Top Gear For Disabled Athletes: Accessible Training Products
10 Products That Make Nature More Accessible For These Adventurers
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In our All Access issue, we're spotlighting how the disability community is making the outdoors more accessible for everyone. Explore the package here.
We know there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to disabilities and the outdoors. People assume that we never go outside or that it's a feel-good inspirational moment when we are spotted in public. But disabled people know the truth: we are everywhere in every space. Exploring the outdoors for the first time can be overwhelming for disabled people for a number of reasons, including barriers in the environment, lack of accessible transportation, and exclusion in programming and representation. The good news is that the disability community already has a lot of expertise and great gear recommendations for outdoor activities and experiences. Ahead, seven disabled adventurers share what they carry in their bags and what they recommend packing for a wide range of outdoor adventures.
We have so many recommendations from the disability community for accessible and adaptive gear that we didn't have space to fit them all here. These are just some of the items you can purchase to get you started on your outdoor adventure. Not all are adaptive, but that's OK because products don't have to be labeled "adaptive" to be useful for disabled people. In fact, repurposing and hacking everyday items to serve disability-specific needs is rather commonplace. There are so many wonderful products out there that can support your exploration through nature. We know that disabled people are also always coming up with creative adaptations for themselves to survive and thrive. Happy shopping!
Audible Locator Beacon
RescueMe MOB1 Audible Locator Beacon ($350)
If anyone knows about being outdoors, it's blind sailor Tiffany Taylor. Taylor was introduced to sailing by her partner, and they now live full-time on their boat. One product that's a must have for Taylor while sailing is her RescueMe MOB1 audible locator beacon, which can be placed on life jackets. The beacon makes a sound when in the water in case someone were to fall in.
High-Contrast Swimsuit
Waterlust Parrotfish Protection Reversible Scoop Bikini Top ($63) and Waterlust Parrotfish Protection Reversible High-Waisted Bikini Bottom ($59)
While out at sea, Taylor always seeks the right outfit. And as someone who still has a little vision, she recommends one of her favorite brands, Waterlust. "Having high-contrast clothing is helpful for me and my partner so we can watch out for each other on the water," Taylor says. "Waterlust has sun-protective clothing that has nice patterns. They also donate to wildlife conservation and the clothing is made from recycled materials."
Split-Toe Neoprene Booties
Rip Curl E-Bomb 3mm Split-Toe Booties ($70)
Para surfer Cienna Ditri is also not a stranger to the water. She admits that when she first became a wheelchair user, she didn't know if she would still be able to surf. However, it only took one introduction to para surfing to get her back out there on the waves. Since Ditri doesn't have feeling in her feet, she keeps Rip Curl neoprene booties in her pack to protect her feet and provide grip while she's in the water.
Accessible Swimsuit
PrintFresh x Lime Ricki Tiger Queen One-Shoulder Crop Top ($93) and PrintFresh x Lime Ricki Tiger Queen High-Waist Bottom ($55)
If you know Ditri, then you know the perfect swimsuit is a key element of her outdoor experience. She said she hasn't found the right adaptive swimwear just yet, but recommends a swimsuit set from Lime Ricki because they have stylish suits that have easy on/off with no fasteners. "As a fashion girlie, I love swimwear in bright and fun colors or prints," Ditri says. "This lets me bring a little of my style onto the waves and helps me with those early wake-up calls." Form and function in one!
Skateboarding Jeans
Levi's Skateboarding 501 Original Jeans ($71, originally $108)
Oscar Loreto Jr. is a pro adaptive skateboarder who recently returned from the Olympics in Paris. Loreto was part of a team demoing para skating in order to raise awareness and make a case for introducing the sport to the Paralympics. He says it's all about comfort when he's out skating in his Los Angeles neighborhood, which is why Loreto is a big fan of the Levi's 501 skateboarding jeans. "These jeans are very comfortable and the fabric is extremely stretchy," Loreto says. "This helps me to be as flexible as possible when performing my skateboarding maneuvers."
Sun Shade Group Shelter
Big Agnes Sage Canyon Shelter ($300)
Heather Penny, a two-spirit disabled parent of the Cherokee Nation, keeps a shade shelter in the trunk of their car for "spur-of-the-moment outdoor stops." The Big Agnes Sage Canyon Shelter is compact and versatile, offering protection from the sun whether you're solo or part of a group. For Penny, their shade shelter also functions as a kitchen area while they're on camping trips, offering protection from the wind as well. This can be especially helpful for people with heat or sunlight sensitivities.
Rocker Camp Chair
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Camp Chair ($70)
A "game changer for pain management," the GCI rocking camp chair has also been a great discovery for Penny. This camp chair is sturdy and establishes a smooth rocking motion with patented Spring-Action Rocking Technology. "It's pretty big and heavy for a chair, but really worth it," Penny says. "One thing I dig about all the ways I've learned to accommodate our disabled bodies is that our camping setup is luxe AF." The chair is easy to fold and has a handle at the side of the legs for carrying when compact. It has a 19.7-inch seat height from the ground and weight capacity of 250 pounds.
Battery-Operated Heated Blanket
ActionHeat 7V Heated Throw Blanket ($120)
Corinne Segura, author of the popular blog My Chemical-Free House, lives with chronic fatigue syndrome and mold illness in a fairly severe form. Her diagnosis has led to temperature instability, which Segura explains "is a tricky thing to deal with if you want to sleep in the great outdoors!" She brings a heated blanket that plug ins to campsites or a backyard, but this battery-operated heated blanket is great for those in need of something more portable.
Hiking Backpack
Osprey Tempest 20 Hiking Backpack ($160)
The Osprey Tempest 20 hiking backpack is a favorite for Sofia Webster, an Ecuadorian American woman living with Lyme disease who loves hiking. "It gives me great back support and has a really handy loop where I can keep my hiking poles, which is helpful for my chronic pain," she says. The Tempest has a continuous wrap harness, a hip belt, and an AirScape back panel. Its many attachments, such as the external water reservoir sleeve and the Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole loops, makes this pack a good choice for any outdoor activity.
Limited-Dexterity Jacket
No Limbits Limited Dexterity Jacket ($160)
One thing about being outdoors is that it's not always easy to predict the weather. No Limbits describes their Limited Dexterity Jacket as "the world's easiest jacket," equipped with a self-aligning zipper pull, a magnetic placket, rounded shoulders, and magnetic pocket closures. "The mission of No Limbits is comfort, confidence, and independence for people who struggle with clothing due to a disability," says Erica Cole, founder and CEO of No Limbits.
Jump back to the All Access issue.
Sofia Webster is a disability accessibility consultant and lifelong nature enthusiast based in Sacramento, CA. She is the lead consultant of content marketing and strategy at LaVant Consulting, a social-impact communications firm that seeks to change the way society sees, views, and values disability. Sofia has been living with Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness she acquired while in the outdoors, for 15 years and is always seeking new and adaptive ways to convene with nature.
Natalie Trevonne is a writer, fashion designer, and accessibility consultant who has been featured for her work by Essence, Cosmopolitan, Fox Business, and PS. As a legally blind writer and creator, Natalie uses her disability to speak up/speak out for equal representation in the entertainment and fashion industries. She's a LinkedIn top voice for disability advocacy and was the first blind fashion designer in the metaverse.
