Stock Up on This Buyer’s Guide–Approved Gear at the Outside Shop

Published December 11, 2021 04:30AM

We’re giving readers a sweet way to score outdoor gear: Outside+ members receive an annual $50 credit (see program terms) for our just-launched Outside Shop. It’s stocked with useful items that can make your time outdoors—a hike, camping trip, ski day, or walk around the neighborhood—better. And that selection includes top-tier gear we’ve reviewed in our semiannual Buyer’s Guides. Here are a few premium items worth snagging with your discount.

Salewa MTN Trainer Lite Mid GTX Boot ($200)

We gave the MTN Trainer Lite Mid a Gear of the Year award in our 2020 Summer Buyer’s Guide. Testers Berne Broudy and Jakob Schiller praised its versatility. “With true-to-size fit and a lightweight suede and mesh build that requires zero break-in, the MTN Trainer Lite Mid is at home on mellow hikes,” they wrote. “At the same time, the supportive cuff and semi-stiff sole excel on steep, rocky climbs and descents, with an aggressively lugged outsole that grips everything from kitty-litter scree to wet boulders.”

Cotopaxi Allpa Pack 42L ($220)

Contributor Janna Irons crowned the 42-liter Allpa the best travel pack in her Buyer’s Guide roundup of the best luggage. “It held enough gear to get through four sweaty days and three cold nights in Joshua Tree National Park, and the clamshell design granted easy access to the four interior zippered compartments, which are great for separating clothes, shoes, and accessories,” she wrote.

Dynafit Feline SL Trail Running Shoes ($130)

What shoe performs best on mountain trails? Buyer’s Guide testers Cory Smith and Lisa Jhung thought that distinction belonged to the Feline SL in 2020. “The second iteration of Dynafit’s bestselling, performance-oriented grip master is perfectly suited to charging hard on short-to-medium-distance runs in alpine terrain,” they wrote. “Our wide-footed testers found the last a bit narrow, but everyone loved the aggressive 4.5-millimeter multidirectional lugs, which kept us at ease in rocky no-fall zones.”

Fjällräven Vardag Beanie ($26)

“A perfect beanie is the cherry on top of a cute après look,” wrote senior editor Kelsey Lindsey in her Buyer’s Guide roundup of the best women’s après gear of 2021. “Our pick is the Vardag, made out of recycled polyester with a throwback logo that adds vintage flair. Despite frequent use during testing, it never lost shape.”

Grayl GeoPress Water Purifier ($90)

We featured the GeoPress in our Buyer’s Guide roundup of the best gear for self-supported bike missions. “This two-part device purifies 24 ounces of water in seconds (four to five liters per minute) like a French press, while the inner bottle serves as water storage,” explained tester Amy Jurries.

Smith I/O Mag Goggles ($270)

Winter Buyer’s Guide tester Marc Peruzzi loved the I/O Mag’s magnetic lens system, which features clips that lock the lenses in place. “Unlike a lot of ill-designed goggle tech, the clips don’t require an advanced degree to operate, and we were able to change lenses in just a few seconds,” he wrote. “Best of all, there was no wind channeling or goofy lens dislocation.”