Backpack coolers keep getting cooler. If you’ve never considered one, carrying a backpack cooler is a convenient choice for hands-free, single-person transport of tasty refreshments. That could mean tailgating after a run club meetup, heading to a local softball game with your leashed dog, or riding a cruiser to a park BBQ. These packs are […]
My wife, Mercedes, and I were one of tens of thousands who traveled to Texas for the recent solar eclipse. We trekked from Dallas to east Texas in the 2024 GMC Hummer EV 3X SUV (with extreme off-road package) to view the event in a prime location. Along the way, we’d visit off-road trails, camp, […]
Thanks to advancements in fabric technology and design, today’s running shorts are better than ever. Overall, materials are lighter, more comfortable, and offer better mobility. All running shorts should allow you to move freely — that’s a given. The best running shorts, however, should not only provide freedom of movement, but also keep moisture at […]
Towering mountain peaks surround Lake Annecy in France. For many, the beaches with their pristine alpine scenery are the big recreational draws. But for others, like Mammut athlete Gary Ozeray, it’s the alpine playground that’s enticing. And when Ozeray looked upon those peaks, he had a distinct vision for conquering them — one that plays […]
We’ve all been there. An ambiguous weather pattern rolls in, wind whips through your hair, but you’re charging too hard to throw on a rain jacket and it’s too cold for your tiny T-shirt. It’s time to break out the most versatile layering piece of them all: the windbreaker jacket. Offering stellar protection from the […]
They’re at the start of every expedition documentary. Explorers in a conga line, chucking bulging bags loaded with ropes, food, and tents into the back of a seaplane or weathered Land Rover. You see them piled on docks, in airports, or swaying back and forth on pack mules as they wind their way to basecamp […]
There’s nothing like a string light to make a tent, hammock, or back of a car a cozy home away from home. Whether you’re out on a solo car-camping adventure, making fireside meals with friends, or relaxing in your hammock in the park on the weekend, the glow of a string light can make the […]
Satellite messengers started with the need for reliable emergency contact, but have expanded into full-blown two-way communication devices. We’ve been getting deep into the backcountry for years, and our team of guides and iterant wanderers have tested the spectrum of sat messengers on both professional and casual expeditions. Besides getting lost, we even learned a […]
All the rage in the ’90s and the topic of much ridicule in the decades since, hip/waist/fanny packs are almost certainly here to stay. Heck, more than that — they’re making a strong comeback. From fishing to trail running and travel to bike commuting, fanny packs prove endlessly versatile and useful. Our expert gear testers […]
In the summer of 2023, my hiking partner Flan and I set out to thru-hike the 510-mile-long GR11 trail through the Spanish Pyrenees. With 150,000 feet of elevation gain and an equal amount of descent, that baby is a doozy. Our goal was to complete it in 30 days, which put us at around 5,000 […]