The Enduring Appeal of the Dirtbag Mullet
The controversial hairstyle has inspired everyone from cyclists to climbers.
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Stories Outside Readers Love
Stories Outside Readers Love
Latest
I’ve Tested Winter Gear for Years—These 5 Under-$20 Items Are Essential
You don't have to be a masochist to enjoy the backcountry in January. These five expert-vetted accessories cost under $20 but make a massive difference in staying warm and dry.
The Gear I Loved to Use (and Abuse) in 2025
Our articles editor was busier than ever in 2025, so his outdoor adventures were short and demanding. He relied on robust gear that could withstand hard days on the road, trail, and slope.
How to Modify 6 Common Exercises If You Have Knee Pain
Reduce discomfort with these physical therapist-approved tweaks.
Sponsored Content
Apply Now for the Ultimate Mountain Athlete Competition
Think you have what it takes to be the next Ultimate Mountain Athlete? Here's how to apply for a chance to compete for $20,000.
Erica Fox Spent Decades Swimming in Pacific Ocean Before She Disappeared
The triathlete went missing while swimming off the coast of California during her weekly swim club meeting. Eyewitnesses report having seen shark splashes in the water shortly before her disappearance.
Lindsey Vonn’s Comeback Is Rocketing Toward a Hollywood Ending
The stars are aligning for Vonn’s comeback to resemble the plot of a sports movie, writes our articles editor. After her World Cup success, the 41-year-old has her sights on the Cortina Olympics.
Yellowstone’s Most Active Pool Just Erupted in a Violent Blast. Scientists Filmed It.
Several other eruptions have occurred in the past weeks, but all went unseen. Serendipitous timing, however, allowed scientists to record the December 20 ejection from Black Diamond Pool. The area violently exploded in 2024, destroying park infrastructure. It’s been erupting ever since.
A Blizzard Killed Five Hikers in Patagonia. I Tried to Save Them.
In November, a blizzard with hurricane-force winds struck a popular hiking route in one of Chile’s most visited tourist destinations. Five people died. David Zonshayn, an emergency physician from New York, was on the trail when it happened. Here is his story.
We Tested 150+ Pieces of Gear in the Outside Lab This Year—Here Are Our 5 Biggest Surprises
After testing 150+ products under a metaphorical microscope, our lab test editor found that industry standards don't always match the real world.
Betty Reid Soskin Dies at 104. Here’s How the National Park Service Said Goodbye to an Icon.
At an age when most people are in retirement, the civil rights activist returned to work at 85 to serve as a park ranger in California. For the following 15 years, she continued in the service of public lands, giving historical talks and tours.
Long Reads
200 Degrees and Sweaty Strangers. Welcome to Sauna Fest.
A brutally honest account of the festival that left me roasted, relaxed, and weirdly optimistic
Adventure
Are Generative AI Wildlife Videos Art or Slop? We Went Looking for Answers.
You're not crazy—the critters on Instagram are wilder than ever, thanks to artificial intelligence-generated video. Our articles editor takes a deep dive into the technology, culture, and ethics around this new footage.
Health
Does the 12-3-30 Walking Workout Really Beat Running? Experts Explain.
The viral 12-3-20 walking workout is low-impact and perfect for people short on time. But can it replace regular cardio routines? A physical therapist and sports doctor weigh in.
Travel
The Hottest Trend This Year? Floating Saunas Popping Up Everywhere.
From New York to Minnesota to California, Nordic-style public floating saunas are popping up everywhere—and they’re just what your winter needs.
Editors’ Picks
Culture
I’m a Lifty at a Big-Name Ski Resort. This Is Everything You've Ever Wondered About My Job.
Is being a lifty as fun as it sounds? Yes—and no. A full-timer shares the truth.
Gear
This Affordable Watch Has Everything a Runner Wants and Nothing More
If pounding pavement is your main hobby, your search for the best sports watch is over.
Editors’ Picks
- We Tested Dozens of Long-Sleeve Running Shirts in Freezing Temps. These 5 Kept Us Warmest.
- After Testing the Therabody JetBoots Pro Plus for More Than a Year, I Discovered a Surprising Benefit
- 5 Game-Changing Gear Picks for Year-Round Tailgating
- We Tested 800+ Items for the Winter Gear Guide. Only These 21 Earned Our Distinguished Editors' Choice Award.
Listen
How To Walk Through—And Away From—A Digital World, with Craig Mod
The most influential digital designer you've never heard of found an anecdote to the noise on Japan's ancient walking routes
I Woke Up with an Allergy to Cold
I Woke Up with an Allergy to Cold
People develop sensitivities to just about everything these days, but can you really be allergic to frigid temperatures? Our writer takes us on a wild—and potentially life threatening—journey to find out.
A month before my 30th birthday, I start getting hives whenever I’m in the water. And during that summer, I am always in water. My boyfriend, Matt, and I are taking a big road trip, from the coast of Rhode Island all the way up to the Bonaventure River in Quebec. He is a fly-fisherman, and I want to learn. But each time I stand knee-deep in the water, my feet begin to itch. The hives form in a line up a vein in my foot. It’s confusing, not to mention alarming. I get out of the water and say, “But it can’t be the water. It has to be something in the water, right?”
We’ve been saying this ever since we left Rhode Island, where we were certain it was caused by something strange in the ocean. Maybe it’s the salt, Matt said. Maybe it’s the sunscreen, I said. And we agreed that it was probably the sunscreen. The ocean is the source of all life, an organic and beautiful thing, and the sunscreen was the cheapest one at CVS. Maybe this is why my mother always bought the good stuff. So I bought the good stuff, we drove north, and yet the hives continued.
“Are you sure you’re not allergic to anything?” Matt asks, looking at my arms and my stomach with horror. The hives cover every inch of my skin, make me appear covered in bubble wrap.
“No,” I say. “I just had an allergy test.”
Earlier that summer, a nurse injected me with pollen, cat dandruff, cockroach dust, three times over, in increasing quantities. My body accepted the cockroach dust without question. I was strangely disappointed, if only because it seemed right that a body should reject something like that.
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