It's July 1st and you know what that means...it's time to pick Skimble's June contest winner...big congrats goes out to Kate B & James A.  Each get their own Mountain Hardwear summer adventure outfit!

Special thanks to our sponsor:

Moreover, today...

• is Canada Day!  The big lady turns 143 and if you're in San Francisco, join us for a drink at Kells Irish Bar beginning at 5pm.
• begins the July 4th countdown...what active thing are you going to be doing?  Be sure to do it in style with some Mountain Hardwear gear or, for better or worse, with patriotic 'cordarounds'!

Hey Skimblers! Do you check your email/Facebook/Twitter account compulsively? (We take it as a given that you live and die by skimble.com). Add this to your must-look-at-every-five-minutes list of websites: Steep and Cheap, an extension of Backcountry.  They offer, as the name suggests, steep discounts on outdoor gear, just as it's about to disappear. The deals refresh every few hours, so if you're looking for a really good price, we suggest that you follow @SteepAndCheep on Twitter or get an RSS feed of it so you won't miss out on that half-off tent you've always wanted.

One more timely deal to share: REI is currently running a big promotion that gets you an extra 20% off one item in the REI Outlet.  Ends 6/17!

Skimble has a store! Show off your mountain-climbing, mile-devouring, yoga-pose-holding self in style with our new line of T-shirts. Our designs come in men's and women's, short sleeve and sleeveless, and in brown, black and grey.  It's a great gift for your active dad or grad (or, alternatively, for your active you!).

Do you Skimble? Get the gear to prove it.

We're looking to expand the shop with more custom tees for your favorite sports.  Please let us know which items you want by giving us some Skimble Shop feedback!

Special thanks goes out to Sabreena Escay (fashion femme and SpreadShirt guru), Sony Atmadjaja (concept tee: Bike. Track. Skimble.) and Maria (passion for fashion that made it happen).

For men, we have the Ravine Short Sleeve Shirt and Wildlands Shorts.  Here's Gabe looking good in his Mountain Hardwear gear as he prepares for his next great adventure: 

And the gear for the women is just as cool including the Loess Tank Top and High Step Judo Crops. 

As you can tell, all of us at Skimble are huge fans of Mountain Hardwear's gear and athletes.  Here's Mike Libecki and Maria at a Lombardi Sports event last month in San Francisco:

The Halloween countdown continues and Skimble knows just what's racing through your mind!  You're dying to know the answer to this pressing question:

How am I gonna survive Halloween?

Well, whether you're up in the mountains or creepy crawlin' around the city,  these are the essentials for a unforgettably active Halloween:

1) Stay Hydrated

Go with a black Klean Kanteen or an orange REI Nalgene bottle and fill it with some Orange Gatorade Drink Mix!

You'll stay hydrated all night long and be doing some serious good for the environment in the long run!

2) Light up the Night

If you're partying in the bushes, be sure to bring your Halloween-worthy light source.  Get the Princeton Tec Apex Extreme LED Headlamp or the Black Diamond Orbit Lantern.  They're both super bright, black and orange...and amazing!

3) Keep out the Creeps

Wrap yourself in an Arc'Teryx Jacket such as the Men's Arc'Teryx Beta AR Jacket or Women's Arc'Teryx Epsilon SV Hoody Jacket.

These Arc'Teryx jackets will warm you up and make you look great on Halloween night.  What's more is that they will definitely keep you performing up in the mountains!

4) Be the First-Aid

Now, are you or your buddies prone to Halloween mishaps?  Come prepared to party and patch-up with this essential Adventure Medical UltraLight First-Aid Kit.

5) Regenerate with Treats

Try our favorites: Clif Kid Organic Spooky Smores ZBar, Clif Kid Organic Twisted Fruit, Clif Shot Bloks

6) Protect Yourself

We know how you roll so as the night progresses we recommend you take some extra precautionary measures: helmet, ice axe, and rescue rope

7) Pack it Up!

All these survival pieces will easily fit into the rugged Mountain Hardware Splitter Pack:

8) Kayak out of Trouble

Rumor has it that zombies and goblins loathe water.  Paddle your way out of harms way in this:

9) Know What Shat That...

When you've finally found your way back on safe ground, stay alert and in the know...about what shat that:

And when you've figured out it's something grizzly...

10) Hug it out!? No, Spray it out.

Skimblers: be active, be safe and survive Halloween!