What To Pack For Leaf Peeping
Here's To Another Season Of Eye-Catching Colors
As we bid adieu to summer barbecues, beach days, and fair-weather festivities, autumn enters our lives by way of soft flannels, crisp mornings, and a widespread acceptance of pumpkin spice. But perhaps, most importantly, the fall season is accompanied by changing foliage that spreads across the country as maples, aspens, and dogwoods burst with color.
If such a stunning time of year inspires you to go leaf peeping, you’ll need a few essentials to make the experience that much more memorable. Whether you’re hitting the trail with friends or touring those quiet backcountry roads, enjoy the wonders of fall foliage with these twelve pieces of gear.
Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover
There is perhaps no fabric more perfect for fall than fleece, and no fleece more iconic than Patagonia’s Synchilla Snap-T Pullover. Made from a blend of recycled materials, its classic design hasn’t changed a bit since its first release back in 1985, and for good reason. The square-cut breast pocket holds essentials, buttons help to regulate temperature, and seasonal designs look good when you’re snapping fall-inspired pics.
Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket
Chilly fall days call for a cozy blanket, and Rumpl’s take on the classic camping blanket is up for the task. Featuring a vast collection of styles and designs, it’s made from 100% recycled materials and finished with a DWR treatment to shed unwanted moisture. Use the Cape Clip feature to secure it around your body or bring a few tent stakes to slide through the corner loops for a picnic in the park.
Stanley Classic Easy-Fill Flask
Celebrate the summit and the wonders of fall with a sip from Stanley’s wide-mouth flask. It’s easy to fill, pour from, and clean, so you’ll never fumble with its compact size. But if you do manage to drop it, Stanley’s lifetime warranty protects this mighty vessel through every adventure, so you can focus on the fall colors.
Nocs Provisions Standard Issue Waterproof Binoculars
Even if you find yourself surrounded by eye-catching tones, it still pays to invest in a set of binos that allow you to spot seasonal birds, watering holes, and sleepy towns from afar. The eight-times magnification of the Nocs Provisions binoculars delivers a clear picture while the waterproof housing protects the optics from unforeseen drizzle. Stash these in your pack or save space by investing in the smaller Nocs monocular instead.
Backcountry x YETI Rambler 30oz Tumbler
Whether you’re preparing for a sunrise hike or staying warm in the midst of cold weather, Yeti’s Rambler Tumbler will keep your liquids piping hot or refreshingly cold. Styled with iconic Backcountry graphics, the double-wall insulation preserves temperatures for hours on end while our favorite feature, the MagSlider Lid, makes it easy to sip without losing precious heat. And since this rambler’s a Yeti, you can also assume it’s nearly indestructible.
Blundstone Classic 550 Chelsea Boot
Hit the trail and the town in a pair of Blundstone Classic Chelsea boots. The water-resistant upper pairs with a grippy outsole to preserve traction, even as you frolic through wet leaves. Underneath the iconic styling, Blundstone adds a healthy dose of cushioning that makes these shoes comfortable enough to wear around all day, in all seasons. But if we’re being honest, they definitely look their best in fall.
Kelty Loveseat
Cozy up beneath a red maple and save some room for a partner, friend, or canine companion with this camp chair for two. Its heavy-duty steel frame delivers plenty of support for hours of enjoyment when your calendar is open on a Sunday afternoon. Kelty also added dual-insulated beverage holders, which we’ve used to store hot chocolate as temperatures fall. After you’ve had a chance to unwind, pack up with the Roll-Tote system that makes hauling this chair a breeze.
Fjallraven Vidda Pro Pant
When jeans and leggings aren’t up for the task, throw on Fjallraven’s iconic Vidda Pro Pant for a little more warmth and support on those long fall hikes. The G-1000 fabric naturally sheds water and comes reinforced through the knees and rear for extended durability. Not unlike your favorite backpack, these pants have an abundance of pockets (we count seven in total) to make storing essentials a breeze, from your phone to a map and even an axe.
Osprey Talon 22L Backpack
The best peeping vantage points lie somewhere beyond the trailhead, which means you’ll need a backpack for those extra layers, liquids, and essentials. Bring along Osprey’s best-selling pack, which has a 22-liter capacity and dual-zippered access to the main compartment for your required gear. Made with Bluesign-approved fabrics and a PFC-free DWR coating, this pack is also friendly to Mother Earth as you explore her wonderful colors.
Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Training Glove
Traversing the landscape will inevitably require the use of your hands, so keep them warm with Smartwool’s Merino Sport Fleece Training Glove. The blend of Merino wool and fleece preserves warmth while limiting unwanted moisture, and palm grips add a note of confidence when you’re handling the other small essentials on this list.
Backcountry Fendler Flannel
What’s fall without flannel? Backcountry’s in-house classic button-up style looks good from the trail to the taproom and delivers plenty of comfort courtesy of 100% cotton. Toss your essentials in the chest pocket to keep them within reach at all times.
Carhartt Quick Duck Fleece-Lined Dog Jacket
No walk in the woods is complete without a four-legged friend, and even if your dog has all the energy in the world, you’d still be wise to dress them in a warm jacket like this one from Carhartt. The duck fabric is the same material you’ll find in Carhartt’s heavy-duty overalls, and micro-fleece lining adds a touch of warmth to keep Fido happy all day long.
Cam Vigliotta is a gear editor out of New York City whose work has been featured by Backpacker, GearJunkie, and REI Co-op’s Uncommon Path. A self-proclaimed dirtbag, he enjoys spontaneous road trips, rolling in the dirt, and swimming in alpine lakes. Follow his evolving appreciation for film photography @shrek_jones.