2023 Holiday Gear Guide: 9 Outdoor Afro-recommended stocking stuffers for next year’s adventures
Outdoor Afro has tested and provided honest commentary to a great deal of gear and equipment. Throughout nearly 15 years of organizational existence, some have been a definite no. Others aight. Then, there are the keepers. As headquarter doors close to spend more time with family and friends this winter, Outdoor Afro's gift to you are a few nature goodies that top 2023's Holiday Gear Guide. Products staff, volunteer leaders, and community participants use and share frank feedback about across U.S. neighborhoods. Check out the brands highly endorsed for 2024 adventures connected to land, water, and wildlife. This list of both legacy and new brand partners goes beyond mere social collaborations. Outdoor Afro's here-and-now partnerships are true relationships – ones valued and cultivated to help communities make informed decisions about products and services that truly benefit a range of nature lifestyles.
CLIF BAR SNACKS
CLIF® Bar was born on a bike in 1990 and built with athletes in mind. The idea for a better-tasting bar was born. Today, CLIF® Bar continues to make organic, plant-based energy food. For nearly a decade, CLIF® Bar has been a proud partner of Outdoor Afro. CLIF® continues to grow its partnership with CLIF CORPS, an initiative where CLIF® Athletes donate their time and resources to support nonprofits that make the spaces where we live and play more accessible and inclusive. In 2022, professional tennis icon and CLIF® Athlete Venus Williams joined Outdoor Afro on a beach hike to experience our organizational mission: celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature. Williams and Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp met for the first time and both participated in a local Outdoor Afro beach hike held in Miami. Sharing their love of the outdoors at Virginia Key Beach. CLIF® Bar and Outdoor Afro believe people should feel proud to be who they are, wherever they are — on the court, trail, field, or elsewhere.
ENO HAMMOCKS
Shop and get ready to swing away with Eagle Nest Outfitters (ENO) colorful selection of hammocks. Our organization truly believes in the quality leisure experiences this gift can also afford you, family, and friends. In fact, Outdoor Afro received the fun opportunity to co-brand a limited-edition print with ENO not once. But twice. Together, we rolled out the Kili Mapp Kili. First in 2021, which sold out. Then, in 2022 for a fall relaunched that made its way to newer backyards and road trips that year. “I wanted people to feel warmth and joy every time they’re in this hammock,” said Leandra Taylor, Outdoor Afro volunteer leader and artist behind the then in-demand design. Know that ENO designs hammocks that are portable, packable, and always adventure-ready with the latest design technology.
KEEN WATER SANDALS
KEEN inspires everyone to live with no ceiling. This family-owned, values-led maker of hybrid footwear – sandals, boots, and sneakers – produces more than products. The care KEEN puts behind each shoe is a true experience that positively impacts our planet. Better known as the KEEN Effect. KEEN responsibly creates original and versatile products designed to fit the diverse lifestyles of its fans at work and play. The shoe creator has been an Outdoor Afro legacy partner since 2012. The time-honored partnership segued into a water sandal collaboration in 2021 to help bring awareness about our Making Waves program. Launched in 2019, this life-saving, water-nurturing program helps every child and their caregiver within our sphere of influence learn how to swim. This year, Outdoor Afro set an ambitious goal to teach 1,000 children and guardians water safety and basic swim techniques. Our Programs Department is happy to report: Outdoor Afro hit the splash mark because of supporters like you.
KLEAN KANTEEN THERMOS
This gear has filled up Outdoor Afro volunteer leader adventure kits for years. Klean Kanteen offers colors that pop in nature, but it’s the durability for us. Especially for those longer hikes, bumpier bike rides, and multi-day camping trips across our regions. Ninety-five percent of Klean Kanteen’s products are made with recycled steel. The family- and employee-owned B Corp lives for big ideas and the boldest of moves to produce quality outdoor gear. Another legacy partner of Outdoor Afro, Klean Kanteen donates to our year-round programs. The brand also helps ensure our volunteer leaders and community participants know how to make healthy, eco-friendly choices before going outside. “We choose partners who believe in the work we’re doing and want to support that work,” said Mapp. “We prefer ‘trust partnerships’ like the one we have with Klean Kanteen, where they offer a combination of financial resources, in-kind support, and amplification of our message. This is so important to us. We truly believe that impact arises out of relationships, not just financial donations.”
OUTDOOR AFRO x OAKLANDISH SHIRT COLLECTION
It’s our not-for-profit organization’s coziest collection. Co-branded with longtime community partner Oaklandish, our signature shop of tees, hoodies, and long-sleeve tops are comfortable conversation pieces. A year ago this month, the collection relaunched with only Outdoor Afro's most popular shirts. These shirts are gifts that keep on giving, too. Know that each purchase continues to support core year-round programming. You can also become a repeat holiday helper here. “We recognized early that our community loves our logo, and wants to represent it loud and proud,” said Mapp. “Having a merch store is a fun and accessible way for our community to continue to support our charitable work. As a longstanding collaborator, we’re ever more excited to now embark on this new chapter of collaboration with Oaklandish.”
OUTDOOR AFRO INC. x REI-CO-OP HIKE COLLECTION
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) believes a life outdoors is a life well-lived. That it’s in the wild, untamed, and natural places that people find their best selves, so its purpose is to awaken a lifelong love of the outdoors for all. Since 1938, REI has been the local outdoor co-op working to help people experience the transformational power of nature. Another legacy partner for Outdoor Afro, the co-op brings top-quality gear and apparel, expert advice, rental equipment, inspiring stories of life outside, and outdoor experiences to enjoy independently or share with loved ones. In 2021, for-profit enterprise Outdoor Afro, Inc. (corporate partner of not-for-profit Outdoor Afro), came online and co-created a hike collection with the co-op that debuted September 2022. The multi-year, universal collection offers electric hike fits for all body types and neighborhood experiences.
SMARTWOOL SOCKS
Restock your sock collection with comfy styling options co-created by our heritage partner, and global sock and apparel brand Smartwool. Its Merino wool socks feature a Virtually Seamless™ Toe to prevent chafing; 4 Degree™ Elite Fit System to stop bunching, blisters, or sock slippage; Indestructawool™ for unmatched durability; and mesh venting for maximum breathability and moisture management. Our organization had the chance to collaborate with Smartwool on two Outdoor Afro Hike Zero Cushion Print Crew Socks in previous years. “Slice of Nature” socks in 2020 and a “Black Joy” in nature collage socks in 2022 that launched on the heels of our then second annual Juneteenth commemoration.
STANLEY COOKWEAR
Stanley products have literally traveled on oodles of American outdoor adventures for more than 100 years now. The brand has powered daily coffee breaks. Assisted meal prep days in nature. Provided the right amount of storage gear for food and beverages (on and off the road). With each passing year, Stanley continues to innovate, bringing timeless and modern solutions for outdoor exploration to backyard chill sessions. Outdoor Afro champions brands like Stanley for helping to build more sustainable communities through modern, reusable products. Through Outdoor Afro camping events that take place throughout each year, volunteer leaders, network participants, the organization’s staff, use Stanley products to make outdoor cooking creations easier to manage.
YAKIMA RACKS
Outdoor Afro participants across our U.S. networks love a good neighborhood bike hike – whether it's in the form of leisure, mountain, or road cycling. For avid cyclists who join our bike rides, we highly recommend Yakima’s single to multiple rack options for regular riders. Why? Because we literally use them ourselves. Since 2012, our partnership with Yakima has traditionally included leadership education about how to use its gear and equipment easily and safely. Yakima affords durable designs for off-road, eBikes, and even RV travels. For “power” explorers, Yakima supplies snow, water, and basecamp equipment to prepare for 2024 Outdoor Afro trips with us as well. *Illustrations by Dajah Callen.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide organization. Outdoor Afro's U.S. networks include nearly 100-plus volunteer leaders who guide nature activities in up to 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people annually. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people to the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro @outdoorafro and outdoorafro.org.
Outdoor Afro's corporate partner, Outdoor Afro Inc., drops electrifying colors with REI
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – The “hike fits made to move with every body” are back with high-voltage hues and universal designs to accommodate outdoor adventurers traveling near and far this summer. “For a second season, we’re breaking design barriers,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, who also founded for-profit enterprise Outdoor Afro, Inc. “Inc.’s summer 2023 hike collection co-created with REI Co-op is an extension of last year’s vibrant colors, functional styles, and fits made with every single body in mind.” The 2023 color drop pops with the introduction of halcyon blue and violet blossom into the hike collection’s fleece pullovers, shell jackets, trail pants, shorts, and tops.
Like the original launch, these newer collection pieces include hike styles that still consider wider ranges of body types, shapes, sizes, and original graphics. Outdoor Afro, Inc. x REI Co-op launched the technical hike apparel September 2022 with hues like papaya, teal glaze, and shoreline gold leading the pioneering co-collaboration. Working closely with Black people and Black communities to understand outdoor product needs, Outdoor Afro, Inc. and REI Co-op developed a 22-piece hike line that brings inclusive design to the forefront. That solves unmet design needs in outdoor gear and equipment.
Mapp’s relationship with the co-op started 14 years ago through her national not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro. Outdoor Afro celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. REI Co-op is an outdoor specialty retailer that connects every person to the power of the outdoors. Together, the brands share an enduring relationship. "Outdoor Afro and Outdoor Afro Inc. continue to help us expand our inclusive design practices and bring collections that are designed to inspire more people to join us outside” said Isabelle Portilla, vice president, REI Co-op brands. “This second chapter of our hike collection add vibrant colors to inspire joy in nature for everyone.”
During 2021, Mapp established for-profit Outdoor Afro, Inc., which celebrates and inspires Black connections to the outdoors through product design, manufacturing, sales, and experiences. Today, both Inc. and REI serve as corporate partners of not-for-profit Outdoor Afro. Last year’s hike collection launched the Inc. and co-op business collaboration. The co-created project also introduced Mapp’s for-profit business and her as an innovative outdoor gear designer.
WGSN, a global consumer trend forecaster, fancied the hike collection so much that it highlighted the universal styles as part of the predictor’s 2025 “Big Ideas” fashion report. This report underscores six need-to-know directions that will impact the industry that year. WGSN featured the collection as an “Urgent Optimism” big idea. “That’s the beauty of each fit,” said Mapp. “The collection is informed by more than a decade of relationship-building with REI and cultivating meaningful conversations with today’s outdoor enthusiasts connected to our brands. The results: all-embracing designs for our various hiking lifestyles.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and on social @outdoorafro today.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO INC.: The for-profit business celebrates and inspires Black community connections to the outdoors through relevant product design, manufacturing, sales, and outdoor experiences. To learn more, visit @outdoorafroinc on social media.
ABOUT REI CO-OP: REI is a specialty outdoor retailer headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 23 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 181 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.
*Photos by Meron Menghistab (@meron_photo)
Outdoor Retailer elects Outdoor Afro to Homecoming Court
Outdoor Retailer – North America's largest trade show in the outdoor industry – honored Outdoor Afro during its rather “snowy” Snow Show 2023 held Jan. 10 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Now back in its longtime home, the three-day show recognized the national not-for-profit organization as a royalty member at the Homecoming Court Party outside of Salt Palace Convention Center. “It’s such an honor to receive this recognition and invitation to participate in this special event,” said Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in her 11th participatory year of the trade show, “but I actually owe this show more for helping me learn and grow my business. Outdoor Retailer has also ushered in my newest wave of lifelong friends who share my passion for connecting more people to the outdoors.” However, gusts of wind, rain, and eventually snow ended the party early. The court gathered for a quick photo op before Mother Nature bumped up the coldness.
Local Olympian Gus Kenworthy planned to acknowledge the court’s organizations and individuals making a difference in the outdoor community and industry. Outdoor Afro received the brief recognition alongside five other organizations: Conservation Alliance, Protect Our Winters, Conservation Alliance, Camber Outdoors, and The Outdoorist Oathe. Outdoor Retailer also honored local athlete and advocate Caroline Gleich; local CEO Kaitlin Eskelson; and local organization Save Our Great Salt Lake. “The Homecoming Court symbolizes our welcoming home to Salt Lake City,” said Outdoor Retailer Event Organizer Krista Parry. “We selected local organizations, industry organizations like Outdoor Afro, and national associations for our return to Utah. Rue is a true beacon of joy within this industry.” Mapp followed up the organizational accolade Jan. 11 with Outdoor Retailer’s Community Corners Campfire Chat – a “New at OR” section to the show that connects participants to industry influencers.
Nearly 40 fireside attendees fastened to a stump stool or stood nearby to learn about Mapp’s first book “Nature Swagger.” In collaboration with American publisher Chronicle Books, the project shares authentic stories and original visuals of Black joy in the outdoors. Campfire Chat participants listened as Mapp read about her childhood connection to nature and how those early experiences shaped the Outdoor Afro brand. Attendees traveled Mapp’s journey from developing a national movement through Outdoor Afro to creating universal gear and equipment for any hiking interpretation in nature.
Along with the first-time chat session, the show continued its tradition of introducing a new era of community, leadership, products, services, and fun. Re-establishing in Salt Lake City after a few years in Denver, Colorado, the show’s return to Utah meant a brand-new Outdoor Retailer format: shifted show dates, amplified demos, a leadership conference, and consumer festival welcoming public participation. And the fifth annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards – an always-favorite part of the event. Prior to this particular award, Outdoor Afro won the show’s then 2013 Outdoor Industry Association Outdoor Inspiration Awards.
“As a 2013 Inspiration Award recipient, it continues to inspire my work,” Mapp said, “and has helped Outdoor Afro live up to this vision as part of the industry and our nation.” At the trade show, industry experts confirmed business has changed in what’s a $862 billion-dollar outdoor industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Therefore, Outdoor Retailer aims to help platform brands and support the retail ecosystem overall at the right moments throughout each year. “Outdoor Retailer has always been a resource for the outdoor industry,” said Outdoor Retailer Vice President and Show Director Marisa Nicholson in Snow Show 2023 edition of show publication The Daily, “a space for innovation, inspiration, ideas, and advocacy.”
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro today.
ABOUT OUTDOOR RETAILER: Outdoor Retailer, the leading U.S. business events for the outdoor and winter sports industry, brings together retailers, manufacturers, designers, distributors, industry advocates, journalists, and more to conduct the business of outdoor recreation through commerce, unique product experiences, dedicated media events, content, and web-based business solutions. Outdoor Retailer provides critical platforms for face-to-face commerce, product launches, networking, and focused industry education to enhance business and support the outdoor recreation economy. Visit outdoorretailer.com for more information.
5 Stanley cookware hacks for holiday camping
Stanley products have literally traveled on oodles of American outdoor adventures for more than 100 years now. The brand has powered daily coffee breaks. Assisted meal prep days in nature. Provided the right amount of storage gear for food and beverages (on and off the road). With each passing year, Stanley continues to innovate, bringing timeless and modern solutions for outdoor exploration to backyard chill sessions.
Outdoor Afro champions brands like Stanley for helping to build more sustainable communities through modern, reusable products. Ways Outdoor Afro volunteer leaders, network participants, the organization’s staff, and even you can maximize time outside this holiday season by incorporating these multipurpose Stanley products:
TRY COOK SETS IN NEW SETTINGS: Typically food preparation is an indoor activity. With Stanley’s Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp Cook Set, it’s easier to move cooking experiences outside. This best-selling set features a three-ply frying pan, stainless-steel pot, cutting board, spatula, serving spoon, plates, and bowls. This collection includes the essentials to transport kitchen conveniences pretty much anywhere – the front yard, backyard, campsites, or RVs. The set’s compact design allows hassle-free packing and unloading to comfortably and confidently cook away from the traditional kitchen.
INVEST IN MULTI-USE BACKYARD COOKWARE: Outdoor Afro volunteer leader, Tarik Moore, is a backpacker, car camper, and backyard camping expert. He loves the “ease” of how his family works together to create original fun at home. “Backyard camping is really convenient,” said Moore, “allowing our kids to use their imagination and help with preparing snacks like s’mores.” In between games and conversation, Moore often relies on Stanley’s Adventure Cook Set For Four to accommodate appetites. Ideal for heating soups and brewing coffee, this 11-piece set includes a 2.5L pot, serving utensil, bowls, and sporks for four.
VENTURE OUT IN CULINARY CREATIONS: Another Outdoor Afro volunteer leader who appreciates a camping quest with family and friends is Robin Roberts. “I revisited camping four years ago,” she said. “I took my kids to The Mighty 5 and have been camping ever since.” An outdoor chef in her own right, Roberts puts Stanley products to the test for network camping trips. Cookware she can always make great use of: the Adventure Even-Heat Pot Set. This durable collection comes with a 1.9-quart saucepan, collapsible cutting board, silicone trivet, and serving spoon to prep, serve, and delight. Roberts’ signature camping dish: her chili and cornbread. Two syllables: De-lish! With the help of this lightweight, camp-friendly set, her favorite camping meal has become a beloved tradition, especially with her kids. “We make it on the stove and finish on the campfire,” said Roberts. “They love it every time, and I must make it every time we camp.”
SAVOR NEWER COFFEE-LOVER SIPS: Freshly brewed. Hot. Morning coffee. Yes, please! The Perfect-Brew Pour Over Set by Stanley is a quick-and-easy fix to getting up and at ’em in nature. This coffee system helps you relive those kitchen table sunrise seconds with each sip. Paper filters not required, the stainless-steel setup contains a reusable filter paired with Stanley’s Classic Legendary Camp Mug. This fun-size mug keeps coffee heated by way of its double-wall vacuum insulation. The mug’s press-fit Tritan™ lid also helps prevent spills or splashes in the car or by the campfire.
CRAFT SIGNATURE COFFEES FOR TRAVELING CREWS: Complement early-morning breakfast among loved ones with the Stay Hot French Press. This compact coffee solution makes brewing specific types of coffee during group camping adventures easier to achieve in the outdoors. A mesh filter holds the grinds in place, resulting in a stronger, flavorful cup of coffee. Plus, its double-wall vacuum insulation keeps everything hot. The ergonomic handle ensures pouring is a mess-free process. The press guarantees coffee stays hot for four hours and iced for 24 hours.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities. “Where Black people and nature meet,” Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow us @outdoorafro on social.
ABOUT STANLEY: The Stanley brand has a rich 100-plus year history of forever changing the way hot drinks are consumed. Stanley fused vacuum insulation and the strength of steel in one portable bottle in 1913, inventing the all-steel vacuum bottle we know and love today. In the century since, this vacuum bottle has evolved from concept to icon, and has become an essential part of workdays, road trips, and outdoor adventures. In addition to drinkware, Stanley also creates food storage, camp cookware, coolers and jugs.
Why Smartwool + Outdoor Afro are a model partnership pair
Network partner Smartwool designs and produces Merino wool socks and accessories to help fuel a life lived outside. But its mission doesn’t stop there. From inclusivity and diversity to sustainability and advocacy, Smartwool uses its brand values to navigate the outdoor industry, curating products and a community to create a more accessible outdoors for everyone.
Recently, Outdoor Afro collaborated with Smartwool on a second hiking sock for the network's 2022 Juneteenth commemoration — designed by volunteer leader and artist Leandra Taylor to represent Black joy, healing, and unity in nature. The Outdoor Afro Hike Light Cushion Print Crew Socks became a colorful option for outdoor enthusiasts to fashion and wear while exploring their backyard versions of land, water, and wildlife. “I wanted to be intentional about what this sock represents,” said Taylor. “It’s universal. Different versions of Blackness to identify with because we’re not a monolith – even in our outdoor experiences.”
Taylor also created Outdoor Afro’s 2020 “Slice of Nature” socks to illustrate the network’s love for the outdoors despite entering COVID times. That Smartwool performance hike sock emphasized joy and community in the outdoors while standing together to protect local areas and wild places – even while quarantining. “The new print crew sock involved more than the patterns I typically create,” Taylor said. “The faces flow and wrap around the foot, showing every angle of our Black beauty.”
To get more people outside, Smartwool has focused on creating new fit blocks so communities can experience the comfort and natural performance of Merino wool. Fall 2022, it's proud to release the new unisex collection for everyday wear and women’s plus sizes in fan-favorite classic thermal base layer. Just the start to the brand's journey, offering more sizes and fit options. Natural fiber Merinio wool dominates Smartwool’s catalogue because of the inherent temperature control, sweat management, and odor resistance.
When additional materials are needed for durability and quicker dry times, Smartwool uses recycled materials whenever possible. And that’s not the only way our partner is putting the planet first. Smartwool launched the Second Cut™ Project on Earth Day 2021 — the outdoor industry’s first sock recycling platform. To date, Smartwool has collected 525,000-plus socks and diverted more than 42,000 pounds of usable materials from landfills to use in future products.
The Second Cut™ Project is a major step toward Smartwool's goal of 100 percent of its products designed for circularity. With its “go far. feel good.™” motto, the sock expert doesn’t care who you are. As long as you’re getting out that door. And Outdoor Afro knows personally the brand is dedicated to supporting communities every step of the way. For years now, Smartwool has helped Outdoor Afro amplify and celebrate Black voices in nature.
ABOUT OUTDOOR AFRO: Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. What started as a kitchen table blog by Founder and CEO Rue Mapp in 2009 has since grown into a cutting-edge nationwide network with 100-plus volunteer leaders in 60 cities with network participation reaching 60,000 people. Outdoor Afro reconnects Black people with the outdoors through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Follow Outdoor Afro at outdoorafro.org and @outdoorafro today.
ABOUT SMARTWOOL: Based in Denver, Colorado, Smartwool® is a sock and apparel brand whose products are designed to get the most out of the inherent benefits of Merino wool to bring comfort, confidence, and community to a life lived outside. For information on the full range of Smartwool® products or to find a dealer near you, please visit Smartwool.com. Smartwool, a division of VF Outdoor, LLC, is a brand of VF Corporation.
