Gear
ArchiveOutside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Oakley Holbrook sunglasses.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Contour+ POV camera.
My wife and I recently went car camping. It was her first trip. She enjoyed it a lot, but the mummy-style sleeping bag I borrowed for her wasn’t comfortable. Too restrictive. What do you suggest we try?
Why does a toddler need her own headlamp, you ask? When she can barely walk, and will most certainly not be straying solo from the tent on dark trails, for at least the next two years, maybe longer. (Hopefully.) Because: Otherwise she will ferret yours out from its secret hiding…
A billion bicycle tubes are produced each year, two and a half million each day, and once a tube has served its tour of duty, it ends up in a landfill. And, unfortunately, you can't drop a blown rubber bike tube in the blue recycling bin and rest your conscience.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoe
Call us soft (and many of our friends have), but we've always been a fan of Crazy Creek chairs. (Our tripmates have consistently sneered “Lazy Geek” chairs, and then promptly sat in them when we got up to pee.) We also like the contraptions that turn your…
What are your ten favorite pieces of outdoor gear from the past ten years?
I'm worried about spraining my weak ankles when I go hiking in the Adirondacks this fall. Do hiking boots provide enough support? What's the best way to keep my ankles safe?
There’s no reason to be sheepish about switching those synthetic baselayers for a more natural alternative.
The American Alpine Institute (AAI) is a 35-year old mountain school best know for its advanced trainings, expeditions, and exceptional instruction, as well as its committment to protecting public lands. Of course, they also know a thing or two about gear, and this summer at the…
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Cassin X-All -Mountain ice ax
There were more than just feathery carbon road bikes and high-tech 29ers on display at Interbike. We saw tons of intriguing designs across the board, from belt drive commuters and cross bikes to a radical new mountain bike design with 26-inch wheels. In our final installment from the show, we…
After competing in more than two dozen adventure races, Stephen Regenold breaks down his go-to outdoor gear
Do a pair of expertly crafted custom skis pay out on the slopes, or is that extra money you spent just vanity underfoot?
Do you find sleeping bags too confining? Are you a sleepwalker concerned about frostbite on your late night excursions? Are you jealous of small children who have onesie pajamas with feet? Then do we have something for you. Introducing the Selk'bag. This Gumby-like, polyester-filled, insulating outfit is…
We love Interbike for all the techy bling and cool, new gadgets we find there. We could devote pages and pages to the hottest new tech (and we will in subsequent issues of the magazine), but for now, here are a few of the best-looking bike accessories we found in…
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Tecnica Cochise Ski Boot
Pedal there in good form with the Born Burke shoes.
I'm heading into the backcountry this winter after years of in-bounds skiing, and I need a randonee set up. How much should I plan to spend? And will I notice a big difference between randonee boots and skis, and my race boots and all-mountain skis?
We scoured the aisles at Interbike to find the latest in bike components. The top stories seem to be bigger travel, better interfaces, and more choice. Presenting a few hardgood highlights from Vegas. –Aaron Gulleyaarongulley.com…
While much of the road bike talk at Interbike revolved around aero-shaped carbon, there were a surprising number of fascinating little technology stories as well. From space-age steel to a bike that's “handmade by machines,” manufacturers are experimenting with all manner of materials and constructions to set their bikes apart.
Planning to ride this weekend? Consider making your mileage really count by participating in Moving Planet, a day of grassroots action aimed at raising awareness about global warming by taking a day off from fossil fuels. With critical…
A behind the scenes look at the endoscope exam of the killer whale Keto at Orca Ocean in Loro Parque, Canary Islands.
What full-size, affordable camera tripod should I bring camping?
In 2011, 29ers finally caught on across the board, with every major manufacturer getting into the big-wheel market. This coming season, not only is there going to be a proliferation of models as brands fill out their ranges, but there is also a move toward bigger-travel, trail-oriented 29ers. Whereas previously…
Before I tell you about the crop of hot new 2012 gear I saw at Interbike last week, I want to ruminate on the most decisive and exceptional product of 2011. I’ve been testing the Specialized S-Works Epic Carbon 29 for nine months, and I’m still impressed—sometimes even astounded—each time…
The Cadence, Courtesy of the James Dyson Award If you think Oscar Pistorius's Cheetah legs are cool, wait until you get a load of the slick new cycling prostheses that may soon be available for lower leg amputees.
I'm moving to Great Lakes region and I'm looking for a kayak that's easy to maneuver and cheap.
The Shinamo Ultegra Di2 6770 shifting system was one of our editor’s five picks for Gear of the Show at the 2011 Interbike show.
Getting robbed sucks whether you're on a business trip or vacation. Keep thieves at bay the next time you travel with these three anti-theft accessories: Clothing Arts Pick Pocket Proof Adventure Travel Pants: Fill the high capacity pockets of these pants with all the…
Pedal there in good form in the Pladra Elli shirt.
The Brooks John Boultbee Criterion Jacket was one of our editor’s five picks for Gear of the Show at the 2011 Interbike show.
Five accessories to turn your iPhone into a supergadget, including the Snow Peak iPhone 4 Titanium cover.
The Ibis Ripley 29er was one of our editor’s five picks for Gear of the Show at the 2011 Interbike show.
The Giro Reverb was one of our editor’s five picks for Gear of the Show at the 2011 Interbike show.
The Garmin Vector was one of our editor’s five picks for Gear of the Show at the 2011 Interbike show.
What's the best technical shell for skiing? I'm looking for a jacket that isn't bulky and provides versatility in more than one season.
Five accessories to transform you iPhone into a supergadget, including the Photojojo Telephoto and Fish-eye lenses.
Pedal there in good form with the Nobis Mr. Tight hat.
Pedal there in good form, with Levi's 511 Commuter jeans.
Pedal there in good form, with the Davek Traveler umbrella.
Pedal there in good form with the Columbia Tech Trekker messenger bag.
Pedal there in good form with the Hestra Bike Leather gloves.
Outside's editors are excited to announce the launch of our all-new Gear of the Show awards program at this year's Interbike Show, September 14-16, in Las Vegas.
Five must-haves for navigating city life, including the Samsung Nexus S.
Five must-haves for navigating city life, including the Amazon Kindle e-Reader.
Five must-haves for navigating city life, including the Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR camera.
Five accessories to turn your iPhone into a supergadget, including the t-Jays Three earphones.
Five must-haves for navigating city life, including the TiGr bike lock.
Five accessories to turn your iPhone into a supergadget, including the Original Koostik dock.
It's much easier to throw a bike on a hitch rack than it is to lift it up and onto a roof rack. But there are usually drawbacks to that loading ease and convenience: hitch mount racks can block rear doors and hatches from opening and road shock can beat…
No excuses. It's time to ditch that gas-guzzler for an electric car.
Preview of the first winter ascent of GII by The North Face athletes.
Tonight, Patagonia and eBay announced a new partnership, the Common Threads Initiative. Together, they asked owners of fleece and Gore-Tex everywhere to pledge to reduce consumption, reuse old gear, recycle, repair what's broken, and reimagine a world where people don't stress the earth with…
J.W. Hulme, the Minnesota-based bag company that's been making those handsome green and leather duffels in these United States of America since the turn of the 20th century, has made six exclusive items for the official charity of…
Outlier founders Abe Burmeister and Tyler Clemens believe that clothing should be liberating. It should never restrict what you do with your day. They started their Brooklyn-based company in 2008 because Burmeister wanted an unrestrictive pair of pants he could ride his…
I'm going hiking in Bolivia, and I'm thinking about using an emergency blanket instead of a sleeping bag. Thoughts? Any recommendations on a liner or material?
Dinner to go This one’s going to be brief because we're on our way out of town to raft the San Juan River for the second, and last, time this season. The preparations seem less daunting…
Finally, field water disinfection has become lighter. Never did I notice the bulk and serious weight of water filter more than when I had to pack for a week in rural Haiti. In my Patagonia MLC pack I had just enough room for a Sawyer water filter bottle, a…
How much gear do you really need on a three-day backpacking trip?
Timbuk2 D-Lux Laptop Messenger Bondage.
The history of Frostline Kits isn't complicated, and if you knew how to work a sewing machine, the concept wasn't either. Started in 1966 by Dale Johnson, a former employee of Gerry Mountaineering Equipment, Frostline made sewing kits for those who didn't have the money to purchase camping…
I'm a surfer looking to get into surfing photography. What are the best waterproof housings for DSLRs? I shoot with a Canon 5D.
Save time and money by shopping online. Just don't get carried away.
You want to have a little whiskey reward when you make to the lake. Or have some pinot noir along with your baked ziti on your next backpacking trip. We're with you. Platypus Platypreserve: For vino, we've been, ah, pleasantly field testing these pouches for years.
Outside brings you the best adventure-specific dresses for your next late summer trip.
There are bazillion iPad cases out there. Some are great, some are crappy, and many are in the middle: they look cool but offer little in the way of actual protection. That's where these three cases come in. If you're looking to take your iPad along on your next serious…
I need a shoe for hiking several miles in the heat that has sticky rubber for wet rock and comes in size 14. I've found that approach shoes are too hot and heavy, and the rubber on trail running shoes isn't sticky enough. Worse, brands like Sportiva and Salewa don't carry anything that fits.
Earlier this summer in Deer Valley, Utah, 30-some bike industry manufacturers rolled out their 2012 product lines for a select group of journalists. We showed you some of the new bikes in Episode 1. But there were plenty of…
What are the best sunglasses that lighten and darken with changing light conditions?
Outside reviews the iSimple TranZit IS77 an iPod or iPhone car stereo system adapter for your next road trip.
What type of jacket do you recommend for winter traveling in Mongolia, where temps will drop to as low as -40? Can I get a good jacket for $200 or cheaper?
Every week, Kickstarter.com puts up a load of cool new projects. Creators of films, gadgets, and even restaurants throw their ideas up on the site in hopes of getting enough funding for completion. Donations of a certain size are rewarded with gifts. By going to Kickstarter,…
Stanley has been making insulated drink products since 1913. Clearly, they've learned a thing or two over the past 98 years, as their new One Handed Vac Mug is simply the best to-go mug we've ever tested. Like dozens of other fancy to-go mugs, this 16-ounce, vacuum-insulated…
Mountaineering boots with a walk and climb mode…
The Whispbar is an aerodynamic roof rack that won’t lower your gas mileage.
Four softshells hard enough for any weather, including The North Face's Jammu.
We could fill weeks of posts about all the cool new products we saw at last week's Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City. But we won't. Instead, we've begun calling it in and field-testing it. Depending on how it fares, you'll likely read about…
A GPS that lets you text message from anywhere in the world.