It doesn鈥檛 matter what you drive, the only part that touches the ground is the tires. And that means components like your 4×4 or AWD system, brakes, and motor are only as good as the tires they work through. Let me make it easy for you to understand which tires are right for your vehicle, and the conditions you drive through.

Why Not Just Keep Things Stock?

The tires that come on new cars aren鈥檛 always chosen for how they鈥檒l perform in real life. Automakers have long been to hit strict fuel-economy targets, with huge fines if they fall short. One of the easiest ways to squeeze out a little extra efficiency in government tests is by equipping cars with tires like the ones you see typically come with new cars. But those gains are tiny. In the real world, they鈥檙e usually wiped out by traffic, weather, terrain, or simply the way people drive. TL;DR: stock tires are often designed to help carmakers pass a test, not to give you the best performance on the road.

Is There Such a Thing as One Tire That Can Do Everything?

No. Every tire is a compromise. If you want to boost rain performance, for example, one of the things you鈥檇 do is increase the percentage of silica versus natural rubber in the tire鈥檚 compound. But the higher the silica content, the greater the propensity for damage when driving on gravel or rocky surfaces, so that very good rain tire will wear very rapidly if used away from paved roads.

Each tire has a specific set of circumstances in which it鈥檚 designed to work best and a type of vehicle it鈥檚 designed to work with. The burden is then on you to match a tire to the conditions you encounter most frequently.

For many drivers, the answer is not a single tire. If you drive in places that experience winter conditions, you need to run a tire designed to perform in extreme cold and on surfaces as varied as slush, snow, and bare ice. Advancements in rubber compounds have given modern winter tires unbelievable amounts of grip on hitherto slippery surfaces, but those same compounds will rapidly wear out in above freezing temperatures. So it doesn鈥檛 make sense to leave winter tires on during summer months or if you鈥檙e driving to a warmer climate.

Conversely, tires designed to last many miles, or perform well in above freezing temperatures, are unable to deliver safe grip below freezing or on slippery winter surfaces. Drivers who tackle both need two sets of tires, which they should switch out late each fall and early spring, or before any trip to a place with different weather.

How Tires Are Made

Starting from the inside out, a tire鈥檚 strength is provided by its carcass, a meshwork steel or synthetic fibers. Decades ago, before the advent of modern material technologies, tire carcasses were made from cotton canvas. To make a tire stronger, additional layers of canvas (called plies) were added. You can still find those referenced on modern tires today, with their weight capacities listed in 鈥減ly equivalents.鈥� (I explained them in detail back in 2021 as part of a deep dive into all-terrain tires.)

A carcass designed to support less weight will be more flexible and require less air to achieve proper inflation. A carcass designed to support more weight will be less flexible and require higher air pressure. A more flexible tire will provide more grip and better ride quality, and changing the weight capacity of the tires on your vehicle will require you to use different pressures than those listed in your vehicle鈥檚 owner鈥檚 manual.

A tire鈥檚 tread and sidewall are made by compounding natural and synthetic rubbers with chemicals, like sulfur and carbon black. This is where most of a tire鈥檚 performance is achieved. Different performance metrics, like what kinds of surfaces a tire can grip or how many miles it鈥檒l last, are achieved in the compound. This can make visually assessing a tire difficult, since all you see is black rubber.

That rubber compound and carcass are then combined in a mold, which also forms the shape of the tire鈥檚 tread and sidewall. The deeper the tread (typically expressed in fractions of an inch), the better its pattern will grip loose surfaces and clear standing water. Tread depth also indicates how much rubber has been applied to the carcass. The thicker the rubber, the more miles it will last and the better the tire will be at resisting punctures.

The pattern in which a tire鈥檚 tread is molded is also determines how it can clear water or mud, hang onto snow (the best material for gripping snow is more snow), and mechanically key with off-road surfaces. More open patterns also tend to be noisier, as they catch more air as they spin.

Performance is a combination of all those factors: the carcass鈥檚 flexibility, the chemical properties of the rubber compound, and the pattern and depth of the tread.

Decoding the Sidewall

How do you determine if a tire is designed for your vehicle, and the conditions in which you plan to drive? Every tire tells you that exact information, right on its sidewall. There鈥檚 a lot of information on a tire鈥檚 sidewall; here’s what’s most important to drivers of normal cars, crossovers, trucks and SUVs, who use their vehicles on and off-road and in winter weather.

Tire Size

The first and most important piece of information is the tire size. On passenger car tires, these will be expressed in metric form, with a size like 265/70R18: 鈥�265鈥� is the tire鈥檚 width in millimeters and 鈥�70鈥� is the tire鈥檚 aspect ratio鈥攐r the height measured from the outer rim to the tread, as a percentage of its width. The 鈥淩鈥� stands for radial, and is a type of carcass now universal. The 鈥�18鈥� is the diameter of the wheel the tire is designed to fit.

On some larger trucks and 4x4s, you may find the tire size listed in imperial measurements. Those will read something like 35×12.5R18. These are much easier to read, with 35 being the tire鈥檚 outside diameter (in inches), 12.5 being its width, and 18 its wheel diameter.

In almost all cases, you鈥檙e going to be best off sticking with this stock size, or something very close to it. Sometimes a minor change in tire size of only a few millimeters will net you a greater variety of choice, or lower prices. will help you compare sizes. If you are modifying your 4×4 to prioritize off-road performance, I wrote about choosing upsize tires and the formulas you need to calculate their performance in this piece, a few years ago.

Date Code

Then, there’s the tire鈥檚 date code. Tires are designed to last six years from their time of manufacture. Beyond that date, tires can begin to experience invisible damage that may lead to sudden and total failure. Running old tires risks your life, as well as those of your passengers and other drivers.

You鈥檒l find the tire鈥檚 date of manufacture in the last four digits of its DOT code. Just look for the letters 鈥淒OT鈥� on a tire鈥檚 sidewall, then skip to the last four digits in the series of numbers that follows it. The first two digits there will be the week (of 52) in a given year when that tire was made, and the last two digits are the year. So, 鈥�4623鈥� means the tire was made on the 46th week of 2023, and it鈥檒l be safe to run that tire until November, 2029.

Load Rating

On passenger car tires, load rating is listed as a three-digit number. On light truck tires, it鈥檚 a letter, running from A to F. It’s all a bit complicated, and you鈥檙e probably better off using your smartphone to look up the tire鈥檚 spec sheet on its manufacturer鈥檚 website, where its load is listed as a plain number of pounds.

That data is mostly relevant if you鈥檙e planing to tow a heavy trailer or try and carry a heavy camper. But, it鈥檚 also relevant information in that you want to match a tire鈥檚 load rating as closely as possible to your vehicle鈥檚 gross weight rating. Running too strong a tire will impair ride quality and grip.

Much more easy to decipher are pictorial sidewall stamps, some of which include:

• All-Season: These are the cheapest possible tires, with the least possible performance. They begin to lose grip even on dry pavement as temperatures fall past 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If your vehicle is equipped with these, replace them at the earliest possible opportunity.
• M+S: This stands for 鈥渕ud and snow鈥� and indicates that a two-dimensional representation of the tire鈥檚 tread pattern contains at least a 20:80 ratio of void to lug. No physical test of a tire鈥檚 performance is conducted, and this stamp does not guarantee that a tire will perform safely in mud or snow.
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake: This indicates a test has been performed in which the tire has demonstrated at least ten percent superior acceleration traction on packed snow compared to the industry鈥檚 Standard Reference Test Tire (SRTT). The SRTT is loosely equivalent to the cheapest possible all-season tire from a decade or more ago; ten percent is not a significant advantage, and packed snow is far from the only slippery surface you鈥檒l find in winter.
• Ice Grip: A new symbol that began rolling out on tires in 2023, this indicates that a tire has passed a test in which its braking distances are at least 18 percent shorter than the SRTT on bare ice. This is the only sidewall stamp that indicates a tire will be safe to use in winter conditions.

Common Tire Mistakes

In addition to selecting a tire, you need use it correctly. Avoid these common pitfalls to get the most from your tires.

1. Not Calculating Correct Pressures

Air pressure inside the tire is what supports the weight of your vehicle. As you add load in the form of cargo, a camper, a trailer, or anything else, the weight your tires need to support increases, and with it the pressure in your tires. The same is true as you fit larger tires or ones with higher load ratings. Failing to calculate the right pressures can cause disappointment when people change tires and experience poor or unpredictable handling. Here’s where to .

2. Failing to Check and Adjust Pressures

All tires will lose air over time, and pressures will change with ambient temperature and elevation. You need to adjust pressures to set your tires up to perform on different surfaces. If you are not airing down when you leave pavement, you are setting yourself up for failure.

3. Only Buying Four Tires

Failing to run a matching spare tire within its safe lifespan is setting yourself up for disaster. In a best case scenario, this will force you to immediately seek out a tire shop in the event of a puncture. In a worst case, it will leave you stranded.

4. Not Planning Ahead

What鈥檚 going to be crowded the day before the first big snowstorm hits? Your local tire shop. Set yourself up to perform seasonal tire swaps yourself by having them mounted to a dedicated set of wheels, or pick a date on the calendar and book yourself a time slot well in advance of any rush. The same goes for replacing worn out tires. The best time to select, shop for, and mount a set of replacement tires is before the old ones wear out, not after they鈥檝e left you stranded in the middle of nowhere.

5. Believing Groupthink

A colleague texted me the other day asking if some piece of conventional wisdom鈥攖hat E-rated LTs are the best option off-road鈥攚as actually true. I was flabbergasted. Check your sources, and take advantage of good information.

6. Not Running Winter Tires

I鈥檓 never going to stop trying to hammer this point home. If you plan to drive in winter conditions, you must run a real winter tire. There is no substitute, either for your own safety, or for that of the rest of us with whom you share the road.

Wes Siler, our longtime outdoor lifestyle columnist, is a trained racing driver who has organized long-distance off-road trips across six continents. You can ask him for help selecting the right tires for your unique needs, or with any other outdoor topic, by subscribing to .

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Anyone who鈥檚 ever owned a dog will understand the challenge. You buy an expensive dog bed, bring it home, and your dog refuses to sleep on it. Worse, the second there鈥檚 one piece of dog hair on it, you can鈥檛 return it. So bedrooms and closets fill up with useless chunks of foam, and hundreds of dollars are wasted. Meanwhile, your dog is getting dingleberries all over the couches, chairs, and beds that should be reserved for humans. With much trial, error鈥攁nd vacuuming鈥擨 have finally found solutions that work for my pack.

My wife, Virginia, and I have three dogs, all of whom have their own peculiar sleep behaviors. I鈥檇 intended to crate train Wiley when I adopted him more than 12 years ago, but the first night he was home, I fell asleep with him curled up on my belly while reading in bed, and woke up in the morning with him still there. A few years later, Virginia was the first girl he never tried to push out of his spot next to me in bed. The rest is history.

The joke in our house is that , our middle husky-German shepherd child, is only able to recharge his life-force when he鈥檚 touching both of us. So he鈥檚 slept between us every single night since he came home eight years ago.

And when we adopted Teddy shortly after our move to Montana, we invested years of work trying to get a dog who had suffered abuse, and was reluctant to trust humans, to learn to cuddle. But she鈥檚 so big that, even in our king size bed, there鈥檚 just not really room for her.

I鈥檝e tried virtually every product out there in an effort to move them out of our bed, and onto their own, so that all of us will hopefully be more comfortable.

Doggie cots seemed novel, since they lift the pups off the ground, provide good air flow, and should offer support. But our dogs can鈥檛 get used to the lack of stability, and won鈥檛 sit, let alone lie down on one. My neighbors appreciated the hand-me-down. The big, soft cushions they sell at box stores? Our dogs won鈥檛 even look at one.

The most luck I鈥檝e had has been with a thin, flimsy faux fur one I picked up at Costco during my monthly quest to bring home 120 pounds of chicken drumsticks to feed the dogs. During one visit only, they had a stack of the beds near the paper towels. I grabbed one just to try it, and Wiley fell in love immediately.

This model presents two problems, though: There鈥檚 not really any way to clean it, so even with daily vacuuming, it鈥檚 looking a little worse for wear. And Teddy insists on competing with her brothers for resources, so she steals it any chance she gets. Unfortunately, it鈥檚 way too small for her, so she just perches on it awkwardly, content in possession, but unable to sleep.

As Wiley ages, I have gotten more serious about trying to move his joints off the ground. Lately, more mornings than not, he鈥檚 waken up noticeably stiff, struggling to stand up off of that faux fur thing. So I was excited when Orvis launched a few years ago, which promised higher quality foams like those used in nice human mattresses.

The Recovery Zone pairs four-inches of durable, supportive medium density foam in its base with a one-inch top layer that鈥檚 much softer and more porous, providing cushion and airflow. The company has discontinued the exact model we use, but its covered in a polyester fleece that鈥檚 soft to the touch, yet easily vacuumed clean of fur.

The bed is designed to evenly distribute weight, and minimize pressure points. Perfect, I thought, for my aging dog鈥檚 sore joints. But, when it arrived and I put on the floor in the bedroom, for unknown reasons, Wiley returned to the comfort of the couch in the living room. The extra-large鈥檚 48-inch length ($319) just about fits Teddy, though, and she immediately claimed it as her own. She now splits time between it and our bed. A huge win for my back and legs.

I鈥檇 all but given up on finding something for Wiley, until I saw . That brand makes the strongest, safest kennels for transporting dogs in the back of your truck, and I鈥檝e been impressed by the quality of their dog bowls, training bumpers, and other accessories, too. The Homestead is made not from foam, but by a three-dimensional loop construction that鈥檚 impervious to liquids and provides support through tension. That core is then sheathed in a machine-washable fabric complete with durable zippers, and a non-slip base.

It shops uncompressed, and when the gigantic box containing a large ($300) arrived, I just sliced it open, threw it on the floor, and Wiley climbed right into it. Then, he fell asleep. That was yesterday afternoon, and he spent the entire night on the thing, and even returned to it for a nap earlier this afternoon. I think we found a winner.

What about Boo Boo? He鈥檇 never dare to touch his big sister鈥檚 bed, but has been sneaking power naps in on the new Gunner anytime Wiley鈥檚 not looking. That鈥檚 less time spent covering human furniture in white hair, which is its own kind of win. I don鈥檛 think we鈥檒l ever try to force him out of our bed at night though, simply for fear we might fully discharge his battery.

Wes Siler on Montana public lands with his three dogs. (Photo: )

Wes Siler, our longtime outdoor lifestyle columnist, likes dogs more than people. You can ask him for help developing your own healthy diet for canines or other questions around the outdoors through .听

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Sleeping outdoors does not need to be uncomfortable. With the right gear, and a considered approach, lying under the stars can be just as nice as staying home. And no piece of gear is more important to comfort than your sleeping pad. Drawing from the 11 years and hundreds of nights I鈥檝e spent sleeping on luxury pads, here鈥檚 how to find the right ones for your unique preferences, budget, and environment.

I bought my first luxury sleeping pad way back in 2014, as I was recovering physically and financially from a really bad motorcycle crash. That justified its $390 price not only because it supported and cushioned my sore bones like nothing else, but also because it allowed me to turn camping trips into third dates.

Originally launched in 2011, the Exped Megamat was the first in this new generation of luxury sleeping pads. By housing pressurized air inside four inches of memory foam underneath a totally flat surface covered in a stretchy material that allowed the entire mattress to conform to your body鈥檚 shape, it delivered a level of comfort that was hitherto unprecedented outdoors. And, by blowing it up extra firm, then using the valve to 鈥渂urp鈥� air out of it as you laid on top, you could achieve a perfect, tailored level of support and cushion each and every night.

I鈥檓 not the only person whose enjoyment of the outdoors was transformed by the Megamat. As in all other successful product categories, rivals showed up promising new features and approaches.

perforated the interior foam and added a pad coupling system. Together, those changes reduced packed size and made it possible to draw two one-person (1P) pads tightly together to form a unified sleep surface for two people.

The brought lower price points by cutting out middlemen.

And Therm-a-Rest brought made-in-America production to the category, along with high-flow valves, with .

Put 鈥渓uxury sleeping pad鈥� into the search bar on Amazon and you鈥檒l find a bunch of pads that look similar from discount brands no one鈥檚 ever heard of.

All of the above follow the same basic formula: Like the original Exped Megamat, they鈥檙e about four-inches thick, contain both foam and air, and feature totally-flat sleep surfaces, vertical sidewalls, and stretchy sleep surfaces. R-values (a measure of insulation) for all of those exceed 6.0 and they sleep in utter silence. All are also big and heavy, limiting them to car camping trips. While they鈥檙e all extremely comfortable, there was still room for alternative approaches.

Exped itself did that by offering and 听versions, plus . I鈥檝e tried all of them, and still find myself going back to the original (now called the , available in multiple lengths and widths for both one and two sleepers) for a just-right answer to most nights.

Last year, Therm-a-Rest aimed to bring equivalent comfort to backpacking with the launch of . Its inflated size and shape replicate those of the luxury car camping pads, but it ditches the heavy, bulky foam insulation for the same crinkly foil used in the brand鈥檚 ultralight pads. It鈥檚 more comfortable than any other backpacking pad, but at 30 ounces, it’s also more than twice the weight of something like , itself already very comfortable. That outweighs (har) the other benefits to my mind, at least for true backpacking, but the NeoLoft is so much smaller than other luxury pads when packed鈥攁bout the size of a basketball鈥攖hat it opens up means of transport like canoe, bush plane, or motorcycle, with more comfort than you could have taken along on those adventures previously.

HEST, a new brand based in Seattle, launched in 2019 with exactly the opposite approach. ditches the air in favor of all-foam construction. And that鈥檚 remarkable, given that it doesn鈥檛 pack down any larger than one of the original luxury pads with the same dimensions. The four-inch thick memory foam is split into two densities. The one on top is soft, conforming to your body, while the firmer one underneath provides support. The foam is then encased in a shell that鈥檚 rugged and waterproof on the bottom, and stretchy and breathable on top. While foam will never puncture or lose air, it can鈥檛 achieve the same degree of firmness as one of the inflatables.

Which Luxury Pad Is Right for You?

All of the pads I’ve highlighted so far are available in multiple dimensions, with most also available in at least one size suitable for two sleepers. The ability to precisely size a pad to your body, preference, shelter, or surface (Exped even makes ) is a major advantage offered across this category. Before cross shopping price, consider first the dimensions, and any special use you want to prioritize. Exped鈥檚 MegaMat ranges from $170 to $520, and most of the competitors are within that ballpark too.

While all of these pads offer impressive comfort, there are some major differences as you dive into the specifications. The Nemo Roamer, for instance, has an R-Value of 6.0, the lowest of the air-and-foam pads, due to the perforations in its foam. It packs considerably smaller as a result, but is most applicable to camping in temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. In contrast, the Exped Megamat Max鈥檚 six-inches of foam delivers an R-Value of 11.0, meaning that, paired with the correct clothing and sleeping bags, it could keep you comfortable down to a positively ridiculous -76 degrees Fahrenheit.

When investing in comfort, it鈥檚 also worth considering warranties. Therm-a-Rest, with its factory in Seattle, Washington, is famously able to offer a generous lifetime warranty for all of its sleeping pads. Nemo offers the same. Exped and HEST offer five years. REI allows members to return products up to one year from the date of purchase.

I can speak somewhat to the longevity of these pads. That original 2P Exped I bought way back in 2014 is, with the exception of a large hole I tore in it and repaired in early 2016, still as good as new. I鈥檝e gotten two years of use on a one-person Therm-a-Rest Mondoking, and managed to kill a Nemo Roamer after three years by melting it on a hot ATV exhaust pipe, which was no fault of the pad鈥檚. I think expecting a decade out of any of these pads is reasonable.

Accessorize for Comfort, Durability, Convenience

Within the context of a decade full of newly-comfortable camping trips, you’ll want to get the most from these pads. Their popularity has created a market for dedicated accessories, while their size means they pair well with some common home goods, too.

One item I now consider essential is the , which starts at $420 and is sized for 25-inch wide pads. It鈥檚 made from an extremely robust, hand-stitched fabric that protects your sleep system from weather, dust, and punctures. Stuart Born, the company鈥檚 founder, tells me that in the company鈥檚 eight-year history, he鈥檚 never heard of a mattress being punctured inside one of these shells. In addition to protection, the Badger Bed helps unify your sheets and insulation layers into a single unit that rolls and unrolls altogether, for easy storage and transportation.

The premise here isn鈥檛 necessarily insurance for your pad, which probably costs less money than the shell, but rather the ability to rely on its comfort while traveling and camping. With the Badger Bed you can sleep on even the bare ground without worrying about sharp rocks, sticks, creepy crawlies, burrs, or dirt damaging or invading your sleep system. The Badger Bed fits any 25-by-78-inch or 30-by-82-inch pad鈥攐r anything smaller than those dimensions.

You may also want to take advantage of the pads’ generous dimensions by ditching your sleeping bag. and both make fitted sheets that fit these pads, which boost comfort and help keep them clean. On top of those, blankets and quilts can be stacked to achieve the desired level of both insulation and flexibility. , , and all make their own puffy quilts sized just to these pads, and there are many options on the market. I like to run a Born top sheet, followed by a heavyweight fleece blanket I bought years ago at a Bed, Bath, and Beyond, then a down quilt. By using Born items, I can attach them to toggles within the shell, so they don鈥檛 get rucked up or moved out of the way while I sleep.

If you choose one of the inflatable options, you鈥檙e also going to need to blow it up, and these things鈥攅specially the 2P options鈥攈old a lot of air. Recent innovations in battery density have resulted in electric pumps that are smaller than a soda can, and which will save your lungs a lot of effort. I鈥檝e by no means conducted exhaustive testing across every pump out there, but holds enough juice to inflate and deflate a 1P Megamat ten times, and ships with adaptors that have connected it to every mattress I鈥檝e ever tried. Note the deflation thing. By sucking the air out of the foam inside these pads, you can get a drastically smaller packed size. this is no small feat if truck or truck-bed space is tight.

It鈥檚 also nice to get off of the ground. All of these accessories work on appropriately sized cots as well as they do on the ground. Back in 2018, I asked myself why I wouldn鈥檛 want to take advantage of how flat and stable the pads are and use a real bed frame. perfectly matched the dimensions of my Megamat Duo, elevating that 14 inches off the floor of the giant canvas tent I put up for hunting camp each fall. That way, warm air from the wood stove is free to circulate around me, I get bed-like comfort, and I don鈥檛 have to lower or raise my sore muscles all the way to the ground or back up. As a bonus, it splits in half, into two 25-inch wide bed frames that are just the right size for a 1P pad (the smallest stand alone size, twin, is 39 inches wide), so now a buddy and I both get one.

And that鈥檚 how I鈥檒l be sleeping most nights this fall, way out in the mountains. I鈥檝e got my new HEST Foamy all wrapped up in a Badger Bed, complete with fitted sheets, and a cozy insulation layers, ready to ride in my truck up there, where the bed frame is already waiting from last year.

Is my setup excessive? Yes. But talk to me when you鈥檝e just leapt out of bed after a full, restful night鈥檚 sleep, fully recharged and ready to tackle another challenging day in the mountains. Or as you鈥檙e hiking back to camp after dark, totally exhausted, but feeling reassured in the knowledge that you have the most comfortable bed possible waiting for you to collapse into it.

Wes Siler, our longtime outdoor lifestyle columnist, is a total wimp who obsessively pursues comfort in extreme environments. You can ask him for help dialing in your own system, or with anything else , where he helps readers lead more exciting lives outdoors.听

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Over the last decade, super shoes like Nike鈥檚 Vaporfly have revolutionized distance running. With thick foam and stiff plates, they return enough of the energy produced by the human body to measurably improve performance. Now, a brand better known for comfortable and unassuming boots wants to apply those same merits to your next hike. Can super shoes really make your time outdoors more comfortable? I鈥檝e spent the last two weeks wearing Merrell鈥檚 zany new SpeedArc Surge to find out.

If I were to write a description of my ideal hiking footwear, it鈥檇 start from the bottom: big, grippy traction lugs, a soft foam outsole, a full-length plate, a supportive mid-sole, a moderate drop of about 8 millimeters, and an upper that prioritizes breathability, all wrapped up in the lightest weight possible. In short, a good pair of trail runners.

The lugs on a great pair of trail runners provide sure grip on loose scree and wet slippery rocks, allowing me to move confidently, no matter the terrain. The soft foam above those lugs should absorb pressure from uneven, pointy rocks鈥攁nd add a bounce to my step. The plate needs to spread out impact and stabilize the shoe. And the firmer foam between that plate and my foot must support the shape of my feet, helping to spread the load of my weight evenly. The breathable uppers on a well-designed pair of trail runners hold my feet down and protect them from scrapes and pokes, providing the least possible barrier while heat and moisture escape. Each gram saved minimizes the energy each step requires, maximizing the miles I cover.

That description applies to the 鈥攐nly extrapolated to maximalism. Think of Merrell’s new shoe as a blown-up diagram of your favorite trail runner. You can see each component on the outside, large and clearly delineated.

Describing the three visible layers that make up the sole, Merrell鈥檚 design director, Ian Cobb explains, 鈥淭he top piece adapts to your foot for immediate cushioning, while the bottom layer adapts to the terrain. The plate acts like a strut bar that brings everything together to push you forward.鈥�

One of the innovations in Nike鈥檚 original super shoe was in employing something called supercritical foam to boost energy return to new levels. The material is created by infusing a chemical at its supercritical point鈥攚here it鈥檚 both a fluid and gas鈥攊nto a polymer to create a foam with a unique micocellular structure. This is all a nerdy way of saying that new technologies are enabling footwear designers to take foams to hitherto impossible levels of performance: they can tailor specific properties, like cushioning or bounciness, with incredible fidelity, all while reducing weight.

The SpeedArc uses supercritical foam too, for both of the exposed layers in the sole. Merrell says its tailored this material to optimize cushion and propulsion, forming it into 鈥渃oil-like shapes,鈥� designed to work just like springs.

In its lab testing, compared to the brand鈥檚 previous hiking shoes, Cobb says this enables the SpeedArc to deliver, 鈥渄ouble the energy return.鈥�

It鈥檚 these foam 鈥渃oils鈥濃�攁nd the way the two layers of them are mounted to the central nylon plate鈥攖hat give the SpeedArc its distinct marshmallow sandwich look, as well as its performance. Its also the prominent separation of the two sole halves, both visually and in terms of performance along with the full-length, full-width plate that distinguishes the SpeedArc from other maxi shoes, like those popularized by Hoka.

While less radical in appearance, the SpeedArc’s uppers are just as innovative. Made from a woven polymer reinforced with Kevlar threads (the yellow lines running across the shoe), the material is incredibly open and very resistant to abrasion. That thin body is then secured with a two-dial BOA lace system. BOA has been replacing laces with wires since 2001, but this is the first time I鈥檝e seen footwear equipped with not one, but two of its dials, which allow you to independently adjust tightness over the forefoot and ankle. This works with polymer overlays that wrap the arch to eliminate hotspots. Together with the seamless upper, that maximizes comfort, and allows you to really cinch your foot down onto the SpeedArc鈥檚 soles. This detail helps eliminate the movement between shoe and foot that can cause blisters and fosters a feeling of security that helps the shoes feel reassuringly stable on the trail, despite the height created by the foam coils.

Despite the marshmallow appearance, wearing the doesn鈥檛 feel squishy or bouncy at all, just stable and comfortable. Walking along a trail in the SpeedArc reminded me of strolling barefoot across a carpeted room. The experience is utterly unremarkable, until you realize you鈥檙e walking across an uneven surface as if it, too, was flat carpet.

Without a laboratory (I write this from an austere cabin bordering Glacier National Park), I can鈥檛 speak to numbers, but putting some effort into pace on the trail, the shoes do deliver a tangible feeling of propulsion with every stride.

The only negative here comes from the tread. It doesn鈥檛 offer as much grip as many of my trail runners. That appears to be true on both loose dirt, slippery rocks, and even bare metal. While stepping on my truck鈥檚 rock sliders to climb onto its roof and wipe dust off of its solar panels this morning鈥攁 task I perform several times a week鈥擨 slipped.

Aside from that, the SpeedArcs have proven comfortable throughout daily tasks, like carrying heavy furniture into a new guest house, hiking the dogs on mountain trails, and mowing the yard. I鈥檝e reached for these shoes over my usual hiking boots for those tasks thanks to their comfort and stability, but that鈥檚 created its own problems. Each and every time I pull them on, my wife rolls her eyes. Reviewing Merrell鈥檚 website, we can鈥檛 decide if black and purple marshmallows might stand out less than black and white, or white and gold ones.

In 2025, if you want to win a marathon, you almost need to wear a super shoe. But hiking for me is an opposite endeavor, one that turns miles into relaxation and enjoyment instead of records and medals. Do you need a super shoe to enjoy your next hike? Absolutely not. But I鈥檒l be wearing these SpeedArcs through the rest of my miles on trails this summer. My wife will just be walking a few paces ahead, wearing subtle looking trail runners, pretending that she doesn鈥檛 know me.

The post Merrell鈥檚 SpeedArc Surge Is a Super Shoe for Hikers鈥擜nd It鈥檚 Surprisingly Fun to Wear appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Readers of 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚 summer skills package: I envy you. As you read stories about starting a fire, or sharpening a knife, and put those lessons into practice, you鈥檙e entering an entirely new world full of exciting discoveries, curiosity, and abilities. The process of learning is one that too often feels intimidating. But being bad at stuff isn鈥檛 just a necessary part of the skill-learning process; it鈥檚 also often the most enjoyable.

One of the things you experience as you learn new skills is freedom. The freedom to be bad at something. Without the weight of other people鈥檚 expectations, or pressure to perform, you鈥檙e free to simply to focus on the experience.

These days, when I start that fire, or hand someone a knife, there need to be flames and that knife has to be sharp. If there鈥檚 not or it isn鈥檛 dinner, will be delayed and let downs will be felt. Events will transition from smooth progress into a problem. The time is no longer there for a mistake or an oversight during preparation. But you are given that time try stacking the wood a different way, or going back to your car for a different form of fire starter. Your project can become a fun activity for the entire group. Like solving a jigsaw puzzle with friends鈥攐ne that won鈥檛 be spoiled if you end up serving the hot dogs cold alongside it.

You also get to look at everything in that campsite with fresh eyes. That rock over there? That could help support a fire ring! Will this log light better than another because it feels lighter? That鈥檚 discovery. The humble experience of building a campfire feels like nothing but, because it鈥檚 exciting and new.

Challenge is a feature in the learning process, not a bug. Shit happens, and learning to deal with it is the learning you need to master a skill. Discovering your firewood got soaked in an overnight downpour is a reminder to store it out of the weather, sure, but it鈥檚 also an opportunity to learn to split it open with your knife and expose its dry center. A slip during the process is a chance to practice first aid and a reminder to be a little more careful.

As those lessons add up, you鈥檒l be able to take them further and rely on them more. A simple car camping trip to a site with picnic tables and metal fire rings might feel like a big adventure now, but after making some mistakes in that relatively safe environment, or forgetting to bring something in a place where goods can still be purchased or borrowed, you鈥檒l be equipping yourself with the knowledge you need to scale into new environments that involve more consequence.

A night out in a commercial campground is great. With stars in the sky and marshmallows (hopefully) roasting over a fire, the simple pleasure of time outdoors doesn鈥檛 get much more pure. And you have total control over where you take things from there. Want to start that fire away from other people, worn out from walking all day? Maybe you鈥檒l throw on a backpack, learn some lessons about water purification, and start a fire way out in the woods, where you鈥檒l know what kind of sticks to pick up to get one going as easily as possible. Or maybe you鈥檒l push your camping trips further into the fall, when there鈥檚 risk of snow, and your newfound ability to ensure everyone can get warm starts to feel less like a novelty and more essential.

As you stare at your campfire, feeling safe and whole inside an unknown environment, you might find yourself contemplating the countless generations of human who have done just that before you. Or maybe even the importance of ensuring future generations will be able to do the same. As the outdoors becomes a part of your life, you may start considering how you can help protect it.

Somewhere between the excitement of that first campfire and forgetting there was a time when you did鈥檛 know how to make one, you may also discover a desire to share the experience with other people. To teach them the skills that you learned, and that will bring an excitement all of its own.

Inherent to the task of teaching is the responsibility to keep pursuing mastery鈥攁nd the opportunity to see the outdoors and all its wonder through a fresh set of eyes. In taking that on, you give yourself a reason to keep learning and keep finding novel solutions, along with the more immediate satisfaction inherent in watching someone learn.

And as you help someone else hone the skills necessary to enjoy the outdoors, you are also creating a fellow traveler. Someone you can enjoy experiencing nature with, of course, but also an ally in helping you protect it. Because, as you learn the skills necessary to go from a novice to an expert, you鈥檙e also learning about your own place on this planet and the important role we humans play in nature. It’s a role you now know the importance of fulfilling.

The post My Favorite Part About Outdoor Skills Is Learning Them appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Ask me which brand of multitool you should buy, and there鈥檚 only one answer I鈥檓 going to give you: Leatherman. Not only did the Portland, Oregon-based manufacturer invent the segment in 1975, but it continues to make the highest quality, most innovative tools out there. Now, with its first range of quality blade-only knives, Leatherman hopes to put something simpler in your pocket.

Why carry a knife instead of a multitool? After all, most Leathermans already include a blade, amongst all their other tools. That鈥檚 a question the company aimed to find a different answer to with the Arc, a flagship multitool that I reviewed in 2023. What that product got right was the use of the most well-rounded premium blade steel ever鈥�MagnaCut. But no matter how sleek, a multitool will never be as comfortable to hold as the handle on a dedicated knife, as easy to carry as a blade-only tool, nor as robust as a fixed-blade knife.

This creates an interesting conundrum for handy folks like you and me: Which should you carry? With this new range of knives, Leatherman invested in a new manufacturing facility (also in Portland) to make that answer, 鈥渁 Leatherman,鈥� no matter what tasks you expect to tackle.

Folding Leathermans

Let鈥檚 talk about the folding knives (both $300) first.

The blade steel is again MagnaCut, which is being widely adopted across the premium knife space thanks to its combination of traditionally incompatible performance metrics: toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. And also because it has a cool name. There are two styles of blade on offer. features a 3.15-inch hollow-ground drop point blade; a hollow 3.0-inch sheepsfoot. Choose the Blazer for all-round use, and pick the Glider if you鈥檙e planning on slicing stuff up near puncture-prone materials like human skin.

Both feature innovative handles that are milled from a block of billet stainless steel in two halves. This approach sets the knives apart from others in the premium space and delivers to the knives a unique feel. Inside each half, you鈥檒l spot skeletonization that saves weight, and allows internal components like the lock, spring, and bushings to be recessed into the handle. This facilitates a slim overall package, but the thing you鈥檒l really notice is that there鈥檚 no space between the blade and either side of the handle. Combined with the chunky steel, you’ll notice a solid-feeling folding knife.

A lack of any additional handle scale material adds to the knive’s sense of solidity. Rather than bolt a piece of micarta or G10 to the stainless handles, Leatherman instead applies Cerakote, a ceramic coating that鈥檚 virtually impervious to damage.

In contrast to most other folding knives, which have coalesced around one of three locking mechanisms鈥攆rame, Benchmade (which aged out of patent protection recently, leading to widespread adoption), and liner鈥擫eatherman instead opted for a unique 鈥渃ompression wedge鈥� mechanism of its own design. Flick the blade open, and a button on one side of the knife that nominally sits flush with handle slides inwards, blocking the blade from folding closed and causing its opposite side to protrude from the handle. Push that now-external button, and you compress a flat spring mounted inside the milled-out handle internals to move the lock out of the way. Its by far the easiest-to-use locking mechanism I鈥檝e ever tried, and it delivers a solid lockup with the 鈥渨edge鈥� capture by both halves of the handles when the blade is deployed.

Leatherman has designed the folders to be used and carried ambidextrously. That lock button is easily accessible in either hand, and the very strong wire pocket clip is reversible.

Included with the folding knives is a lanyard and button; the latter doubles as a bit driver, and can capture one of Leatherman鈥檚 flat bits through its center, or one end, even with the lanyard cord in place.

I鈥檝e been carrying nothing but the Leatherman Blazer for the last two weeks and can report that it handles packages, light food tasks, and cleaning dog hair out of my vacuum cleaner as well as anything I鈥檝e carried. The point of these premium folders is to do all that while delivering a satisfying feel. At that, the folding Leathermans deliver like knives that cost twice the price.

Compared to the always-there practicality, style, and hand-feel of a folding pocket knife, a fixed-blade is a much simpler tool. You carry one outdoors because they鈥檙e harder to break, easier to clean, and their larger blades are capable of helping with bigger tasks.

Fixed Blades

Imagine a knife blade as a wedge. A flat-ground blade has straight sides, where a hollow grind results in convex sides. The former is stronger and splits materials apart more efficiently. The latter creates a finer edge that鈥檚 weaker, but capable of finer, more controlled slicing. You choose a flat-ground blade when you have wood to split, and a convex one to process animals and plants.

But grinds are hard to see, and blade tips are very visible. To endow its burliest knife with tough looks, Leatherman gave its hard-use blade鈥斺�攁 tanto-style point. But these again have a priority鈥攑uncturing鈥攚hich isn鈥檛 a terribly common task outdoors. So, in giving the Pioneer that tough look paired with the flat grind, Leatherman has optimized the Pioneer for bigger tasks. But its five-inch blade isn’t enough to split really big logs.

I鈥檝e been testing ($300). Which uses the versatile drop point the Pioneer is missing. More practical? Yes, if you鈥檙e foraging for mushrooms or skinning a deer. At 0.18-inches thick and 4.2 inches long, the convex blade is too thick at for really fine work and too long to reach inside a cavity and feel for the windpipe鈥攚ithout severing anything containing urine or poop.

There鈥檚 also . With its santoku-style blade, it’s focused on meal prep-tasks, and stands out as the only fixed-blade Leatherman that comes with a full-kydex sheath. My only wish is that it featured a belt loop or carry clip. For one of those, you have to turn to the hybrid leather-kydex item that comes with the Pioneer, but which can only be carried vertically, hanging from a belt, or the all-leather sheath on Trac that鈥檚 too chunky to be carried at all.

But still, all three are big slabs of sharpened Magnacut, and remain appealing options as a result. To the full tang of steel Leatherman bolts slabs of G10 (a slick, but grippy polymer) to serve as handles. Parts of that blade that aren鈥檛 sharp are nicely radiused and feature really deep jimping on the backside to give your fingers something to hang onto.

Leatherman assembles and sharpens all of the knives by hand in its new Portland facility. The fun color combinations, tangible quality, and unique design immediately set them apart. Rather than replacing the Arc multitool I typically carry clipped inside my jeans, Leatherman鈥檚 new knives have me wishing for more pockets.

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Visit a mountain trailhead here in western Montana right now, and you might be treated to an unusual sight: car-size white cylinders. Those are grizzly capture devices, and they鈥檙e being staged ahead of a summer-long effort to count the bears and evaluate the ongoing success of a 40-year plan to restore their population听across the northern Rockies. This year may be a pivotal moment for that population, as a number of the regulations and programs protecting them currently hang in the balance.听Those include staffing levels among the scientists who study them, rules governing how humans defend themselves from the bears,听and protections provided by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) itself. Meanwhile, logging operations are being sped through permitting processes in the places where bears live, threatening both habitat and birth rates.

Uncertainty has been part of grizzly preservation efforts since the beginning. In fact, fewer than 1,000 bears remained in the Lower 48 when the ESA first listed grizzlies as threatened in 1975. At the time, scientists acknowledged that neither of the isolated populations that lived around Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks could ever grow big enough on their own to achieve a sustainable level of genetic diversity. But听connecting them seemed impossible. The two groups were听separated by the entire state of Montana鈥攊ncluding highways, towns, human populations, and large swaths of private property.听In much of that territory, grizzly reintroduction efforts were highly contentious.听That鈥檚 why a recovery plan for the species, published in 1982 and , was written听with a focus on growing the individual听populations in听each of those disconnected ecosystems, rather than trying to bridge them across hundreds of miles of anti-predator West.

The 1993 plan was groundbreaking鈥攁nd massively controversial. It began with an excerpt from an essay written by famed ecologist Aldo Leopold:

鈥淭he grizzly bear is a symbolic and living embodiment of wild nature uncontrolled by man. Entering into grizzly country represents a unique opportunity鈥攖o be part of an ecosystem in which man is not necessarily the dominant species.鈥�

What followed: decades of argument about whether or not the species had recovered, and when, how, and why the grizzly might be removed from ESA protections, as well as the purpose of the ESA itself.

All that seemed to culminate in 2017, when then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced a plan to de-list the bears from the ranks of species protected by the ESA.

鈥淭his achievement stands as one of America鈥檚 great conservation successes; the culmination of decades of hard work and dedication on the part of the state, tribal, federal, and private partners,鈥� Zinke stated at the time.

Those private and tribal partners filed suit immediately, resulting in a 2018 ruling that saw the ESA protections for grizzly populations in the Lower 48 restored, a decision that still stands today.

But no discussion of a large omnivore that can grow in excess of 500 pounds can stop at policy. While all that bickering was going on, grizzly populations expanded in both numbers and area. The bears’ populations have doubled since the 1970s, and they now wander into their historic habitat on the prairies east of the mountains. There, they cause conflict in places where generations of humans have become accustomed to their absence.

, a sow charged two men foraging for mushrooms on their property north of Choteau, Montana, a small town about 25 miles听from the mountains, where winding creeks cut through rolling hills as they fade into grasslands. The men shot the charging bear dead.

Such conflicts fuel demands for delisting. Ask people who live here in grizzly habitat鈥攎y wife and I split time between Bozeman, which butts up against the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and a property bordering the east side of Glacier National Park where bears are a part of everyday life鈥攁nd many people would say we鈥檇 be better off without them.

At the beginning of the year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sparked听a ton of controversy on both sides of the grizzly debate by proposing a rule that would manage all grizzly populations in the Lower 48听as a single, federally protected听population under the ESA. Pro-grizzly people loved the acknowledgement that grizzlies are a single population鈥攂ut they loathed a further provision intended to provide more flexibility for ranchers and land owners hoping to manage grizzly conflicts on their own terms.

This latter provision would allow land owners and livestock managers to 鈥渢ake鈥� (read: kill) bears under some conditions鈥攊n addition to self-defense鈥攚ithout first applying for a permit. The rule would also expand the definition of self-defense to include 鈥渘on-immediate鈥� threats to safety.

Soon after the new administration came into office in Washington D.C., public hearings around that rule were cancelled, but the public comment period was extended through May 16. More than .

Andrea Zaccardi, the legal director of carnivore conservation, explains the deadline for final rule-making is January听2026. While the Trump administration has been uncharacteristically quiet about its intentions for the plan, it could represent a sea change for grizzly management.

Since 1970, grizzly research and management efforts have been led by a federal office called the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST). Amid efforts to make the federal government more efficient, the IGBST is reportedly facing closure, 鈥攁nd with it the very research that informs grizzly bear policy

Change could also be coming to the ESA, the legal foundation for grizzly protection. Some legislators have proposed a new definition of 鈥渉arm” when it comes to endangered species. Under this new definition, destroying a protected species鈥� habitat would no longer be illegal.

The Center of Biological Diversity’s Zaccardi says she fears that this change, along with an emergency order to massively expand logging operations on public lands, could represent a significant threat to the long-term success of grizzly populations.

鈥淟ogging hurts bears,鈥� she told me during a phone call, going on to explain that beyond the simple destruction of grizzly habitat, logging operations cause bears to expend additional energy to leave the area, that the people logging brings into bear habitat creates risk of conflict, and that the road construction necessitated by logging creates longterm impacts even after timber harvests are completed.

鈥淓xpending that energy significantly decreases birth rates,鈥� she added. 鈥淎nd grizzly bears really don鈥檛 like roads.鈥�

Those roads bring everything from disturbances created by vehicles and heavy equipment to pressure from humans engaging in outdoor recreation into new places, forcing the bears out. The USDA is hoping to expand logging operations across 112 million acres of National Forest, a significant portion of which is grizzly habitat in the northern Rockies.

Even given that very uncertain picture, Zaccardi remains optimistic about the grizzly鈥檚 prospects. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e a resilient species,鈥� she says. And this is far from the first time things have looked uncertain for the bears in the five decades people have been working to save them.

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I鈥檓 writing you from a beach in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico. My wife and I have been coming down here a couple times a year since 2018, were married here just before the pandemic was declared in 2020, and are currently spending two months in town, enjoying the warm weather while we recuperate from a major surgery.

Why do we love it? One of the reasons is for the things it doesn’t have. There are no golf courses, no night clubs, no shopping malls or supermarkets, and honestly not a lot of the other amenities many American tourists deem essential. Which is perfect鈥攖hey鈥檙e the people we are trying to get away from. And while it’s starting to feel a little less like a sleepy seaside town, it’s still very much a haven for people who want to be a part of the local culture.

And it’s a great place to enjoy nature. From the sea turtles nesting on the beach, to whales spouting in the distance I can see as I write this. Or the pelicans my dogs are chasing, or the knock-your-socks-off sunsets that happen nightly, it’s just a stunning backdrop for taking it easy.

If you think simple pleasures, a slow pace, and making new friends sounds nice too, then I think you’ll enjoy it. Here’s how I make the most of my time in Todos Santos.

What鈥檚 the Best Way to Get to Todos Santos?

If you鈥檙e visiting from the U.S., then it鈥檚 probably going to be easiest and cheapest to fly in and out of San Jose del Cabo (SJD). It鈥檚 serviced by most major airlines with direct flights from as far away as Salt Lake City and Denver. La Paz is another option, but the smaller airport isn鈥檛 as convenient.

From there, renting a car is the best option for most travelers who want to venture outside a resort. Conventional taxis and ride share services aren鈥檛 really available here, and outside of the town center, things aren鈥檛 walkable. If you鈥檙e doing that, make sure you book a flight that lands at least four hours before nightfall, so you have plenty of time to take the shuttle bus to the rental car location, go through that checkout process, then complete the hour-and-a-half drive north before it gets dark.

When we borrow cars from local friends, or arrange travel for friends and family, we use for the journey to or from the airport. At $200 one-way, it鈥檚 not cheap, but the vehicles are brand new, the drivers are competent, and the pickup times are 100 percent reliable. The pickup area at SJD is a horrifying glimpse into tourist trap hell, and the company gets us out of there as fast as humanly possible.

There are also various bus services, and which can run as low as $25 one-way.

Driving from the U.S. is by far the most adventurous way to get here, though. The thousand-mile or so journey from the border is arguably the best camping road trip on earth, and should be on every 国产吃瓜黑料 reader’s travel bucket list. We just spent two weeks camping our way down from our home in Bozeman, Montana, and plan to do the same on our way back up, in April. For some reason, Americans are often under the impression that Mexico is dangerous. Statistically speaking, you’re actually safer here than at home. Road conditions can prove hazardous, though, more on that below. (Check out our article on safety concerns for travelers in Mexico).

Where to Stay in Todos Santos

Best Hotel for Budget Travelers

Located just a few minutes鈥� walk from the town center, offers a stylish, comfortable, friendly environment that鈥檚 also affordable. While rooms in the converted motel are clean and basic, the pool, bar, and outdoor hangout spaces provide ample options for socializing, or finding a private place to work or relax.

And while Todos Santos is very safe, travelers showing up by vehicle may appreciate secure parking, if only because the return trip would be evermore challenging without that vehicle. Quinta Santa Rosa鈥檚 friendly staff are happy to open the hotel鈥檚 main gates, so you can roll right into the courtyard. Rooms start at $125 a night.

Best Splurge Hotel

Looking for a splurge? The recently renovated rivals the elegance of the nicest hotels in major cities, complete with old-world charm in a space that was originally constructed in the late 19th century. A small and very private pool is hidden inside the courtyard, surrounded by marbled verandas. The ten suites are surprisingly spacious and feel incredibly romantic. But be prepared to pay for all that private luxury. Rooms start at about $1,100 a night, depending on conversion rates.

The first time we visited, we were surprised by the extra taxes tacked onto the advertised room rates by hotels at check out. Don鈥檛 forget to budget for an additional 16 percent in value added tax on top of your total bill.

Want to Rent a House? Do This.

When we rent houses, we use . RARE has the nicest properties in town, and their friendly, helpful staff are always on hand to help out when small problems arise. That level of service really elevates the experience above Airbnbs.

An exception there is , where my buddy Jed rents out three poolside casitas. He lives onsite and can also offer local insights into anything you want to see or do while you鈥檙e here. Swell is much nicer than anything else costing $72 a night.

Where to Eat in Todos Santos

Food is a big part of this town’s appeal. From the the taco stand in Pescadero (just south of Todos Santos proper), to , Todos Santos Boutique Hotel鈥檚 fine dining restaurant, you just can鈥檛 go wrong. There鈥檚 no way I could fit all my recommendations here, but here’s a start.

FYI, Locals Love Their Italian Food

Want to eat Italian food (a local favorite), while watching an epic sunset? is located in a palapa on a hill above town, giving you excellent views to the coast. Another great Italian option is , located right in the town center. The latter makes all of its own pasta in-house.

Best Mexican Restaurants for Tacos, Quesadillas, and More

Hungry for table service tacos? just north of downtown, or 5 Tacos听and a Beer in Las Tunas (that鈥檚 their speciality) are both serviceable, casual, walk-in options. The food at in Cerritos (one hill further south than Pescadero) is better, but involves a 15 minute drive. If you go there, make sure you order a smoked fish quesadilla.

For breakfast, you won’t find friendlier service or better Spanish lessons than those at . For lunch, I usually order tacos de pescado capeado at Bahia Pescadaria, but don鈥檛 skip for heartier dishes.

Make time to visit in Pescadero for dinner. That鈥檚 farm-to-table, with food mostly coming from the farm you鈥檙e dining right in the middle of.

Where to Drink in Todos Santos

For Cocktail Enthusiasts

Visit my Norwegian friend Freddy at for one of his handmade cocktails and good conversation. He鈥檚 open Wednesday to Saturday from 6 P.M., and runs out of barstools fast. in the Todos Santos Boutique Hotel is also great, and you won鈥檛 have a problem finding a seat.

For Wine Lovers

Note that wine is going to be surprisingly expensive due to taxation and shipping. Sergio Madera is the best sommelier in town (he did our wedding), and works out of , Hotel San Cristobal鈥檚 seafood restaurant. He also does private wine and mezcal tastings. Message him on to arrange one of those.

For Beer Drinkers

Book a bar table (you definitely need a reservation) at , north of town, to coincide with a sunset at some point during your visit. And if, like me, you enjoy a good beer, in Las Tunas is a must visit, with loads of options on tap from Mexico and beyond.

What to Do in Todos Santos

Most people come to shop for art, eat good food, chill at the beach, and surf, all in an environment that鈥檚 still significantly less touristy than anything available in Los Cabos.

Best Beaches for Surf and Sunsets

As a note on beaches, any place near town, north of Pescadero, is going to have a gnarly shore break and dangerous riptides. Go to Pescadero or Cerritos if you want to get in the water. The beaches in town are still great places to hang out and watch the sunset.听 If you want to do that while someone brings you margaritas, day passes at start at about $50 for a couple. Ask for Chacon. Not only does he make a mean drink, but he鈥檒l entertain you with stories all day, too.

Head to the Sierra to Hike

If you like hiking, devote a day to drive out to the Sierra de la Laguna mountains that you can see on the east side of town. There you鈥檒l find scenic swimming holes, cliff jumping spots, and some seriously stunning trails. That’s an especially nice destination when it鈥檚 too hot on the coast鈥攖he mountains reach 6,800 feet above sea level.

Check Out the Art Scene

A great place to start your journey into Todos Santos鈥� art scene is at . There, Michael Cope and Erik Ochoa paint and sculpt in-house, host weekly events, and represent a dozen or so other artists. Michael has lived here for 30 years, and will talk your ear off.

For Ocean 国产吃瓜黑料s, Make Friends

Want to go fishing, or explore areas outside of town? You鈥檒l need to make friends, which really isn’t hard to do. There aren’t conventional fishing charters (as Americans understand them), but you can catch a ride on a panga from Punta Lobos if you can talk them into it, and simply throwing a line into the surf usually turns up a catch.

What to Avoid in Todos Santos

Don’t drive after dark in Baja: Seriously. I鈥檓 a trained race-car driver, have worked as a precision driver in car commercials, drive a truck equipped to survive an impact with large animals and with lights that reach a mile into the darkness, and I still try to avoid it when at all possible.

Watch out for road obstructions: Not only are the roads here often too narrow for two vehicles to pass each other safely, but their shoulders are dangerously crumbled, huge potholes and invisible speed bumps abound, and livestock ranges freely across the peninsula. If you haven鈥檛 before traveled to remote, undeveloped parts of the world, the level of danger is nothing like any you鈥檒l have experienced before. Hell, I almost hit a cow on the highway yesterday, in the middle of the afternoon.

Give yourself time to get around: Travel times estimated by navigation apps cannot be relied upon. Allow plenty of extra time to reach your destination before nightfall.

Keep cash close: Speaking of driving, keep some small bills on hand. There鈥檚 about $11 in tolls between here and the airport, and when you stop for gas, the attendant will wash your windshield. In return for that service, hand them 20 pesos.

Text like a local: Like most countries outside of the U.S., people here text via WhatsApp. Go ahead and get that downloaded and setup before you arrive. As an added bonus, WhatsApp is operating system agnostic, so you won’t have trouble with group messages if one of your friends still insists on using an iPhone.

Do You Need to Speak Spanish in Todos Santos?

You鈥檒l certainly have a better time the more Spanish you speak. Neither my wife or I approach fluency, but we鈥檙e learning. And even our limited ability to respect the local culture has enabled use to make friends, which then opens up all manner of interesting new possibilities.

When friends from Bozeman flew down a couple months ago, their half-decent Spanish enabled them to make friends with the manager at a hotel, who then invited them to come fishing with his family the next morning. We know a guy we can text on WhatsApp who will drive us to dinner and back for a few bucks, so we can avoid drinking and driving. When we saw a Mexican trio play at a local bar, we were able to ask them to perform at our wedding. Friends we鈥檝e made here invite us to their homes and events. We can easily make reservations at the best restaurants. And all that takes is a little practice ahead of time, and a willingness to smile our way through a little embarrassment on the frequent occasions we get something entirely wrong. Todos Santos is very much a place for people prepared to do the same.

Wes Siler听writes about the intersections of science, news, politics, gear, vehicles and travel, and travels to Todos Santos every chance he gets. He’s also recently covered $3,000 binoculars that he absolutely didn’t regret, how to make your outdoor gear last almost forever, and new trends in camping gear that are actually centuries old. He and his wife got married at the San Cristobal hotel mentioned above.听

The post The 国产吃瓜黑料 Traveler鈥檚 Guide to Todos Santos, Mexico appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I just made the switch to an all-electric cooking system for car camping. The setup includes an induction cooktop, which uses an electromagnetic field in lieu of direct heat to cook food.听While many people associate induction with lower air pollution or faster cook times, I switched for three different reasons: convenience, packed size, and the ability to 鈥渞efill鈥� my energy stores in camp.

An important piece of background here is that high-capacity power stations鈥攂asically big batteries housed in convenient boxes with all the management functions and charge ports built in鈥攈ave become commonplace for adventurous car 听camping, a hobby sometimes referred to as 鈥渙verlanding.鈥�

Carrying a power station enables you to power gadgets like 12-volt fridge-freezers, charge your phone and camera gear, and light up your camp. As the price, size, and weight听of these power stations decrease, the amount of energy people are taking outdoors increases. And that has fueled a growing ecosystem of electric accessories which allows you to travel with hitherto unprecedented level of connectivity and convenience.

My two favorite electric items? Heated sleeping pads made by Ignik and Starlink鈥檚 satellite internet dish. The former add an incredible amount of comfort in cold weather, while the latter gives me the ability to work from anywhere, even my favorite beaches in extremely remote areas of Mexico. Together, all that helps me enjoy more time outside, even if I鈥檝e got a deadline, and even if the weather鈥檚 not great.

But a big battery pack still takes up a lot of space in , especially given that I鈥檓 also bringing along my wife Virginia and three big dogs (Wiley, Bowie, and Teddy), and听that one of the things we enjoy most about camping is cooking. Figure in a 95-liter fridge with one half packed full of gourmet ingredients and the other full of the frozen chicken drumsticks I base听around鈥攑lus tools, tire equipment and recovery gear鈥攁nd the truck bed fills up fast. That鈥檚 becomes a problem when听I鈥檓 then trying to pack in a 10-pound propane tank听and a big freestanding two-burner ($470), along with pots, pans, dishes, and other kitchen gear.

Swinging by my storage unit to pack all that up before hitting the road has started to feel like a real burden, and it鈥檚 eating into space I could better use for sports equipment and travel supplies, especially on extended trips like the the three months we spent camping our way around Baja last year. That’s what led me to induction cooktops.

I wanted to try out induction cooking before blowing a bunch of money. So, I ordered a , which translates to 鈥減repare.鈥� While not designed for outdoor use, or to withstand the vibration, dust, and general abuse of off-road travel, I figured it was as good a test platform as any. It鈥檚 reasonably powerful at 1800 watts (more on that below), and 听is a relatively svelte six pounds that loosely measures about one square foot.

What Is Induction Cooking?听

Where gas burners transfer heat to a pot or pan through a flame, induction cooktops create a magnetic field that excites the particles in the pot or pan, generating heat directly from the metal rather than from the cooktop.

That process听is more efficient than using liquid fuel to produce a flame, since all the heat transfers directly into the contents of听the pot or pan, rather than being lost to the space around it.

This does, however, require the use of cookware made from ferrous materials鈥攕teel and cast iron. You can鈥檛 use aluminum, titanium, or ceramic cookware on an induction stove. Typical enamelware, which is made using a cast iron core, works just fine, since the coating doesn’t hamper the magnetic field. 听Simply put: if a magnet sticks to it, you can use induction to cook with it.

Induction Versus Propane, in Numbers and in the Real World

The reason the Camp Chef Mountaineer has been my car camping stove of choice for so long is that its two burners each produce 20,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs), or around twice the power of the burners used in most propane camp stoves. That brings big pots of water to boil fast, and can put a solid sear on a steak through a cast iron pan without turning the meat鈥檚 interior grey.

The formula for comparing the output of a propane stove to that of an induction cooktop is to multiply the latter鈥檚 wattage by 3.41. So, that means my new 1,800-watt Ikea is only equivalent to about 6,100 BTUs.

But there鈥檚 more to a stove鈥檚 power output than its BTUs, especially outdoors. Induction setups are immune to variables like windspeed and elevation since there’s no combustion, and all the heat they produce goes directly into whatever you’re cooking. So, the difference in power output is less than the raw numbers might indicate.

One factor you have to consider with induction that really isn鈥檛 a concern with gas is the size of your cookware. The magnetic fields produced by induction only propagate directly over its coils, so you need to use a pot or pan that loosely matches the size of those coils, which you can鈥檛 see below the glass top. Referring to the Ikea cooktop鈥檚 manual, I learned this thing works best with cookware that measures between 4.7 and 7.9 inches in diameter. That鈥檚 not very big. The outright size of a pot or pan I can use on a propane stove is limited only by its windshield; the Mountaineer can handle cookware about 14 inches in diameter.

The time-to-boil for four cups of water was about 4:40 seconds on both devices. I controlled variables听by using the same 8-inch pot with no lid (so I could watch for the moment of roiling boil).听I also used water directly out of my home tap set to cold, and I performed both tests here at our home in Bozeman, which sits at about 4,800 feet in elevation.

That result surprised me, given the big delta in BTU equivalents between the cheap induction cooktop and the powerful gas stove.

Less surprising was the consistency provided by the induction unit at lower heat levels. Again, without factors like wind or gas flow getting involved, the heat level you select (1-9 on this thing) just sets and holds at a precise temperature, with no fluctuation. And that leads to more consistent, predictable results. Induction is a joy to cook on.

Pros and Cons For Induction vs. Propane

Boiling that water on the induction cooktop drew about 1,700 watts from my power station and depleted 5 percent of its 2,611kWh capacity. That means the cheap Ikea unit isn鈥檛 achieving its full power rating. But rather than seeing that as a negative, I鈥檓 instead encouraged that level of insight is possible. I have no idea whether or not my propane stove is producing its advertised output, or what amount of fuel it drew from the big 10-pound tank. So add the ability to carefully monitor and manage energy use to this list of pros .

Pros of Induction Cooktops:听

• Safety: There’s no flame or carbon monoxide. The surface returns to ambient temperature soon after hot cookware is removed. This will be especially important for people who cook inside a tent, camper, or other structure.
• Speed: Even a cheap unit boils water as quickly as a supposedly much-more-powerful propane burner operating in ideal conditions.
• Impervious to conditions: The burner is unaffected by wind or elevation.
• Size and Weight: Induction cooktops are much slimmer than similarly powerful propane burners.
• No fuel: Induction cooktops draw energy from the power station you鈥檙e likely already carrying.
• No waste: Without fuel bottles, there鈥檚 nothing to throw away.
• Refill anywhere: Whether you charge your power station while driving, from solar panels, or both, there鈥檚 no need to find a refill station or retailer.
• Easy clean up: Even after a big, gross spill, cleaning the glass surface of an induction cooktop should never require more than a wipe with a damp microfiber cloth.
• EV-compatible: If the limited infrastructure available in the U.S. isn鈥檛 a problem for you, and you use an EV as your adventuremobile, then all you likely need is the induction cooktop. Just plug that directly into that EV’s outlets.

Cons of Induction Cooktops:

• Fragility: Electric devices are prone to damage from weather, vibration, and dust intrusion鈥攊.e., stuff you鈥檒l likely encounter while camping. While the glass surfaces are pretty robust, they鈥檙e still glass.
• Limited repairability: If your cooktop breaks in a more significant way than blowing a fuse, you鈥檒l probably need to replace it.
• Requires specific cookware: I haven鈥檛 found this at all challenging, but I do have to leave my at home.
• Requires a power station: You鈥檒l want one that can output at least 2,000 watts, and with enough capacity to handle the kind of cooking you plan to do. Calculating those numbers is easy. Finding the cash to pay for them can prove harder.
• Power demands: You’ll need a vehicle to transport that power system.

Pros of Propane Stoves:

• Universal availability: I could have purchased a propane camp stove at virtually any outdoors-adjacent store here in Montana. In contrast, I had to order the induction cooktop online and wait a week for it to arrive.
• Durability: Camp stoves are designed to withstand the hardships inherent in camping.
• Repairability: If you鈥檙e handy and carrying a multitool, you can usually in a few minutes.
• Size and weight: Propane and isobutane stoves are available in a wide range of sizes, weights and outputs. You can grab an ultralight system for backpacking, or a giant setup for feeding a group while car camping.

Cons of Propane Stoves:

• Conditions impact performance: Both wind and elevation can significantly increase cooking times.
• Limited fuel: You have to find a refill station if you have a big tank and an outdoor gear store if you鈥檙e using disposable bottles.
• Safety: With open flames and harmful emissions, you , and need to be careful with it even outside.
• Weight and space: You’ll need to carry a fuel bottle, in addition to the rest of your cooking setup.

How Do You Power Induction?听

I鈥檝e been through a bunch of iterations with my own power setup, and found that, like most things, you get what you pay for. The cheaper battery packs I’ve used from budget brands have all failed prematurely, usually in the middle of a trip, which has caused significant problems in my ability to transport fresh food, or log into the internet to file a story or make a meeting. Crappy off-brand solar panels produce nothing like the output they advertise. And my last set of those just randomly stopped working one week into that three-month trip through Baja.

It鈥檚 involved a significant upfront expenditure, but I feel I鈥檝e arrived at a vehicle-based power setup I can rely on. Since this guarantees my ability to work remotely, and means I鈥檓 not wasting expensive food, or compromising the quality of the ingredients my wife and I鈥攐r our dogs鈥攃onsume, the value is there听for us. The fact that we can now cook with it just takes make the proposition even more compelling.

Solar Panels

I鈥檓 using of a new design that鈥檒l be released in coming weeks, in addition to a ($450). Adding the portable panel speeds charge times for when I鈥檓 running multiple high-draw devices, like both the induction cooktop and Starlink, or when I鈥檓 parked in the shade. That water boil test consumed about 130 watts of power, which can take as little as a half-hour of sun exposure to make up for with the portable panel deployed. Zamp makes these panels by hand in Bend, Oregon, and provides customers with a 25-year warranty.

Not sure if you need solar power? If you’re only camping for a night or two at at time, the answer is probably not. Just recharge your power station on home power before you leave, and top it up on your vehicle’s alternator while you drive.

Power Station

With first-in-space solid-state battery technology, Japanese brand Yoshino is able to pack more capacity into less size and weight than anyone else in the space. ($3,299) holds 2,611kWh of energy, and can handle loads of up to 4,000 watts. The solid-state battery composition also helps the power station remain operational in extreme cold鈥攖he minimum ambient temperature in which it鈥檚 rated to work is -0.4 degrees Fahrenheit. It will also last longer than other batteries, with a lifespan to 80 percent capacity of 4,000 complete charge/discharge cycles.

How Much Power Do You Really Need?

Determining your total power needs is simple. Simply add up the total draw of the stuff you need to power then compare that against听a power station鈥檚 maximum output. Then make sure its capacity is balanced with charge times.

An 1,800-watt induction burner, for instance, draws 1,800 watts an hour, or 1.8kWh. Figure 30 minutes of use a day, or 900 watt-hours, and I need to carry at least 900 watts of capacity, along with the ability to replenish it if I’m going to be out for more than two days. If you’re looking to save money, sizing a power station as closely as possible to your exact needs is an effective approach.

The rule of thumb for solar panels is that you should be able to rely on 75 percent of a panel鈥檚 rated output for five hours of direct sunlight a day. So, with up to 300 watts of solar on my truck, I鈥檓 reliably producing at least 1,125 watt-hours each day, provided that I don’t park underground or indoors. That’s more than enough to replenish any power I use heating up water for coffee, frying up bacon and eggs for breakfast, and cooking an elaborate dinner. Those are all tasks that, armed with this induction cooktop, I can now perform without carrying a giant propane bottle, creating fire or carbon monoxide poisoning risks, or making a huge mess.

The post Should You Cook With an Induction Stove On Your Next Camping Trip?听 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In 2014, Scott Brady, the founder of Overland Journal,听became the first person to cross all seven continents by four-wheel drive鈥�a frequently off-grid endeavor that had him tackling some of the most extreme terrain on earth. In 2018, Brady went on to complete the first 4WD crossing of the Greenland ice sheet, south to north. While these kinds of听 objectives might seem out of reach for the average car camper, Brady begs to differ: He says it鈥檚 way simpler than you think.

Brady has distilled everything he鈥檚 learned about vehicle-based adventure travel into his first book: Overlanding 101. It鈥檚 a collection of practical guidance around skills and equipment, mixed with tales of the real-life experiences that taught him all those lessons.

鈥淩ead this and go,鈥� says Brady, who also publishes the magazine and podcast, and听. The book provides the practical knowledge you鈥檒l need along the way, along with plenty of inspiration听for trips of your own.

While 256 pages of tips are great, I wanted to see if Brady could simplify his advice. So, I called and asked him for his best tips for new travelers. Here are the five he gave me.

Go As Soon As Possible

鈥淚 think people are afraid to fail or afraid to have mishaps,鈥� says Brady. 鈥淏ut I think that鈥檚 what the definition of adventure is: It鈥檚 when something has gone wrong.鈥�

Brady鈥檚 first piece of advice is that, if you want to start having adventures, the best way is to just pick up and go. If you wait until you鈥檙e able to buy a certain vehicle, or equip it with just the right gear, or think you need to learn some specific skill before taking off, you鈥檙e going to spend time waiting rather than traveling.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to have the entire REI catalog,鈥� he explains. 鈥淕o lighter, go less expensive, and go now. You鈥檙e often better off without all the crap anyways.鈥�

In Overlanding 101, Brady tells the story of the very first overlanding trip he took when he got out o the Air Force in 2002. To tackle Arizona鈥檚 Camino del Diablo鈥攁 140-mile off-road route along the Mexican border鈥攈e geared up with both a roof rack and trailer to carry all the equipment he thought he needed. But it turned out that bringing a portable shower, gallons of extra gas, and enough water to survive out there pretty much indefinitely actually did more to frustrate him than to ease the journey.

鈥淚n all the buying and grasping, I missed the point of going in the first place,鈥� he says.

Get Buy-In From Your Travel Partners

鈥淲hat I think people get wrong often, which usually results in the experience going poorly, is that they don鈥檛 talk to their travel companions,鈥� Brady says. 鈥淪ome dude will get it in his mind to drive the TransAmerica Trail, and drag his wife and kids along without ever having a conversation with them about what they want to experience along the way.鈥�

鈥淟ike maybe his daughter鈥檚 super into geology, and she really wants to understand the rocks and the history, or his son really wants to learn how to drive, and if you don鈥檛 have those conversations, then you don鈥檛 have their buy-in,鈥� he continues. 鈥淧eople usually fail pretty quickly as a family when that happens.鈥�

Throughout the book, Brady reiterates that it鈥檚 the people鈥攂oth the ones in the car with you and the ones you meet along the way鈥攖hat are the point. Plan trips around them, not around some artificial goal or empty accomplishment.

Focus on the Trip, Not the Gear听

Overlanders tend to be overpackers. But in reality, only a few pieces of gear really matter. 鈥淵ou need some form of identification, some form of communication, and some form of commerce,鈥� Brady says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 truly need anything else.鈥�

Not only do people spend way too much time getting wrapped up in equipment, Brady says, but that investment can ultimately get in the way of the experience as stuff starts to break, get lost, or get stolen. But if you have a passport, a credit card, and a cell phone, you have the tools you need to solve pretty much any problem, no matter where you are in the world.

鈥淚 see people get really bummed out when they lose stuff. They let it ruin their trip. But in the grand scheme of things, if your laptop gets stolen, it鈥檚 OK. Learn to let those things go and focus on the journey.鈥�

Slow Down

鈥淎nd after you鈥檝e done that, slow down some more,鈥� says Brady. That鈥檚 both a philosophy, and practical guidance. Slowing down will make tackling obstacles both easier and safer, while giving you time to enjoy the experience.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one thing I struggle with,鈥� Brady continues. 鈥淚鈥檓 always in full attack mode. I鈥檝e always wanted to accomplish goal after goal after goal, and a lot of times, I don鈥檛 remember what I did afterwards.鈥�

鈥淪o if I was to give someone advice, it would be to plan a little less,鈥� he says. 鈥淧lan fewer miles, spend more time in that little village. Take an hour to sit in that cafe and just watch people go by.鈥�

Find a Way To Give Back

鈥淭hese experiences give us so much,鈥� Brady says. 鈥淚鈥檝e changed significantly by seeing the rest of the world. Strangers are听no longer 鈥榦ther鈥� anymore鈥攖hey’re someone I had lunch with, or someone that helped me on my journey. Once you start to spend time with people in other places, you start to be a lot more understanding of the fact that they are different, but in the best ways possible.鈥�

In that spirit, it’s important to respect the communities and ecosystems you travel across, Brady says. 鈥淭read lightly, leave no trace, find ways to minimize your impact,鈥� he suggests. 鈥淚nstead of leaving that campsite super early in the morning, take five minutes to police it for trash.鈥�

If you can, do more than just erase signs of your passing鈥攍eave the place better than you found it.听Brady says adding value to the people and communities you visit can be as simple as buying someone a beer, then taking the time to enjoy it with them. Or, it can be more involved. On one of his first forays into Baja, Mexico, Brady met some people who run an orphanage in Muleg茅, a small town on the Sea of Cortez. The next time he drove through, he made time to stop by the Costco in Los Cabos, and bring them weeks鈥� worth of shelf-stable breakfasts for the kids. Now he has positive memories of a positive contribution, not just a fun trip.

鈥淥verlanding 101鈥� is available this week in paperback, audio, and Kindle formats.

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