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 SteriPEN Freedom When you’re hiking in the wilderness, come across a stream, and need to refill your water, what do you do? There are several treatment options: filtering, boiling, chemicals, and my personal favorite, UV light! That’s how water municipalities do it, so why not just do what the pros do?
The SteriPEN company has a wide range of UV “pens”. I first bought my SteriPEN Classic a few years ago, and since then, it has been upgraded to a SteriPEN Adventurer Opti.
How SteriPENs work?
All SteriPEN models operate the same way. You remove the lamp cover, then immerse it in the water (you’ve got to collect water from a stream if you’re hiking in the wilderness and get it into a bottle), then stir the SteriPEN in the water until the LED light turns green. The UV light kills 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses, and 99.9% of giardia and cryptosporidium.
SteriPEN has a new product called the SteriPEN Freedom, the smallest of all SteriPENs – it can fit right into your pocket! Unlike the other models, this one can be recharged. The catch? It has to be plugged in to a USB slot…so your laptop, or a wall outlet if you slip on the adapter. For those of you who travel abroad and are likely carrying a laptop with you or a wall charger (and the appropriate international converter), this handy little model is the way to go. Slip it into your purse or pocket, and it can be used to zap bacteria and viruses from your drinking water.
 SteriPEN Freedom charging
For hardcore backcountry hikers, the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti is still my favorite. I just bring along a spare set of batteries 
Related Hiking Lady articles:
Hiking 101: Water Treatment
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti Put to the Test
How to Use a SteriPEN Pre-Filter
Happy trails!
Spring time is just around the corner… and that means even more opportunities for beautiful days of hiking and viewing spring time wildflowers. But it also brings along the possibility of hiking in the rain.
Often times spring and early summer weather can be so unpredictable, and it is important to be prepared for some rain!
What you need to making hiking in the rain enjoyable:
A Waterproof Jacket
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Isis Tempest Rain Jacket: This jacket is one of my favorites, and the features it has are what you should look for in any good quality rain jacket – it’s lightweight and easy to pack, has taped seams so water doesn’t get in, and breathes really well. Cheap rain jackets do not breathe, which means you’ll be sweating! Check out the Hiking Lady review of the Isis Tempest jacket.
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Rain Pants
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Marmot Precip Rain Pants: If you think you’ll be out in the rain for awhile and that your nylon hiking pants might really get wet, then you’ll want a pair of rain pants. I highly recommend ones with full zips, because they can easily be put on over your boots…no one really wants to take their boots off when the rains starts!
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Broad brimmed hat
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OR Seattle Sombrero My favorite hiking hat is the Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero, and with “Seattle” in its name, it definitely can handle inclement weather. I’ve worn mine several times in the rain and the water literally beads up on top of the hat and on the brim. My face always stays dry because the brim is so broad, and I don’t have to deal with a hood on a hiking jacket. Check out the Hiking Lady review of the OR Seattle Sombrero
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Other tips!
- Bring along a towel in your backpack The small microfiber ones are great to dry things off. Be sure to keep a towel in your car at the trailhead too!
- Get a cover for your backpack If I know there is a high probability of rain, I bring along my Ducks Back rain cover for my backpack. An even cheaper, though harder to use option, is a plastic trash bag.
- Keep a change of clothes in your car. Who wants to sit in wet clothes for the drive home? Not me!
What else do you do when you’re hiking in the rain?
 A woman SUPing in a calm ocean Since it is 80 degrees here in Southern California today, I figured I’d share one of my new favorite sports with Hiking Lady readers.
What’s SUP?
The latest craze in the sports world is SUP, or stand-up paddle surfing. It is immensely fun, a great workout, and can be done on lakes, rivers, bays, or oceans…pretty much anywhere there is water.
When I’m not out hiking, I’ve been spending my time SUPing here in Southern California. It is very easy to do, and all you need is a little balance!
How to SUP
I started out by renting boards the local bay…this is a great way to figure out if you’re going to like it as much as me! Boards are about 32 inches wide vs. 20 inches for a regular surfboard. They are a lot longer too! Get a paddle that is 5-8 inches taller than you, and you’re ready to go. Get the board in the water, and climb on into a kneeling position. Once you are balanced and comfortable, stand up, and start paddling!
Why SUPing is so Popular
- It’s fun! Stand-up paddlesurfing is a fun activity for people of all ages. You have to be outdoors on the water to do it, which makes it enjoyable! aahh, nature!
- It’s a fantastic workout You stand on a board and propel yourself forward using a paddle. Since you’re balancing the entire time, it is a great core workout. The paddling motion of course works the upper body. Not that many fun workouts strengthen your legs, arms, back, shoulders, and rear all at the same time, while being low impact!
- You don’t have to get wet! Unlike surfing, which involves getting soaked by waves, immense strength to paddle out and catch a wave, and getting tossed about the in water, SUPing on calm water means you won’t get wet. Ok, sure, your feet and legs will get a little wet when you climb onto the board, but unless you are SUPing in rough waters, the likelihood of wiping out is small.
Equipment and Gear
 CamelBak Tahoe hydration pack, designed specifically for Stand Up Paddleboarding - Available Spring 2012 I highly recommend renting a board and paddle for awhile. SUP boards are expensive ($600+) and are heavier and bigger than traditional surfboards, so they aren’t easy to transport.
Gear I do definitely recommend getting is: a high UPF top, a convenient hydration waistpack or backpack, and lots of sunscreen!
- Hydration: To stay hydrated, the best option is one of the 3 SUP specific packs from CamelBak. I have been using their brand new Tahoe pack, which is a waist pack designed for SUPers in mind. I got a chance to test one out early…they will be available for sale in outdoor stores in Spring 2012.
 ExOfficio Sol Cool top - UPF 50!
- UPF rated top. The new ExOfficio Sol Cool long sleeve crew neck top is my new go to layer when I’m SUPing (and hiking!). It weighs just 4 ounces, so feels super light weight on the skin, it dries quickly, and most importantly, the UPF rating of 50 makes it more protective than most others on the market.
- Moisturizer for when you get home! I hate dry skin, and being out in the sun on a stand up paddleboard can do a number on my skin…I’ve been using a new all natural, plant-derived moisturizer called Trilipiderm that is great for dried out skin. This stuff is pricey, but it is non-greasy, smells good, and most importantly, it works!
 Trilipiderm lotion
Happy trails, and happy SUPing!
 With so types of sunscreen on the market, some blocking UVA rays, other UVB, some that block both…and ratings ranging from SPF 10 to SPF 100…what does it all mean?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just announced some significant changes that will help us figure out how effective sunscreens really are. They will be requiring suncreens to pass a stricter test and protect us from both UVA and UVB rays. Plus, they will no longer be labeled waterproof, since in fact, no sunscreen is really waterproof! Some are just more water resistant than others.
Let’s figure it all out so we know what to look for when new packages hit the stores Summer 2012!
Hiking Lady Breaks Down the Sunscreen Lingo
- SPF: The SPF value indicates the amount of sunburn protection provided by the sunscreen. Higher values provide more protection. It only indicates how well the sunscreen is protecting against UVB rays.
- UVA: Ultraviolet A light from the sun. These rays contribute to skin cancer and early skin aging.
- UVB: Ultraviolet B light from the sun. These rays cause sunburns. Currently, most sunscreens protect us from UVB rays, but only some protect us from UVA rays!
What’s being changed?
The FDA has developed new testing requirements, and sunscreens will be tested for both UVA and UVB protection. The ratings on the bottles will now be “Broad Spectrum SPF X”, with a specific value.
The maximum value will now be 50+, because there is no data available that provides that higher than 50 actually provides greater protection.
How to Really Protect Yourself from the Sun?
Those of us who enjoy the outdoors can spend hours outside… hiking on a trail, climbing a crag, paddling down a river, or even spending time close to home gardening or walking the dog.
Check out this article as well: How to Protect Yourself from the Sun.
Happy trails!
After a long day on the trail, or upon returning from a multi-day camping or backpacking adventure, my body sure needs some recovery time!
How to help your body feel like 100% again?:
Put on a Pair of Compression Socks
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Compression socks: Several companies make good compression socks, including these Sockwell Women’s Circulators, which help maximize circulation in your legs. The spandex in compression socks helps improve blood flow and therefore muscle recovery. I always put on a pair after a long trail run or hike!
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Use a Muscle Recovery Gel or Ointment
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Muscle Recovery Gels: If you’re really sore after a hike or workout, or develop those horrible leg pains known as shin splits, there are safe, homeopathic options such as Hyland’s Muscle Therapy Gel and Traumeel that can help your muscles recover! Both of these brands contain Arnica, a natural remedy for swelling and bruising.
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Re-Fuel with a Nutritious Snack
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Grab a snack! It is important to stay hydrated and eat nutritious food during and after any cardio activity, including hiking and trail running. Because they are so tasty and have a good mix of carbs and protein, I like CLIF Bar Crunch bars.
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What have you found helpful for your body after a hike?
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