Justin Nyberg is the executive editor and a co-founder of the Gear Institute. He lives in Denver, Colorado.
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Reflective highlights on your shoes don’t keep you safe—defensive running and big stripes of the shiny stuff, like those on ASICS‘s REFLECTIVE VEST, do.
At just 2.4 ounces and 2.5 inches when stowed, this microknife conceals some oversize innards: seven tools and a pair of pliers for those on-the-go, clutch repairs. www.gerbergear.com…
SPEED DEMON Can a running-oriented hydration pack double as a daypack? Yes, if it's designed as well as this one. During trail runs in the mountains above Santa Fe, the Riff's compression straps, foam back panel, and perfectly sculpted harness made for a stable, slosh-free ride. Yet on hikes the…
Perforated side panels let out steam nicely, while a hem drawstring, an extra-tall collar, and soft chin padding help seal out the chill. 5.9 oz; merrell.com Bonus: Low-key style is coffee-shop friendly.
This ultralight 700-fill down jacket is comfortable down to the low 20s, and it’s reversible: black to soak up extra solar rays, white to reflect them and keep you cooler. 11 oz; columbia.com…
Good for Backcountry Stretch is right. This super-soft bamboo-and-poly shirt moves like second skin. Bamboo complements the speedy wicking of polyester with natural anti-stink properties. kombisports.com…
If I bring my dog Pontouf on a long run, I saddle him with Ruff Wear’s light, slim SingleTrak pack, which carries a liter of water. ruffwear.com…
Luxury Comes Cheap Pata-Gucci? Not in this case. The Snowshot was one of the least expensive jackets in our test but also a tester favorite. Like the Cloudveil, it’s an ideal everyday, all-season jacket for Rocky Mountain resorts. It’s stuffed with the perfect amount of synthetic insulation. It’s waterproof. You…
Few running caps can come close to the quality of PATAGONIA‘s slim, stretchy CAPILENE 4 EXPEDITION WEIGHT BEANIE, which is made with the same microfleece-lined stuff as your favorite soft shell.
If you think catch-and-release is too prissy, unholster this seven-inch stainless-steel blade. With a retractable blade guard (which means less handle to get in the way when you’re slicing), this scalpel would make a sushi chef proud. www.benchmade.com…
TAKE IT ANYWHERE Small enough for short jaunts, cool enough for the heat of the desert, and tough enough for the mountains. The Direct 28 does it all, and for a sweet price. The abrasion-resistant 210-denier nylon body—and doubly reinforced bottom—is made for alpine abuse, while an aggressively arched frame…
With four easy-access storage pockets, a water-resistant iPod pouch, and a three-liter reservoir guaranteed against punctures for life, this updated classic is a smart pack for long rides and hikes. 1.4 lbs; www.camelbak.com…
With welded seams and a water-resistant polyester shell, this insulated soft shell is ready for any winter-weather play. 1.6 lbs; patagonia.com…
Good for Backcountry Sugoi consistently churns out some of the best running apparel, and this midweight synthetic base layer—with built-in hood, integrated mitts, and half-zip for venting—is no exception. Plus the athletic fit and thumb loops mean it also works as an underlayer for slower pursuits.
If you spend a lot of time doing self-rubdowns, get Trigger Point Performance’s Smrt-Core Grid, which gives a better massage than cheap foam. smrt-core.com…
Twofer The big selling point here is obvious: You get both a warm, burly ski shell plus a thick, synthetically insulated sweater that can be zipped in to boost the warmth. Both jackets are constructed with Columbia’s new Omni-Heat lining, a matrix of metallic dots that reflect heat back to…
Quiet, slightly stretchy GoreTex fabric. A simple cinchable powder skirt. Smooth-tracking waterproof pit zip. A truly helmet-compatible hood with great periphery visibility. While other hard shells offer these simple features, nowhere are they combined as elegantly and with as much attention to detail. You can just tell that every feature—like…
Along with having every other feature you can imagine (PC connectivity, workout logs, and more), the t3 can detect over- or under-training and help you adjust on the fly. It’s the sleekest model here, but its chrono settings can be tough to read midlap. suunto.com/training…
LIGHT AND VERSATILE Consider the Talon an experiment in reduction: Every detail has been whittled down to bare essentials, making it a great warm-weather ultralight. But it's no one-trick pony. Thanks to a stiff aluminum/composite suspension, smart external lashing options, and a large stretch-woven shove-it pocket, one tester was able…
This featherweight back hugger stays in place during even the most jarring bob-and-weave trail running. Pack sparingly: There’s space for only energy bars, keys, and a light shell. The spongy back panel is soft but gets sweaty. Two-liter reservoir included. 12 oz; www.kelty.com…
Four-Pack If you already get your carbs and calories somewhere else, this lactose-free shake speeds recovery with 15 grams of protein but just 100 calories—130 less than regular Muscle Milk. cytosport.com…
The antimicrobial poly-and-wool blend is an excellent funk fighter. And the body-mapping construction—thicker fabric around the chest, thinner under the arms, and flexible sections on the elbows for mobility—works: It’s extremely comfy and better at temperature regulation. Note: Runs small and slim—the large fits like a medium.
Slap Happy This watch’s fumble-free solution to recording your splits: Smack it! The slap-sensitive face works great (and is especially useful when wearing the watch under long sleeves). Plus, the enormous display is very easy to read. Note: Accidental bumps can trigger the timer, and the wrist strap is not…
Soft Touch “It just feels right,” said one tester. That pretty much sums up the Welder, and after we added up all the comments, it was clear that it was the most breathable, stretchy, supple, and comfortable insulated soft shell we saw this year. The Welder delivers enough water and…
It's huge. It's nasty. And it's a beast to get up. But guess what: The summit is worth all the hard work it takes to get there.
There's the gear you want, and there's the gear you need. After much internal debate, we present the 25 products every guy should own.
Check out Airstream's new 16 Sportthe shortest and most affordable trailer in their line.
The secret to performing in hot weather? Have a really cold one.
A new film sees Conrad Anker and Leo Houlding attempt to re-create the ill-fated 1924 Mallory expedition and solve the oldest mystery on Everest.
A TRX Suspension Trainer workout to fine-tune the core muscles your body calls upon late in a race.
WHERE TO USE IT: One glimpse of Longs Peak’s 1,500-foot vertical east face and you’ll know why you came: This 14,259-foot Colorado mountain is no mellow slag heap. The 15-mile round-trip hike gains 5,000 feet and demands an alpine start; afternoon lightning storms are a given. You can also tackle…
Laptops and cell phones are merging. Here's the new range of options for connected travelers.
When spring showers make a mess of your favorite streets and trails, fight back.
Going 26.2 miles is a great way to prove your grit—and there's no greater showcase than the world's biggest. Presenting a simple plan to get anyone off the couch and across the finish line.
Winter weekends are short and dark—which means you need to be fast and smart. Beat the blues with one of these surprisingly affordable escapes.
Attention, all cynics: You can change the world. But don't take our word for it. Here are people combining big ideas and bold adventures, including our first-ever Reader of the Year.
The planet is smaller than ever, but that just means there's a host of new dangers out there—and a new set of solutions. These days, a text message or the right travel-insurance policy might just save your bacon. So study up—your life may depend on it.
BEST: SEPTEMBEROCTOBER, WHEN THE SAND IS COOL FIRST ENCOUNTER: Sun Spots I can’t tell you if we saw the sun set on the North Rim and rise on the South Rim or if the order was reversed. It doesn’t matter. What I remember is that I was seven…
Wooden kayaks weigh significantly less than most modern fiberglass boats, so they are easier to handle on land and faster on water. The catch? These handcrafted works of art can cost as much as a new car. A red-cedar-strip Guillemot Kayaks Night Heron, like the one pictured here, takes Connecticut…
Healthy. That's the word we kept coming back to. And we don't mean a fit or skinny population; we're talking about a city's cultural vibrancy, economic well-being, and overall quality of life. Presenting our picks for the 10 best cities in America, from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Plus: Our 10 favorite small towns.
Alan Horton Alan Horton Work, kids, 99-cent value meals we know how the fitness excuses can pile up. That's why we've assembled our second annual class of Outside's Fittest (Real) Athletes: five wickedly overscheduled Americans who haven't let hectic careers or a…
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…
Need another reason to get excited about the resurgence of American distance running? After struggles with injuries, Kara Goucher, a 30-year-old former NCAA cross-country champ, finished third in the New York City Marathon last November. Her time of 2:25:53 was the fastest debut for an American woman ever. As a follow-up, she's set her sights on the sport's mos
Rolex's lineage is luxurious but there has always been a legit adventure timepiece in the mix. Meet the Deepsea.
Before there was Timbaland, there were Timberland boots. And before pop stars began naming themselves after consumer brands, there was the Abington Shoe Company. Established in 1933, it would eventually blossom into the $1.4 billion footwear-and-apparel behemoth now known as Timberland. Boots were cut from simpler cloth thenthe only indulgence…
At only 24, Seattle's Colin Haley has turned heads around the world with career-making alpine climbs, including an unprecedented team traverse of Patagonia's torre massif. He's driven to be the best-risky business in an era when the cutting edge leaves no margin for error.
The key to staying warm and stuck to the ice? The right stuff.
A legendary animal showman says he's going to reinvent the zoo. Too bad his vision sounds a lot like the circus.
Meet Outside's Fittest (Real) Men in America. Emulation is encouraged.
Surefire, known for making indestructible, blind-your-buddy flashlights, is launching a new line for your noggin. Its first-ever headlamp, the Saint, cranks out 100 lumens (twice that of average headlamps), and its aluminum housing is both water- and smashproof ($150; surefire.com). Not to be outshone, Petzl created the…
To set up your own anchor for a climbing top rope (or slackline, or car stuck in a ditch), all you need is a 20-foot piece of webbing, a carabiner, and a tree.
1. BROOKS INFINITI JACKET The billboard-size logo on the back will make you feel like a pro during warm-ups, while reflective touches make it great for chilly dusk workouts. $100; brooksrunning.com The Goods: Road-Race Day 2. TRIGGER POINT PLANTAR FASCIITIS KIT The antidote to…
1. SHELL MontBell's Mistral Parka is a hooded squall shield that vents well enough for sweaty runs and packs down to a softball-size bundle. $110; montbell.com Trail-Running Gear Essentials 2. SUNGLASSES The new VR50 lenses in Oakley's Flak Jackets block blue light to make trail details…
Put that weekly jog to rest and take your training to a new level with our guide to technique, gear, and recovery
If you build a ski mountain, they will come? That's what one Texas resort believes.
Escape from New York (and nine other big cities) with these 40 fast adventures
Groundbreaking new research shows there's a better way to fill your tank
What happens when training goes digital? Your workouts get real.
After a breakout year, this native Colorado triathlete is ready for the world stage
When it comes to adventure kingdoms, all roads eventually lead to California. Here's where to find the Golden State's secret stash.
Name: INES PAPERT Gig: ICE CLIMBER Height: 5’6″ Weight: 123 Age: 31 WHEN ICE CLIMBER INES PARERT won the women’s division at Colorado’s Ouray Ice Festival last year, the 31-year-old German scampered up the 165-foot wall so fast, she beat the winner of the men’s event, held on the same…
The future doesn’t just happen. The next frontiers of adventure, fitness, gear, and sport are crafted by bold visionaries with world-changing dreams—and the minds and muscles to make them real. Behold the 25 all-star innovators leading us beyond tomorrow. 1. Conrad Anker: High-Altitude Altruist 2. Josh Donlan:…