Over the weekend, we decided to head out on a little holiday ramble in the East Bay to scout out hiking zones close to the house. This time of year, it is all about layering, so we packed up a few of our favorite pieces from Woolrich, Topo Designs and Blundstone, and hit the road. Even though the air was crisp, the sun was shining and the light was perfect. We felt particularity grateful to be outside as we reflected on the last few weeks of 2013 and looked forward towards the new year.
We ended up in Redwood Regional Park in Oakland and were pleasantly surprised how accessible (and dog friendly!) the trails were and the way native redwoods (descendants of a great forest of Sequoia sempervirens) and non-native eucalyptus seemed to share the space harmoniously. With over 40 miles of trails, this is an ideal destination for anyone in the SF area looking for a quick outdoor fix.
For this last minute jaunt, we went heavy on the heathered cotton Sportsman Chamois button-front in “Dark Mulberry” and “Ink” –such a staple item for any wardrobe– and also fell for the Trout Run Plaid flannel. As an update to the waffle knit thermal, we brought the First Forks henley in Walnut into the mix, as it adds a subtle military influence to the equation.
The Northspur vest, a duck down-filled, water repellent layering piece, offers a functional, yet refined alternative to these utilitarian basics with its menswear savvy, poly-blended herringbone twill shell. Stout Brown Blundstones are always a safe bet for a minimal, durable solution for footwear on or off the trail.
Taking it back to the roots of the “Made in USA” movement, we chose the Woolrich x Topo Designs Klettersack made from 100% Woolrich wool in Colorado, which features Cognac leather lash tabs, an inner drawstring closure, a laptop/hydration sleeve, a zippered top pocket, and side pockets for water bottles or additional gear.
Make sure to head over to Woolrich.com for any last minute gift ideas and remember to layer up this holiday season!
XX Jeanine
