Everything
Westfalia: A breed of Volkswagen camper van prone to expensive repairs, yet beloved by those who own them and coveted by road-trip dreamers everywhere.
Dutch Oven: A large cast-iron pot and the campfire cooking vessel of choice for pioneers, cowboys, and river guides.
Pour-Over Coffee: A method of brewing coffee by passing near boiling water through grounds held in a paper filter.
Surfboard Fin: A structural element, usually made of wood or fiberglass, attached to the bottom of a surfboard to aid maneuverability.
Leatherman: A multitool invented by Tim Leatherman after wishing he had a pair of pliers while working on a rust-bucket Fiat with a pocket knife during a 1975 European road trip.
Hummer: The civilian version of the military’s Humvee off-road vehicle, which was produced by AM General from 1992 to 2006.
Jeep: A four-wheel-drive vehicle first produced for the U.S. Army during World War II.
Little Things: Those items that mark the difference between a miserable experience and a joyous one—pit zips on jackets being a prime example.
Fly rod: A skinny stick, usually 6 to 13 feet long, used in conjunction with a reel, a line, and hand-tied simulations of in-sects to catch fish.
Pulaski: A wildland-firefighting tool that combines an ax and an adze and is used to clear brush and small trees.
How a humble wooden fishing craft became the quintessential Grand Canyon ride
Jogging Stroller: A stroller that allows parents to run and, theoretically, get their toddlers to nap.
Lumbersexual: A fashion-conscious male urbanite whose clothing and accessories project an aura of rugged manliness.
Doug Tompkins: Businessman and crusading conservationist who cofounded the North Face and Esprit.
Jeremy Jones: A pioneering big-mountain snowboarder and snowboard designer.
Lifetime Warranty: A company’s promise to repair or replace an item that breaks.
Wetsuit: An insulating garment that allows individuals to spend more time in cold water.
Founders of the Recreational Equipment Co-op (REI), which the couple started in their West Seattle home in 1938 as a way to help climber friends gain access to cheaper ice axes and harnesses by ordering bulk gear from Europe.
A category of gear that came into being in the late 1960s as more and more skiers ventured beyond resort boundaries.
The surprising tendency for technical products and trends from the outdoor world to find their way into mass culture.
Polarization: A lens technology that cuts glare created when light reflects off materials like plastic and glass.
For some, an ultramarathon can be close to a religious experience. For all, it will undoubtedly be one of the most ridiculous things you can put your body through, as evidenced by our organ-by-organ breakdown.
Mountain House: Maker of 33 varieties of tasty freeze-dried meals packaged in polyester, aluminum, and nylon pouches.
Swiss Army Knife: The world’s first consumer multitool, designed by cutler Karl Elsener with two blades, a screwdriver, and a can opener.
Blimp-tired bicycles were developed for one of the most grueling endurance races in the world. But then everyone else realized how much fun they were.
Heart-Rate Monitor: A device that measures a wearer’s heart rate; particularly useful for monitoring exertion in athletes.
Hauling it far from home is a drag, but careful planning can ease your pain
USGS Topographical Map: A detailed representation of a landscape, created by the United States Geological Survey, and a rare example of something every bit as beautiful as it is useful.
The Perfect Size Wheel: An elusive and controversial hoop that allows mountain bikers the ability to optimize progress over rocky terrain.
From mountain biking to paddleboarding, your best friend can do it all with a bit of basic training
The world's leading design center for outdoor footwear—everything from featherweight climbing shoes to hard-shelled mountaineering stompers—is a small city in northern Italy where craftsmanship reigns.
Telescoping front forks and articulating rear frame triangles that absorb bumps and shocks.
A sturdy, purpose-made fishing boot that has become the gold standard of footwear in the 49th state.
The brand of zipper that is likely keeping your britches up at this very moment. Headquartered in Tokyo, 81-year-old YKK (short for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, which translates as Yoshida Company Limited) was founded by Tadao Yoshida, who started making custom zippers to take advantage of breaks and…
Gone are the days of rangers in fire lookout towers. Now, mountain-top cameras are being used to spot smoke and flames.
Two towns bonded over their Best Towns rivalry
Episode 3: Pro kayaker Steve Fisher has always dreamt of running the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. For a long time the descent was illegal, but not anymore. …
Through KEEN Footwear’s #LiveMonumental campaign
Military-strong material with smart features for any civilian
Researchers show health, visibility effects
