So I’ve never bought performance activewear–you know, clothes that allow you to do whatever it is you like to do indoors or out that causes you to work up a sweat. Unless you count fleece. If that’s the case, I have my fair share, some of it even a deep plum color that screams, “I WORE THIS WHILE CAMPING IN THE MID-1990’s!”

By “performance fabric,” I mean “the clingy synthetic cotton that Jeff Corwin made famous.” Corwin, aka the “Oh, you’re watching that guy in the t-shirts again?” to my husband, didn’t just wear those tight tees to thrill viewers watching The Jeff Corwin Experience or Corwin’s Quest. (Wouldn’t you know it? A google images search for classic Corwin tight tee pics turned up empty.)

However, those t-shirts served more than one noble purpose: they were made of moisture-wicking fabric that’s lightweight and kind of clingy (a great thing if you’re Jeff Corwin and his viewing audience, not so great if you’re rockin’ a three-kid muffin top) so you can do stuff like move around in extreme temps without getting soaked in your own sweat like you would wearing plain old cotton.

This is about more than just comfort or the elimination of embarrassment; if you overheat in extreme temps, you risk getting heat stroke; if temps drop suddenly, as can happen anywhere from in the mountains to the Midwest, where temps once dropped thirty degrees during a 40-minute hike (where I desperately wished for my plum colored fleece), you’re vulnerable to hypothermia.

So, being of the sweaty persuasion and living in a climate that gets soupy-humid in summer, I finally bought two shirts made out of fabric designed to not make me feel like someone dumped a bucket of salt water on me while I was out walking: the Sleeveless Fitness T-shirt and the Short-Sleeve Fitness T-shirt, both by Land’s End.

My review: the fabric LE uses does its job, but also manages to snag and pill. Often. I wonder: is this a thing with the LE brand, or is this a specific vulnerability with most/all of the synthetics out there? After the first day I wore the tee, there were several snags on the front of the shirt, and I wasn’t out extreme mountain biking or anything; I just did a day hike. By the second wearing, I noticed pilling on the fabric, too. I’m probably sending both tops back, because I fail to see the point in paying full price for a product that doesn’t hold up aesthetically while still doing its job functionally–after ONE wearing. Buying it on clearance at KMart, sure. But not full price at Land’s End. My grade: a solid C.

I know some readers will say, well why not shop at REI or Title 9 or L.L. Bean? Well, my reason is that I wear a plus size (about a women’s 18), and Land’s End is very generous with their plus sizing, where self-professed pro-woman company Title 9 (whose catalog I regularly drool over) refuses to offer any products above a size 14/16 (I wrote and asked and they claimed there’s not enough demand, in case you feel like emailing them, too and maybe proving them WRONG.) REI, love them though I do, offers minimal at best clothing for plus size women. I plan on testing similar tops from the L.L. Bean web site but they don’t come in plus sizes that I could find (please, prove me wrong and I’ll order a top and test it out), though I did buy my snow pants and other gear from them and am a VERY happy L.L. Bean customer so far. (I’d link to the snow pants but they’re not currently available on the site.)

Here’s where I’ll digress for a moment and say this to retailers like those mentioned above: Americans aren’t getting any thinner, and it’s in your best interest to offer quality clothing that allows us to move around comfortably. There, I said it.

Onward.

I also bought some Land’s End Women’s Performance Sport Capri Pants and I have to say that these are the best pants I’ve ever owned in my entire life. No, really. In fact, when I return the two tops, I’m going to turn right back around and order another pair of these pants, they’re that awesome. Here’s why: first off, the fabric lays wonderfully; as a “pear shaped” body type, I found these very slimming and flattering. Second, the fabric feels fantastic, like you’re not wearing pants at all, but in a good way, not in that recurring embarrassing dream way. Go ahead and laugh, but it’s true! Third, they’re durable and do their job (so far). Made from a different fabric than the activewear tops, the fabric felt a little heavy and claustrophobic at first, but I’ve done a few hot day walks and hikes in them and was never sorry I wore them. In fact, they may become my airplane pants, since who doesn’t want something cozy to wear while flying? Finally, they come in plus sizes. What’s not to love?

One more product review from Land’s End Activewear. My friend, Texas Jen, suggested these and I do believe I owe her lunch or something equally really cool: The Women’s Active Hip Briefs are AWESOME. They’re what underwear dream about when they sleep (I wonder if they also have embarrassing “I forgot my underwear!” dreams, too?) They don’t move around at all, they wick moisture when and where they should, they look totally hot, and they also come in plus sizes. Zing! A total win, very much worth the money.

One final note about Land’s End activewear for women: their plus sizing is generous, so order as close to your true size as possible. In some cases, a women’s XL might work.

Tell me about your favorite piece of workout gear, whether it’s a workout bra (I’m still desperately seeking a comfy one), pants, a top, or panties. What works for you and what hasn’t, and why? Share your own gear reviews in the comments section.

Read it here.

You can find the list easily by looking at the sidebar to the right.

UPDATED TO ADD: Just found a Google documents template featuring a generic packing list template AND a household pre-trip to do list all in one (if you can’t find the pre-trip to do list, just look to the upper left and you’ll see a “tab” for it).

(Learned about the new templates at Google Docs via this entry at 43 Folders; thanks, Mr. Mann).

How do you prepare for travel? Share how you figure out what to bring and what to leave behind, and whether that involves nerdy lists like mine or some other way of getting the job done in the comments section.

In this post, I’ll cover light. Why is light when camping important? Well, if you’re like me and have experienced the joys (ahem) of setting up camp in the dark, you know how important having reliable light sources is to any camping trip. You’ll also need to light your way for those after-dinner trips to the bathroom, whether that means an actual restroom facility (a surprising number of National and State Park campgrounds have them) pit toilet, or a hole you dig yourself.

Lanterns - Lanterns are not only a classic camping staple, they’re handy for late dinner prep or after-dark card games, or setting up camp in the dark. There are various ways to light your lantern, from kerosene/white gas or candles for backpackers to propane- or battery-powered family camping models. There’s even retro models out there that combine nostalgia with LED & battery power, like the deliciously kitschy Dietz Antique LED lantern (pictured, above).

Here’s a great overview of the types of camping lanterns and their advantages and disadvantages at CampingLanterns.com, proving once again that there really is a place on the web for everything.

What we use: We got two battery powered Coleman LED lanterns about six years ago and they’re still going strong (that’s Coleman quality for you!), but we’d prefer to get some that run on AA batteries (current lanterns take D’s). I’m amazed to see how many newer models are out there, too; and that’s just one manufacturer.

Head Lamps - I love head lamps. Love them. In fact, had I been wearing mine while teaching a backpacking workshop for my local Sierra Club chapter in the ’90s, I would have seen the massive, iron grill pit I ended up tripping over, giving myself a football-shaped bruise on my upper thigh that almost took me out of the trip altogether. The advantage of a head lamp is that it leaves your hands free for things like gesturing wildly (my mother is half Italian) while talking about backpacking.

Today’s head lamps are very lightweight, adjustable, and pack a lot of power; not bad for what’s essentially a flattened flashlight you strap to your forehead. They also come in kids’ sizes, which is handy, since kids are almost as clumsy as me, and they love wearing them. Check out REI’s super guide to choosing a head lamp.

Let’s Talk Solar for a Moment - While it’s still advantageous to have a light source of some sort for in camp, you could get by with headlamps for everyone and buy this super-cool solar powered Eureka! tent, the Solar Intent (Get it? Bill Shakespeare and me, we love a good pun). Also, if you do use rechargeable batteries for your gear, check out this bad boy, the Solio Classic Solar Charger which can have your batteries and other gear ready to go while you’re out hiking all day.

Share your thoughts on how you light the way when you camp in the comments section.

My colleague and friend, Meagan Francis is about to ditch the family and embark on a Mom Road Trip with four other moms who also blog for the Silicon Valley Moms Group.

Their destination? The BlogHer Conference, held this year in San Francisco July 18-20.

They’ll be wending their way across the States in a ride that looks totally sweet for our traveling family (except for the family-UNfriendly $50K price tag–ouch!) - a Chevy Tahoe hybrid. I do love driving and with today’s gas prices, I’m mourning the potential loss of road tripping, so this is a nice vicarious thrill for me, and hopefully it will be for you, too.

The Road Trip Moms will be blogging, twittering, and posting videos and photos of the journey, which begins in three days. The whole deal looks like tons of fun, and I wish I could stow away in the back of that Tahoe!

In addition to reading the Mom Road Trip blog, You can also follow MomRoadTrip on Twitter.

Do you have any plans for a road trip this summer? Why or why not? Where are you heading if you’re hitting the road? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Let me preface this review by saying that I don’t run (broken ankle in 2002 eliminated that possibility for me until I decide to spring for a new titanium ankle). So I can’t speak to the utility of these shoes for that purpose.

I’ll also say that I purchased these shoes for my personal use, and if I review gear in the future that’s provided by a vendor or manufacturer, I’ll always disclose that. I anticipate that most reviews will be of stuff I own or have tested on my own because I have a hard time keeping my grubby mitts off of cool gear that I want to try out.

But I do walk. An awful lot, these days, as my primary form of exercise and by necessity shuttling and shopping and such. And I also hike as often as I can, though I must pause now to shake my fists at the rain we’ve had in the Midwest, rain which literally drove us off the wooded portion of one of my very favorite hikes here in my own hometown due to the swarms of mosquitoes that apparently consume their scrambled eggs doused in DEET like some folks use Tabasco sauce. So I go for trail runners even though I’m a walker/hiker, because they’re usually sturdy and designed for multiple types of terrain.

Anyway, I walk. I hike. And I hurt. Often. Daily, in fact. So comfortable, well-made shoes aren’t just a priority in my life, but a necessity. I’d been living with these truly inferior New Balance trail runners (the 706, if they even make them any more, in case you care to skip past my suffering in flimsy shoes and avoid them altogether) for far too long. Why? One, I have a hard time throwing down $80-100 for a pair of shoes on a good day, despite my knowledge that quality construction often comes at a cost, and two, most days I have kids in tow and there are few nightmares more vivid than shoe shopping with three young boys.

Enter Zappos.com. First, I tested a pair of Keen multi-sport shoes, the Shellrock, that fell far short of the Montrails (I’ll share my thoughts on Keens in general in a subsequent review of my Teva sandals, purchased last year or maybe the year before–a testament to the quality of Tevas right there).

Then I ignored the reviews of the Montrails I settled upon, urging buyers to go one size up. So it took me three FREE shipments to get to the right pair of shoes for me, but I never had to leave the house, nor did I have to “bring the family” on that particular outing, where the boys can smell my vulnerability as I’m forced to remain seated, taking the time to properly lace up pair after pair of shoes while they playfully deconstruct the entire store.

But when I put my feet into the Montrail Hardrock, it felt like that moment when you’re just the right amount of chilly and tired and there’s a hot tub full of friends, or lovers, or both (who am I to judge?) awaiting your arrival and you slide into the just-bearably-hot water and your whole body shivers and sighs because you are so very comfortable and at ease. That’s how these shoes felt when I slipped them on.

The construction is sturdy and solid; in fact, I’d started at the Zappos running shoe guide, then selected run/walk, then searched for shoes based on “stability.” The shoe wraps around my ankles securely but still feels comfortable; I didn’t feel for a moment like I had to break these in. Because Zappos won’t let you return shoes once you’ve worn them outdoors, I hesitated at first, wondering if I’d regret just going for it because they felt so awesome literally out of the box. But I wore them on my morning walk today and then went grocery shopping and was not in pain at all afterward. It’s amazing what the right pair of shoes can do.

I should have known I’d be pleased with these Montrails; eons ago they were a fledgling company called One Sport, and they made the best pair of hiking boots I’ve ever owned.

Tell me about your favorite pair of shoes to wear when you’re doing what you do best, whether that’s walking, running, climbing, cycling, or getting wet. Share your thoughts–including duds like my New Balance debacle (and I’m a loyal customer)–in the comments section.

More on working the family travel writing beat, camping gear talk, and my first gear review of Land’s End activewear coming soon.

Have you taken any fun day trips recently? Done any hikes? Tell me about them in the comments section. (And if you haven’t, plan one now and tell me where you’re headed!)