The Adventure Mom Gift Guide

While we love our in-person Taco Tri’s at the Gear Shop and can’t wait for them to come back, there’s a certain magic that comes with hosting virtual taco tri’s. It’s the knowing that someone halfway across the world may be doing the same exact thing at the same time.  Everyone in the world can participate as long as they can get outside safely and have access to a taco shop or ingredients to make at home. People from California to Pennsylvania participated in the May 2021 event. Some biked long distances, others went on shorter jogs around the neighborhood, but we find this to be the beauty of Taco Tri’s. It’s not about speed or distance but about spending time outside. A few of may’s participants For May we decided it was time to elevate the Taco Tri experience with stickers for each participant. We hope to continue this tradition for every new participant each month. So what do you have to do to get one of these rad stickers on June 3rd?  Participant Sticker   Get a Strava account and join our club here Record a swim, bike or run that day (bonus points for tri’ing all 3) Eat tacos! Sign up through this form so we know where to send your sticker Post pictures using #KammokTacoTri and tag us @Kammok_ATX

Kammok Outsiders know the feeling of connection that comes from stepping into nature. It’s the first breath of fresh air when we get out of our cars and into the mountains. It’s the audible sigh after jumping into the ocean where all we hear are the rhythmic waves crashing onto white sand beaches. However, there’s no doubt that these spaces and experiences away from our screens are in danger due to climate change.  Our commitment to protecting the environment for current and future generations extends beyond Earth Day. We’ve announced our commitment through our partnership with Climate Neutral (read more on it here). We know that for there to be any hope of surviving the climate crisis, we have to take action as both a brand and as individuals. Earlier this month our team at Kammok paused work at the office and hit the trails, but this time we didn’t camp or climb. Instead, we decided to pick up the trash that humans have left behind along a local trail.  We spent our day walking the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin and picked up a surprising amount of dog poop bags, styrofoam cups and plastic wrappers that were bound to end up contaminating waterways, buried in the soil for hundreds of years or in the stomach of wildlife.  For anyone who spends time outside, we urge you to take another look at the seven principles of Leave No Trace. They have great educational resources about the importance of creating minimal impact in wild places.  Still have questions or aren’t sure why this is important? Drop us a message on Instagram, we’d love to hear from you!  After our team outing on the greenbelt, we decided to get the community involved. For this cleanup, we wanted to hit the streets instead of a trail. So much of the trash that ends up in the wild actually comes from urban areas. With heavy rainfall, winds and waste transportation, a lot of it makes its way to natural areas.  We put out an invitation for people in Austin to join us in cleaning up our neighborhood. We set up outside and welcomed new and familiar faces to the Gear Shop for a trashy adventure.  We split into two groups and made our way East, trash bags in hand, gloves and grabbers at the ready, we walked along the streets picking up plastic wrappers, cigarette butts, old shoes, rags, glass bottles, and styrofoam.  Along our route, we were pleasantly surprised by the number of people who stopped to thank us for picking up trash. People know it’s a problem, it’s a matter of getting out and doing something about it.  Protecting our planet is not only an environmental issue but as our founder Greg McEvilly says, is a human issue. It affects our way of life and it’s our responsibility to do something about it. While picking up trash may not be a long-term solution, it’s a small action we can each take in addition to lowering our consumption of single-use products, using alternative modes of transportation, and choosing to support brands that take climate change seriously. At the end of the day, we didn’t just spend a Thursday evening cleaning up trash, but also connecting with people who understand the power of collective action.  Thank you to those who showed up for our first community cleanup in Texas. We can’t wait to organize more in the future and expand to other locations. Stay tuned for future events in Austin by following @Kammok_ATX on Instagram.    

Kammok measured and offset its 2020 carbon footprint and is working to reduce future emissions AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 22, 2021) – In response to the urgency of the climate crisis, Kammok, designer of high-performance outdoor gear to elevate time outside, is proud to announce that it is officially Climate Neutral Certified. Kammok joins 229 other brands that have earned the standard by measuring and offsetting all of their 2020 carbon emissions and reducing future emissions. Climate Neutral Certified is the leading consumer label designating carbon neutrality. It is carried by brands that have voluntarily stepped up to take responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions generated in the production, operations, and shipping of their goods and services. “Our brand promise is that we create and deliver Adventure Grade. Better Made™ products," says Kammok CEO and Founder, Greg McEvilly. "We believe better made products contribute to more human flourishing, and this is why we are excited to go Climate Neutral. We measured and offset our entire 2020 carbon footprint, and are working to reduce our future emissions. We emitted approximately 7,033 tonnes of carbon, and then offset those emissions by investing in climate change solutions, including renewable wind energy farms and rainforest conservation. Now we're working to reduce our future emissions by minimizing shipping inefficiencies by 25% in 2022, and incorporating more Bluesign approved fabrics and recycled materials into our finished products.” “Kammok and our other Climate Neutral Certified brands are leading the global shift to a net-zero economy by doing what all companies should be doing immediately: measuring, offsetting, and reducing their carbon emissions,” says Climate Neutral CEO, Austin Whitman. “Our label helps consumers identify these brands. It’s a recognizable and trusted symbol that turns everyday purchases into meaningfully positive climate action.” Climate Neutral’s certification is based on internationally recognized standards for carbon measurement, neutrality, and offsetting. Each brand must measure Scope 1, 2, and 3 cradle-to-customer greenhouse gas emissions for the prior calendar year. Then a brand must buy verified carbon credits to offset its entire footprint. This directs investment into critical carbon sequestration projects such as forest conservation, renewable energy, and carbon capture technologies. Finally, brands commit to a reduction action plan to cut future emissions within a 12-24 month timeline, reporting progress on those plans annually. All of the brand’s data is publicly available on Climate Neutral’s website. The process is repeated annually when companies must re-certify. Learn more about Climate Neutral and browse all of the certified brands at climateneutral.org.     ABOUT CLIMATE NEUTRAL Climate Neutral is a nonprofit organization working with brands and consumers to decrease global greenhouse gas emissions. The label, Climate Neutral Certified, is the universal standard in carbon neutrality. It is earned by brands who measure, offset, and reduce their entire carbon footprint, making it easy for consumers to shop with concern for the global climate. To learn more, visit climateneutral.org. ABOUT KAMMOK Kammok designs adventure grade, better made outdoor gear to elevate time outside. From camping hammocks to tents, and weatherproof shelters to versatile trail quilts, Kammok gear allows you to pack less and go further with stronger, lighter fabrics and best-in-class construction. Each Kammok product is backed by our lifetime guarantee. Kammok is a member of 1% For The Planet, a Certified B Corp business, and a Climate Neutral Certified Brand. For more information on Kammok, visit kammok.com

The phrase “home is where the heart is” may be a bit cliché and worn-out, but there’s still something very true about it. Thoughts of home are different for everyone, but often there’s a common thread of somewhere comfortable and easy—the place where your tribe lives. Now swap out “home” for “camp” and you arrive at the spirit of National Camp at Home Day. Is it a little cheesy? Maybe. But can you really have too much cheese? There is definitely something to be said for a beautiful campsite in the backcountry with stunning views or a basecamp in your favorite park as migratory songbirds dance in the trees. But more importantly, the people you share your campsite with make these adventures worthwhile. Camp doesn’t have to be a specific place. With the right group of people, that same adventurous spirit can live anywhere. This year, National Camp at Home Day is all about getting ready for the next big camping trip. That said, if you’re the friend in the group that takes gear prep to the next level (You know who you are. The trip to Joshua Tree isn’t for another two months and you’ve already made the Costco run, uploaded your purchases to Splitwise, and packed and repacked until everything fit in your rucksack just so.) don’t forget to sit back and have a cocktail—you can’t beat Moscow mules and hot toddies around the campfire. To the laid back crew, the ones that stuff everything in a bag day-of and spend the trip in mismatched socks: Make sure your planners have fun and remember to pitch in when it’s time to do the dishes. Side note: If you’re not using Splitwise to track group expenses, you may want to check it out the next time your crew goes away for the weekend. Step one: Campsite vibes. If you have access to outdoor space, by all means use it. Fresh city air might not beat fresh mountain air, but with a little imagination your backyard can be a vintage Airstream campsite in Marfa or the perfect hideout along a river in Yellowstone. Just don’t let your imagination get the best of you. Those are squirrels—leave the bear spray inside. Camping in an apartment? Not to worry! Spread your tent out in the living room, “stake out” the rain fly with heavy books weighing down the corners, and stream your favorite virtual campfire. If setting up a tent just sounds boring, grab every blanket in sight and build the ultimate fort. No matter what you choose, do your best to recreate one of your favorite campsites. You can use house plants to bring the outdoor feels close to camp and play your favorite nature sounds from this awesome Spotify playlist (welcome to the jungle). Looking to do some stargazing? You’ll probably want a pack of these. No matter where you set up camp, get out on your favorite trail before the sun goes down and soak up some Vitamin D. Step two: Let’s get cooking. You may be tempted to order your favorite pizza for a night like this (a decision which we fully support), but consider testing out a new camping recipe you’ve been wanting to take on the trail. If you’re outside, work on building the perfect Dutch oven fire for a Basecamp lasagna or even a cobbler for dessert. Indoor camping can be a great time to test out a new Backcountry recipe you’ll be able to enjoy on a future trek into the mountains. One of our favorites is this simple, three-ingredient chili mac recipe: Ingredients:  1 Box of your favorite instant mac (you really can’t beat shells and cheese) 1 can pinto beans (or 1 cup dehydrated beans)/li> 1 package of chili seasoning Directions: Prepare the mac and cheese using the instructions on the box. With the pot on medium/low heat, add in the beans and cook until heated. Stir in the chili seasoning until fully incorporated, and enjoy! (Optional: Throw in some cured sausage you could easily take on a backpacking trip.) Step three: Make it fun. Even if the stars are faint in your backyard, we have the perfect way for you to get more acquainted with the night sky. SkyView is an augmented reality app that allows you to identify constellations simply by pointing your camera in any direction you want to learn more about. Next time you’re under a blanket of stars, you’ll be the expert at camp. Another great learning tool for the outdoors is Merlin Bird ID, an app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If you have any interest in learning about the wildlife in your neck of the woods, this birding app is a great way to get started. Just select and download your region, input the size and colors of a bird you spotted, and then search through a list of potential matches until you find your bird. Each bird profile comes with a snapshot of info, multiple photos, and a recording of the sounds they make for better identification. Now when you hear that familiar chirping in the woods, you’ll know exactly what you’re listening to. If playing games around the campfire is more your speed, maybe Fish Bowl is right for your group. For rules on how to play, check out this clever website. It even has virtual scoring and cards so no paper is necessary—win for Mother Nature! Now that we’ve mentioned campfires, maybe it’s time to discuss this quintessential part of National Camp at Home Day. If you’re in your backyard with access to a firepit, good on you. Fire up a roaring blaze (safely, of course) and slow roast your perfect mallow. Don’t get discouraged, living room campers—you just have to get a bit more creative. Try arranging throw pillows into a make-shit fire ring and use a lantern to set the mood. No matter what your campfire is made of, let this be the gathering place for eating meals, playing games, sharing stories of past adventures, and hopefully planning future ones as well. Invite friends to camp at home from afar and connect your campfires through the trendy new website you may have heard of called Zoom. Mouth still watering over the possibility of s’mores? Turn the oven on broil and roast your graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallows in the oven until everything is nice and gooey. Pro tip: Leave the s’more sandwich open to brown your marshmallow, then stack the remaining graham cracker on top before eating. Who said you need a campfire for the perfect s’more? More than anything, we hope National Camp at Home Day inspires you to get outside with the people you love. We encourage you to use this time to prepare for the next trip. Check the bug net for holes, make sure your straps are in good shape, and by all means start laying out an itinerary for your next national park exploration. But most importantly, take in the moments. High on a mountain or under a ceiling fan, in person with friends or chatting on FaceTime from afar—the time is now for making memories you’ll always hold onto. So plan, definitely. Just do your best when the time comes to let go and allow the spirit of adventure take hold.