Many people look to the outdoors to find peace of mind. For Paul Stiffler, better known as Ponytail Paul, the Appalachian Trail and its thru-hikers have been the therapeutic force needed to turn his life around. Paul has taken on a role as “Trail Angel” to help thru-hikers on their 2,186-mile journey and help himself find a new sense of purpose in the process.

This is one of a series of three short films featuring the stories of people connected to three trails: The Appalachian Trail, Arizona Trail and Bay Area Ridge Trail. Learn more about how Every Trail Connects at www.rei.com/trails

Our love of nature is shaped by the inspiring people who came before us. Our parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles took us into nature and taught us to wander and explore with confidence. Found in the same memories of trips, people and adventure — is the gear we keep to remember: the well-worn backpack, the hand-me-down jacket, the sleeping bag that’s bulky in all the right ways. Fjällräven believes in making outdoor apparel and equipment that last for generations -that is why for over 60 years every product is designed to be durable, high quality, timeless and meant to be passed on to the next generation as family heirlooms that hold up to the elements of nature and the tests of time for generations to enjoy.

rei.com/blog/fjallraven-heritage

Host Erin Sullivan goes on a journey across the country—from D.C. to LA—to explore how some cities are helping us get back outside. Maybe we aren’t stuck inside forever, after all.

Learn more about rewilding on the Co-op Journal: https://www.rei.com/blog/news/what-is-rewilding

Watch Episode 1: https://youtu.be/iNrg4tXPWCA
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.

Before you can shred your way down the mountain, you’ve got to get into your gear. In this video, Amy Gan of the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) shows you the best way to get your boots and board on so you’re set up for success.

Once you’re ready to strap in, check out our video on how to snowboard: https://youtu.be/SqpVHk2O778

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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

Jason talks through a few simple steps you can do at home to make sure your bike is fitted correctly.

Shop bikes at REI: https://www.rei.com/c/bikes

When your favorite ski run turns into a mogul field, have no fear! With the right technique and some planning you’ll be able to cruise down bump runs. In this video, PSIA Alpine Team member Robin Barnes shows you how to stay in balance, where you can find an easier line through the bumps and where to find a faster line.

Watch the video, then head to your local REI for all the gear and advice you need.

Everyone has a few pieces of gear that make their backpacking trips that much more fun. Watch Miranda talk about the gear she loves and why it works for her, then head to your local REI to find your new favorite gear.

Click here to shop REI’s selection of backpacking boots: https://www.rei.com/c/backpacking-boots
Dinner ware: https://www.rei.com/c/camp-dinnerware
Utensils: https://www.rei.com/c/camping-utensils
Stoves: https://www.rei.com/c/stoves
Neck gaiters: https://www.rei.com/c/neck-gaiters

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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

Full Recipe At: https://www.rei.com/blog/camp/....backpacking-recipe-d

Risotto is one of our favorite comfort meals. It’s rich, creamy, and adaptable to any season. While we can have it any time of the year, spring is when we crave it most. It’s still kind of chilly out, so we want something that’s going to be filling and hearty. But at the same time, we want it to be bright and cheerful too. And the thing that satisfies both for us is risotto!

While risotto can be quite versatile, unless you have lots of time and endless fuel to burn, it isn’t the most camp-friendly meal. That’s because in order to achieve its creamy richness, you need to spend a lot of time stirring the risotto over low controlled heat - which slowly coaxes out the starch from the rice. The long cook time means burns through a lot of fuel, which not a luxury most campers can afford. So how to enjoy risotto on your next camping trip? The answer is dehydration.

By making the risotto at home and then dehydrating it, you can perform all the time-consuming parts of the recipe from the comfort of your kitchen. Once your risotto is made, spread it out in a thin and even layer on your dehydrator sheets. This is also a great time to dehydrate some vegetables that you want to add to the risotto later.

After dehydrating for 6 hours at 135 F the risotto and accompanying vegetables with be completely dry and brittle. The starch that made the risotto so creamy will have dried out and the solids will encrust the outside of each grain of rice. Then just pack all of the dehydrated ingredients together, along with some parmesan cheese.

At the campsite, dump all of the ingredients into a pot, add 2 cups of water, and start to simmer and stir. The rice and vegetables will start to plump back up and all that starchy goodness will return. Rehydrating this meal at camp takes only a fraction of the time it would take to make it from scratch on site.

With a little prep work at home, you too can enjoy the rich creaminess of homemade risotto at camp in no time at all!

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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

Planning a backpacking trip - especially your first trip - can be really daunting. In this video, I share my steps for planning a backpacking trip! There are some tips here for backpackers of all levels, so use this guide to plan your trips and share it with your friends!

Intro: 00:57
Step 1: Pick a Trail: 1:13
Step 2: Do Your Research: 2:43
Step 3: Pack Your Bag: 6:41
Step 4: Make a Plan and Share it: 8:22

BACKPACKING CHECKLIST: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/backpackin

Visiting a National Park? Look up conditions and regulations here: https://www.nps.gov
Find trip reports at AllTrails Trail Guide: https://www.alltrails.com/
Hiking Project Trail Maps: https://www.hikingproject.com/
Check the weather! National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov
In WA State? Washington Trails Association: https://www.wta.org/
Need a topo map? CalTopo: https://caltopo.com/

Missed a video? Catch up on Miranda in the Wild here: https://youtube.com/playlist?l....ist=PL7tqTAgUK4Uz-_q

Follow Miranda on IG @MirandaGoesOutside: https://www.instagram.com/mirandagoes...​
Follow REI on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rei/?hl=en​​​
Like REI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/REI​​​
Subscribe to REI on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/rei​​​

Like, Subscribe, Comment, and tune in every Sunday for more Miranda in the Wild!

With all the different shapes and styles available, finding a well-fitting pair of running shoes can be a daunting prospect. In this video, Katie will show you what to look for when trying on shoes to make sure you get the best fit possible. Check out the video, and if you want more info, read our article: https://www.rei.com/blog/run/h....ow-to-get-a-great-fi

And for some tips on different ways to lace your shoes to solve common fit issues, check out our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pb3CvmyJh4

Traveling uphill on skis or a splitboard is a great way of getting a workout and enjoying time in the mountains on your way to making some great turns. To help get you started, Grant Bishop with the Professional Ski Instructors of America and Brennan Metzler from the American Association of Snowboard Instructors show you 8 tips for getting the most out of your time in the skin track.

To learn more about skinning, read our article: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/skinning-t

Clare Gallagher was headed toward medical school, until she realized the path everyone else wanted her to take wouldn’t make her happy. So she took one step back, 100 miles forward, and went in a new direction. Watch the film.

Directors: Ryan Heffernan, Grayson Schaffer

Cinematography: Kahlil Hudson, Nick Kelley, Jonas Marcinko, Isaiah Jay

Featuring: Clare Gallagher

Production: Talweg Creative, Anna Callaghan

Editor: Kahlil Hudson

REI: Ben Steele, Paolo Mottola, Ryan Meline

Special thanks: The Gallagher Family, Fiery Furnace Marching Band, Moab Trail Marathon, Rocky Mountain Runners, BLM

Composer: Doug Major

Music:
"Perspectives" by Mr. Green
"Nuclear Summer" and "Brooklyn" by Youngblood Brass Band

You can’t have a great day on the slopes if your clothes aren’t keeping you warm and dry. In this video, Robin Barnes and Amy Gan of PSIA/AASI walk you through the right way to dress for comfort on the mountain. Check it out, then head to your local REI Co-op to find the perfect layers for your next snowy adventure.

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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

Kayak Camping with Kalen Thorien
How important is it to find the perfect camp spot? For kayaker Kalen Thorien, there's no more crucial task. #LetsCamp

Learn more at: https://www.rei.com/h/car-camping#beach

Waxing your skis is the best way to protect the bases and keep you gliding fast over snow. In this video, we give you a quick, step-by-step guide to waxing your skis at home. Shop REI’s selection of ski tuning equipment athttp://bit.ly/2PPNF4c

How to Tune Skis #2: Base Repair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ-MIMtlL68&t=2s

How to Tune Skis #1: Edge Work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNjMQeBzMWI

Transcript:
Waxing your skis is the best way to protect them and keep them performing at their peak. You'll need clean towels, rubbing alcohol, your favorite wax, a plastic scraper, a set of brushes and a waxing iron. It's best to use a specifically designed waxing iron because the iron you use at home could burn the wax or your base. Place your skis on your ski vise. If you don't have a vise, you can use a couple stacks of books to balance your ski. Be sure to lock your ski brakes up and out of the way. You may need a rubber band for this. Use rubbing alcohol and a clean towel to prepare the base for wax. If your bases are visibly dirty, brush them off with a wire brush before using the alcohol. Make sure you brush, wax and scrape from tip to tail.
Heat up the iron until it's just warm enough to melt the wax. Then drip a line of wax down the ski. If the wax begins to smoke, the iron is too hot. Let it cool before starting again. Work the wax into the ski from tip to tail, making sure it reaches the edges. If it doesn't, add more wax. Keep the iron moving at an even speed. You should see a trail of molten wax about 3 to 5 inches behind the iron. If you move too fast the wax won't fully penetrate into the base. If you're too slow you could burn or blister the base material. After three or four passes of the iron the ski's top sheet should feel warm. Let the whole ski cool completely back to room temperature. This is a great time to wax the other ski.
Once the ski is cooled, use a plastic scraper at a 45 degree angle to scrape off the excess wax. Use long, overlapping strokes with firm, even pressure. You know you're done scrapping when you're not getting any more wax shavings. You'll want to remove wax from the side walls and edges as well. Make sure to use the short ends of the scraper so you don't dull the scraping ends. Next comes the brushing. The base of the ski has tiny channels called structure which move water out as you ski. Brushing clears the wax from the structure. Make several full length tip to tail passes using your nylon brush. Use good even pressure and keep brushing until you're no longer seeing wax dust coming off. Finish up with a good polish with your horsehair brush. The more passes you make, the better the result. You can't brush too much.
To recap, start with clean skis. Spread wax thoroughly over the whole base. Scrape the extra wax off and finish up with your brushes.

If getting ready for bed in your tent feels more like gearing up for a rainy-day hike, you may want to refresh the waterproofing on your tent. This video covers sealing the seams, replacing a peeling polyurethane coating and refreshing the durable water repellent coating on the rainfly. Watch it, then get ready to give your tent some TLC.

Head to your local REI for supplies and advice, and check out our article to learn more about waterproofing a tent: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/how-to-wat

The Figure 8 Knot is the most common knot for tying the rope into your harness. Learn how to tie the Figure 8 in this video.

To learn more, see our videos on
How to Tie a Stopper Knot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jehd_61AsN0
How to Tie a Figure 8 Knot on a Bight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbB85p_uJsE

Learn more climbing techniques at: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/climbing

#Vanlife! You asked for a van tour, so here it is! Meet Vincent Van Gogh, my 2000 Chevy Astro that I converted into a camper-van.

Watch more Miranda in the Wild here: https://www.youtube.com/playli....st?list=PL7tqTAgUK4U

DIY Van Bed: https://www.rei.com/blog/camp/....diy-vanlife-how-to-m

Water Jug: https://www.rei.com/product/77....7828/reliance-jumbo-
Sea to Summit X-Pot Kettle: https://www.rei.com/product/88....9971/sea-to-summit-x
Kovea Mini Stove: https://www.rei.com/product/16....8969/kovea-mini-stov
West Elm Pillow: https://www.rei.com/product/17....9796/west-elm-color-
REI Trailbreak Foam Pillow: https://www.rei.com/product/14....8557/rei-co-op-trail
Rumpl Blanket: https://www.rei.com/product/16....9984/rumpl-original-
Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol Sleeping Pad: https://www.rei.com/product/17....1690/therm-a-rest-z-
Flexlite Chair: https://www.rei.com/product/14....8036/rei-co-op-flexl
REI Shower Roll Toiletry Bag: https://www.rei.com/product/12....7989/rei-co-op-showe

If the mere thought of camping in the snow makes you shiver, then let this video warm you up. We cover everything from selecting a campsite and building a kitchen, to easy ways to stay warm through the night.

Check out the video, then head to your local REI for all the gear and advice you need.

And to learn more, check out http://bit.ly/2PO3IQc

If you’ve never used a splitboard before, it may seem complex. Don’t worry, in this video, Brennan Metzler from the American Association of Snowboard Instructors walks you through how to quickly and easily take a splitboard apart and put it back together again, so you can spend more time riding and less time fiddling with your board.

To learn more, check out our article: https://www.rei.com/learn/expe....rt-advice/how-splitb
And click here to shop splitboards at REI: https://www.rei.com/c/splitboards