Gear
ArchiveOutside magazine, April 1996 Buying Right: Satellite Navigation for Civilian Budgets By Jerry Gibbs Even when your hiking trips don’t call for serious orienteering, it can be comforting to have a guide with area-specific savvy. But then, a handheld global positioning system (GPS)…
Outside magazine, December 1995 Stocking Stuffers By Amy Goldwasser and Andrew Tilin Grivel G10 Finally, a crampon that won’t complicate your climb. The Grivel G10 is as friendly to gloved fingers as they get. Fully adjustable without tools, the ten-point G10 attaches…
Outside magazine, September 1996 Accessories: Mental Training Wheels Michael Kessler Too busy or too shy to narrate your own visualization tape? Try a prerecorded version from the Monroe Institute in Faber, Virginia. The nonprofit company offers nine Fitness and Sports tapes ($13, 800-541-2488) that…
Outside magazine, June 1994 Technology: It’s a Bike and You Row It. RowBike. Get it? By Laura Billings “You can see the countryside on a regular bike, but you can’t get a total-body workout,” shouts inventor Scott Olson, 35, as he loads…
Outside Magazine, November 1994 The Shape of Ski Gear to Come High-performance skis, boots, and bindings that set a new precedent By Seth Masia Skiers seem to buy their gear in some sort of time warp. Consider what can happen in five…
Gear Up: All the right stuff for tots To learn what it’s like to travel with a toddler, try fiddling first with a time bomb. It’s thrilling. Then…boom! “Will.” “Won’t.” “Yes.” “No.” “Take me!” “Go away!”…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Plug In and Turn On Electronics that will add some serious voltage to your summer vacation By Lisa Twyman Bessone You’ve packed the sportsgear. Sunscreen and bug goo? Check. So what’s missing? Well, cameras that capture those…
Camp Outs, Family Vacations 1998 Backpacks To Grow On By Jonathan Hanson 1. Little hikers from three to six can walk farther if they feel they’re part of the team. Give them an L.L. Bear rucksack…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Staying Safe: Eye Protection Fat-tire trails teem with pebbles, dirt, and low-hanging tree branches-all of which can wind up in your eyes. Invest in a good pair of sport sunglasses to protect you and yours from these trail hazards, and specify…
Destinations, May 1997 The Truth About Hats and Togs Where to get great deals on misnamed chapeaux By Bob Payne Keep this one under your hat: panama hats aren’t made in Panama. They acquired that name because most are exported…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Buying Right: Saltwater Fly-Fishing Tackle By Donovan Webster As I gear up for prime saltwater fly-fishing season–when tarpon begin rustling from murky depths and migrate inland, making themselves all too available–I’m reminded of my grandfather. He was among…
Outside magazine, August 2000 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 NEXT STOP, MURDER LAKE Beating…
Outside magazine, September 1994 Paddling: NE14 Kayaks? By Todd Balf (with Martin Dugard and John Alderman) The Bankoh Kayak Challenge, the 32-mile open-water paddle from Molokai to Oahu, can’t be called a kayak race. Of the 81 entrants last May, all but four chose surf skis,…
Review, April 1997 Solo Shelters: Tents for the Compulsive Weight-Watcher By Doug Gantenbein Despite its dramaturgic lonely-guy feel, there are a few advantages to camping solo. First, you don’t have to bathe as often. And you can travel much more lightly; solo…
Outside magazine, July 1996 Extras: Battery of Choices Michael Kessler Disposable or rechargeable, no battery is particularly nurturing to the environment. For stereos and shortwave radios, you’ll need typical cylindrical cells. Disposable alkalines are most cost efficient, and since they no longer contain hazardous…
Outside magazine, October 1996 Simply Sophisticated Cameras Single-lens reflex cameras give photograhers of all abilities the power to choose By Glenn Randall In this age of drive-thru espresso stands and the world news minute on local TV, it’s no surprise that…
Outside magazine, November 1995 Skis That Take a Turn for the Better Between hourglass, fat, and all-mountain boards, there’s an easy way down every run By Glenn Randall I’m not sure whether you can peg it to a dip on the growth…
Outside magazine, June 1999 THE OTHER STUFF Garmin NavTalk From all-in-one survival tools to in-line skates that turn into around-town boots, combination devices are the over-burdened outdoorsman’s newest friend. One of the most clever…
Outside magazine, Travel Guide 1997-1998 Sea Kayaking LONG CAYE, BELIZE There’s a certain queasy feeling that comes from bobbing up and down in three-foot swells while ensconced in a slightly wobbly sea kayak. It’s not quite seasickness, but it’s close enough to…
Camp Outs, Family Vacations 1998 These Boots Were Made For Mileage By Jonathan Hanson CAMP OUTS Happy Trails From an all-day jaunt to a weeklong…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Essential Gear: Dry Bags There’s nothing quite like shimmying into your sleeping bag after a hard day of paddling, only to find (yech!) that it’s damp. Whether the vessel is a raft, canoe, or kayak, whatever you pack-clothes, cameras, food, tent…
Outside magazine, July 1994 Buying Right: No-Hands Hydrators By John Lehrer Drinking plenty of fluids during prolonged exercise is essential to performance and safety, but toting a sufficient supply can be inconvenient: Scout canteens or a couple of water bottles just don’t carry well on an…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Essentials: Piscine Temptations By Donovan Webster Ah, the allure of saltwater fly-fishing: Whether you’re hitting a reedy inland tide pool or throwing shooting taper lines into the deep blue, you can cast all day without a bite, content…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Travel Clothes Pack only fabrics that wick, dry fast, and refuse to wrinkle By Robert Earle Howells SHIRTS ——— Three great and distinct achievements in polyester coolness:…
Outside magazine, December 1995 Boots That Fight Cool-Guy Conformity A new pair of Sorels is for clomping and surviving and kicking stupid people, says our man from Minnesota By Garrison Keillor In my youth in Minnesota, it was definitely not cool to…
Camping Special, April 1997 The Right Duff Are you sure you know what it takes to pick the perfect campsite? By Brad Wetzler In Plato’s realm of ideals, you’d find the perfect campsite floating in the ether, next to a…
Outside magazine, July 1996 Pack Up, Head Out, Zoom In Camcorders, CD players, even boom boxes built for the wilds By Andrew Tilin Forgive me, o Thoreau, Abbey, fellow hikers and campers, for I have navigated the wilderness with Walkman and camcorder…
Outside magazine, October 1996 Technology: Advanced Photo System By Glenn Randall If you want to avoid the mystery in the trip to pick up your prints, consider a completely new photographic format: the Advanced Photo System. Developed by the Big Five–Canon, Fuji, Kodak,…
Outside magazine, March 1996 Buying Right: Pavement Protection By Andrew Tilin The potential for skin to mix with pavement when you’re skating is worth a few ounces of prevention. And nowadays, we really are talking ounces: Wrist guards no longer…
Outside magazine, January 1996 Buying Right: Winter-Wise Boots By Glenn Randall Insulated hiking boots are more expensive than rubber-bottomed, felt-lined pac boots, and they’re not quite as warm. But pac boots aren’t made for walking; for anything a step more vigorous than ice fishing…
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…