Everything
Presenting a handful of gift ideas, from $8 sure things to four-figure vacations for the friend with everything. A Winter RefresherFor the backcountry skier that has everything. Fat skis with ultralight Dynafit bindings. New goggles, a cool-looking helmet, and all the avalanche safety gear. If he's really motivated…
Photo courtesy of XWRN on Flickr. People in 1910 would’ve died of embarrassment if they saw some of 2010’s fitness trends. (Try handing a Shake Weight to a centenarian.) Other trends would've made a caveman proud. Presenting the top…
From the beginning of January up until the year's final weeks, climbing news has been chock-full of bar-raising ascents across all disciplines. We've seen V16 boulders, big wall speed records, and new-school ascents on ice. The sport as a whole has advanced too—climbing may have an Olympic appearance in its…
Standing on the summit of Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson at 16,067’ was one of the highlights of my climbing career. Not only was it one of the most breathtaking views I have ever witnessed from a mountain, the meaning was simply overwhelming. Vinson was the first of my 7 Summits Climb…
As the west gets pounded by storms in what has been a best winter season opening in years, hopefully everyone has been out powder farming the light, dry, deep crystalline snow. When tracking up my local backcountry stash this weekend, I spied giant tree wells, big as black holes. Be…
Laura Dekker, the 15-year-old Dutch girl attempting to break the world record for youngest solo circumnavigation of the globe, reached St. Maarten island in the Caribbean recently, successfully completing her first leg of the journey. Dekker, who was repeatedly delayed by Dutch authorities finally got permission to…
A new account of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet turns history into riveting adventure.
Rising luggage fees and headaches at baggage claims now prompt many travelers to avoid checking a bag before boarding a flight. Instead, experienced travelers plan strategies to maximize carry-on allowances, including stuffing their jacket pockets full and stretching airlines' rules by bringing a backpack or a huge purse…
Aspen frequently shows up on our list of North America’s best ski resorts, and while we think it’s a great place to party, it’s family-friendly, too. Georgie Bremner, Limelight Lodge’s Ski School manager and…
Just in case you're looking for something to read on the flight home, we've compiled a list of the most popular Outside magazine features released this year. 10. BSNYC vs. PDX, by Bike Snob NYCProgressive hub Portland, Oregon, is a kaleidoscopic smorgasbord…
In the murky water hazards of Florida golf courses, something magical awaits: big-ass bass, tarpon, and snook. Tie on a fly and keep your mouth shut—we're going in.
I tore my MCL playing football. Unfortunately, the only working out I can do is upper body strength training. Please help me out with some sort of aerobic workout not using my lower body. My whole life is outdoors and I want to get back to it as quick as possible. The Editors Santa Fe, NM
What are the best exercises to get in shape for backcountry skiing?
I am looking at replacing my Marmot shell after ten years of use. As was the challenge last time, I am having a hard time with fit. I am 6'3" and most sizes that fit are XL, which means I have the proper arm length; however, it is too big around the torso. The misconception is that tall is big when tall is often fit. Do you have any recommendations for a shell that will give proper fit without sacrificing performance and durability? Daniel Ottawa, Ontario
Haggis potato chips, psychedelic snails, drunk lorikeets, an iPhone that speaks Spanish, and a carload of snowboarders. Our journey this week through the interweb to find stuff to click on was an interesting trip. ¡Es Loco! ¡Es MUY Loco! Best…
Looking for one last sub-$100 gift? Sneak a pair of sneakers under the tree. My son's newest pair of shoes are Converse All-Stars. The same kind Eddie Haskell wore on Leave It to Beaver. The same kind hipsters have favored for years, from Brooklyn to Venice Beach. They're an American icon, and…
Martin Erzinger, 52, a Denver man who hit and seriously injured a cyclist with his car near Vail, has been sentenced to probation and community service, the Wall Street Journal reports. The sentencing followed approval of a plea deal criticized…
Can a self-professed "closed-door person" become more gregarious?
Why is there so much hype around quinoa? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
How can I survive a night in the snow? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Soccer's hardest-working man has spent a lifetime developing the endurance, speed, and smarts needed to close the deal when it counts.
Will caveman calisthenics be the next big thing for adventure athletes?
The caffeine-free, fully cleansed, take-a-nap, buff-as-hell guide to a new you.
John Florence, laying into a cutback in the early rounds. © ASP / SCHOLTZ The final day of the Billabong Pipeline Masters In Memory of Andy Irons is currently underway. Check out the action on the live webcast.
A new study shows that exercising in the morning before eating keeps the pounds off more effectively than exercising after breakfast, the New York Times reports. Australian scientists put a group of 28 men on a high-fat, high-calorie diet. Then they…
The All-New Outside+ December iPad App from Outside Magazine on Vimeo. Check out our complete December issue, plus exclusive videos, galleries, and digital enhancements for $3.99 in the iTunes store. To see what…
By Stephen Regenold Running long distances with water is a pain. A backpack with a hydration bladder can significantly slow you down. Holding a water bottle in the hand is a hassle. And those fanny packs that secure a bike bottle for hydration on the hips?…
Flores, en route to his first World Tour and Pipeline Masters victory. © ASP / CESTARI The final event of the ASP World Tour season ended in fine form on the North Shore of Oahu. Jeremy Flores, of France,…
This year's Ironman triathlon world champion, Chris “Macca” McCormack, is currently gracing Wheaties and Wheaties FUEL boxes across the country. The 37-year-old won his second Ironman world champion title this past October, covering the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile…
I seek wisdom from the experienced Gear Guy on winter clothing layering. I will be hiking up Mt. Washington in January and I am hoping I can beseech your advice on finding the best layering combination (starting with base-layer clothing suggestions to mid-layer clothing suggestion and finally the outer shell layer suggestion). Thank you, exulted Gear Guy! -Nathan St. Louis, MO
On Dec. 5, somebody found a foot inside a boot (without the rest of the body attached) in Tacoma, Washington's Tideflats area, the Toronto Sun reports. It's the second foot found since August, when a right foot washed up about 70 miles…
A slew of jaw-dropping stories filled the adventure news cycle in 2010. Some set new lows, like when mountain biker Missy Giove pled guilty in January to smuggling marijuana after being arrested at the end of 2009, completing a tragic fall from grace.
Filmed over the past three years and incorporating interviews from more than 50 influential climbers—including Royal Robbins, John Bachar, Lynn Hill, and Tommy Caldwell—The Last Wild Mountain attempts to tell the story of American rock climbing…
Where's best for kayaking or canoeing in Brazil? I like the idea of the Amazon but would also like some beach action. Any tips? -Dave London, England
What's the ultimate telemark setup this year? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
I recently got a chance to talk with superstar MTB rider Danny MacAskill about learning tricks on his lunch break and his recent film project Way Back Home. It’s his latest viral video, filmed from Edinburgh to the Isle…
An old, non-electric classic. Photo courtesy of Flickr. The U.S. Marine Corps recently purchased two electric Newton trucks from Smith Electric, TreeHugger.com reports. The trucks will be used at Camp Pendleton, CA, the largest training facility on…
Deep down, most of us know it's the riders legs not the bike. When British Doc Jeremy Groves upgraded his $50, 30-pound steel commuter clunker to a $1560, 21-pound carbon beauty, he didn't feel like he was riding that much faster. So, he set off on a test. Just published in…
Russian BASE jumper Valery Rozov traveled to Antarctica's 9,616-foot Mount Ulvetanna so he could be the first to climb and jump off the rock in temps as low as -22 degrees. Enough said. Via Wend. –Joe Spring…
Mt. McKinley photo courtesy of Unhindered by Talent on Flickr. Ever dream of standing atop one of the Seven Summits, winning a marathon, or swimming across the Atlantic Ocean? So did these guys. But instead of following through, they lied about…
Bought an Avalung recently? Black Diamond has some bad news for you. The plastic intake hose on some of the new ones can crack in cold weather, so the company is recalling a number of Avalungs made in 2010, according to a company statement released today. The issue doesn't…
I've used knives for various outdoor activities for years but realized I don't know how to effectively sharpen a knife (aside from tossing it and buying a new one). Can you recommend a sharpener or good resources to learn to sharpen a knife? -Doug Minneapolis, MN
Mark W. Moffett, a.k.a. Doctor Bugs, sent in this video of a botfly emerging from under his skin. A mosquito deposited the egg into the entomologist during a recent trip to Belize. The egg hatched and grew—dining on Moffett's flesh all the way home—before emerging in front of…
More than any season, winter demands good gear. Keeping comfortable while staying active in the cold months is a challenge, as is staying upright on a bike or in running shoes on icy winter trails. Here are a half-dozen winter products for runners and winter bikers to improve…
Courtesy of Orin Zebest on Flickr. As the national interest in hunting has waned and game habitat has become suburban development, government conservation efforts face budget crises, the New York Times reports. Hunting license sales and…
Courtesy of Navicore on Flickr. Sky and Telescope says that tonight's shower should be the year's “richest and most reliable meteor display,” and estimates that as many as two Geminids may be visible every minute under ideal…
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee has called for Sea World to release a tape of trainers masturbating the park's most infamous Killer Whale, Tilikum. “We know from SeaWorld's own director of safety (as well as…
A new study finds that people who imagine eating multiple pieces of candy (or multiple bites of any food) eat less of the real thing when given the chance, Science Magazine reports. Researchers, according to the article, “found that repeated…
What is the best multipurpose digital camera that can take a beating and can be mounted on a helmet. BryanMedford, NY
The frozen continent. Photo Courtesy of Flickr Despite -22°F temperatures, a steady band of adventurers has opened the season on Vinson Massif, Antarctica's highest peak and one of the Seven Summits. Team Latitude, a Norwegian team, was…
Our weekly roundup of the quirky, bizarre, entertaining, and astounding news from the world outside. Here's the stuff you should click on this week. Now You See It, Now You Don't:Then and Now: Repeat Photography Captures Changing Landscapes (…
Is global positioning contributing to our general sense of lostness? One British navigation nerd thinks so.
What's the ultimate Christmas gift for a survival nut? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
By Stephen Regenold Snow is on the ground. The temps are dropping. Winter has set in true and full in Minnesota, my home state, where the natives try not to let the dreary days of December get them down. One solution: Winter running! Indeed, endorphins are…
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Near Lincoln, Montana. Photo Courtesy photogramma1 on Flickr A “very secluded” 1.4-acre parcel of land near Lincoln, Montana, that was once owned by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski is on the market, according to the…
Ride along as an international group of up-for-anything clients gets schooled on tourism's wildest frontier: Afghanistan.
If there's a limit to what the human body can endure, the late Jure Robic was the one drawing the line.
Could floating in a sensory-deprivation tank for several hours be as mind-expanding as a real-life adventure? Our neurological guinea pig is about to find out.
What's the best exercise to increase my vertical? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
I need the perfect present for my boyfriend's birthday! He's a cyclocross racer, mountain biker, skier, rock climber, and camper, and loves all outdoor gear and tools. Any great ideas within the $150 range?? -Sara Las Vegas, NV
Photo courtesy of Flickr. An Antarctic cruise ship, Cecilia II, lost an engine crossing the Drake Passage in the Southern Ocean Monday, going adrift in rough, dangerous seas, The Adventure Blog reports. The Cecilia II was on…
Though reports are still sketchy, Outside has learned that South African kayaker Hendrik (Hendri) Coetzee died after being attacked by a crocodile—on the Congo's Lukuga river. He was paddling with Americans Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic. Coetzee gained prominence after he led the first source-to-sea expedition down the length of…
At least that's what the world's sexiest skydiver says. Italian Roberta Mancino appeared on Conan O'Brien last night to reveal that jumping out of a plane naked isn't that enjoyable. Every part of your body fluctuates in frantic waves while falling. It can hurt, especially…
Photo courtesy of Flickr. Researchers studying 22 male chimps in Uganda's Kibale National Park found that males with more testosterone also had more parasites living in their stomachs, ScienceNow reports. Male chimps compete aggressively for dominance, like most primates, and…
Now more than ever, the world could use some bright ideas. Like these.
Introducing our 2011 READER OF THE YEAR, Ryan Levinson, an athlete who competes like a champ while fighting a savage form of muscular dystrophy. PLUS: SIX HONORABLE-MENTION HEROES
I'm on a tight budget. What are some quality, practical holiday gifts for my wife that won't require a second mortgage? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Little Nemo is looking at you. (Photo courtesy of Shek Graham on Flickr.) The next time you go fishing, you might want to take a moment to consider how the fish feels before you bop one on the head or hook it through its gills,…
Courtesy of dobak on Flickr. Wolves in the Rockies will remain on the Endangered Species List despite growing controversy over their protection, the Associated Press reports. Negotiations between the Obama administration and lawmakers in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming…
What did you miss last month? A lot. Pay attention next time. Or, just check back at the beginning of each month for a round-up of the top 10 blogs from the previous month, like this one. Number 10 (a tie!): Stuff You Should Click On: Week…
An anesthesiologist dressed as Elvis Presley revived a marathon runner after the runner passed out in a Las Vegas restaurant, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Dr. Claudio Palma ran the Rock 'n Roll Las…