Best Camping In All 50 States: Discover Your Local Outdoors

Denali National Park, Alaska

We live in a big country and with the need to get out and stretch those legs, now is a great time to discover what outdoor treasures are right in your back yard.

Top Notch Outdoor has provided a comprehensive list of favorite camping grounds in all 50 states. Maybe plan a road trip, visit all 50! However you choose to pick your next adventure, be sure to check and see what’s in YOUR state.

ALTAI™ Be My Valentine

If you and your sweetheart love adventure, then a $25 Groupon Dinner Date gift card should be just the ticket. Surprise your Valentine with the gift of 2 pairs of ALTAI™ boots and receive $25 off a spontaneous night out.

Who knows where your Valentine’s Day adventure will lead?

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*Offer only good through 2/29/20 on any style and combination. Cannot be used with any other existing offer, discount, gift card, or sale.

ALTAI™ Holiday Sale 2019

This month, we’re spreading holiday cheer with savings for you and a loved one. Through 12/31/19 only, take $30 off 1 pair of boots OR $70 off 2 pair!* So you can Treat Yourself or Share The Love with either of these seasonal deals. Waterproof, breathable, lightweight, super durable… who doesn’t want all that in one gift? ????????

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*Offer only good through 12/31/19 on any style and combination. Cannot be used with any other existing offer, discount, gift card, or sale.

ALTAI™ Insight: Exploring the Wilderness

Today’s ALTAI™ Insight has been brought to you by our fabulous guest writer, Katlyn Spade.

Untether and Recharge: What to Know About the Joys of Traversing the Wilderness

The idea of camping is one that is immensely popular and has a special place in American hearts. Around 77 million households in the US have a member that goes camping at least occasionally, according to the 2018 North American Camping Report. Exploring the wilderness is something that often invites thoughts of campfires, toasted marshmallows, and incredible outdoor hiking adventures. If you happen to be one of the individuals who’s thinking of going out to enjoy the bounty of nature, you should be suitably prepared. That said, what do you need to know

Study Your Destination

There are a lot of different areas to enjoy nature in the US, like the states of California, Wyoming, Alaska, and Michigan, to name a few. Each of them has its own particular landscapes, topography, wildlife, and weather conditions. If you are going to enjoy nature through camping, it is important to find out more about your chosen campsite. Studying your destination beforehand lets you know what facilities are available or what sort of camping etiquette should be followed. After all, you can’t just pitch your tent or park your RV anywhere–there are rules to follow, and you’ll even have to register beforehand.

Gear Up

Venturing out into the wilderness puts your body against conditions you may not normally encounter in your daily life. So it’s only natural that you will need the proper equipment to help you fully enjoy your trip. There can be rough terrain, so make sure you gear up with ALTAI™; a pair of boots that are comfortable, lightweight, quick drying, and even waterproof, will take you a long way. For camping, you need the proper items to make a camp, like a tent, cookware, bedding, blankets, and so many other things. Investing in quality camping gear can help you enjoy the outdoors in relative comfort and safety.

Be Responsible

Irresponsible campers have been known to have dire negative effects on the great outdoors. Roughly 84% of the wildfires that have ravaged parks were caused by irresponsible individuals, based on a study by the University of Colorado. To avoid adding to that ecological problem, it would be wise to know how to be a responsible camper. Critical yet simple things like not littering, tending carefully to your fire, not leaving food out, and using existing campsites can help a lot.

Prepare to Be Flexible

As well prepared as you come, there will still be elements out of your control like the weather, the availability of your campsite, and even the presence of other campers. To better enjoy your trip, it’s good to prepare to be flexible. Set back-up plans in case your first option doesn’t go through. If you can’t do the full camping, consider glamping options. If around other campers, it’s good to know how to bask in the glory of nature and be respectful of others.

There are a lot of different reasons why you should go camping or take part in activities out in the wilderness. Nature has in her safekeeping sights and experiences that only the brave and respectful get to enjoy fully. Arming yourself with the proper knowledge on how to respect and thrive in the outdoors can help you have a more enjoyable time.

Happy Trails from ALTAI™: On-The-Go Lacing Techniques for Happy Feet

Specific lacing techniques can help alleviate discomfort, especially when putting in those miles on the trail. And while we build our boots super lightweight with no break-in period, here are some techniques that may help with situations while you’re on-the-go.

Lacing For Top-of-Foot Relief

Window lacing can help relieve pressure on the top of your foot, should the need arise on the trail. Simply undo your standard lacing down to where you feel discomfort on the top of your foot. Then bring each lace directly above (not across) to the next available eyelets. Continue normal lacing (or other preferred method) the rest of the way up the boot.

Lacing To Prevent Heel-Slip

Heel-slipping can make life miserable on your feet and is usually a result of too much excess space in the front interior of the boot. While we would highly recommend considering a different size for a better fit, this lacing technique will help in a pinch when you’re already deep into your long-haul adventure. (If your ALTAI™ boots don’t fit quite right when they arrive, we have a fair return policy to get you the exact fit you need.)

Undo your standard lacing down to where the top of your foot meets your ankles. Determine which two sets of eyelets match up with this spot and cross the laces over, like usual, but wrap each lace around the other twice before securing the tension with the next set of eyelets.

ALTAI™ Spotlight: The History of the Hiking Boot

Definition – hike,verb; walk for a long distance, especially across country or in the woods.
Since the moments humans first walked the earth, you can be we were doing just that: walking. Walking upright, on two feet, gave us survival advantages in environments like the forest and grasslands. Two free hands and a unique, elevated view, allowed opportunities for new kinds of exploration, small and large. The first footwear were intended for, what we are familiar with, hikes; across deserts, plains, rocky mountains, and more. An early resemblance of a shoe of this kind was discovered and thought by experts to be around 5,000 years old.

This boot was thought to be issued by the Italian Army during World War I; designed with a leg splint for common injuries that occur in harsh, alpine terrain.

But it isn’t until the early 20th century that we begin to see boots that more closely represent what we are familiar with when it comes to hiking boots. With more free time to enjoy the outdoors for leisure, rather than purely travel or work, footwear designed for hiking quickly burgeoned into an industry that was here to stay. In the early hiking boot days, almost the entire boot, uppers and even the sole, were made out of leather. We’ve certainly made some pretty big leaps and bounds in hiking footwear since then!
 
The outsole is the next biggest leap in the hiking boot evolution. Boots with rubber outsoles were now easier to make, repair, and boots lasted longer. However, the outsoles really hit their time to shine when Vibram® arrives on the scene. A new universe of possibilities for boots opened up, offering outdoor experts and enthusiasts footwear for specific environments and conditions. All our boots use a Vibram® outsole for a boot to conquer a variety of terrain, working conditions, and all with extreme lightness.
The next huge step in outdoor boot evolution (and another one all our boots are a part of!) is SuperFabric® uppers. Leather, suede, nylon uppers have traditionally been used in hiking footwear. But now, SuperFabric® offers an ‘amored’ yet flexible and breathable solution; and it’s in every pair of ALTAI™ boots. Easily deflects scrapes from rocks or sharp edges, maintains its “out of the box” look longer, breathes, and waterproof; it is clear why we chose to be at the forefront of this boot evolution.
For more information on our boots, check them out on our online store.

ALTAI™ Fall Hiking Tips: 5 Important Things To Remember

It’s officially fall and we know you adventurous types will be gearing up, embrace the cool autumn air, and venture out for an awe-inspiring journey. But like most things, staying up-to-date on best practices are always a good idea. When it comes to hiking, even more so; it can mean saving your life.

Here are 5 Simple Tips for making sure your fall adventures are filled with unforgettable memories and not unshakable tragedies.

  1. Always check plan out the entire journey. This means checking weather conditions where you plan to hike, including road conditions which can vary in remote sites. Seasonal changes occur quickly so be sure to check these conditions daily.
  2. Pack a blaze orange hat or jacket if you plan to explore near hunting areas. Be sure to have some for your four-legged companions as well.
  3. Bring layers! While during some points of your hike you may warm up and lose a layer, you’ll want warm layers around when temperatures suddenly drop or if you hike longer into the evening.
  4. Think carefully about your footwear and socks. Consider steepness, elevation increase, and weather conditions. Will you be crossing a small stream? Climbing a few log jams? Be sure to know what obstacles lay ahead of you to inform you on the right footwear/sock combinations.
  5. Pack as if you need to spend a night in the woods. The essentials should include flashlight with working batteries, food, water, and a fire starting mechanism.
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