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We featured the Rylo in our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide as one of the best action cameras. “Rylo’s dual-lens camera shoots video in 360 degrees, so you get everything,” our tester wrote. After you're done shooting, the easy-to-use app lets to choose the best footage for your clip.
The Garmin InReach Mini weighs only 3.5 ounces and operates like a full-size Garmin InReach. According to our tester, “It retains the core InReach functionality (two-way messaging, location tracking, weather updates) in a package that is more portable.”
If you work in an open space area or spend lots of time in a plane, these headphones are a must. We recommended them this past February for getting work done on long plane rides because they have Bose’s top-notch noise cancellation technology, 20 hours of battery life, and are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
The Spartan Sport Baro is one of our favorite pieces of trail running gear. The watch not only tracks distance, pace, and heart rate—it also provides barometric pressure, altitude, elevation gain, and recovery time. Plus, it has 80 different sport modes and is water resistant up to 100 meters.
The Turtle Shell can take a beating. It’s waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and it floats. It comes with multiple strap and mounting options, so you can get boom-box quality sound on your raft, paddleboard, bike, or cooler. Plus, the high capacity lithium-ion battery provides 20 hours of music and acts as a power bank for your phone or other small devices.
Sometimes smartphone cameras don’t cut it. Upgrade that special mother in your life to the Coolpix B600, which features 60x optical zoom, full HD video, and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity for sharing photos. The controls are simple, so she can get shooting right out of the box.
If you spend much time in the water, you’ll need a “SwiMP3”—a waterproof set of headphones with an MP3 player that straps to the back of your head. The Finis Duo is fully submersible down to nine feet, has four gigabytes of storage (enough for 1,000 songs), and uses bone-conduction tech, so you can clearly hear the music when your head is underwater.
Waterproof, dustproof, and buoyant, the No Bounds speaker was one of our favorite pieces of waterproof gear in our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide. Plus, the speaker has a 10-hour battery life so you can play music all day without worrying about running out of juice.
The Renogy 100-watt panel is the industry standard for vanlifers. This panel weighs 16.5 pounds and is designed for RVs and boats. It can be used alone, in a series of panels, or as a portable option. With built-in mounting holes and aluminum frame, you can even mount it to the roof of your van. And it’s waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about rain or snow.
This shirt was one of our favorite flannels in our 2020 Winter Buyer’s Guide. The Dovetail uses brushed cotton for an extra snuggly feel, while the longer cut gives it a polished look.
This performance flannel looks classic, but has a modern twist with its cotton-polyester blend. The shirt’s relaxed fit and brushed cotton feels cozy, while the 30 percent polyester helps wick moisture and offer stretch. We especially like the pearl snaps that add a classy touch.
Last spring, our Gear Guy tested five different fleeces and the Tekno Ridge came out on top. “It excelled during every activity and looks so good that my wife stole it from me,” he wrote. This hoodie is close-fitting for easy movement, sturdy enough to fend off 15-mile-per-hour headwinds, and has side-seam zips to dump heat.
After six months of testing the Capilene Cool Trail shirt, our Gear Guy loved it so much he wrote an ode to it. “I love this tee because it quietly does everything I expect from a technical layer extremely well while still looking good,” he wrote. The shirt boasts a soft, moisture-wicking fabric, odor control, and a flattering fit.
This brushed cotton flannel is one of our go-to tops. The Junction’s medium cut and colorful plaid pattern looks good around any mountain town, and we dig the shirt’s two western-inspired chest pockets.
We included the Dart in our 2020 Winter Buyer’s Guide as one of the best pieces of men’s running gear. “This single-bottle holster sits comfortably around the waist, thanks to mesh and an adjustable belt,” we wrote. The included water bottle is 1.3 liters and the main zippered pocket can hold your phone and keys.
The Micro Puff was our favorite jacket of 2018 because there’s a lot to love about this warm, super-light piece. “The PlumaFill is tacked between sheets of ten-denier nylon fabric in long strands, so it won’t shift and create cold spots,” our tester wrote.
The Little Black Dress of fleeces, the Denali is as essential as it is simple. The fleece is inspired by the 1988 design, but it's been updated in a few ways in the sustainability department: the Denali is now made with recycled material, and you can track the fleece's journey from factory to gear shop.
This jacket provides serious warmth in a lightweight package. The DWR finish sheds water and the elastic cuffs lock in heat. And, when you’re ready to stow away the jacket for the season, it packs into the hand pocket.
Our tester Wes Siler loves these shoes for hiking and backpacking trips. Siler said the Lone Peak 4 “is more comfortable and has better grip than anything else I’ve tested.” Altra designed the Lone Peak 4 for hikers and runners with a wide, comfortable footbed and exceptional traction on anything from loose dirt to slippery mud.
Altra designed the Lone Peak 4 for hikers and runners with a wide, comfortable footbed and exceptional traction on anything from loose dirt to slippery mud. “The Altras let your feet spread out and give your toes room to breathe,” wrote Appalachian Trail hiker Tara Dower in our roundup of AT gear essentials.