When my editor asked me to find the best InReach alternatives for backcountry communication, I packed six different satellite communicators into a dry bag and hiked 47 miles through the Cascades to test them. Two weeks later, sitting in a coffee shop in Bend, Oregon, I had a clear picture of which devices earned a […]

I spent four months testing inflatable belt pack PFDs across flatwater lakes, the Pacific, and busy harbors. After logging over 60 hours on the water with eight different models, I can tell you this: the best inflatable belt pack PFDs disappear on your body until the second you need them, and that single moment defines […]

I have spent more than 60 nights testing inflatable camping pillows over the past two years, and the difference between a good one and a cheap one is the difference between waking up refreshed and waking up with a stiff neck. After packing these eight pillows across desert trips, mountain backpacking routes, and weekend car […]

Canvas tarps for camping have earned their place in our gear closets for one simple reason: they outlast almost everything else we own. After testing 10 of the most popular heavy duty canvas tarp options across base camps, weekend trips, and bushcraft setups over the past three months, our team has a clear picture of […]