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Watches can be expensive; it’s hard to find a really high-quality watch for under a couple hundred bucks, but that’s not to say it can’t be done. You’ve just got to know what to look for – what is good and what isn’t. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with Skagen.
There’s nothing worse than trying to spend a night in the woods only to find your tent has a hole in it and it’s going to rain, or your pack has ripped at the seams, or your down jacket tore, and the fill is falling out everywhere.
A lot of people seem to think that European stuff is always nicer than American. We definitely don’t think that’s is always the case, but sometimes the quality, craftsmanship and elegant design that a piece of European gear has just stands out. Meindl boots certainly fit that bill.
Samsung and Apple might still dominate the smartphone world, but we’ve been seeing some good independent options popping up on the scene in recent years; the OnePlus 6T comes to mind. If, however, you’re not a fan of how big phones are getting, and desire something a little more conducive to fitting in your pocket, look at the FlexPai Developer Model, the world’s first folding smartphone.
If you haven’t yet upgraded from your regular camping utensils to an all-in-one spork or something similar, what are you waiting for? Having everything you need to eat in one tool saves a good amount of room and weight in your pack and can make your life on the trail just a little bit easier.
Every true coffee aficionado knows that burr grinders are practically a necessity when it comes to making good coffee. Cheap blade grinders simply don’t grind with the kind of precision and consistency that burr grinders do, and how finely they grind the coffee is determine solely by the length of time you let it run.
When we’re camping or backpacking, we’re usually looking for ways to cut down on weight, and the camping stove you choose is usually one of the first pieces you look at for shedding weight.
There’s really no lack of options out there for good smartphones, with the vast majority of us falling into one of two camps: team iPhone or team Android (though the Google Pixel is now picking up steam, too).
Bike pumps are essential tools, and ubiquitous. But with many of the cheaper ones out there, you can’t even tell if they are working half the time and getting your bike tires pumped up exactly the way you need them can be difficult, especially when you have to use finicky gauges to check tire pressure.
With winter right around the corner, it’s time to start gearing up for the real cold weather camping. And for many of us in colder climbs and higher elevations, it’s already upon us.
Carharrt is generally known for their ultra-tough workwear, but it appears they make some stylish bags and accessories too. For a prime example, look at the Carharrt Elements Duffel 2.0, which combines the best of a duffel bag with a traditional backpack design to make a functional, easy-to-use and versatile carry-on bag for all kinds of traveling.
It's been a long time since anyone used a Palm phone, but it looks like they are trying to get back in the game with a new, compact, smartphone designed to make you...use your phone even less.
The idea of good noise-cancelling headphones under $100 seems a bit far-fetched, and most pairs available for that little would probably be on the…lesser side of nice. But, thankfully for those of us on tight budgets, there really are a few good options out there.
Whether it’s when you’re camping out by the car or when the power goes out, a portable power station can be a lifesaver. Our choice for the best portable power station is the Goal Zero Yeti 400 , which we believe is the perfect choice for camping, with enough power to keep all your devices (phones, laptops, tablets) charged up and any essential lanterns powered, any time you need.
In our eternal quest for the perfect shot of espresso, we’ve tried virtually machine, cup and blend of beans we could get our hands on, so we think it’s fair to say we know a good bit about what makes a coffee machine worth buying and what makes a good cup.
Trail running is a serious sport, and one that requires gear and skill all of its own. Take it high up into alpine territory, and that becomes truer than ever. Regular trail running shoes won’t deliver the traction, flexibility or coverage that those high-altitude conditions demand, and any trail runner heading to those high elevations will soon find themselves reaching for dedicate shoes that can handle the rugged terrain and moisture they’ll be sure to find up there. Our pick? The Salomon S-Lab XA Alpine.
a Flieger watch is a German pilot’s watch, created originally in 1941 for the German Luftwaffe. Flieger literally means “flyer” in German, so it’s essentially the same as calling it a pilot’s watch; you might also see them referred to as Beobachtungs-Uhren, referring to the unit where they originated.
The important of keeping your knives sharp should go without saying. Whether it’s your fancy chef’s knife or your favorite pocket knife, a sharp, properly-honed blade will cut faster, more precisely and with much less effort, and will also be a heck of a lot safer to use; you’re far more likely to cut yourself with a dull or jagged blade that snags and tears than a razor-sharp one.
While we generally prefer getting our exercise outside, there is sometimes something to be said for a having a nice treadmill around. Say, when it’s the dead of winter, ice blankets the ground and you have no desire to step outside for a run. Yeah, no way.
Have you ever wanted to bike on water? The idea has likely never crossed your mind, just like it never actually crossed ours…but it apparently has to somebody: the folks behind the Manta5, the world’s first hydrofoil bike.
Zeiss is undoubtedly one of the legends of camera and lensmakers, so when they announce something, it’s sure to grab every camera junkie’s eye. Their latest unveiling? The Zeiss ZX1, a mirrorless digital camera with 35mm FOV and built-in Lightroom.
IHOP grabbed our all attention a few months back when they announced they were rebranding at IHOB – the International House of Burgers. It turned out to be nothing more than a gimmick creating hype for their new burger menu – but it does appear that IHOP is still creating all the same, as they’ve just released a new beer, which they predictably bill as IHOPS.
The Exped Megamat was an instant hit for a sleeping pad, thanks to its wide, flat design that made sleeping in your tent a much more luxurious, comfortable experience than people are generally used to. The Megamat Duo builds off that success, this time as a double wide mat designed to fill the entire width of a 2-person tent and provide enough sleeping space for two.
Now that you’ve equipped yourself with the best kayak (or packraft) you could afford, it’s time to start looking at a kayak anchor to go with it. If the thought of need an anchor for your kayak never crossed your mind, you are probably not alone; it’s not something you’ll need for every voyage you attempt – especially not day trips. But when you want to be able to “idle” in one place (think kayak fishing) in your kayak or raft or will find yourself frequently getting out of the boat and don’t want to pull it out everytime (think overnight trips), a good anchor will be an essential part of your trip. Here are our picks for the best kayak anchors of 2018.