The great outdoors are awesome but getting eaten alive sucks. Here are three ways to keep the bugs at bay. Zone Coverage – Thermacell Backpacker The crew at Thermacell has been stepping up their game recently. It started with the Radius, which we decorated with a Best New Gear Award because it uses a USB Read more ›
Summertime is prime bike riding time thanks to the lack of snow and rain to dampen spirits. But it can also be hot. Add to that the heat of a working body and what was meant to be a casual ride to the market quickly turns into a sweaty mess. And it’s only a mess Read more ›
SlingFin launched a Kickstarter campaign for their aptly named, semi-rigid Honey Badger backpack late last year, and we’ve been testing an early sample since then, using it as a daily urban workhorse. The Honey Badger’s standout design utilizes a Durian HDPE skin with UV inhibitors that houses and protects the gear inside. The shell material’s Read more ›
Kayakers, rafters and canoers have always relied on Watershed Drybags, the industry pioneer of 100 percent submersible drybags, to keep sensitive gear dry. Now, Watershed is hitting the bike trails with the McKenzie, their first-ever handlebar bike bag. Notable Features Made in the U.S.A. With so many products mass-produced and made overseas, it’s a pleasure Read more ›
Not too long ago, a 20-degree sleeping bag that weighed less than two pounds was an anomaly. Today, several bags meet that that once unattainable criteria and we have been testing five of them over the last six months. All the bags are down-filled, traditionally shaped mummy bags. Shell materials, baffle construction, size, shape, and Read more ›
For many riders, 1×11 systems simply did not have the gearing for high-cadence spinners, especially on steep hills and power moves. SRAM quickly addressed that issue a few years back, launching the first-ever 1×12 systems, in their top-end – and very pricey – XX1 and XO1 Eagle lines. This was a truly revolutionary technology, giving Read more ›
Running during the winter can get dicey, especially in climates that produce a lot of hard snow and ice. Many just hang up their shoes and wait for drier conditions, but for those who choose to persevere with their training rain or shine, a little traction can go a long way. We’ve tested out three Read more ›
About this time two years ago, I made a little list of the top six items rocking my ski quiver during an epic, endless winter that began in Argentina, ended with several feet of snow in Breckenridge, Colorado, and in between included turns in Austria, Utah, New Mexico and Japan. Along with the Dynafit Chugach Read more ›
We tested these jacket’s in Spring 2018. Since our test, many of them have been discounted and are on sale for the 2018/2019 winter. That means you can score some great deals on these jackets, each of which impressed our testers last year. Jackets in this test were put through their paces from coast-to-coast, exposed Read more ›
Jeans for climbing solves a multitude of problems. Rock climbing exposes clothing to extreme abuse; rough surfaces abound, shredding fabrics from the outside while constant dirt and infrequent washing do the same from the inside. Synthetics have improved longevity and performance compared to the work pants of the past, but life expectancy can still be Read more ›
At Home Sleeping Comfort in The Back of A Truck Many climbers have love affairs with their camper shells and trucks; with painstaking attention devoted to sleeping platform systems, gear storage strategies and electrical power provisions to bring comfort and convenience to the crag for extended stays. Although conversion vans are the undisputed kings of Read more ›
We tested alpine climbing gear during a five-day adventure in the North Cascades. After 100+ days of no precipitation, the North Cascades received over three feet of snow in a late-season storm that corresponded with our planned excursion into the backcountry. Careful analysis by my partner Mark Allen, IFMGA guide, and owner of Mountain Bureau, Read more ›