Joe Jackson, Outside online's Gear Guy, never thought that the ten years he spent as a raft guide, outdoor retail employee, and vagabond would turn into a career.
Published
(Noble Denim) Noble Denim Truman Jeans Guaranteed Pleaser These Noble Denim Truman jeans are the product of a collaboration between Ohio-based Noble and merino-focused Vermont clothing company Ibex. They prove that combining cotton and wool makes for a light—and handsome—alternative to traditional pants. Price $300 Buy Now (Nau )…
Eight products to treat your skin right. (Love and Leche) Love and Leche's Mountain Goat Lotion Bar Guaranteed Pleaser Love and Leche’s Mountain Goat lotion bar served us well after a day of rock climbing, moisturizing split fingers and calming blisters. It also excels as a lip balm and tames scraggly…
Whether 3D printers pump out prototypes or the final product, this is the best new stuff made using the space-age tech
(Grovemade) Grovemade Walnut Pocket Knife Guaranteed Pleaser Grovemade’s Walnut pocket knife, designed and built in Portland, Oregon, is as durable as it is elegant, with a stainless blade and polished handle. Price $169 Buy Now (Fox River) Fox River New American Rag Crew Socks Fox River’s New…
Pass those well-loved hiking shoes, skis, and jackets to someone who will put them to better use
Bump up your cooking game at home and at camp. (Peg and Awl) Peg and Awl Cutting and Serving Board Guaranteed Pleaser The rugged charm of the Peg and Awl Cutting and Serving board comes from its reclaimed wood and aged-steel boat cleats. Those same materials also make it the most durable item in your cupboard.
Seven affordable items you should always have packed and ready to go. Just in case.
The big-box retailers, so popular in the Midwest and South, are ideal places to find inexpensive, durable camp gear
With tips, hacks, and processes from the hydration pros
I called up a handful of skiers, climbers, runners, and kayakers to find out how their tools have helped them during off-the-grid adventures
I spent more than a week sleeping in the same room with a champion snorer to find out how these earplugs stacked up
6 tools our editors rely on while traveling
It's not incredibly lightweight, packable, or durable, but all this stuff will serve you just fine in the outdoors and doesn't cost a small fortune
You'll regret cheaping out on this stuff. Trust me.
Underwear just keeps getting better. (Icebreaker) Icebreaker Helix Long-Sleeve Zip Jacket If you need a do-it-all midlayer this winter, go with the Helix. Despite the svelte profile, it’s warmer than any other top on this page, thanks to its wool insulation and wind-blocking poly exterior. That face fabric also shrugs off…
Plus, the differences between liquid fuel and pressurized canisters
To find out, I torture-tested five top brands by, you know, smashing them with a kayak and running them over with my Camry
Six tricks for better off-the-grid travel
So many! But we tracked down 6 powerhouses at this year's Outdoor Retailer who own, manage, or design for some of our favorite brands.
Celebrate (and support) the National Park Service's birthday with these 7 products
I figured anyone who's hiked hundreds of miles across the United States would probably have some useful advice, so I asked five Pacific Crest Trail veterans about the most essentials tools in their packs
Seeing a beloved piece of gear get discontinued is a bit like going through a rough breakup. Pearl Izumi’s decision to terminate its Run line left our writer particularly devastated.
We tracked down one of the country's foremost fungi hunters to find out what's in his kit
5 cool new products from Outdoor Retailer that won't break the bank
Our reviewer tested it at home and before a big river trip to find out
We tested 7 top models for durability, weather resistance, and usability. Turns out, they are not all created equal.
If you look, you can find lots of well-made kit for outdoor adventures
Ten pieces of affordable kit that you'll want to pack every time you head into the woods
A list of essentials vetted by a wilderness first responder
I worked, exercised, and slept in the same Polygiene shirt for eight days to find out just how well it could fight my BO. The good news: My wife didn't want to kill me after a week.
6 top-shelf picks that all cost less than a Benjamin
The following items have gone the way of dodo bird, but if we had our way, we'd bring them all back
We spent hours sleeping in these hanging beds and stress-tested each to find out how well they held up to real-world abuse
Keep this kit in your car and you'll be ready for the trail as soon as 5 p.m. rolls around
If you look around, you can find the following gear in good shape for a reasonable price
If you value extreme durability and hand feel, the answer is yes
12 pieces of gear to keep you going from Friday afternoon to Monday morning
Seven pieces of gear no adventurer should live without
How to build out your campsite without breaking the bank
You don't need pricey gizmos to have fun outside. These 8 pieces of just-good-enough gear cost less than $100 combined.
Everything you need to know before you head out camping this summer
How to stay warm and dry when the skies open up
Follow these 10 tips from repair professionals and your shelter should last approximately forever
Six options to keep you dancing at your campsite all summer
Spending the night outside just got brighter, cleaner, and easier.
Five bomber vessels to keep your beer cold and bubbly at the campsite
Your new, most important grooming product
We dunked, abused, and submerged the LifeProof FRE case. Our iPhone stayed bone-dry the whole time.
9 pieces of kit that will make your trusty companion much happier on the trail
5 ways to ensure your kicks last for years
You have lots of gear around your house that can prove quite useful on a hiking trip
Don't get stuck without the proper tools to fix your gear
We asked the pros how they haul bikes, skis, and camera gear across the world
Everything you need for adventures, or mishaps, on the road
A one-stop guide on what to wear while hiking this spring and summer
Everything you need for 24 hours on the road
The short answer: no. If you’re a casual resort skier, you can get away with $100 pants. But if you often find yourself deep in the backcountry, make the $450 investment.
The outdoor-apparel industry’s surprising effort to get you to purchase less stuff
You’d think washing these items would hurt them. It’s just the opposite.
For the past 12 months, we tested these skins—which eschew the traditional mohair design in favor of patterned plastic—on everything from bulletproof skin tracks to sloppy PNW cement. Here’s what we found out.
Stop skimping on cheap razors and creams. Your face will thank you.
All those face shots tear up your lips. Here’s what you need to nurse them back to health.
Five romantic tips from pro athletes
The classic Dagger Nomad 8.5 gets its first update in 12 years
Here’s everything you need to ensure you don’t freeze at night and are ready for first tracks the next morning
We put 5 top models to the test to find out how they did on half a cord of knotty, nasty wood
It can be a lengthy process, but it's worth the time and effort to get right
Organization is key when you’re out of bounds
You’ve likely never heard of these brands, but they’re making great products
Upstart companies are offering to ship customers primo boxes of hand-selected outdoor tool and toys