Everything
I'd like to buy a touring kayak primarily for day trips and possibly some overnight jaunts. I've been sea kayaking a number of times, but was always with a guide so never learned much about the boats. I live in Austin, so I'll mainly be on flatwater lakes. I'm a proficient paddler with medium build and height, so what would you suggest as a reasonably priced boat (under $1,000)? Danny Austin, Texas
I wear sunglasses for mountain biking, both for sun protection and shielding my eyes from flying branches and stuff, even during night riding. The climate here in the Bay Area has my glasses fogging up most of the time. I've tried the Smith No-Fog cloth and Cat Crap, with no real success. Do you have any suggestions to prevent this problem?
I'm about to embark on a long, multi-city trip through the western U.S. and need a backpack both for trekking and city-hopping. Can you recommend one with an attached daypack? I've been looking at Osprey's Aether 60 plus Daylite daypack. I eventually want to use the pack for wilderness trips, but on this trip I'll be using it mostly for heavy, heavy books. I'm bewildered by all the options! Josh Cbridge, Massachusetts
I was recently looking at an altimeter for climbing fourteeners. My concern is that it works on barometric pressure, so changes in the weather could give me a false reading. First, was the salesman right in saying that the impact from weather would be miniscule, and if not, are there altimeters (other than those with expensive GPS) that would not be impacted by weather? John Colorado Springs, Colorado
Smart trend or exercise fad? We sorted out the tired and the wired to find 2004's fitness winners.
There’s more than one way to take in the adventure and splendor of America’s national parks. So we’re serving up a prize package of SECRET TRIPS—locals’ no-tell favorites, from Acadia to Yellowstone to wildest Alaska—along with a roundup of DREAM TOWNS nearby, the places to eat, drink, and dance after…
« April 1933: Though he has no flight or climbing experience, Briton MAURICE WILSON announces plans to crash-land a plane on Mount Everest and walk to the top. After two months of pilot training, he flies to India, where he’s forced to sell his plane and hoof it. Alas, his…
Adventure sings a bewitching song, and whether the challenge involves climbing a deadly mountain or plunging into a bottomless abyss, a few undaunted individuals hear the call and say, “Why not?” But you know all about that. What you may have missed is the rarely glimpsed world of obsessive superachievers…
Surviving Niagara? No sweat. The real challenge is figuring out what drove Kirk Jones over the edge.
Is time traveler Tim Severin the greatest living explorer? Probably—but you'll never get him to admit it.
In the red-rock high ground of South Africa, climbing still comes down to black and white. Greg Child goes on belay to explore the crags, boulder gardens, and post-Apartheid complications of the world's next climbing mecca.
Meet this year's model: tack-sharp digital pictures, cheap storage, and painless printing.
Yes, the view is razor-sharp. It's the little things, though, that make good binos truly great.
Trail mix is for hippies. To really satisfy your backcountry appetite, bring on the BTUs.
If you're looking for a luxe production in the (not too) wild, stop right here: Your backcountry presidential suite awaits
You stuff your pack with your most precious stuff. Harness its features—and focus on fit.
Serious engineering shields your feet from the scree beneath. Here's the layman's version.
Sure, it fits. But will your new shell perform? Know your options, and choose with care.
Bound for an exotic adventure? These concourse-ready clothes offer round-the-world comfort in non-turista style.
You can tug on laces and lugs, but to really tell how a shoe pulls it all together, just run.
Ride the tide or hit the holes—the right boat, with the right options, will triple your fun.
Somewhere out there is the ride that suits your speed, shape, and style. Find it.
Baffled by baffles? Sleeping bag design ain't rocket science. Curl up with our pointers.
Sure, a pump filter will remove harmful microorganisms from water. But you still need a viricide—think chlorine bleach, chlorine dioxide, or iodine—to finish off the really small, really nasty stuff like Norwalk, the curse of cruise lines everywhere. All these chemicals work, but some are less effective in very cold…
If your battle cry is "Gimme shelter!" then you've got to get the details down. Start here.
The Dolores used to be one of the mightiest whitewater rivers in the West. Then politics and dry weather got in the way. But neither drought nor dam nor partisan bickering can stop Mark Sundeen from floating (and walking and driving) the entire course of the Rio de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores.
Ditch the lycra. It's time for fuss-free duds—think t-shirts, jeans, and flip-flops—expressly engineered for kicking back.
Where can I find the perfect combination of shoe and lock-in-pedal for the best price? I have tried to look on the net, but it seems like I can only get one or the other, not both. Jeremy Port Orchard, Washington
I recently purchased a new pair of leather hiking boots and, after a ten-mile break-in hike, cleaned them and treated them with mink oil (I couldn't find Sno-Seal anywhere locally). Despite all my years of backpacking, I didn't realize this oil can over-soften the leather and affect the support. Have I ruined my boots for good or is there something I can do to save them? Mark Indianapolis, Indiana
When I went to Europe I took along a $30 point-and-shoot camera. While the pictures ce out fine, the camera itself got trashed, returning home held together with tape. I was wondering if there's a durable camera out there, one that can be dropped and beaten. Water-resistant or waterproof would also be a plus. I don't really need something that focuses, but something that can take a beating outdoors. Jared Boise, Idaho
I have been debating a question with my buddies: Some of the hardcores we have seen wear their waterproof-breathable shell on the inside of a heavy fleece or down jacket. Is this a good idea for maintaining warmth on wet days? Spencer Thunder Bay, Ontario
I'm having only moderate success finding a daypack designed for women. I tested a JanSport at EMS and confirmed that the women's cut really is more comfortable (collarbone bruising has been an issue for me when carrying heavy loads in standard packs), but the capacity was a little small and it had no compression straps. I thought Kelty might be good, but their lumbar supports are unforgiving and aggravate a lower back problem of mine. Do you have any recommendations, either with or without internal fres? Diane Cortlandt Manor, New York
I'm in the market for a summer hiking shoe. I've previously bought and returned pairs that felt comfortable in the store but not on a long hike. How will I know if a pair fits correctly?
I will be leading groups of teens backpacking this summer and worried about keeping contact with base cp and being able to call for help, should the need arise. Any ideas for effective, durable communication devices? Is there a difference between satellite phones and walkie-talkies? Etan Los Angeles, California
Are waterproof hiking boots hotter to wear than non-waterproof hiking boots? And are they less breathable than regular boots? If I'm hiking through the desert, would waterproof, leather hiking boots be too hot? Suzie Johannesburg, South Africa
Gear Guru, over the last two years I've taken up two new sports: snorkeling and kayaking. Several times while snorkeling I have rented "shorties," or partial wetsuits. I have also been told that I should buy a similar wetsuit for spring kayaking. Can you use the se suit for both sports? If so, can you make some recommendations? Steve Delmar, New York
One of the principles of down sleeping bags is that they must breathe. So, how practical is it to use eVENT fabric in a down sleeping bag to make it waterproof and breathable? Or is it better to go with a water-resistant shell instead, which may be more breathable? Peter Würzburg, Germany
What's the ultimate car-camping tent for a family of four? The wife and kids aren't really up to the deprivation (wife's word) of experiencing (my word) the glories (my word again) of the backcountry through backpacking. Appropriate models, size-wise, from Sierra Designs and The North Face seem more like base-camp tents—stoop to enter and exit, no standing room for adults. L.L. Bean and Eureka!, on the other hand, have real mammoth numbers with standing room and porches. If the 4Runner is doing the carrying, what does the weight matter, right? Kirk San Diego, California
I have a sleeping bag that's supposedly a zero-degree bag, but I'm a cold sleeper and get cold in 20-degree temps. I'm thinking of buying a liner but don't want to spend a ton of money, so what kind of liner should I buy? Or is there a better solution for adding warmth? Kira Missoula, Montana
When I was rafting in Alaska, I noticed some outfitters using a folding canoe called an Ally. It had an aluminum fre and was covered by what looked like the se material used for rafts. They must withstand wear and tear fairly well if they're used up there. Any experience with them? Herman Portland, Oregon
I have a sleeping bag that's supposedly a zero-degree bag, but I'm a cold sleeper and get cold in 20-degree temps. I'm thinking of buying a liner but don't want to spend a ton of money, so what kind of liner should I buy? Or is there a better solution for adding warmth? Kira Missoula, Montana
Outside magazine, April 2001 Pure as the Driven Snow I THINK IT’S GREAT that Rob Story profiled Tom Burt, a true backcountry patriot and die-hard snowboarder (“Legend of the Fall Line,” February). Burt has amazing style, not to mention…
 10 CLASSIC TREKS WALKS ON THE Wild SIDE Waking dream: above the clouds on the Milford Track, New Zealand Exploring the most enchantingly rugged places on earth is easy. Just follow our guide to the world’s ten classic treks, put one foot in front of the other—and don’t…
I'm after some shades to use while hiking, skiing, running, and biking in Colorado. I would also like something that brightens my view, not darkens it, if that makes sense. I'd like to stay under $100, but as quality is very important to me, you can recommend more expensive ones, too. Gust Lakewood, Colorado
TheWildFile YOUR URGENT INQUIRIES ABOUT THE WORLD, ANSWERED BY STEPHANIE GREGORY Q: Can you fall asleep while walking? —Krista Hurcomb, Minneapolis, Minnesota A: “You can sleep while you’re walking,” says Jerry Siegel, a psychologist at UCLA’s Sleep Research Center, “but of course, you can’t get REM or restful…
Outside magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Cameras Nikon Coolpix 880 $700 TECHNOBABBLE: 3.3 megapixels…
Outside magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Camcorders Canon Optura Pi $1,500 TECHNOBABBLE:A 12x-to-48x zoom…
Week of May 7-13, 1998 Exploring Costa Rica en famille in June Planning a paddling adventure Tot-friendly & all-inclusive summer resorts Summiting Whitney in a day? Tot-friendly & all-inclusive…
Week of April 23-29, 1998 Exploring Iceland by foot Self-guided hiking in the Pyrenees Dengue fever dangers in Thailand Searching for all-women travel groups Dengue fever dangers in Thailand…
Week of April 30-May 6, 1998 Skiing in Austria: finding Europe’s Vail Camping with a view in obsolete fire towers Biking in Glacier: road or mountain? Hiking around Scotland’s Loch Ness…
Week of May 7-13, 1998 Exploring Costa Rica en famille in June Planning a paddling adventure Tot-friendly & all-inclusive summer resorts Summiting Whitney in a day? Planning a paddling…
Week of May 14-20, 1998 Scandinavian sojourns on foot Honeymooning in lush & spicy Grenada Trekking beside Nanda Devi: India’s Kuari Pass Summertime day hikes in Santa Fe Honeymooning…
Week of April 23-29, 1998 Exploring Iceland by foot Self-guided hiking in the Pyrenees Dengue fever dangers in Thailand Searching for all-women travel groups Searching for all-women travel groups…
Week of May 7-13, 1998 Exploring Costa Rica en famille in June Planning a paddling adventure Tot-friendly & all-inclusive summer resorts Summiting Whitney in a day? Exploring Costa Rica…
Week of May 7-13, 1998 Exploring Costa Rica en famille in June Planning a paddling adventure Tot-friendly & all-inclusive summer resorts Summiting Whitney in a day? Summiting Whitney in…
Week of May 14-20, 1998 Scandinavian sojourns on foot Honeymooning in lush & spicy Grenada Trekking beside Nanda Devi: India’s Kuari Pass Summertime day hikes in Santa Fe Summertime…
Week of April 23-29, 1998 Exploring Iceland by foot Self-guided hiking in the Pyrenees Dengue fever dangers in Thailand Searching for all-women travel groups Exploring Iceland by foot…
Week of April 30-May 6, 1998 Skiing in Austria: finding Europe’s Vail Camping with a view in obsolete fire towers Biking in Glacier: road or mountain? Hiking around Scotland’s Loch Ness…
Week of April 30-May 6, 1998 Skiing in Austria: finding Europe’s Vail Camping with a view in obsolete fire towers Biking in Glacier: road or mountain? Hiking around Scotland’s Loch Ness…
Week of May 28-June 3, 1998 Exploring Italy’s dazzling Dolomites Fall honeymooning in the San Juan Islands Spectacular (and dangerous) wildlife adventures Canoeing in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Exploring Italy’s…
Week of May 28-June 3, 1998 Exploring Italy’s dazzling Dolomites Fall honeymooning in the San Juan Islands Spectacular (and dangerous) wildlife adventures Canoeing in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Fall honeymooning…
Week of May 21-27, 1998 Family vacationing at Acadia’s Echo Lake Camp To tour or not to tour in Alaska Hiking (part of) the Na Pali Coast Selecting a walking vacation that’s…
Week of May 21-27, 1998 Family vacationing at Acadia’s Echo Lake Camp To tour or not to tour in Alaska Hiking (part of) the Na Pali Coast Selecting a walking vacation that’s…
Week of June 4-10, 1998 America’s sweetest rides: a state-by-state guide Mixing pleasure with work: day hikes near Billings Fourth of July mountain biking on Puerto Rico Seeking a REAL adventure for…
Week of May 21-27, 1998 Family vacationing at Acadia’s Echo Lake Camp To tour or not to tour in Alaska Hiking (part of) the Na Pali Coast Selecting a walking vacation that’s…