Tools & Tech

Archive

Even the highest-quality gear needs maintenance. We’ve gathered a handful of trusted repair tools that have been in our kits for multiple seasons and have extended the lives of our favorite pieces of equipment and apparel.

All that time in the sun and wind takes its toll. Be prepared with these moisturizers.

Does the new Yeti V Series cooler stand up to the tried-and-true Tundra line?

'Solar Detroit,' from production company Duct Tape Then Beer, highlights the impact a few solar panels can have on a neighborhood

Because an organized road-tripper is a happy road-tripper

From beers on the river to a family picnic, the Compass has you covered

Sponsor Content: Olympus

Great dark-sky images require a simple formula: patience, the right location, and the appropriate gear

Learn how to degerm your plastic, rubber, or microfiber mat

Our favorite tools for making quick and healthy food

Nothing says "I love you" like getting someone a gift they'll use again and again

You don't have to spend a lot to show someone you care

The pieces we kept coming back to

And everything you need to know before driving over that snowy pass

You’re one good drink away from becoming a bona fide mixologist…

Through January 31, save big on travel gear during Backcountry’s Winter Sale. Here are our favorites.

Six testers ran, climbed, hiked, and played outside with 17 different deodorants. Here's what didn't stink.

The technology hasn't gotten anywhere close to the early hype—and I'm fine with that

Like an old friend, this stick of personal lubricant is always there when you need it, through the good times and the really awkward ones

This week is the best time of year for online gear shopping.

Cyber Week has begun. Here’s our favorite gear that won’t break the bank.

A steak so good it will blow your mind how easy it is to make if you have a good grill. Wes Siler walks us through his secret method.

Sponsor Content: Breitling

The Swiss watchmaker and Outerknown, Slater’s lifestyle apparel brand, teamed up to create a sustainable twist on Breitling’s most iconic dive watch

From hair ties to hydration bladders, women share their top pregnancy hacks

Fight Turkey Day couch lock with these secret weapons

He put four standouts through the ringer to see how they stacked up

Catch a big one in any kind of water

Robert Young Pelton's latest folder is his magnum opus

We drove to Mexico and filled our thermoses with margaritas (for gear testing)

Say goodbye to your fitness tracker. Now your workout gear can deliver your stats.

The ability to fix your gear outdoors is as important as the gear you choose to use in the first place

Sponsor Content: Olympus

As with baking or cocktails, pictures are almost always better when you follow a proven recipe

Sponsor Content

Introducing Breitling's sustainable, do-it-all watch

Sponsor Content: Breitling

The iconic Swiss watchmaker teamed up with eco-conscious lifestyle apparel brand Outerknown to create a sustainable, do-it-all watch

Sponsor Content: adidas TERREX

It may sound counterintuitive, but social media might just be the key to more time spent outside with friends

Getting ready for next summer starts now

From green trucks and biodegradable garments to thinner and warmer wetsuits and on-demand insurance for athletes

These items will keep you safe and having fun in the Valley

Rated for arctic conditions, here’s how it holds up in frigid work environs

Everything you need to host a hungry crew at the end of the day

Bring home the bacon. Or venison or turkey.

Whatever your adventure, here’s the gear to get you on your way

Keep footing firm on dicey surfaces

Technical pieces that breathe new life into old materials

Train naked. Or wear a panda suit if you want—it’s your house!

Smart devices that track everything you do

Soothing helpers for all your winter ailments

The new Maven S.2 isn't much heavier than a pair of binoculars so you can take more magnification into the backcountry

Gear editor Jeremy Rellosa talks us through his two-week test of blue-light-filtering glasses

The Blumenthal Force Grill will convert even the most diehard charcoal purists

Sponsor Content: adidas TERREX

From route planning to stargazing, here’s how to transform your phone into a more functional piece of gear

A sharp knife is a safe knife and a useful knife. But as you use your blade, it will grow dull

The new iPhone is an even better camera for people who want to adventure outside

The company took an overlooked piece of gear and made it significantly more useful

Take care of your blade, and your blade will take care of you

Getting the most out of your beloved Apple gadget doesn't have to be costly. Upgrade your devices with these affordable tools.

There’s a lot of back-to-school promotions going on right now—and that doesn’t mean you have to be a student to take advantage of sweet, discounted gear. Here are our favorites.

The LQ139 has everything I need and nothing I don't

NASA picked the Omega Speedmaster for the Apollo missions. It can surely handle your weekend adventures.

Better products may come at a higher price, but their value will serve you on many occasions, in some cases decades

The best ones hit all the notes of lightweight, portability, and (relative) durability

Grab our favorite award-winning summer gear—now at steep discounts…

Versatility that plays nice in small spaces

Wes Siler learns how to take better photos of wildlife without approaching too closely

One company thinks it can solve the global algae crisis by making sneakers from sludge

A pen should be a part of your everyday carry kit. Here are six we love.

Timepiece connoisseurs disdain these battery-powered tools, but that doesn't mean you should