Having loaned my friend my old Sierra Designs tent, he returned it several months later without having adequately aired it out. The coating on the fly is now tacky and starting to pull away from the nylon. I called Sierra Designs to ask about a replacement, but they no longer carry replacements for the model I have. They did, though, offer to sell me a tent at half price in exchange for my existing tent. Should I go with their offer or have someone just repair the fly and waterproof coating? Eric Manhattan Beach, California

Week of October 30-November 5, 1997 Remote scuba-diving spots in Belize Reading up on Mount Kilimanjaro April hiking on Kauai’s coastal trails Organized road rides across America Canoe rentals for a Klamath adventure Canoe rentals for a Klamath adventure Question: I want an…

Week of November 14-20, 1996 Cozy vacation rentals in Europe Getting away from the beach in Manzanillo Exploring Chile’s Lake District on two wheels Whitewater adventures in New Zealand Fat-tire fun near Phoenix Cozy vacation rentals in Europe Question: My wife, two daughters,…

Week of November 9-16, 1995 Swiss vacations for serious hardbodies Pitcairn, the Pacific’s most remote island Eco-tours of the Galapagos Tahiti bareboat sailing Bicycle touring in Costa Rica Best bets for Midwest backpacking Tahiti bareboat sailing Q: I’m planning a bareboat sailing…

It's called the Cyclic Variations in Adaptive Conditioning machine, and it looks like a sci-fi egg from outer space. In theory it one-ups standard hypobaric chambers by giving users greater aerobic gains in a fraction of the time. Is CVAC crackpot pseudoscience? Or an important new discovery that could change the way you train?

I going to climb Mount Rainier and was curious if I should rent climbing boots or buy my own. What's your experience with rental boots? Ken Vernon Hills, Illinois

Books to upgrade your coffee table, featuring photography by NASA's Apollo astronauts, mountaineering legend Vittorio Sella, Glen Canyon chronicler Tad Nichols, and wildlife portraitist James Balog, along with Patagonia moments, Jane Goodall's chimps, and the world's most disgusting foods.

Island R&R: a sandy spit off the coast of Grenada Q: How can I book a windsurfing trip to Grenada? — Marilyn Adam, Redding, California Adventure Advisor: A: No need to book in advance; Grand Anse Beach is littered with dive shops that rent equipment by the hour. An…

Thousands of protestors are rallying against a shark-killing program following a spike in fatal attacks, but supporters include some surfers.

  The Silver Minnow, in repose We were barreling south on I-25 doing 70 when we felt it: a weird shuffling sensation in the tires. The truck hitched slightly to the right and began to decelerate. I looked over at Steve to see if he’d put his foot on…