Everything
What's the best workout to improve strength for paddling a kayak? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What is the best fishing method for backpacking? Daniel San Francisco, California
Do you recommend making your own survival kit or in purchasing a commercially made kit? Tmy Boise, Idaho
What kind of outdoor adventures can I find in Morocco? I'm visiting in September and would like to have a little fun while I'm there. Joe L. Littleton, CO
I was wondering why more people don't use a blanket to sleep in the backcountry. They are more temperature adaptable, lighter weight (for a given size), there just aren't a lot of options offered. What do you think? Josh Vallejo, CA
What is the minimum recommended thickness for a backpacking tent floor to prevent early wearing out of the tent? Big Agnes sells a Seedhouse 2 tent with a rated trail weight of 3 lb, 14 oz. It sells a Seedhouse SL2 tent—the se size and design except for different materials—with a 2 lb, 14 oz. trail weight. One difference that saves weight: a 1,500 mm polyurethane-coated floor for the Seedhouse 2; 1,200 mm for the SL2. Marshall Atlanta, GA
I'm looking for cross-over footwear for hiking. I'm not so much into the high-top thing. What is the best shoe/boot for multi-day backpacking with a 25- to 30-pound pack? S Tujunga, CA
My son will leave for Iraq or Afghanistan to serve in the army sometime this fall. What camera would be best for him to take along? He'll be carrying far more in his rucksack than you or I would on a month-long backwoods trip, so it must be compact and lightweight. Electricity is a problem on long patrols, so AA batteries are a must. And ruggedness? There is nothing more physically challenging than combat. Muted-color case would help (no pink or lime green!), and waterproof would be a plus. And of course good photo capability is a must. William Pittsburgh, PA
In one corner of Alaska's Bristol Bay, the sockeye salmon, a $300 million resource that's sustained fishermen like 29-year-old captain Lindsey Bloom for more than 100 years. In the other, the Pebble Mine, with its projected hundreds of billions in copper and gold. Get ready for the fiercest wilderness rumble since ANWR.
I heard about a new molecule called 'Q' that can turn almost anything into ethanol: paper, plywood, etc. What can you tell me about Q? Kate Boston, Massachusetts
What country has the best ratings for eco-tourism? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What is the greenest rental car? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
I recently took up drinking tea. I was wondering how sustainable drinks like coffee and tea are? How far do they travel before reaching my table? Kevin Portland, Oregon
On a vintage steed, over vertiginous hills of white gravel, suitcase overloaded with courage, BUCKY McMAHON battles through Italy's infamous Eroica—a grueling, 127-mile "period cyclotouristic rally"—in hopes of dying just this side of glory
Or so he claims. The man who launched CBS's Survivor is focusing his cameras on four modern-day explorers as they retrace one of history's greatest expeditions. But with no tribal council or million-dollar prize, will anyone watch?
The next great employment wave? Enviro jobs. Now all I gotta do is land one.
I'm heading to Kilimanjaro. What's the best waterproof jacket to take along? Jen Toronto, Ontario
I'm looking for a down jacket I can use for trekking and mountaineering. I would like a jacket that's super warm, packable, and has a nice, feminine, non-Michelin Man fit. Joan San Diego, California
What are some clothing brands that make insect repellent clothing? Stewart Memphis, Tennessee
Can you recommend a comfortable women's hiking boot that is lightweight and good for warm weather backpacking? Sascha Mesa, Arizona
My family is going white-water rafting in Oregon this summer. Can you recommend a waterproof digital camera?
I'm having trouble finding a good-fitting boot. A 12 feels short and a 13 is creating blisters on the tips of my toes. Can you suggest some brands that might have something in between a 12 and 13? I'm backpacking in west Texas and throughout the Rockies. Thanks! Erik Austin, TX
I find that whenever I sleep outside with friends, I wake up with by far the most condensation on my bag. I have a four-year-old 15-degree Marmot down bag. It is probably near the less-warm end of the spectrum of bags me and my friends use, but not outrageously different from everyone else's. Why do only I wake up freezing cold and drenched? Charlotte Duluth, MN
CHUCK THOMPSON developed a serious thirst for rain, so we sent him to one of the wettest places on earth: India's southwest coast‚ during the water-bomb peak of the summer monsoon
In the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 31-year-old Asheville, North Carolina-based mountain biker Willow Koerber was among the country's best shots at a medal. But after ranking sixth in the World Cup, and first among Americans, in 2007, she went into an inexplicable slump early last year and failed to make the team. This summer, look for the Subaru/Gary F
There's no better place to escape your own success than on a river in Texas Hill Country. Just ask Taylor Kitsch.
In January, England's Olly Hicks, 26, set out from Tasmania to become the first person to row solo around Antarctica. His vessel: a 24-foot, fuel-cell-and-solar-panel-fortified boat called the Flying Carrot, which was designed to withstand 50-foot waves while navigating the storm-racked Southern Ocean. ABE STREEP caught up with Hicks—who rowed solo acr
Revo, which popularized blue-mirrored lenses in the ninetiesbut never outgrew the decadeis back with an updated look for summer. The Highsides (pictured) have the same high-tech panes inspired by NASA, but the style is all Generation Y. $189; revo.com…
An enterprising television series on Paul Watson’s ragtag navy has made saving the whales cool again. But can eco-pirates actually save them?
Two new plane-crash memoirs hope to soar into the survival-narrative canon.
Quotes from Stranded (now out on DVD; $30, zeitgeistfilms.com), a gripping new documentary about the survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash depicted in the film Alive.
This summer, Airstream and Victorinox Swiss Army have partnered to create 125 special-edition trailers to commemorate the Swiss knife maker’s 125th anniversary. The 19-foot silver-bullet Airstream VSA bears the white-cross shield, comes with a sleek stainless-steel-and-red interior, and has a numbered knife blade riveted to the exterior. The living space…
Nothing beats a great live show, especially when you’re enjoying it under the sun or the stars. Presenting the 15 best outdoor music festivals in North America. Because summer is the time to play the field. Sasquatch! Bonnaroo The Roots Picnic Telluride Bluegrass…
Turns out your old PE coach was right. Yes, it hurts, but the new thinking about athletic pain is clear: Keep moving.
I'm looking for a lightweight, water-resistant, secure, and organization-friendly pack., basically what I would call my weekend pack. I'd like to have enough space for some food, water (hydration sleeve a plus), backup clothes, and all the gadgets we love so much (i.e. cell phone, iPod, GPS, headlp, etc.). Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Chris Royal Palm Beach, FL
I hike and cp a lot—and for long periods—during the middle of the hottest days of the year (with no access to showers). I’m wondering what you’ve heard about Icebreaker underwear and how well they are about odor. Katherine Greenville, SC
I'm planning a trip to South America this summer and want to invest in a water filter and/or purifier system. What do you recommend? Paul Salt Lake City, UT
I have a high-end road bike and looking for another bike that will serve all other purposes—commuting, trail riding, maybe some rugged touring. I partial to steel and would like to keep it around $1,000. What do you think about cyclocross bicycles? I intrigued by the Redline Conquest. Win Indianapolis, IN
My husband and I are looking to escape the city for four nights and five days. We want to cp, hike, and kayak, preferably in the southwest. We are not climbers, but flying in and out of Las Vegas looks practical given our short stay. What do you suggest? Alex A. Washington, DC
Good campsites—close to water, a flat spot for tents, etc.—are relatively common. Great campsites are more elusive. To find yours, be sure to consider these four factors.
1. FELT ZW1 BIKE It looks fast, it feels fast, and it is fasteven if you’re not. The oversize carbon-fiber tubes are dialed for female riders; they were never too stiff, never too soft. Shimano’s finest Dura-Ace components, Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels, gel grips, and Felt’s women’s carbon saddle…
Our esteemed gear editors offer the insight and advice you need to find the right gear for you.
I looking for a wheeled duffle/backpack with the option to carry on my back (I think). However, I DON'T like the zip-on daypack feature. I have checked out REI and Eagle Creek and can't find what I looking for. I traveling for two weeks and won't be doing any trekking. Any ideas? Elizabeth Portland, OR
I've been a conventional tent guy for years, but the Hennessy Hammocks intrigue me. How much of an adjustment would it be a for a tent guy to switch to a hammock? Do they really live up to the hype? Andrew Shreveport, LA
1. MT. BORAH CUSTOM With seven-week turnarounds and minimum orders of just six pieces, Mt. Borah makes customcycling gear easier than ever. Jerseys from $83; mtborahcustom.com 2. VITTORIA OPEN CORSA EVO CX The handmade CX can handle pressures up to 200 psi and is…
The latest research can help boost your horsepower—and cut your workouts in half
An old-school move holds the key to unlocking your power; if only you can do it right.
Since being jettisoned from Patagonia's empire twenty years ago, Salt Lake City—based Black Diamond Equipment has prided itself on breaking all the rules. They eschew advertising, take enormous risks, and employ a team of superfit athletes who do their only "market research" skiing and climbing in the Wasatch backcountry. And it's working.
Those people who say that? They're annoying. But, as our man eventually discovers, that doesn't mean they're not on to something.
Disney is getting back to its nature-documentary roots—but can the company escape its own legacy?
Next year, I would like to climb Kilimanjaro with my brother to celebrate his 30th birthday. Can you recommend any tour organizers who have a particularly good reputation for treks up Kilimanjaro? We are hoping to cp instead of staying in huts and will probably select a moderately intense route up the mountain.