Gear
Archive
Bound for an exotic adventure? These concourse-ready clothes offer round-the-world comfort in non-turista style.
Meet this year's model: tack-sharp digital pictures, cheap storage, and painless printing.
You can tug on laces and lugs, but to really tell how a shoe pulls it all together, just run.
Ride the tide or hit the holes—the right boat, with the right options, will triple your fun.
Somewhere out there is the ride that suits your speed, shape, and style. Find it.
Yes, the view is razor-sharp. It's the little things, though, that make good binos truly great.
Baffled by baffles? Sleeping bag design ain't rocket science. Curl up with our pointers.
I'm about to embark on a long, multi-city trip through the western U.S. and need a backpack both for trekking and city-hopping. Can you recommend one with an attached daypack? I've been looking at Osprey's Aether 60 plus Daylite daypack. I eventually want to use the pack for wilderness trips, but on this trip I'll be using it mostly for heavy, heavy books. I'm bewildered by all the options! Josh Cbridge, Massachusetts
Trail mix is for hippies. To really satisfy your backcountry appetite, bring on the BTUs.
Sure, a pump filter will remove harmful microorganisms from water. But you still need a viricide—think chlorine bleach, chlorine dioxide, or iodine—to finish off the really small, really nasty stuff like Norwalk, the curse of cruise lines everywhere. All these chemicals work, but some are less effective in very cold…
If you're looking for a luxe production in the (not too) wild, stop right here: Your backcountry presidential suite awaits
If your battle cry is "Gimme shelter!" then you've got to get the details down. Start here.
You stuff your pack with your most precious stuff. Harness its features—and focus on fit.
Ditch the lycra. It's time for fuss-free duds—think t-shirts, jeans, and flip-flops—expressly engineered for kicking back.
Serious engineering shields your feet from the scree beneath. Here's the layman's version.
Sure, it fits. But will your new shell perform? Know your options, and choose with care.
I was recently looking at an altimeter for climbing fourteeners. My concern is that it works on barometric pressure, so changes in the weather could give me a false reading. First, was the salesman right in saying that the impact from weather would be miniscule, and if not, are there altimeters (other than those with expensive GPS) that would not be impacted by weather? John Colorado Springs, Colorado
Where can I find the perfect combination of shoe and lock-in-pedal for the best price? I have tried to look on the net, but it seems like I can only get one or the other, not both. Jeremy Port Orchard, Washington
I recently purchased a new pair of leather hiking boots and, after a ten-mile break-in hike, cleaned them and treated them with mink oil (I couldn't find Sno-Seal anywhere locally). Despite all my years of backpacking, I didn't realize this oil can over-soften the leather and affect the support. Have I ruined my boots for good or is there something I can do to save them? Mark Indianapolis, Indiana
When I went to Europe I took along a $30 point-and-shoot camera. While the pictures ce out fine, the camera itself got trashed, returning home held together with tape. I was wondering if there's a durable camera out there, one that can be dropped and beaten. Water-resistant or waterproof would also be a plus. I don't really need something that focuses, but something that can take a beating outdoors. Jared Boise, Idaho
I have been debating a question with my buddies: Some of the hardcores we have seen wear their waterproof-breathable shell on the inside of a heavy fleece or down jacket. Is this a good idea for maintaining warmth on wet days? Spencer Thunder Bay, Ontario
I'm having only moderate success finding a daypack designed for women. I tested a JanSport at EMS and confirmed that the women's cut really is more comfortable (collarbone bruising has been an issue for me when carrying heavy loads in standard packs), but the capacity was a little small and it had no compression straps. I thought Kelty might be good, but their lumbar supports are unforgiving and aggravate a lower back problem of mine. Do you have any recommendations, either with or without internal fres? Diane Cortlandt Manor, New York
I will be leading groups of teens backpacking this summer and worried about keeping contact with base cp and being able to call for help, should the need arise. Any ideas for effective, durable communication devices? Is there a difference between satellite phones and walkie-talkies? Etan Los Angeles, California
I'm in the market for a summer hiking shoe. I've previously bought and returned pairs that felt comfortable in the store but not on a long hike. How will I know if a pair fits correctly?
Are waterproof hiking boots hotter to wear than non-waterproof hiking boots? And are they less breathable than regular boots? If I'm hiking through the desert, would waterproof, leather hiking boots be too hot? Suzie Johannesburg, South Africa
Gear Guru, over the last two years I've taken up two new sports: snorkeling and kayaking. Several times while snorkeling I have rented "shorties," or partial wetsuits. I have also been told that I should buy a similar wetsuit for spring kayaking. Can you use the se suit for both sports? If so, can you make some recommendations? Steve Delmar, New York
One of the principles of down sleeping bags is that they must breathe. So, how practical is it to use eVENT fabric in a down sleeping bag to make it waterproof and breathable? Or is it better to go with a water-resistant shell instead, which may be more breathable? Peter Würzburg, Germany
What's the ultimate car-camping tent for a family of four? The wife and kids aren't really up to the deprivation (wife's word) of experiencing (my word) the glories (my word again) of the backcountry through backpacking. Appropriate models, size-wise, from Sierra Designs and The North Face seem more like base-camp tents—stoop to enter and exit, no standing room for adults. L.L. Bean and Eureka!, on the other hand, have real mammoth numbers with standing room and porches. If the 4Runner is doing the carrying, what does the weight matter, right? Kirk San Diego, California
I have a sleeping bag that's supposedly a zero-degree bag, but I'm a cold sleeper and get cold in 20-degree temps. I'm thinking of buying a liner but don't want to spend a ton of money, so what kind of liner should I buy? Or is there a better solution for adding warmth? Kira Missoula, Montana
When I was rafting in Alaska, I noticed some outfitters using a folding canoe called an Ally. It had an aluminum fre and was covered by what looked like the se material used for rafts. They must withstand wear and tear fairly well if they're used up there. Any experience with them? Herman Portland, Oregon
I have a sleeping bag that's supposedly a zero-degree bag, but I'm a cold sleeper and get cold in 20-degree temps. I'm thinking of buying a liner but don't want to spend a ton of money, so what kind of liner should I buy? Or is there a better solution for adding warmth? Kira Missoula, Montana
I'm after some shades to use while hiking, skiing, running, and biking in Colorado. I would also like something that brightens my view, not darkens it, if that makes sense. I'd like to stay under $100, but as quality is very important to me, you can recommend more expensive ones, too. Gust Lakewood, Colorado
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Cameras Nikon Coolpix 880 $700 TECHNOBABBLE: 3.3 megapixels…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Camcorders Canon Optura Pi $1,500 TECHNOBABBLE:A 12x-to-48x zoom…
I would like to camp at some walk-in campsites but can't carry a heavy pack, having a history of back problems. Does someone make carts for camping that can be wheeled on a trail? Andy San Francisco, California
Swivel chair to summit Logistics: Be prepared Getting to the top means getting in shape beforehand When first pondering the idea of mountain climbing, it is easy to be…
Virtual adventure: Telluride to Moab Logistics: What to take Living comfortably deep in the backcountry Gear-wise, you’ll never have an easier week in the backcountry than a hut-to-hut mountain…
Andean 国产吃瓜黑料 New gear and customs headaches March 13, 1998 Tuesday, March 10. A fateful day. Our long-awaited packages have arrived in Ecuador. I call the shipping company, but now they can’t find…
Help! I have just registered myself in a mini triathlon this July and have no bike. The 12-mile bike section is over trails, and I don't know the first thing about what size of bike is right for me, or even what kind of bike. I don't want to pay over $300 for something I won't use that often, so can you help? Thanks—please don't laugh at me. Leigh Libertyville, Illinois
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, August 1995 Buying Right: The Latest in Wicking Duds By Michael Hodgson Technical summer wicking-wear comes in two flavors these days: form-fitting, for achieving sweat equity with your spandex-clad compadres, or loose and comfortable, for assimilating to the rest of society. With…
1999 Family Vacation Guide, The Itinerant Toddler All the right stuff for toddlers By Gretchen Reynolds As new parents soon learn, the defining achievement of toddlers is not walking, it’s willpower. If your little one…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 For Mega-Hauling, The Mini-Van Is Still Hard To Beat New this spring is Mercury’s Mountaineer The buzz in minivans for ’97 is the Chrysler Trifecta. Three years ago, the manufacturer scrapped its existing blueprints, whipped out a clean sheet of paper,…
Review: Hardware and Software, November 1996 Buying Right: Bombproof Duds for the Backcountry By Andrew Tilin Devoted backcountry skiers and snowboarders searching for new togs work from a different priority list than the rest of the downhilling populace. Features that add convenience…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, April 1995 Essentials: The Pads to Pack By Douglas Gantenbein It’s not all in the name: sleeping pads do smooth over the rocks and twigs, but they also insulate you from the cold ground. A roundup of pads that elevate your body…
Women 国产吃瓜黑料, Fall 1998 Crash Tested Hollywood’s most brazen stuntwomen demonstrate how to dress for the fall (and the car wreck … and the explosion … and the 20-story leap) Fashion by Vicky McGarry, Photographs by Andrew Eccles, Text by Sarah…
Winter Travel Guide 1996 The Always-Prepared Traveller By Bob Howells Pentax 8 x 24 UCF WR binoculars The stylish Pentax 8 x 24 UCF WR binoculars have rubber armoring and a sealed body to keep knocks, spray, and rain from sullying the…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, June 1995 Climbing: REI Spire and Sentinel By Douglas Gantenbein With the invention of the laminated-foam climbing harness, hanging after a fall or during repeated long rappels has become almost tolerable. Firm but conforming, foam greatly reduces the pinching and binding that…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, May 1995 Suspension Bikes for All Seven affordable off-road machines that make boinging a right, not a privilege By Alan Cote A mountain bike with front suspension isn’t what it used to be, and that’s worth three cheers. Just a…
国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine, October 1998 Review: Rain, Rain, Bring It On From backwoods anoraks to city slickers, the latest shells look good and repel even better By Andrew Tilin JACKETS | BUYING RIGHT |…
Review, June 1997 Buying Right: Roomy Packs for the Lower Back By Nancy Prichard Waltz into any reputable gear shop and announce that you’re looking for a fanny pack, and you’ll be politely corrected: They’re called lumbar packs, if you please. It’s…
Review: Hardware and Software, January 1997 PowderWings Lite Snowshoes By Rod Willard Modern snowshoes, with their lightweight frames, durable decking, and surefooted cleats, are a boon for winter athletes. But when it’s time to lash them to your pack, they’re every bit as…
1999 Family Vacation Guide, A Wheelie Good Time All the Right Stuff for Biking By Douglas Gantenbein This year, bicycle buyers will find more and superior features for the same or lower prices 鈥 goodies…
Dispatches, June 1998 History Camelot Exposed An intimate encounter with JFK’s base layer By Tizia Garden For all his virile athleticism, let it be said that John F. Kennedy was no icon of hard-core outdoor adventure. The man never…
Review: Hardware and Software, November 1996 Other Stuff: Cat Eye Stadium Light By Alan Cot茅 Monday Night Football and a Monday night bike ride don’t have much in common except the same time slot–and now the same lighting system. The new…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, April 1995 Buying Right: A Stove for Every Fuel By Michael Lanza Your tried and true white-gas stove will reliably follow you many places, but across an ocean isn’t one of them: 国产吃瓜黑料 North America, white gas is as rare as…
Women 国产吃瓜黑料, Fall 1998 Equipment The Girl-Gear Revolution State-of-the-art clothes and accoutrements that give unisex the boot. By Gretchen Reynolds and Cristina Opdahl GEAR | TRAVEL | FITNESS |…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, June 1995 Guide to Summer: Moral Superiority Wears Curve-Lasted Sneakers How to revel in those 95 degree, 70 percent humidity runs By Lynn Snowden Dawn must be breaking, since the only time a sane person runs in 95-degree heat and…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, May 1995 Accessories: Because One Does Not Ride on Frame and Wheels Alone By Bob Howells Air Zound Rechargeable Bike Horn ($30) The it’s-a-safety-device spin with which this horn is marketed is only part of the story. There’s also the…
国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine, October 1998 Review: Chained to Your Desk? Not Anymore. By Mark North JACKETS | BUYING RIGHT | THE OTHER STUFF | BOOKS…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, September 1996 Buying Right: The Backcountry Briefcase By Bob Howells AH, THE LAPTOP COMPUTER, EMBLEM OF freedom! Walls fall away as our definition of the workplace expands. But even in the age of the virtual office–anywhere from your airplane seat to…
国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine, February 1995 Mountaineering: Ortovox F1 Focus By Douglas Gantenbein An avalanche transceiver is a bit like bear repellent: best to know how to avoid needing it, but when you do need it, better be sure it works. And avalanche transceivers are about…
国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Winter Ware Skating skis, snowshoes, and other toys By Stuart Craig The toughest part of a backcountry getaway is deciding what gear to bring. Do you cater to your…
Gear Up: All the right stuff for biking If you’ve considered trading in that 1972 Schwinn Collegiate for something a bit more…modern?, now’s a great time to do it. Visit any cycling shop and you’ll find…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, September 1999 GEAR High Design: Mountaineering’s Trick New Tools “I guess the Everest fascination has gotten folks interested in climbing,” says Tracy Roberts, “and now they want to get a good snootful of it.” As a guide on…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, August 1996 Apparel: Patagonia’s on-the-Go T By Bob Howells How does a t-shirt justify a $29 price tag? Well, it’s a smart combination of 70 percent environmentally correct organic cotton and 30 percent Capilene polyester, of wicking long-underwear fame. The key…
Review: Hardware and Software, November 1996 Merrell Millennium M2 Boot By Glenn Randall What shape will hiking boots take in the twenty-first century? Merrell’s answer, the Millennium M2 Superlight ($150, 800-869-3348), doesn’t look as radical as you might expect. Instead, the new…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, April 1995 Buying Right: Backcountry Watches By Gordon Black The wristwatch with a flip-out corkscrew has yet to appear, but there are backwoods timepieces that you can call tools. Whether you want to check your direction of travel, predict the weather,…
Winter Travel Guide 1996 The Well-Outfitted Skier The Outfit With hourglass-shaped skis, aerodynamic poles, composite boots, and an infinitude of accessories flooding the market, picking gear that’s right for you can be an ordeal. What all this super-sidecut and…
国产吃瓜黑料 magazine, April 1995 Kayaking: Kokatat Women’s Dry Suit By Karen Reed “Unisex” sizing still means “men’s.” When it comes to casual apparel, I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and revel in the extra room. When it comes to an expensive technical garment…