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Tyler Carach (aka Donut Boy) accomplished more by age 11 than most. Many of you may remember Tyler from last November when he helped us deliver boots to officers during our National Boot Giveaway. In 2016, he used his own allowance money to buy mini donuts for some police officers at his local convenience store. When he noticed how much joy it brought the officers, he set his sights on a much bigger goal: thanking every law enforcement officer in America by giving them donuts and coffee. Donut Boy has since launched his own organization, visited all 50 states, and given out nearly 100,000 donuts, or ‘power rings’ as he calls them. Besides personally thanking so many police officers, he has helped to spread a positive message that we need to be nice to each other. Donut Boy is certainly an inspiration of ours; he even dreams of becoming a K9 officer himself one day (so he can have a dog AND help people).

ALTAI™ has partnered with Donut Boy to help spread his message and to help thank the law enforcement officers who protect us every day. Anytime our department approved boots are purchased, a portion of the proceeds go towards Donut Boy’s organization, I Donut Need a Reason to Thank a Cop. Donut Boy is a great reminder to all of us, young and old, to show gratitude and kindness whenever we can; especially to those who so often go underappreciated and taken for granted. So, this one is for you, Donut Boy, we raise a power ring and a cup of joe in your honor!

Shop 2 for the Blue Boots here. 

 

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If you want to travel far from home through the wilderness or in distant regions, backpacking is a great way to do this. You can strip down what you take with you to the bare necessities and explore to your heart’s content. But this brings up an important question—just what should you bring? Here’s a list of everything you need on a backpacking trip minus the backpack itself.

Sleep Supplies

As you’ll most likely be traveling through areas where there isn’t readily available shelter, having a tent and sleeping bag is important. But carrying around big, bulky items is going to prove tiresome and will slow you down. When choosing your tent and sleeping bag, you should, therefore, get easily packable and lightweight versions. Some of the best tents only weigh around four to five pounds. You should also make sure that your tent is waterproof to protect you from the elements as you sleep. If you’re backpacking in an urban setting, you may forego the tent and stay in low-cost places such as hostels.

Safety Gear

The unexpected can happen when you are traveling alone, and you should prepare for as much as possible. For this reason, you should have a sturdy watch so you can keep track of the hours passing. Additionally, a first-aid kit will help you treat any minor wounds or injuries you might sustain. Though less evident, a headlamp can come in handy when you need to move around or set up camp in the dark with no electricity nearby. Finally, carry a phone, compass, and map to prevent you from getting lost.

Food

When it comes to food, stock up on varieties that have high-calorie content and are easy to eat on the go. You could take dried fruits and vegetables and prepackaged foods for example. All the walking that you are doing each day will use up a lot of energy, so you need these kinds of foods to keep you properly nourished. Getting food that you can eat with minimal preparation will also save you from having to lug around cooking equipment and lots of utensils. You should also bring a water bottle and a water filter to replenish it.

Clothing and Boots

As with your tent, you should wear clothing that protects you from rain. Bring a shell jacket that will block water and wind. Get a packable down jacket for when you feel cold and a hat to protect you from the sun. Your base layers should consist of synthetic material to wick away sweat and dry quickly as you move around. On your feet, you should wear socks that will keep you comfortable in warm and cool conditions and remain dry. Merino wool is a good material that does all these things. Over these, you should have durable hiking boots that provide traction and support in all terrains and weather. AltaiGear’s tactical performance boots will fulfill these requirements and keep you going over many miles.

When you get an itch to venture outside, camping allows you to reconnect with nature. You can travel out to a location mostly untouched by human hands and appreciate wildlife and vegetation there that you wouldn’t normally see. However, to venture outside of the realm of houses and hotels, you’re going to have to pack the right supplies. Here are some important camping trip essentials you should bring with you.

Food and Water

Before you think of anything else, you should take care of your basic needs. Water and some provisions of food are thus essential for camping. When you are in the middle of a long hike or you set up your tent far from any grocery store, food and water will carry you through your days and nights. You may even choose to get a water filter or purification tablets so you can make water from nearby streams or ponds drinkable.

Shelter

The next necessity you should bring is a shelter. In most cases, this means a tent and a sleeping bag. When you lay down to rest at night, the tent will help to keep insects and maybe even animals from disturbing you. The sleeping bag and tent will work together to keep you warm and comfortable as well.

First Aid Kit

You never know when an accident may occur throughout of a camping trip. Having a first aid kit of some sort may save you in dire moments when you sustain a major injury. It can also come in handy when you get small scrapes while you are walking.

Knife

A multipurpose knife made for outdoor use is another highly beneficial item to have. You can utilize it for all kinds of tasks including cutting through rope, wood, or even a catch of fish. Make sure to get one that is sturdy enough to survive rough handling; a regular pocketknife is probably not going to be adequate for everything.

Navigation

When you’re traveling away from the convenience of roads, items to help you navigate correctly are vital to prevent you from getting lost. Bring along a compass and a map of the area you are camping in. Nowadays, you can also get a GPS that you can use instead of a map. Armed with your navigational tools, even if you start to lose your bearings, you can refer to them to correct your direction.

Fire Starter

Campfires provide you with warmth and light as the sun sets, and you can also use them to cook food. For this reason, you should have a fire starter with you so that you don’t have to depend on nearby materials on the ground (which you can’t always reliably find). It’s also a good idea to bring some dry kindling in an enclosed container for the same reason.

Proper Clothing

Weather is often fickle, and it can quickly change from sunshine to a downpour and back again without your anticipation. To stay dry and avoid succumbing to hypothermia in colder temperatures, you should bring the proper clothing. Pack a breathable rain jacket and layers that you can put on or take off as the temperatures fall and rise. If you are camping in a warmer climate, consider wearing a hat to cover your head and neck against sunburn. The right boots will also get you through the rough terrain and possible wetness unscathed. AltaiGear supplies some of the best military–grade boots available on the market that are perfect in a camping context. Our SuperFabric material makes them breathable yet waterproof, and the soles come treaded with Vibram rubber for maximum traction.