Outdoor Research Insight Lab

Y’all made me feel so loved yesterday with all of your well wishes regarding my fun announcements, and I sincerely appreciate your excitement on my behalf. Ready for the next fun story? (And I swear, I didn’t leave y’all hanging yesterday in the name of suspense; it was truly in the name of a too-long blog post!)

I’m a member of Outdoor Research’s newly formed #ORInsightLab!

It all began a few months back when Outdoor Research contacted me via Twitter, and we began communicating on various topics. They told me about their upcoming program (yup, I had the inside info! I never have the inside scoop, guys!) and I grew more and more excited about the prospect of working with the company. You see, Outdoor Research has been one of my favorite outdoor tech companies for a long time; in fact, I am staring at my OR mountaineering gaitors as I type this (since there is currently more snow on the ground than there was when I climbed Rainier!) After all, any company with the motto, “Designed by Adventure” has a soft spot in this adrenaline-lover’s heart.

In short, the Insight Lab is a group of influential adventurous peeps from all over the country and from various walks of the outdoor lifestyle. Outdoor Research assembled us to offer product insight on various items from the HighEx, Women’s Sportswear, and Climbing product lines. Basically, we’re the original crew that will help inspire others to live adventurously all while offering feedback on the gear products themselves. And you know what I have to say about that?

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!

As I mentioned, I’m familiar with various product from Outdoor Research’s tech lines, but I am less familiar with their sportswear gear. I was psyched to receive a box full of women’s products that I am happily beginning to test.

In photo: the Offline Jacket, Offline skort, Squadron cap, and the Bewitched tank

Unfortunately, a flipping monstrous blizzard rolled through the Denver Metro area on Monday, and it’s been dumping snow ever since (final total was 14” in the city), so I’ve only gotten to wear the hat and the jacket thus far. I will say that I’m digging the hat!

If you’re interested in checking out the Outdoor Research Insight Lab, take a look at the hashtag #ORInsightLab on Twitter—that’s where you will find us. And, if you’d like to follow some other outdoorsy peeps, the following are all members of the newly formed group:

@MtnMamaTales @RunWicked @DavidWherry

@RockGrrl @GinaBegin @K8tlevy

@JRmontag @LukaSavige @LStefurak

@MikePetrucci @TheCampyMom  @Torilesikar

@ValInRealLife @NeonRunnerKat

Recognize some of those names? Katie Levy is the gal who is joining us on our Alaskan adventure this summer!

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Do you have a favorite piece of outdoor gear? What is it?