(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best men hiking clothing

I live in Anchorage, having moved up here from Southern California. Fairbanks is definitely a lot colder in the winter than A-Town.

You're going to want to sacrifice fashion for warmth, especially up there. It easily gets to 20, 30, 50 below zero, especially with any wind chill factored in. Practicality will ensure your livelihood. You can look good when it's warmer, but there ain't gonna be nothin' sexy about layers and puffy jackets and warm accessories when it's that cold.

Invest in good thermals. I have some regular grey thermals I'll wear when it's a tad above zero, but they have little function in colder weather. You'll definitely want to get Under Armour and the like. I bicycle in the wintertime, so take whatever I say, and layer on more for the absolute frozen hell that is Fairbanks.

My usual routine for biking will consist of the following layers: one pair of thin white socks, one pair of thick wool socks (think SmartWool), skin-tight UnderArmour pants and turtle-necked long-sleeved shirt, another pair of thermal pants or rubber pants if it's wet (sometimes I squeeze a pair of jeans on in this mess), long-sleeved wool or synthetic top, one pair of gloves under a pair of thicker mittens, scarf, ear muffs, beanie, sub-zero jacket. I also have Reynaud's Syndrome, so my feet and hands typically get extremely cold, so I try to get the most expensive and warmest gloves that I can. This is when it's about -10, and I have to bicycle somewhere 4 miles away.

I just went through a closet cleaning, and organized all of my winter stuff. My winter stash consists of about six or eight pairs of gloves/mittens, three pairs of boots, beanies, scarves, balaclavas, a giant sub-zero faux fur-trimmed coat, tons of wool socks, spikies, Under Armour and thermals. I prefer synthetics entirely for underlayering, only topping off with wool/natural fibers.

You do not want to half-size. When I wear thick socks (or two pairs), my feet stay warmer when they're cozier. I have a few pairs of boots, but my favorite are my insulated ski-like boots with drawstrings and velcro straps. I would even recommend wearing a pair of toe socks under thicker, warmer socks.

I also prefer scarves that are not pure wool/knitted. I had this awesome scarf (that I lost, boo) that was thin, but very warm because it wasn't very breathable. I think it was a mixture of synthetic and woolen fibers. Some things, you just don't want to be breathable, because they can retain more heat.

I told this to another person who's moving to Alaska, and this is just some general moving-to-AK advice: bring only what you need. Do not saddle yourself with a bunch of crap to bring up here. It's expensive, and you'll end up throwing a bunch of stuff out anyway, especially if you don't need it. I've been up here 5.5 years, and aside from mementos, books, and a few articles of clothing, I've pretty much started anew here.

If you're able to swing through Anchorage on your way to Fairbanks, I would recommend going to REI and the military surplus stores here. Unless you get a really, really good deal on stuff back at home and can ship it up, I would buy things here. You'll be able to get a better feel for what people wear/need up here.

Fairbanks is colder, because it's smack in the middle of nowhere, with no major bodies of water to buffer it. Anchorage gets fucking cold, but it's nowhere near the insanity that is Fairbanks. Even if it's not snowing, you have to be careful. It will be very, very icy. Sometimes, you'll be in "ice fog," which is where it is so cold, the particles in the air literally just hang there in a fog. You will want to get a pair of spikies, which are rubber or silicone things studded with metal spikes you snap on the bottom of your shoes. I wear a balaclava (full-face or nose/chin that velcros on the back), and you'll definitely want that if you're walking around town in December.

Okay, and wow, that was exhaustive.
TL;DR shopping list

• Form-fitting Under Armour pants and Under Armour tops to be your first layer; Mountain Hardware also has some good base layers
  
  
• Toe socks + warm woolen socks
  
  
• Shoe Spikes
  
  
• Balaclava
  
  
• Warm beanies Don't be afraid of ear flaps; they're really nice
  
  
• Water-proof boots that have an actual ankle. None of that low-crew cut stuff.
  
  
• A really-warm overcoat that would ideally be worn over your base layers, and long-sleeved shirt/fleece jackets. You'll want to wear this while walking/getting in-out of your car.
  
  Other advice
  
  
• Do not go out in the cold with wet hair. Your hair will freeze. I have made this mistake while biking with a wet braid, and I could have snapped my hair off of my head if I wanted to. (But I did not want to, so I did not try..)
  
  
• If you wear contacts, and it's registering as something like -30 out, I would wear goggles if I were you. Even without glasses, if you do not blink enough, your tears can start freezing on your eyelashes and your eyeballs. It is very uncomfortable..
  
  
• A half-balaclava like this is nice when going from one place to another. It's less bulky and warmer than wrapping a scarf around your face to keep your nose warm.
  
  
• Earmuffs that folder behind your skull are better than the ones that sit on top of your head.
  

Aww, first and foremost, I hope you get well soon! D:

I don't know how relaxing others would find it, but I find hiking and camping extremely relaxing. I am also a very anxious person (just ask my girlfriend), and doing those things and "getting away" from life is a great way to relax - if you like the outdoors. I couldn't pick just one thing, so here are a two things from my wishlist that would relax me, and the reason why:

1. These socks would be nice for hiking around. I think everyone can agree, good warm socks in and of themselves can be plenty relaxing.
   
2. This hammock is light enough to pack along anywhere, and is easy enough to set up. Relaxing in a hammock out on a hike, where all you hear are the birds and wind... That sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon.
   
   Anyway, welcome back! I have yet to meet you, I am Brandon. How goes it?

If you're used to consistently warm/comfortable temperatures, my best bet is you're going to want thicker layers than a person more accustomed to frequently colder temps :)

And sure! My gear varies a lot, as temperatures here range from -5 degrees F to 95 degrees F depending on the season, but I'll give you as comprehensive of a list as I can for my 30/40 degree F gear.

Boots: Asolo's Sharp Women's Hiking Boots
Baselayer(s):
UnderArmour/UnderArmour ripoff thin insulating long sleeve tee
Avalanche long sleeve pullover (Avalanche in general is a really awesome, relatively cheap brand; this is my "in case it gets extra cold" layer in most cases)
Fleece:
Land's End Polartec or a CB ski fleece.
Jacket:
I have a few different jackets that I alternate. CB is a very good brand, I've worn a lot of their gear, it's cheaper and warm. Generally, on a cooler but not cold hike, I wear a Columbia windbreaker.
Pants baselayer:
Either a pair of technical fabric leggings [similar] or a pair of Avalanche leggings.
Pants:
Loose, windbreaker like pants [similar]. I like hiking in pants like these quite a bit, but you might be better off looker for a tougher, less-likely-to-rip pair (more cargo-pant like?), especially for a longer time period of hiking. I've ripped through quite a few pairs of these pants.
Socks: SmartWool skiing or hiking socks are incredible. I also like to wear a liner sock to prevent from blisters and keep sweaty feet at bay.
Hat and gloves: I'm not very particular about these. I have a cheap snow hat from a local department store. These you definitely want to try on, as you want it to cover your ears for sure. As for gloves, look for a pair of thinner gloves for the daytime and perhaps a thick, warm pair for evenings. My hands tend to swell and get really warm while hiking and I prefer to not have anything thick on them (you can always shove them in your pockets if they get minimally cold), but you certainly don't want to get frostbite because you thought you could do without.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about being fashionable. Comfort and mobility is the biggest priority for me when I run. Anyway, for the cold weather, I recommend running tights. I have these from Saucony and they're great. You can wear running shorts over these if you like (maybe you are sensitive about showing a bulge), or not - I don't. Check your local running shop for sales. I like Balega socks in any weather, but I've also heard good things about SmartWool. For shirts, I have some Under Armour crew longsleeves that are pretty warm. I have a Land's End half-zip fleece pullover that isn't the warmest, but it works for me. You may want to shop around a bit for something similar and warmer, and possibly some type of windbreaker shell to go along with it. I have some gloves from Under Armour that do the trick. Finally, it's a good idea to have some reflective stuff for the dark days of winter, like a slap band or a vest.


Go to r/running for some more comprehensive recommendations, this is all just stuff I wear for the mid-Atlantic winter. Again, I would focus on staying warm and being able to move well more than looking good.

The biggest thing I have noticed is that no one else has commented on letting yourself climate to the climate. As it cools off let your house cool with the outside. Personally I like a house in the mid 50's during the winters. This really lets your body get in the mode of heat conservation, while not required it does make going out far more enjoyable. As far as clothes here is what i wear.

Hat: It changes based on the year, currently rocking a generic knit hat like this. It covers my ears and keeps them warm.

Coat: This is similar to what i have as an outer layer. Nice and heavy, with a canvas shell to keep the wind out, as a bonus it is fairly water resistant. Under that layer one or two sweatshirts depending on the weather.

Gloves: This is fairly similar to one of my pairs of gloves, mine are older and more generic looking. Get several pairs of gloves, they take forever to dry.

Pants: You could get a pair of snow pants, and that would be the best if you are planing on being in the snow. If you are just shoveling or some other activity where you aren't planning on being in to much snow then jeans over sweatpants work wonders.

Boots: I believe this is the brand my boots are, similar style too. They are overkill unless you plan on being in the snow for hours at a time. Nice and puffy to keep my feet warm. Its important to keep your limbs warm as your body will slow circulation to the extremities if you start to feel cold.

Socks: Smart wool sock are a godsend, i swear by these things.

This gear is what i wear in the coldest of days out shoveling and generally fooling around in the snow. In most cases a couple of hats, couple of pairs of varing weight gloves, a good heavy jacket with some flannels or sweatshirts will serve you well. If you are living and working in the city its not a huge deal as you are never too far from somewhere warm. The most important thing to remember is that wetness and wind are what makes the cold feel cold. Beyond that it is just a case of being comfortable. winters aren't as bad as people make them out to be, a little forethought is all you really need. 90% of the times you go out full snow clothes will be complete overkill as you will be going to somewhere warm and only out in the elements for a couple of minutes.

Subnote about footwear, snow doesn't magically disappear from walking paths, and salt just turns it into mush. Make sure you shoes are waterproof.

Minnesotan here, so I understand the problems you face.

You need boots (the other comment talks about that), but on top of that you need under layers.

You want good socks like Smart Wool.

Then you want under shirts and possibly long underwear.

Finally, you need a good hat that covers your ears and gloves. For a hat, a simple watchmen cap will do wonders. I found that nice thin wool gloves (liners) plus bigger gloves work best. Day to day, I wear the wool gloves but they are not water proof or wind proof. When it is really cold out or I am out for quite a bit, I put on the outer shell. I haven't found nice ones yet that would be MFA approved yet though :(

As for footwear, two things, have a nice (ugly) pair of sorrels or those LLBean boots that I see recommended for when you have to be out in the weather. Then have decent shoes that are ok for walking to and from your car.

Remember, you feet get cold or wet (which makes them cold) and you are done for. Wear wool when you can because it wicks the water away from your skin better.

The ones I settled on are pretty expensive, but they are nice. The Prana Stretch Zion

I like them because thy have just a little bit of a spandex content, so they're just a little bit streatchy, they don't restrict you at all.

They're also gusseted for full range of motion.

They're really lightweight so they don't slow you down.

Dry quickly, well ventilated, fit well, well made and durable. Reinforced on wear areas. Lots of benefits. Most other climbing pants would have the same.

Cheaper options would be some gusseted tactical pants. They usually don't have the spandex content, or as lightweight, but are still fairly nice.

I've never really understood the whole baggy clothes/sweatpants thing. I see absolutely no benefit to them beyond simply being better than jeans.

I used to work in these same conditions, summertime in the Mojave desert and the surrounding hills.


I had a light weight field shirt and very light weight field pants.

I really recommend both of these. The shirt has vents on at the shoulders, and a large vent horizontally along your back to help airflow, and is a a pretty nice light weight material. Mine was a bit too big for me, which I think actually helped with the airflow. My coworkers had basically the same shirt but long sleeved, I preferred the short sleeve personally. I tan easy so didn't have to worry much about burns (this applied sunscreen a couple times a day), and I thought the short sleeves helped with the wind-flow.

The pants are really thin and lightweight, could be a problem with rips if you're hiking through some thick brush. I hiked through a bit of brushy terrain throughout the summer, and only got one small rip after several months. They are really breathable and don't overheat you in the high temps out there. I've never had lightweight hiking pants before, so I don't have any other brands to compare to, but these were the shit. I also had to wear snake gaiters all day, and even with the extra layer of those things, my legs never got too bad. Wearing these pants and shirt together felt like I was wearing nothing at all.

A nice wide rimmed sun hat or light bandana or something to cover your/neck is also a plus. That sun is no joke.

I'd also recommend sunglasses, especially big ones with think walls on the side. Something like this rather than like this . Having the big walled edges helps block out all the light. If they are small and skinny you can get light contrast in the corner of your eyes all day and it gets annoying. It's not a huge issue, but I think it really helps, the sun is so bright out there.

Bring lots of water in your car, and a camelback if you are away from your car for often. Drink water often, even if you're not thirsty. Drink a lot of water before you even leave the house. I drink a lot of water in general, but when working that job I would easily drink 2 gallons a day, sometimes 3.

Keep in mind, my job had me walking/hiking around 5-10 miles a day, but I imagine you'll be moving around a lot too for whatever you're monitoring?

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or anything.

“try personal hygiene...” not sure if funny-ass or just ass, but i giggled before cringing so...

On a serious note, it does kinda exist sorta. What youve asked for covers an insanely broad spectrum of conditions but, there are some things that come close

Merino wool, from fancy brands better than cheap brands, of a very light weight, will be comfortable to sleep in, can wear during the day without looking like a technical trekking uniform, and is naturally microbial so it resists getting stninky... to a point. As for keeping you warm, well, thats a variable thats harder to measure. What works for one person may not work for another

Smartwool NTS 150 weight merino crew neck long sleeve shirts are probably pretty close to what youre looking for

Smartwool Men's Long Sleeve Shirt - Merino 150 Wool Baselayer Pattern Performance Top Light Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HMUOSNK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vfIMDbPWE72VF

or...

Patagonia Capilene everyday cool, or Outdoor Research Echo ling sleeve crew neck shirts are a synthetic version. Theyre not as snuggly comfy as high quality light merino wool but theyre usually cheaper and always lighter. Bonus - the Capilene and Echo stuff can be washed in a sink at the end of a day and be ready to wear in the morning

https://www.rei.com/product/143465/patagonia-capilene-cool-lightweight-long-sleeve-shirt-mens

Outdoor Research Men's Echo Hoody, Alloy, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D5YXFLG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zgIMDbHQMD2CY

Have you checked AirBnB yet? There's probably some apartments that you could rent that are close to hotels that are used as pick up points for excursions.
I used these guys when I was there in December 2015, https://www.re.is for couple of my tours.
I went on the following tours;

Warm Baths Cool Lights ( A geothermal pool, then northern lights )

Game of Thrones tour ( used greyline.is for this )

South Shore Adventures (Get to see the Skógafoss waterfall and the Black Sand beach, couple other stops as well )



Here's what I wore on most days.

Underwear ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00Z8HWXIM )

Thermal Pants/Long Sleeve (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0064D1DNK, then the same kind of top)

3 in 1 Jacket ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ33NTY )

Snow Pants ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00AHJM8CM ) I used a different set of snow pants, that I ordered through aliexpress, but had these along incase the ones I got from China didn't work out. They ended up being perfect, so I never even wore these.

Boots : Good set of Hiking boots, that were waterproof.

Wool Socks were a must as well ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00TOWNXO0 )

I also had two sets of gloves. Ones that were windproof but touchscreen capable so I could take pictures with my phone. Then another that were heavy duty/waterproof just in case. I mostly just wore my windproof ones, as they were slightly waterproof as well. Also a really good beanie hat. I also carried a neckgator just incase the wind got to be to much for me.

So I am a southerner (Florida) who relocated to Upstate NY for college and now New England. I was in your shoes before and would recommend the following strategy. Buy a combo Shell + fleece for the $100. Like I said in my previous post, LL bean outlet stores or the clearance rack will be a good bet. They guarantee their stuff for life. This combo + a Flannel shirt will keep you warm. As a College student you will want to locate your closest Goodwill, at which point you can acquire some other essentials: a puffy jacket for the coldest of days: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/75140?feat=75144-ppxs&dds=y or http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/75141?feat=75144-ppxs&dds=y

Another tip for the winter, flannel lined pants are pretty nice: http://www.amazon.com/Carhartt-Flannel-Lined-Washed-Dungaree/dp/B002G9U4PE

Wool socks shoot for > 70% merino wool (100% is best) http://www.amazon.com/Super-wool-Hiker-Merino-Hiking-Womens/dp/B004N8ATV0/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1407802517&sr=1-1&keywords=merino+wool+sox

Also, get a scarf, beanie, and a decent pair of above your ankle boots. Again, goodwill / thrift store is your friend.

Good luck in college.

I'm at work so I don't have photos of my stuff. But here is the list of the basics. The stuff below, plus food, and a change of clothes will get me through a long weekend and on top of some nice terrain. I include my sock liner/sock combo below because I am so damn happy with them (and not expensive).

• Black Diamond Infinity 60 pack
  
  
• Surplus Military Woodland Cammo Bivy Cover
  
  
• A 40° Slumberjack Sleeping bag and a 20° Slumberjack sleeping bag that can nest to be a 0° sleeping bag (Not sure which model... they are about 10 years old).
  
  
• Yukon Outfitters Parachute hammock with net
  
  
• 2 Sierra Cups and a spoon from when I was a Boy Scout over 30 years ago.
  
  
• Whisperlite MSR stove
  
  
• Wigwam Ultimax Sock Liners with Merino Wool Socks
  
  
• Frog Toggs Rain suit
  
  
• Estwing Hatchet (If needed. If I am going distances, I don't take the weight, but it is an amazing tool for the size/weight/practicality)
  
  
• Leatherman PST
  
  
• Cheap walking sticks from wal-mart
  
  
• 2 Nalgene Water Bottles
  
  
• A Fly from my old Kelty 2 person tent.
  
  
• Some cheap Chinese made waterproof hiking boots that I got at Wal-Mart and have been unstoppable.
  
  
• A pump style water filter Mine isn't MSR, but it looks like this.
  
  
• Coleman Chilko River Parka for my outer shell, various synthetic fleece and wool layers for my inner layers. A dry fit long or short sleeve synthetic shirt for my wicking layer. I have gone down to single digit camping in that without a bulky coat.
  
  
• Energizer headlamp (AAA batteries!)
  
  
• 100 feet of this orange reflective cord
  
  
• A very comprehensive first aid kit I have assembled over the years to deal with everything from cuts and scrapes up to broken limbs and serious bleeding. (Sam Splint, Quick Clot, Homemade Cravats sealed in vacuum packs, trauma shears, various OTC medications, epi-pen). It is a little heavy, so I have various sizes I bring depending on the duration of the trip, my traveling companions (usually Boy Scouts) and our distance from help.
  
  
• A Yaesu VX8R Radio I'm a HAM and it is a great emergency radio.
  
  
• Garmin eTrex 20 GPS (AA Batteries!)
  
  I am pretty frugal so I don't have top tier stuff, but if I spent 10x more I might save 2-3 pounds... easier for me to put down the spoon and lose that much weight from the engine (me). I mostly go with the Boy Scouts as an Assistant Scoutmaster, so I don't do much "extreme" stuff. We mostly do 10-20 mile hikes in New England (4000' peaks with cold, wet, unpredictable weather).
  
  

Do you need a fleece and a base layer? I'd ditch the fleece honestly you can use the base layer if you are cold in the morning combined with the down jacket. Hiking if you are cold use the Rain Jacket and Base layer or just the base layer in the morning should be plenty if you remain active. Also the Prana pants weigh a ton if you want a pair of hiking pants and also want to bring shorts just get a nice pair of convertibles. https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Silver-Ridge-Convertible-Gravel/dp/B006QYGOA4/ref=sr_1_3?gclid=CjwKCAjwmZbpBRAGEiwADrmVXuK5cuDuClknlhlflM3li9ITXmfLw_IKsDZ9ZGsl_HIkYX2HTwO2BBoC00MQAvD_BwE&hvadid=178120229673&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9032191&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=15237872622100748925&hvtargid=kwd-18779364752&hydadcr=12916_9733689&keywords=columbia%2Bsilver%2Bridge%2Bpants%2Bmen&qid=1562813125&s=gateway&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1 I use these and they are quite durable and comfy for the price only ever use the pants function if its really buggy or cold w/ base layer. another option is to use the rainpants as pants while hiking.

​

I'd also ditch the cozy for meals it isn't needed that's an item I dropped this year as well most of the times my meals were way to hot to eat and enjoy with it imo.

​

Late September temps will also get pretty cold personally I'd bring a 20 degree quilt w/ layering you are bring to help if needed that would also get your weight lower by 5-6 oz.

​

If you ditch the pants and fleece thats almost a 1.5lbs loss in weight. Can't think of much else tbh you could get a nitecore nu25 headlamp and that would allow you to ditch bringing spare batteries I love mine.

Underwear: Under Armour O Series Boxerjock 6" Bottoms. I wear these for any athletic or active event. Too expensive for me to wear for every day use.

Socks:
Wool always trumps cotton. Always. My favorite sock of all time is the Thorlo Light Hiking Crew Sock. Wool is amazing, in that even in warm weather, they breath well and wick sweat well. Thorlo makes amazing socks for all occasions from running (short, special padding), to skiing (long, extra padding around shins).

You will die in those jackets. Literally.

Here's my winter setup.....

1. Jeep cap. Keeps the sun out of your eyes and it keeps you warm. You can get them at Ragstock for 5$
   
2. A pair of good winter gloves, and a pair of those cheap stretchy winter gloves. Wear the stretchy winter gloves underneath the thick winter gloves. A good tip on whether a pair of gloves are going to be warm, is if you hold a McDonald's cup of ice water tightly against them. If you can feel the cold cup, then they're no good. If you can't, then stay with them.
   
3. Your legs will get cold too, so buy a pair of base layer pants. Maybe double up. Wear them underneath your regular pants.
   
4. Get a good pair of snowpants to go over your regular pants. Again, McDonald's cup of ice water trick.
   
5. Get a base layer shirt to go underneath your regular shirt.
   
6. Get a good, thick jacket. Do the ice water thing for the jacket too. My personal favorite kind of jacket is an ice fishing jacket.
   
7. Ski goggles. Sounds weird, but your eyes will get cold too.
   
8. [A neoprene mask] (https://www.amazon.com/ZANheadgear-WNFM114H-Black-Neoprene-Half/dp/B000LVZVNE/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=neoprene+mask&qid=1573108443&sr=8-1) . They keep your face warm.
   
9. 2 good pairs of wool socks. Yes, 2. It gets that cold.
   
10. A thick pair of high top skateboard shoes, if you're going to avoid getting winter boots. High top Osiris shoes are good alternatives to winter boots. But you're going to have to get them waterproofed. They're naturally thick.
    
11. Ice cleats.

One of these days I might upgrade but spending 15 on one pair of socks is still outside of my range, haha. I buy these which seem to not be anywhere on amazon right now so hopefully they come back soon but they are awesome and usually run 16-19 bucks for a set of two.

>I think the next thing up is all this merino wool talk

I think that these three articles will provide most of the information you would want to know about Merino wool.

General overall knowledge: https://www.smartwool.com/discover/why-merino-wool/merino-wool-101.html

The "best" weights for different climates: https://www.newzealandmerinoandfabrics.com/blogs/news/which-merino-wool-fabric-weight-do-i-need-for-each-season but of course everyones body is different. I'm the kind of person who is always cold so I'll never buy a lightweight merino shirt.

Maybe a half to whole step up from general knowledge: https://woolandprince.com/pages/about-merino-wool

The only other thing I think you should know that I don't have an article for is merino wool blends. You'll undoubtedly come across a product with something like "61% Merino Wool, 36% Nylon, 3% Lycra® Spandex " like in Darn Tough's socks. That's done because 100% merino wool has downsides that other fabrics can cover when they are blended together.

But if you have any questions this is a great subreddit full of knowledgeable people :)

hmm, they look so heavy and fat.

trail running shoes like these: https://www.merrell.com/CA/en-CA/Product.mvc.aspx/35125M/87307/Mens/Bare-Access-Trail?dimensions=0 or the allout series look good: https://www.merrell.com/CA/en/AllOut together with smart wool socks it might be possible for winter usage: http://www.amazon.com/Smartwool-Mens-Hiking-Medium-Crew/dp/B000FC86O0/

i'm only worried about snow and rain, since the trail shoes seem to be not water resistant.

seems like a challenge to only have two pairs and cover winter with snow.
i don't want to go back to heavy hiking shoes, too much weight, plus i'm so used to minimal shoes by now.

Get your brother (and/or your dad) these darn tough socks. I think they make good gifts because they are relatively cheap as far as gifts go but they are awesome socks that people wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves.

Bumming a bunch of suggestions from this dude's blog post, and some other gear-queer items I've seen before:

1. [TAG Combat Sustainment Day Pack] (https://www.tacticalassaultgearstore.com/combat-sustainment-pack.html)
   
2. Source Kangaroo 1LT Hydration Kit. I actually have one of these and its neat but hard to find a good spot to put it on my rig
   
3. Safariland QLS with a compatible holster
   
4. Some kind of headlamp that is MOLLE compatible so you can put it on your body armor and then probably destroy it the moment you take cover
   
5. I've started seeing more of these QB style arm band things being worn although it's usually the legit QB arm bands and not the tacticool version of them
   
6. Can't recommend Darn Tough socks enough; I wore them comfortably in weather ranging from pouring rain and mud to 140 degree heat in the Levant and -15 degree cold in South America
   
7. EDIT: Facebook keeps trying to sell me a Battle Board - not sure if its worth the extravagant cost

I've been wearing the same four pairs of people socks for a year now.

They definitely increase the size of my foot by almost a half size. I remember trying my vibergs on with no socks for a sec and my feet were swimming around in em

They are also durable as hell, odor resistant and any stretch shrinks back beautifully when you wash em, even a year in.

Not sure where I got em (got them during Christmas as well), but here is the link to them from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC86O0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vZnHybPT5DPHC

I just got some Darn Tough socks for myself and I've been digging them.

Trying to decide which color of these santa fe ones I like. Also want to try to get this cool blue and oragne warlocks or some silly dead pool ones.

My lists keep removing the stuff I add, so I'm not sure if they'll show up or not.

Thanks for the contest!

Smartwool Men's Hiking Medium Crew Sock (Medium, Gray) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC86O0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_0Eyoyb04QZFYT