Ankles prone to rolling? The Breeze’s stable platform makes it incredibly supportive for a light hiker, yet it doesn’t feel clunky. The mostly mesh upper breathes exceptionally well and dries quickly. The Breeze excelled on fast-and-light trips, like a jaunt up and down Vermont’s Stowe Pinnacle. www.tecnicausa.com Bonus:…

Don’t let the discount-store price fool you: This nimble, sticky-soled shoe is a standout on performance alone. The breathable upper is slipper comfortable out of the box. And when one tester leaped across a creek, the grippy tread helped her stick the landing—and avoid a butt-plant. Choose the Multiterra…

Get the body and sole of a traditional boot in a stylish, wear-anywhere package. The upper is more leather than mesh, for superior support and long life, and glove leather on the inside molds to your foot. The stiff Vibram sole held firm on Adirondack rocks and rubble, and…

Take the collective experience of a century of Italian bootmakers, add Gore-Tex, and subtract most of the leather and you get this Old World/New World mash-up. It’s a hiking boot with the support to carry a heavy load, and it feels much lighter than its weight suggests. Our feet…

While all the shoes here are made specifically for women, we found that the Terrastryder’s lower- volume forefoot, cushioned ankle, deep Achilles cutout, and sloping collar combined for the best fit of the bunch. It feels more like a sandal than a boot but still has bootlike stability,…

For a sure fire, break out the COLIBRI CX GEAR QUANTUM TEMPEST lighter. This butane fire breather has a one-click lighting system and a built-in LED. (800-556-7354, www.colibri.com)…

Lightweight and low-profile, the Hooligan is perfect for slim faces and smaller heads. Bonus: You can afford another pair if you lose ’em at the crag. www.ryderseyewear.com…

An easy-to-use tab system makes swapping the Synergy’s four lenses—gray, amber, rose, and clear—a cinch in changing light, and the rubber temples eliminate slippage. www.nerveusa.com…

Jessica Simpson glam meets sporty sensibility. Polarized lenses are dark enough for sailing at high noon, and a flexible nylon frame clings gently—but firmly—to your temples. www.kaenon.com…

The Script’s lenses filter blue light for excellent depth perception and detail, and a curved three-tone frame provides optimal fit. www.oakleywomen.com…

A sweeping frame protects and compliments broad, high cheekbones, and the gradient lenses are ideal for variable light conditions. www.dirty8eyewear.com…

You’ll barely notice these shades—but others will. The wrap style delivers uncompromising peripheral vision. A springy rubber nosepiece holds them securely in place. www.arnette.com…

Despite the name, there’s nothing feminine about this hard-riding, go-anywhere rig—except the women’s fit, of course. The racers among us loved the aggressive position, which made for fast handling on tight trails but still provided plenty of hookup in back on loose, sketchy climbs. On one log-riddled trail, a…

If you like riding up as much as down, get this light and nimble climber. In Moab, testers powered up steep slickrock and rutted trails with nonchalance. But it’s not just a mountain goat: The new Linear Link rear suspension, which provides almost four inches of travel, yielded one…

How good is the Stumpjumper FSR? One tester’s guy friend threatened to steal it and hock his own titanium hardtail on eBay. In short, this bike took best-in-show on technical singletrack. With a Shimano XT/XTR/LX drivetrain and Avid Juicy hydraulic brakes, Specialized spared no expense. You get almost five…

When the going gets tough, the tough tighten up their Enigmas. Like an up-armored light hiker, the Enigma has the body of a sneaker and a Vibram sole shaped for cruising, but it plows through mixed terrain like a Hummer. Rigid support won’t wilt under a heavy pack, and…

Some low-cut shoes beg for mercy under the weight of a 40-pound pack. But the Passage Ventilator can bear a load, thanks to a muscled chassis that includes an injection-molded plastic plate in the midsole and a broad outsole that provides a stable platform for every step. Molded plastic…

The question: Do you buy a mountain bike with big travel or less weight, stable angles or lively handling? Ellsworth’s Epiphany eliminates the compromise, riding an inspired line between cross-country and downhill. You get a bike with five-plus inches of front and rear travel in a package that weighs…

Patagonia has virtually erased the line between soft shell and storm shell with the Spraymaster. The incredibly stretchy, astoundingly waterproof, and impressively breathable lightweight shell fuses the best of both worlds. Call it a firm shell. And rest assured, it’s the one jacket that will prompt you to seek…

You wouldn’t expect Guinness to make anything but stout, and you shouldn’t expect Five Ten to make a shoe that can’t climb. The Prodigy has obvious rock-shoe features: sticky Stealth C4 rubber on the outsole and a profile that allows tight-quarters foot placement without pinching wide feet. The Prodigy…

Innovation usually comes in fits and starts: a zipper here, a strap there. But Arc’teryx dispenses with the nickel-and-dime approach with this revolutionary pack. Any other year its every detail—from welded seams to dynamic suspension—would have been noteworthy. In this case the sum is much, much greater than the…

Though it’s not billed as a trail runner, the Kota is constructed on a running-shoe last, and it shows. Racing to beat sunset, I sped down north Georgia’s Hemp Top Trail in these shoes and reached the car with no foot fatigue. Underfoot, the cleatlike tread bites the ground, while…

Tent walls condensing like a steam room? Roll over and go back to sleep in the Sierra Designs Trade Wind. The down bag’s waterproof shell is impervious to weather that will wilt the feathers of lesser bags like, well, a cold shower. But that’s not all. Premium down fill,…

Wheel it, shoulder it, sit on it, kick it—Osprey’s Meridian 22 adeptly adjusts to any adventure and absorbs every road-inflicted insult. It relieves you of attachment anxiety, since it’s carry-on legit, but magically stows everything you need for an around-the-world journey. Can’t resist picking up that wooden mask in…

Value never looked so good. The D50 puts a pro-quality digital SLR in reach of ambitious amateurs who want to move beyond snapshots—without shelling out more than they paid for their first car. With the ability to swap out lenses and go manual, it allows utmost creativity. And cutting-edge…

Testers didn’t want to take this shoe off, thanks to its blend of trail-worthy guts and low-key style. The sole’s balance of support and flexibility was perfect for speedy trail hiking. And while the rubber toe cap makes it look like other approach shoes, the Paso has a wider…

Though some manufacturers like to throw around the sexy-sounding “approach shoe” title, the CTC is no marketing gimmick. When my trip up a creekbed turned into a bouldering session, the CTC proved as nimble and grippy as a traditional climbing shoe. Wrapped in sticky rubber, the narrow toe box…

Cheaper shoes exist, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one that beats the Prima for dollar-per-mile value. It’s light enough for a day hike and sturdy enough for a week in the Grand Canyon, and its midcut height and waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex XCR liner will handle the sloppiest edges…

BUCK’s 172 MAYO TNT locking knife tucks a surgical-sharp three-inch blade into an ultracool titanium handle. (800-326-2825, www.buckknives.com)…

At 2.4 pounds per pair, this scrappy boot performs above its weight class. Made with super-sturdy nubuck and full-grain leather, the Skamania was still standing after going 12 rounds with a full pack on my back. The key is the midsole’s rigid nylon shank and molded EVA cushion, which together…

Talk about kids in a candy store. Contemplating the 20-surfboard quiver we assembled for Buyer’s Guide testing this year, our wave riders felt as if they’d been given the keys to Wonka’s brand-new surf factory. We had longboards, guns, funboards, thrusters, and fish—yet there was one stick our testers…

Zeal Optics’ Maestro nails it with its new ZB-13 sepia polarized polycarbonate lenses. The amber tint amps up depth perception, intensifies contrast, sharpens edges, and performs masterfully in so many light conditions that you’d think they were photochromic (the kind that adjust to brightness). But the lenses don’t change—they’re…

Basic navigation is available in everything from cars to phones these days, but Garmin’s palm-size powerhouse GPSmap 60CSx takes a sophisticated GPS—once found only in the hands of explorer-engineers—and puts it in every traveler’s pocket. With the unit’s intuitive interface, Garmin has simplified use for beginners while simultaneously incorporating…

With an anodized-titanium handle swaddled in carbon fiber, XIKAR’s XI 158 EXCURSION knife is a techie’s dream cutter. (888-266-1193, www.xikar.com)…

If you think even a three-pound tent is heavy, but snoozing sans roof seems iffy, the NightHaven is for you. More than a tarp, less than a tent, the shelter sets up with two trekking poles. Lack of ventilation meant the silicone-treated nylon walls got clammy when the NightHaven…

You don’t need to attempt an unclimbed summit in Tibet to appreciate this tent, but that’s what our tester did. After weathering 50-mph winds while hunkered down at 16,600 feet, he says, “The Spire is one of the best tight-quarters, two-man mountain tents available.” The secret? A top-strut pole…

The Seedhouse is one of the year’s standouts in a smart class of tents: They’re technically big enough for three but so light they should rightfully be considered two-person shelters. Consider: It’s six feet wide at the hips and nearly four feet tall—and still has double-wall protection that kept…

Eyeing the Morpho’s inflatable beams, I was ready to dismiss this pneumatic freak. Then I pumped it up in about one minute and dived into the two-person playroom. Intrigue grew when a not-so-errant pocketknife didn’t pop the rigid airbeams, which are made from a derivative of sailcloth, with guy-outs…

This freestanding dome is only a few tent stakes over three pounds, yet it skimps on almost nothing. With a design that eliminates wasted corner space—hence wasted weight—the Evolution has two doors, two vestibules, a legit two-person floor, and a comfy 42 inches of headroom. Double-wall construction, with a…

The perfect workhorse, this do-it-all two-person shelter is light enough for summer, sturdy enough for shoulder-season storms, and big enough for a pair of tall strangers to share. The stable pitch is drum-tight and condensation-free, and two doors and vestibules make for easy living. While its 40-inch peak height…

The BENCHMADE 921 SWITCHBACK knife features an ultrasharp 3.4-inch blade for smooth slicing, plus a bonus two-inch cutter tucked in the back. (800-800-7427, www.benchmade.com)…

At less than five pounds, the Baku 3 is one of the lightest true three-person tents we’ve seen. A trio of testers shared the Baku at a campsite alongside the Grand Canyon’s Cottonwood Creek, and there was no bumping elbows, thanks to an airy interior and a 42-square-foot floor.

Behold a world-record holder: In wind-tunnel testing, the ultralight Spectrum withstood 130-mph-plus winds, says The North Face, thanks to a new design that funnels air through the tent via a front-awning scoop. While we never found a ridge where a Katrina-level blow was brewing, we assembled the fast-pitching Spectrum…

If you like crappy weather—or at least camping in places with crappy weather—you’ll shell out the dough for a specialist tent like the Kaitum. On the outside, this caterpillar of a shelter sprouts a web of guy lines that turn the Kaitum into a four-season fortress. Inside, it’s a…

Last year, Wave Sport’s designers must have taken the same trip through the wind tunnel that Lamborghini techs made recently. Gone are the rococo flourishes and hard angles, replaced by spare, fluid lines. But where the Project’s predecessor, the ZG, allowed comfort and speed to compromise performance, this year’s…

Headquartered five minutes from Canada’s St. Lawrence River and the mighty surf waves at Lachine Rapids, Riot helped launch big-wave riding as its own kayaking subgenre. The Astro carries on that tradition with a fast-planing hull and delayed rocker to aid aerial moves but maintains a bow profile narrow…

Though it’s more than a year old, the Jefe, like its Tsangpo-stomping predecessor the Gus, has no equal as a creek and expedition boat. The long waterline, medium chines, displacement hull, and heavily rockered bow allow the boat to accelerate, track through turns, climb out of holes, and get…

Designing a one-boat quiver is always a compromise, but the Rx (a.k.a the Prescription) is no horse by committee. It can both play and run downriver, because it combines a flat freestyle hull—for spinning on a wave—with a progressive rocker and relaxed chines behind the hips, where eddy lines…

This classic touring boat got an overhaul for 2006, with improved seat, hatches, and primary stability. Cross-Lock quick-release closures on the hatches are user-friendly, and increased cargo space easily stows gear for multiday trips. While it takes paddle power to get the weighty Looksha going, it tracks true once…

With exceptional primary and secondary stability and surprisingly speedy acceleration, the Tsunami blends beginner-friendly handling with performance that won’t leave you wanting once you’ve mastered the basics. Everyone who paddled it—from testers to their mothers—had fun. A high-backed seat provides superb support, and with seven sizes available, it fits…

For decades, world-class athletes have conditioned their feet—and upped the speed at which they shift from one foot to the next—by leaving their shoes at home. Nike gets barefoot-running religion with the Free, which distills the training shoe to its very essence. For an ultra-minimalist platform, this year’s Gear of…

There’s no debate: This is one of the best touring boats on the water. We took the Brittany out in the stormy Atlantic and on glassy Lake Champlain, loaded down and completely empty, and in all conditions she turned like she knew what we were thinking. With the skeg…

CROSSOVER ARTISTTo save weight and increase comfort, Pearl installed a urethane crash pad in the heel-strike zone at the rear of the Float’s midsole, while bolstering the instep with lighter expanded-vinyl-acetate foam. The result is a great compromise between cush and stability, offering even overpronators an excellent all-around ride. Go…

PLUSH RIDELooking like a track shoe built atop a precarious scaffolding, the Mega Ride doesn’t scream “marathon.” But I found myself comfortably chewing up the miles on the cushy undercarriage. Near the end of one long run, I was still cruising on downhills where I’d typically be bracing for impact.

Cross a rubber tire with a sandal and you get this cool beast. A pull-through cord snugs each “rib” (actually made with EVA plastic foam) down like a clamp for great stability. www.mionfootwear.com…

LONG-HAULERThe X stands for ten—the number of revisions Asics has made to this lightweight standard bearer. Serious racers will still find Asics’s proprietary gel cushioning and the firm arch post they’ve come to depend on. But with an open-air mesh upper, this year’s DS offers a more stable ride, a…

Waffling between a shoe and a sandal? The H2’s blend of protection, support, and air conditioning make it the perfect compromise. Just don’t expect to slip into it like a flip-flop. www.keenfootwear.com…

During portages, the Centurio’s Vibram sole stuck to slick rocks. Soft neoprene lining feels great against bare skin and protects your foot topside. www.lowaboots.com…

Why They’re CoolThis petite sports wrap loves things strenuous and sweaty, while remaining—dare we say it?—a lady. The design slenderizes the familiar wrap by squeezing the lens into a pleasing feline shape. On a small face, nothing is lost in coverage. » The view is pretty, too, through poly lenses…

Monofilament-nylon webbing keeps your foot straitjacket snug when you’re in water all day. The quick-release heel buckle is smart—if potentially breakable. www.teva.com…

Get a performance fit without a river-guide vibe. Waterproof leather and an antimicrobial footbed raise the price but come in handy on vacation in, say, the Yucatán. www.eccousa.com…

Chaco’s retooled midsoles are almost 25 percent lighter than their weighty predecessors but still hike like supremely ventilated boots. The double straps and split toe yield good control but don’t work well with socks. www.chacousa.com…

STEALTH RACERScott checks in with one of the lightest competition frames on the planet—a blend of custom tubes and carbon welding that weighs a feathery one pound 15 ounces. For a frame this light, it’s surprisingly solid. When it was decked with Campagnolo’s midrange Centaur group, our test bike came…

You could pay more than twice as much for a bike and not have this much fun. With a one-piece carbon frame, competition-worthy components, and intuitive handling, this Gear of the Year winner is an entry-level racer that moves “entry level” into the same neighborhood as “elite.” 1. For…

Stay cool—literally and figuratively—with this high-style lid. www.kaenon.com…

SPORTS SEDANA champion’s philosophy underscores each LeMond rolling out of the Wisconsin plant: Comfort trumps efficiency. That’s how Greg LeMond won three Tours de France—atop buttery steel frames like this one. And the Buenos Aires offers something extra: carbon fiber. By mating carbon tubes in the top half of…

DISCOUNT TICKETThink of the Competition as a two-wheeled iMac: Pros may want more, but if you’re looking for a worry-free performance machine, clip on in. Raleigh is coming on strong for ’05 by combining cutting-edge frames with styling that harks back to the brand’s late-seventies/early-eighties heyday. Carbon tubing, aluminum lugs,…

This high-performance tee fights odor, wicks sweat, and will outlast your passport. www.prana.com…

When we finally terraform Mars, the first colonists will doubtless be issued Montrail Hardrock Wides—kicks perfectly suited to the dusty slopes of 78,740-foot-high Olympus Mons. OK, admittedly, we’re reaching, but our 2005 Gear of the Year trail runners have more than proved their worth on this planet, moving effortlessly from…

ONE SWEET RIDEForget the South Beach Diet: The cushioning here will convince you that you’ve lost ten pounds. Credit trademarked midsole components (they boil down to strategically tuned EVA and a bit of foam rubber), which render each foot strike a pleasure instead of a pain. A thickly padded, noncreeping…

Need a place to stash your train tickets? Pick one of the six pockets on these poly-cotton shorts. www.timberland.com…

Everybody wins with this cotton button-up: Its gauze weave lets cool air in—and your stink out. www.hornytoad.com…

No ordinary denim pant here: The vintage-wash fabric combines the stretch of Lycra with the wicking power of Coolmax. www.royalrobbins.com…

SEAMLESS DREAMTrot out the Lizards for trail-running where the term “trail” is generous. Seams in the uppers won’t blow out from abrasion—because there aren’t any. Even the synthetic-leather trim is heat-welded rather than stitched. A fat rubber toe cap provides further armoring. Serious shoe abusers, such as adventure racers and…

BRING ON THE BREEZEYou don’t know ventilation until you’ve experienced the GCS Pro. The uppers are like a screened-in porch—take off the shoe and look straight through it to read your watch, if you wish. But its real worth comes with every stride; on a warm fall day in the…

Pull the insole out of this boot and—voilà—you’ve got a flip-flop. www.teva.com…

Leave it to the GPS pros at Garmin to thoroughly idiot-proof heart-rate training: The company’s new Forerunner 301—our pick for Gear of the Year—is a no-brainer digital coach. It’s ideal for runners, trekkers, cyclists, paddlers, and anyone else who wants to collect satellite-enhanced workout data in the field and crunch…

Why They’re CoolI’ve never experienced a more comfortable hike in boots capable of carrying 40-pound backpacking loads. The trick? A softer insert embedded in the heel of a dual-density polyurethane midsole keeps things pillowy, while a polyurethane heel cup and full-length thermoplastic shank do their share, adding the rigidity needed…

Why They’re CoolNative freshens the familiar in both substance and style. Trip on the two-tone nylon frame: It’s dark on top and fades to a see-through pale-ale color you almost want to drink. » The design stretches the slender temples, with a beguiling little S-curve at the end. The temples…

SEASONED PROBy relocating the bulky GPS antenna to a separate arm-mounted pod, Timex kept the watch relatively svelte and undeniably light on the wrist. For gram-shaving racers, this is big; they can train with the GPS and the chest strap, then leave both at home when they step up to…