10 Best photos from #theroolife in August

Every National Camp at Home Day celebration needs tasty refreshments. We think this one's a crowd pleaser for sure. Learn more about how you can make the most of your camp at home celebration here.  Ingredients: Vodka 2-3 Grapefruits Sparkling Water Sugar Kosher or Sea Salt Fresh Rosemary Preparation: Juice your grapefruits until you get 1/4 cup of juice. Pour juice into a sauce pan and add 2 tablespoons of sugar. Turn burner on low heat and let simmer until all the sugar is dissolved. Prep your favorite rocks glass by rimming it with salt and filling it with ice. Add 2 ounces of vodka to your cup. Add the grapefruit and sugar mixture to your cup. Top it off with sparkling water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and rosemary sprig. National Camp at Home Day is all about one thing: outdoor relaxation. What that means to you could be completely different for someone else. Whether you feel inspired to go on an afternoon jog, set up your tent in the back yard, or just spend an hour reading in your hammock, we hope you'll make the most of it. And if you need one more way to maximize your relaxation vibes, the official cocktail of National Camp at Home Day is here to deliver.  Are you celebrating National Camp at Home Day in the Austin area? Drop by our gear shop for a hassle-free, ready-to-drink canned cocktail from All Hands that's sure to put you in the right mindset when the 27th rolls around. Sure, you can spend the extra time to make it yourself, but with a canned cocktail this good, why would you? Cheers, y'all!

Don’t let your hammock collect dust all winter. Here are five tips for staying warm and elevated all winter long: 1. Get out of the wind. One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself when hammock camping in cold weather is to find a campsite with natural wind protection. For example: Instead of camping on the edge of a tree line, walk twenty paces in or so to allow denser foliage to act as a natural wind barrier. The addition of a rainfly hung snug over the top of your hammock can also work wonders on extra gusty evenings, plus a proper rainfly will trap in some of your body heat as it rises to escape. If you’re looking for a complete setup, the Mantis all-in-one hammock tent offers a hammock body, bug net, and rainfly in a convenient, packable stuff sack. 2. Pack an Underquilt Sleeping bags are a must when camping in cold weather, but the pro move for hammock camping is to attach an underquilt beneath your hammock. Since insulated materials need loft to work properly, using a sleeping bag in your hammock makes for less effective insulation because your body is compressing the underside of the bag. Instead, opt for an underquilt that hangs snug to your hammock with maximum loft and effectiveness. Depending on where you camp and the temps you usually experience, we offer three trail quilts with varying temperature ratings. 3. Consider a Sleeping Pad We designed our Insulated Pongo Pad to fit perfectly in your camping hammock and shield you from the bitter cold. Our sleeping pad does double duty, acting both as an insulator and the deliverer of ultimate hammock comfort. Cloud nine, here we come! The Insulated Pongo Pad works great in any season, but you’ll definitely never want to leave home without it when the weather turns south. 4. Add Warmth With a Top Quilt Now that you have a wind-free spot, a cozy underquilt, and the comfiest sleeping pad in the woods, it’s time to lie down for a toasty snooze under the stars. But what about your top quilt? Both our Mountain and Field Blankets make great basecamp options, each offering snaps along the edge that allow complete integration with your Roo hammock. For packing light and heading into the backcountry, our lighter and more packable trail quilts offer a huge advantage. However, depending on the weather, your underquilt might be cozy enough of a cocoon that all you need are your base layers to stay warm. 5. Final Tips Here’s a sneaky tip that lots of cold weather campers know well: Boil water over your stove before bed, fill up a Nalgene, and slip it in your hammock to warm the top quilt and underquilt. If you have an extra sock or two, slip them over your water bottle and leave it at your feet. This way you stay warm, but the bottle doesn’t burn your skin. If you’re not wearing your jacket to sleep, keep it at your feet as well so it’s warm when you’re ready to wear it in the morning. Lastly, test your setup before setting off in extreme conditions and know your limits. Everyone has different sleep preferences, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to hammock camping in cold weather. The better you know your gear and your sleeping preferences, the more you’ll be prepared when those ultra-cold temps hit. And of course, if you ever feel uncertain with extreme temperatures in the forecast, be safe and maybe plan for a night indoors.

When you start smelling charcoal in your neighborhood on a nightly basis, you know it’s peak backyard season. There’s no better place to enjoy time outside than in your own outdoor space, hanging out with friends and family. Even in urban environments, your backyard has the potential to provide the daily nature relief you’re probably craving—a slow evening watching the fireflies dance after hustling through your busy day to day. We know you have a lot going on, which is why we think it’s even more important to press pause on the to-do list and make room in your schedule for time outside. Swiftlet and a Roo Hammock The Swiftlet is a no brainer for any backyard—especially one void of trees. If you’re working from home, your Swiftlet will be your go-to place to lounge for those long phone calls and lunch breaks. This portable hammock stand has lightweight, go-anywhere capabilities that make it perfect for moving around the yard, from lounging poolside to roasting mallows at the fire pit. With the addition of a Roo hammock, this will quickly become the most popular piece of outdoor furniture you own. Hang the Roo Double when you want company, and opt for the Roo Single when you’re looking for some me time. We know you need it. Roo singles are currently 20% off! Shop the whole Memorial Day Sale here. Field Blanket We’re not in full-on summer mode yet, so having a backyard blanket is nice for those brisk evenings. And even when the temperatures are hitting triple digits, your Field Blanket will make for the most comfortable picnic spot in the neighborhood. The water repellent ripstop shell provides the durability you need on the underside, while the microfleece offers a soft place to soak up the sun. Plus, with its DWR coating, your Field Blanket is protected from both the spring showers and the unexpected spills. No matter what you throw at it, this do-all blanket will never stop performing. Shop our Memorial Day Sale for 20% off. Field Blanket Jr. No more worrying about your hand-woven alpaca throw—we’ve got just the right blanket for your little one’s adventurous side. Just like its namesake, the Field Blanket Jr. is soft, durable, and ready for backyard and basecamp adventures alike. We made this version especially for our smaller campers—just the right fit and equally spill friendly. If you’re tired of your nice blankets getting literally dragged through the mud, you can take comfort knowing this smaller blanket will fit just right when in poncho mode. Plus, if it happens to get dirty (we know it will), the Field Blanket Jr. washes easily in no time at all. Whether they’re hanging it up to build a fort or donning it as a cape, Field Blanket Jr. is ready to play. It’s also 25% off during our Memorial Day Sale. Solo Stove Bonfire Backyard fires in spring are essential, and the Solo Stove Bonfire makes the experience even more enjoyable. Most fire pits are prone to annoying levels of smoke due to poor air flow, and Solo Stove has fixed that with their line of backyard products. Bonfire burns efficiently, keeping the smoke to a minimum, so you never have to bounce from one side to the other with a slight change in the wind. Additionally, the storage bag makes it incredibly easy to pack up the Bonfire and take it on adventures! Throw in some s’mores supplies, and you’ve got yourself a backyard party everyone will want to join. Backyard weather doesn’t last all season, so take full advantage while you can. Other must haves we love for any outdoor space are yard games like Kubb and Cornhole, a grill of your choosing to take meals outside, and string lights to keep the hangs going all night. Tag us in your backyard photos on Instagram or with #TimeOutside—we can’t wait to see what you come up with! And shop our Memorial Day Sale, now through May 31, for more savings on your favorite outdoor gear.

Meet Briana Cohen, an active rider in our monthly Taco Tri community events and a winner of the Greg Siple Award that helps young adults get in the saddle and out on the road by providing the skills and the gear needed for a lifetime of bicycle travel adventure.  As a recipient of the award, Briana organized an outreach project, Fearless Tandem, an introductory workshop to bicycle travel for the students at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. When Briana asked our team if we would get involved with her Adventure Cycling project, we couldn't have been more thrilled to raise our hands up. Briana has been an outstanding community leader, a positive spirit, and an absolute joy to bike alongside.  We sat down with Briana after organizing this massive project to get her take on what #timeoutside means to her, what the students walked away with from this experience, and tips to get yourself started into the world of Adventure Cycling.   There are many forms of cycling and it goes by many names. What exactly is Bicycle Traveling or Adventure Cycling? “Bicycle travel is traveling by bike as a form of adventure and exploration. The adventure begins when you start pedaling, and you are able to openly experience the land and environment in an intimate way. The bike is a mechanism to get you where you want to go - whether to a local or state park, scenic view, quaint town, or to remote places that are not easily accessible. The bike gets you there and there are no limits to where you can go. Bike travel is not much different from cycling, since you are still experiencing the joys and exercise of riding, but there are added layers of exploration, freedom, self-discovery, and fun depending on your adventure.” Biking has been a large part of your life. You started biking as a young kiddo for fun and now it's your form of transportation to commute to work and venture on self-contained rides in the Pacific Northwest. How has that molded your experience for the outdoors and what does time outside mean to you?  “I value the outdoors because there’s space for everyone and endless natural beauty. When I spend time outside, I enjoy the fresh air and feel at ease, whether I’m on my own or with lovely people. Biking allows me to reach farther distances than I can’t otherwise, while still being outside.” “So many favorite moments outdoors on the bike. The first time I rode with the Lend Your Legs ride with Texas School for the Blind: it was my birthday and I rode alongside a girl who is blind on the back of a tandem who was completely overjoyed as we went down a hill. She threw her hands up and shouted as if she were going down a roller coaster. She could not see where she was going, but she could experience the thrill. The burst of excitement she felt from biking has always stuck with me.” Why did you apply for the Greg Siple Award? “What led me to apply goes back to last summer when I did a workshop with VieCycle to learn about basic bike maintenance and the art of bike touring. One woman who led the class said anyone can do a bike tour and the bike you already have is good enough; so after the class I went on my first bike camping trip. I did not have any gear for camping and before that weekend, I never imagined I could ride 75 miles in a single day. I borrowed a tent and panniers the night before from someone on Team Snacks and set out for Palmetto State Park. I learned a lot about myself and abilities, and gained newfound freedom knowing I can ride anywhere, anytime.” “The trip was awesome and transformed my perspective; I applied for the award because I wanted more people to have that moment of discovery. I thought back to the blind rider going downhill on the tandem, and immediately knew what my project would be. My reasons for applying to The Greg Siple Award were to 1) feed my love of biking and traveling, 2) inspire others to ride, and 3) spread bike access and awareness.”   The Fearless Tandem workshop and community ride was a great success! What did the students learn from the workshop? “Students learned about tandem bikes basics, cycling resources, parks and trail conservation, and the principles of Leave No Trace. They shared their favorite memories spending time outside and also heard stories from a blind athlete and partner who discussed linking up with sighted guides to explore, stay in shape, and race tandems with Paracycling. They got to take home hammocks, reusable water bottles, t-shirts, wooden camping spoons, Adventure Cycling memberships, stylish socks, and other giveaways.” “Students walked away with the tools and confidence to go on their next adventure, which was the group bike ride later that day. The workshop served to inspire them; the gear to equip them; and the ride to have fun with the community. The Lend Your Legs ride has the students pair with cyclists on tandem bicycles to ride. Over 70 people joined for the ride! It was so cool to have such a large group come together and you could tell that bike travel is accessible to anyone. Someone even sent me a direct message on Instagram saying he and his partner had a tandem bike we could use - and they brought it so another student could ride. I love when the community supports each other like that.”   During the community ride, we stopped at a park to take a break and raffle gear. A student won a Field Blanket. Now that the event is over, any plans for doing something similar or more community events to get more people to spend time outside? “Always! I’m aiming to continue the momentum of the Fearless Tandem project to provide sustainable cycling resources, access, and awareness. I’ve also been instructing some city cycling classes for beginners so they feel more comfortable and confident riding in Austin. After receiving this award, I switched my job to a role in which I lead group rides with a team for anyone to join.” Do you have any suggestions to get riding or involved in the adventure cycling community? Anything else you’d like to share? “Bikes are a revolutionary tool, not just as a means to get places or for recreation, but to open people up to the outdoors and an upbeat community. The best thing I can recommend is to get out there and ride! You don’t need a fancy bike or gear and there are lots of great trails in and around Austin to check out. If you want to do some bike travel throughout the US, check out Adventure Cycling Association, which runs the Greg Siple Award and has maps featuring rural and low-traffic bicycle routes.” “Applications for The Greg Siple Award 2020 will open on November 1st, 2019! Anyone between the ages of 18 to 30 can apply. I definitely would recommend for anyone who is interested in bike travel to apply! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions! My project page can be found here.”     If you asked our team what #timeoutside means to them, you’ll receive a slurry of answers. It comes in many shapes and sizes, different experiences, emotions and memories. It molds how we interact with the world and community around us. Briana radiates our Kammok values of community, love, and adventure. We’re proud to support her and everyone in our community who inspire others to spend time outside. Photos provided by the talented Ali Mae.