Hey Outdoor Industry and brands! Amanda here. I am a disabled hiker, adventurer, camper, and biker. I am here to provide support for people with mobility struggles in and outside of the national parks to help them really walk the walk (or ride the ride) instead of just talking the talk to show that the outdoors really is for EVERYONE. Here are a few things I found at The Big Gear Show in Park City, Utah this year that stuck out to me that could be helpful for people with and without mobility struggles. (This isn’t meant to be an all inclusive list since I was only able to spend one day at the show.)
- PurTrek
I first fell in love with PurTrek when I saw a demonstration of their product which is a trekking pole and filtration system all in one. I was blown away. As a hiker and camper I have had to ask my husband for a lot of help in the outdoors because of my mobility struggles with my Cerebral Palsy. One thing that has been a struggle for me in filtering water in a stream or lake has been having to kneel, crouch, or sit down on a small rock to use a filtration system. It hurts my knees to kneel down and I can’t independently stand back up without having something big and sturdy to get me back up. Crouching down is also a struggle because my knees are really bad and I have terrible balance; I worry about falling over into whatever lake or stream I’m filtering from. Sitting down is not really an option as well because the rocks next to water sources are too low to the ground which means I can’t stand up on my own. All of these struggles mean that I’m usually not able to use a filtration system alone or I have to ask someone to do it for me. This makes it hard as I like to go on solo adventures to feel at peace and recenter myself from the anxieties of life. PurTrek enables me to trek further out and more independently than I have before. I get a supportive hiking pole AND a usable, accessible filtration system. Thank you PurTrek! I know this could be very beneficial for many people with mobility struggles and I will continue to share about it!
PurTrek Filtration Trekking Pole – https://www.purtrek.com/
- Yakima
The all new Yakima EXO System was probably one of my favorite pieces of gear at The Big Gear Show. I loved seeing it in action and it definitely helps with accessibility and provides an external storage system without hindering access to your vehicle’s rear trunk or hatch. I love my Outback but some systems require you to take them completely off in order to open up the rear hatch. The EXO system has a cool feature where the whole thing just hinges to the side. You can camp out of the back of your vehicle without having to remove the whole cargo system. It has 20 different configurations that open up so many adventuring opportunities for camping storage, day trips, or even just for a quick hike up the canyon. One of my favorite accessories that you can purchase with it is the Back Deck. If you do decide to take off your cargo box then the back deck then turns the EXO into a camp table perfect for prepping, cooking, and serving. We have a top box carrier that we love (also from Yakima) that provides us more covered space for camping and long road trips but usually my husband has to unload and load the gear since I’m not able to climb up to access it. The EXO System, however, attaches directly to your hitch so it’s accessible at waist height. This is something that was definitely built with many different ability levels in mind to make adventuring more accessible. Check out this awesome system that you don’t want to miss!
Yakima EXO System – https://yakima.com/pages/exo
- QuietKat
Riding a bike independently on trails has always been a dream of mine. I would see adventurers in the National Parks with their bikes and I knew that it was something that I had to make happen. I was able to test out the QuietKat Villager at The Big Gear Show. The company was very kind in helping my dream come true. They have helped many others like me who have mobility struggles get on their bikes. This allows them greater freedom and independence in the outdoors. I gave the QuietKat a try because when I was growing up I was able to ride a two-wheeled bike a few times. My brother would help me get going and once I got tired he would help me stop. I thought that the advantage of an e-bike would help me overcome some of those barriers. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for me because my balance still isn’t quite what it needs to be. However, I would still recommend this company to anyone with or without mobility struggles to get on their bikes. Even if your balance is only slightly better than mine, these bikes are an awesome adventuring option. The company was outstanding and did everything they could to get me on a bike and it just didn’t quite work out for me. Thank you QuietKat for helping me work towards my dream. Check them out! Their bikes are online and at several outdoor stores all over the country.
QuietKat Villager Electric Bike – https://quietkat.com/pages/villager-electric-bike
- InstaPrivy
I loved meeting with the founders of InstaPrivy. Their invention is genius and I know it could help so many people with mobility struggles. I know every piece of gear is not one size fits a lot but I think this one could benefit a lot of people. I’ve tried it out a couple of times and only have good things to say about it. The kit includes a small portable seat, toilet paper, hand sanitizers, bags, and a tent that is actually just supported on your head; you don’t need to hang it from anything. I don’t know about you but when nature calls when I’m in nature it’s hard for me to crouch down (as mentioned above in #1) so I have to use something to support me which usually ends up in me falling more than anything else. I’m actually able to sit down on something sturdy with the InstaPrivy and I can stand up on my own as well. It’s amazing! Check out their website below.
InstaPrivy – https://www.instaprivy.com/
- Black Diamond
When I started hiking one of the first pieces of gear I bought were trekking poles. I take them on all of my hikes now because they help to maintain my balance and take pressure off my knees. However, the reality is that you don’t need to be a disabled hiker to utilize trekking poles. My husband used my poles on a backpacking trek earlier in the summer and he liked having them to propel him forward or support him whenever he took a break. The happiest hikers I’ve seen while hiking over the past year or so are those who were using trekking poles. When I was at The Big Gear Show I knew I had to stop by the Black Diamond booth to see what new poles they had. I’m currently using the women’s Trail Trekking poles in the Alpine Lake Color. I LOVE them. I have not had any blisters on my hands or fingers since I got them. They’ve also reduced my number of falls and have lessened the damage of the falls that I do have. Black Diamond has some Pursuit trekking poles that I’m really excited for. They can adjust to different body types and come in two different adjustable lengths and different grip sizes. Lastly, they come in Standard, FLZ (folding) and Shock poles. I love Black Diamond and everyone should check them out.
Black Diamond Trekking Poles – https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/shop/trekking-poles/
Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by any of these companies, nor will I earn any commission by you clicking on the links above.