PRINTVox's Outdoor Gear Guide
Conquer Columbia with the help of our essential gear guide
April 19, 2012 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Break out the BUG SPRAY, dust off the helmet, and head outside. This guide hopes to be a compass for your next great, not-too-far adventure. And whether you’re tiring of the city, looking for an adventure-lite or are an aspiring Bear Grylls, Columbia’s great outdoors demand exploration. Just do it.
SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER
Explore Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
Spend a Saturday afternoon conquering one of the eight gentle hiking trails at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. For a quick stroll, try the Devil’s Icebox Trail and check out a kind-of-creepy-but-wicked cave.
Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50, $8.24
Target, 2400 Bernadette Drive
Ultra sweatproof and with no cap to lose, this sunscreen can be thrown into any bag. Don’t forget to reapply.
Camelback Water Bottle, $12
Tryathletics, 1605 Chapel Hill Road, 447-2453
Stay hydrated and hip with Vox’s favorite water bottle, the hard plastic, BPA-free classic.
Mighty Sports Glasses z11, $24.99
Target, 2400 Bernadette Drive
This near indestructible pair, made of fiberglass, is a must-have for any adventure.
Adidas Adizero Mana, $85
Tryathletics, 1605 Chapel Hill Road, 447-2453
This lightweight pair of multifunctional running shoes is great on the road, trails or on a stroll. And they’re neon-colored, which is rad.
CHALLENGE: Mountain bike the 3.25-mile dirt trail, Deer Run on a dry day — the trail is closed when wet. Don’t forget your helmet.
Cost: Free
SKILL LEVEL: ADVENTURER
Rock climb at Pinnacles Youth Park
Take a day, pack a picnic, and master the bluffs of Missouri limestone Pinnacles. Be prepared to get
wet; access to the bluffs requires fording a creek Oregon Trail style.
Coleman 50-piece First Aid Kit, $5.08
Target, 2400 Bernadette Drive
This travel-sized but a-bit-of-everything first aid kit has your scraped knees covered. Be prepared — those Boy Scouts were onto something.
iPhone Otterbox Phone Case, $34.99
Dick’s Sporting Goods, 227 Stadium Blvd.
Broken screens make that smart phone dumb, or worse, look uncool, and we can’t have that.
Columbia Traverse Hiking Shoes, $39.99
Dick’s Sporting Goods, 227 Stadium Blvd.
Perfect for men and women, these hiking boots are sturdy and on sale until Sunday. We’re in love.
Talon 33 Daypack, $129.99
Alpine Shop, 1102 Broadway
Two cheap backpacks later, it might be time to invest. The daypack comes in the three awesome-sounding colors: meteorite, cayenne and indigo.
CHALLENGE: Practice for a few hours at the indoor rock-climbing gym the Bouldering Garden to fine tune your skills.
Cost: $15
SKILL LEVEL: EXPERT
Kayak down the Missouri river at Moniteau Creek
Plan a weekend, and dominate the Big Muddy. Access the river from the mouth of Moniteau Creek in Rocheport for a 6.9 mile journey to Katfish Katy’s.
Sealline Electronic Case, $19.99
Alpine Shop, 1102 Broadway
This pouch keeps all of its contents dry. A water-drenched camera is, well, sad and unable to take photos of the Missouri River.
Casio Watch Compass, $44.99
Best Buy, 2001 Worley St.
Check the time, the temperature and your direction as those miles begin to blend together. Also, it can’t get scratched because of its mineral crystal face.
Gatorade Frost Glacier 51 oz. sports drink, $8.38
Walmart Supercenter, three locations in Columbia
Even with all that water, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Load up your cooler with snacks and electrolytes.
Ascend A10 Sit-in Kayak, $299.99
Bass Pro Shops, 3100 Vandiver Drive
This kayak has a cup holder, no rental fee and comes in red or blue. We’ll take one of each.
CHALLENGE: Float on by Katfish Katy’s, and head another 10 miles down the river to Cooper’s Landing.
Cost: Your arms
