Gear
Archive
Three entrepreneurs envision a future of shared outdoor equipment. And while the project is barely off the ground, their idea could change how we buy and sell gear.
One enterprising California artist is making custom-painted helmets, bike frames, and saddles for all.
Electronic suspension for mountain bikes might sound excessively complicated, but Magura’s wireless system is quick, light, and impressively simple.
See more of what you want, and less of what you don't, with these primo performance shades.
From a speedy dream piece to the most versatile road ride we’ve ever tested, this year’s best bikes meet the needs of every cyclist.
New running tech to help you score a personal best—or just make your jog more fun.
It's not easy building a home along Norway's outer coast. But the views are well worth the effort.
‘Tis the season for car camping and barbequing, which means grilled burgers, sunny days, and (hopefully) cold beer. But to keep your beverage of choice chilled, you’ll need a cooler that can withstand the heat. We reviewed four mini coolers—each 10 liters or smaller and each packed with a six-pack—to…
Athletes keep breaking records, but improved fitness is only part of the equation. So before we start congratulating ourselves, let’s take a look at the tech that’s made us faster—and the next records our gear will allow us to break.
Handmade goods are making a comeback. ETWAS Bags is a design project out of Brooklyn, NY, that makes leather bags by hand, the old fashioned way. Video by Lumineux Films and Madesmith. …
When it comes to rebuilding humans, we're kicking ass, and that's good news for injured athletes.
The avalanche of data generated by fitness tech has science zeroing in on some surprising performance recommendations.
Go ahead. Sit back, relax, and crack open a cold one.
Yes, 29ers can turn just fine. No, 26ers aren’t alive and well. Now would everyone please just pick your favorite bike, shut up, and ride?
Increasingly common roadside emergency bike services have you covered—sort of.
Here are six of our favorite vehicles (and add-ons) to help you find freedom on the open road.
What happens when you combine an Element skater, a Phantom Miro and a Movi? Amazing super-slow motion skating, of course. The latest from Reel Factory. …
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.
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.
Super-cushioned shoes are taking over. Take your pick of the latest designs.
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…
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…
An environmentally-friendly cabin perched above the water
Dreaming of screaming rapids, green barrels, or a calm harbor cruise? These are the boards for you.
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…
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,…
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.
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.
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 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…
The new XTR 9000 mountain bike component set adds 1x11 functionality, but the real story is even more choice and versatility.
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.
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.”
Timbertek's packable Baked Potato is a tough and tiny surfboard
