Comfortable, technical, light—sleep systems for every season
Jessica Rogers and her team make some of our favorite trail-running gear
Gear that gets better with time
Editor's Letter
We’re living in extraordinary times. As I write this letter, COVID-19 has brought entire countries to a halt. With the effects of the virus rippling through the outdoor industry and communities around the world, we’re all figuring out how to live and recreate responsibly. We maintain social distance on trails and support one another however we can—buying gift cards from local businesses, dropping off groceries for family. And faced with more uncertainty than many of us have experienced in our lifetimes, we also search for ways to escape. We read books. We snuggle our dogs. In my case, escape means emptying drawers of running clothes, hydration vests, and climbing shoes onto the floor. Some pieces I set aside for charity, some for friends who need them more than I do. The rest I organize. I imagine what shorts I’ll wear for the 20-mile run I have mapped out on local trails. I consider what temperatures will be like in the Peruvian Andes this fall—is this midlayer right?—for a hypothetical trip I know may not be possible. I’m not just cleaning house out of practicality; I’m also doing it to stoke my fire for adventure, though adventure might feel a little distant at the moment.
In that spirit, I hope you’ll think of this issue of the Buyer’s Guide as your virtual gear closet, a place to get lost in the would-be and could-be of epic pursuits to come. As always, there’s plenty of innovative tech on display, like the titanium-laced lining in Rab’s Mythic Ultra sleeping bag. Then there are the items we love simply because they work better than anything else, like Patagonia’s Strider Pro running pants. These and other pieces inspired us with daydreams of the rides, climbs, runs, hikes, and camping trips they’ll be perfect for once the world opens up and we’re getting outside together again. Because at the end of the day, gear—even just looking at it and thinking about it—is a portal to adventure. —Ariella Gintzler
Float
Surf, glide, and explore
Watercraft suitable for everyone
Amphibious adventures await
A smoldering solution for a wide range of conditions
Gear to make landing lunkers easy, no shooting required
Kit to keep you casting all day long
Six trunks for transcending limits
Suits for women with butts, boobs, and big-wave dreams
Essentials for coastal escapes
Treat your skin to reef-safe protection and soothing aftercare
Meet Ryan Lovelace, designer at Trimcraft Surfboards
Enter for a chance to win one of our 70+ adventure-ready prizes featured in our 2020 Summer Buyer's Guide.
Hike and Camp
Superior lodgings for weekend jaunts and extended outings
Keep moving in all conditions
Kicks to keep feet fresh no matter what your mileage
Comfortable, technical, light—sleep systems for every season
Make light work of big hauls
Reliable performers for switchback adventures
Shed a little light on your campsite
Our favorite kit for long days on the trail
Gear for big outings
Because dinner isn’t going to make itself
Work miracles cooking outdoors
These cut through the competition
Gear that gets better with time
Elevate your barbecue game
Your furbaby deserves the finest
Essentials for fledgling adventurers
Tim Fish talks about gaining design inspiration from unexpected places
Travel
Shades that’ll protect your eyes and turn heads
Versatile bags to withstand your wildest journeys
Look and feel good, en route and on the ground
Comfortable, stylish gear for the road (or plane)
Tools for capturing high-energy pursuits
Everything you need to get the shot
Adventure palaces that rule the open road
Timepieces that check all the boxes
Do long flights right with these essentials
At your waist, across your back—what’s old is cool again
Meet Robb Jankura, bike builder turned camera-gear designer
Bike
Trail machines are more versatile than ever
Updated rides for modern performance
Top-notch gear for road and trail riding
Maximize your time in the saddle
Self-support bicycle gear
John Cordoba thinks the future of bikes—and bike racing—includes e-bikes
Run
Grip and support on any dirt, at any distance
Kicks to sustain your toughest blacktop efforts
All-weather gear for every kind of summer running
Gear so light and comfortable, you’ll PR on your morning jog
Logging miles in brutal conditions? Be sure and replace what you sweat out.
Stylish protection from sun and sweat
Jessica Rogers and her team make some of our favorite trail-running gear
Fitness
Top-notch tunes need equipment to match
Dish it out—this stuff can take it
Your sweatiest endeavors are no match for this kit
Tools for trying hard on all projects
Hardware to help you maximize your workouts
Just say no to chalky bars and gritty shakes
From prehab to rehab, make down days productive
Goods to take you from morning sun salutation to bedtime savasana
We caught up with Scarpa's climbing shoe category manager Heinz Mariacher to talk about what's next