375 Posts
Every outdoorsman needs a trusty blade – whether that means a simple pocketknife just to begin or a full-fledged outdoor axe that can fell trees (with a bit of work).
Headlamps and handheld flashlights are great when on the trail, but around the campsite? You want something bigger, brighter and with a hook to hang it from.
We were impressed when Walmart rolled out a carbon fiber bike for under $500 (even if the build quality is a little questionable). But now we’re really impressed, because they’re just revealed a new high-end bike line with models ranging from $2,300 to $6,000, and they're calling it Viathon. Oh boy.
It’s not that there aren’t “any good water filters” out there, it’s just that many are difficult and time consuming to use. We really like Sawyer’s Squeeze, as well as the LifeStraw and even the Grayl. But the Outdoor Answer? That was new to us.
Sort of. Knowing proper first aid is an essential outdoor skill. You need to be able clean and dress wounds and other injuries when medical attention can’t get to you, and in some cases, that could even require giving yourself stitches. A chore, which, to put it mildly, absolutely sucks. ZipStitch can make it easier.
The dawn of spring and the promise of an upcoming summer mean we’re dusting off some of the gear getting back out there. They also mean it’s time to upgrade some old pieces of gear to improve the kit for the upcoming season.
IceCo calls their new iFreezer the “Future Car Cooler.” It’s not the first smart cooler out there, but if you can afford the hefty asking price, is one of the “coolest”.
Last year, Ohio-based Allite announced what could be the next big thing in bikes: Super Magnesium, the alloy that’s 33% lighter than aluminum and as strong as carbon fiber. With bikemakers always seeking to make their frames lighter without compromising strength, a material with those properties could be a winning recipe.
Backpackers and campers seeking a lightweight, compact, portable grill have their pick of a number of options, from disposable bamboo grills to more conventional choices. But few are quite as ingenious and portable as BISON GEARS’ Rolling Grill.
Bikes that can convert from one use to another, already exist. But few do it as nimbly and easily as the Canyon Strive – which requires nothing more than the flick of a lever to let you instantly convert it from a 150mm downhill dweller to a 135mm XC racer.
Just because the mercury has dropped below comfort levels doesn’t mean you have an excuse to stay inside where things are warm and cozy. No – a little cold weather isn’t enough to stop you from getting out on your bike and chewing up some concrete, or even hitting up the trails.
When it comes to thru-hiking, the Appalachian Trail gets all the love – as does the Pacific Crest Trail. But not everybody has the means or desire to spend 5-6 months on the trail, leading many people to simply hike sections of it. But people who only stick to these well-trodden trails often miss out on some of the best hiking trails in the country – like Vermont’s Long Trail.
There isn’t much that can be done to improve upon the classic sleeping bag; sure, some new wonder material will come in the next few years to shrink the bag down in both size and weight while simultaneously upping insulating power, the classic cocoon-style bag will likely remain the same.
Winter is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to hit the slopes again. Many of the country’s best ski mountains just got their first real snow, and those that haven’t likely will soon. And while there are certainly plenty of epic mountains out there to choose from, and a whole network of sweet resorts to hit up, if you’re like us, you might find yourself wishing to ditch the crowds and find some slightly-less-popular ski spots the next time you venture out in search of powder.