Four Tools

Four things making my outdoor life a little easier.

Welcome to Four Tools, a new monthly feature from Gear Etc.

Each month, I'll highlight four things I actually use and find useful.

Some will be traditional outdoor gear. Others might be an app, a book, a map, a piece of clothing, or something I keep in the car.

View from Buck Mountain Fire Tower in the Whitney Wilderness in the Adirondacks. I am wearing my Kuhl pants here (see below).

Nothing complicated—just four things that have earned a place in my outdoor life.

Featured this month:

• A pair of hiking pants that became part of my gear while preparing to hike the Grand Canyon — and have remained a favorite ever since

• An app that has changed the way I listen to birds

• Gloves that protect my hands from the sun

• And something that feels especially good after a cold or wet adventure.

1. KÜHL Trekr Straight Pants

I bought my KÜHL Trekr Straight pants in early 2025 while preparing for a planned rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon. I wanted something lightweight and comfortable that would provide good sun protection without feeling heavy in the heat.

They've turned into much more than Grand Canyon hiking pants.

They're lightweight yet durable, quick-drying and moisture-wicking, with UPF 50+ sun protection. And I love pockets—these have six, including cargo pockets with snap closures.

Another feature I appreciate is the adjustable length. A drawcord at the hem lets me cinch the pant legs and wear them shorter when conditions call for it—handy on warm days, around water, or when I simply want them out of the way.

They've become the kind of pants I reach for when I'm hiking, traveling, or simply know I'm going to spend most of the day outside.

Available for both men and women in various other styles too. And take a look at their shorts too.

KÜHL is an independent American outdoor apparel company, founded in Utah and rooted in the mountain culture of the Wasatch Range, known for durable, performance-focused clothing designed for active use outdoors. Find out more about them on the KÜHL website.‍ ‍

2. Merlin Bird ID

This one weighs nothing and lives on my phone — and it continues to hold a permanent spot in my gear cache.

I've written about the Merlin Bird ID app before, but I keep coming back to it. I use it on hikes close to home and on adventures across the country and around the world. One of my favorite things to do in a new place is open Merlin's Sound ID and discover which birds are calling around me. The mix of voices changes from place to place, adding another layer to experiencing somewhere new.

But perhaps what I like most about Merlin is that it makes me slow down and listen.

3. Outdoor Research Sun Gloves

I've always liked having some protection on my hands when I'm spending long hours outside, but I also want my fingers free.

In fact, I've been guilty of taking scissors to a few pairs of older gloves and cutting off the fingertips myself so I could use my fingers more adeptly.

I first started using Outdoor Research ActiveIce Chroma Sun Gloves for fishing after my husband raved about his. It didn't take long for me to understand why.

The fingerless design gives me the dexterity I want for tying knots, handling fishing gear, using my phone or camera, and all those little tasks that are much harder with a full glove.

But there's more to these gloves than just having my fingers free.

These gloves provide UPF 50+ sun protection for the backs of my hands, while the moisture-wicking fabric and OR’s ActiveIce technology help keep my hands cooler as temperatures rise.

The perforated synthetic-suede palms add grip without making the gloves feel heavy or bulky.

Since discovering them for fishing, they've found their way into plenty of other adventures. I use them for paddling, hiking, cycling, photography, and other long days when my hands can be exposed to the sun for hours.

They're lightweight, easy to tuck into a pocket, and solve a very simple problem: protecting my hands from the sun without sacrificing dexterity.

And they've saved at least a few otherwise perfectly good pairs of gloves from my scissors.

4. Dryrobe

Do you know how many times I've finished an outdoor adventure—cross-country skiing, paddling, hiking, or trail running—wet, sweaty, cold, or some combination of all three, and needed to get out of my clothes fast?

More times than I can count.

Getting into warm, dry clothing isn't just about comfort.

When you're wet and cold, changing quickly can be an important part of preventing hypothermia.

The problem is that many adventures end at a trailhead, boat launch, or parking lot where there's absolutely no private place to change.

Enter the Dryrobe.

It's essentially an oversized, weatherproof changing robe designed to give you enough room—and privacy—to get out of wet clothing and into something dry underneath it.

It has a waterproof, windproof exterior provides protection from the elements

The warm lining makes climbing into it at the end of a cold or wet adventure feel especially good.

For me, this isn't something that goes into my backpack or canoe. It stays with the car, ready for the end of the adventure. I can pull it on, change underneath it, and get into dry clothes without trying to hide behind an open car door or perform some sort of parking-lot contortion act.

It's one of those pieces of gear I didn't know I needed — until I had one.

What Are Your Four Tools?

Now it's your turn.

I'd love to hear about the gear, apps, books, maps, or other tools that make your own adventures a little easier.

Leave a comment below — I'm always interested in discovering something new, and your recommendation might even inspire a future edition of Four Tools.

Don't Forget my Free Field Guides

Looking for a little help getting ready for your next adventure? The Outdoors with Jenn Field Guide Library is free to all newsletter subscribers and includes practical, downloadable checklists for hiking, paddling, camping, your Adventure Car Kit, and getting outdoor-adventure ready.