Cai Rickards
Despite his age, Cai Rickards has managed to spend upwards of a decade and a half exploring nature. The first time he slept through the night was in a tent during a thunderstorm. He started his exploits before he could talk. Skiing almost as soon as he could walk, climbing not long after, hiking trips became a weekly occurrence before he was 2, and he began canoeing, climbing, and kayaking before he was 3.
Alongside a heavy presence of outdoor activities in his life, Cai has spent his free time being a nerd. From a very young age, he began learning about different world histories and mythologies, in particular, the legends of Camelot and history surrounding pirates. Later on, those interests shifted to fandoms such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, with academics and music (particularly violin) becoming central to his life.
Currently, Cai attends an arts school, climbing on a regular basis, playing D&D, and dressing in a manner preppy enough to annoy his father on a regular basis. Despite being a teenager he still does leave his room to see the world, with ski adventures and backpacking trips being the major perpetrators. He lives at 5280 with his dog, Baggins, and his father, Wil, both of which have and continue to support and further his interests in the outdoors.
Cai Rickards and Baggins
Articles by Cai Rickards
Cai writes about base layers, shorts, and packs from the perspective of a young outdoor athlete who cares as much about how gear looks as how it performs. Here are some of his articles and collaborations for Engearment.
Minus 33 Saratoga Bottoms
July 15, 2024 — Cai reviews a merino base layer bottom, making the case for good layering systems as the foundation of any outdoor gear kit.
SAXX Go To Town Casual 2N1 Sport Shorts
July 12, 2024 — A review of SAXX’s 2N1 sport shorts, evaluated through Cai’s lens of balancing comfort, function, and fashion for both work and play outside.
La Sportiva Avok Hoody – The Golden Ticket of Effective Layers
June 21, 2021 — Co-authored with Wil Rickards, a review of La Sportiva’s Avok Hoody as a versatile layer for winter temperatures from -20° to 40°F.
Cotopaxi Tarak 35: A Versatile Single Quiver Backpack
January 24, 2020 — Cai tackles the question “what do you want out of a pack?” in a review of Cotopaxi’s 35L do-it-all backpack.
Decathlon: Why a Brit in the US is Happy Buying French
August 30, 2020 — Co-authored with Wil Rickards, a case for Decathlon as affordable outdoor gear, especially for parents of fast-growing kids.