#if they aren’t quality socks he won’t wear them PERIOD | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fmdjoosungarchive · 2 years

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【✧】━━━━━ ♥ s h o e s a e s t h e t i c ♥ ━━━━━【✧】

sung has had a really long and still ongoing journey with finding what fashion he himself likes, and one of the things he’s come to like are shoes. this is a visual representation of his preferred style, n per usual bc i do not know how to shut up, more info under cut

sung vs shoes

word count: 697

tldr; basically sung has a massive (for a guy who insists u should only have as much as u need re: material items) and cute shoe collection these days

for much of sung’s life, he didn’t think much about shoes. they were only pieces of clothing that kept his feet safe

there were times he’d see a pair of shoes on someone and think, wow, those are cute, but never did it go past that. imagining himself being able to wear the things he thought were cute never came to mind in the first place

sung didn’t consider any shoe styles aside from the basics until he begun dating his ex, who encouraged him towards heels and mary janes

while neither style ended up being in his favorites, it made him think about what it is he Would like in shoes

he went through trial testing periods, but at this point, thinks that the defining feature of what he likes in shoes is comfort first, then cuteness second

shoes that provide Plush already have a leg up for him, now put that in a cute design or even just a nice pastel color, and he’s there

many of the shoes he likes aren’t very suited for wearing in public, which in its own way, is kinda nice because he also quite likes platform shoes, but doesn’t like how tall he already is naturally, so being taller than his usual tall isn’t pleasing to him, but if he’s just chilling at home, he wont even be thinking about how big he is. he’ll just be comfy, and feel cute

when going out, unless he was styled by someone else, he’s most likely wearing sneakers. he prefers unique styles, ones that are more loud, or have charms. those are the only types he buys for himself. but when he gets gifts, either from friends or fans going only based on him saying that one time that he likes sneakers, he still cherishes them and wears them confidently, however, he prefers to try to make them a little more his style, like with a bead chain on the back or charms attached to the shoelaces

he adores jelly shoes aesthetically (even heeled ones, since he likes chunky heels) but since they’re some of the least comfortable of his favorite shoe styles, they get worn the least. he keeps trying to think if there’s a way to attach an insole slip in that won’t look ugly and will stay in place, but doesn’t think he has the creativity to do so

probably third after cuteness for qualities that grab sung’s attention are those with elegance. i used the birks on the middle right as an example bc they’re clearly influenced by ballet slippers. sung adores that as a concept. or shoes with nice tight bows, shoes that give blair waldorf energy ykwim

slippers are also apleeeeenty in sung’s apartment. this isn’t a new development really, as even babie businessman sung liked having a good number of slippers to choose between, but the designs and cuteness of them has upped substantially. the softest shoes possible for sure, and loads of animal themed ones. he also keeps a second collection that are just for guests so that they can wear something cute too, and it can be passed off as a silly thing they’re both doing, if that’s not their usual kind of thing

he likes sandals quite a bit in general too, tho not flip flops, and Prefers his sandals with cute socks, but when the socks cannot be cute, he’d rather forego them and be sockless

and FINALLY the reason i made this whole gd post was because i realized sung loves crocs. are they the most versatile in style? absolutely not. he insists he Needs all of his different styles because crocs don’t cover enough bases..... but if they did.......... he probably would wear only crocs. HEAR HIM OUT. theyre comfortable, can be socked or not socked, and can be as cute as he wants because theyre customizable af w jibbitz. and he’s a jibbitz stan. before he knew they existed, crocs were just comfy shoes to wear around the house like another pair of slippers esp for days his feet were in the big pains. but with jibbitz??? they’re all day wear baybee. and sung’s basically this tiktok

thank u for ur time i love choi joosung

#aesthetic #self para #jongin likes to post feet pics and sung likes to post shoe pics

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thesaltyace · 3 years

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big rant/ramble below, you can safely ignore and move on to the next post in your feed.

Urgh

I shared the results of that autism screener with a quasi-friend who I thought would be "safe" (we used to work together and we connected over his being gay and me being visibly queer) but his response was blergh

Everyone has hints of autism.

okay yeah but this isn't just *hints* of autism. I'm answered yes to symptoms I've had since I was a kid that I've learned to mask or work around as an adult. But I still struggle with them.

He pointed out that he sees me as more ADHD than ASD.

Yeah, fair, and I'd need to see a professional to try to distinguish if my symptoms are ADHD, ASD, or both.

You don't hit the three prongs needed for a diagnosis.

But.... but I do. And the stuff I dealt with as a kid is still stuff I deal with today. I just mask it better. A short and not exhaustive list:

As I kid I had trouble interacting with peers. I didn't have friends, really. I didn't know how to make friends and I didn't try terribly hard to. I acquire friends when someone else "adopts" me and decides that we are friends. And once I became an adult, I have almost never had friends of my own - I share a friend group with my spouse who we're primary connected to through him. I'm okay with that. Maintaining a friendship entirely on my own power sounds impossible and exhausting.

I was okay with not having friends, I liked being alone, but my mom insisted on me being social. She made me join things so that I would have a list of people to invite to parties. I'd honestly have preferred a day of doing stuff I like or just a couple friends. As an adult, I want to be alone on my birthday. I will celebrate with certain friends, separately, usually over a quiet meal. That's it.

I had trouble understanding sarcasm and figurative speech. Like, I understand it now but I still think most figurative speech is annoying. I've been told the way I deliver sarcasm is weird, too.

I liked memorizing movies and quoting them start to finish, I thought it was fun but everyone else thought it was weird. I continued to do this into adulthood but I only quote aloud when I'm alone. Alamo Drafthouse quote-alongs are the BEST. I don't do this with every movie, either, just ones I really like.

Okay actually I also liked to listen to the same album or, in some cases, the same song over and over until I was sick of it (and sometimes even after that point). I mean, just endlessly looping on repeat. Not interspersed with other songs. I do this as an adult a LOT because it's easier with headphones to do this without annoying everyone else around you. Like, often it's fine for me to just put a playlist on shuffle, but I get into Moods where I just want the one album/song over and over. Yesterday I listened to Wellerman about 50 times in a row and only stopped because I had to get up and do something else and that song wasn't "good" for whatever I got up to do.

My special interest as a kid was cats. Literally everything cats, all the time - I sought out obscure facts and could tell you the difference between similar species, and wanted cats involved in literally everything I did. Adults laughed it off as childhood obsession. I was also pretty obsessed with the solar system. I thought asking my peers, as a trivia question, which of Jupiter's moons had its own asteroid (Io, in case you were wondering) was appropriate and interesting and was confused that they didn't know that. That was in fifth grade.

I watched the weather channel for fun. I would watch it for hours and absorb the weekly forecast info just... for fun? I never used it, could never tell you if you should dress a certain way or bring an umbrella or whatever. Everyone thought it was weird.

I was a know-it-all and literally could not stop myself from bluntly correcting people who were wrong. Didn't know or care that it was "rude". I'm still that way but I've learned how to sometimes swallow the urge long enough to find a more tactful way to point it out (but often fail).

I could read on my own before kindergarten, used vocabulary beyond what one would expect for my age, and had a special interest in spelling and grammar throughout my school years. I did not understand how other people weren't interested in learning about it and getting it right. I read at an undergrad level by 4th grade.

I hated loud noises and often covered my ears to block out irritating sounds. I could also hear high pitched noises that even other kids didn't seem to hear (or at least weren't bothered by them). Too much noise sent me into an internal meltdown, I'd just kinda shut down because I couldn't deal with it.

Textures and pressure on my skin bothered the absolute fuck out of me - sock seams, certain fabric materials, socks that weren't equally elastic, one shoe tighter than the other, tags.... all of that. (Also, fun anecdote I just unlocked - when I was 4 or 5 my grandmother started letting me use the soft silk sleep shirt she had as a young woman because I preferred it to anything else. Soft, smooth, no irritating qualities. Bliss. I wanted to wear it all the time.)

Don't get me started on food. Until I was in COLLEGE I mostly subsisted on pasta with either butter or alfredo sauce and chicken. I would eat other things, but pasta and/or chicken was (and still is) my biggest safe/comfort food. I'd eat other stuff mostly if I could control the balance of ingredients, get it made plain, or could confirm the texture wouldn't be offensive (so, like... plain burgers, plain cheese pizza, grilled cheese, mashed potatoes, etc.) I cannot stress this enough - from childhood through COLLEGE I did this. As a kid my mom had to make me a completely separate dish most nights to get me to eat something. My spouse was horrified at what little variety I ate. The only reason I eat so much variety now is that he knows what I do/don't like and tells me in advance if I'll find a texture or taste offensive. Of course, rather than wanting consistent texture like I did when I was younger, I now seek as much texture as possible (so long as they aren't Bad textures) so.... that's fun. But yeah most of my objections to Yucky foods is due to T E X T U R E. Even if I like the taste, the texture overrides it all.

I prefer animals to people. I will seek out animals and interact with them instead of people in the same room. And will pointedly focus on the animal to avoid interacting with people.

I'm perfectly happy with only myself for company. Being with just my spouse counts as me being "alone" though. Always has. I just realized last night that it's because I do minimal to no masking around him because he's a safe person to unmask with and always has been. Never batted an eye at the weird shit I do beyond asking questions about what I was doing or why. And then just "Okay."

Okay honestly just the fact that I want to vent into the void of tumblr instead of actually discussing this with a person - even my spouse! - pretty effectively shows how little it occurs to me to interact with other people directly. o_0

And there are so many more things that I won't list here because I could just go on and on. And like, sure, some of this may certainly overlap with ADHD but my point is that I have enough to point to ASD that it doesn't feel like having a "hint" of autism. And who knows - maybe it is mostly just ADHD and CPTSD stuff interacting in weird ways. Could be!

But just because I can make small talk and make eye contact and do the "normal" shit and I can interact "normally" doesn't mean I LIKE it. I had to LEARN to do those things to avoid having bad social interactions. When I'm by myself or with my spouse, I behave very differently than I do around anyone else. ANYONE. It's not just slightly changing my behavior depending on who I'm with - it's completely suppressing how I naturally would do things if left to my own devices.

Like, the things we recommended to our autistic students who wanted to know how to interact in ways that would help them blend in/be accepted by others ARE THE EXACT THINGS I ALREADY DO. Like, it did not occur to me at the time that neurotypicals literally do not have to think about doing those things. I thought, ah, these students just need to be told what the tricks are. Other people figure these tricks out on their own. It did not occur to me that other people, in fact, do not learn these tricks because they naturally do that behavior. They do not have to actively think about learning the trick, period. I literally thought other people also have to think as hard as I do about interactions. Evidently not.

So yeah, I'm feeling a little upset about the reaction I got from him because I'm like.... honestly, a diagnosis of ASD wouldn't change a lot about how I do things or think of things. But it would make me feel better about interacting with and participating in autism-related stuff if I am actually autistic. I realize I can use the resources and supports meant for ASD regardless, and for formal supports anything I can access due to my ADHD diagnosis likely covers anything I'd need for ASD. But having a diagnosis opens up more community. Right now I'm like yeah I'm ADHD but I totally relate to this ASD content. But I'm not going to interact much because I feel like I don't have the right to join in since idk if I do have ASD.

idk I have a lot of feelings. I had a bad email about the trans insurance coverage thing yesterday and I'm not in a great headspace, but finding out me and my spouse both scored very high on the autism screening stuff was honestly a high point because we ended up sharing a lot of how we view and interact with the world that was very eye-opening about why we interact the way we do, how we relate to others (and how other people think we're weird for how we relate to others), and just...everything. And having someone be skeptical after I've spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that I DON'T have ASD only to conclude that at the very least, I should probably be evaluated because I can't reasonably rule it out. Like, most people do not wonder if they have autism. The fact that I am spending this much time looking into it and trying to find examples to disprove it only to find I overwhelmingly can't in virtually every single diagnostic category.... just..... dismissing it outright is kinda hurtful.

Like, I recognize that ADHD symptoms overlap a fair bit, but seriously. My spouse (who definitively does not have ADHD) scored almost identically to me and we vibed on almost everything when we compared answers. We see most things similarly. We have similar areas of confusion about other people and for fundamentally similar reasons. I can't imagine all of the stuff that points to ASD for me is just ADHD in disguise, not when I vibe THAT HARD with someone else. Spouse does not vibe with me on ADHD content. At all. He can appreciate it since he does live with me, after all, and observes whatever's being discussed. But he doesn't vibe with it. He vibes with autism content, though. And I vibe with both.

idk this rant ended in rambling and I'm just going to go listen to Inside on repeat for a couple hours while I try to calm down a bit. o_0

#rant over #for now #I've actually been listening to Inside for the last twenty minutes already lol #maybe I'll try to nap #idk #blergh #yay Shit is playing now and I'm like LOL cause I did wake up at 11:30 feeling like shit #woot #what a bop #I'm like hell yeah you get it #let's vibe

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brokestminimalist · 6 years

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Saving Electricity

This is a project we've been working on for five years or so: reducing our electricity usage. This reduces our bill, first and foremost. It also reduces our carbon footprint, saving the earth a little bit. There is no downside to conserving electricity. There is literally no reason not to. It's a great minimalist activity. It's also kind of fun. We are always waiting with anticipation to see our newest bill, to see if we're winning or not. We judge winning based on our electric bill for the same month in the previous year. For example, if our electric usage for January 2018 is less than it was for January 2017, we're winning. You don't have to keep old bills to do this. Your electricity company probably has a website where you can log in and see your past usage for a certain number of years. Ours goes back to 2012, so we can see graphs of our usage over the 12 month period and compare it to what's current. Look yours up and see what it's like. Have you been using more energy recently, or less?

This is an ongoing project with a lot of little details. Looking over this long list won't seem very minimalist, but a lot of these are one-time tasks that you'll never have to do again unless you move to a new house. Once they're done, they're done. Others are once-a-year tasks, while a few are behavior modifications (like turning off light switches or taking shorter showers). You can't do them all at once unless you're not broke, so take a look over the list and see which ones you can mark off right now. Then, come back to this post in a few weeks and see what else you can accomplish. Keep an eye on your bill, so you'll see the immediate benefits.

Turn off the lights: This one is an easy behavior modification. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Turn off the lights when you leave the house. Yes, even the porch light. It might give you the illusion of security, but trust me: if a burglar wants to get into your house, a porch light won't stop them. Turn it off. If you really feel unsafe without it, get a solar motion-sensor light. Sleep your computer, too. If you aren't already in the habit, start today. Turn lights off.

Replace all your bulbs with LED bulbs: this is an investment up front, but with a potentially significant payoff. As your incandescent or CFL bulbs begin to die, go ahead and replace them one at a time with good quality LED light bulbs. They use a fraction of the electricity and will last for years and years. You'll save on bulb replacements and on electricity usage. Now, that doesn't mean you can leave them on all the time. Continue turning off lights when you leave the room, even if they are LED ones.

Take shorter showers: you are paying to heat that water. Don't empty the tank every time you shower. Five minutes is all you need. You'll save water, too.

Insulate everything: This is the one that will make the most difference, as climate control is the biggest energy drain in almost every house. Add weather stripping, caulk and insulation to every nook and cranny you can find. This will keep your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing A/C costs year round. Be creative with canned spray foam. Use paintable caulk to fill in cracks and then hide them. Buy some cheap light switch/outlet gaskets, they only cost a few cents each and pay for themselves. Get a fiberglass blanket for your water heater. Inspect your windows carefully and eliminate any gaps. If you have a nice financial windfall and you own your house, replacing windows can make a huge difference to your bills.

Cover your windows: Even if you have newish windows, and especially if you don't, invest in heavy thermal curtains or blackout curtains. These will block UV light in summer, keeping your house a few degrees cooler. You can still open them to let light in, but keep the ones on the side of the house the sun is shining on closed. In winter, they are heavy enough to block out some of the cold. Open them during the day to let sunlight warm your house, then shut them tight when the sun goes down. Get some window kits and cover your windows with the plastic. If you can't find any, get some cheap clear shower curtains from the dollar store and nail them up underneath your curtains. Tape the edges with masking tape. This will trap the cold air away, and you can take them down in the spring.

Maintain your appliances: Have your furnace and a/c inspected and tuned up annually. Clean your fridge coils. If you use your dryer, and you shouldn't if you can help it, make sure the lint trap and vent hose are clear. An appliance that isn't running efficiently uses more electricity than necessary and can even be a fire hazard. Invest in the most energy efficient ones you can afford. If you're broke like us, keep using the ones you have until they just won't go anymore.

Don't use your dryer: Clothes dryers, as we've said, are a frivolous waste of electricity. Air dries things for free. Hang your clothes out in the sun, or in your house if it's rainy or below freezing outside. This will be a not-insignificant savings. You'll probably see a drop of 20 bucks on your bill if you stop completely.

Use ceiling fans properly: In summer, ceiling fans should rotate counterclockwise on a high speed. Fans don't cool the air, but they make us feel cooler by the process of evaporation. In the summer, use them to full advantage. In the winter, they should run clockwise on the lowest setting. Hot air rises, so this will gently blow the warmer air down to your level. If you aren't in a room, turn the ceiling fan off just as you would a light.

Use electric blankets in winter: These only use a few watts and you’ll stay super cozy. Or at least, your dog will when he steals it.

Air dry your dishes: just like the clothes dryer, letting your dishwasher dry your dishes is wasteful. If you use the dishwasher, put it on air dry. If yours is a bajillion years old and doesn't have that setting, just stop it after the wash cycle and open the door so your dishes can dry.

Check your thermostat: In the summer, keep it as warm as you possibly can stand. For us this is about 78 degrees. Yes, really. You won't die. Wear some shorts, use your ceiling fans. Take a cool shower. You'll be fine. In winter avoid using your furnace unless it's very cold. We had planned to keep ours set to around 60 degrees, until we figured out that it was broken. Instead we are using electric space heaters to heat only the room we are in at the time. If you do use your furnace, keep it set as cool as you can stand and bundle up against the chill. Use electric blankets on your bed to stay toasty at night, they use only a few watts and will keep you warmer than if you try to heat the surrounding air anyway.

Find energy vampires: these are devices that use standby power when they are off. The clock on your microwave, for example. Unplug that shit. That's wasted money. Your cable box, tv and dvd player probably do too; put those on a power strip and turn it off when you're done watching. We actually unplug all our crap. Our washer and dryer are unplugged right now. So are the tv and Fire Stick, the microwave, the crock pot, and the lamp in the living room. You don't have to be crazy like us, but if you think a device is using power when it's off, even if it's just to keep a little blinking light on, unplug it.

Get rid of hair dryers and curling irons: your hair will dry. These things waste energy and are also fire and burn hazards. We remember having our grandma burn the crap out of our head with a big old 70's hair dryer when we were a kid (in the 90's, btw). We'd complain that it was too hot, she'd ignore us, and two days later our scalp would start peeling. These things are dangerous. If you want curly hair, get a set of sponge curlers. They were good enough for grandma and they're good enough for you.

Use the microwave: as much as possible, cook things in the microwave instead of on the stove or in the oven. The microwave uses the least electricity of these.

Get rid of scented plug ins: throw that crap away. Get some scented candles. Done.

Open your blinds and curtains during the day: the sun provides plenty of light, so you shouldn't need to turn on lights until after dark. Open up your blinds to let the sunlight in so you can see, and so it can warm your house in winter. In summer, close the blinds/curtains on the side of the house where the sun is, to block out the extra heat.

Open your windows in the evening in the summer: When it's hot during the day, keep the windows shut and the curtains pulled, at least on the side where the sun is shining in. After the sun goes down, if it's cooler outside than inside, open your windows and doors to let the cool night air in. Shut them before the sun comes up and trap the nice cool air inside. It'll stay cool for a few hours before you have to turn the A/C on. We do not recommend sleeping with your door open, ftr. If you've got mosquitoes, get screens.

Trap your desired temperature: If you've got open doorways between rooms where there aren't actual doors, hang curtains or blankets there to keep your climate controlled air from escaping into other parts of the house. We use clear shower curtains in winter to trap heat in our living room. We don't need to heat the kitchen if we aren't in the kitchen, right? You can do this with air conditioning too if you've got a window unit. If you aren't using central but you still have air registers in your house, cover them with plastic. Do not cover air registers in unused rooms if you are using the central, this is bad for your unit and duct work. Just let them blow.

Dress for the season: if it's 90 degrees outside, wear shorts and a tank top and put your thermostat on 78. If it's 10 degrees outside, bundle up in layers and wool socks and put your thermostat on 60. You will be fine. You will acclimate, even. We promise.

Wash your clothes in cold water: heating water uses electricity. Unless you're washing something that's very greasy, use cold water.

Use the eco settings on everything: Your computer probably has this, so does your tv. Use this setting on every device that offers it.

Shade your roof: with deciduous trees. That is, ones that lose their leaves in the winter. You gain a lot of heat from the sun shining directly on your roof in the summer, so you want it to be shaded by trees so your house stays a little cooler. In winter you want that extra warmth hitting your house, though. If you don't already have trees growing this can be a very long-term project. If you own the property, do some research on the subject and plant some good, hardy trees in strategic locations.

Shade your A/C: air conditioning is by far the biggest energy hog in your house. It'll run more efficiently if it's not in direct sunlight, so plant some shade trees.

Use space heaters: Leave your furnace off and use space heaters to heat only the room you are in, rather than the whole house. (Make sure your pipes are insulated first.) This will save lots of energy. If, however, you do need to heat the whole house, do not use space heaters to do so. Not only will you have a ridiculous bill, you'll likely burn your house down.

(Yeah that’s our furniture-free bedroom, but that’s another post!

Turn off the furnace/air conditioner when you are away: There's a myth that says it takes more energy to heat your house up if it's gotten cold than if you just leave the heat running constantly. This is 100% false. If you leave, turn everything off. Even if you're gone for eight hours for work, your house isn't likely to be freezing inside when you get back. It'll heat back up within twenty minutes or so, and it won't use more electricity that way. So turn it off when you leave.

Hibernate in winter: When the weather’s cold, pick one room to heat and stay in there rather than moving around. If you’ve got a family your body heat will keep the room even warmer. You can play board games or do puzzles. We hibernate in our bedroom during winter and mostly abandon the rest of the house. We venture out occasionally for food or to pee, but we come back quickly.

There are other things you can do, but these are the ones we've found that make the most difference. We'll post results as we try new things so everyone can see. Shaving money off our utility bill has made the most difference to our finances recently. When we first moved here we got a $500 electric bill for August, the hottest month here. We'd reduced that to $57 by November. Now that it's cold and we've been using space heaters instead of the fire, we're up to $85 or so. If we can stay under $100 for the rest of the winter that'll be significant.

You can make a difference right now. Go turn something off.

Links: Mr. Electricity, Reduce your carbon footprint

#savingenergy #electricity #minimalbills

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rodrigohyde · 5 years

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5 Base-Layer Basics That Bring Heat to Your Cold Weather Workout

Why Adding a Base Layer Will Have You Winning Your Winter Workouts

When it comes to cold-weather sports and frigid outdoor workouts, battling the elements can become the most challenging part of the grind. Performance base layers are essential for helping keep your muscles warm and maximizing your time outside. And when working up a sweat in extreme temperatures, it's important to wear quick drying, moisture-wicking fabrics that transport perspiration away from your body. Whether you’re an Olympic athlete or a weekend warrior, the key to keeping warm is staying dry.

RELATED: Ski and Snowboard Attire That’ll Have You Shredding in Style

Long johns are fine for staying toasty on an average cold day. But when it comes to exercising in colder climates, cotton thermal underwear doesn’t cut it. As you sweat, that soft cotton holds water, and that dampness will leave you cold.

Instead look for wool or silk versions that naturally wick moisture while keeping you warm. Just ask Scott D. Rosenbaum, avid winter sportsman and writer, director, and producer of Red Hawk Films. “One of my favorite workouts is snowshoeing up a great trail with my snowboard strapped to my back. The real challenge is what to wear due to the rapid change in heart rate and body temperature that occurs between ascent and descent; the trek up produces a lot of heat and therefore sweat,” he tells us. “Sweat instantly feels like the ice water challenge the moment I hit the peak and turn to make my descent.”

For hockey players, it’s the time spent on the bench between shifts, and for skiers, a long gondola ride. No matter what the winter sport, staying warm in between periods of high-intensity exertion can be the most challenging part of the workout.

“I often experience these same dynamics while scouting or filming on location, and the only solution is layers, but not just any layers, the right layers,” Rosenbaum adds. “Mountaineers know the phrase ‘cotton kills,’ and for good reason. It’s critical to choose quality ... fabrics as a base layer for their wicking properties.”

He suggests the wool products by Icebreaker. “[I found the brand] while shooting on location in Iceland, and I find a good mix of synthetic layers and wool pieces provides a nice balance for the rapidly changing conditions one faces in these or similar situations.”

Most ski and outdoor gear brands have their own unique names and patented versions of tech fabrics, such as Under Armour’s HeatGear, Helly Hansen’s Lifa, and Arc’teryx’s Phasic. These high performing synthetic fabrics are often listed on the fabric tag as polyester, but today's modern microfiber can stand up to extreme temperatures and unpredictable weather situations. Plus they feel just as good as cotton against your skin.

Here are a couple of key qualities to keep in mind before suiting up.

Health and Safety

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According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, “cold muscles, tendons, and ligaments are vulnerable to injury.” Dressing in base layers and warming up properly before exercising in the cold can save you from pulling a hammy.

"It's important to view the body as one connective piece of tissue, not individual muscles,” according to Guy Macchia, NASM certified PT and corrective exercise specialist. “Thus, when there is a ‘knot,’ or bunching of tight tissue somewhere in the body, it is pulling tissue or slack away from other areas and making an athlete's overall movement patterns less than optimal.”

RELATED: How to Teach Yourself to Not Hate Running

Wearing warm insulated base layers or tights can help you avoid those painful muscle cramps that can feel like a sniper hit. Look for performance styles designed with built in extra compression panels targeted to stabilize your hips, thighs, and calves.

However, you still need to get the blood circulating prior to hitting the trail, track, or slopes. “As we sleep, sit, hunch at our phones, athletes undoubtedly develop tight muscles,” Macchia explains. “Working out in the cold before warming up is like going outside with a loaded gun. Your muscles might not give out this time but continue to press your luck by moving sub-optimally, and you will eventually suffer the consequences.”

And don’t forget your feet! Wearing multiple pairs of socks is a big no-no when it comes to dressing for extreme climates. To avoid frostbite, you need to be able to wiggle your toes in your boots.

“If you want your feet to stay warm and dry, invest in a pair of ski-specific socks,” advises New York-based podiatrist Pushpa Chauhan, D.P.M. “Buy socks that are kneehigh, moisture-wicking, and are of thin or medium weight. If they're too heavy or [you’re] wearing two pairs of socks, [your feet] will sweat and quickly chill.”

And when going for a nighttime run, it’s important to consider the lower visabiltiy, even as early as the afternoon. To stay safe and visible from every angle, reflective tights such as 2XU Reflect Compression Tights or ASICS Lite-Show Tights which boast 360 degree reflectivity.

Speed

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Bulkier isn’t always better, especially when it comes to performance. Layering up so you’re puffy like the Michelin man will restrict your movement and add seconds to your run times. If you feel the need for speed, you'll want to keep your gear aerodynamic and fitted close to the body.

“Compression is great for winter. It's like a second skin,” says Mantas Zvinas, senior SoulCycle instructor and founder of Surf Yoga Beer. “We have a Surf Yoga Beer run club that meets Tuesday evenings, even during the winter — and it gets cold. It's super important that it is a moisture-wicking and compression tights because it gets wet and windy and you don't want to get sick.”

RELATED: Why You Need To Wear Sunscreen In The Winter

No, exercising in the rain won’t make you sick. However, according to Livestrong.com, “Studies have shown that lowering a person's body temperature may make them more prone to contracting viruses. In other words, it's the coldness, not the wetness, that may make you more susceptible to succumbing to a virus.”

Adding wetness to a cold body helps prolong it’s suboptimal temperature, increasing the chances of a compromised immune system.

And soggy is slow. Today’s hi-tech textiles are engineered for speed, think Olympic bobsledders and speed skaters. According to an article from Scientific American decreasing drag could mean the difference between getting on the podium or not. Even the way a fabric is woven can cut down wind resistance and make it more aerodynamic.

Stink-Proof

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Just like your summer gear, your winter workout clothing will smell after you’ve worked up a sweat. Cold-weather base layers from brands such as Burton, Odlo, and The North Face all boast a stink-proof coating that utilizes a high-tech antibacterial treatment usually applied to the fabric during the finishing process. It works the same as your deodorant to prevent the growth of odor-causing microbes that make you smell bad. You might even get an extra day out of your base layers, which is clutch, because who wants to stop and do laundry while skiing the Alps?

You can prolong the life of your synthetic base layers by laundering them correctly in cold water. Remember, dry cleaning, fabric softener, and hot dryers can break down the very high-tech coatings and treatments that keep you warm, dry, and smelling fresh.

Style

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When it comes to style, not all base layers can make the transition from underwear to outerwear. But base layers aren’t meant to be seen. This is why you should choose your kit based on the weather conditions and activity intensity.

“Everyone wants to look good and feel good,” says Andy Docken, Aspen Mountain Ski School Manager. “But base layers are meant for technical function, not fashion. Unless you’re looking to show off those gym gains, keep them under wraps. And if you want to make a style statement, you can do so with your second and mid layers.”

RELATED: How to Set Yourself Up for Fitness Success All Year

It’s usually better to go with a separate top and bottom instead of a one-piece so that when conditions change, you can take one piece off without losing the warmth of the other. However, if you’re a skier who’s a face-planter, a one-piece union suit keeps the snow from getting up your back or down your pants.

Pick base layer options that work with your gear, not against it. For example, snow enthusiasts should look for technical tops with built-in fitted hoods and facemasks that work well under a ski helmet. Hate all that fabric bunching in your boots? Marmot has solved that problem with a boot-cut bottom that fits over the outside of your footwear. Got chafing when you run? Check the fit. If your bottoms are too loose, it might be the extra fabric that’s rubbing you the wrong way. Also, look for a style finished with flat seams where the raw edges are stitched down and smooth as well as a gusset or pouch to snuggly hold the snow balls in place.

Sustainability

Patagonia

If you’re out there freezing for hours on end, chances are you love the great outdoors. For decades Patagonia has been leading the charge producing environmentally responsible mountain biking, trail running, climbing gear, and more. And other fitness brands are following suit.

“When I’m trotting through the wilderness like a wild animal here in Colorado, my go-to attire is my Softwear joggers and hoodie,” Eric Hinman, elite CrossFit and endurance athlete, tells us about his preference for the sustainable brand that also works with non-toxic dyes while manufacturing. “They keep me warm on my hikes and trail runs, which sometimes last up to 90 minutes.”

Remember, to achieve peak performance during your winter workouts, you’ll need to bring the heat — and it’s all about that base.

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montemoutdoorgear1 · 6 years

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Hiking With Horses

Aging hikers would benefit from hiking with horses. In-fact, anyone who cannot walk for extended periods of times or up to certain elevations but would like to experience hiking could do so with horses. These people may include disabled, young or aging hikers. No, hiking with horses isn’t a painless experience: stiffness and pain are normal side effects. However, if you’re recovering from a hip replacement and want to make it up that mountain you’ve always wanted to hike, horses are the way to go.

What supplies are needed?

When planning for your journey, think about the typical horse riding supplies, but also consider what you’d need on a typical hike. The benefit of hiking with horses is that you can rely on him or her to help carry everything. You’ll need to think about what you’ll need for your horse, your clothing, cooking equipment, repair equipment, medical items, and other things you’d typically need on a hike.

First of all, your horses will need a few things. This includes stuff to fulfill their needs and yours during horseback riding.

Saddle and Halter – This is part of the basics. When horse riding, unless you plan on an uncomfortable bare-back ride, you’ll need a saddle. Get one that fits your horse and you comfortably. Halters are also a necessity. Make sure it fits snuggly but not too tight as you horse will be wearing it for the duration of your hike.

Lead rope, panniers, and tie down ropes – These are also necessities. It’s likely that you’ll want to walk for at least a small part of your journey. A lead rope will allow you to walk and guide your horse at the same time. Panniers are definitely a necessity for carrying supplies that your horse or you will need during your hike. Make sure it fits your horse comfortably and is balanced. Finally, tie down ropes are for helping you mount, dismount, and guide your horse. Tie it just right to allow you better control while allowing for a comfortable experience for your horse.

Bridle – If your horse is a true bridle horse, get a good bridle that your horse is comfortable with. This gives you more control during your journey and helps for guiding.

Cinch – A cinch or girth is a piece of equipment that helps keep your saddle in place on your horse. It typically passes under his or her barrel and attaches to the saddle on both sides of leather straps known as billets.

Containment System – A good containment system will keep your horse safely in camp. When you’re ready to rest and relax, you don’t want your horse taking off. So, think ahead and bring along hobbles or a picket rope. OK, I know hobbling a horse sounds awful, but it really isn’ All it requires is a rope tied around two or more of your horse’s legs which keeps them from taking long strides away from camp. A picket line is another good option. In this, you stretch a line between two trees which you then tie to your horses. Just make sure your halters, lead ropes, picket-line ropes, and knots are all strong and durable.

Hoof pick and shoeing kit – Your horse won’t appreciate rocks and other debris getting stuck in his or her hooves. This is what hoof picks are for! They’re little hooded tools made of metal which are used to clean hooves. While we’re on the subject of hooves, a good shoeing kit wouldn’t hurt if you brought that along. In the event that something happens to his or her “shoes,” you can put new ones on or fix the old ones.

Grooming supplies – If you’re hiking in the woods or a field with a lot of briars, your horse might end up coated head to hoof in a mat of things you don’t want stuck to your clothes. Save yourself the discomfort and bring some good grooming supplies to get your horse cleaned up.

Food and water – Horses like to eat and drink too. They aren’t real picky and will probably eat a lot of the vegetation on your hike. But, if you’re visiting a spot where there is little vegetation, your horse would appreciate some store-bought horse food. Also, your horses can pick up a lot of the same nasty parasites you can from drinking contaminated water. So, bring a water bowl and purifying tablets.

First aid kit – Sometimes horses stumble, get into a patch of nasty and painful thorns, or receive some sort of life threatening injury. This could leave you without a ride. Prepare for the worst: prepare a horse first aid kit. This may include large gauze, tape, bandages, salve, antibiotic ointment, and more!

Insect repellent – If you own horses, you likely know how prone they are to being bug magnets. Nor do they appreciate it. Bring along some insect repellent for your horses, and they’ll appreciate it.

Repair Kit – No matter what quality items you purchase, you might need to repair a few things. So, plan accordingly. Bring along a kit with leather, laces, a leather punch, sewing needle, dental floss, duct tape, vice grips, bailing wire, and extra parts for your stove which I will mention later.

Things you’ll need include your clothing supplies, first aid kit, food and water, and other hiking equipment.

Clothing – Dress appropriately for hiking with horses. This means wearing an inner layer, insulating layer, and protective layer, depending on where you’re going. Inner layers include synthetic underwear, wool socks, or a swimsuit. Insulating layers include jackets, vests, wool shirts, sweaters, pants, t-shirts, wool socks (MULTIPLE PAIRS), stocking hats, and gloves. Protective layers include windbreakers, ponchos, and, of course, a cowboy hat for protection from the sun!

Food and Water – You’ll need to eat and drink on your hike. Bring food that is light, nutrient-rich, and won’t degrade quickly. While you’re at it, bring a water purification system, water container, and clean water if you can. Some things you might want to bring to cook include a small stove, matches, fuel, funnel, pots, pans, cups, spoons, and corkscrews.

First Aid Kit – A good first aid kit will allow you to tend to every simple injury and then some. It should include gauze roles, chapstick, sunblock, bandages, anti-acid tablets, ace bandages, butterfly closures, safety pins, aspirin, first aid tape, first aid book, and any personal medications.

Other – Other things you’ll need on your hike include a sleeping bag, tent, compass, matches, fire starter, knife, whistle, cord, map, and any miscellaneous items you see yourself needing on the trail (i.e. axe).

Where could you hike with horses?

Unfortunately, your horse cannot hike just anywhere. You’ll need to find trails that are, first of all, allowed to be traveled by horses. Not all trails are free for horse use. Check your trail’s regulations before planning your journey. Places that are typically available for equestrian use are rail trails, bridle paths, and long-distance trails. But, also think about the path itself when planning a trip. Don’t take your horse where you’ll find erosion, invasive plants, lots of hikers, or plenty of wildlife.

When should you hike with horses?

You can hike with your horses year round depending on the weather and the terrain. Of course, the ideal weather is preferred yet not realistic. Check out the weather and plan accordingly. Think about if you’d like to hike in the pouring rain, deep snow, or blistering heat. If you would say no to any of these, your horse would probably say the same if he or she could speak.

Hiking with horses can be extremely rewarding if you do it right. You’ll need the right supplies for both you and your horses for a comfortable experience Just as it’s best to plan your trip for the right time and terrain. Anyone can hike whether it’s on two legs or horseback.

The post Hiking With Horses appeared first on Montem Outdoor Gear.

from Montem Outdoor Gear https://montemlife.com/hiking-with-horses/

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