Gear
ArchiveOutside magazine, March 1997 Happier Trails to You Put in a few minutes of practice, get back hours of carefree mountain biking. Not a bad investment. By James Rodewald That Old Black Top Magic If…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Essential Gear: In-Line Skates What better way to work out the kinks of a road trip than by taking a spin on some black ice far from home? Here are some of the newest models on the market. The K2 Spinner…
Gear Up: All the right stuff for camping MED KITS | WATER FILTERS | TENTS | BAGS AND PADS | BACKPACKS | KIDS’ BOOTS | STOVES | …
Outside magazine, February 1996 Fine Print: Higher-Fat Energy Bars, Unwrapped By Andrew Tilin Claims of meal-replacement value and hours of hunger deterrent notwithstanding, the new generation of higher fat, lower carbohydrate energy bars–or nutrition bars, a term the makers…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Snowboarding Essentials From helmets to boards, performance and comfort are high on this year’s list By Sean O’Brien HELMETS AND HATS ———————— With in-the-trees riding the rage,…
Outside magazine, Travel Guide 1997-1998 Light-Tackle Fishing NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA Fishing with fly rod or light conventional tackle on the rivers and billabongs and seacoast off Darwin, Australia, is, in the lexicon of guides and other facilitators of sport, “A bastard of…
Outside magazine, August 1996 Review: Sport Utility Sneakers Running Shoes stable enough for trial, cushy enough for pavement By Andrew Tilin Attribute it to our increasingly paved-over world: Most trail runners’ internal odometers start spinning well before their knobby soles reach singletrack.
Outside magazine, January 1996 A Lung in Men’s Clothing By Todd Balf and Paul Kvinta (with Brooke DeNisco, Martin Forstenzer, and Eileen Hansen) Matt Carpenter pitched his usual psych job at his mountain-running rivals before last October’s Everest Skymarathon–he wears an air filter that…
Outside magazine, March 1995 Buying Right: Technical Day-Packs for Neophyte Climbers By Duane Raleigh Well, it seems the climbing bug has bitten you, and now you’ve got a growing pile of equipment and a yearning to get out on the rock. The question is,…
Outside magazine, July 1996 The Fine Art of Trail Java “Don’t skimp on great coffee in the place where you just may need it most,” demands Flagstaff river cook Blake Spalding. “Get the best beans and grind them just before your trip.” When it’s time…
Outside magazine, March 1996 Equipment: The CompuTrainer By Oliver Starr Preseason rites such as indoor training have led many a cyclist to consider February and March the cruelest of months. The monotony of spinning to the drone of rollers can make vacuuming the…
Outside’s Annual Travel Guide, 1999/2000 GEAR TO GO LIGHT…ACTION…CAMERAS! Sure shooters for gear abusers Rule number one about travel-friendly cameras: The camera that captures the most memories is the one that’s easiest to use and easiest…
Outside magazine, September 1996 In-Line Roll Controller By Glenn Randall Cities aren’t designed with in-line skaters in mind. Hills, traffic, and stairs–not to mention prohibition in some establishments–can make your roll about town a rigmarole of switches from skates to shoes and back…
Cycling Special, March 1997 The Real National Pastime A springtime guide to the latest gear, essential skills, and the countless ways Americans bond with their bikes It seems fitting that baseball and bicycling both click into gear this time of year. What could…
Outside magazine, January 1996 Snowboarding: Nitro Tour By Eric Blehm If there’s one thing guaranteed to blow a snowboarder’s good time, it’s a stretch of flat terrain. Snowboards can handle any steeps that skis can, but once gravity stops pulling, even the most advanced…
The Tenderfoot’s Almanac Gear: All the Right Stuff for Backpacking By Douglas Gantenbein Sleeping bags and pads When buying a sleeping bag, your main choice is whether to go with down or synthetic insulation. Down is generally warmer for its weight and…
Outside magazine, February 1996 Fly Fishing: Hooked on Fly Tying By Donovan Webster For truly hardened fly fishermen, winter is interminable. Confronted by streams stopped with ice and snow–and left to such pale diversions as scotch, skiing, and sled-dog races–it’s no wonder they seek…
Outside magazine, May 1996 Cooking: Everet-Fresh Bags By Michael Mcrae A pint of raspberries or a bunch of spinach–even if sealed in a plastic bag, chilled in a cooler, and shielded from physical abuse–will look pretty wan (or worse) ten days into a raft…
Outside magazine, Travel Guide 1997-1998 Gearing Up For the Backcountry By Sean O’Brien BORED? BOARD! | DETAILS, DETAILS | GEARING UP | ESSENTIAL GEAR The siren…
Outside magazine, August 1996 Watercraft: A Sailboat for Beginners By Dan Dickison Sailing’s nuances–the physics of wind and water, the web of lines, cleats, and sails, and yacht club etiquette–spell intimidation for the beginner. The Escape, an innovative sailboat from Sunfish Laser, helps the…
Outside magazine, January 1996 Intake: The Latest Hydration Helper By Dana Sullivan Staying hydrated during a long workout can lead the human athlete to believe that a couple of water-storing humps might be a superior evolutionary trait. Camel envy aside, a substance called glycerol–a…
Outside magazine, April 1996 Where to See It Through April 16 at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art September 1 to December 29 at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota January 1997 at the Museum of Canadian Art and Design in Toronto…
Outside magazine, September 1995 Equipment: The Ultratherm Massager By Steve Ilg Modern therapy for inflamed or sore muscles includes consecutive 15-minute sessions alternating between hot and cold applications, ideally done throughout the day. But filling this prescription, until recently, has meant nothing less awkward…
Outside magazine, March 1995 Beginning Climbing Equipment By Greg Child Like many proud mothers, mine saved the mementos of her son’s teenage years. She kept my report cards, my class photos, even my first collection of climbing gear. Vintage 1970, it’s a primitive rack…
A mile beneath the churning Atlantic lay the Central America and in its rotting hold a cache of wealth unimaginable: thousands of priceless gold coins, bags of gold dust, bars of solid gold. A fortune for the taking, as Tommy Thompson saw it. His taking.
Cycling Special, March 1997 The Best New Road Bikes By John Lehrer Could it be that road-bike manufacturers are finally catching on? After spending years bemoaning their ever-worsening sales figures, they’re now touting two bits of news that seem far from coincidental.
Winter Travel Guide 1996 The Well-Outfitted Snowboarder The Outfits With more than 400 companies offering everything a snowboarder needs to hit the slopes, it’s tough to choose. Here are some solid products we’ve discovered, along with tips on what to…
Family Vacations, Summer 1997 The Tenderfoot’s Almanac Tents and trails, guides and grub, and everything else you need to put one foot in front of the other by Peter Shelton Walk This Way Backpack…
Outside magazine, February 1996 Buying Right: Something Extra for the Road By Bob Howells Once you’ve got your travel bag, you’re just a few gizmotchies away from becoming a well-honed traveling machine. Start with something to hold your shampoo et al. in style.
Outside magazine, May 1996 Backpacking: McHale Inex By Mike Randolph An expedition backpack is the thing for hauling gear to and from base camp, but what about the day hikes you want to take from there? The big pack is overkill, and an extra…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Skiing Essentials Barriers against the chill and sticks to make you fly By Stuart Craig HATS AND HELMETS ———————— Skiing is the ultimate head game, and how…
Review, August 1997 Buying Right: The Maximum Surfer Surfing may seem the most minimalist of sports, but a few extras are worth considering, if only to ensure you do it safely — and stylishly. By John Stein Surfboard…
Outside magazine, February 1998 Review: Getting Your Feet Wet Scuba essentials to serve aquatic novices and deep-sea experts alike By John L. Stein SCUBA ESSENTIALS | BUYING RIGHT | THE OTHER…
Outside magazine, April 1996 Essentials: Boot Gear Basics By Douglas Gantenbein Leather, alone or combined with synthetic fabric, remains the best footwear material known–durable, breathable, and comfortable. But it absorbs water, and water dries leather out and leaves damaging salt and grit behind. So…
Outside magazine, October 1996 Equipage: Lead Us Not Into Titanium Grant Petersen, messiah to cycling Luddites, unveils his latest low-tech creation By Weston Kosova In May 1995, Grant Petersen scrawled three words in his diary: “Time to panic.” For six months,…
Outside magazine, March 1996 Prescriptions: Sniffing Out Nose Strips By Sara Corbett When a handful of NFL players started sporting adhesive strips across their noses a couple of years ago, it seemed like little more than a football-field fad. Today Breathe Right nasal…
Outside’s Annual Travel Guide, 1999/2000 GEAR TO GO PACK IT UP, MOVE IT OUT CONVERTIBLES There’s really just one reason to get a convertible—a bag that morphs from suitcase to backpack: to save your body on long-haul carries.
Cycling Special, March 1997 The Best New Mountain Bikes By Reid Flemming When it comes to buying a mountain bike, an old aphorism gets turned on its ear. He who hesitates gains. With innovation focused exclusively on the high end, last year’s…
Outside magazine, January 1998 Review The Other Stuff Leedom Limit Snowboard Helmet THE STREAMLINED HOME GYM | ESSENTIALS | THE OTHER STUFF | BOOKS Leedom…
Wet as You Wanna Be Gear: All the Right Stuff for Rafting By Steve Shimek Waterproof bags Everyone and everything gets totally drenched on any self-respecting whitewater trip. If you want to keep the snacks and the wallet dry, a waterproof bag…
Outside magazine, March 1998 Review: Bicycles Built for One Amid the infinity of selections, eight very particular breeds for very particular cyclists By Alan Coté BICYCLES BUILT FOR ONE | AND WHILE YOU’RE…
Outside magazine, May 1996 The $800 Ride of Your Life By Gordon Black As you move up from your entry-level mountain bike, your investment can bring tangible returns. The more money you spend, the lighter and more responsive the frame, the smoother and more…
Outside Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Trekking Gadgets Life on the trail just got a bit easier By Robert Earle Howells CLEAN UP ———— Bringing along your own sanitation department minimizes the risks…
Review, August 1997 Surf Tools Eight great ways to catch a summer wave By John Stein A Kayak That’s at Home on Any Surfer’s Turf Surf kayaking is the ugly stepsister of wave riding: How can you…
Dispatches, February 1998 ENTREPRENEURSHIP Finally, a No-Flip Lid Introducing the guaranteed-to-stay-put SpeedVisor By Shane Dubow Five years ago, Scott Oxman had a problem. He had fair skin, you see, and whenever he indulged his favorite outdoor passions, his baseball…
Outside magazine, April 1996 Camping: Guardian Plus Purifier By Glen Randall Sometimes you just need a water filter; sometimes you need a full-blown purification system. Now, SweetWater’s Guardian Plus lets you decide on the fly. The Guardian Plus comes in two parts: the Guardian…
Outside magazine, September 1995 Books: Our Just Deserts By Miles Harvey Our Just Deserts Blood Orchid: An Unnatural History of America, by Charles Bowden (Random House, $23). “We may be the real endangered species,” declares Bowden, the megavolt social critic and…
Outside magazine, May 1994 Buying Right: Road-Bike-Worthy Accessories By John Lehrer Don’t swing a leg over the top tube of your new road bike just yet–there are some accessories you shouldn’t be without. Browse the aisles of the shop while your bike gets…
Outside’s Annual Travel Guide, 1999/2000 GEAR TO GO GEARING UP FOR THE SLIPPERY SLOPE The state of the alpine art continues to bring once-exotic concepts to the fore: Witness short trick skis, racy boots and bindings, and smart…
Outside Magazine, November 1994 Telemark Skiing: The Mountain Noodle By Ted Dean Telemark skis have evolved from vermicelli-narrow to lasagna-broad, giving telly skiers access to the arena of powder and crud that used to sink skinny skis in their tracks. The downside: On wide…
Cycling Special, March 1997 The Best New City Bikes By Alan Coté You could use your mountain bike to ride to work, but then why take a local bus when you can hop the express? Frankly, a fat-tire machine just isn’t designed,…
Outside Magazine, November 1994 Buying Right: Alpine Extremity-Warmers By Bob Woodward Check in with any eight-person ski-school class: Two students’ extremities are warm and limber, those of two others are stiff with cold, and four pupils are wiggling their fingers and toes thanks to…
Give your barking dogs some luxe love with the new generation of super socks
With these intelligent devices, going digital is the fastest way to hotwire that great big analog world outside
My son loves his waterproof shell, my rickety knees love my hiking poles, my feet love my boots, and we eat well using our stove, all of which you've helped educate us about... Now what about tarps for two? We mostly do cool-weather camping along the AT, so bugs aren't too big a problem. Are there any moderately priced models that you recommend? One other question: Back in the Middle Ages, when tarps were called pup tents, we trenched them to stay dry in the rain. Is this still standard practice in these enlightened times? J.P. Raleigh, North Carolina
I pretty new to hiking and wondering about clothing. Is there a list of recommended clothing to take on a three-day hike up a mountain (e.g., Washington's Mount St. Helens or Mount Ads?). Mike Marysville, Washington
I'm a teacher looking for a 100-percent waterproof backpack to use while ferrying from lesson to lesson in Japan. It needs to have a capacity of up to 30 liters, be strong, and be completely waterproof to survive the downpours we get out here. I'm thinking about an Ortlieb Messenger-style bag, but do you have any other possible alternatives? Daniel Hiroshima, Japan
I need some advice about personal flotation devices for sea kayaking. Are they compatible with CelBak hydration systems? I'm also told that U.S.-certified PFDs may not be appropriate for Canadian use. How come, eh? Charles Montreal, Quebec
How do I know when it's time to change the filter in my PUR water filter? I haven't used it much but have had it for several years. Can they go bad or expire? Adrienne Moab, Utah
In January 2004, top female kayakers from all over the globe joined medical doctor and expedition leader Jessie Stone in Uganda, to form the world’s first all-woman White Nile expedition. But this team’s goal was unique: Not only did they plan to conquer the river’s gnarly whitewater, they also hoped…
I'm trekking to Everest Base Camp in October and want to buy a new camera for the trip, probably the Yashica T4 Zoom. As I can't find any advice on photography at high altitudes, would you recommend this camera or go with a digital? Thanks, Gear God. Adam Bethesda, Maryland
I'm planning to hike the Grand Canyon in June. Do I need a high-top hiking boot? I have very comfortable, worn-in low-tops but have read that high-top shoes are recommended. What do you think? Danielle Peoria, Illinois
I recently bought a Talus tent from The North Face for camping in the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Mountains this summer. Afterwards, though, it occurred to me that thunderstorms can be vicious in the region at that time of year. Will I be safe and dry in the Talus if a T-storm suddenly hits, or did I make a poor choice? Also, are aluminum tent poles dangerous if lightning strikes? Marshall McLean, Virginia
I really like canister stoves but concerned about the throwaway nature of the fuel containers. Other than the Coleman Xtreme stove, most seem to use canisters that are non-recyclable, including all the new ultralight stoves. Is any manufacturer currently working on the recycling issue? Jeff Shoreview, Minnesota
Last year I completed the 340-mile-long Trondheim-Oslo bike ride. I was in great shape but broke no less than four spokes on my fairly new Trek 1200 road bike. This left me concerned about weight and now I'm considering dropping the rear rack and rack-top bag in favor of a lighter hydration system like the CelBak M.U.L.E. I think I'll also switch to 28-millimeter tires to spare the rims, but is this worth the extra weight and drag? Jarle Bergen, Norway
I'm 42 years old and need to get back into regular exercise since a lower back problem curtailed my jogging career. I was thinking about biking the five miles to my workplace, as well as maybe some longer weekend rides over hard-dirt trails. What should I be riding, and with the back problem, should I sit more upright than hunched over? Mark Bethesda, Maryland
Does the sun protection in clothing deteriorate with washing? I referring to Columbia Sportswear's sun-shielding gear. Is there any information on how long it remains effective? Regina Boise, Idaho
My wife and I love snow-camping in the Teanaway in spring, and would like to reduce the bulk and weight of packing both a self-inflated and closed-cell mattress. I have heard about new, Primaloft-equipped products from the likes of Therm-a-Rest, Big Agnes, and InsulMat that insulate with Primaloft, and they all seem much lighter and less bulky. But would they do the job without also having to carry closed-cell foam? Scott Maple Valley, Washington
I plan on doing a sea-kayaking expedition, so in the market for a durable, easily compactable single- or two-person tent to take with me. Something that stashes away and sets up easily. Any ideas? Arthur Spartanburg, South Carolina
A lot of training guides I consult for my running and cycling training talk of heart-rate "zones." I have been looking at the wide range of heart-rate monitors and wondering if you could suggest one that's reasonably priced and good for running and cycling? Michael Providence, Rhode Island
Go fast and furious in the (1) TAG HEUER FORMULA 1 dive watch ($595; 866-260-0460, www.tagheuer.com). The (2) OAKLEY GMT watch ($650; 800-403-7449, www.oakley.com) has two dials—one for your present location, the other for where you’d rather be. The Swiss-made (3) ORIS XXL FULL…
Want to go from day tripper to trail ripper? Lose the weight, hit the throttle, and have a 21st-century blast.
I love the athletic look of soft shells and would love to buy one. The only problem is I've heard they're just that: shells, meant more for layering than for providing a single layer of protection. In your opinion, are there any soft shells that can provide both heavy-duty warmth and stand up to the rain and snow? I'll use this shell more for "getting around town" than I would for aerobic activities, so I want something that would keep me very warm in cold temperatures. Megan Spokane, Washington
My son and I went backpacking with our brand-new down sleeping bags over the weekend to help us get in shape for a longer trip this spring. It had rained for several days earlier, so things were pretty wet and humid. During the day we stuffed our down bags into plastic zip-type bags in case it rained more, but I guess the bags were a little dp from all the moisture in the air. Anyway, when we got home and unpacked, our bags stank of mildew. I can't imagine what they would smell like after ten-days on the trail. Is this common for down bags, and is there a way to prevent this? Kevin Omaha, Nebraska
We are going to climb Mount Whitney in preparation for a Mount Kilimanjaro bid next year. I'm five-foot-nine and 140 pounds, my husband's six-foot-five and 240 pounds. We're wondering if we'd be happier with internal- or external-fre backpacks, and what sizes we should be looking at. We were planning on going to REI and then I read your column and decided to ask you. Jan Federal Way, Washington
Gear Guy, I badly need your advice before I drop $200 on a new pair of boots for hiking Rainier's Wonderland Trail. Though the trip is in August, I will also use the boots throughout the spring/summer hiking season. I'm probably looking for something tailored to a low-volume foot, with or without Gore-Tex. Will Richmond, Missouri
I will be traveling through a number of countries next fall and every guidebook I've read suggests traveling with just one small, carry-on bag. What's a good bag, then? And any ideas on what kind of clothes to pack? All synthetic, or is cotton OK? Jake Surprise, Arizona