What We Wear Matters: A Havasupai Story of Movement, Mental Health, and Merino Wool
- Amber Kraus
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
Updated: May 4
Recently, our founder, Sasha Wolff, and I (Marketing Manager, Amber) packed up our bags and headed out to Havasupai Falls in Supai, Arizona for a backpacking trip we’d been looking forward to for over a year.
If you’ve never been, it seriously does live up to the hype. Bright turquoise water running through red rock canyons, breathtaking waterfalls around every corner, and trails that make you feel small in the very best way.
It’s also not exactly a casual walk in the park. You’re hiking about 10 miles in with everything on your back, and once you’re there, you’re constantly moving. Hiking, climbing, crossing water, jumping into the falls, and doing it all over again the next day.
We went into it knowing it would be a reset. What we didn’t fully expect was how much it would reinforce two things we talk about all the time at Still I Run: how powerful movement can be for your mental health, and how important it is to trust what you’re wearing when you’re out there doing it.
Why We’re Picky About Partnerships
Before getting into the trip, this part matters.
At Still I Run, we don’t just say yes to partnerships because they sound good on paper. If we’re going to recommend something to our community, it’s because we’ve actually used it. Not once, in perfect conditions, but in real life situations where things get uncomfortable, sweaty, and unpredictable.
That’s always been our standard.
So when we say we stand behind BRANWYN, it’s because we live in it. This trip was a pretty solid test.
Starting the Day in the Canyon
One of the things we’ll both remember most about this trip is how each day started.
Cool, crisp mornings with a hot cup of coffee in the canyon before the heat set in. That quiet moment where everything still feels calm, your legs are a little sore from the day before, and you know you’re about to head out again.
There’s something about that kind of start to your day that just feels different. No alarms buzzing with notifications. No rushing. Just getting up, packing what you need in your day pack, and heading out on the trail.
It’s simple, but it sticks with you.
The Mental Reset You Don’t Realize You Need
The hike into Havasupai has a way of slowing everything down, whether you want it to or not.
There’s no cell service. No emails. No scrolling social media. You’re unplugged in a way that’s impossible to replicate in everyday life these days.
And when you’re constantly moving, whether it’s hiking, climbing, or just walking from one waterfall to the next, your mind starts to settle without you really trying to make it happen.
We spent a few days in this rhythm. Wake up, move, explore, get in the water, sit for a while, and repeat. There was no pressure to check things off a list or make the most of every second. It was just about being there.
That combination of unplugging, staying active, and being surrounded by nature does something to you. You feel clearer. Lighter. More present.
As we head into Runstreak for Mental Health, it’s a good reminder that movement doesn’t have to be structured to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s just about getting outside and letting your body and mind catch up to each other.
What We Wore (And Why It Actually Matters)
When you’re backpacking, you don’t have room for “just in case” items. What you bring has to work, and it has to work for multiple days in a row. We wore BRANWYN merino wool bras, underwear, and activewear the entire trip, and this is where it really proved itself.
The first thing we noticed was how quickly everything dried. We were constantly getting wet, whether it was from crossing streams or jumping straight into the waterfalls. Normally that means staying damp for way longer than feels comfortable, but that wasn’t the case here. We’d get out of the water, keep moving, and before long everything felt dry again.
The second thing, which honestly felt almost too good to be true, was the lack of odor. We wore the same pieces for multiple days, hiking and sweating the whole time, and they still felt fresh. That’s the kind of detail you don’t think about until you’re in it, and then it becomes really important.
We were also able to rinse things out, hang them up, and wear them again the next day without any extra effort. No complicated routine. It just worked.
And maybe the best part is that we didn’t have to think about it. No adjusting, no discomfort, no wishing we had packed something else. When you’re out there, that’s exactly what you want.
Movement Doesn’t Have to Look One Way
We talk a lot about running at Still I Run, but this trip was a good reminder that movement doesn’t have to fit into one specific box.
Some days were long hikes with a heavy day pack. Other days were shorter, slower walks into the village or to different waterfalls. Sometimes it was just standing in the water, letting your body cool off and your mind settle down.
None of it was about pace or distance. It was just about showing up and moving in a way that felt good in that moment.
That’s the part that carries over into everyday life. You don’t need a perfect plan or the “right” type of workout. You just need to keep showing up in whatever way works for you.
Why BRANWYN Felt Like the Right Fit
After spending several days in these conditions, it felt pretty clear why this partnership makes sense.
BRANWYN creates pieces that are built for real movement. Not just a short workout, but long days, changing conditions, and everything that comes with that.
That lines up with how we think about movement and mental health. It’s not always convenient or comfortable, but when you have the right support, it becomes something you can come back to.
We’re genuinely not promoting something just for the sake of it. It’s about sharing something that truly made the experience better.
A Partnership That Gives Back
There’s also a bigger piece to this that matters just as much.
During the month of May, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, BRANWYN is donating a portion of their proceeds back to Still I Run.
That support helps us continue to offer free programs, remove barriers to access, and create spaces where people feel supported in their mental health journey.
It’s the kind of partnership we care about. One that actually contributes to the work, not just the moment.
What We Took With Us (and Brought Back)
We came back from this trip feeling grounded in a way that’s hard to explain until you experience it. There’s just something about being outside, unplugged, and moving all day that gives you a reset you didn’t realize you needed.
It also reminded us how much the little things matter. The people you’re with, the environment you’re in, and yes, the gear you trust to get you through it. For us, BRANWYN became part of that experience in a really natural way. Not flashy, not overhyped, just reliable and easy to wear day after day.
And at the end of it all, that’s what we’re always coming back to.
Movement that helps you feel better. Support that makes it easier to keep going. And the reminder that you don’t have to do any of it alone.
What We Wore
Amber:
Sasha:
