View this email in your browser Hi Friends! It’s March already! And that means REI Members now have their annual Member Reward available to spend (look up how much you have in your account here).  Are you gonna treat yourself to some new shoes? Or maybe that sweet backpacking tent you’ve been eyeing? Whatever you’re in the market for, we probably have a Gear Guide to help you make an informed decision. Speaking of Gear Guides, we just finished two brand spankin’ new ones - Best Winter Traction Devices for Hiking and Best Tent Stakes. Be sure to give them a read, then head over to social media to let us know what you think. As always, thanks for following along! - CleverHiker Team Best Winter Traction Devices Our team of gear experts tested all the best chains and studs on the market to make finding exactly what you need a breeze. How to Stay Clean While Backpacking While you may be in the “embrace the stink” camp, there are a few tools and tricks to feeling fresh in the backcountry. How to Prevent and Treat Blisters While Hiking Learn how to prevent blisters, treat them, and keep your tootsies happy and healthy on the trail. Best Tent Stakes Tent stakes are some of the smallest, but most important items in your outdoor kit. We'll help you find the best tent stakes for your needs. GEAR PICK OF THE WEEK Kahtoola MICROspikes Kahtoola MICROspikes were the first traction devices designed specifically for hikers - a lighter, more approachable version of crampons that work with any shoes. They’re what you’ll find on most hiker’s feet when the snow gets too hard and compacted to travel by snowshoe on high-traffic mountain trails. We like MICROspikes for their aggressive, but noncumbersome traction and the well-balanced ratio of strength to weight. The chain links also make them pack down a bit smaller than those made with more rubber material.  See how they compare to other traction devices on our Best Traction Devices for Hiking list. View at REI Copyright © 2022 CleverHiker, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a modest commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations.