Gear
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What's the ultimate car-camping tent for a family of four? The wife and kids aren't really up to the deprivation (wife's word) of experiencing (my word) the glories (my word again) of the backcountry through backpacking. Appropriate models, size-wise, from Sierra Designs and The North Face seem more like base-camp tents—stoop to enter and exit, no standing room for adults. L.L. Bean and Eureka!, on the other hand, have real mammoth numbers with standing room and porches. If the 4Runner is doing the carrying, what does the weight matter, right? Kirk San Diego, California
I have a sleeping bag that's supposedly a zero-degree bag, but I'm a cold sleeper and get cold in 20-degree temps. I'm thinking of buying a liner but don't want to spend a ton of money, so what kind of liner should I buy? Or is there a better solution for adding warmth? Kira Missoula, Montana
When I was rafting in Alaska, I noticed some outfitters using a folding canoe called an Ally. It had an aluminum fre and was covered by what looked like the se material used for rafts. They must withstand wear and tear fairly well if they're used up there. Any experience with them? Herman Portland, Oregon
One of the principles of down sleeping bags is that they must breathe. So, how practical is it to use eVENT fabric in a down sleeping bag to make it waterproof and breathable? Or is it better to go with a water-resistant shell instead, which may be more breathable? Peter Würzburg, Germany
I have a sleeping bag that's supposedly a zero-degree bag, but I'm a cold sleeper and get cold in 20-degree temps. I'm thinking of buying a liner but don't want to spend a ton of money, so what kind of liner should I buy? Or is there a better solution for adding warmth? Kira Missoula, Montana
I'm after some shades to use while hiking, skiing, running, and biking in Colorado. I would also like something that brightens my view, not darkens it, if that makes sense. I'd like to stay under $100, but as quality is very important to me, you can recommend more expensive ones, too. Gust Lakewood, Colorado
Outside magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Cameras Nikon Coolpix 880 $700 TECHNOBABBLE: 3.3 megapixels…
Outside magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Camcorders Canon Optura Pi $1,500 TECHNOBABBLE:A 12x-to-48x zoom…
Swivel chair to summit Logistics: Be prepared Getting to the top means getting in shape beforehand When first pondering the idea of mountain climbing, it is easy to be…
I would like to camp at some walk-in campsites but can't carry a heavy pack, having a history of back problems. Does someone make carts for camping that can be wheeled on a trail? Andy San Francisco, California
Virtual adventure: Telluride to Moab Logistics: What to take Living comfortably deep in the backcountry Gear-wise, you’ll never have an easier week in the backcountry than a hut-to-hut mountain…
Andean Adventure New gear and customs headaches March 13, 1998 Tuesday, March 10. A fateful day. Our long-awaited packages have arrived in Ecuador. I call the shipping company, but now they can’t find…
Help! I have just registered myself in a mini triathlon this July and have no bike. The 12-mile bike section is over trails, and I don't know the first thing about what size of bike is right for me, or even what kind of bike. I don't want to pay over $300 for something I won't use that often, so can you help? Thanks—please don't laugh at me. Leigh Libertyville, Illinois
Outside magazine, June 1999 BUYING RIGHT Next Up: An Attachment for the Kitchen Sink Thule 400 Aero Foot and Big Mount If you’re still wedging your bikes into the trunk each weekend, or if you’re hoping that…
Outside magazine, May 1996 CD-Rom: Everest Quest By Rod Willard These days you can find CD-Roms on every oft-visited place from Yosemite to the Australian outback. But Peak Media’s Mount Everest: Quest for the Summit of Dreams stands out for one simple reason: It’s…
Camp Outs, Family Vacations 1998 Leave No Trace CAMP OUTS Happy Trails From an all-day jaunt to a weeklong trek, seven kid-tested routes to the wilderness…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Essential Gear: Hydration Systems It’s axiomatic that you need to drink water when exercising, particularly outdoors. Still, most people underestimate the amounts of water required for proper hydration–as well as the seriousness of failing to maintain it. Herewith, a crash course…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Couture A-Go-Go Functional yet snappy travel garb for a haul of any length By Bob Howells Stifling heat is no excuse when you appear bare-legged at Cairo’s Mohammed Ali Mosque. You either rent a ratty…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Never Say Dry Just snorkel, surf, dive, sail, fish, paddle a kayak … DIVING ——— Red Hill, Maui On Maui all dive boats lead to Molokini crater, the underwater equivalent of…
Outside magazine, December 1995 Geosynchronous Satellites in the Palm of His Hand Governor Moonbeam navigates the political landscape with his GPS gizmo By Jerry Brown A goofy presidential campaign full of the usual suspects is coming around again. Media pundits, working for…
Camping Special, April 1997 Freeze-Dried Is for Losers A guide to culinary success alfresco By Brad Wetzler Anybody can scarf pb&j while perched on a mountain rock, but one might argue that you’re not really camping till you dirty a…
Outside magazine, July 1996 Footwear: A Splashy New Breed By Jonathon Hanson Sport sandals are evolving furiously–offering sophisticated footbeds, grippier soles, and multitudinous strap arrangements. The only problem is, they’re still sandals: cool, light, great in water, but lacking the support and protection…
Outside magazine, October 1996 Extras: A Case for Insurance By Glenn Randall The one drawback of an slr is that it’s too bulky and heavy to stow in a coat pocket. An SLR isn’t tough enough to withstand dust and water if you…
Outside Magazine, February 1995 Last-Minute Essentials By Bob Howells What’s that peculiar smell in your pack? Probably your towel, that soggy mildew factory that you’re always stuffing back in before it’s completely dry. Replace it with an easy-wring, quick-dry Paktowl ($12), made of soft…
Outside magazine, July 1994 Equipment: When You Could Use a Stiff Belt By Dana Sullivan…
Outside magazine, June 1995 Camping: Bibler Escalante Tents By Rod Willard What happens when a legendary maker of single-wall expedition tents builds a model for those of us who don’t spend our vacations in the Himalayas? We get the benefit of extreme-adventure experience in…
1999 Family Vacation Guide All the Right Stuff for Family Camping By Douglas Gantenbein Tents A sturdy, packable tent is your family’s home on the trail. For summer camping, look for something light and well-ventilated.
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Spin Control So what if you can’t catch air–skinny tires still rule the road By Laura Hilgers Our Favorite Places | Inside Skinny | Staying Safe…
Outside magazine, November 1995 Update: Beyond-Basic Bindings By Glenn Randall Every major brand of bindings performs just fine these days–and has for years. So, having mastered the basics, the manufacturers have been busy tweaking their latest bindings to improve edge grip, help carve a…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Necessities By Bob Howells A few personal favorites round out a practical traveler’s wardrobe. The Tilley Endurables T3 hat ($45) is a subtle classic, and offers unparalleled comfort: Made of vented, water-repellent cotton duck, the T3 comes in…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Travel Bags Secret compartments, mesh pouches, and zip-out extensions for all your stuff By Robert Earle Howells CONVERTIBLES —————— You know what a long suitcase portage does…
Outside magazine, May 1996 Wow, Man, That’s Some Righteous Shoe In what passes for a victory in America’s anemic War on Drugs, Adidas has agreed to change the name of its new sneaker, “The Hemp.” Made from the plant that produces marijuana, the shoe stirred up…
Outside magazine, June 1995 Buying Right: Polarized Sunglasses By Bob Howells Shading against the beach sun means dark specs, a broad-brimmed hat, and a frill-edged umbrella. Shielding against that sun, however, means polarized glasses. There’s a big difference between polarized lenses and all…
Outside magazine, July 1996 Carriers: Rack “Em Up, Shorty By John Lehrer Hoisting a bike to the roof rack on a sport utility vehicle is a stretch for all but the very tall. It’s easier to reach a hitch-mounted rack, but then there’s…
Outside magazine, October 1996 Essentials: The Lowdown On Lenses Glenn Randall When you invest in an slr camera, you’re paying for flexibility, which in broad terms means the ability to swap lenses. Options are great, but for your first lens, buy the fastest…
Review, June 1997 Move Over, Spandex And make way for a variety of threads appealing to cyclists of every tread By Dan Wildhirt Nike jersey, Dirt Designs shorts, Nautica vest Time was, tight-fitting cycling clothes were limited to the…
Outside magazine, August 1995 Tents for Three Seasons–and Then Some No one shelter does it all, but the best take you from summer to winterish conditions By Douglas Gantenbein I have a friend who has a jacket, a backpack, and a collection…
Outside magazine, March 1996 Mountaineering: It Came from Rockford High-altitude mutant Ed Viesturs’s careful assault on the top of the world By Andrew Tilin “It was all about putting another deposit in the Karma National Bank,” says Ed Viesturs…
1999 Family Vacation Guide, Don’t Spare the Bubbly All the Right Stuff for Whitewater By Steve Shimek Rule number one of river travel: Rafters have more fun if they’re toasty warm. On a scenic Class…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Essential Gear: First-Aid Kits The Wilderness Medical Society conducted a study that was published in the Journal of Wilderness Medicine. Researchers polled backpackers coming down off trails in Yosemite National Park and discovered that 14 percent had to cut short their…
Bodywork: Fitness for the Outside Athlete, November 1996 Equipment: Striking a Balance By John Alderman Chances are, you’ll never try to pull off a 720-degree spin with a tail grab on your snowboard. But if you do want to, or if you…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Pan-Optx Sunglasses By Sarah Bowen Shea Glasses or goggles? The new Pan-Optx Raptor ($105; 800-393-9273), makes moot the vexing question of how best to protect your eyes on piste. In fact, these sunglasses–designed with peripheral molding that snugly…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Shooting from the Trip Photo safaris to hone your skills and sharpen your focus By Kara Ryan E-MAIL FROM: DAKAR, SENEGAL On the outskirts of Dakar, middle-aged borro-borros, West Africa's traditional pharmacists, sit on blue…
Outside magazine, April 1996 Sturdy Boots Without the Burden Lightweight, trailworthy hikers for both fast-moving day hikes and overnight jaunts By Douglas Gantenbein Horrific tales of foot agony in decades past are the best argument for today’s lightweight hiking boots, so here’s…
Outside magazine, June 1995 Smooth-Sailing Crafts, By Land or By Sea On the car or in the water, boards and boats that are a breeze to handle By Nancy K. Crowell God does not deduct from a man’s life the hours spent…
Outside magazine, May 1995 Fly-Fishing: Bridger Mountain Pack By Jerry Gibbs As happy as you and your favorite daypack are with each other, spend some time together fly-fishing and you’ll discover shortcomings: Once you’ve stuffed it to capacity with just your waders and awkwardly…
Outside magazine, October 1996 Classics: The Field Jacket By Donovan Webster In 1890, in the english seaport town of market place, south Shields, a craftsman named John Barbour began making specialized outerwear to protect local mariners from the wet and cold of the North…
Review, June 1997 Essentials: Lids that Fill the Bill By Dan Wildhirt Bell Image Pro Each year, helmets get safer, lighter, and more comfortable. This makes choosing one mostly a matter of style, and the current point of decision is visor…
Outside magazine, August 1995 Essentials: Protect That Shelter By Douglas Gantenbein The tent of your dreams won’t stay dreamy for long without regular maintenance. Some hints that should keep a backcountry roof over your head for years to come: Adhere to Setup Etiquett…
Sport and adventure are often yoked to deception, and the chronicle of outdoor accomplishment comes studded with tales of those who deployed the Big Lie.
1999 Family Vacation Guide, Unsung Heroes The right cameras to take on the road By Douglas Gantenbein Vacation means pictures. But it also means a decision: What kind of camera to schlepp along? 35mm? APS?…
Outside magazine, May 1996 Essential Gear: Foot Coverings Think of your footwear as helmets for your feet: If you do wind up in the water, ricocheting off boulders in the feet-first position, you’ll appreciate a little sole asylum. Despite the fact that the first sport…
Review: Hardware and Software, November 1996 Dynabee Hand and Arm Exerciser By Bob Howells A 4,000-pound nautilus machine will work the big muscle groups, but if it’s your forearms and hands you want to strengthen, there’s a piece of equipment that’s considerably more…
Outside magazine, April 1995 The Bags of Summer For the kind season, bedding with just enough less of everything By Douglas Gantenbein Be overprepared. That’s the Boy Scout hypermotto that many campers mistakenly live by when it comes to bedding down in…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Seaworthy Stuff Shield your camera from spray, your toes from rocks, your eyes from the sun By Robert Earle Howells WEATHERPROOF BAGS ————————— Whether the adversary is…
Summer 2000: A Gear Odyssey This year, at least, there wasn’t a tornado. A twister that struck before opening day became the biggest story out of last year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City. But this year, new gear made…
Outside magazine, June 1995 Essentials: Water-Loving Sunscreens By Bob Howells Before you pick a sunscreen off the local beach shop shelf consider its tenacity along with its potency. Unless the concoction is waterproof–or, if you go by the Food and Drug Administration’s more accurate…
Outside magazine, May 1995 Trekking: The Nature Ear By Mike Steere Like binoculars, Walker’s Nature Ear is a field tool that makes nature seem closer and clearer–albeit less natural. Listening in on coastal Alaska with one of these tiny amps stuck in your ear…
Outside magazine, October 1996 Simply Sophisticated Cameras Single-lens reflex cameras give photographers of all abilities the power to choose By Glenn Randall Verse of a Natural Beat Mountains and Rivers Without End, by Gary Snyder (Counterpoint, $20). In…
Review, June 1997 Extras: Rounding Out the Two-Wheeled Wardrobe By Dan Wildhirt Louis Garneau Ergofit Route gloves A few accessories selected in the name of comfort can make cycling much more pleasant. Rarely do I ride without Pearl Izumi’s Sleeveless Base…
Outside magazine, August 1995 Buying Right: The Latest in Wicking Duds By Michael Hodgson Technical summer wicking-wear comes in two flavors these days: form-fitting, for achieving sweat equity with your spandex-clad compadres, or loose and comfortable, for assimilating to the rest of society. With…
1999 Family Vacation Guide, The Itinerant Toddler All the right stuff for toddlers By Gretchen Reynolds As new parents soon learn, the defining achievement of toddlers is not walking, it’s willpower. If your little one…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 For Mega-Hauling, The Mini-Van Is Still Hard To Beat New this spring is Mercury’s Mountaineer The buzz in minivans for ’97 is the Chrysler Trifecta. Three years ago, the manufacturer scrapped its existing blueprints, whipped out a clean sheet of paper,…
Review: Hardware and Software, November 1996 Buying Right: Bombproof Duds for the Backcountry By Andrew Tilin Devoted backcountry skiers and snowboarders searching for new togs work from a different priority list than the rest of the downhilling populace. Features that add convenience…
Outside magazine, April 1995 Essentials: The Pads to Pack By Douglas Gantenbein It’s not all in the name: sleeping pads do smooth over the rocks and twigs, but they also insulate you from the cold ground. A roundup of pads that elevate your body…
Women Outside, Fall 1998 Crash Tested Hollywood’s most brazen stuntwomen demonstrate how to dress for the fall (and the car wreck … and the explosion … and the 20-story leap) Fashion by Vicky McGarry, Photographs by Andrew Eccles, Text by Sarah…
Winter Travel Guide 1996 The Always-Prepared Traveller By Bob Howells Pentax 8 x 24 UCF WR binoculars The stylish Pentax 8 x 24 UCF WR binoculars have rubber armoring and a sealed body to keep knocks, spray, and rain from sullying the…
Outside magazine, June 1995 Climbing: REI Spire and Sentinel By Douglas Gantenbein With the invention of the laminated-foam climbing harness, hanging after a fall or during repeated long rappels has become almost tolerable. Firm but conforming, foam greatly reduces the pinching and binding that…
Outside magazine, May 1995 Suspension Bikes for All Seven affordable off-road machines that make boinging a right, not a privilege By Alan Cote A mountain bike with front suspension isn’t what it used to be, and that’s worth three cheers. Just a…
Outside Magazine, October 1998 Review: Rain, Rain, Bring It On From backwoods anoraks to city slickers, the latest shells look good and repel even better By Andrew Tilin JACKETS | BUYING RIGHT |…
Review, June 1997 Buying Right: Roomy Packs for the Lower Back By Nancy Prichard Waltz into any reputable gear shop and announce that you’re looking for a fanny pack, and you’ll be politely corrected: They’re called lumbar packs, if you please. It’s…
Review: Hardware and Software, January 1997 PowderWings Lite Snowshoes By Rod Willard Modern snowshoes, with their lightweight frames, durable decking, and surefooted cleats, are a boon for winter athletes. But when it’s time to lash them to your pack, they’re every bit as…
1999 Family Vacation Guide, A Wheelie Good Time All the Right Stuff for Biking By Douglas Gantenbein This year, bicycle buyers will find more and superior features for the same or lower prices — goodies…
Dispatches, June 1998 History Camelot Exposed An intimate encounter with JFK’s base layer By Tizia Garden For all his virile athleticism, let it be said that John F. Kennedy was no icon of hard-core outdoor adventure. The man never…
Review: Hardware and Software, November 1996 Other Stuff: Cat Eye Stadium Light By Alan Coté Monday Night Football and a Monday night bike ride don’t have much in common except the same time slot–and now the same lighting system. The new…
Outside magazine, April 1995 Buying Right: A Stove for Every Fuel By Michael Lanza Your tried and true white-gas stove will reliably follow you many places, but across an ocean isn’t one of them: Outside North America, white gas is as rare as…
Women Outside, Fall 1998 Equipment The Girl-Gear Revolution State-of-the-art clothes and accoutrements that give unisex the boot. By Gretchen Reynolds and Cristina Opdahl GEAR | TRAVEL | FITNESS |…
Outside magazine, June 1995 Guide to Summer: Moral Superiority Wears Curve-Lasted Sneakers How to revel in those 95 degree, 70 percent humidity runs By Lynn Snowden Dawn must be breaking, since the only time a sane person runs in 95-degree heat and…