When were not writing about influencers disrupting marathons or debating whether you should bring a camp chair while backpacking, our editors are busy testing gear outside. An unpredictable mixture of sleet, rain, snow, and sunshine this month makes it challenging to pack the right gear for those adventures. Luckily, we put hundreds of products through their paces to determine which ones will keep us the most comfortable and prepared. The following thirteen pieces of gear are helping us enjoy the sometimes dull, sometimes sunny days of November.

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　　Orla Kiely Midi Crossbody bag $217 at Orla Kiely

　　I treated myself to this lovely bag for my 50th birthday. I was drawn to the bright colors and the leaf pattern, and I think of it as my positive pop of panache when the rest of the world seems gray (both meteorologically and metaphorically). It’s fairly spacious—I still must rifle through its open and zipped pockets to place the item Im looking for—and I love the small magnet closure at the top, which I hands-down prefer to the hassle of zippers. As you might expect of a bag designed by a Brit, it is practical and cheery and both water- and scratch-resistant. And it gets me all kinds of compliments in public. —Tasha Zemke, managing editor

　　Pearl Izumi Attack WxB Jacket $101 at Pearl Izumi $101 at Backcountry

　　I absolutely loved this years unseasonably balmy autumn here in Colorado, and I spent tons of time riding my bike in the sunshine. But a minor drawback of the warm weather meant I was unable to test raincoats, baselayers, and other shoulder-season gear. All that changed in early November when we had a week of solid rain, sleet, and snow. I headed out on several soggy bike rides and once again felt the sting of cold on my face and the slush of water in my legs and shoes.

　　Of the gear I tested, the Attack WxB Jacket from Pearl Izumi performed the best. The rain jacket is fully waterproof with sealed seams and an internal storm flap under the zipper to prevent moisture from oozing through. Its also surprisingly breathable—my core vented off heat and I never felt the muggy dampness of my own perspiration building up inside. Credit the jackets breathability and rain-blocking to its three-layer fabric construction. Alas, these attributes come with some drawbacks: the coat felt heavier than some of the paper-thin rain slickers Ive owned in the past. And there are no pockets—a design that helps the jacket fit into a pocket. But if you want a garment that is purpose-built for rainy rides, consider the Attack WxB Jacket. —Fred Dreier, articles editor

　　Birkenstock Tokio Shearling Sandals $185 at Birkenstock

　　I probably wear Birkenstocks 70 percent of the time. I have my favorite running and hiking shoes, and I’m happy to break out my Blundstones for the snow, but otherwise this German company has an almost complete monopoly on my feet. And I’m not alone. The company was valued at $8.6 billion when it had its initial public offering thanks to a very strong and diverse following. Summer sandals are its backbone, but the company has made a big push into winter footwear, and I’m currently obsessed with their Tokio Shearling Sandals.

　　These sandals have the company’s classic cork-latex footbed, which I’ve long loved because it feels great on recovering feet, and they also come stuffed with an ultra-warm, genuine shearling. I wear the sandals without socks on milder fall and winter days and never have any unnecessary sweating, and then throw on a merino sock so I can wear them when it’s freezing. Birkenstock clearly knows they’ve created a movement so the prices are high. But rest assured that the sandals are supremely well built and will last for years. —Jakob Schiller, correspondent

　　Nike Mens Dri-Fit UV Full-Zip Versatile Hoodie $73 at Nike

　　Fall weekends in my house are spent running, literally, from one activity to the next. Early mornings usually involve a cold-weather cross country meet where I cheer on my kids at the start line, sprint to a mid-course spot to keep them motivated, and then sprint back to the finish for a post-race hug. Next it’s off to a slightly warmer soccer game where I help them warm up, and then probably off to a family lunch and maybe a family movie. All that variability had me searching for the right fall layer that would keep me warm, breathe well enough to not wet out, and not make me look like I was running my own race.

　　What I landed on was this hoodie, which is made from 78 percent polyester, so it has the chops to move sweat, and 22 percent cotton so that it still looks casual enough and doesn’t come off as workout wear. Nike offers the hoodie in several colors, and while the light gray does scream “I’m a proud sports dad,” the black is more understated and easy to wear.—J.S.

　　Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L $300 at Peak Design $300 at REI

　　I’ve tried plenty of carry-on sized travel packs, and they all have some sort of drawback, whether its uncomfortable straps or poor organization. So far, Peak Design’s 45 liter pack hasn’t let me down. It expands to the maximum possible carry-on volume, which meant I could pack enough clothing for a week-long work trip, with a laptop sleeve and plenty of smaller compartments for dongles and chargers. If you’re on a persnickety international flight, you can cinch it down to the allowable 35-liter capacity. The massive main compartment flays open completely near the back panel for easy packing and unpacking, with several other zippered access points for stuffing or pulling layers out on-the-go.

　　I havent used it as a dedicated camera bag yet, but photography nerds will appreciate the padded, structured shell of the pack—which allows for any combination of packing cubes and pouches—and two side stretch pockets for tripods (or water bottles). Most importantly? This thing is actually comfortable to wear. After a day hauling 30 pounds of gear on my shoulders, I remained relatively pain-free. —Benjamin Tepler, senior gear editor

　　Nanuk 976 $590 at Nanuk

　　Pelican cases are the gold standard in this country for transporting things like hunting or photo equipment without having to worry about careless baggage-handlers. But recently, I tried out a massive waterproof, dustproof, impact-proof roller from Canada’s leading protective case brand, Nanuk. Overall? Same level of protection as a Pelican, with just a bit more ease and comfort for the user (we’re not all loading ammunition onto a Humvee.)

　　The shockingly large 208-liter container easily held several scuba tanks and multiple bits of oddly shaped kit thanks to an easy pick-and-pluck foam insert that you can hand-carve to your hearts desire. Seven burly latches along the case were easy to close, with no danger of getting snagged and flipping open—a risk with other protective case brands. Giant, folding soft plastic handles on either end of the bag made it easy to grab off of baggage claim belts and pull out of trunks, and an equally massive telescoping handle and two sets of double wheels made hauling the Nanuk through airports feel somewhat effortless, despite the absurd size. If you need to transport something truly fragile—from wine to weapons—Nanuks ballistic-level protection and thoughtful ergonomics are hard to beat. —B.T.

　　Filson Tin Cloth Short Lined Cruiser Jacket $350 at Filson $350 at Backcountry

　　Filson’s offerings tend to err on the side of bulky and utilitarian. Don’t get me wrong—they look great, but itchy wool and extra-long sleeves aren’t for everyone. The Tin Cloth Cruiser, however, is equal parts fashion statement and workwear.

　　It’s made of a thick, waxed cotton that’s pretty much bramble-proof, and will shed water as well as any Gore-Tex layer (as long as you wax it every few years). Lower pockets are generously bulky—large enough for work gloves or a hat—and the right-side chest pocket has multiple pencil/tool slots for whatever project you’re working on. It’s not cheap, but the tight weave, heavy-duty duck canvas, and bar-tack stitching make this thing a workhorse that will probably outlast you. Unlike most of Filson’s offerings, the cut of this jacket is trim, short, and boxy. If you’re after the cool-guy bomber-jacket look, order your usual size. If you’re using it for work, order one size up. —B.T.

　　Bellfab Dometic Water Jug Universal Mount $172 at Bellfab

　　One of my absolute favorite pieces of camping gear in the last couple of years has been the Dometic Go Water Jug. At 11 liters, its the perfect size for most camping trips, and when you pair it with one of Dometics faucets, you get a sink with running water wherever you are. I recently attached this mount from Bellfab to the T-Track on my Tune M1 camper, and now my Dometic GO has a dedicated spot in the rig. The aluminum mount is super strong, and attaches to basically anything—a camper, roof rack, your 4Runners trunk, or a truck beds tie down rails. It keeps the Dometic jug safe and secure while in transit, and lets me position the jug inside the camper for quick access to water, effectively creating a tiny camp kitchen when paired with a small collapsible sink. —Bryan Rogala, gear columnist and contributor

　　Northwest Alpine Black Spider Hoody $135 at NW Alpine

　　Since cooler weather has finally hit here in New Mexico, Ive been living in this layer. The Black Spider isnt new—Northwest Alpine has been making it since 2010—but frankly, I hadnt heard much about the brand until they sent me the hoody. After wearing this piece hiking, hunting, and doing chores around the farm, Im not sure Ive ever worn a better midlayer. The Polartec Power Grid fabric helps the Black Spider breathe exceptionally well when youre working hard, but keeps you warm when youre not. Its not loaded with unnecessary features, the fit is great, and so far its proven extremely durable. I have a feeling Ill be wearing this hoody for a long, long time. —B.R.

　　Kuiu Base Camp Insulated Snap Shirt $159 at KUIU

　　Kuiu is predominantly a hunting brand, but they’ve branched out into everyday wear with some good looking pieces that work at the campsite or around town. I’ve found myself reaching for their Base Camp Insulated Snap Shirt as the temperature has dropped, not only because the 40 grams of synthetic insulation provides just enough warmth to fight the November chill, but also because of the fit of the shirt/jacket; There’s enough room to allow for a full range of motion, but it has a slim cut that avoids the balloon-effect that plague some insulated layers. The liner is brushed for next to skin softness, and the collar looks good down or popped up if it’s particularly chilly. I’ve been wearing it as a shoulder season jacket, but I could see this piece transitioning into a stylish mid-layer come ski season. —Graham Averill, gear and travel columnist

　　Evoc Hip Pack Pro 3 $150 at Evoc

　　I’ve been trying to ride my mountain bike as much as possible this fall, and most of my rides are under two hours and close to home, which means a full backpack of support gear would be overkill. Enter the Evoke Hip Pack Pro 3, a demure waist pack that has a built-in 1.5-liter bladder and enough storage for snacks, tools, and an extra layer. My favorite thing about this bag, though, is the stretchy velcro waist belt which keeps the fit tight without binding around my torso. It’s the sort of bag you forget you’re wearing until you need something in it. —G.A.

　　Yardsale P1 Ski Poles $149 at REI $149 at Yardsale

　　Like most kids, I learned to ski without poles. When it came time to add poles to my regimen, I didnt think much of them and grabbed just any sticks from the rental shop. Turns out, poles are pretty important, and can make or break ski form. The P1 poles from Yardsale are the perfect accessory for skiers who are looking to upgrade their gear. The poles come in a variety of colors, and sizes, and have a magnetic locking system so they stick together. You can even customize the color on the site. But the best feature of Yardsales poles is the lifetime guarantee. You break your poles, tell the team how (the more novel the story, the better), and theyll send you new poles. —Jamie Aranoff, Digital Editor, SKI

　　Roll Recovery Superplush Classic Shoe $110 at Roll Recovery

　　I keep reaching for these new recovery shoes from Roll Recovery because their stretchy, breathable uppers and wide toe box stay out of the way and make them disappear, with nothing squeezing, rubbing, or holding in sweaty heat—and invisible comfort and freedom are my most important qualities in a recovery shoe. The Superplush Classics are incredibly easy to slip on and off, yet once on, the fit is secure enough I didnt have to worry about sliding around or clenching my toes to stay in the shoe. Underfoot, the flexible sole provides unobtrusive support and a stable, comfortable platform without drawing attention to itself. Plus, the use of sustainable, recycled yarns and algae-based Bloom foam does a bit to relax my mind about environmental concerns. —Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor, gear