Justin Nyberg is the executive editor and a co-founder of the Gear Institute. He lives in Denver, Colorado.
Published
Technical bags for going the distance
After a season of testing, these eight came out on top
In the age of big foam, the ghost of minimalism lingers— making for versatile kicks
The season’s best trainers keep you moving through nasty weather
From bare-bones featherweights to long-haul beasts, there’s a bag out there for you.
On turf or tarmac, these are our favorite women's trainers of the season
These six jackets will help you log miles—safely—by trail or road
The result of years of chaos—go minimalist! go fat! don't change a thing!—in the running market? Everybody wins.
The best thing going in this year's crop of shoes? Diversity.
The Ultralight Trail Running Essentials of 2015
Put some bounce in your step with the season's best road running shoes.
Spring's best off-road shoes strike a balance between speed and comfort
The best shoe for speed work, and efficient runners with minimalist leanings.
From superfat to ultrathin, these are the best new sun-season road runners.
It’s been years since we picked a thickly padded road runner as our top shoe. But the 1260v3 demanded the recognition. Yes, it goes overboard on the comfort, with a pillowy tongue and heel collar and spongy mesh in the upper. Yet it’s still efficient, so it was a welcome partner on long hauls.
Outside reviews the best gear in the Summer 2013 Buyer’s Guide, including the Avia Avi-Mantis
Outside reviews the best gear of June 2013, including the Saucony Kinvara 4
From minimalist speedsters to winter-ready mountain scramblers, we’ve got you covered.
Rather sort your sock drawer than run on a treadmill? Us too. Here’s the gear you’ll need to keep running outdoors all winter long.
While the minimalism trend has shifted the center of the running universe toward lighter, more neutral designs with lower heels, shoe buyers are still faced with one crucial question: Performance or comfort?
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Saucony ProGrid Outlaw.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Pro-Tec B2 Snow helmet.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the CW-X Insulator Stabilyx tights.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Saucony PowerGrid Cortana running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the L.L. Bean Polartec Power Dry Quarter-Zip Lightweight base layer.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Suunto M5 watch.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Highgear Axio HR watch.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Timex Ironman Race Trainer Pro Kit watch.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Tech4o Discover watch.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Garmin Forerunner 410 watch.
Recent studies are shattering the myth that life span is predetermined by genetics. The latest bombshell: your morning run could be the fountain of youth.
From hot springs to mountain-town fiestas to one surprisingly easy island getaway, we've got you covered.
This luxe jacket has a mesh-lined back vent, three pockets, and an MP3 pouch. It’s heavy, but the wind- and water-resistant polyester fabric is breathable enough for a cool-weather run. 10.8 oz; brooksrunning.com…
Made of lightweight carbon fiber, this sturdy probe is long enough for real rescues and thick enough to feel solid in chunky debris. 8 ft extended, 16 in collapsed, 8.7 oz; genuineguidegear.com…
These oat-and-chocolate-covered cookie-dough balls are savory and satisfying, with 11 g of protein and the same carb blend as regular PowerBars. But even with water, they’re a bit dry for midworkout fueling. powerbar.com…
Trickle Charger This mix between a 100-calorie gel and four-ounce sports drink has been designed specifically to top off your stores before a workout. The main sugar, isomaltulose, is a sweetener that digests slower (for more sustained energy) than traditional sugars. Our take: Works as intended. gatorade.com…
Technical The synthetically insulated and DWR-coated Igniter is slim enough to slip beneath a shell on cold mornings at the resort. Worn alone, it held its own into the mid-twenties, and it packs down smaller than a volleyball. 1.4 lbs; TAGS: synthetic, great midlayer…
A pump inflates a bladder at the back of this audio-enabled lid, snugging up the fit, and the removable earflaps are loaded with better-than-average speakers. Smart detail: The cord has a volume adjuster, and it breaks away easily from the helmet if it gets snagged. TAGS: wired, inflatable…
Split the difference between superlight and full-featured: This packable polyester shell has a fleece-lined collar, hem drawcord, and chest pocket that doubles as a stuffsack. 5.8 oz; cloudveil.com…
POCKETS GALORE Are you forever looking for ways to stash small items, like camera, snacks, GPS, sunscreen, first-aid kit, and more? The Nimble, with no fewer than seven pockets and three storage compartments, is your pack. “It's more organized than my kitchen!” said one tester. Even better, the Nimble still…
Colltex’s supple, smooth-gliding mohair skins use a pressure-sensitive glue that binds tighter when weighted but is still a breeze to peel. We received these in late spring, so we can’t speak to durability. But first impression? Wow. colltex.com…
Good for Trail Easily the warmest jacket here, the XV is absolutely stuffed with top-tier down (850 fill) and wrapped in a tougher-than-average DWR nylon shell. It’s a bit heavier—but a lot burlier—than other down jackets we tested. 2.1 lbs; firstascent.com…
Daily Dose Lance may shill for FRS, but it’s hard to tell whether quercetin—the dominant ingredient in this company’s drinks and chews—really ramps up your mitochondrial power plants and endurance. Small, company-funded studies say yes. We say quite possibly. frs.com…
Technical This waterproof hard shell is stuffed with the same amount of synthetic fill as the Igniter (above), making it a bit warmer (and more windproof) but also, not surprisingly, not quite as breathable. Because it’s completely impervious to wet snow and sports a hood with a visorlike rain brim,…
A top-quality helmet with a (literal) twist. The inner shell rotates on impact, potentially reducing the twisting forces transmitted to your brain. Eight offset vents provide extra protection from pointy objects (like a branch or ski pole), but they restrict airflow a bit. TAGS: rotates, best protection…