Gear
Archive
An environmentally-friendly cabin perched above the water
You read the reviews. Now get to know the folks who took on the tough job of testing and compiling all those bikes, cameras and shoes.
Take a look behind the scenes of the 2014 Outside bike test. This year, Aaron Gulley and company tested over 60 different bikes in Tucson, AZ. To find out which bikes topped the list, check out the 2014 Summer Buyer’s Guide. Video by…
Super-cushioned shoes are taking over. Take your pick of the latest designs.
Dreaming of screaming rapids, green barrels, or a calm harbor cruise? These are the boards for you.
Manufacturers are hard at work making your helmet safer and smarter. Here's what to expect from the next generation.
With the launch of Strava Metro, the Bay Area-based online fitness company hopes to become an advocate for its users.
It’s tough to tell how trustworthy a piece of gear is going to be when you first buy it. In fact, the only way to actually test your equipment’s longevity is to, well, test it. Thoroughly. So instead of having you, dear reader, put your gear through the ringer in…
Alex Honnold and Cedar Wright load up the Goal Zero van with panels, power packs and lights and hit the road. This project was part of a larger ongoing operation run by Elephant Energy, known as Eagle Energy to the Navajo. They are a non-profit dedicated to resolving the energy…
The Ride on Chicago is at once political and apolitical: advocating for empathy on the road and a less fraught cyclist-society relationship. Just don't call any of the riders cyclists.
Forget about rubbing two sticks together. Without matches, your only hope of getting a fire started in the wild is to take advantage of other tools at your disposal. Mykel Hawke—a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and founder of survival school Spec Ops—recommends two easy,…
Designed for trail runners and endurance racers, the mid-size Rev 12 is almost perfect.
The $3.75-million settlement means the number of minimalist options on the market will continue to shrink—leaving runners in worse shape.
Don’t call it the SL5. The company says its new top-end race bike is neither lighter nor stiffer than its predecessor—it’s just better.
The short answer is no. You’ve heard the adage “cotton kills,” right? While that saying is overused (the fabric is quite comfortable in certain situations), the fact is cotton retains moisture and doesn’t dry quickly—making it dangerous in cold situations. And any garment that contains cotton has that problem. “The…
While its athletic footwear may not be what revolutionizes the performance-shoe industry, Skechers’ contracts could certainly change the way the game is played.
To help Mom relax, recharge, and get ready for whatever’s next, whether it’s your bucket-list trek—or hers.
The Tour of Italy starts Friday. Here’s who to watch—and why to tune in at all.
Cycling’s most infamous rider has been looking for work lately. We caught up with him at his latest bike-shop gig to hear a few pointers about what to do when you break down. Read the full story here. …
After an Ontario motorist struck and killed a teenage boy, the family sued her. But the driver sued right back, claiming her hardship was as bad as theirs. We’re left wondering: who's to blame?
A wilderness retreat overlooking one of the largest lakes in the country
Would your mother or wife prefer to be climbing, boating, or running rather than brunching this Sunday? If the answer is yes, read on.
Yes, I write about gear for a living, I have access to the most sophisticated toys and tools in the outdoor world, and I’m constantly geeking out over tech details. But I’m keenly aware of the fact that the gear does not make the athlete. I was a much better…
Yes, the devices can be valuable training aids when properly employed, but they’re hardly the essential tools some athletes make them out to be.
Blame the late introduction of the Under Armour suits, plus other crucial mistakes
From ultrathin condoms to high-tech women's skis, the world's strongest and lightest material has almost limitless possibilities. But the real breakthroughs so far have come in the world of sports.
The so-called father of the long-travel 29er is still quietly building one of the most capable five-inch trail bikes out there.
The present, future, and far-out prospects of wearable technology.
From the coolest kayak we’ve ever seen to a super grippy water shoe, this is the gear you need for those quiet days on the river.
To answer this question, I turned to our Summer Buyer’s Guide jacket tester Ryan Stuart. He lives and recreates on Vancouver Island (where they measure rainfall in feet every spring), and he spends about 70 days a year in the wet testing the newest rain jackets for Outside. Before buying…
From terminator-style cycling shades to earphones that track your every move, wearable technology promises to change the way we train. But I had to ask, is it wearable?
The new XTR 9000 mountain bike component set adds 1x11 functionality, but the real story is even more choice and versatility.
Timbertek's packable Baked Potato is a tough and tiny surfboard
I’m not the type of person who becomes deeply attached to my belongings. But when I sold my things and moved into my Honda Element, the rig naturally grew on me. After all, it was home. Fast forward years later with many adventures and shenanigans in between, the “Toaster" was eventually totaled out with beyond-needed repairs. It was time to bid farewell. These are a collection of images that memorialize my time on the road in the “Toaster.”
All your technology—from GoPro to GPS—is useless in the backcountry once the batteries die. And that’s when these six sun-powered chargers come into play.
Craft beer and outdoor pursuits complement each other perfectly. But just as we battle the elements to summit a mountain, we also battle the elements to keep good beer cold when we take it outside. So while sun and warm weather are great reasons to crack open a cold…
With the launch of the Salsa Bucksaw, the question shifts from whether fat bikes need full suspension to what’s a four-inch fattie capable of?
Despite their ubiquity, fitness trackers have yet to earn their place in the professional ranks—or deserve a spot on your wrist.
Run with 36,000 strangers, and someone else will probably have on the same outfit—or at least the same shoes.
The most wholesome flip-flops in the world?
Cotopaxi isn’t the first outdoor company built around philanthropy, but the two-week-old water bottle and backpack manufacturer is the most exciting to watch right now. Cotopaxi’s founder, Davis Smith, has a vision to change the world through business. And thanks to a brilliant marketing launch, a direct-to-consumer…
Google Glass and World Wildlife Fund team up to save the rhino
A medium-fast fly rod that's affordable and good looking
This isn’t just an excellent garage-organization tool. It’s the ultimate race bag.
A do-it-all midlayer for women that blends wool and synthetic fabrics
A high-value—but heavy—trail-oriented 27.5er from Colorado’s Front Range
The chemistry-led quest to create the world’s best super chalk blends for climbers and weight lifters
Yes, sun hats are one of the most effective ways to prevent skin cancer. But did you know they can also keep the heat from zapping your energy? During my decade as a raft guide, I found I was much more energetic at the end of the day when I…
Who needs interchangeable lenses when one pair of glasses can do it all?
A new era of super-fast charging is on the horizon, and that could mean outdoor tech that lasts longer and goes farther.
First, you should start by thinking about this question in a different way. It’s not about breaking in the boot to fit your foot, but breaking in your foot to fit the boot. If that sounds painful and a bit mystical, don’t worry. There are some easy steps you can…
This new seat post provides the comfort of an endurance road bike without all the cost.
Five companies are making some of the finest handcrafted goods in the country right next to each other in the southwest corner of Colorado.
Ten lightweight, inexpensive products to keep you clean and happy on the trail
