2013 Nissan Pathfinder
No longer a tough SUV, the Pathfinder struck me at first as average—power, handling, cargo space, price, feel—but left me duly impressed with its real-world practicality.
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2013 Ford Escape, EcoBoost 4WD
The 2013 Ford Escape with the EcoBoost engine is a fun-to-drive small SUV that’s perfectly suited for urban dwellers and gadget geeks looking for SUV functionality (cargo space, 4WD) with the power to scream up high-altitude, snow-packed mountain passes.
Thule Sonic Alpine 633
The Sonic Alpine is the best box we've seen for when aerodynamics matters most. Very easy to use, smartly designed, and The Sonic Alpine’s 11-inch height precludes it from heavy use outside of toting skis and boards.
Yakima SkyBox Pro 18
Yakima paid attention to maximizing interior room with the Skybox Pro and a simple attachment mechanism that saves time and inside space. This model is about hauling cargo first, aerodynamics and total vehicle height second.
Primus EtaExpress
The Primus EtaExpress is a great value at under $100 but sacrifices are made in wind performance and boil times when compared to the MSR Reactor and JetBoil SOL TI.
MSR Reactor
This is the best all-around backcountry canister stove on the market. It’s expensive, but you’re paying for a fast boil, simplicity and consistent performance, even in nasty conditions.
Jetboil SOL Titanium Premium Cooking System
The Jetboil SOL TI is compact, lightweight and consistently faster to boil than the Primus Eta Express. It’s more fuel-efficient than the EtaExpress and MSR Reactor and better in wind than the Primus, and lighter than both—although it’s very pricey, quickly melts itself when tipped over, and has odd quirks (like a lack of a functional handle when pot is hot). Overall, the MSR Reactor is a better and more durable stove with fewer quirks.
Snowpulse Lite 35
The Snowpulse Lite 35 offered the best trauma protection of any pack, and was the lightest pack we tested, though it was also the most expensive and the pack itself lags its competitors a bit in quality.
Ruffwear Quinzee dog coat
The Ruffwear Quinzee is a well thought-out coat that offers the best balance of warmth, durability, value, and performance among the jackets we tested, especially for dogs on the move.
Mountainsmith Ghost 50 Backpack
The Mountainsmith Ghost diverges from the traditional top-loading design, yet performs very well in comparison to other backpacks in this category. The Ghost’s overall comfort, ventilation, storage options and very low price set this pack apart from many others in this category.
D-Fa Puff Doggy
The Puff Doggy is the warmest jacket in our test, and our pick for backpacking on cold nights with your dog. It’s also the most packable of the jackets we tested. That compressibility, though, has a downside—the lighter fabric tears easily in the brush.
K9 Top Coat Kodiak
The Kodiak is a very durable insulated dog coat that would work for dogs at rest or at play. It has less insulation than the other coats we tested, but is good value and warm enough for moderate winter conditions.