The Rotation pt 1.
Peak Life’s go-to outdoor brands
(read time 3 minutes)
Everyone’s got their go-to outdoor brands. Here are mine. No sponsorships, no affiliate links, just the brands that earned a permanent spot in my rotation through miles, weather, mountains, and travels. These are the ones I reach for without thinking.
This is not a ranked list
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Florence Marine X
Founded by professional surfer John John Florence, their dedication to R&D shows.
I use Airtex tops and boardshorts, but what earned them a spot on this list is the Polartec fleece hoodie and pants. Now my go-to baselayer for cold-weather sports. This past month in Vermont has been brutal. We’re talking 5ºF averages, with the feels like at -10ºF. I’ve been running this setup from first chair to last, and not once am I miserably cold. When your base layer works in Vermont winters, it works.
Patagonia
Yeah, it's generic, but there’s a reason everyone has it.
I'm on year seven with my Black Hole duffel, and it's still in the rotation; that tells you everything you need to know. Along with some other pieces like the M10 Storm Jacket (made of recycled fish net), hybrid shorts, and a pair of trail running shorts. On my most recent trip to Nosara, Costa Rica, the Black Hole and those shorts came with me. Wore the shorts nearly every day. They’re not flashy, but they last.
Ten Thousand Gear
This is my go-to for any workout apparel.
Clean designs with high quality and no extras. I wear something from Ten Thousand every day, typically their Interval shorts. Perfect for lifting, running, hiking, and whatever else. The liner actually sits in place on longer runs, the phone sleeve keeps your phone snug and out of the way, without it slapping your leg or pulling your shorts down. Sounds basic, but most brands can’t get that right.
Kitworks
A new company, but they’ve already perfected their product.
Kitworks builds gear management systems, and before you say, "Isn't that a fancy way of saying bag,” let me elaborate. These systems are the answer to every “where the hell is my…” moment. Their systems were designed by people who live the chaos of a multi-sport life.
I currently use the 55L Gear Tote for skiing. With a wide mouth opening that stays open, so there's no more digging around your old ski bag. Everything is visible at a glance, and what makes these systems so unique is the customizable features: mesh pockets, gear cubes, wet/dirty bags. After the ski season, I plan on using the Tote for surfing and mountain biking; that's the beauty of Kitworks, you configure it for what you’re doing.
STIO
Jackson Hole-based, and everything they make is built to do more than one thing well. Their gear is multifaceted, from resort to backcountry, trail to town, first light to last chair. That's why they're on this list. Unfortunately, I don't own any STIO gear yet, but I've spent enough time seeing their vision, and I live for it. They’re focused on creating systems where every piece works across seasons, environments, and activities. When a brand thinks that deeply about versatility, it shows.
Peak Life is about gear that moves with you, not locked into one sport, one season, or one use. Multifaceted pieces that transition from the mountain to the trail to the water. That's our standard.
Stay inconstantmotion–
ZP
