There鈥檚 nothing quite like hopping on a train and watching the world go by. Train travel is more popular than ever with intrepid travelers in 2025, not only as a more sustainable alternative to flying, but as a way to gain a deeper experience with the destination. The journey itself becomes the focus 鈥� and the ultimate adventure.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know who will sit beside you, what regional food you鈥檒l find on board, which villages and towns will flit past the window,” says Monisha Rajesh, a train travel expert and author of Moonlight Express: Around the World By Night Train and Around the World in 80 Trains. “So much happens between the walls of a carriage, while at the same time the world continues to turn outside, giving you a unique understanding of the shape of the land, its bends and twists, the way mountains rise and recede, how deserts expand and close in. And all of this before you even reach your destination.”

We asked Rajesh and other travel writers for their most adventurous train journeys around the world. From the Arctic Circle train from Sweden to Norway, to ones closer to home, such as the Empire Builder that passes through Glacier National Park (where you could be lucky to spot a grizzly from your seat), these train journeys were chosen for their proximity to outdoor adventures, and incredible landscapes they pass through.

Hop aboard. Here are our picks for the most thrilling train adventures around the world in 2025.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Tibet

The Route:听Xining, China to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region
Duration:听1215 miles, 21.5 hours
The Fare: 107 USD in a soft-sleeper compartment, one-way
The 国产吃瓜黑料: The train from Xining to Lhasa is the highest rail journey in the world

Few sights can take my breath away, but at almost 5,000 metres (16,404 feet)听above sea level, I was struggling, a headache squeezing at my temples. Gold nozzles pumped purified oxygen into the compartment and I inhaled in awed silence, licking my chapped lips. Before me, the Qinghai-Tibet plateau resembled a live Rothko painting: a slab of blazing yellow terrain rising to meet electric-blue sky, not a wisp of cloud in sight. Dreadlocked yaks were dotted around the foreground and the odd cluster of nomad tents swept by colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind. What looked like an ocean flashed up towards the glass, tiny green waves on an expanse of bleeding hues, and then it was gone. Lakes gleamed like molten metal in the dryness and on the horizon a faint squiggle of suede-soft mountains.

Opened in 2006 the train from Xining to Lhasa is the highest rail journey in the world. Passing through earthquake zones, the line peaks at 5,072m above sea level at the Tanggula pass and contains more than 300 miles of elevated track built on permafrost that could melt at the slightest increase in temperature. Considered an engineering feat of excellence, the line requires liquid nitrogen to be circulated below the rail bed to keep it frozen throughout the year.

Overnight we had passed the Qinghai Lake and I was disappointed to have missed it in the darkness, but we were now barrelling into the Kunlun Mountains, their jagged bodies closing in, throwing an icy blue glow into the carriage. I had never seen earth鈥檚 natural beauty in so many forms and in such close proximity. Having travelled on more than 200 trains around the world, it was the most scenic ride of my life. On the descent into Lhasa Chinese flags flapped in the wind, Buick garages glided past the window and we drew into a station as vast as an airport hangar, armed guards greeting us at the exit, a reminder of Tibet鈥檚 ongoing struggle.

Once in Lhasa, try the four-day tour from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp which includes stops at Yamdroktso Lake, and both the Pelkor and Tashilhunpo monasteries. Top tip: ask for Kungga Dundruk to be your . 鈥� Monisha Rajesh

Expreso del Sur, Bolivia

The Route: 翱谤耻谤辞-痴颈濒濒补锄贸苍
Duration: 373 miles, 19 hours
The Fare: USD$18.50
The 国产吃瓜黑料: Salar de Uyuni; Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa; Cordillera de Chichas

After departing the tin mining city of Oruro in western Bolivia, the Expreso del Sur bore south through one of the world鈥檚 most dramatic, and least hospitable, landscapes. Gazing out of the carriage window, I watched the urban sprawl gradually dissolve into the altiplano, a vast plateau stretched taut between two branches of the Andes at an average altitude of more than 12,000ft.

Sparsely populated, bitterly cold, largely treeless and starved of rain, it was a stark yet beautiful landscape, particularly when we skirted the shoreline of the otherworldly Salar de Uyuni, the world鈥檚 biggest salt flat. Built in the late 19 th century to transport the altiplano鈥檚 abundant metals and minerals, the railway line once ran from Bolivia鈥檚 de facto capital La Paz to the Pacific port of Antofagasta in Chile. The boom has long passed and the route is now plied by the Ferrob煤s, which vaguely resembles a coach on rails and follows a truncated route between Oruro and the town of Villaz贸n on the Argentine border. En route it calls in at the remote, windswept tourist hub of Uyuni and the quieter but similarly isolated town of Tupiza.

Most travellers disembark at the former and take guided jeep tours across the salar, a pancake-flat, blindingly white expanse the size of Jamaica ringed with chalk-smudge peaks and dotted with islands studded with giant cacti. These trips generally take in the neighbouring Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, a realm of smouldering volcanoes, high-pressure geysers and mineral-stained lakes sprinkled with flamingos, as as well as the Cementerio de Trenes (Train Cemetery). The latter, on the outskirts of Uyuni, is an evocative collection of abandoned steam locomotives, wagons and carriages from the railway鈥檚 heyday slowly disintegrating in the harsh climatic conditions of the altiplano.鈥� Shafik Meghji

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado听

The Route: Durango, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado
Duration: 45 miles, 3.5 hours each way; 9 hours roundtrip with two-hour stop at terminus town
The Fare: $109 – $335 depending on class; season passes for $170-320
The 国产吃瓜黑料:听Travel back in time on this historic train through the Rocky Mountain wilderness

Listening to the shriek of the steam whistle as it echoes eerily through the Animas River Canyon, I have no trouble believing that the first passengers to ride the when it was completed in 1882 gazed out at the jagged peaks and crashing rapids with the same awe I feel 137 years later.

It鈥檚 possible to do this round trip from either origin point; I鈥檝e chosen to depart from Durango and overnight in Silverton, though many choose to take this ride as a nine -hour day trip with a two hour stop in the terminus town.

My reason for overnighting in Silverton was to challenge myself with one of this rugged silver mining hamlet鈥檚 many high-altitude hikes, among them the lung-challenging six-mile round-trip to Highland Mary Lakes, which gains more than 1500 feet in altitude before arriving at the granite-scooped lake, surrounded by tundra at 12,300 feet. Equally rugged adventure possibilities come via offered by local outfitters that put you straight on the river or skimming over the canopy with no need for additional planning.

Try your mettle on the course of 27 ziplines 鈥� the most in the world 鈥� at , an adventure center midway on the ride reachable only by train or plane. You can also include a wild and crazy on the rugged Silverton Skyway or a two-hour with Mountain Rafting with a round-trip ride.

There鈥檚 one more possible thrill to be had on your ride: a rare spotting of Bigfoot, more commonly known locally as Sasquatch, who鈥檚 been sighted 鈥� or allegedly sighted, depending on your belief status 鈥� in the Silverton and Durango areas. More importantly, the most recent of these sightings, just two years ago, was by a railroad passenger, so keep a lookout for a tall, hairy figure, or for massive footprints, which are also commonly reported, and listen for the mysterious creature鈥檚 spine-tingling howls. 鈥� Melanie Haiken

The Elephant Express, Zimbabwe

The Route:听Dete to Ngamo, Zimbabwe
Duration:听75 miles, 3.5 hours
The Fare: $300 (for the train, not per person)
The 国产吃瓜黑料: Spot elephants and lions from your train seat

The first time I drove a train I worried most about animals wandering onto the tracks. Zebras, kudu, lions鈥攁ll such unpredictable beasts. Mostly it was the elephants, though. There are a lot of those in this corner of Zimbabwe. Think 50,000 of them.

Anyone can drive the Elephant Express; you just have to ask. The train itself is less of a train and more of a trolley鈥攁 one-car locomotive with open-air seats under a proud metal roof. The train was custom built using Land Cruiser parts by a former game ranger named Mark Butcher, a Zimbabwean who runs a safari company called Imvelo that operates in and around Hwange National Park, Africa鈥檚 fourth largest, southeast of Victoria Falls.

When you stay at Imvelo Safari鈥檚 camps in the area, the train will take you the final 50 miles from a small depot town called Dete to the camps. It鈥檚 a helluva way to start an African bush adventure. Imagine rolling through the coolest zoo ever if zoos had no fences.

Imvelo under Butch has been instrumental in reintroducing white rhinos into the area while giving local communities ownership of the conservation and tourism opportunities. Now you can go for runs with the Cobras, a squad of local rangers assigned to protect the rhinos, and听 watch how a pair of Belgian malinois can track down would-be poachers. Coolest of all, the Cobras will take you walking with the rhinos as they graze on rich grasses.

On the Elephant Express we trundled through mopane and teakwood forests and across the grassy veldt. The tracks, gun-barrel straight, are some of the only working vestiges of the Cape-to-Cairo railway, the 19th century British imperial boondoggle that aimed to tie the continent together from Egypt to South Africa.

After sitting in the conductor鈥檚 chair, I retired to the rear, letting the sweet African air purl around me as curious pachyderms emerged from the brush. Gangly giraffes punctuated the grasslands like goofy exclamation points. I watched lilac breasted rollers flitter through the trees and spied impalas hiding under the acacias. Later, I鈥檇 watch a lioness carry her tiny, fuzzy cubs over the tracks one by one. 鈥� Tim Neville

The Rocky Mountaineer: First Passage to the West

The Route:听Vancouver, British Columbia to Banff, Alberta
Duration:听600 miles, two days
The Fare:听 From $1,980 USD per person for two days on board Rocky Mountaineer鈥檚 SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service, including two breakfasts and two lunches and one night hotel in Kamloops.
The 国产吃瓜黑料: Travel along the iconic Spiral Tunnels, the Continental Divide, and Lake Louise.

国产吃瓜黑料 the train鈥檚 glass-domed coach, cornfields and cranberry bogs ran toward the horizon, punctuated by ramshackle red barns. Although I grew up not far from here, watching the bucolic landscape go by at the pace of the railroad allowed me to notice these details as if for the first time. The Rocky Mountaineer鈥檚 journey began in my hometown of Vancouver on the coast of British Columbia, skirting the Fraser River through the interior Okanagan region before climbing into the Rocky Mountains and ending at the resort town of Banff, cradled by soaring, snow-encrusted peaks.

Over the two-day journey, which included a night in the riverside town of Kamloops, I scampered down to the observation deck at every opportunity, leaning over the guardrail to watch the train snake through the landscape with the wind in my hair. I took in tawny, arid hills dotted with aromatic ponderosa pine and sage, the sparkling Fraser River tumbling by, and the jagged Rockies emerging in Yoho National Park, marking the Continental Divide that follows the ridge of the Rockies between B.C. and Alberta. Along the route, Rocky Mountaineer guides imbued the landscape with an interpretive history of the region鈥檚 gold rush and 19th-century Canadian Pacific Railway landmarks, as well as an understanding of Indigenous culture in the two provinces.

The town of Kamloops is marked by sandstone canyons and forested hills, as well as sprawling . The crenelated silhouette of Castle Mountain marks the train鈥檚 arrival into Banff, where endless hiking and climbing adventures await. Above Lake Louise in Banff National Park, hike to a , continuing to Big Beehive or Devil鈥檚 Thumb, or head deeper into the backcountry along the three-day . On the nearby B.C. side of the Rockies in Kootenay National Park is the four-day , a stunning backcountry route that ends at Floe Lake, and straddling the two provinces is a in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.

Before kicking off the journey in Vancouver, head into iconic Stanley Park with to understand the old-growth forest through the lens of the Coast Salish Indigenous peoples. Grab a paddle board and glide over English Bay at sunset, or discover the coastal mountains on trails that end at glacial lakes in , an hour鈥檚 drive from Vancouver. 鈥� Chloe Berge听

Empire Builder, Chicago to Seattle

The Route: Chicago to Seattle or Portland (at the Spokane station, designated cars are attached to a different train heading to Oregon, while the remainder heads to Seattle)
Duration: 2,206 miles; 46 hours
The 国产吃瓜黑料:听 Travel along Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest

The atmosphere is electric as the diesel engine rumbles out of Chicago鈥檚 Union Station. Sitting aboard Amtrak鈥檚 famous Empire Builder train 鈥� one of the country鈥檚 most scenic train rides 鈥� the other passengers and I would spend more than 46 hours traversing seven states (eight, if you count Oregon), watching the green rolling hills of the Midwest give way to the desolate beauty of the plains, before craning our necks to see the mammoth mountains of Montana rising from the ground.

Most riders were doing the route nonstop, but I was getting off at Glacier National Park, the undisputed crown jewel of the route, for a few days of fun and adventure before jumping back on the train to complete my journey.

In the dining car, staff paired up unlikely dinner companions every meal. They say there are no strangers on an Amtrak, only people you haven鈥檛 been forced to make awkward small talk with as you all squish together in an undersized booth. Luckily, we all had the same percolating excitement about our epic train adventure. Every passenger was either on their first big train journey or their one-hundredth.

Disembarking at the West Glacier station just outside the park boundaries, I watched the train continue west, the smell of diesel smoke permeating the air. By the time I found my rental car in the parking lot, that smell had been replaced by the scent of aspen forests and recent rain.

Over the next few days, I paddled Lake McDonald, where I watched the mirror reflection of the mountains grow closer with each paddle stroke. Venturing to the east side of the park, I sang out-of-tune country songs while hiking to Hidden Lake, hoping that any grizzly within earshot would run in the opposite direction. I floated the middle fork of the Flathead River with my fly rod and a guide from , catching (and releasing) a dozen or more cutthroat and rainbow trout. If it wasn鈥檛 a perfect four days, it was damn close. 鈥� Robert Annis

The Arctic Circle Night Train, Sweden to Norway

The Route:听Stockholm, Sweden to Narvik, Norway
Duration:听1215 miles, 18.5 hours
The Fare: 136 USD in a six-person couchette compartment, one-way
The 国产吃瓜黑料: Disembark at Kiruna for cross-country skiing, dog-sledding and aurora hunting in Abisko National Park or stay on until Narvik, a gateway hub to the Lofoten Islands and Troms酶

Departing Stockholm Central station just after 6pm, this comfortable curls up the backbone of Sweden, crossing over the border into Norway and ending 137 miles inside the Arctic Circle, at the northernmost station in Europe. It was mid-March when I boarded, the sky a midnight blue, the air clean and crisp. As the train thundered out of the capital, turning north, I cupped my hands against the window and watched as bodies of ink-black water glittered under the glow of lampposts. Around me passengers were spreading out blankets, wedging in ear buds and opening takeaway boxes of pizza, the waft of kicked-off shoes adding to the mix.

Lured towards the dining car, the heart and soul of a night train, I tucked into a steaming bowl of reindeer stew and mash, surrounded by a group of teachers en route to the city of Kiruna to ski. They offered me wine and strips of sticky gravlax along with tips on how to spot the Northern Lights at Abisko National Park. This onboard community was filled with the warmth so typical to sleeper trains, but my midnight I was ready to take to bed. Crawling into my lower berth in a six-person couchette, I nudged back the curtain to watch the moon bobbing between tree silhouettes, and golden stars hanging in bedroom windows. By morning passengers had slipped out, leaving no more than a bundle of blankets and as we crossed the Norwegian border, less than a handful of passengers were privy to the route鈥檚 grand finale.

Embarking on the Ofoten line at Bj酶rnfjell, the train ran at the edge of a cliff as the fjords emerged below, magisterial in their quiet movement. Mountains rose, the sun throwing soft light upon the carriage as the train clattered through one tunnel after another, beside ice-blue waterfalls frozen in their midst. Nineteen hours after departure the train took its final breath, hissed and braked into the historic port of Narvik. 鈥� Monisha Rajesh

Denali Star, Alaska

The Route: Anchorage to Fairbanks
Duration: 356 miles; 12 hours
The Fare: Around $285 for 国产吃瓜黑料 Class and $532 for the upgraded GoldStar
The 国产吃瓜黑料: Take in Denali 鈥攖he highest peak in North America 鈥� as you zip through the remote Alaskan wilderness

The shining jewel of the Alaska Railroad, the links the state鈥檚 two largest cities with one of our nation鈥檚 most awe-inspiring national parks. I鈥檝e ridden the Denali Star twice over the last three years, and it鈥檚 by far the best way to reach Denali National Park.

From Anchorage, the Denali Star rolls through a couple of urban stops before entering the backcountry. The train chugs past the Chugach Mountains and across Hurricane Gulch atop a 296-foot-high trestle bridge. Chugging along past the spruce and birch forests, we see multiple homesteader cabins through the thick trees, and even stopped near one to drop off supplies.

Seeing moose, grizzlies, and other wildlife are a common occurrence; I may have caught a fleeting glimpse of a black bear cub standing near the edge of the Indian River, but we passed it so fast, it could鈥檝e been just a rock. A conductor calls out animal sightings, as well as bits of history intermixed with dad jokes over the intercom.

Roughly only 30 percent of Denali visitors actually see the iconic peak; the mountain鈥檚 so large, it creates its own weather systems, and is usually enveloped in clouds. When Denali 鈥� forget the Mt. McKinley name change 鈥� came into view in all its white-capped glory, the entire train car let out a collective 鈥渁hhhhhhh.鈥� Every other mountain in the Alaska Range looked like the proverbial molehill compared to the 20,000-foot behemoth.

When we finally arrived in Denali National Park after eight hours, my bags were whisked away and brought to my hotel, while I took in the majesty of my surroundings while waiting for a shuttle bus. Nearly a week later, I鈥檇 be back on the train platform, waiting to complete the journey to Fairbanks. While the first leg was filled with an anxious energy, the final leg is all about reliving your Denali experience. 鈥� Robert Annis

Tren del Fin del Mundo, Argentina

The Route: Estaci贸n Fin del Mundo/Estaci贸n Parque Nacional
Duration: 4.3 miles, 45 minutes
The Fare: USD $38
The 国产吃瓜黑料: Travel to the “End of the World” at the tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego

As I nibbled dulce de leche-filled biscuits, the Tren del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Train) chugged past peat bogs, southern beech forests, meandering rivers and snowy mountains, landscapes that make up much of Tierra del Fuego, the archipelago at the tip of South America. Tango classics played in the background, and a pair of yellow-green austral parakeets flashed overhead. It was hard to believe we were only 620 miles north of Antarctica.

Despite its modern comforts, the southernmost railway on earth has a grisly history. It was built by convict labour in the early 20th century, when the area was home to a notorious prison dubbed the 鈥楽iberia of the South.鈥� The Prisoners鈥� Train originally ran along 13.6 miles of track and played a vital role in the development of the region, before falling out of use in the 1950s. Four decades later, the railway was revived as a touristy heritage line in the mid-1990s, and rebranded the Tren del Fin del Mundo. Replica steam trains now run on a 4.3-mile section of the track, from the Estaci贸n Fin del Mundo 鈥� 5 miles west of the city of Ushuaia 鈥攖o a station at the edge of Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. En route they stop briefly at the miniature Estaci贸n La Macarena, which is populated by souvenir shops and cheerful staff in striped prisoner garb.

Despite these kitsch touches, the route provides a fascinating glimpse into the region鈥檚 tumultuous history, as well as its glorious scenery. It also enables you to explore Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, a trekking haven stretched along the shore of the Beagle Channel. At the end of my journey, as I followed a trail through a woodland echoing with the taps of a Magellanic woodpecker, a steam engine whistle sounded in the distance as the Tren del Fin del Mundo returned home. 鈥� Shafik Meghji’

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You can find more of Monisha Rajesh’s and Shafik Meghji’s favorite train journeys in which is released on September 23 2025.

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Labor Day is almost here, but our gear editors and testers have been making the most of the dwindling summer days鈥攑edaling dusty trails, grinding up high-alpine switchbacks, and sneaking in lakeside hangs whenever possible. Naturally, we brought a pile of fresh gear along for the ride. Here鈥檚 the latest bike gear, trail runners, and hiking essentials that earned a permanent spot in our quiver.

The post 9 Outdoor Gear Must-Haves Our Editors Refuse to Gatekeep鈥擩ust in Time for Labor Day appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Happiness is best when it鈥檚 shared, and as any dog parent knows, outdoor exploration is exponentially enhanced when our furry best friend is along for the ride鈥攐r run, bike, hike, ski, any outdoor activity, really. that people with pets are more likely to spend more time outdoors, exercise more frequently, and generally feel happier than those without pets. In the spirit of International Dog Day, which is celebrated on August 26,听国产吃瓜黑料 team members share听their most incredible outdoor adventures alongside their canine companions.

The Time My Good Boy Helped My Now-Husband Propose

We鈥檇 just hauled heavy backpacks up five miles of trail听to San Leonardo Lake in northern New Mexico. The birds were chirping, the alpine lake glittered beneath the setting sun, and I was hangry, tired, and generally grumpy as I fumbled to set up my backpacking stove.

鈥淏abe, I think Squeaker has something for you,鈥� my husband called from across the campsite. 鈥淗ang on,鈥� I snapped, laser-focused on getting dinner cooking. Then, I glanced down and saw a small box hanging from one of my dogs鈥� collars. I struggled to untie it, and when I looked up again, my now-husband was down on one knee.

Needless to say, I said yes, and now, after a wedding and two kids later, my husband knows never to leave the house without plenty of snacks to ward off my hangry side. 鈥擜bigail Wise, brand director

Brodie鈥� on The Bruce!

Dalmatians have incredible endurance鈥攖hey are the Arabian horse of dog breeds, known for their never-ending energy and stamina. The Bruce Trail, a roughly 558-mile trail on the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario, is literally in our backyard, and Brodie loved long hikes along this scenic trek. Limestone rocks, cedar roots, mud, and stream crossings were all part of the adventure.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, we signed Brodie up for the fundraising event Woof Walk, where he quickly completed his target of 310 miles. His favorite spot was a wooden bench where he鈥檇 stop and take in the scents of the forest and, of course, some well-earned snacks. Hiking was fun, but getting to the trailhead was just as enjoyable. He loved rides in our Volkswagen Westfalia Camper Van! Brodie has since gone to the Rainbow Bridge, but his presence continues to be with us when we head out on The Bruce and every International Dog Day. 鈥擫indsey Ryder, FinisherPix operations manager

The Best Campsite I鈥檝e Ever Had, According to My Dogs

It was the summer in which my second pup was finally old enough to keep up on real trail miles, and I headed for Sun Valley. By some miracle on the July 4th weekend, I found a lakeside campsite in the Sawtooth Mountains in central Idaho with no one else around. Wildflowers spilled across the meadows, the dogs bounded ahead on the trail and drank from streams, and we hiked until their tongues lolled and their paws dragged with that satisfying, bone-deep exhaustion only a good day outside can give.

Back at camp, we swam, built a fire, and watched the light drain off the peaks. With no cell service, my two spoiled house pets immediately rebranded themselves as wild animals鈥攕niffing, digging, howling at the moon, and rolling in whatever smelled the worst. At one point, they looked so wolfy that I half-expected them to take off and never return, but by nightfall, they were snoring in my sleeping bag like the well-groomed suburban pups they are. But honestly, I felt a little feral out there too: no screens, no people, just trails, a dirty body, and two tired dogs. 鈥擲ierra Shafer, lifestyle editorial director

Ruka and the Whale

Ruka Bleau was my soul dog, and over the course of our 17 years together, we summited peaks, visited dozens of national parks, rafted whitewater, and cast our fair share of flies. Though Ruka did everything in his power to keep me happy, his blue merle border collie brain had an affinity for rolling in anything dead, decaying, or otherwise putrid. In 2015, Ruka and I donned our overstuffed backpacks for a 25-mile trek along Northern California鈥檚 .

At one point, Ruka bolted ahead of our girl-team trio to bound headfirst into a small lagoon filled with a bloated whale carcass. We did our best to scrub away the stink, but it鈥檚 safe to say we smelled like a beached whale for days to come. Ruka crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2023, but his spirit lives on in my two menacing Australian Shepherds, Cholla and Poppy. Ruka reminds us every year to celebrate International Dog Day to the fullest. 鈥擬adison Dapcevich, associate editor

That Time I Took My 60-Pound Dog to Europe

My family and friends thought I was more than a little crazy when I announced my husband and I were moving to Europe, with our 60-pound puppy in tow. Hazelnut, a Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd rescue, quickly realized that life across the Atlantic is a pup’s paradise. Welcome everywhere, from restaurants to museums, she pranced her way across six countries.

While she loved eating calamari in Venice and checking out Christmas markets in Austria, her favorite memories鈥攍ike her mom’s鈥攚ere those that involved outdoor adventures. She did snow zoomies on the cross-country trails under the Matterhorn, hiked between the villages of Italy’s Cinque Terre, and learned to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. Now that we’re back in America, she’s wondering what’s up with all these “no dogs allowed” signs. 鈥擬ikaela Ruland, editor-in-chief of National Park Trips

Born to be a Power Hound

We brought Oakley home in mid-March, at eight weeks old, which, in听Colorado, still meant听snow season. He showed zero hesitation when we took him to play after a storm and immediately displayed a love for the white fluff. This got me excited to take him on a few light backcountry tours to share my favorite activity when he鈥檇 be old enough the following winter. After a full year of training, including a significant amount of recall work, it was time.

Oakley broke trail to the top like he鈥檇 done it before, and was a powder rocket on the way down, tongue out and tail wagging the whole way. Every few turns on the first run, I looked back to see unbridled puppy joy chasing me鈥攎y wife close behind, keeping an eye on him鈥攗ntil we got to the bottom. That first day out is still my favorite.

Oakley does most activities with us, but splitboarding seems to be his favorite. Conditions don鈥檛 matter to him; he鈥檚 just pumped there鈥檚 snow on the ground. We鈥檙e always careful with the areas and routes we choose when taking our dog into the backcountry, and keep him close by to our skin track when heading uphill.
鈥擜dam Trenkamp, lab test editor

Let Dogs Be Dogs

We adopted Cameron from a family who needed to give him up, but he had been a pound puppy before then. A bit shy, but sweet as could be, we noticed he didn鈥檛 participate in a lot of the 鈥渄og stuff鈥� other dogs do鈥攏o toys, hesitant to play chase, didn鈥檛 hang his head out the window in the car.

One weekend, we took him along on a hike to our favorite place: Crater Lakes here in Colorado. We went at his pace so he could take in all the new sights and smells as we wound along the path. We let him sniff around as we set up camp among the conifers and wildflowers.

Suddenly, he started barrelling through the blooming flowers, just running as fast as he could with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth! It was the first time we got to see him truly be a dog, and it brought us immense joy. At 12 years old now, Cam doesn鈥檛 barrel through the wildflowers anymore, but he still loves to snuggle up in the tent next to a lake. 鈥擩en Woodson, engineer

Built for Brunch

Hike a mountain or chill by the lake? Our French Bulldog doesn鈥檛 even pretend to struggle with that choice, especially on International Dog Day. He has a body built for brunch and the personality to match. This little guy is an excellent reminder for us that any time spent outside is time well spent, and it doesn’t always need to be an epic adventure for it to be memorable. 鈥擜lan Crisp, VP business development

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In July, our gear editors and testers had one goal: find the apparel, accessories, and equipment that make sweltering summer adventures not just tolerable, but genuinely fun. From sweat-wicking shirts to cushy trail runners to bug-busting gadgets, this is the gear we grabbed when the heat cranked up and the mosquitoes came out swinging.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail Running Shoes

Several brands have now attempted to apply the tech of road super shoes to the trail, with varying success. For my money (and stride and terrain), Puma has done the best job of balancing the lively bounce of a road model with the stability and adaptability needed for uneven and unpredictable off-road running. The Deviate Nitro Elite Trail’s foam鈥攁 new compound called as the king of super foams鈥攊s springier than any I’ve experienced, so springy that it starts to push back as soon as I put weight on it, reducing the squish. That responsive platform, combined with a wide base, a low, balanced, six-millimeter heel-toe drop, and a semi-flexible carbon-composite plate that adapts to underfoot irregularities, make the shoes agile and sure-footed on tricky trails and encouraged powerful, efficient push-offs when the terrain opened up. The shoe made me feel nimble and fast, which made every run in them more fun and led to spontaneous bursts of speedy joy. 鈥�Jonathan Beverly, Senior Gear Editor

Smartwool Women’s Active Ultralite Hoodie听

听

Smartwool doesn鈥檛 market the Active Ultralite Hoodie as a sun shirt, but it鈥檚 been my go-to summer layer for two years鈥攆or two reasons: it鈥檚 incredibly lightweight and comfortable next to skin, even in 100-degree heat; and it鈥檚 the fastest-drying layer I own, drying within 20 minutes even in humidity. The magic lies in the airy, buttery fabric: a Merino wool and Tencel Lyocell blend that regulates temperature, fights odor, and dries fast. I also love the relaxed fit, drop tail hem, and high neck that provides extra coverage when the hood is up. I just spent a week in North Carolina, where the heat index hit 105掳F, and I happily wore this hoodie to the beach and splash pads with my kids. Bonus: Merino provides natural UPF protection. The Active Ultralite Hoodie might not be labeled as a sun shirt, but I鈥檒l take it over a synthetic option any day. 鈥�Jenny Wiegand, Associate Gear Director听

Bug Zapper Racket听

There’s something in my blood that makes me completely irresistible to mosquitoes, so the second I hear that tell-tale buzzing, I’m on the offensive. There’s no mercy when I’m hunting down these tiny vampires鈥擨’ll swing, swat, and splat until my enemies are vanquished. My number-one ally in the eternal fight against the itchy insurgents is this electric bug zapper a friend got for me as a gag gift one year. Joke’s on you, Jeff鈥擨 use it daily in the summer, especially during golden hour cookouts and weekend trips to our swampy, muggy lakehouse in northwest Indiana. It’s battery-operated and the size of a pickleball paddle, with one simple button to press. The mosquitoes may be winning the decades-long war, but I’m winning the battles these days. 鈥�, Gear & Affiliate Director

NEMO Persist 45L Backpack

NEMO is always pushing innovation, and the Persist carries that ethos forward with a versatile all-adventure day pack made from mostly recycled materials, all of which can be recycled again after you鈥檙e done with it. I love a green initiative, but it鈥檚 the versatility of this pack that won me over during the last couple of months. I鈥檝e been testing the 30-liter version, which is classified as a daypack, but I鈥檝e found it to be spacious enough for overnights as well. And it鈥檚 designed to accommodate a slew of adventures, from backcountry skiing (dedicated spots for rescue equipment and skis) to rock climbing. The lash-down straps can be moved to different locations on the pack to accommodate all kinds of gear depending on the adventure at hand and how you want to carry it. Consider the Persist a bag of many uses. 鈥�Graham Averill, gear and travel columnist听

Arc鈥檛eryx Sylan Pro Trail Running Shoes

As a gear editor, my closet is full of running shoes鈥攕o many, in fact, that I rarely get to return to a pair that I鈥檝e already logged plenty of test miles in. But I always find an excuse to come back to the Arc鈥檛eryx Sylan Pros because they check all of my boxes. The midsole is cushioned but not overly so; they are stable on technical, vert-heavy trails; they feel fast when it鈥檚 time to pick up the pace; and the knit collar does a great job of keeping out debris. And, when days get long and the miles start to add up, I have no issues with comfort鈥攎y toes have plenty of space, the midfoot is secure without choking out my metatarsals, and the padded heel cup prevents slippage, even without lacing up a heel lock (though they do have an extra eyelet should you choose to do so). I went backpacking in the Eastern Sierra this past weekend and the Sylans were the first piece of gear I packed. And when I have a particularly long trail run slotted into my training plan, the Sylans are the first pick in the draft.听 鈥�Will Porter, contributing gear editor

Ten Thousand Tactical Utility Shorts

I鈥檓 typically turned off by gear designed to be 鈥渢actical,鈥� mostly because I don鈥檛 carry weapons and rarely get into knife fights, so I don鈥檛 need pockets dedicated to carrying bullets or machetes. But Ten Thousand鈥檚 Tactical Utility Shorts are an exception, because they provide the practicality of an old-school cargo short without the sloppy vibes of an old-school cargo short. These shorts have six pockets (two hand pockets, two back pockets and two thigh pockets) all packed into an eight-inch inseam cut, so there鈥檚 plenty of room for all of the things we need to carry; and yet, the shorts never look bulky or overstuffed. Yes, these shorts were built with the Special Forces in mind, but all that means is that they鈥檙e tough as hell, crafted from a durable canvas that resists abrasion, stains, and odor, but also has plenty of stretch. The material is given a DWR treatment too, so when I spill my beer, it just wipes right off. 鈥�G.A.听

Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra Trail Sneaker

I recently re-learned how to run after injuries started cropping up. Turns out, I was landing on my heel and midfoot, when I needed to be striking with my midfoot and toes. It took several physical therapy sessions and these shoes to get me back on the right path. Their aggressive but well-designed rocker naturally shifted me forward in just the right way. The Agravics are high-performance trail shoes with features like embedded energy rods, so I save them for big mountain days or local trail races rather than everyday training. The Continental rubber outsole grips confidently on fast descents, and the stack height strikes a perfect balance: cushioned and bouncy without making me feel unstable on technical terrain. Also, not to be vain, but I love the green colorway. 鈥�Jakob Schiller, gear columnist

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The post The Best Gear 国产吃瓜黑料’s Editors Tested This Month (July 2025) appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Every year, 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 gear team heads to Outdoor Market Alliance in Lakewood, Colorado, to get a glimpse at the new gear headed to the North American market. Much of what we get our hands on is headed for shelves in a few months for the fall season. Some of it, though, is a glimpse at next summer鈥檚 offerings, giving is a peek into the crystal ball of outdoor gear. Our favorite finds this year? Batteries that work like alkalines but perform like lithium, serious mountain biking packs for little shredders, and the much-delayed release of Thule鈥檚 anti-rooftop tent.

Coulee Coffee

For those who aren鈥檛 quite convinced of high-end instant coffee (but honestly, it鈥檚 not bad!), Coulee Coffee recently launched its single-serving, fully-biodegradable pour-over filters. Similar to the Kuju filters we鈥檝e seen on the market, but with a less flimsy design, each bundle comes pre-filled with 14 grams of grounds; So far, the company offers four different roast options. The filters have a sturdy platform that fits on the rim of most standard mugs without fear of tipping or collapsing when pouring in water to brew. You can also buy $20 packs of empty filters to fill with your favorite grounds. 鈥擜dam Trenkamp, gear lab editor

Coast Zithion-X Batteries

There are plenty of rechargeable lithium batteries on the market, but these are special. Coast鈥檚 new batteries have something called ZX Optimized Voltage technology that supposedly delivers the same steady output as alkaline (traditional AA and AAA), making them compatible with 鈥渓ow drain鈥� devices鈥攖hink headlamps and two-way radios. Apart from keeping alkalines out of the landfill, this gives you the performance benefits of lithium鈥攍onger run time and increased performance in extreme temperatures鈥攊n a truly alkaline-compatible package. We asked if the Zithion-X batteries are safe for use with avalanche beacons, which could be big for winter backcountry travel, but haven鈥檛 received confirmation. 鈥擜dam Trenkamp, gear lab editor

Osprey Raptor Jr Hydration Pack

Finding specialized outdoor gear that truly fits kids can be a challenge鈥攎ost technical equipment is designed with adults in mind. Osprey has taken the lead in changing that narrative by focusing on redesigning some of its adult-size packs for kid-specific fits, like the Raptor Jr, a fully-featured hydration pack for young mountain bikers. It doesn鈥檛 lack on any of the technical bells-and-whistles that the full-sized pack includes, like a stretchy front sleeve pocket, an internal tool organization, stabilizing upper compression straps and dual mesh hip belts, and a LidLock helmet attachment clip on the front of the pack. It also comes with a 1.5-liter reservoir that fits snug inside. 鈥擡rica Zazo, Backpacker contributor

Nestout FAN-1 Portable Fan

I鈥檓 not afraid to deck out my campsite for the sake of comfort, but I鈥檝e never found a worthwhile portable fan to pack on my car camping adventures. They鈥檙e either too noisy, too bulky, too weak, or unable to hold a charge overnight. Nestout鈥檚 FAN-1 solves almost all of these problems. You can choose between four different fan speeds and adjust it to swing at 40掳, 70掳, and 100掳 for customized airflow. Built-in tripod legs let you find placement on uneven surfaces, or you can remove the legs and hang the FAN-1 on a tree branch using mounting hooks. I found it particularly useful to blow away pesky mosquitos on windless nights. 鈥擡rica Zazo, Backpacker contributor

Thule Outset Hitch-Mounted Tent

[Launching August 26]

We first saw Thule teasing its a few years back. After quite a few delays (pesky North American compliance), the roof rack brand鈥檚 rooftop tent alternative is finally hitting the market. The new Outset mounts to a standard 2-inch hitch, giving campers a home on wheels that can easily be attached and detached, simpler to set up, and doesn鈥檛 tie up roof space. The best part: You can leave the tent freestanding when parked, which makes quick trips to town or the trailhead a lot easier than with roof-mounted models.

Inside, the Outset offers a raised platform, a built-in mattress, and big windows for ventilation鈥攆eatures that should appeal to anyone who wants a more comfortable camp setup without sleeping on the ground. In general, the design seems geared toward weekend campers who want convenience without a ton of fuss. No doubt, the Outset is something that will only appeal to a small group of campers, especially with a $4,700 price tag. 鈥擩enny Wiegand, associate gear director

La Sportiva Sender Ski Boot

[Available Fall 2025]

La Sportiva built its backcountry rep on lightweight, uphill-focused touring boots, but the new Sender marks a clear push into freeride territory鈥攁nd brings a first for the brand: GripWalk soles. That means seamless compatibility with both tech and alpine hybrid bindings, something La Sportiva hasn鈥檛 offered until now.

At just under 1,500 grams and a 130 flex, the Sender targets skiers who want real downhill power on big skis but aren鈥檛 willing to sacrifice uphill efficiency. A carbon-loaded Grilamid cuff, Pebax shell, and a Force Wrap liner lock in support, while a 63-degree range of motion in walk mode that should keep skinning practical for big days out.

The Sender is exciting because it鈥檚 La Sportiva鈥檚 most freeride-focused touring boot yet, and the brand鈥檚 first shot at a true crossover model built for skiers chasing big descents without ditching the climb. 鈥擩enny Wiegand, associate gear director

Marmot Wraptor Sleeping Bag

[Available Spring 2026]

We鈥檝e seen a few 鈥渨rap鈥� style sleeping bags in recent years, most notably the Wrap Sack from Rumpl. Marmot鈥檚 take uses a more traditional mummy style, and foregoes zips for magnetic closures. Available in synthetic and 650-fill down and in 15-to-20-degree ratings, the Wraptor lets you regulate your warmth by choosing between one or two layers of sleeping bag, and utilizes an听 鈥渆nvelope-style鈥� footbox, which lets you stick a foot or two out when you get hot. The magnetic closure at the collar only opens when it鈥檚 pulled down, which Marmot says should keep it from popping open in the middle of the night. Bonus: it鈥檚 made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled materials. 鈥擜dam Trenkamp, gear lab editor

Fjallraven Kajka X-L盲tt 45

[Available Spring/Summer 2026]

The trendy Swedish brand, best known for its durable, sturdy hiking gear, is making a concerted effort to lighten the load of its packs and apparel across the board. Its new 45-liter Kajka X-L盲tt pack, built for short backpacking trips, weighs only 2.4 pounds, which is quite light for Fjallraven, but just about average for most other pack-makers. But the X-L盲tt stay true to its robust design roots with the brand鈥檚 Vinylon F (a burly synthetic fabric with the feel of canvas) and sturdy birch stays. We鈥檒l be curious to see how the pack actually carries after a season of testing. 鈥擝enjamin Tepler, senior gear editor

The post The Coolest Gear We Saw at OMA鈥檚 Summer 2025 Media Show appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

We know that sunscreen helps protect your skin from sun damage. That鈥檚 not news. But what about your lips? I鈥檝e personally never really thought to put some form of sun protection on my lips, because, like, why? I assume it would also just come off my lips anytime I absent-mindedly lick them, take a sip of water, or eat literally anything, or make out with my boyfriend.

Although our skin is highly flexible, mostly waterproof, and resilient, it鈥檚 still quite . Random paper cuts will remind you of this fact. The lips are even more delicate because lip skin is much thinner than the skin spanning the rest of your body. And lip sensitivity is heightened because our lips don鈥檛 naturally produce a type of oil to keep them lubricated, like sebum does for our skin.

Applying SPF to the lips will help limit repeated exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Excessive UV exposure can, in very rare cases ( of the United States population), lead to . This precancerous condition affects the lips, often causing them to appear patchy, inflamed, and feel sandpapery.

The best way to keep your lips protected all summer long is to slather them with SPF lip balm鈥攁nd be sure to . Here are some of our editors鈥� hand-picked听favorites from least to most expensive.

1. Aquaphor Lip Protectant and Sunscreen Ointment SPF 30 ($4.76)

Certain sunny day products can (and probably should) be no-frills, which is why I鈥檓 a big fan of . This lip balm is a classic for a reason: it has a non-sticky formula that hydrates and heals while protecting. I keep this option on hand to layer over lip color or bare lips throughout the day, and the fact that it鈥檚 not at all precious means it comes everywhere, from backpacking trips to the beach. The fact that it’s odorless and tasteless is a big win, too. This balm also gets some bonus points for the fact that it can be used for after-suncare, too, as the vitamin E and shea butter serve to soothe dried-out chapped lips.

鈥擟alin Van Paris, editor, Yoga Journal

2. Burt鈥檚 Bees Coco Loco SPF 30 Lip Balm ($4.99)

I recently visited my nearby Wegman鈥檚 and bought . I went for a 2.3-mile run the next day and swiped it on my lips after applying my body sunscreen. I absolutely loved how it felt going on my lips. It was smooth, creamy, and felt, surprisingly, luxurious. The scent is lovely, too; it smells like a blend of vanilla and coconut. It lasted for the duration of my run, and I didn鈥檛 need to reapply. I noticed a slight buttery vanilla taste when I licked my lips post-application, but it disappeared about 30 seconds later. With a $4.99 price point, this will definitely be one of my go-to options. (I also did a water and paper towel test to showcase its staying power. Check it out in the video below.)

鈥擜yana Underwood, senior health editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

3. Sun Bum鈥檚 Lip 30 Moisturizing Sunscreen Lip Balm ($9.99)

We use a lot of Sun Bum鈥檚 products in my household: SPF 50 Face Cream? Check. Original SPF 50 Lotion? Check. And, as a mom of two little ones and a teen, I carry a in my diaper bag at all times. So, as a brand loyalist, obviously, I swear by the . It goes on clear, feels hydrating and soothing, and while it features SPF 30, it doesn鈥檛 feel cakey or chalky like many sunscreen lip balms do. The best part is its slight coconut smell.

鈥擜bigail Wise, brand director, 国产吃瓜黑料

4. Coola鈥檚 Organic Liplux Classic Sunscreen Lip Balm ($12)

One of my favorite ways to protect my lips is with . It has an SPF of 30 and is water-resistant for up to two hours before it needs to be reapplied. It is completely natural, with cupuacu butter, raspberry, and jojoba seed oil added in for moisture. I found this lip balm because I鈥檓 a huge fan of , my favorite natural self-tanner, by far!

鈥擡milee Coblentz, packages editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

5. Primally Pure鈥檚 Sun Lip Balm SPF 15 ($14)

Primally Pure has a killer product for summer lip care. The brand’s has an SPF of 15, but also includes an advanced non-nano zinc oxide shield that protects the lips from both UVA and UVB rays. Its ingredient list includes: tallow, beeswax, and mango butter to provide deep moisture. I love Primally Pure, especially this product, which is a must for long days kayaking on the lake.

鈥擡milee Coblentz, packages editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Want more听国产吃瓜黑料听health stories?听.

The post Our Editors Picked the Best SPF Lip Balms appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Our gear editors and contributors have one of the best jobs in the world (we think). We get to be the first to try the latest and greatest in outdoor equipment and apparel, and our bosses don鈥檛 bat an eye when we set our Slack status to 鈥渙ut for a run鈥� or 鈥済one camping鈥� and disappear for a while to go test gear in the field.

As rad as this gear testing gig is, it can also be overwhelming. On any given day, we have boxes of shoes, backpacks, camp cookware, technical apparel, and more (much, much more) stacking up on our desks and in our closets. Not all the gear we test is worth writing about. But every few weeks, there are at least a handful of gadgets and toys that truly surprise and delight our experienced and discerning testers. From running and bike shoes to travel luggage to apparel every outdoor enthusiast should own, here鈥檚 the best gear we tested this month.

Gear We Tested and Love – June

Arc’teryx Granville 25

To hike a coastal trail in Japan this June, I needed a pack that would look discreet on planes and public transit but could perform in wet and humid conditions. (I could only bring a carry-on and personal item, and I didn’t want to look like a dork in Tokyo.) The Arc’teryx Granville 25 ended up being the perfect companion.

My Japanese guide approved of the sleek aesthetics. Functionally, the top flap kept everything contained and streamlined鈥攑erfect for sliding under an airplane seat or tucking between my knees on a train. I kept my wallet and passport hidden but still easily accessible in the water-tight outer pocket that secures under the lid. The exterior is made from a highly durable nylon ripstop that didn’t snag on branches in the forest and was easy to wipe clean when I accidentally squashed a couple bugs. It only sprinkled on us once during our 10 days on the train, but I never worried that my stuff would get wet.

Even though it’s quite heavy for a daypack (30.5 ounces) and I weighed it down further with a bento box full of convenience store candies and too many layers, the padded shoulder straps didn’t dig in and the AeroForm backpanel kept my back cool despite 70-degree temps and high humidity. A guy in the Seattle airport lounge said the pack made me look fancy. Little did he know that I had sweat all over it. I won’t be taking it on day hikes in the Pacific Northwest this summer because it’s a little too streetwear forward, but for trips that take me into urban and forested environments, it’ll be my first pick. 鈥擜melia Arvesen, 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor

Teva Aventrail

I鈥檝e been putting in a lot of miles on the trail this summer, and the Aventrail has become my favorite pair of trail runners. Teva is all in on max cushion right now, and the Aventrail is plush, while still being springy. I really liked the Velcro-strap tensioning system, and the mesh upper breathes well and dries fast.

The shoe has a lot of cushion underfoot, which is off-putting to some, but I鈥檝e felt perfectly stable while running over some really technical rock and root gardens. Need more proof? Pro runner Michael Wardian wore this shoe while thru-running the Appalachian Trail last fall, and that path is known for its technical terrain. One thing to note: the Aventrail has a relatively narrow toe box compared to many modern trail runners. It doesn鈥檛 bother me, but I know some have grown accustomed to more spacious kicks. 鈥擥raham Averill, gear and travel columnist

Yeti Rambler One Gallon Jug听

As a gear editor, I’m drowning in fancy vacuum-insulated vessels these days. Truly, I didn’t think I’d ever get excited about seeing a glorified Thermos ever again. The Ramble One Gallon Jug has proven to be an impressive party trick, however. It’s got all the same ruggedness and temperature retention as the brand’s other products, just supersized with some clever design. It was big enough to hold enough coffee to caffeinate a group of 16 on a recent early-morning birding adventure. It’s also handy if you want to prepare stew or chili for a crowd before heading to a campground without ever lighting the camp stove. The magnetic screw cap is a smart move for someone prone to losing small pieces of gear, and the overengineered handle makes hauling a gallon of fluids surprisingly painless. 鈥擝enjamin Tepler, senior gear editor

Related: Get Yeti gear on sale during REI’s 4th of July deals

The North Face Wawona 6 Tent

My husband and I did something brave this month: We took our 2-year-old and 9-month old camping for the first time. We survived this first family car camping trip mostly thanks to the Wawona 6-person tent. The 86-square-foot tent proved big enough to fit our Exped Megamat sleeping pad, another single sleeping pad for our toddler, and a regular-sized pack-n-play for our baby. The massive 45-square-foot front vestibule fit a family鈥檚 worth of gear鈥攁 backpack carrier, two duffels, and a camp chair鈥攁nd served as our little lounge during an evening rain storm.

Besides the generous interior (and 76-inch peak height that let us walk and stand freely within the tent), my favorite feature of this tent was all the interior pockets, especially those integrated on the rear door. These were so handy for keeping diapers, wipes, extra pacifiers, and kid books handy but out of the way. Make no mistake, this tent is huge, so you need a good-size campspot for it and two people to pitch it efficiently. But it鈥檚 an amazing tent for families who head out into the wild even when you鈥檝e got two under two and there鈥檚 rain in the forecast. 鈥�Jenny Wiegand, 国产吃瓜黑料 associate gear director听

Altra Experience Flow 2 Running Shoes

Turns out I鈥檝e been running wrong my entire life. My stride was too far forward so I was using my legs to pull me along the dirt or pavement. That killed my hip flexors and shins and left me sidelined for weeks. But with input from my local physical therapist I鈥檓 in the process of correcting things and have found that the Flow 2 are a useful tool. Thanks to a low 4mm heel drop and slight rocker, the shoes are perfectly designed to help me toe-off on each stride, which is the motion I need in order to push (instead of pull) through each step. The extra-wide toe box that the company is known for adds extra comfort in this push-off motion and also helps me feel more balanced as I land in my mid-foot area. The Flow 2s aren鈥檛 the cushiest shoes on the market but they鈥檙e still a solid all-around training shoe and stable enough for speed work. 鈥擩akob Schiller, 国产吃瓜黑料 gear tester and contributor

Yeti 14-Liter Tote Bag

Sometimes a cooler is overkill, but a paper bag isn鈥檛 enough, which is why Yeti launched this insulated tote bag. At 14 liters it鈥檒l hold enough lunch, snacks, and drinks for a full family picnic and has a light layer of insulation that keeps things cold for at least five or six hours. My wife recently took this as the snack bag for a road trip with her friends, and then a week later I packed it with ice and used it to keep drinks cold during an outdoor track meet. Like all things Yeti, the details all line up. A magnet in the lid ensures the top snaps closed, it鈥檚 made from indestructible nylon, and the Yeti ice blocks fit perfectly inside.

No Reception Club The Sidekick

I鈥檓 a huge fan of cross-body bags over purses and totes for daily errands and for traveling. I used to wear a minimalist, 1-liter bag that was just big enough to fit my keys, wallet, and cell phone. But that was before I had two kids. Now I need something bigger, but I still like to travel light. Enter The Sidekick. This 3-liter cross-body bag is big enough to fit all of my essentials plus emergency snacks, a spare diaper for each of my kids, and hand sanitizer. It also comes with a sleek, foldable changing mat that also fits snugly in the main zippered compartment. My favorite feature, though, is the separate back pocket with a magnetic closure specifically designed to store a pack of wipes. It makes cleaning up messes and sticky hands on the go so easy. Ten out of ten would recommend to all parents (and even non-parents). 鈥擩.奥.

686 Everywhere Hybrid Short

Warmer temps, including a few heat waves, have had me wearing primarily shorts and this pair from 686 is my go-to. The cut, stretch, and durable material make them great for just about any activity outside鈥擨鈥檝e hiked, biked, climbed, paddled, and done marathon yardwork sessions in these. They shrug off light precipitation while handling abrasive rock scooting and bushwacking through scrub oak as if made of kevlar.

Not only are they great for playing outdoors, they easily double as urban wear thanks to rear zip and side leg pockets (all RFID blocking), and a design aimed at organizing all of your EDC essentials. Between activities, simply brush the shorts off, or do a quick wipe with a wet cloth, and it鈥檒l look like you just put on a fresh pair. 鈥�Adam Trenkamp, 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab Test Editor

Giro Gritter Mountain Bike Shoes听

Gear We Tested and Loved – May

Rab Cubit Stretch Down Jacket

听

This is the puffy I have been looking for my whole life. I started testing it out in February, and it quickly became my go-to spring skiing layer. Warm and wind-resistant, it鈥檚 the perfect piece to wear听on a breezy summit, yet it鈥檚 packable enough to live in my pack for the rest of the day.

Now it’s become the perfect layer for shoulder season. I’ve worn it on chilly evenings camping in the Tetons, dinner dates in Chamonix, and thrown it on while pedaling to the market for groceries. This puffy is not a seasonal layer鈥攊t will be living at the front of my closet all year long. 鈥擫ily Ritter, 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor听

Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine听

Real espresso heads will probably laugh at me for owning this machine since it鈥檚 totally automated. Like all bespoke things, I鈥檓 assuming that if you want top-shelf espresso, you have to be more involved. However, I know what a good cappuccino, flat white, or cortado tastes like after sampling these drinks across the world for the past several decades, and the Touch Impress delivers brews that are 90 percent as good as the best I鈥檝e tried. In fact, the coffee I can make with this machine is so good I鈥檝e given up on going to coffee shops in favor of just making my own espresso drinks. We buy high-quality beans and make sure the water is filtered, but otherwise, the machine does all the work. 鈥擩akob Schiller, 国产吃瓜黑料 gear columnist

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag Roller听& Convertible Travel Bag 40L听

Before using these two Topo Designs bags, I was a disheveled traveler. But with this matching backpack and roller set, you’ll never again find me rifling through my bags in the middle of the terminal. The soft-sided roller has one large compartment that fits even the most overstuffed , a zippered panel serves as a dirty laundry deposit, and two mesh pockets organize socks and undies. A bar between the wheels makes it easy to grab听from the overhead bins without bonking anyone.

I use the backpack as overflow, stowing extra layers and travel mementos that don’t fit in the carry-on. The laptop sleeve is inconspicuous but easy to access, and the numerous internal and external pockets keep my essentials鈥攚allet, Airpods, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and snacks鈥攆rom sinking to the bottom. Straps secure the backpack to the roller bag’s handle, giving my shoulders a break while waiting in long airport lines. One ding: The roller exceeds some international luggage dimensions; I was asked to check it on a flight to Qu茅bec. 鈥擜melia Arvesen, 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor听

Early Rider Super Velio Bike

On the eve of my son’s second birthday, I bought him a used Strider bike from our local second-hand gear store. I was so excited to get him on a bike this summer I was crushed when I realized he was still too little to use it. The Strider proved too big, heavy, and unwieldy for his still-developing motor skills. Then this thing showed up on my doorstep for testing. The Early Rider Super Velio looks like something straight out of Tron, which is probably one reason why my son instantly gravitated towards it. But the main reason he likes it is because he can actually use it鈥攂y himself.

The Super Velio is specifically designed for toddlers under two (and even babies as young as 8 months, depending on how tall and coordinated they are) to use before they get on a balance bike like a Strider. Though my kiddo is technically above the recommended age limit, he’s a little guy (2’11”), and the Super Velio is a good size for him. Its magnesium frame is light enough for him to handle, the seat is low to the ground so his short legs can reach comfortably, and the massive, spherical wheels (balls?) increase stability so my timid little guy isn’t afraid of tipping over.

The brand’s ABC (Active Balance Control) steering system also purportedly helps reduce wobbles and actively guides the wheels to help the bike stay upright; this system is adjustable via an allen key above the back wheel鈥攜ou can add tension to the rear wheel to make the bike less responsive to wobbles, or reduce tension to make the bike more responsive once kiddos get better at handling the bike. My son is still figuring this training bike out, and at this point, he prefers sitting on it while I push him via the tiller that attaches to the back. It’s yet to be determined whether the Super Velio will help my kiddo ride independently sooner than a traditional balance bike, but because he’s still too little for a Strider, it’s definitely giving him earlier opportunities to practice on a two-wheeled bike.听鈥擩enny Wiegand, 国产吃瓜黑料 associate gear director

Mountain Hardwear Butter Up Hoody

Breathable and stretchy, this sun hoody has become my go-to for long ski tours, springtime mountain bike rides, and muddy trail runs. The jersey knit fabric feels as soft as my favorite pajamas, and the hood has the perfect amount of stretch鈥擨 can pull it over a helmet while skiing, but it also sits comfortably over a hat while hiking. The scuba hood design adds a little extra protection from the sun, making it ideal for warm days on the water. I typically go for merino base layers (which manage body odor) for multi-day trips, but I was surprised that this one never stunk, even after wearing it for four days in a row on a glacier this spring. 鈥擫.搁.

Topo ST-5 Running Shoes

These are some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. The soft, flexible upper hugs my foot from heel to ball like a second skin, while the toe box is roomy and airy, with plenty of space for splay, even when wearing . Underfoot, a half-inch, zero-drop layer of firmly bouncy Zipfoam allows me to feel and interact with the ground without getting bruised by it. The Topo ST-5 has become my default casual shoe, especially when traveling (like I did several times in May); they kept me feeling balanced and nimble while walking for miles on sidewalks and stairs, standing for hours, and running short distances. Their clean styling and subdued colors (I have both a black and a grey pair) let me wear them anywhere, from a run to a restaurant, without feeling out of place. And my podiatrist friends tell me that they are , too. 鈥擩onathan Beverly, 国产吃瓜黑料 senior gear editor

Rab Protium 20L Day Pack

I鈥檝e been testing out a lot of hiking gear recently, which means I鈥檝e been putting a lot of miles on the trail. The Protium is the pack that I keep coming back to for most of my day hikes. It鈥檚 relatively light weight (just over 2 pounds, empty), but is loaded with user-friendly features, like a shoulder harness that can be adjusted to your specific torso, and easy-access stash pockets all over the outside of the pack鈥攖wo on the hips, two for water bottles, and one large expandable mesh pocket on the back. I like to keep my snacks and rain jacket handy, so these pockets have been clutch.

I鈥檓 not a trekking pole devotee, but there鈥檚 an attachment point for those too. The terrain here in the Southern Appalachians is steep, and there are plenty of opportunities for hand-over-hand scrambling. The Protium shines in these situations as it fits snug to my back, eliminating any sway or bounce when I鈥檓 moving fast or handling technical terrain. It even comes with a built-in rain cover, which has proven handy since spring in the Southern Appalachians means daily rain showers. 鈥�Graham Averill, 国产吃瓜黑料 travel and gear columnist听

LIVSN x Gnara Ecotrek Overalls

In general, I’m a huge fan of overalls鈥攖hey’re comfy, practical, and moderately cute, and most have tons of pockets for snacks, drywall nails, gardening shears, and cool rocks. The only thing I don’t like? Having to get basically naked to pee. Enter the which have a hidden central zipper. The product of a collab between outdoor lifestyle brand LIVSN and women’s pants brand Gnara (a pee-zip pioneer), these things have quickly become my daily drivers (in fact, I’m wearing them as I write this.)

The central pee zip goes from front waistband to tailbone, making it easy to squat and go without baring your booty to other trail users. And the durable, water-repellent, quick-dry fabric has thus far shrugged off light snowfall, summer squalls, poison ivy, and even thorny underbrush. I use them for everything from yardwork to setting at my local gym to hiking in the foothills around Boulder, Colorado. They’re a little pricey at $229, but I expect them to outlive me. And if time is money, then just count up the minutes I’ve saved by not having to disrobe entirely for pee breaks and they’ve already paid for themselves. 鈥擟orey Buhay, interim 国产吃瓜黑料 managing editor

Giro Imperial II Road Cycling Shoe

After three consecutive seasons of solely using mountain bike shoes, I’m back to road cycling shoes. The reason? The BOA Li2 closure system has made the lightweight (220 grams) Giro Imperial II road cycling shoes my new go-to bike shoes. The Li2 has solved many of the gripes that I formerly had with BOA’s innovative dial-and-cable closure systems鈥攕pecifically that they could not hold up to my daily use (and abuse). I ride hard, and due to my narrow foot, I tend to crank down my shoe laces or buckles or BOA dials to their maximum for every ride.

After more than a month of daily riding, the Li2 system’s alloy dial and CS1 lace have not slipped or stretched. I am also impressed with the Li2’s dual-direction micro-adjustability, which allows me to wrench down the fit for climbs, and then back off a few clicks for descents. And finally, the low-profile dials don’t get caught on my leg warmers or overshoes, which makes it easy to adjust these layers when riding. You can find BOA鈥檚 new Li2 on a growing number of cycling shoes: Specialized S-Works Ares II, Fizik Vega Carbon 2 and Vento Carbon 2, and Shimano S-Phyre RC902. 鈥擣rederick Dreir, 国产吃瓜黑料 articles editor

Halfdays Ynes Longsleeve Top听

In the eight years that I鈥檝e been testing gear for a living, I鈥檝e only come across a handful of clothing pieces that are true standouts in the wide-reaching and crowded apparel category. The Halfdays Ynes Longsleeve Top is one of these. I鈥檝e worn it at least 20 days this month because it鈥檚 now the most comfortable, versatile, and stylish shirt in my closet. This top, made from 87 percent recycled polyester, 11 percent Tencel, and 2 percent spandex, feels like butter next to skin, is ultra-stretchy, and is so lightweight and breathable that I can comfortably wear it on hikes in 80-degree temps even when I have my built-in furnace attached to me (aka, my 8-month-old daughter).

I鈥檓 also obsessed with ruched fabric and the mock neck cut that provides additional protection from the sun and makes this technical layer stylish enough for a night out on the town. Like other synthetic tops, the Ynes does tend to hold on to odors; but despite the delicate-feeling fabric, it has held up surprisingly well to extensive wear and five machine washes. 鈥擩.奥.听

More Gear Reviews

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The post The Best Gear and Equipment We Tested This Month (June) appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

We test a lot of gear here at 国产吃瓜黑料, and we have the data to prove it. For the 2025 Summer Gear Guide on 国产吃瓜黑料, , and , our gear editors, category managers, and testers put more than 800 products through many months of rigorous field testing.

After adding hundreds (and in some cases, thousands) of collective miles on each shoe, watch, bike, etc., we collected testers鈥� written feedback, tallied scores, and hand-picked 377 products across 66 categories鈥攆rom to running shoes to mountain bikes and more鈥攖o include in our 鈥渂est of鈥� lists. We鈥檝e spent years tweaking and perfecting our testing process and stand behind the performance of every one of these products.

No amount of advertising dollars can buy brands a spot on our gear lists. (This should go without saying, but we鈥檒l play the record on repeat until it sinks in.) To be included in 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Gear Guide, a product has to perform and impress in the real world, plain and simple. Gear that doesn鈥檛 live up to the challenge doesn鈥檛 make the cut, while gear that blows the socks off our savvy testers earns a special nod: our coveted Editors鈥� Choice award.

This season, just eight of the 800-plus products tested earned this distinction. These pieces either demonstrated best-in-class performance (applause for the Trek Slash+ eMTB), showcased exciting new technology (see the Garmin InReach Messenger), or have reinvented the wheel for classic products (props to the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad).

While only seven products earned our Editors’ Choice award, there were plenty of others that rose above the competition in their respective categories. You鈥檒l find those items listed here, too. If thoroughly vetted, top-tier gear is what you鈥檙e after, keep reading.

At a Glance

• Editors鈥� Choice Satellite Messenger: Garmin InReach($500)
• Editors鈥� Choice Electric MTB: Trek Slash+ ($13,200)
• Editors鈥� Choice Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft ($240-260)
• Editors鈥� Choice Trail MTB: Canyon Spectral ($5,799)
• Editors鈥� Choice Road Bike: Enve Melee ($4,800)
• Editors鈥� Choice Gravel Bike: Specialized Crux DSW ($2,600)
• Editors鈥� Choice Enduro MTB: Trek Slash ($10,300)
• More Top-Performing Gear听

Editors鈥� Choice Satellite Messenger

Garmin InReach Messenger Plus

Improvements in satellite messaging tech tend to be slow and incremental, but the Messenger Plus takes a huge leap forward in backcountry communication. It鈥檚 the first such device to be able to send photos and voice memos. And long missives, historically broken up into bite-sized messages over a few minutes, are sent in mere seconds thanks to significant hardware and software upgrades from previous iterations. All this, and the Messenger Plus still weighs a scant 4.1 ounces in the form of a tiny, 3.1-by-2.5-by-0.9 inch puck.

Editors鈥� Choice Electric MTB

Trek Slash+

Trek electrified the Slash, and we are obsessed. The decently powerful motor and impressive battery range paired with a comfortable suspension makes this a winning build. While the price is on the high side for the electric mountain bike category, the joy of riding this thing is worth it. It powers up hills, and coasts on descents, all the while keeping you stable and strong. The wide range of adjustments mean you can customize it to your liking. Read more.

Editors鈥� Choice Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft

TAR鈥檚 NeoLoft is the first sleeping pad to bring true car camping comfort into the backcountry. Thanks to the brand鈥檚 clever use of triangular, air-filled chambers and a heat-reflective coating for insulation, it鈥檚 able to keep the weight of this pad down to a respectable 25 ounces (in regular) and a packed size of just 5.7-by-9.5 inches. But with a raised 鈥済uard rail鈥� around the perimeter, stiff, 4.6-inch-thick sidewalls to provide structure, and a soft, stretchy knit polyester face fabric, this pad will keep even the heaviest side-sleepers snoozing through the night.

Editors鈥� Choice Trail MTB

Canyon Spectral

At home on a broad range of trails, the Canyon Spectral surprised us with its snappy energy. We鈥檇 recommend this trail bike to any kind of rider for its versatility, from its supportive suspension on climbs and descents to its convenient in-frame storage that can stash a tube and tire lever. Bonus points for the flip chain on the chainstay that can accommodate dual 29-inch wheels or mixed wheels. Read more.

Editors鈥� Choice Road Bike

Enve Melee

The Melee is Enve鈥檚 first production bike that isn鈥檛 custom, and we dig it. But with a wide range of sizes and drivetrain choices, it鈥檚 still semi customizable. Lightweight and aerodynamically optimised, it鈥檚 designed to go anywhere a modern road cyclist wants to go. By placing the rider in a slightly upright position, it鈥檚 both comfortable and ready to respond. Read more.

Editors鈥� Choice Gravel Bike

Specialized Crux DSW

Don鈥檛 write off this premium gravel bike just because it has an alloy frame. Specialized claims that at 1,399 grams for a 56 centimeter frame, the Crux DSW is the lightest aluminum gravel bike frame ever made. That鈥檚 about one pound more than most traditional carbon gravel bikes. The geometry, cable routing, and seat post are all relatively simple and straightforward, which works in this bike鈥檚 favor, making it an accessible option for both beginners and spec heads. As for its handling, we felt spry and encouraged to go faster on tight singletrack. Read more.

Editors鈥� Choice Enduro MTB

Trek Slash

Typically known for playing it safe, Trek pushed the envelope this year with this year鈥檚 Slash. It features a high pivot layout (the main pivot is placed above the top of the chainring and the rear axle) that can mow through chunky sections of trail but also stay dialed in tight and slow spots. Jumping felt natural, intuitive, fun, and energetic, especially on smaller side hits and natural doubles. Overall, its versatile geometry, persistence on uphills, and speed on downhills won our hearts. Read more.

Best Road Running Shoe

Asics Novablast 5

The Novablast 5 impressed our editors with its fun, versatile performance and superior cushioning-to-weight ratio. Its new midsole material delivered a buttery smooth ride that was simultaneously plush and energetic underfoot. The wide base kept it stable during long runs, and the light weight and responsive foam made it nimble enough to hold its own during uptempo efforts. Almost anyone can feel comfortable during nearly any run in the NovaBlast 5, making it our top pick. Read more.

Best Trail Running Shoe

Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide

We were initially leery of this funky-looking shoe with a wavy sole and huge stack height (41鈥�35 mm) topped by ankle-deep sidewalls, but the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide delivered a surprising blend of cushioning, stability, and responsiveness. The shoe employs a chassis of firmer foam around the perimeter to reduce tipping, while a core of soft and bouncy PEBA/EVA blend made the ride comfortable and springy. Underneath, the wavy indents in the sole actually worked, morphing over uneven surfaces and keeping the ride smooth and supportive on nearly every terrain. The Ultra Glide was so much fun we found ourselves reaching for it more often than any other shoe in the test, making it easy to name as our all-around favorite. Read more.

Best Sports Watch

Garmin Enduro 3

Our editors called the Garmin Enduro 3 one of the best sports watches we鈥檝e ever tested thanks to its wealth of features, big (51 mm) screen, light weight, and phenomenal battery life. The time between charges stood out most: with solar charging it can last up to 90 days of general use, and 320 hours (that鈥檚 13+ days) of GPS tracking鈥攚e often went for more than a month without needing to charge, using the watch 24/7 with about an hour of activity tracking per day. We never found an sport it didn鈥檛 have a tracking mode for (it even has rugby, and wakeboarding), and the analysis of metrics like training readiness were clear and useful. The Enduro 3 also has plenty of space for downloading maps or songs, the interface for tasks like creating custom screens is intuitive, and the strap was the most comfortable and effective we鈥檝e found. Read more.

Best Sport Earbuds

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort emerged as our all-around favorite sport earbuds with their understated, competent performance. The earbuds deliver Bose鈥檚 signature smooth, warm, and balanced sound, active noise cancellation, and an above-average battery life (8.5 hours with ANC on). Testers also appreciated their secure fit while working out, and the easy-to-use app that let you modify touch controls or enable voice commands. The Bluetooth Multipoint feature let us connect a phone and a laptop at the same time, without needing to fuss with Bluetooth settings every time, and the reasonable price sealed the all-around best award. Read more.

Headlamp with the Best Features

Coast RL35R Headlamp

If you鈥檝e ever ski-toured at night or tackled a pre-dawn summit, you鈥檒l know the pain of pulling off thick gloves and fumbling with a headlamp while moving at speeds or holding onto a rope. The RL35R headlamp solves that with its clever voice-activated functionality, which allows you to turn the headlamp on and off, swap between beams, brightness settings, and colors. And with a powerful 1100-lumen beam, red, blue, and green light modes, and an extendable battery for stashing in your coat, the RL35R can handle the job in nearly any climate.

Best Men鈥檚 Rain Shell

Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity Shell Jacket 2.0

Finding a hardshell that can stand up to heavy rainstorms and driving snow while still being breathable and not weighing you down is a bit of a pipe dream, but Helly Hansen鈥檚 Verglas Infinity 2.0 is the closest we鈥檝e ever tested. Helly Hansen鈥檚 proprietary three-layer shell proved positively impenetrable over a season of testing, including several spring snowstorms while ski-touring. And thanks to new weight-shaving measures, the jacket clocks in at under a pound鈥攁 respectable burden for a quiver-killer.

Best Women鈥檚 Hiking Boot

La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike GTX

The Aequilibrium Hike GTX is a rare boot capable of handling up to 40-pound loads in mountainous terrain while still feeling light and flexible enough for casual dayhikes. Sturdy mountain chops come courtesy of a resilient PU foam midsole with a polypropylene stiffener and abrasion-resistant welts and fabric at the toe and heel. It鈥檚 counterbalanced by a PU-injected rubber outsole that felt bouncy on hard-packed trail and a high, stretchy ankle that resembles a neoprene sock, keeps dirt and gravel out, and doesn鈥檛 chafe over long miles.

Best Car Camping Tent

Nemo Aurora Highrise 4

As a temporary shelter, we usually expect some level of discomfort from a tent. But the Aurora Highrise 4 impressed us with its supreme livability. When Nemo says four-person, they really mean it: A family of four slept comfortably inside its 75-inch peak height and 62.5-square-foot floor area, and stored their gear within two generous 19.5-square-foot vestibules. Steep sidewalls create even more headroom, so much that our 6-foot-2 tester could stand upright and move around freely. Doors on either side allow easy in-and-out access, and setting up two base poles and two cross poles was a breeze even for first-timers. Small details make a huge difference, like the canopy pocket for diffusing light at night and the slightly opaque mesh windows that offer shade. We could easily camp in the Aurora Highrise all summer. Read more.

Best Camping Sleeping Pad

Nemo Roamer Double Sleeping Pad

Nemo gets double the accolades when it comes to car camping gear. The Roamer Double Sleeping Pad gave us the best nights of sleep during our testing period, and it was also the most efficient to self inflate and easiest to deflate and pack up when it came time to break down camp. Editors loved the generous 78-by-52-inch sleeping area, which comfortably fit two adults and their six-year-old child. Rather than a plasticky or crinkly texture that you find on many other sleeping pads, the Roamer Double has a four-way-stretch polyester fabric and TPU topper that is soft against the skin, so you can do without a sheet and thrash all you want without waking your sleeping partner. Sufficient beauty rest is worth the $400 investment. Read more.

Best Action Camera

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

This time around, Insta360 podiumed higher than the reigning GoPro and DJI with its Ace Pro 2, co-engineered with Leica. Editors most loved the ultra high-resolution footage, rich 4K slow-mo, and high-quality audio of this action camera for skiing, cycling, overlanding, and more. A dedicated chip helps with low-light shooting, and a back screen flips up for selfie footage that doesn鈥檛 point straight up your nose. More experienced shooters will have an easier time dialing settings, but the camera鈥檚 interface is also pretty intuitive even for newbies. Read more.

Best Cooler

Yeti Roadie 32 Wheeled Cooler

Why carry your fully-loaded cooler when you can wheel it? With a telescoping handle and off-road wheels that easily navigate over rough terrain, the Roadie 32 won top marks as the most portable cooler of our test. And what鈥檚 more, it retained coolness far beyond our expectations. The taller height accommodated wine bottles alongside our snacks and cans, and the single drain plug made it easy to refresh ice and clean once we got back from adventuring. Read more.

Best Bike Rack

Kuat Piston Pro

Despite getting lighter and lighter, bikes are still awkward to load and unload. But the Kuat Piston Pro makes transitions from home to trail and back again simple with the press of a lever. The dual arm opens wide for fiddle-free loading, and the foot-operated tilt mechanism allows easy trunk access even when the tray is already weighed down. We love that this hitch frame secures both tires (accommodates a variety of sizes) and avoids frame contact. No scratches on the new build. Read more.

Best Outdoor Climbing Shoe

Scarpa Arpia V

With a subtle downturn and asymmetry, the Scarpa Arpia V hits a sweet spot for intermediate to advanced climbers pushing into 5.13. Its precise toe, comfy fit, and wide-foot-friendly last excel on everything from limestone to gneiss. Testers praised its edging, smearing, and all-day comfort. While durability dips after about 20 sessions, the shoe softens into a sensitive workhorse. It’s a solid pick for gym mileage, sport projecting, or multipitch days on mixed terrain.

More from the 2025 Summer Gear Guide

The Best Trailers and Campers
The Best Duffels, Backpacks, and Roller Bags
The Best Camp Chairs听

The post We Tested More Than 800 Pieces of Summer Gear. These 7 Are the Best. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

For more than 110 years, Brooks has pushed the boundaries of motion science, engineering, and technology to create gear that helps you achieve your best鈥攚hether it’s reaching a physical milestone, improving your mental clarity, or simply beating the year ahead.

Sign up below to win the ultimate race weekend package from Brooks worth up to $3,900, including a race entry stipend for you and a friend, a Brooks eGift card, and $2,000 to use toward travel and lodging.

The post Win the Ultimate Race Weekend Package appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

国产吃瓜黑料 editors know the importance of taking a break any time of the year, but summer trips hit different. Where are we traveling this summer? Some of us have plans to escape the heat waves in U.S. for winter in Cape Town, South Africa, which has no shortage of outdoor thrills within its city limits. Another editor is heading to one of Washington state鈥檚 most remote and quirky towns to cool off on alpine-lake trails. While others are taking a runcation through Chamonix鈥檚 glacier-dotted mountains, and exploring a sci-fi-themed desert outpost in Utah.

Haven鈥檛 dialed in your summer vacation yet? With our always-online days, it鈥檚 more important than ever to put your phone in airplane mode and get a dose of nature’s healing vibes. Even if it鈥檚 just for a few hours while you visit your closest national park (pro-tip: visit natural parks with swimming holes). As always, the most important thing is to simply get outside.

Here are the trips we鈥檝e booked.

Chamonix, France听

When I learned I鈥檇 be shipping off to Paris on assignment in late July鈥攁nd that I鈥檇 have a few extra days to myself once the work was done鈥擨 immediately started making plans to visit Chamonix, which lies听tucked amid glacier-encrusted peaks and serrated ridgelines in the heart of the French Alps. I鈥檇 always known Cham was a global climbing epicenter, but it wasn鈥檛 until last year that I learned it was a trail-running paradise, too. I was getting back into running at the time and stumbled upon about some of the best trails in the area. Now, I鈥檓 training for a 40-miler in Telluride this summer, and I can鈥檛 imagine a better place to sneak in some last-minute training. On the list: the Petits Balcons trails (I hear there鈥檚 a good ice cream shop along the way), and sections of the iconic Tour de Mont Blanc.

鈥擟orey Buhay, 国产吃瓜黑料 interim managing editor

Exploring Around Utah听

My home state of Utah never fails to amaze me. There are new destinations, trails, and campsites I鈥檓 constantly adding to my list and checking out for the first time. We鈥檝e been ticking off a number of staycations, including finally visiting the new sci-fi themed OutpostX resort in the sagebrush country of Beryl, Utah.

Loosely inspired by Star Wars films, OutpostX lets guests travel endlessly around the desert landscape by sand cruiser (kind of like the landspeeders in the film, except they don鈥檛 hover or go fast). Beyond this headline amenity, we got to marvel at installation art plopped down in the middle of a dried lakebed, stay in a bohemian-styled Viking Tent, and watch the sunset from an听onsite hot spring.

On the same trip, I also fulfilled a long-held dream of visiting , an aspen clonal colony that鈥檚 considered the world鈥檚 largest living organism. Each tree in this 9,000-year-old aspen grove is genetically identical and connected by a massive root system. We camped amid Pando and mountain biked around nearby Fish Lake.

Later this summer, we鈥檒l be spending a couple nights with friends up at Castle Peak Yurt in the Uinta Mountains. We鈥檒l be SUPing at nearby high-alpine lakes, where I plan to attempt the SUP jumprope challenge, then unwind听in the yurt鈥檚 cedar sauna.

鈥擬aya Silver, Climbing editor-in-chief

Cape Town, South Africa听

This summer I鈥檓 headed to Cape Town where it will be winter. I know escaping summer for winter sounds strange, but there will be fewer crowds and milder weather (and no heat waves). And I scored an incredible stay so I can visit friends. Years ago, I was in South Africa on safari, but this is my first visit to its coastal capital where there鈥檚 no shortage of outdoor thrills within the city limits.

From Cape Town鈥檚 defining Table Mountain which dominates the skyline, to the two oceans that meet here, the Atlantic and the Indian, dramatic nature emerges in every direction. While this is a place known for shark diving, I鈥檇 rather do a mellow dive in Cape Town鈥檚 kelp forest, the dreamy undersea world where My Octopus Teacher was filmed. I plan to drive one of the most jaw-dropping coastal roads in the world, Chapman’s Peak, which is a bucket list for many cyclists to ride as well.

At the , I鈥檒l try to spot an ostrich by the sea. And no trip to Cape Town is complete without seeing African penguins at Boulders and hiking up Table Mountain. While the sun sets here now before 6 pm, that doesn鈥檛 seem so bad if I can watch it from the top of Lion’s Head Peak, taking in the incredible view of the dazzling coast below.

鈥� Kathleen Rellihan, 国产吃瓜黑料 travel and culture senior editor

Keystone, Colorado

Back in the mid-eighties, my father-in-law Tim bought a studio unit in one of the then-new condominium buildings at Colorado鈥檚 Keystone Resort. Nearly forty years later, the 500-square-foot space has become a godsend for my wife, my daughter, and me. It鈥檚 our sanctuary from the Mad Max-style driving chaos that occurs on Colorado鈥檚 Interstate 70 on most afternoons. We鈥檙e lucky鈥攚e don鈥檛 have to drive to and from Summit County every day, and can instead sleep overnight and wait for mellow periods to do our commute.

Ski trips to the Keystone condo are a breeze in the winter, but the place is even more magical in the summer. I鈥檒l admit, the condo has dulled my old desires for roughing it-style backcountry adventures. And no, a trip up to Keystone is hardly exotic or adventuresome. But traveling there with a young child takes a lot of the headache and stress out of a vacation. The hiking and biking trails start right out the back. The blue-green water of the Snake River is just a five-minute walk down the path. And yeah, there鈥檚 a pool and a hot tub. My wife has fond memories of family outings to the condo, and our five-year-old daughter is already making her own. This summer we are planning on a two-week trip to the condo in late July. I can鈥檛 wait for the trip to arrive.

鈥� Fred Dreier, 国产吃瓜黑料 articles editor

Nantucket, Massachusetts

This summer, I鈥檓 swapping my usual multi-day backpacking grind for something a little softer: a first-time trip to Nantucket (one of 国产吃瓜黑料‘s Best Summer Weekend Trips for 2025). I鈥檒l be staying on the west end where I plan to spend slow mornings biking the island鈥檚 35+ miles of paved paths, walking into town for a decaf coffee, and down to the beach with a towel slung over my shoulder. I鈥檓 hoping for daily ocean swims (maybe watching the surfers at Miacomet) and afternoons spent fishing.

There鈥檚 no summit to reach here, and that鈥檚 exactly the point. Lately, I鈥檝e been reminding myself that getting outside doesn鈥檛 have to mean high mileage goals or big objectives. Sometimes it just means following the coastline on two wheels, letting my phone battery go dead, and watching the sunset while eating oysters in the sand. I鈥檒l always love the mountains (and will spend as many summer weekends in them as possible), but this trip, I鈥檓 chasing a different kind of reset鈥攁nd letting Nantucket show me how good the mellow can be.

鈥� Sierra Shafer, 国产吃瓜黑料 editorial director, Lifestyle

Chanhassen, Minnesota

I鈥檓 planning to visit Paisley Park, located in Chanhassen, Minnesota, with my twin sister. While we鈥檙e听 both fans of Prince, she is a superfan. We鈥檝e (read: she鈥檚) always wanted to check out his massive home and studio which is nearly 65,000 square feet and rests on about nine acres of land. I鈥檓 excited to explore his 鈥渃reative sanctuary.鈥� I鈥檝e also never been to Minnesota before, and I鈥檓 more than ready to explore a new state that feels totally foreign to me.

We also want to check out in Saint Paul. I’m the outdoorsy twin, so this one is for me. The park is about a 30-minute-ish drive from Prince鈥檚 estate. There鈥檚 a scenic waterfall tucked away on the trails. The last waterfall I saw was near a cenote in Mexico in 2016. Before that, sometime in the early 2000s, I swam in a lagoon under a massive waterfall in Cura莽ao. I鈥檇 say I鈥檓 due for another waterfall.

Since we plan on renting a car, I鈥檓 more than happy to drive two hours south of Chanhassen to visit the Spam Museum. I鈥檝e never eaten Spam because the look of it repulses me, but I need to know why it鈥檚 so loved. Plus, I want to see how it鈥檚 made. Maybe, I鈥檒l taste some. But probably not.

鈥� Ayana Underwood, 国产吃瓜黑料 senior health editor

Stehekin, Washington

I鈥檒l be heading to one of Washington State鈥檚 most remote towns: Stehekin. Nestled in the heart of the North Cascades, this mountain community is full of retired hippies, magic makers, and wanderers. With a permanent population of barely a 100 residents, there are no roads in, so outsiders (like me) must take the ferry to reach town. I鈥檒l first drive to Fields Point Landing in Chelan, then ferry across the lake to the middle of Stehekin where I鈥檒l begin my trek to Purple Point Campground where I鈥檒l camp.

On my first day, I鈥檒 explore all the quirky things that make Stehekin unique. On day two, I鈥檒l climb up McGregor Mountain, an iconic spot that looms over the valley. It鈥檚 8-miles to the top, but I鈥檒l stop at the 7-mile mark where the trail ends since I have zero experience in rock climbing to make the summit.

Day three I鈥檒l hike Purple Creek Trail near the campground. It reaches out to just about 10 miles, but I鈥檒l stop at the 8-mile mark at Purple Pass. I鈥檒l bed down for the night and make the trek back the next day. Once back from my second day hike, I鈥檒l pack up my gear, grab a beer with friends, and hit the road back to Spokane.

鈥� Emilee Coblentz, 国产吃瓜黑料 packages editor

Southern Oregon

While my big adventure in Japan is coming this fall, summer will find me dipping in Oregon鈥檚 enchanting rivers which are, truthfully, a major reason why I moved here.

, a campground and farm in Cave Junction, has become an annual jaunt, and for good reason. With 60 campsites spread over 100 acres along the Illinois River, the land is the ultimate spot for a river rat respite (it’s also the top-rated in Oregon). Each year, Cedar Bloom plays host to the , but the opportunity to spend a few nights on this stretch of land sans thousands of other people is pretty special. Private beaches and swimming holes abound鈥攁nd not to get all woo-woo, but the energy is awesome.

Whether on the drive there or back (or both), I鈥檒l be pulling off I-5 to swim in the Umpqua, McKenzie, and Willamette Rivers. An explorer鈥檚 mindset is key here: pull up a map, trace the tributaries, keep your eyes open, and expect to find some of the most unreal swimming holes you鈥檝e ever seen or swam.

鈥� Calin Van Paris, Yoga Journal editor

Need more inspiration to plan your next summer adventure? Check out our picks for the best long summer weekend trips for 2025.

The post Where 国产吃瓜黑料 Editors Are Traveling This Summer appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.