No Gear? No Problem: How Centred Outdoors Is Opening the Outdoors to Everyone

Did you know that Centred Outdoors has a free Gear Library for participants to use during guided outings? Even better, did you know that Appalachian Outdoors gives away free Darn Socks at every Centred Outdoors Sunday Guided Outing event? 

A major mission of Centred Outdoors is to lower the barriers of accessibility for everyone to explore and enjoy the outdoors. We strive to be as inclusive and accessible as possible by offering no cost events, easy-to-access destinations, assistance with transportation and other costs when possible, and of course the topic at hand: free gear! 

Luckily, when it comes to outdoor activities, walking and hiking are on the low end of the cost spectrum, but some specialty gear is still needed. With that said, there is a lot of value that comes from using items that you have rather than buying new gear. And that can certainly be true for things like shirts and pants – if they’re breathable, fit comfortably, and are not made from cotton, they’re good for hiking! 

Admittedly, some personalized specialty gear is needed for walking and hiking. Most obvious to many of us is footwear. A lot of direct impact occurs on your feet and lower body when hiking, so it’s important to have sturdy, well-fitted shoes or boots with good cushion and traction.  

Socks can be just as important. The average human takes 2,250 steps per mile, which is 2,250 opportunities for your feet to rub against socks and shoes and cause sores, hotspots, or blisters with every single mile. Socks made from breathable synthetic and natural fibers like wool actually help your skin stay dry by wicking any moisture away from your body, making you much less likely to develop hotspots or blisters. These socks also dry faster than traditional cotton socks and tend to be more durable and longer lasting. 

Of course, high-quality long-lasting socks aren’t cheap, so we’ve teamed up with Appalachian Outdoors to get these socks, which are made in Vermont, into the hands of folks who need them. In fact, all you need to do is show up at our event and you might go home with a pair! Every Sunday after our Guided Outings, we hold a raffle of participants’ names, and one of the participants goes home with a new pair of Darn Tough socks from Appalachian Outdoors. 

Outdoor recreation gear costs are a major barrier keeping many of us from trying new outdoor adventures and hobbies. It can be easy to discredit specialty gear for being just that – special and nice, but not necessary. While that can certainly be true, we acknowledge some specialty gear for walking and hiking, while potentially expensive for the individual, can greatly improve the effectiveness and overall enjoyment of the experience. A good example of this is also our most popular borrowed item: trekking poles. Adjustable, aluminum hiking trekking poles are lightweight, convenient, sturdy and easy to use. Trekking poles aid in balance, mobility and help relieve overstressed joints. 

Additionally, we’ll be giving away specialty outdoor gear to one lucky participant at each Adventure Hike. At Thousand Steps, Betsy was our first winner, taking home a pair of Kelty trekking poles! Be sure to join us for your chance to win and don’t miss our next Adventure Hike on May 31st.

The Centred Outdoors Gear Library is here for you: 

• For birders or curious hikers, we have plenty of high quality Nocs binoculars to borrow during our events.  

• Durable, dent resistant water bottles are a must have for hikes, and we have plenty available to borrow. 

• No rain jacket? No problem! We have full size ones so you can stay comfortable and dry during the outing.  

• We also have rain skirts! Just like they sound, these are one size fits most waterproof skirts, or kilts, designed to keep your legs and lower body dry.  

• Try out some top-of-the-line Osprey hiking backpacks while walking with us. 

• Take a break on a Camp 2 Crag Cushion from Organic Climbing or use during slower wellness practices. 

• Got a toddler at home? Bring them out to a Centred Outdoors Guided Outing and try out the Osprey Poco LT Kid Carrier that we keep in our Gear Library. 

We don’t have everything, but we have a lot of gear that is helpful for walking and hiking. And it’s easy for you to use it! Simply call (814.237.0400) or email (info@centredoutdoors.org) to request which item you’d like to use at our next Guided Outing. We’ll bring the item to the outing with us and meet you there. Do you have a good idea of a piece of gear that we should keep in our Gear Library? Reach out to let us know about it!