VA MTNS Outdoor Collective

10/16/2026

Walkabout Outfitter’s Fall Gear Guide picks have one thing in common: they’re all really good at making the transition from one part of the adventure to the next.

The Cotopaxi Empacable 16L Daypack Del Día packs down small when you don’t need it and gives you an extra pack when you do.

Blundstone US Classics #585 Boots are comfortable enough for a light hike but don’t need to come off when you’re headed somewhere afterward.

And at only 1.1 pounds, the NEMO Equipment Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair proves packing light doesn’t necessarily mean sitting on a rock.

Walkabout is a family-owned Virginia outdoor retailer with stores in Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lexington, Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Williamsburg.

If you’re looking to gear up for fall, there’s a pretty good chance they can help.

Check out all the recommendations in the VA MTNS Fall Gear Guide here: https://vamtns.org/fall-gear-guide-2026/

10/06/2026

Today is National Trails Day!

Whether you’re hiking, running, riding, paddling, or simply enjoying time outside, take a moment to remember that trails don’t maintain themselves.

Across Virginia, thousands of volunteers contribute countless hours each year to build, maintain, advocate for, and protect the places we all enjoy. Organizations like the Roanoke Mountain Bike Alliance, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC), Poverty Creek Trails Coalition, and many others help ensure these spaces remain accessible for future generations.

Before you hit the trail, please consider finding a local workday, becoming a member, making a donation, or simply saying thanks to the people doing the work.

The best way to celebrate trails is to help care for them!

10/05/2026

Fall and fly fishing in the Virginia mountains are a pretty good combination.

For the VA MTNS Fall Gear Guide, Roanoke Angler recommends the St. Croix Rods Imperial 7’ 3wt Fly Rod and fishpond Tacky RiverMag Fly Box.

The St. Croix is light and responsive enough for everything from chasing Blue Line Brookies to fishing the Smith or Roanoke rivers. The RiverMag keeps flies organized and close at hand, which means less time digging through gear and more time actually fishing.

Roanoke Angler is the only guide-owned, guide-operated independent fly shop in the Roanoke Valley, offering personalized service in the shop along with year-round guided trips in Virginia and Tennessee.

In other words, these recommendations have seen some water.

Check out the full VA MTNS Fall Gear Guide for more picks from businesses across the region.

https://vamtns.org/fall-gear-guide-2026/

10/01/2026

If Fall means hunting season at your house, Shrewd Outdoors has you covered.

For the VA MTNS Fall Gear Guide, the Salem crew went with three picks that probably don’t need much explanation: the Hoyt Archery RX-10, Vortex Optics Crossfire HD 1400 Laser Rangefinder, and YETI Tundra 65 in Wetlands Camo.

The Vortex helps take some of the guesswork out of judging distance. The Hoyt RX-10 gets the nod for being smooth, quiet, and confidence-inspiring when the opportunity finally arrives.

And the YETI? Shrewd’s entire explanation was: “Camo and Yeti. What else could you need?” Fair enough.

Shrewd Outdoors is a local shop where the people behind the counter actually use the gear they’re selling. Stop in, swap a few stories, and get ready for the season.

More recommendations are in the VA MTNS Fall Gear Guide: https://vamtns.org/fall-gear-guide-2026/

09/25/2026

We’re starting our Fall Gear Guide business spotlights with Wright Accounting, Inc. and a trio of picks built for one of the best things about fall around here: spending the whole day outside.

Laura Wright and Carolyn Tennant recommend the Patagonia Houdini Jacket as an easy layer to stash when temperatures are all over the place; Ripton & Co jeans and overalls for days that mix bike commuting with stops around town; and Topo Athletic Ultraventure Trail Running Shoes for bouncing between pavement, gravel, and trail.

Swing by Walkabout Outfitter (jacket), Roanoke Mountain Adventures (jeans), and RunAbout Sports Roanoke (shoes) to try these items out for yourself.

Follow along as we work our way through recommendations from businesses across the VA MTNS community, or check out the full Fall Gear Guide now.

https://vamtns.org/fall-gear-guide-2026/

09/23/2026

We’re all set up at The Grandin Theatre for Best Day Ever! Come chat with us, support Roanoke Mountain Bike Alliance, and take home a koozie and a sticker!

09/23/2026

So... it's raining out and a lot of outdoor plans have been cancelled. Need something else to do tonight? We’ve got you.

VA MTNS is proud to be one of the local sponsors of Best Day Ever, showing tonight at The Grandin Theatre!

The film explores resilience, connection, and the ability to find joy even when life doesn’t go according to plan, all told through some incredible outdoor stories.

Tonight | 7:00–8:30 PM

Best of all, proceeds help support the Roanoke Mountain Bike Alliance and its work here in the Roanoke Valley.

VA MTNS will have a table set up, too, so come say hello, learn more about the Collective, and meet some of the people helping grow our region’s outdoor community and economy.

Good film and good cause and a really good excuse to spend a Wednesday night at the Grandin.

09/15/2026

National trail investment can have a very local return. For example, the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s Trail Accelerator Grant program has invested $675,000 across 48 communities and helped leverage roughly $14 million in local support. Read more and subscribe below.

Oxbow

09/09/2026

The Summer Gear Guide was too much fun to only do once.

So, we’re working on a Fall Gear Guide and looking for recommendations from the businesses and people who know Virginia’s outdoors best.

What’s the piece of gear you reach for when fall gets here? Favorite layer? Trail shoe? Bike gear? Camp setup? Fishing gear? Something completely unexpected? We want the things you actually use and would recommend to someone else.

Collective members, we want your picks.

Not a member yet? Join us and this is one of the opportunities you’ll have to put your business, expertise, and recommendations in front of a bigger audience.

Interested? Send us a message or email [email protected].

09/01/2026

The trail, river, or mountain may be what gets someone to visit but it's the rest of the community that determines whether they stay.

East Tennessee offers a pretty remarkable example of what happens when outdoor assets, culture, entertainment, and local identity reinforce one another.

Oxbow