Justin Nyberg is the executive editor and a co-founder of the Gear Institute. He lives in Denver, Colorado.
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Good for Backcountry The waffle-grid backing inside this stretchy fleece zip-T dramatically boosts surface area, speeding sweat evaporation. The smooth exterior lets it slip easily into midlayer sleeves. Our only gripe: The neck hole is too large. (You lose heat.) corelayers.com…
Talks You Through It This small device delivers basic speed-up/slow-down instructions (based on your heart rate, pace, and a workout you select at micoach.com) through an earbud to help maximize your workouts—best for those who are new to training programs. Drawbacks: lots to fumble with, and no…
Except for a few tiny holes on the brim and back, the Rival has no vents. The result is better weather sealing during storms but a sweatier head come spring. It’s a high-volume helmet. TAGS: simple, well-priced…
Looking for high performance at a low price? The N5 tracks lap times, stores data for 30 workouts, and offers the usual gamut of zone alarms, calorie counting, and percent of max—and doesn’t require a Ph.D. to use. nbmonitors.com…
OVERACHIEVER This streamlined pack performed above its weight class on every trip, thanks to durable polyurethane-coated nylon throughout and a suspension—framesheet and aluminum stay—that can handle a heavy load. One tester took a larger version (called the Quest, 4,250 cu in, $175) on a weeklong trek in Wyoming's Wind River…
An aggressively arched suspension with mesh panel lets air cool your back. The pack includes a two-liter reservoir and stows cargo for a long ride. Best for biking. 1.5 lbs; www.deuterusa.com…
“Extreme” might be overkill, as these are just jelly beans (sugar plus corn syrup) with 50 mg of caffeine plus a little salt and vitamins. Pop them before workouts for a nice energy surge—100 calories, 25 g sugar. Midrun, we found them hard to chew. sportbeans.com…
Power Pills We like these candylike energy beans more now that they contain natural sugar instead of corn syrup. They’re potent and tasty, but a little fumble-prone for fast-forward activities. sportbeans.com…
Band Aider New to running tech? Start here. A foot pod and waterproof wristband measure time, total distance (90 to 95 percent accurate), and speed (ballpark), then uploads the info into basic Web-based tracking software. nikerunning.nike.com…
The Vantage is a freak for climate control, with no fewer than 14 sealable vents; the front four independently close for more or less A/C on the descent. Its slim profile, good interior air channels, and easily adjustable fit made this our favorite helmet of the test. TAGS:…
Lose the chest strap. With a touch of the finger, the 10M takes accurate readings in four to five seconds, twice as fast as other strapless monitors. Don’t look for lap features or data storage, but you do get the usual zone alarms, a stopwatch, and a calorie counter.
AN ELEGANT BRUISER Imagine the offspring of a Ferrari Testarossa and a Toyota Land Cruiser: precise handling, hard-duty construction. That's the essence of the Alpine Pack 50. It's a no-nonsense, climber-oriented pack with zero bells and whistles to create weak points. The 420-denier nylon—reinforced with 1,000-denier fabric on the bottom—should…
Aerated foam backing, mesh shoulder straps, and a two-liter reservoir make this a good summer runner, but check the fit: Some testers found the straps set too far apart for their shoulders. 13 oz; www.thenorthface.com…
A new, refreshingly not-so-sweet endurance drink, Xood has no artificial anything. But each 16-oz packet does have 30 g of carbs (natural maltodextrin and fructose), 105 mg of sodium, and 2.5 g of whey protein. xoodhealth.com BummerThe concoction is too frothy to carry…
Pick You Up Training hard? This 250-calorie packet of whey protein (eight grams), sugars (52 grams of maltodextrin and fructose), electrolytes, and amino acids rushes aid to your muscles to prep you for tomorrow. Taste? Smooth and sweet—not chalky. guenergy.com…
Front of the Pack A GPS watch without compromise. The Forerunner 110 measures distance, heart rate (with $50 strap), and real-time pace. The interface is intuitive, uploading to a computer is easy, and the watch itself is smaller than a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Add it up and you’ve got…
It doesn’t get much simpler than this. The low-profile Riot has a few small air vents, fleece-lined earflaps, a molded (read sturdier) brim, and that’s about it. The earflaps detach too easily. A nonadjustable liner means it either fits your head or doesn’t. TAGS: no frills, low-profile…
Not sure if you need a heart-rate monitor? End the debate with this bargain: It has basic functions (percent of max, calorie burn, and vibrating or audible HR zone alarm, but no lap splits or data storage) in a reasonably low-profile design. www2.oregonscientific.com…
CLASSIC WEEKENDER If today's stripped-down packs are a little too austere for your tastes, but full-featured packs are too heavy, you'll find the Ridgeline just right. It's light enough for weekend duty but doesn't require a minimalist approach to packing. Go ahead and throw the espresso maker and extra vino…
Big. And burly. With its roomy grip, double-pointed aluminum blade, and virtually unbendable shaft, this was our favorite shovel. 40 in extended, 29 in collapsed, 1.8 lbs; life-link.com…
Missed lunch? Don’t also miss your workout. These heavy-duty meal-replacement bars have 280 calories—38 g of carbs, 20 g of protein, and 6 g of fat—and taste pretty darn good. promaxnutrition.com BonusSome flavors have no high-fructose corn syrup.
Smart Snack An organic, 210-calorie mash-up of the trendiest power foods—from açai to goji berries—with five grams of natural protein and eight grams of healthy fats. There’s too much fiber (five grams) for pre-run fuel, but it makes for a palatable hunger smasher before you reach for the chips.
Heart Matters A heart-rate monitor should be both intuitive and powerful. This affordable one does well on both counts, automatically telling you what heart-rate zone you should be aiming for and uploading your workouts to training software with an optional $55 FlowLink cradle. polarusa.com…
The Chapter might look like it’s short on vents—just four small closable ports up top—but the inside has big circulation channels to let cool air flow around. As with the Smith, dialing in the right fit is a cinch, although some testers noted odd pressure points around the channels…
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.
The secret to performing in hot weather? Have a really cold one.
Check out Airstream's new 16 Sport—the shortest and most affordable trailer in their line.
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: SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER, 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 then—the 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. 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…
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…
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:…