5 Pieces of Gear You Need for a Weekend Adventure in Monterey, California

To make the most of a trip to Monterey, you don't need to go overboard on the gear. With beautiful weather, easily-accessible adventures, and so much good food to eat (see what I'm talking about here), you really just need a few go-to's to take advantage of all this area has to offer. Here are five of my must-have pieces of gear for a weekend in Monterey, California.   

Interstellar Jacket Outdoor Research

While it’s unlikely it will rain on you during your trip to the California Coast, there’s a good chance it’ll be windy. Be prepared for both with the Outdoor Research Interstellar jacket, which strikes the perfect balance between protection and convenience with its tough build but light weight. You could be comfortable in this piece everywhere from the jungle to the top of an alpine volcano – but it’s also right at home on your trip to the beach.

Ferossi Pants Outdoor Research

While we might all just put them on one leg at a time, the right pair of pants can make a big difference during an active day. Here on the California coast, we’d get a pretty wide range of temperatures – meaning you need something to keep you a little warm in the morning but that wouldn’t roast you in the afternoon. The Ferossi pant from Outdoor Research is a very thin soft shell that was perfect for these conditions, whether I was hiking, biking, out on a boat, or going to dinner afterward.

Sunski Headlands

One of the best parts about the California coast during the winter is basking in the sunshine, but there’s only so much your eyes can take. Sunski glasses stayed snug on my face when hiking and biking, then the polarization came in handy while looking for whales out on the water.

Salomon Speedcross

From hiking, to mountain biking, to trail running, these shoes deliver. The tread is unbeatable and they're ultra comfortable and snug with the Quicklace system. Plus, they actually clean up pretty nice with a pair of jeans for a night out on the town. 

Giant Fathom 1

This hardtail served us perfectly on the flowy singletrack in the Fort Ord National Monument. There were no huge drops or technical terrain, so I appreciated not hauling around the weight of a full suspension. It was easy to whip around trees in the forest and the drop seat came in handy switching between climbing and cruising ridgelines. 

Kick Ass Cold Brew

You cannot beat a frosty can of cold brew for cooling down and keeping your energy up after a solid trail run or MTB ride. We liked that it was unsweetened and as dark ans the depths of Monterey Canyon, and just as remarkable.