Gear
Archive
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.
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
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
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
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
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Cameras Nikon Coolpix 880 $700 TECHNOBABBLE: 3.3 megapixels…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, April 2001 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Digital Camcorders Canon Optura Pi $1,500 TECHNOBABBLE:A 12x-to-48x zoom…
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 ¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ 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…
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
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
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1996 Sense and Sensibility Those who know the thrill of a food chase wouldn’t dare call this flyover country By Randy Wayne White On a night when much interaction with dogs and raccoons was anticipated, Shane Groves and…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, Travel Guide 1997-1998 Bored? Board! The time has come to ride wide By Rob Story BORED? BOARD! | DETAILS, DETAILS | GEARING UP | ESSENTIAL GEAR…
The Magnificent Seven Gear: Optics By Douglas Gantenbein When you’re standing atop Glacier Point looking out over Yosemite Valley, you’re going to wish you had the best optics to enjoy and take home the view. Canon’s new ES6000 ($1,699) is…
Review, May 1997 Seaworthy Kayaks The best craft for cruising, from intimate inlets to wide-open seas By Jonathan Hanson Eddyline Merlin XT Exploration just isn’t what it used to be, what with the continents having been mapped and the…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1996 Buying Right: Function, Fashion, and the Fat Tire By Gordon Black Mountain bikers, you’ve probably noticed, are different from road cyclists in just about every respect except the number of wheels under them. This is especially true in matters…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s Annual Travel Guide, 1999/2000 GEAR TO GO STYLIN’ STUFF FOR BOARDHEADS Snowboarding’s gone legit, with a participation growth curve rising steeper than Corbet’s Couloir. And while the wheres and whens of your first powder turn of the…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1995 Essentials: Protect That Shell By Bob Howells A durable water-repellent finish on your shell is like a wax job on your car: It’ll bead water when new, and when it wears out what’s underneath will suffer. That means your jacket’s…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, February 1998 Review: From Heaven to Hell Whether swamping through the jungle or easing into St. Moritz, here’s the only baggage you need By Robert Earle Howells BAGGAGE…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, April 1996 Cycling: BikeE By Bob Howells That the BikeE semirecumbent bike looks something like a chopper with pedals is not entirely ironic. Sure, one is about staid utilitarianism, the other mostly about outlaw showiness. But chopper riders, beneath their bearded-and-tattooed…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, December 1995 Gearing Up: Extra Sidecut, Hold the Stiffness Equipment for the entry-level rider By Susanna Levin To warp an old axiom, good snowboards come to those who wait. If you’ve held out until this season to take up the…
Review, July 1997 Running Shoes for the Happy Median Do-it-all trainers that don’t skimp on performance By Roseann Hanson Aside from a few delusional moments, perhaps, the average runner isn’t training for the Eco-Challenge or intending to…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s Annual Travel Guide, 1999/2000 GEAR TO GO BACKCOUNTRY WARES For the snowy yonder APPAREL Learn this name: Schoeller. This fabric company’s blends are water-repellent, quick-drying, breathable, wind-resistant, and amazingly durable. Built from Schoeller’s Dryskin Extreme, a…
Review: Hardware and Software, January 1997 Buying Right: Wraparound Ski Shades By Andrew Tilin No ski sunglasses will liberate you from wearing goggles, but wraparounds get close. Now it really has to be dumping before I exchange a pair of cool specs for…
Gear Up: All the right stuff for watersports Some things are meant to be taken littorally: Part of putting together the perfect aquatic adventure is keeping the family safe, dry, and happily occupied. Here are our…
Home Bases, Summer 1998 Why Own When You Can Rent? Your own front porch, space to spread out — everything you need except for room service Nantucket, Massachusetts Nantucket, with its rose-covered saltbox cottages and cobblestone streets,…
Are We There Yet? Gear: All the Right Stuff for Car-Camping By Douglas Gantenbein Cots and sleeping bags Forget sleeping on the ground: set up a couple of L.L. Bean’s Allagash folding cots ($42), made by Byer of Maine. These have…
Review, May 1997 Buying Right: A Few Essentials for the Well-Prepared Paddler By Jonathan Hanson Since sea kayak accessories don’t change fashion with the seasons, you’ll be owning your gear for a good long time. Choose wisely. Paddles The paddle…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1996 Fishing: Vagabond Travel Fly Rod By Jerry Gibbs It’s inevitable: you’re biking beside a mountain stream or visiting the in-laws on Flathead Lake when a monstrous trout–the Hulk Hogan of salmonids–ghosts to the surface right in front of you.
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, February 1996 Travel Luggage That Can Take It–All Rugged duffels, gear bags, and convertible packs that hold everything you think you might need By Bob Howells No one is more obnoxious than the travel geek who shows up for a…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1995 Buying Right: World Bands on the Run By Manrico Delcore (with Mary Beth Debicki) If the one top 40 station your AM radio will pick up in the middle of nowhere has soured you on audio entertainment in the hinterlands,…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, February 1999 Review: Camcorder? What Camcorder? Palm-size digital video cameras let you play tourista without looking the part By Brent Hurtig BAGGAGE | BUYING RIGHT |…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, April 1996 Buying Right: Satellite Navigation for Civilian Budgets By Jerry Gibbs Even when your hiking trips don’t call for serious orienteering, it can be comforting to have a guide with area-specific savvy. But then, a handheld global positioning system (GPS)…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, December 1995 Stocking Stuffers By Amy Goldwasser and Andrew Tilin Grivel G10 Finally, a crampon that won’t complicate your climb. The Grivel G10 is as friendly to gloved fingers as they get. Fully adjustable without tools, the ten-point G10 attaches…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, September 1996 Accessories: Mental Training Wheels Michael Kessler Too busy or too shy to narrate your own visualization tape? Try a prerecorded version from the Monroe Institute in Faber, Virginia. The nonprofit company offers nine Fitness and Sports tapes ($13, 800-541-2488) that…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, June 1994 Technology: It’s a Bike and You Row It. RowBike. Get it? By Laura Billings “You can see the countryside on a regular bike, but you can’t get a total-body workout,” shouts inventor Scott Olson, 35, as he loads…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine, November 1994 The Shape of Ski Gear to Come High-performance skis, boots, and bindings that set a new precedent By Seth Masia Skiers seem to buy their gear in some sort of time warp. Consider what can happen in five…
Gear Up: All the right stuff for tots To learn what it’s like to travel with a toddler, try fiddling first with a time bomb. It’s thrilling. Then…boom! “Will.” “Won’t.” “Yes.” “No.” “Take me!” “Go away!”…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Plug In and Turn On Electronics that will add some serious voltage to your summer vacation By Lisa Twyman Bessone You’ve packed the sportsgear. Sunscreen and bug goo? Check. So what’s missing? Well, cameras that capture those…
Camp Outs, Family Vacations 1998 Backpacks To Grow On By Jonathan Hanson 1. Little hikers from three to six can walk farther if they feel they’re part of the team. Give them an L.L. Bear rucksack…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Staying Safe: Eye Protection Fat-tire trails teem with pebbles, dirt, and low-hanging tree branches-all of which can wind up in your eyes. Invest in a good pair of sport sunglasses to protect you and yours from these trail hazards, and specify…
Destinations, May 1997 The Truth About Hats and Togs Where to get great deals on misnamed chapeaux By Bob Payne Keep this one under your hat: panama hats aren’t made in Panama. They acquired that name because most are exported…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Buying Right: Saltwater Fly-Fishing Tackle By Donovan Webster As I gear up for prime saltwater fly-fishing season–when tarpon begin rustling from murky depths and migrate inland, making themselves all too available–I’m reminded of my grandfather. He was among…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, August 2000 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 NEXT STOP, MURDER LAKE Beating…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, September 1994 Paddling: NE14 Kayaks? By Todd Balf (with Martin Dugard and John Alderman) The Bankoh Kayak Challenge, the 32-mile open-water paddle from Molokai to Oahu, can’t be called a kayak race. Of the 81 entrants last May, all but four chose surf skis,…
Review, April 1997 Solo Shelters: Tents for the Compulsive Weight-Watcher By Doug Gantenbein Despite its dramaturgic lonely-guy feel, there are a few advantages to camping solo. First, you don’t have to bathe as often. And you can travel much more lightly; solo…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, July 1996 Extras: Battery of Choices Michael Kessler Disposable or rechargeable, no battery is particularly nurturing to the environment. For stereos and shortwave radios, you’ll need typical cylindrical cells. Disposable alkalines are most cost efficient, and since they no longer contain hazardous…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1996 Simply Sophisticated Cameras Single-lens reflex cameras give photograhers of all abilities the power to choose By Glenn Randall In this age of drive-thru espresso stands and the world news minute on local TV, it’s no surprise that…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, November 1995 Skis That Take a Turn for the Better Between hourglass, fat, and all-mountain boards, there’s an easy way down every run By Glenn Randall I’m not sure whether you can peg it to a dip on the growth…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, June 1999 THE OTHER STUFF Garmin NavTalk From all-in-one survival tools to in-line skates that turn into around-town boots, combination devices are the over-burdened outdoorsman’s newest friend. One of the most clever…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, Travel Guide 1997-1998 Sea Kayaking LONG CAYE, BELIZE There’s a certain queasy feeling that comes from bobbing up and down in three-foot swells while ensconced in a slightly wobbly sea kayak. It’s not quite seasickness, but it’s close enough to…
Camp Outs, Family Vacations 1998 These Boots Were Made For Mileage By Jonathan Hanson CAMP OUTS Happy Trails From an all-day jaunt to a weeklong…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Essential Gear: Dry Bags There’s nothing quite like shimmying into your sleeping bag after a hard day of paddling, only to find (yech!) that it’s damp. Whether the vessel is a raft, canoe, or kayak, whatever you pack-clothes, cameras, food, tent…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, July 1994 Buying Right: No-Hands Hydrators By John Lehrer Drinking plenty of fluids during prolonged exercise is essential to performance and safety, but toting a sufficient supply can be inconvenient: Scout canteens or a couple of water bottles just don’t carry well on an…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Essentials: Piscine Temptations By Donovan Webster Ah, the allure of saltwater fly-fishing: Whether you’re hitting a reedy inland tide pool or throwing shooting taper lines into the deep blue, you can cast all day without a bite, content…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Travel Clothes Pack only fabrics that wick, dry fast, and refuse to wrinkle By Robert Earle Howells SHIRTS ——— Three great and distinct achievements in polyester coolness:…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, December 1995 Boots That Fight Cool-Guy Conformity A new pair of Sorels is for clomping and surviving and kicking stupid people, says our man from Minnesota By Garrison Keillor In my youth in Minnesota, it was definitely not cool to…
Camping Special, April 1997 The Right Duff Are you sure you know what it takes to pick the perfect campsite? By Brad Wetzler In Plato’s realm of ideals, you’d find the perfect campsite floating in the ether, next to a…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, July 1996 Pack Up, Head Out, Zoom In Camcorders, CD players, even boom boxes built for the wilds By Andrew Tilin Forgive me, o Thoreau, Abbey, fellow hikers and campers, for I have navigated the wilderness with Walkman and camcorder…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1996 Technology: Advanced Photo System By Glenn Randall If you want to avoid the mystery in the trip to pick up your prints, consider a completely new photographic format: the Advanced Photo System. Developed by the Big Five–Canon, Fuji, Kodak,…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, March 1996 Buying Right: Pavement Protection By Andrew Tilin The potential for skin to mix with pavement when you’re skating is worth a few ounces of prevention. And nowadays, we really are talking ounces: Wrist guards no longer…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, January 1996 Buying Right: Winter-Wise Boots By Glenn Randall Insulated hiking boots are more expensive than rubber-bottomed, felt-lined pac boots, and they’re not quite as warm. But pac boots aren’t made for walking; for anything a step more vigorous than ice fishing…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, June 1999 BUYING RIGHT Next Up: An Attachment for the Kitchen Sink Thule 400 Aero Foot and Big Mount If you’re still wedging your bikes into the trunk each weekend, or if you’re hoping that…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1996 CD-Rom: Everest Quest By Rod Willard These days you can find CD-Roms on every oft-visited place from Yosemite to the Australian outback. But Peak Media’s Mount Everest: Quest for the Summit of Dreams stands out for one simple reason: It’s…
Camp Outs, Family Vacations 1998 Leave No Trace CAMP OUTS Happy Trails From an all-day jaunt to a weeklong trek, seven kid-tested routes to the wilderness…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Essential Gear: Hydration Systems It’s axiomatic that you need to drink water when exercising, particularly outdoors. Still, most people underestimate the amounts of water required for proper hydration–as well as the seriousness of failing to maintain it. Herewith, a crash course…