When Patagonia first introduced the Houdini, a super lightweight storm shell that packed into its chest pocket, it created a cult-like following. Everyone who spent time climbing or running in shoulder season mountain conditions owned one. Thin and easily stowable in a hydration vest, the Houdini offered a layer of wind and light rain protection Read more ›
Bubba Blade fishing gear may have previously escaped the notice of most of the fly fishing community, but no more. Bubba gear, especially their nets and pliers, are worthy of consideration by some fly fishers. Today, we focus on their new nets. We field-tested a medium-sized Bubba Blade Fishing Net and found it to be Read more ›
Electronic shifting systems are gaining traction across all cycling categories, with recent advancements into mountain and gravel bikes. Most retrofit kits cost upwards of $2,000, yet the Archer D1x Trail Kits run just $389 to $419. The Archer D1x consists of a bar-mounted remote and frame-mounted shifting unit and includes everything needed for the simple Read more ›
Evolv has consistently and steadily expanded and improved its rock shoe offerings since the brand launched in 2003. Evolv updates models regularly, and the newest version of the Kronos, released in January, continues the trend. We’ve been testing a pair for a month, training on plastic at home, clipping bolts on limestone in central Texas, Read more ›
Rumpl’s new NanoLoft Puffy Blanket lets eco-conscious outdoor enthusiasts stay warm with help from recycled plastic bottles. The new Puffy Blanket features NanoLoft insulation – a synthetic down-like insulation made entirely from post-consumer recycled materials, primary plastic beverage containers. In just the first year of use of NanoLoft insulation, Rumpl will use more than 3 Read more ›
When Ross Reel unveiled the original Animas in 2015/16, the reel quickly became a favorite of serious anglers. The original Animas earned praise for its performance and durability. The one knock on that original large arbor reel was it was a bit heavy and chunky. Enter 2019 and the newly redesigned Ross Animas. This sleek Read more ›
Petzl released the latest version of the Meteor helmet in January of this year; the big news was the CE certification for ski touring, the first for a climbing helmet. We tested the Meteor during a week of both trad and sport climbing in the Gunnison area of Colorado. The Petzl Meteor is a durable, Read more ›
Benchmade 490 Axis Assist knife The new Benchmade 490 Axis Assist knife is a great flipper that can perform as an everyday carry blade, or as a go-to knife for outdoor adventures. The 490 boasts a 3.2-inch blade that locks open with Benchmade’s patented Axis Lock system—the most secure, but easy to open, blade-locking system Read more ›
Cotton has been a classic choice for climbing pants, starting with painter’s pants in the early days of free climbing. Although cotton does absorb and hold water, the abrasion resistance and fair-weather comfort are hard to match by synthetics that are comfortable against the skin. Denim combines the abrasion resistance and comfort with aesthetics that Read more ›
Modern adventurers enjoy unrivaled options when it comes to enjoying outdoor sports. Hiking, biking, surfing, kayaking, rafting, paragliding, skydiving, skiing, snowboarding. There’s no end to the fun that can be had outdoors, and many times, we can enjoy two or more different adventures in any given day. The problem comes when it comes time to Read more ›
Nothing makes for a cozier camp than a crackling fire after the sun goes down. But fires can be problematic in the backcountry. Rock-lined fire pits leave an unnatural taint on the landscape, and worse, they increase the risks of fire escapement. That’s why rafters have, for years, used ‘fire pans’ to secure their fires Read more ›
Spring-loaded camming devices (SLCDs) have steadily improved since Ray Jardine’s initial designs in the 1970s. Jardine used four cam lobes shaped like logarithmic spirals found in nature with a 13.75° constant angle, allowing uniform contact with the rock regardless of the position within the cam’s range. A confidant of Jardine named Mark Vallance started Wild Read more ›