Last summer, I rolled my ankle on a scree field in the Cascades and spent the next six weeks off the trail. That moment convinced me that finding the best ankle braces for hiking isn't optional gear for me anymore, it's essential. Over the past three months, our team has tested eight braces across 200+ […]

Choosing the best anchor ropes comes down to one question: will your boat stay put when the wind picks up and the chop builds? I have spent hundreds of hours on the water testing anchor lines across kayaks, pontoon boats, and offshore vessels, and the difference between a cheap rope and the right rope is […]

I've been chasing the best Alpha Direct fleece for nearly a decade, and the technology has never been more relevant to paddlers than it is right now in . Whether you're dropping a kayak into cold Pacific chop or grinding up an alpine switchback, a breathable mid-layer keeps sweat from becoming a safety problem. Our […]

I have spent the last three beach seasons testing the best beach canopies along the Atlantic coast, and if there is one thing I have learned, it is this: not all sun shelters are built the same. The difference between a relaxing day by the ocean and chasing your shade down the beach comes down […]

I've spent enough sweaty summer nights under canvas to know that the difference between a great camping trip and a miserable one often comes down to air movement. The best battery powered tent fans aren't a luxury on a hot August evening in Death Valley or a humid July weekend in the Smokies — they're […]

I learned the hard way on a John Muir Trail section in that the wrong food bag ends a trip. A curious black bear found my lightweight sack hanging too low on a willow branch, and I spent two days eating cold couscous from a torn bag. Since then our team has logged more than […]

Nothing ruins a bluebird ski day faster than a frozen face and fogged-up goggles. I learned that the hard way on a January trip to Colorado, where the wind chill at the summit hit minus 20 and my cheap cotton face covering turned into a frozen, soggy mess before the second run. After that miserable […]

I'll be honest: I used to bring a regular cotton towel on every backpacking trip until one soaked-through 14-pound terry cloth disaster on the John Muir Trail made me reconsider everything. After 90 days of hands-on testing across the Sierra Nevada, Pacific Northwest, and Appalachian routes, our team narrowed down the eight best backpacking towels […]

I have logged more than 2,400 backcountry miles over the past decade, and I can tell you one thing straight: nothing ends a long day on trail quite like lowering your tired body into a real chair. The best backpacking chairs weigh next to nothing, pack smaller than a Nalgene, and turn a basic campsite […]

Dead bait is the fastest way to kill a fishing trip, and I have watched too many dollars' worth of minnows and shrimp float belly-up because I cheaped out on a bubbler. Finding the best bait aerators became a personal mission after one tournament where my entire livewell died before I reached my first spot. […]