socks and put on your other boot. Step in and flex the boot for ten minutes.

The first time REI member Frank Sanders saw Devils Tower was in the sudden brilliance of a lightning strike. It sent a wave of anxiety through him, but the next day he climbed The Tower. Forty-three years later, he’s repeated that act more than 2,000 times and learned a thing or two about going up and not growing old.

Learn more about Frank and the film:
http://blog.rei.com/climb/the-....making-of-frank-and-

How you rack quickdraws on your harness has mostly to do with personal preference—some climbers like the gates facing in, while others prefer the gates facing out. Is one way better than the other? In this video, Miranda discusses the different ways of racking quickdraws and why you might choose one way over the other.
To shop for quickdraws, click here: https://www.rei.com/c/quickdraws
To learn more about quickdraws, read our article: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/quickdraws

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At Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), we love to get outside and play, and we know first-hand the importance of quality outdoor gear. We stand behind all our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we design our own line of award-winning REI brand gear and clothing. Whether you're new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, we gladly share our enthusiasm for our products—and the trails, slopes and waterways where we play.

Shop REI.com: https://www.rei.com/
Take a class: https://www.rei.com/learn.html
Travel with REI: https://www.rei.com/adventures
Learn something new: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice
Find a trail: https://www.rei.com/h/adventure-projects
Read: https://www.rei.com/blog
REI Membership: https://www.rei.com/membership/benefits

Tripping over your own snowshoes or sinking way down into deep snow is no fun at all. With the right size snowshoes on your feet, you’ll be able to have pleasant time on your winter excursions. In this video, Katie talks about how to size snowshoes based on your weight and the snow conditions.
To shop for snowshoes, click here: https://www.rei.com/c/snowshoes
To learn more about snowshoes, read our article: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/snowshoes.

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At Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), we love to get outside and play, and we know first-hand the importance of quality outdoor gear. We stand behind all our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we design our own line of award-winning REI brand gear and clothing. Whether you're new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, we gladly share our enthusiasm for our products—and the trails, slopes and waterways where we play.

Shop REI.com: https://www.rei.com/
Take a class: https://www.rei.com/learn.html
Travel with REI: https://www.rei.com/adventures
Learn something new: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice
Find a trail: https://www.rei.com/h/adventure-projects
Read: https://www.rei.com/blog
REI Membership: https://www.rei.com/membership/benefits

Yoga is a great way to bring mindful movement to your outdoor pursuits. We partnered with our friends at CorePower Yoga to learn more about integrating yoga into climbing—before, during and after your climb.

Visit the Co-op Journal for instructions for each yoga pose: https://www.rei.com/blog/climb..../corepower-yoga-x-re

Learn about getting your first week of CorePower Yoga for free here: https://www.corepoweryoga.com/....corepower-rei-free-w

Some climbing skins come pre-cut to fit your skis but most need to be trimmed to the correct length and sidecut width. We show you how to trim your Black Diamond skins with a Phillips-head screwdriver, pliers, a marker, a straight edge, and the trimming tool and hardware that come with your new skins. Shop REI’s selection of climbing skins at http://www.rei.com/b/black-dia....mond/c/climbing-skin

Transcript:
Most of Black Diamond's Climbing Skins don't come precut, so you'll need to trim them to the right length and sidecut width. You'll need your skis, a Phillips head screwdriver, something to screw into, pliers, a marker, a straight edge, and the trimming tool and hardware that come with your new skins.
Start by laying out the skin and pushing the tail clip through the fourth or fifth hole on the strap. Clip the strap to the tail on your ski, strip off the paper backing, and attach the skin. Make sure it stays centered and taut as you stretch it over the ski. Fold the extra skin back and place the tip loop over the ski. If the loop slips side to side and doesn't feel secure, you can adjust the width so it grabs more of the tail.
Now, mark the ski where the skin will meet the tip loop. Use these marks as a guide and draw a line across the skin where the tip will connect. Check your work and trim the skin along this line. Slide the tip loop onto the skin with the countersunk screw holes on the glue side and screw in the 3 break-off screws from the bottom up. Be careful not to screw into the skin or your fingers and make sure the notch on the screw is all the way out the other side. Now, you can use your pliers to break off the screw tips. Draw lines from the corners of the tip loop to the widest point of the tip of your ski and trim off these sections.
When trimming your skins, the goal is to make sure both metal edges are exposed while keeping the base fully covered. Reattach the skin to the ski starting with the tip loop. Keep the skin slightly off-center with about 2 millimeters more material on one side than the other. Use your trimming tool to cut the wider side first. Keep pressure against the side of the ski as you pull. Check your work and touch up any spots you missed. With the first side trimmed, reposition the skin so that the trim side exposes about 2 millimeters of base. You'll want to see the edge and another edge's worth of base. Now, you can trim off the excess from the other side of the skin.
When you're done and you reattach the skin centered on the ski, you should see only the metal edges exposed with little or no base material showing. The more base you have covered, the better traction you'll get, but don't worry if you have a small amount of base showing. To recap, attach the tail clip and adjust the tip loop to size. Trim the skin to the right length. Attach the tip loop to the tip of the skin. Trim the sidecut and reattach the skin and check your work.

The experts at REI show you how to keep your bike as safe as possible.