Another interesting aspect of The North Face’s latest fabric tech is that it developed it with sustainability in mind. The company said that every Futurelight garment will be produced at a solar-powered factory, and they’ll be made from recycled materials and will go through a process that cuts chemical consumption. In other words, not only are waterproof, lightweight and comfortable, but they’re good for the environment, as well. (Or at least, not as bad as a lot of other synthetic fabrics.)

To celebrate the launch of Futurelight, The North Face built an elaborate art installation in New York City. In it, you could see its new high-tech jackets floating underneath thinly disguised marketing messages like, “WHAT IF WATERPROOF GEAR KEPT YOU DRY INSIDE AND OUT?” and “WHAT IF BREATHABILITY IS THE BREAKTHROUGH.” There was also a giant triangle displaying images of snow-covered mountains and other outdoor scenes. Of course, it was all relevant to what The North Face is known for: making clothes for adventurous people.

The North Face’s Futurelight jacket collection is available now on its site, with the men’s Flight Series jackets starting at a cool $280. And, eventually, The North Face plans to put the technology in other gear, including tents, gloves and more.

Binoculars

I didn’t have a set of binoculars when I was a kid; no wonder I was so bad at birding. You’re going to need a pair, as most birds have this pesky habit of living in tall trees. In most situations a 8x42mm or 10x42mm set like those from Carson will do nicely, since you’re going to mostly be looking at nearby trees. If you’re into shorebirds you might want something a bit more powerful that can see across lakes. You can get pairs for under $100 but many well-known optics brands like the Nikon usually run north of that.

To get the most out of your binoculars make sure to keep them clean (lens wipes are a great help) and make sure you adjust them properly before you leave the house lest you end up missing some good sightings. Pull out the eyecups and fold the pair until it fits the width between your eyes; it’s easier to start with one eye closed and get it in focus, then make further adjustments when you have both eyes open. Jason Ward of YouTube show The Birds of North America can explain it to you better than I can:

Electronic Insect Repellent

You can always lean on that trusty can of OFF! but it’s a pain to have to reapply and can clash with your sunblock. A Thermacell is a handheld device (or a wearable one, though it’s a little big) that heats a pad containing a scentless chemical repellent — you don’t apply anything to your skin and it can protect a larger area around you. That’s great when you’re traveling with companions, since it can protect more than one person. However, it’s less effective on windy days, and won’t help when your friends keep wandering away from you to look at random deer. You could try an audio-based repellent, but I’ve found them to be even more hit-and-miss than chemical methods.

Buy Thermacell MR300 on Amazon – $20

Portable battery

So you’re going to be using your phone a lot — not just for apps, but for the GPS in your phone lest you get lost. And chances are, if it’s a sunny day, you’ll need to run the screen at full brightness. While my Pixel 3 has never run out of battery on a hike, your phone might be a little less long-lasting, and packing a portable battery like the will ensure you don’t miss out on logging a sighting. Mophie’s Powerstation line is particularly good, as its batteries aren’t too bulky but still offer plenty of connection options for modern phones.

Audibon Bird Guide

Audibon released its free dedicated app on Android and iOS last year, and it’s the probably the best way for beginners to get into identifying and logging the birds they see on the trail. The “Bird ID” feature lets you search birds by various criteria, like color, size, habitat and behavior. Then you can check in… er, I mean log your sighting of that species, adding location and quantity. The app keeps track of how many species you’ve seen, so it can feel a bit like filling out a real-life Pokédex.

Merlin Bird ID / eBird

Once you’ve got the basics down and can tell your sparrows, towhees and juncos apart, you might be ready to step up to some serious bird tracking. Cornell University’s ornithology department put out two apps to help birders identify and log wild birds. It didn’t release these apps out of pure altruism, though: The scientists at Cornell use the data submitted by users to track avian populations across the world. So you’ll be contributing to a higher cause. But casual birdwatchers might find it a bit much, as the identification and logging options are split between the two apps, and eBird assumes you already know what you want to enter. But if you’re looking for a serious community of birders, this is the place to go.

Navigation

The more you walk through parks and forests you will eventually realize that Google Maps is very, very bad at outdoor spaces, so you’re going to need a backup. We’re particularly fond of Cairn, which has more trails marked than Google, but also lets you know where you can expect to find cell coverage — and will also notify your loved ones where you’re going just in case something goes wrong. It’s also worth noting that the newest Apple Watch now has a built-in compass, so you can keep track of your directions in a (slightly) more old-fashioned way.

Where to go

Now that you’re all packed and have downloaded all the apps you need, it’s time to head out and start looking for birds. Fall migration is one of the best times to look for birds, as our feathered friends will be headed south from September to November. Both eBird and the Audibon app list “hotspots” near you, while eBird’s app will list all the sightings of a particular species. And check out the site for your local Audibon society, as they’ll offer plenty of tips for your particular region. (For example, the NYC Audibon site lists all the parks you can visit and when you can expect the most sightings.)

Water bottle

Look, you’re outdoors and you’re walking around a lot. You’re gonna need water. As you’re likely to be in places that don’t have garbage cans scattered around, a reusable bottle is your best bet. We’re particularly fond of the Hydroflask or a widemouth Nalgene.

The numbers in Traeger’s product names correspond to their cooking surface area. For example, the Pro 575 offers 575 square inches of grilling space. Keep that in mind as I run through the new models.These grills also offer temperature ranges that make them ideal for both slow-cooked barbecue and high-temperature searing. They use electricity to heat and burn the wood pellets, so they do require access to an outlet, or least an extension cord.

Traeger’s Pro Series has been the company’s option for a wood pellet grill large enough to cook a considerable amount of food while not completely emptying the savings account. You could call it the mid-range option — there are cheaper and smaller as well as pricier and larger options from Traeger. Two new models, the Pro 575 and Pro 780, still do just that, but the main addition here is WiFi. This means you’ll get the added benefit of remote control/monitoring and the ability to send recipes from the Traeger app.

The new Pro Series grills also have Traeger’s D2 Direct Drive that employs a new fan and auger to keep the smoke rolling. The auger can also be reversed if it encounters a pellet jam. Traeger says the D2 setup also helps grills get hotter faster (or TurboTemp), and these new Pro Series models will go up to 450 degrees. Perhaps the best part is the new Pro 575 and Pro 780 will remain at the current Pro Series pricing of $800 and $1,000 respectively. The existing non-WiFi Pro Series models, the Pro 34 and Pro 22, are now $750 and $650 respectively.

The Ironwood Series is an entirely new entry to Traeger’s lineup, and the mid-range option for these new WiFire-equipped models. The Ironwood 650 and Ironwood 885 have a pill-shaped design that’s similar to the Timberline Series. That construction enables so-called DownDraft Exhaust and TRU Convection features to help optimize cook times, according to Traeger. Those two items debuted on the Timberline as well, so it’s nice to see those features make their way to more affordable grills.

The Ironwood 650 with a front shelf that’s unfortunately not included

The Ironwood Series also offers the Super Smoke mode from the Timberline, an option that increases smoke production at the push of a button. And yes, you can switch it on from the Traeger mobile app. Ironwood grills also have a handy Keep Warm mode should you need it (also on the Timberline). D2 Direct Drive is here as well, and these two models can cook at temperatures between 165 and 500 degrees. Basically, the Ironwood Series offers much of what you’d get with the pricier Timberline, but with smaller grills at more affordable prices. The Ironwood 650 is $1,200 while the Ironwood 885 is $1,400.

Lastly, the Timberline Series that debuted in 2017 is back, but with some notable improvements. The sizes are still the same, the Timberline 850 and massive Timberline 1300, but both units now have that improved D2 Direct Drive the Pro and Ironwood Series also employ. The main addition here is a pellet-sensing feature that monitors the level of wood pellets in the hopper so you don’t have to worry about running out.

The Timberline 850

That’s typically not a problem unless you don’t fill the hopper before a cook or have something that takes much longer to finish (brisket, for example). However, as someone who has run out and had to deal with restarting the grill in the middle of cooking, this tool should save some headaches. The pellet-sensing tech will also keep track of levels in the app, so you can check your supply while you’re out shopping.

Like before, the Timberline Series also offers three removable grill grates to help you maximize the cooking space. These new Timberlines are more expensive than the first pair though: the Timberline 850 is $1,800 and the Timberline 1300 is $2,000.

Both the new Pro Series and the Ironwood models are available now. The new Timberline Series is up for preorder and ships in 4-6 weeks.

Even with the other updates, the WiFi connectivity is still the main attraction across Traeger’s line of new grills. The company isn’t the only one building grills than you can control or keep an eye on remotely though. For example, Green Mountain and Rec Tec both have WiFi-enabled models, and in some cases, the options from these two are more affordable than Traeger. I can’t speak to the quality as I haven’t used them, but just know you have options if you’re looking for a connected wood-pellet grill this spring.