Gear
ArchiveThe Outdoor Retailer Show just wrapped, and as per usual, it was epic. Over the next week or so, we'll continue to highlight some of the favorite new products we saw, starting with these three. 1. Columbia Baselayer Light Shortsleeve Top: Columbia’s new Omni-Freeze ICE…
Spontaneity means traveling light but also being prepared. The gear you bring—bikes, boats, ’biners—depends on where you’re going. The rest? Pack no more than the Kelty BaseCamp Kitchen.
Spontaneity means traveling light but also being prepared. The gear you bring—bikes, boats, ’biners—depends on where you’re going. The rest? Pack no more than the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core.
Carabiners that use magnetic forces, not springs, to open and close
A satellite-based text-messaging and tracking device
A lightweight, foldable bike that let’s you access the inaccessible
A limited-edition carbon fiber stand-up paddleboard designed by the best in ocean sailing
Buy the September Issue—on Newsstands Soon Well, a few of them, anyway—just to start off with. As part of Outdoor Retailer, taking place right now in Salt Lake City, we’re handing out certificates to the companies that made our list…
We've landed in Salt Lake City, and today we're headed to the Outdoor Retailer on-water demo, where we'll get our first glimpse of kayakas, SUPs, and all the goodies and gadgets that go with them. Then the show officially kicks off tomorrow, and here are a…
I’m looking for a pair of wind-resistant pants to layer under a shell for skiing, wear on light hikes in late summer and fall, and wear around the house in the winter. Am I asking too much?
Even if you're not a professional climber or cyclist, there are ways to get in on the action.
Twice a year, all the companies that make camping, climbing, hiking, paddling gear, clothes, shoes, and gadgets get together in one cement bunker in Salt Lake City to hock their wares. It's called the Outdoor Retailer Show, and it's the biggest gearapalooza in the…
I'm going on a multi-country, 10-month, round-the-world trip, from Patagonia to the Himalayas. What lightweight, 10- to 15-degree sleeping bag should I bring?
The race is over, and I'm experiencing my inevitable, annual Tour withdrawal. (What fun are mornings without Cadel's awkward-but-effective mutton-busting riding style, a couple of whingeing Schlecks, and the Contador keep-us-guessing feint and dodge?) So this morning, in lieu of Stage 22, I contemplated a few of the new bikes…
Ian, a lot depends on how you plan to use the knife, what blade length best suits you, and even which knife feels good in your hand. But you’ve got plenty of options. A good example of a folding knife that’s right for travel is the Kershaw Shallot Serrated…
I'm planning to hike the Long Range Traverse at Gros Morne National Park, which is a four- to five-day trek without trails. I have Arc'teryx Alpha SL pants, but I'm wondering if I should to bring gaiters, too.
Outside editors are excited to announce the launch of our all-new Gear of the Show awards program at this year's Summer Outdoor Retailer Show, August 4-7, in Salt Lake City.
Two days of riding 150 kilometers through Spain’s Basque country on Specialized’s 2012 S-Works Amira high-performance racing bike has convinced me that when a company invests almost ten years of R&D into developing a line of women’s-specific bikes, women might want to pay attention.
I'm looking for polarized prescription sunglasses, ideally with interchangeable lenses. I fly fish, paddle, sail, cycle, and ski, and I have a big melon, so smaller-fitting frames won't work. Am I asking for too much in a single pair of sunglasses?
I've been indoor climbing in my Vibram Five Fingers and I can't seem to move onto harder routes. Are my toes holding me back? Could you suggest a beginner climbing shoe for me?
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including the Bertucci A-3T Vintage watch.
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including the Timex Expedition Military Classic watch.
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including the Victorinox Original Timepiece watch.
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including the Wenger Nomad LED Compass watch.
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including the Suunto Elementum Terra All-Black watch.
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including Nixon's The Axe watch.
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including the Momentum Aeromax Ti watch.
High Caliber: Military-inspired watches that make us stand at attention, including the Fossil Sport Collection CH2726 watch.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Brooks Cascadia 6 trail running shoe.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral trail running shoe.
A stylish single-speed commuter that's as functional as it is indestructible: the Globe Bikes Roll 2 bicycle.
Cooling Agents: Our favorite ultralight gear for sweltering summer runs, including the Garmin Forerunner 610 watch.
Cooling Agents: Our favorite ultralight gear for sweltering summer runs, including the Oakley Fast Jacket sunglasses.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Pearl Izumi Streak II running shoe.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Adidas Response Cushion Twenty M running shoe.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Asics Gel-Kinsei 4 running shoe.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Montrail Rogue Racer trail running shoe.
I'm looking for an inexpensive rain shell. I'd prefer something waterproof and breathable, with a hood and pit zips. Thoughts?
Last year, Asics released a special version of its up-market, heavily cushioned Kayano training shoe that the company says will tune itself to accommodate changes in a woman's menstrual cycle. If that strikes you as an absurd idea, it should. The shoe is both silly and expensive. But it is…
By Stephen Regenold Designed to be one of the most minimal sport sandals ever made, the Zilch from Teva is flexible enough to fold in half. A thin sole, a footbed, and Velcro straps are the…
Electric bikes are for schmucks, right? Nah. The newest models are stylish, useful machines that will put a lot more riders on the road.
What's the best shoe for a half marathon or marathon? Do I need lots of cushioning, or should I go minimalist?
My fiance and I have never been backpacking or camping. We'll be doing day hikes and an occasional overnight. Our budget is important, but I also want to know that our gear will last. What do we need? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
By Stephen Regenold As a company that sells shin guards and gel inserts for bike shoes, you'd think cases for Apple iPads would be a stretch. But new to the product line at G-Form LLC, a…
Whether you're cooling off during a weekly swim in the local outdoor pool or training daily for a triathlon in a state-of-the-art aquatics center, you'll want to outfit yourself with gear made for the pool. Presenting the 10 best summer swimming products for 2011, from suits to shampoo. Right before…
For the Buyer's Guide and Spring Bike Special, we test bikes extensively (think 20-some testers and dozens of rides per bike), but it can feel like speed dating, with not enough time to really get to know a…
By Stephen Regenold The sailboat bobbed in swells, our view to land obscured by a thick fog. It was early one morning this spring, and I was sailing along the Californian coastline en route from San Francisco to LA. Beyond cell-phone range, and out of…
I need a multi-function barometer-altimeter-compass watch for trekking. I was looking at the Suunto Core watch (which I like) but I also found the Tech4o TrailLeader Pro. Is it a good watch, too? Do you have any other suggestions?
Casual-but-sharp button-downs and lace-ups for the summer season, including the Dockers Convertible Mobile men's button-down.
By Stephen Regenold In a column last year, “Belt Drive Mountain Bike,” I covered the bike-chain-replacing Carbon Drive System from Gates, writing that “the humble bike chain — greasy, gunk-prone, finicky if not lubed and maintained — has been standard equipment…
Casual-but-sharp button-downs and lace-ups for the summer season, including the Merrell Primed Moc.
We had a food question a few weeks ago from someone embarking on a long canoe trip, and my answer was pretty much “learn to cook.”’ Maybe that was snarky. But it’s true: With the right ingredients and tools you can make just about anything you want. Backpacking is a…
In the first of a new web series, award-winning director Michael Brown and the pros at Outside Adventure Film School test out gear before heading to Everest.
Johnathan Frederick of Bent Gate Mountaineering teams up with Searac Adventure Films to tell you how to shop for backcountry and alpine skis. seracfilms.com and bentgate.com…
Need new backcountry ski boots? Watch this video before you start shopping. seracfilms.com and bentgate.com…
Buyer’s Guide managing editor Alicia Carr picks her favorite gear from the SIA Snow Show.
Polartec has a new waterproof, breathable fabric set to debut in a number of new jackets in 2012.
Columbia's new heated electric boot was built to keep your toes toasty in winter. $250…
A revolutionary design–spiral, elastic baffles–not only allows you to twist and turn at night, but also holds the insulation against you for fewer cold spots. Our Gear of the Year winner. $379…
Our Gear of the Year winning bag offers comfort and warmth down to 15 degrees, and it weighs less than 2 pounds.
Michael Brown and his team at Serac Adventure Films pack up for Everest.