I have spent the last four years hiking, kayaking, and overlanding with every kind of USB C battery pack you can imagine. Some survived being dropped into a glacial stream on a Sierra Nevada backpacking trip. Others died after a single season of bouncing around in my truck's center console. After putting more than 25 […]

When the wind picks up on an exposed ridgeline and the temperature drops 15 degrees in seconds, nothing saves a hike faster than the best ultralight wind jackets. A wind shell weighing just 3 to 6 ounces can mean the difference between a comfortable rest stop and a shivering retreat back to the trailhead. Our […]

When I added my first trolling motor to a kayak five years ago, I had no idea how much it would change the way I fish. Suddenly, I could hold position over a submerged ledge in 15-mph winds, cover three miles of grass flats without burning out my shoulders, and reach honey holes that required […]

Nothing beats launching off a floating trampoline into a cool lake on a scorching summer day. Our team spent weeks researching, comparing, and analyzing the best water trampolines on the market to help you find the right one for your lakefront, cabin, or backyard water setup. Whether you want a spring-loaded commercial beast or a […]

I've lost count of how many soggy phones and ruined towels I've pulled out of cheap "waterproof" bags over the years. Our team has been testing waterproof backpacks for water sports since 2018, and we've personally submerged dozens of bags in lakes, rivers, and the Pacific Ocean off Cornwall. After reviewing more than 40 models […]

I've spent over 200 days testing trekking pole tips and baskets across the Pacific Crest Trail, Rocky Mountain switchbacks, and New England mud season. After burning through 14 different tip sets and watching friends lose rubber boots in April snow, I can tell you the right trekking pole tips and baskets make the difference between […]

Spending a full day wading a trout river without the right vest means fumbling through bags, dropping fly boxes in the current, and wasting precious fishing time. After testing 8 of the best trout fishing vests over three months on rivers across the country, I learned firsthand what separates a great vest from a frustrating […]

Every trout angler eventually learns the same hard lesson: landing a fish by hand costs you trout. Whether you fish gin-clear tailwaters or tumbling mountain creeks, the best trout landing nets do one thing that bare hands cannot. They protect the slime coat that keeps trout healthy after release. Our team has spent the last […]

Finding the best trout lures shouldn't feel like guessing. I've spent three seasons testing these eight options across creeks, rivers, alpine lakes, and stocked ponds to see which ones actually produce fish when the bite gets tough. Whether you're casting ultralight spinners into a tight mountain stream or trolling a jerkbait across a wide reservoir, […]

I have spent the last three trout seasons fishing creeks, big rivers, and high-mountain lakes to figure out what actually makes a great trout rod. What I learned is that the best trout rods blend sensitivity, balance, and the right action for the specific water in front of you — not just the highest price […]