Gear
Archive¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ 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…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, November 1995 Camp Miz “I want the inmates to hate my jails so much they never want to come back,” growls Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The bearlike 62-year-old, chief badge-holder of Maricopa County, Arizona, is called “the meanest sheriff in America,” thanks partly to his…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Couture A-Go-Go Functional yet snappy travel garb for a haul of any length By Bob Howells Stifling heat is no excuse when you appear bare-legged at Cairo’s Mohammed Ali Mosque. You either rent a ratty…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Never Say Dry Just snorkel, surf, dive, sail, fish, paddle a kayak … DIVING ——— Red Hill, Maui On Maui all dive boats lead to Molokini crater, the underwater equivalent of…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, December 1995 Geosynchronous Satellites in the Palm of His Hand Governor Moonbeam navigates the political landscape with his GPS gizmo By Jerry Brown A goofy presidential campaign full of the usual suspects is coming around again. Media pundits, working for…
Camping Special, April 1997 Freeze-Dried Is for Losers A guide to culinary success alfresco By Brad Wetzler Anybody can scarf pb&j while perched on a mountain rock, but one might argue that you’re not really camping till you dirty a…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, July 1996 Footwear: A Splashy New Breed By Jonathon Hanson Sport sandals are evolving furiously–offering sophisticated footbeds, grippier soles, and multitudinous strap arrangements. The only problem is, they’re still sandals: cool, light, great in water, but lacking the support and protection…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1996 Extras: A Case for Insurance By Glenn Randall The one drawback of an slr is that it’s too bulky and heavy to stow in a coat pocket. An SLR isn’t tough enough to withstand dust and water if you…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine, February 1995 Last-Minute Essentials By Bob Howells What’s that peculiar smell in your pack? Probably your towel, that soggy mildew factory that you’re always stuffing back in before it’s completely dry. Replace it with an easy-wring, quick-dry Paktowl ($12), made of soft…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, July 1994 Equipment: When You Could Use a Stiff Belt By Dana Sullivan…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, June 1995 Camping: Bibler Escalante Tents By Rod Willard What happens when a legendary maker of single-wall expedition tents builds a model for those of us who don’t spend our vacations in the Himalayas? We get the benefit of extreme-adventure experience in…
1999 Family Vacation Guide All the Right Stuff for Family Camping By Douglas Gantenbein Tents A sturdy, packable tent is your family’s home on the trail. For summer camping, look for something light and well-ventilated.
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Spin Control So what if you can’t catch air–skinny tires still rule the road By Laura Hilgers Our Favorite Places | Inside Skinny | Staying Safe…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, November 1995 Update: Beyond-Basic Bindings By Glenn Randall Every major brand of bindings performs just fine these days–and has for years. So, having mastered the basics, the manufacturers have been busy tweaking their latest bindings to improve edge grip, help carve a…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Necessities By Bob Howells A few personal favorites round out a practical traveler’s wardrobe. The Tilley Endurables T3 hat ($45) is a subtle classic, and offers unparalleled comfort: Made of vented, water-repellent cotton duck, the T3 comes in…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Travel Bags Secret compartments, mesh pouches, and zip-out extensions for all your stuff By Robert Earle Howells CONVERTIBLES —————— You know what a long suitcase portage does…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1996 Wow, Man, That’s Some Righteous Shoe In what passes for a victory in America’s anemic War on Drugs, Adidas has agreed to change the name of its new sneaker, “The Hemp.” Made from the plant that produces marijuana, the shoe stirred up…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, June 1995 Buying Right: Polarized Sunglasses By Bob Howells Shading against the beach sun means dark specs, a broad-brimmed hat, and a frill-edged umbrella. Shielding against that sun, however, means polarized glasses. There’s a big difference between polarized lenses and all…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, July 1996 Carriers: Rack “Em Up, Shorty By John Lehrer Hoisting a bike to the roof rack on a sport utility vehicle is a stretch for all but the very tall. It’s easier to reach a hitch-mounted rack, but then there’s…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1996 Essentials: The Lowdown On Lenses Glenn Randall When you invest in an slr camera, you’re paying for flexibility, which in broad terms means the ability to swap lenses. Options are great, but for your first lens, buy the fastest…
Review, June 1997 Move Over, Spandex And make way for a variety of threads appealing to cyclists of every tread By Dan Wildhirt Nike jersey, Dirt Designs shorts, Nautica vest Time was, tight-fitting cycling clothes were limited to the…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, August 1995 Tents for Three Seasons–and Then Some No one shelter does it all, but the best take you from summer to winterish conditions By Douglas Gantenbein I have a friend who has a jacket, a backpack, and a collection…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, March 1996 Mountaineering: It Came from Rockford High-altitude mutant Ed Viesturs’s careful assault on the top of the world By Andrew Tilin “It was all about putting another deposit in the Karma National Bank,” says Ed Viesturs…
1999 Family Vacation Guide, Don’t Spare the Bubbly All the Right Stuff for Whitewater By Steve Shimek Rule number one of river travel: Rafters have more fun if they’re toasty warm. On a scenic Class…
Family Vacations, Summer 1996 Essential Gear: First-Aid Kits The Wilderness Medical Society conducted a study that was published in the Journal of Wilderness Medicine. Researchers polled backpackers coming down off trails in Yosemite National Park and discovered that 14 percent had to cut short their…
Bodywork: Fitness for the ¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Athlete, November 1996 Equipment: Striking a Balance By John Alderman Chances are, you’ll never try to pull off a 720-degree spin with a tail grab on your snowboard. But if you do want to, or if you…
Hardware and Software, February 1997 Pan-Optx Sunglasses By Sarah Bowen Shea Glasses or goggles? The new Pan-Optx Raptor ($105; 800-393-9273), makes moot the vexing question of how best to protect your eyes on piste. In fact, these sunglasses–designed with peripheral molding that snugly…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Shooting from the Trip Photo safaris to hone your skills and sharpen your focus By Kara Ryan E-MAIL FROM: DAKAR, SENEGAL On the outskirts of Dakar, middle-aged borro-borros, West Africa's traditional pharmacists, sit on blue…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, April 1996 Sturdy Boots Without the Burden Lightweight, trailworthy hikers for both fast-moving day hikes and overnight jaunts By Douglas Gantenbein Horrific tales of foot agony in decades past are the best argument for today’s lightweight hiking boots, so here’s…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, June 1995 Smooth-Sailing Crafts, By Land or By Sea On the car or in the water, boards and boats that are a breeze to handle By Nancy K. Crowell God does not deduct from a man’s life the hours spent…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1995 Fly-Fishing: Bridger Mountain Pack By Jerry Gibbs As happy as you and your favorite daypack are with each other, spend some time together fly-fishing and you’ll discover shortcomings: Once you’ve stuffed it to capacity with just your waders and awkwardly…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1996 Classics: The Field Jacket By Donovan Webster In 1890, in the english seaport town of market place, south Shields, a craftsman named John Barbour began making specialized outerwear to protect local mariners from the wet and cold of the North…
Review, June 1997 Essentials: Lids that Fill the Bill By Dan Wildhirt Bell Image Pro Each year, helmets get safer, lighter, and more comfortable. This makes choosing one mostly a matter of style, and the current point of decision is visor…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, August 1995 Essentials: Protect That Shelter By Douglas Gantenbein The tent of your dreams won’t stay dreamy for long without regular maintenance. Some hints that should keep a backcountry roof over your head for years to come: Adhere to Setup Etiquett…
Sport and adventure are often yoked to deception, and the chronicle of outdoor accomplishment comes studded with tales of those who deployed the Big Lie.
1999 Family Vacation Guide, Unsung Heroes The right cameras to take on the road By Douglas Gantenbein Vacation means pictures. But it also means a decision: What kind of camera to schlepp along? 35mm? APS?…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1996 Essential Gear: Foot Coverings Think of your footwear as helmets for your feet: If you do wind up in the water, ricocheting off boulders in the feet-first position, you’ll appreciate a little sole asylum. Despite the fact that the first sport…
Review: Hardware and Software, November 1996 Dynabee Hand and Arm Exerciser By Bob Howells A 4,000-pound nautilus machine will work the big muscle groups, but if it’s your forearms and hands you want to strengthen, there’s a piece of equipment that’s considerably more…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, April 1995 The Bags of Summer For the kind season, bedding with just enough less of everything By Douglas Gantenbein Be overprepared. That’s the Boy Scout hypermotto that many campers mistakenly live by when it comes to bedding down in…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine, 1999 Annual Travel Guide Gear to Go Seaworthy Stuff Shield your camera from spray, your toes from rocks, your eyes from the sun By Robert Earle Howells WEATHERPROOF BAGS ————————— Whether the adversary is…
Summer 2000: A Gear Odyssey This year, at least, there wasn’t a tornado. A twister that struck before opening day became the biggest story out of last year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City. But this year, new gear made…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, June 1995 Essentials: Water-Loving Sunscreens By Bob Howells Before you pick a sunscreen off the local beach shop shelf consider its tenacity along with its potency. Unless the concoction is waterproof–or, if you go by the Food and Drug Administration’s more accurate…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, May 1995 Trekking: The Nature Ear By Mike Steere Like binoculars, Walker’s Nature Ear is a field tool that makes nature seem closer and clearer–albeit less natural. Listening in on coastal Alaska with one of these tiny amps stuck in your ear…
¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ magazine, October 1996 Simply Sophisticated Cameras Single-lens reflex cameras give photographers of all abilities the power to choose By Glenn Randall Verse of a Natural Beat Mountains and Rivers Without End, by Gary Snyder (Counterpoint, $20). In…
Review, June 1997 Extras: Rounding Out the Two-Wheeled Wardrobe By Dan Wildhirt Louis Garneau Ergofit Route gloves A few accessories selected in the name of comfort can make cycling much more pleasant. Rarely do I ride without Pearl Izumi’s Sleeveless Base…
With these intelligent devices, going digital is the fastest way to hotwire that great big analog world outside
Give your barking dogs some luxe love with the new generation of super socks
I'm a teacher looking for a 100-percent waterproof backpack to use while ferrying from lesson to lesson in Japan. It needs to have a capacity of up to 30 liters, be strong, and be completely waterproof to survive the downpours we get out here. I'm thinking about an Ortlieb Messenger-style bag, but do you have any other possible alternatives? Daniel Hiroshima, Japan
I pretty new to hiking and wondering about clothing. Is there a list of recommended clothing to take on a three-day hike up a mountain (e.g., Washington's Mount St. Helens or Mount Ads?). Mike Marysville, Washington
My son loves his waterproof shell, my rickety knees love my hiking poles, my feet love my boots, and we eat well using our stove, all of which you've helped educate us about... Now what about tarps for two? We mostly do cool-weather camping along the AT, so bugs aren't too big a problem. Are there any moderately priced models that you recommend? One other question: Back in the Middle Ages, when tarps were called pup tents, we trenched them to stay dry in the rain. Is this still standard practice in these enlightened times? J.P. Raleigh, North Carolina
I need some advice about personal flotation devices for sea kayaking. Are they compatible with CelBak hydration systems? I'm also told that U.S.-certified PFDs may not be appropriate for Canadian use. How come, eh? Charles Montreal, Quebec
How do I know when it's time to change the filter in my PUR water filter? I haven't used it much but have had it for several years. Can they go bad or expire? Adrienne Moab, Utah
In January 2004, top female kayakers from all over the globe joined medical doctor and expedition leader Jessie Stone in Uganda, to form the world’s first all-woman White Nile expedition. But this team’s goal was unique: Not only did they plan to conquer the river’s gnarly whitewater, they also hoped…
I'm planning to hike the Grand Canyon in June. Do I need a high-top hiking boot? I have very comfortable, worn-in low-tops but have read that high-top shoes are recommended. What do you think? Danielle Peoria, Illinois
I'm trekking to Everest Base Camp in October and want to buy a new camera for the trip, probably the Yashica T4 Zoom. As I can't find any advice on photography at high altitudes, would you recommend this camera or go with a digital? Thanks, Gear God. Adam Bethesda, Maryland
I recently bought a Talus tent from The North Face for camping in the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Mountains this summer. Afterwards, though, it occurred to me that thunderstorms can be vicious in the region at that time of year. Will I be safe and dry in the Talus if a T-storm suddenly hits, or did I make a poor choice? Also, are aluminum tent poles dangerous if lightning strikes? Marshall McLean, Virginia
I really like canister stoves but concerned about the throwaway nature of the fuel containers. Other than the Coleman Xtreme stove, most seem to use canisters that are non-recyclable, including all the new ultralight stoves. Is any manufacturer currently working on the recycling issue? Jeff Shoreview, Minnesota
Last year I completed the 340-mile-long Trondheim-Oslo bike ride. I was in great shape but broke no less than four spokes on my fairly new Trek 1200 road bike. This left me concerned about weight and now I'm considering dropping the rear rack and rack-top bag in favor of a lighter hydration system like the CelBak M.U.L.E. I think I'll also switch to 28-millimeter tires to spare the rims, but is this worth the extra weight and drag? Jarle Bergen, Norway
I'm 42 years old and need to get back into regular exercise since a lower back problem curtailed my jogging career. I was thinking about biking the five miles to my workplace, as well as maybe some longer weekend rides over hard-dirt trails. What should I be riding, and with the back problem, should I sit more upright than hunched over? Mark Bethesda, Maryland
Does the sun protection in clothing deteriorate with washing? I referring to Columbia Sportswear's sun-shielding gear. Is there any information on how long it remains effective? Regina Boise, Idaho