Catchall Versatile is this bag’s middle name. The big opening makes it easy to pack for a weekend in a hurry. With both a shoulder strap and handles, it transforms from purse to gym bag easily, and the polyester interior dries quickly after toting sweaty yoga clothes. 2.1 lbs, 1,586…

Snowshoe runners and fast-and-light hikers, rejoice. Salomon’s most popular running shoe is now winterized, with insulation, Gore-Tex waterproofing, and a higher cut for keeping snow out.

LIFESAVER Should you get caught in a slide, the AvaLung-equipped Anarchist can improve your odds of survival. The device—which is built into this comfy 1,953-cubic-inch pack—redirects the poisonous carbon dioxide you exhale, delaying the formation of a suffocating “ice mask” around your face. It reportedly can keep avy victims alive…

Why It’s CoolClimbers eschew excess, and so does the Himalayan. Instead of heavy internal framework, Marmot inserts a folding bivy pad that plays three roles: rudimentary framesheet, back-panel padding, and torso-size bedtime cush. Likewise, the hipbelt relies on breadth of breathable fabric rather than thick foam to spread weight over…

The company that helped bring ounce counters out of the closet has struck a sweet balance between low weight and high value with the Intuition. The key is matching the stiff suspension—a polystyrene framesheet and aluminum dowels—to a lightly padded hipbelt and shoulder straps, providing all-day comfort with a…

Though some manufacturers like to throw around the sexy-sounding “approach shoe” title, the CTC is no marketing gimmick. When my trip up a creekbed turned into a bouldering session, the CTC proved as nimble and grippy as a traditional climbing shoe. Wrapped in sticky rubber, the narrow toe box…

FOR HIKES THAT TURN INTO RUNS Speed freaks will love this runner/hiker hybrid, which Adidas dubs an adventure shoe—we just call it fast. A cushioned, flexy sole with running DNA is just the start. The upper, constructed of mostly wide-open mesh, kept our feet ventilated even on days that topped…

DAY SIPPER Get a daypack and a hydration pack in one. The Helena is the perfect size for long day hikes, and its insulated pocket kept water in the three-liter reservoir (included) cool during a four-hour hike in New Mexico. Its quick-access outer pocket easily stored extra layers along the…

WINTER TRAINER A stainless-steel insert in this shoe’s Vibram sole allows you to click directly into the TSL snowshoe. Testers liked it for training but, despite the name, deemed it a bit bulky for racing. tslsport.com…

VERSATILITY CHAMP “Exactly what a daypack should be,” said one tester—and that’s the best way to describe the Laguna. With the ability to expand from 500 to 800 cubic inches, the Laguna’s just big enough to fit a shell, snacks, and a few extras. The airflow system’s mesh padding doesn’t…

Good for SnowshoeingThe waterproof and insulated Summit County will keep your toes warm and your feet supported as you click off the miles. Bonus: The sole hardens as temps plunge. Rated to -35F. keenfootwear.com…

Mountain-Ready Can’t decide if the day calls for scramble or ramble? Vasque’s Equalizer is ready for either. There’s just enough cushioning for long slogs on the trail, but its lasting board makes the Equalizer’s midsole extra stiff and helps it excel on rocky moraine. The outsole is…

Good for Backcountry The Free Rider is not so much a backpack as an armored hydration pack, perfect for ducking in and out of the resort. The back panel is actually a protective foam-and-plastic plate—similar to those worn by motocross riders—that flexes with you while you ski…

Daypack We’re suckers for chamois-lined sunglass pockets, but what really endeared this pack to us was the easy-to-pull straps that cinch it down into a neat bundle for the times your hike turns into a trail run. The externally loading sleeve makes refilling a hydration bladder (not included) a breeze.

The high-cut, deeply lugged BugaTech not only excels at ankle support and traction, it’s also toasty, thanks to a proprietary space-blanket-like lining. Plus, flat lower lacing makes it a perfect mate for snowshoes.

LIFT SERVANT One tester described this pack as “a wallet on your back with water.” The 275-cubic-inch Scorpion’s two-liter bladder kept testers hydrated both on quick tours before work and skiing all day at the resort. Lunch, a spare pair of goggles, and an extra layer fit in the main…

Why It’s CoolThe framesheet is classic GoLite technology—made of corrugated polystyrene and ultrathin aluminum dowels, it provides support and structure yet adds only six ounces to the two-pound-seven-ounce pack. (Fanatics needn’t fret; it’s removable.) » The lumbar pad is the unsung hero—the ribbed design keeps the pack from slipping and…

If you’re vaguely disturbed by the idea of paying more for a pack that weighs less, REI understands. The latest and largest in its UL line, this pack weighs little more than a pair of trail runners yet has space to stretch a long weekend into a week. Even…

Cheaper shoes exist, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one that beats the Prima for dollar-per-mile value. It’s light enough for a day hike and sturdy enough for a week in the Grand Canyon, and its midcut height and waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex XCR liner will handle the sloppiest edges…

GO ANYWHERE, FAST If we entered a shoe in the Dakar Rally, the Storm would be the choice. It’s tough, thanks to split-grain leather and plastic reinforcements on the upper. It’s light (16 ounces per shoe), due to details like nylon instead of metal eyelets and an absence of unnecessary…

This sturdy hiker was our top choice when mixed terrain called for everything from cruising trails to scampering up summits. The uppers are nearly indestructible, thanks to a mix of leather and tightly woven mesh, and the stiff midsole can handle heavy loads and rocky footing. lasportiva.com…

MOST VERSATILE Get the performance of a heavier boot in this jackrabbit-quick package, which has heat-welded overlays bonded to the upper for structure, plus an eVent liner to repel slush. hi-tec.com…

GREEN-MINDED AND OLD-SCHOOL Mountainsmith managed to build the Phoenix out of an impressive 85 percent recycled materials, including 100 percent recycled PET fabric, recycled mesh back panel and zippers, and sustainable biopolymer buckles. That’s about the current eco-limit without compromising the pack’s performance. But there’s much more to the Phoenix…

Good for SnowshoeingThe Vanton isn’t TNF’s most technical boot, but it’s waterproof and rated to 40 below zero, plus the outsole’s rubber gets grippier as temperatures drop. thenorthface.com…

Mountain-Ready The Bushland’s understated good looks, combined with its snug fit and low-profile but seriously grippy Vibram outsole, made this our pick for days that had us pounding both dirt and concrete. Among the shoes featured here, only the Vasque beats this capable scrambler on steep mountain…

Good for Backcountry If the devil is in the details, this daypack is an unrepentant sidecountry sinner. Whereas most packs have one or two really smart touches, the Spindrift has half a dozen: a bit of mesh at the bottom of the avy-tool pouch so snowmelt can…

Weekender The back panel on this space-efficient pack—we carried up to four days’ worth of supplies—closely mimics the curve of a woman’s back, which makes it so comfy, testers forgot they had it on. We love the side zip for getting at buried stuff. 3.7 lbs, 3,112 cu in;…

Waterproof full-grain leather with faux shearling and a liberal dose of insulation made this grippy, midcalf lace-up a testers’ fave for mellow snowshoe jaunts that ended with lounging by the fire.

By Stephen Regenold The handheld radio crackled with static before coming to life. “Roger that,” came a voice. “What’s your location?” I was standing near a swamp, remote and deep in the woods of central Minnesota. The day’s task — scouting a wilderness race course…

If you’re strapping a camera to your helmet or handlebars and hurtling down a mountain, you want it to be able to take a beating because, presumably, you aren’t showing your bros footie of yourself schralping the bunny slopes. The toughest POV camera we’ve seen? Hands down…

For last ten years I've engaged in yearly two-week backpacking trips in Canadian Rockies with hiking buddy. We carry in all of our food and gear for 10 to 12 days and then emerge, and I'm looking to replace I my six-year-old Arc'Teyrx Bora 95 litre pack, which blew out under one of its lateral tension rods this year, two years after I replaced the harness. –Ed Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

  By Stephen Regenold It costs about $20. Its light shines bright enough to runin the woods full speed at night. The Byte from Princeton Tec is a compact andhigh-performance headlamp new for this fall. I took the Byte…

By Stephen Regenold In the I-didn't-know-we-needed-that category this month,Contour Inc. of Seattlehas unveiled the world’s first GPS-enabled helmet camera. The 1080p videocamera, called the ContourGPS, comes with a GPS built in to capture and recordyour location once per second while on the move. It…

By Stephen Regenold In this column last month, I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as throwbacks — bulky, exposed and skeletal products that were left behind two decades…

By Stephen Regenold A red handle, a small white cross, a blade or two, and fold-out tools for the job — a Swiss Army Knife is an icon of utility and smart design recognizable the world over. Invented in the 1880s,…

What is a good hiking boot for a seven-day Grand Canyon rafting/hiking trip in September? We'll (my wife and I) be rafting four to six hours each day with time for side hikes, and then will be hiking out of the canyon on the last day (about 7.5 miles) carrying about 20-30 pound packs. We both already have Chacos so we're covered on the river sandal front. -Chris Springfield, IL

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.

I am going trekking in Nepal this September? What are essential items of clothing for this trip? Can you recommend the different type of layers that I will need? Saoirse Rooney Dublin, Ireland

I am looking for a good backpack for my camera gear (Nikon D300, 2 lenses, etc), but also carry my hiking gear on day trips. I have a Gregory Z30 as a daypack, but that is not easy for carrying my camera gear. I also tried some camera backpacks...but those don't have enough space and technical capabilities to support a long day hike. Any suggestions would be very helpful. -Dave Vienna, VA

By Stephen Regenold Panoramas, summit shots, trailhead embarkations, sunsets, and battlewounds — the photographic proof is a requisite for any grandadventure. As such, I rarely under-pack in the camera department. Formore than a decade, starting with a Pentax K1000 camera and…

By Stephen Regenold Kelty and JanSport are taking a retro tilt with backpacksin 2011. Both companies recently unveiled new backpacks that look like modelsyour father might have worn when he hit the Appalachian Trail in 1964. The JanSport D2 is an external-frame pack…

What's the best gear to buy a beginning hiker? My 22-year-old girlfriend is just getting started, but she's not outdoorsy. CilliantLouth Ireland

The North Face recently released a new iPhone app designed to help users find trails for hiking, mountain biking and over a dozen other activities, Mashable reports. The app, entitled Trailhead, pulls its routes from EveryTrail.com, a…

What is the best clothing for hiking/bushwacking in the jungles of Thailand in August? Nylon/Gore Tex vs. cotton, shorts vs pants? Is it too hot for raingear? Also, what do you recommend for a sleeping bag? I already have bug netting. Is a 40 degree bag still to warm? Would a fleece sleeping bag liner suffice? I'll be sleeping in a tent. –Erik Shandaken, NY

By Stephen Regenold A million little needles work a million strands of yarn. Gears shift. Machine arms adjust and spin, the mechanized anatomy of a knitting machine pulls raw yarn on one side and spits out a sock on the other. It is a…

A few weeks ago, my friend Aileen and I made a rookie mistake, despite being inveterate outdoorsy types. We hiked 12 miles through Santa Fe National Forest equipped with only an 18-oz water bottle between the both of us. Not the smartest move, especially in high desert. Luckily, just when…

If you're familiar with the online shopping website Gilt Groupe, then you probably know that it mostly survives on the likes of Gucci, Missoni, Marc Jacobs, and other designers that grace the floors of Neiman…

When I was a kid, I don't remember every buying my dad a gift that wasn't a fanciful tie bought at a department store under fluorescent lights or a shiny pen that costs somewhere in the double-digits. I wasn't even sure why someone needed a pen like that–my BIC pens…

When I was a kid, I don't remember every buying my dad a gift that wasn't a fanciful tie bought at a department store under fluorescent lights or a shiny pen that cost somewhere in the double-digits. I wasn't even sure why someone needed a pen like that–my BIC pens…

By Stephen Regenold Headlamps have become de rigueur in the outdoors world for light at night. But the handheld flashlight still has a place for camping and other activities. This spring I put three flashlight models head to head, including a penlight, a super-bright model, and one…

By Stephen Regenold Over the past few years, reviewing equipment for camping, hiking, biking, and other pursuits, a few products and a few ideas have stood out. These five innovations in gear have literally changed the way I do things outside.

By Stephen Regenold Invented during the Great Depression, and seen as a small icon of American design for more than 75 years since, Zippo brand lighters package fuel, spark, and flame in a portable, durable metal case. Flip…

By Stephen Regenold “Free of bisphenol-A. Free of polycarbonate. Free of phthalates. Free of cadmium. Free of lead. Free of PVC.” Thus read the bullet points dissecting the makeup of Thinksport's 350 Silver water bottle. The $15.99 stainless-steel bottle comes from…

By Stephen Regenold A pair of international trips this year have netted me multiple bouts of stomach sickness, but I can't say I haven't tried to allude the little bugs that cause ill will to so many travelers. One weapon I've employed, the AdventurerOpti…

Wow, it's been nearly a decade I've been stopping in and asking you questions for my Army sponsored jaunts around the globe. It's Afghanistan this time and I need a stiff mountaineering boot that is still light and won't cook my feet to death in the 110 degree heat this summer. Our issue boots are getting better, but still aren't quite there for the really steep, rocky stuff. My average load is around 40 to 60 pounds with the body armor. Don't worry about colors or "military looking" stuff. Just let me know what will get the job done. BTW: The Suunto altimeter you turned me onto back in '02 is still going strong and hard at work over here. Nice job.—LarryFirebase Vulcan, Afghanistan

By Stephen Regenold Mike Horn is a South African explorer known for his solo sailing expeditions and extreme feats, such as circumnavigating a route along the Arctic Circle via kayak, ski, and on foot. It was a solo trek that took more…

On first glance, the black grips on the Wenger EvoGrip S18 look gimmicky and the Big Bird-yellow color is a bit loud for my taste. But, after a few test runs, I realized that the non-slip rubber allowed me to cut with more confidence and the…

  By Stephen Regenold It took a van loaded with gear to get from my house tothe airport. Then in the terminal, I juggled a cart stacked with three rollingduffel bags, a carry-on suitcase, and a daypack to wear on the airplane…

I am looking for an all around boot/shoe to go hiking with in the mountains, usually distances of more than 20 miles. I like to hike without socks in the summer. I have had Merrells before but want to try something different now.—BryceRaleigh, NC

By Stephen Regenold My head is still spinning. My feet are damaged but on the mend. To say the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race was a crazy time would understate the experience. After almost seven straight…

By Stephen Regenold It took months of training and nearly a full week of human-powered effort (six days, three hours, and 31 minutes, to be exact) to traverse the entirety of Tierra del Fuego in Chile's Patagonia region. But from a ferry depot on the Strait of…

I am an avid reader of your advice and I like the way you also explain technologies. So here's a question that involves both: I would like some shoes for day hikes of up to six hours. I already have some great boots (Meindl Burma) for multi-day trips or rugged day-hiking terrain. But I'd like something light for other occasions (but probably with some waterproofness as it rains a lot in New Zealand). The trouble is, I don't really know what I am looking for. Light hikers, trail runners, cross-terrain shoes...? Are these different names for essentially the same thing?—KarenWellington, New Zealand

I took the Petzl Zipka 2 headlamp ($40) on a recent camping trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. It's one of the most pared-down headlamps on the market these days. Petzl replaced the conventional elastic-band head strap with a thin retractable cord. At first…

By Stephen Regenold This gear won't be in shops until the spring or next fall, but here's a peek at a few innovations and out-there items coming soon to an outdoors store near you. Glowing Sandals: Never trip in the dark again. A small…

Courtesy of Flickr Alexander Kendrick, a 16-year-old from Los Alamos, New Mexico, has invented a device that allows cavers to text to the surface of the Earth from deep underground, NPR reports. It's basically a…

One of my health resolutions this year was to drink more water. Should be easy, right? Except for the fact that I sit at a desk all day, and when the water fountain's out of sight, it's out of mind. I needed a water bottle, and not one that would…

Nokia, the world's number one phone maker, has a full navigation suite now available to any compatible smartphone for free, Wired.com reports. The suite includes maps, updates, driving and walking directions, guides from Lonely Planet…

By Stephen Regenold My plane ticket is booked. The training schedule I've committed to for months is winding down. The great adventure that is the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race, a weeklong endurance event through Tierra…

Your dog likes to roam around outside for several hours a day, so why not make good use of play time by strapping a solar panel and battery pack to its back? …Right? That's what one guy thought, anyway, as shown in this YouTube video that was featured on…

By Stephen Regenold Send a Tweet from the backcountry, track your GPS position anywhere on the globe, text-message a friend out of cell-phone range, or blip out an SOS signal in an emergency situation via a roving satellite network. These are the touted features of a GPS/satellite…

One might think that jeans would’ve suffered neglect due to all the highfalutin’ Space Age materials on the market today. After all, they’re slow to dry and stretch out between washings. The knees blow out with minimal provocation. But these limitations have only strengthened my love for them. With synthetics…

I trying to find the best boot setup for my job. I a professional dog hiker. My job entails hiking five to six miles a day three days a week with 13 dogs throughout the winter in mountainous terrain. Generally I moving so much that I sweating and warm, but after I start my descent my feet are sweaty and start to freeze. I use sock liners and hiking socks with my Vasque Sundowners or Asolo's with Outdoor Research gaiters and Yaktrax Pros. Is there a special winter boot out there or setup you recommend? John Missoula, MT

By Stephen Regenold From whitewater kayaking in Colorado to trekking in Belize, the past 12 months proved to be another epic year of adventure. Along the way, I put dozens of outdoors products to the test–tents, packs, boots, bikes, and knives among the mix. These…

By Stephen Regenold It stuffs down to a size smaller than a baseball. Its manufacturer, Sea to Summit Inc. of Perth, Australia, suggests using it as a keychain. But unpack the Ultra-Sil Day Pack and its crinkly “siliconized” Cordura nylon quickly takes shape, a backpack…

I love gadgets. I always have. Gadgets are handy little devices that usually aren’t necessary, but are still fun to have along for the ride. The Highgear Terrapod ($70) is a gadget, and a rugged one at that. I've gotten along fine on backpacking journeys for…

A few years ago, I bought a pair of hiking boots with a molded sole. Spent $250 for the things. I have to admit that they were comfy. They lasted less than a year; the sole ce off both boots, and because of the way the sole was attached there was no way to repair them. I just had the third sole put on a pair of Lowa's that I bought in the late ?70s. As far as I'm concerned these new boots are for the throw-away crowd who face all the adversities of hiking across the parking lot of the local mega box. I'm looking for a new pair of boots with the good "old" style welt and a similar rugged construction. Or, at least, something that can be repaired. Leroy Fayetteville, AR

My biggest problem with my current daypack is that my back gets very sweaty, even with a quick-dry shirt. Do you know of any daypacks that allow for more airflow between the pack and my back? Christopher St. Louis, MO

The Flash 65 by REI ($150) is fairly elusive to the eye. It seems like just another backpack with nothing special to offer. Fortunately, this pack is loaded with smart features and the fit is awesome. Designed to be a lightweight pack at two pounds…

Spot Messenger emergency beacons have become popular with backcountry users as a low-priced way to summon help when outside of cell-phone coverage areas. Today, however, the company issued a statement that it would be accepting free returns of the new, smaller version of the beacon—the Spot 2—after the company…

By Stephen Regenold With its new high-top trail shoe, Inov-8 stakes a simple claim: The Roclite 288 GTX is “the lightest-weight waterproof boot on the market.” Its GORE-TEX membrane provides a waterproof barrier. It weighs about 10 ounces per foot in a men's size nine–half the weight…