Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears

Hot Underground Action, Ultralight Stakes & Three Fierce Women!

Should you be afraid of visiting an active volcano? Is upgrading to ultralight tent stakes actually worth the money? And who are the women who helped shape America's love

America's Most Haunted Trails & the Case of the Stolen Backpack

What's the most haunted trail in America? What should you do if someone steals your backpack while you're using a backcountry privy? And does writing a personal comment a

Bad Boyfriends, Backpacking Babies & Better Bear Cans

Should you dump your boyfriend if he criticizes your camping outfit? How the hell do you handle dirty diapers while backpacking with a baby? And can a bear canister actua

The Skunk Ape, the Wood Booger & the Scariest Thing in the Forest

Is Bigfoot just a West Coast thing? What the hell is a Wood Booger? And why should outdoor lovers care about the Roadless Rule? It's Spooky Season on Gear Abby, and Shaw

Murder, Fearmongers & Power Banks

Who investigates a murder in a national park? How do you separate legitimate trail warnings from good old fashioned fear mongering? And for a month on the Appalachian Tra

Honey Buckets, Free Balling & the Ultimate Backpacking Watch

Who empties a toilet in the middle of the wilderness? Is there actually a benefit to hiking commando? And what finally turned technophobe Shawnté into an adventure-watch

Where Is the Quietest Place in America & Do You Need an Ultralight Pack?

Where can you go to find real silence in the outdoors? Which lodge kicked off the grand tradition of national park lodging? And is buying an ultralight backpack actually

Tarantula Sex, Walmart Camping Gear & a New Favorite Water Filter

How exactly do tarantulas mate? Is Walmart’s Ozark Trail camping gear actually good enough for beginners? And has Shawnté found a water filter she likes even more than th

The Trail Is Burning, His Finger Is Naked & Women Are Making Better Gear

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté tackles three very different outdoor dilemmas: What should you actually do if a wildfire breaks out while you’re deep in the backcountry?

A Plane Full of Weed & Are Fanny Packs Dorky?

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté digs into what happens when airplanes crash in national parks, including the absolutely wild story of Yosemite’s infamous Dope Lake, befor

What If a Ghost Steals Your Garmin?

What should you do if a ghost steals your Garmin on trail? Which of your favorite movies were actually filmed inside national parks? And just how desperate do you have to

River Pee, Trail Trauma & the Perfect Pillow

Why does Leave No Trace tell backpackers to pee away from water but rafters to pee directly into the river? And why do so many hiking memoirs seem to require their author

Mountain Sex, Monument Fights & Are Crocs for the Trail?

What do you drink after a night of passionate mountain romance? Is there actually reason to be hopeful about Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante? And are Crocs secre

The FKT Debate: Should You Slow Down on the Trail?

This week on Gear Abby: Should backpacking be about slowing down or moving as fast as possible? Shawnté and Colin debate FKTs, explain the difference between trail angels

Naked at the Hot Springs? Gear Abby's Guide to Good Trail Manners

Gear Abby is back! This week, Shawnté and Colin dive into the unwritten rules of the outdoors. First up: what's the proper etiquette for skinny dipping at alpine lakes a

Flashback Friday: Trail Cred Is Fake & the Cold Run Manifesto

Come back next week on July 17 for all new episodes of Gear Abby! Until then enjoy this flashback Friday episode and leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts! Do thru

Flashback Friday: Gear Abby Confesses Her Biggest On Trail Sin (AKA The Wag Bag Incident)!

Shawnté is on the trail and Colin is traveling for work. So it's time for another Flashback Friday! Mark your calendar for Gear Abby's return on July 17th and make Shawnt

Flashback Friday: Bougie Hikers & Dysentery Demons

Shawnté is on the trail and Colin is traveling for work. So it's time for another Flashback Friday! After a Gear Abby show update from Shawnté we revisit episode 12: Bou

Switchback New Orleans Reaction: Did The Show Work In Year 2? - Outdoor Unfiltered

What is the purpose of an outdoor trade show beyond sales? Live from the floor of Switchback in New Orleans, Eoin Comerford sits down with thru-hiking expert Shawnté Sal

Flashback Friday: How To Slay The Chafe Monster!

New to Gear Abby? Then enjoy this trip back in time to our third episode! Shawnté Salabert and producer Colin “P.I.G.” True are back with another round of Gear Abby, whe