Once again, we’ve scoured the outdoor industry for the best gear for outdoor enthusiasts to give to their adventure-loving family and friends. The following items are surefire winners for your gift exchanges. Rux Packing System Mesh Bundle An array of ‘packing solutions’ exists out there, but the new Rux Packing System products are the best Read more ›
The winter backcountry boom of the past few decades has resulted in a corresponding golden age of new snow safety products, including avalanche transceivers with improved search capabilities, inflatable airbags, and even state of the art communications systems to help multiple users coordinate their wild mountain travel. All of this has helped significantly raise awareness Read more ›
I’m not sure if it was part of a midlife crisis or just a change in direction, but a few years back I got really into bird watching. It started out my kitchen window, then from the backyard, and then while hiking. This all led to the need for a good set of binoculars. Around Read more ›
I’ve been on a bit of a roll with Garmin lately. With the brand stacking their new product releases, my summer has been spent navigating off-road with their Tread 2: Overland and, more recently, on the trail with their GPSMap H1i Plus. I have also been wearing and enjoying their Instinct 3 watch since the Read more ›
The Speed 2, SpeedARC Matis, and Maipo Explorer Aerosport The MOAB and its Siblings The Merrell MOAB line of hiking boots and shoes are the most popular hiking footwear on the market. Preceded in 2000 with the Mesa Vent models, the MOAB line, as we know it, was introduced in 2007 with the MOAB 3 Read more ›
Overview of the Heel Virtual Dog Leash The Heel Virtual Dog Leash is a product developed by Heel, a spinoff of Fleetwood Electronics, which has a history of developing wireless proximity and contract-tracing technologies. Launched in March 2024, Heel is designed to offer dog owners a hands-free way to manage their pets’ movements, leveraging their Read more ›
For over two decades, the Gear Institute team has dug through mountains of gear to find the best gift ideas for holiday giving. This year, we continue that exhaustive work with the following Gift Guide for Outdoor Adventurers. Jetboil MightyMo Group Cook Set A dozen different things can go wrong when planning group camp outings, Read more ›
Most Americans focus their camping vacations on the weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day. But savvy campers know that the ‘shoulder’ seasons are the best times to make camp. Autumn camping offers fall colors, no bugs, fewer people, and more active wildlife for viewing. We’ve found some great new products to make fall camping Read more ›
Just as the vehicle you choose to be the “mobile” in your mobile adventuring is essential to the success of that venture, the right awning can turn you from a weekend warrior to a semi-pro outdoor nomad who takes their Monday morning Zoom meeting in the middle of their favorite state forest. It’s a slippery Read more ›
As the New Year beckons, America’s State Parks invite everyone to embrace the great outdoors with their annual First Day Hike event on January 1, 2024. This nationwide initiative, stretching from Hawaii to Maine, offers an invigorating start to the year with over 1,000 guided hikes available in state parks across the country. Lewis Ledford, Read more ›
GORE-TEX has announced the expansion of its Outerwear on Demand program to Killington and Jay Peak ski resorts in Vermont, marking its first introduction to the East Coast. This innovative rental service offers high-performance ski and snowboard clothing, catering to new enthusiasts and infrequent visitors who prefer not to invest in expensive gear. The program, Read more ›
Eric Larsen’s Polar Academy is championing diversity in polar exploration through its new scholarship program. Aimed at BIPOC individuals, this initiative seeks to break down the barriers traditionally faced in the outdoor adventure community. The scholarship, funded primarily by outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear company Jack Wolfskin, offers a fully-funded week-long polar training course, including Read more ›
