When I was younger I had a high-adrenaline running playlist that I carefully curated to pump up my heart rate: Arctic Monkeys, Jay-Z, Rage Against the Machine. As my preference shifted toward podcasts, I seized the opportunity to explore ideas while chasing my weekly mileage goals. What remained constant was my appreciation for the best sports earbuds on the market. I鈥檝e tested dozens of pairs, ranging from wired to wireless, with features like active noise cancellation and customizable tap-activated controls. Here are the seven sport earbuds we liked best, whether indoors or out, on land or in the water, on city sidewalks or remote trails.

Update July 2025: We鈥檝e tested the best new sport earbuds tailored to every activity, awarding a place to four new models鈥攊ncluding our new best overall pick, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2鈥攁nd updated prices and availability for all.

At a Glance

• • Best All-Around:听
  • Best High-Fidelity:听
  • Best for Runners:听
  • Best Open-Ear:听
  • Killer Value:听
  • Best for Water:听
  • Most Innovative:听
  • The Hottest Trend in Sport Earbuds
  • How to Choose Earbuds
  • How We Test

Best All-Around

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Pros and Cons
鈯�听 Secure fit and comfort
鈯�听 Push buttons that you control
鈯�听 Too trebly at times
鈯�听 Heart-rate device pairing takes some work

The second generation of the Powerbeats Pro is a big step up from the first, and it quickly gained go-to status for every member of our test team. 鈥淎ctual buttons you can feel and click, paired with rich sound, comfy fit, and a microphone that canceled the noise of the windstorm I was walking through while talking on the phone? Wow,鈥� enthused one tester.

This model is loaded with features not seen on the first鈥攏otably active noise cancellation (ANC) and heart-rate monitoring capability. Battery life is a superb 10 hours on a charge, which adds to their everyday-wear appeal. The case, which now allows wireless charging, supplies a total of 45 hours before you need a plug-in.

As with everything Beats (and parent company Apple), the acoustics shine: Adaptive EQ on the Pro 2 reads the environmental factors around you and adjusts the frequencies in your music for optimal sound. That sound is full and rich, without too much bass鈥攂ut a bit too harsh on the treble end for some testers.

The ANC in the Pro 2 shows just how far that tech has come. 鈥淣oise canceling made the city disappear until I had to cross traffic, then鈥攑op!鈥攆ull awareness,鈥� one tester noted. We also appreciated the push-button controls, which not only provide a satisfying haptic response so you know when the button has been pushed, but also eliminate accidental pauses when you brush your finger against the earbud (a huge annoyance for many users). The buttons also make it easy to toggle from one connected device to another without swiping to your Bluetooth controls, and they can even be pressed with a tilt against your shoulder, which comes in handy in the kitchen or whenever both hands are occupied.

The IPX4 rating stands up well to sweat and rain, and the lighter profile (vis a vis the first gen) and soft rubbery coating makes them comfortable through long hours of use. The flexy ear hooks鈥攐ne of the big attractions for any athlete鈥攁re extremely well designed, fitting each tester鈥檚 ears perfectly and not budging a millimeter during HIIT workouts. Even the new color palette is alluring, with new orange and purple options. All told, the Powerbeats Pro 2 represent the state of the art in active-user earbuds. As one tester reported, they 鈥渢ransition seamlessly from workout to travel to urban navigation.鈥�

Best for Audiophiles

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯�听Pristine sound quality
鈯�听Non-frustrating touch controls
鈯�听Not cheap

鈥淭he most audiophile worthy of all the earbuds I鈥檝e tested,鈥� one of our veteran reviewers gushed after a month with the Pi8s. Through hours of listening sessions on planes, on trails, on couches, and on city sidewalks, this was the pair that invariably impressed everyone on our test team, with their 鈥渋ncredibly balanced and musical鈥� sound quality.

The $400 price鈥�$150 above Apple鈥檚 ubiquitous AirPod Pros and $100 north of the Bose QuietComfort Ultras鈥攎eans you have to be serious about your music, and about taking good care of them. They鈥檙e IP54-rated, able to handle sweat and a misty rain, but are not the pair you want to bring to the gym each day. While the four sizes of ear tips help them sit pretty securely and comfortably, they will fall out on occasion. All the same, we won鈥檛 discourage you from ever bringing them on a run on a sunny day, where their high-fidelity clarity is sure to put a little more oomph in your step.

The active noise cancellation on the Pi8s is excellent, similar to that on the Bose QCII, with touch controls for toggling between on, off, and transparency mode. The touch controls work better than in most earbuds we鈥檝e seen, with a satisfying light noise that鈥檚 akin to a mouse click. We also love the pearlescent finish on the outer surface of the Pi8s, which come in four colors. A robust companion app lets you turn off the touch controls and has a five-band equalizer so you can tweak the sound profile to your liking. Battery life here is an average 6.5 hours, and the charging case holds two additional charges (13.5 hours).

Another nice feature is something called retransmission. This allows you to use the included USB-C-to-3.5mm cord to plug the unit鈥檚 charging case into an external device like an in-flight entertainment system and the case will send the signal into the buds, so you鈥檙e not stuck listening on that plastic-wrapped pair the flight attendants hand out with the peanuts.

One reviewer reported, 鈥淚 listened to an album with two double basses鈥斺�淏ut Who鈥檚 Gonna Play the Melody?鈥� by Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer鈥攁nd I could hear their fingers and the pull of the bow on the strings in ways I hadn鈥檛 before.鈥� That鈥檚 a good example of what makes these shine like few have before them.

Best for Runners

Shokz OpenFit2

Pros and Cons
鈯�听Great volume despite open ear design
鈯�听Long battery life
鈯�听Sound not as rich as high-end models
鈯�听Might not fit large ears

鈥淪o comfortable, I forgot I was wearing them,鈥� said one fan of the latest release from Shokz. This, and the smart minimalist design of the ear hooks, made them our favorite trail companions this year鈥攐n both shorter runs and longer hikes. And they鈥檙e another entry in the fast-improving open-ear category.

One distance runner in our test group said, 鈥淭hese are my new favorite for running: no distracting foot-thudding sounds resonating through an earbud, no whooshy wind sounds, and full awareness of the aggro downhill bro bombing up behind you.鈥�

The soft rubber on the ear hooks, combined with the open design, make them one of the most comfortable to wear for long hours鈥攁nd the OpenFit 2 will play for up to 11 hours per charge and 48 hours from the charging case.

It鈥檚 clear that Shokz put a lot of thought into this model. The handy companion app allows you to equalize treble and bass or customize the controls鈥攂oth push-button and touch can be turned on or off. Where the Bose Ultra has one speaker, this one comes with a pair of speakers that get more volume into your ears, making them louder than Bose, if a touch less refined. Like the Bose Ultra, they have multipoint pairing so you can switch between devices with a single push or tap.

IP55 water resistance is a notch higher than most models here, keeping water and dust at bay. And the nicely compact case and overall superlight package make them even more appealing for runners with limited pocket space.

Best Open Ear

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯�听Deceptively rich sound
鈯�听Impressive companion app
鈯�听Microphones were subpar
鈯�听Bass is underwhelming

When I first saw this newfangled design鈥攁 mini speaker held in place by clamping around the side of your ear 鈥擨 didn鈥檛 know what the Bose people were thinking. Is this an earbud or jewelry? Turns out, they put plenty of thought into these surprisingly powerful earbuds. The Ultra Open Ears, small and featherlight as they are, somehow grab onto your ear and stay there even in high-impact sprints or multi-position yoga鈥攁ll while churning out the dynamic blend of sound you鈥檇 expect from Bose.

For audiophiles, the ongoing problem with open designs has been inadequate volume reaching our eardrums鈥攚e鈥檝e enjoyed them for podcasts, but for music, not so much. By shifting the design, Bose has managed to get the speaker a bit closer to the ear canal, while also leaving an ample gap for ambient sounds to get in. Which, of course, is the whole idea: enjoy your audio while also hearing that tourist on an e-bike coming up from behind.

Bose鈥檚 excellent app goes a long way toward making this possible. An easy-to-adjust equalizer lets you dial in the bass, mids, and treble to your exact preferences. The app also has an Immersive Audio setting that shifts the sound profile from left to right as your head moves around so it feels like the sound is coming from the same source the whole time. One tester called it 鈥渄ownright supernatural, making music sound like it鈥檚 coming from a speaker somewhere around you.鈥�

The IPX4 rating gives it good water resistance, whileand the seven-hour battery life (total of 48 in the case) is only average,good and (although immersive mode will reduce this). (If you’re looking for longer battery life in an open-ear model, consider the , which goes for 12 hours per charge.When we want crazy long battery life, we turn to , which run for 38 hours on a single charge.)

For runs, walks, and bike rides, testers found the extra awareness of their surroundings worth the trade-off in volume, which probably isn鈥檛 the best thing for your ears in the first place. Open designs will never provide the same fullness for music-philes as in-ear, but nothing before this has come so close.

鈥淓ven my wife, who is allergic to trendy tech, was won over,鈥� said one user.

Killer Value

Back Bay FirstClass 50

听Currently Sold Out

Pros and Cons
鈯�听Excellent noise canceling
鈯�听Robust sound quality
鈯�听Slipped out of some users鈥� ears
鈯�听Touch controls aren鈥檛 the most intuitive

鈥淪eriously: $40,鈥� said our Aspen-based tester. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 less than a hamburger in this town.鈥� While we don鈥檛 envy those restaurant prices, we all concurred that the Back Bay FirstClass 50 is one of the best sport earbuds for the price.

Boston-based Back Bay has created something like a day-for-night version of Apple鈥檚 AirPods: similar size and shape but in black, and with sound quality that comes eerily close to that perennially pricey fave. Since Back Bay cuts out a lot of costs by selling straight to consumers, their quality products鈥攁ll certified carbon-neutral, to boot鈥攄on鈥檛 bear any of the marks of cheapness, unlike many similarly priced items.

Even at the bargain price, they deliver excellent sound quality and also offer active noise canceling. Seriously: One itinerant tester said, 鈥淪itting in the noisiest seat on the aircraft鈥攁ft of the wing, and in front of two worked-up toddlers鈥擨 could make it all disappear with a click.鈥� The company claims these earbuds block 97% of noise. We鈥檙e not sure how that鈥檚 possible, but they do the job as well as almost anything we鈥檝e put to the test for a fraction of the price.

While battery life is an average five hours per charge (with 25 hours overall in the case), they offer a 15-minute quick charge to add two hours of playtime. The IPX5 water protection keeps them going in a storm, and while the fit isn鈥檛 as secure as others in this review, they one-up AirPods in this regard by adding rubber tips to help them stay secure.

Best for Water

H2O Audio TRI 2 Pro

Pros and Cons
鈯�听Totally waterproof
鈯�听Onboard memory
鈯�听Song transfer is slow
鈯�听Can cause tickling

Have you harbored dreams of funneling techno into your auditory nerve while windsurfing on San Francisco Bay, then voice-commanding to switch over to an incoming business call? One member of our review crew put three models of waterproof earbuds through this very test and, while the process stands to be improved through future innovations, it worked fairly well, with the TRI 2 Pro coming out on top.

H2O Audio has been selling good products for swimmers and the like for years鈥攊t takes a special approach, not least because they need to be IPX8, able to go 12 feet underwater for as long as you want them to鈥攍ike this model can. And, of course, a Bluetooth signal won鈥檛 travel under the waves with you, so tracks need to be stored locally, either on a waterproof MP3 player or an even better solution, like this unit鈥檚 8GB of onboard memory that can store 130 hours of tracks. (It can move your own mp3 files over or 鈥渞ecord鈥� music from a streaming service like Spotify, though this is a slow process.)

The TRI 2 Pros employ bone conduction technology, which makes them great for podcasts while out on a run or bike ride, but a little less ideal when trying to rock out in said open-air activities: Then they can start to tickle. Still, H2O Audio and other companies are making these units sound better every year. And it鈥檚 underwater that they really shine: When you use the included earplugs to neutralize the water noise in your ears, it鈥檚 surprising how smooth music sounds, and at much more moderate volumes. They鈥檙e a minor godsend for lap swimmers, snorkelers, and triathletes (presumably the core audience for the Tri line) who like to enhance their life aquatic by playing their favorite symphony or devouring an audiobook. The headset will play for up to nine hours in Bluetooth mode and six hours in memory mode and comes with a zip case (which is rather bulky) that provides two and a half refills.

Back to our windsurfer: The TRI 2 Pro worked under a helmet (and this success was replicated on the ski slopes), which also secured them in the event of a fall. Playing tunes when the wind was low was enjoyable, but in high wind it was a challenge: 鈥淚 could hear the music, but the output of the headphones had to compete with the roar of wind in my ear canals. It鈥檚 simply a matter of physics.鈥� This also meant the tester鈥檚 hopes of 鈥渢urning sales meetings into sails meetings鈥� by joining conference calls were largely dashed. Listening worked fine, but the microphone couldn鈥檛 pick up his voice from deep inside his helmet. Maybe one day.

Most Innovative

Denon PerL True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯�听Rich, dynamic sound
鈯�听Impressive app
鈯�听Customizable sound profile
鈯�听Chunky size

鈥淓ach product is hand-tuned by our sound master,鈥� Denon says of the PerLs, and while we don鈥檛 know exactly what that means, it speaks to the Japanese DNA in these premium-sounding buds. Take the accompanying software, for instance: The first thing you do with these wireless buds is download an app that streams a series of sounds and frequencies into your ears to measure how you hear, then creates a personalized profile that transforms how good music sounds. It鈥檚 one of the best uses of a headphone app we鈥檝e seen.

The PerLs came across as lively but not piercing on the high end, with realism and verve. There鈥檚 even a high-gain option on the app that boosts volume for quiet recordings, which one tester called 鈥渁 welcome feature that I would love to see in a lot of sometimes anemic Bluetooth earbuds.鈥� These capabilities are made possible by a series of ultra-sensitive microphones, which probably explains their rather enormous size鈥攐ne reviewer called them 鈥渟harp-edged Alka-Seltzer tablet earbud bodies鈥� and noted, 鈥淚 had to remove the supplied fin attachment before these felt okay.鈥�

Others liked the fit and found them great for running, where they kept the adrenaline flowing with some of the best full-on rocking-out sound in the test. 鈥淪t. Vincent and Spoon sounded like I was listening to vinyl,鈥� one tester said. The active noise cancellation is decent, the six hours of battery is average (with two more charges from the case), and an IPX4 rating means they can handle a light rain. Given the quality and attention to detail, we consider these a true bargain at $139 or less.

The Hottest Trend in Sport Earbuds

This year, for the first time in our testing history, open earbud models outnumbered traditional in-ear ones among our test candidates. The open design allows you to hear far more of what鈥檚 going on around you, and I鈥檝e been slow to take a liking to them. There鈥檚 no doubt that they make a lot of sense for people who run along the roadside or, even more so, cyclists who go anywhere near cars鈥攇enerally a very bad time to be canceling the noise around you.

Since I live in the desert and rarely pass another living soul on the trails, I don鈥檛 prioritize hearing what鈥檚 going on around me, and open earbuds will always be challenged to sound as good, or as loud, when they鈥檙e handicapped by having to reach your hearing by alternative methods. So for music, they鈥檙e not my favorite; for the spoken word, I鈥檝e learned to appreciate them.

During this year鈥檚 tests, one of my fellow reviewers said he appreciated that the open design allowed him to hear not just passing cars but songbirds. Which sent me into a brief panic: Am I missing all the birdsongs? Sadly, there aren鈥檛 a lot of birds on my trail, but this summer when I鈥檓 hiking above 10,000 feet and the dark-eyed juncos are chirping in the high branches, I鈥檒l be putting that theory to the test.

Open earbuds work in one of two ways: either with the transmitter positioned near your ear canal but not in it (the , a previous winner, is a prime example) or through bone conduction (found in the , named Best for Water this season), which bypasses your eardrum, sending sound directly to your inner ear by way of your skull bones. More recently, a new design has popped up, which I refer to as the clip-on earring style: these fall into the first category but use a more diminutive design that grabs onto the lower part of your ear. The that won the category this summer is one example, but lower-priced models from and use the same concept, all with good results鈥攎eaning they manage to get enough clear sound into my ears that I enjoy hearing music on them.

In the meantime, many closed-ear models these days (see ) let you employ a transparency (or awareness) mode that enhances ambient sound. This can be a nice in-between solution if your need for awareness isn鈥檛 so much life-and-death as it is a courtesy to the runner or biker 鈥渙n your left.鈥�

How to Choose Earbuds

Earbuds are more like shoes than most other gear categories: so much depends on the right fit. What comfortably fits one person鈥檚 ears may not suit another鈥檚, and there鈥檚 more to it than size. The internal anatomy of the ear makes certain designs actually sound better to one person than the next. If you can鈥檛 try them out at a store or borrow them from a friend, it may be best to buy them from a retailer with a good return policy. Once you have them in hand, do some real-world tests with the different tip sizes, and trade them in if you aren鈥檛 in love.

If you want to get serious about the perfect fit, consider aftermarket foam eartips, like听. In addition to helping with a more secure fit, they provide passive noise isolation, which can improve the experience with both ANC-equipped and ANC-less earbuds. Should fit issues persist, consider a model with behind-the-ear hooks like the听.

Also give some thought to which features do it for you: Some people like sleek touch controls, others prefer old-school push buttons; some like to tap for quick pausing, others would rather forgo that feature and pull out one bud to ask for directions, so as to avoid the annoyance of unwanted pauses every time your fingers go near them. And if you live in a rainy climate, be sure to choose ones with an听听ending in 4 or higher (as all the models here do).

Finally, be aware that there are more specialized designs emerging and getting better each year鈥搇ike these earbuds for听, others for听, and听听for those who want to stay more tuned in to their surroundings.

Also see: How to Clean Your Earbuds

How We Test Sport Earbuds

• Hours of Testing:听419
• Test Environments:听Running, hiking, dog walking, cycling, windsurfing, swimming, skiing, rock climbing, HIIT workouts, plane rides, gardening, shoveling gravel, grocery shopping, making dinner, car camping, conference calls, video calls, video streaming, noisy coffee shops
• Highest Elevation:听10,152 feet, Leadville, Colorado
• Lowest Elevation:听5 feet underwater in Lake Pleasant, Arizona
• Most Listened-To Tracks:听Bon Iver: 鈥淒ijon,鈥� Charli xcx featuring BB Tricks: 鈥淐lub Classics,鈥� Childish Gambino: 鈥淟ithonia,鈥� Drugdealer and Kim Bollinger: 鈥淧ictures of You,鈥� Flock of Dimes: 鈥淒ay One,鈥� Fontaines D.C.: 鈥淔avourite,鈥� J Dilla: 鈥淲orkinonit,鈥� Kenya Grace: 鈥淪trangers,鈥� The Hold Steady: 鈥淪tuck Between Stations,鈥� Magdalena Bay: 鈥淚mage,鈥� Prince: 鈥淓lectric Chair,鈥� Puentes: 鈥淎mor y Unidad,鈥� Kathleen Smith: 鈥淚 Can See for Miles,鈥� Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: 鈥淐hallengers鈥�

The first thing we do with any earbuds, headphones, or speakers is attempt to pair them with our phones without consulting the user manual: the quicker, more intuitive, and easier the Bluetooth setup, the more points scored. Then we put them through rigorous hours of testing doing the kinds of things听国产吃瓜黑料听readers do鈥攆rom dog walks to HIIT workouts, from fireside listening to our day jobs, which for one of us is at the local woodworking shop. Our testers, who range in location from Alaska to Berkeley to Aspen to Santa Fe to New York City, spent hours in them, bouncing up and down on trails, treadmills, and trains.

Our team turns in reports on each product tested, providing a score from 1 to 10 for five different measures: sound quality, pairing and connectivity, fit and comfort, rain and drop protection, and user friendliness. Scores are averaged, with more weight given to sound quality and (knowing our audience) how well they stand up to the elements. Note: Battery life estimates in these reviews are based on manufacturer specs; it鈥檚 difficult to confirm those numbers, given the time involved and variances among user habits (different volumes, different uses, different functions enabled). Actual results may be 10 to 20 percent lower, judging from averages experienced in general testing.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Will Palmer has been testing gear for 21 years for 国产吃瓜黑料, where he was managing editor and copy chief for nine years. Based in Santa Fe, he has been a runner since 1984, and while the mile counts have decreased over the years, he鈥檚 kept motivated to head out the door on the hottest, coldest, and wettest days by the opportunity to test the best new products鈥攁nd to commune with the junipers and pi帽ons.

The post The 7 Best Sport Earbuds (Summer 2025) appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Cameras present a unique challenge in the backcountry or on an adventure. They鈥檙e often heavier, always more expensive, and usually more fragile than any other outdoor gear you鈥檙e hauling around (including your phone). That means you need a trustworthy camera bag that carries exceptionally well, is easy to access, protects your gear from drops, falls, and the elements, and is designed well so you can keep everything organized.

That鈥檚 a high bar to clear, so the list below of my favorite camera bags for adventure and travel is a long time coming. It鈥檚 the result of my work as a photographer over the past 20 years, where I鈥檝e shot assignments in a wide variety of locations鈥攅verywhere from the Middle East to the summit of several 14ers across Colorado. As a gear tester for 国产吃瓜黑料 over the past 10-plus years I鈥檝e made a point to get my hands on every camera bag I could in search of the best. Here are my favorite camera bags for photographers on the go.

At a Glance

• Best Photo Backpack: with
• Best Photo Sling: with
• Best Old-School Camera Bag: with
• Best Lightweight Backpack: with
• How to Choose a Camera Bag
• How I Tested

Best Photo Backpack

Shimoda Action X50 v2 with Medium Mirrorless V2 Core Unit

国产吃瓜黑料 dimensions: 22鈥� x 11.8鈥� x 7.9鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Carries well when loaded down
鈯� Nearly indestructible
鈯� Feature-rich
鈯� Heavy
鈯� Expensive

Designed specifically for backcountry photographers who spend a lot of time outside, the X50 v2 comes with all the features you鈥檒l want while off the grid and trying to lug around a bunch of heavy and expensive cameras and lenses. Most important: The bag carries exceptionally well thanks to an adjustable shoulder harness that you can dial to your exact torso height. That鈥檚 matched with a sturdy, padded, and breathable hipbelt that takes most of the weight off your shoulders and makes it possible to carry 30 to 40 pounds of gear for extended periods of time on long trails.

A photographer friend turned me onto Shimoda about five years ago after I spent a miserable day carrying cameras for 15 miles without the right pack and walked away with a sore and tired back. I鈥檝e been a big fan of their carry system ever since and was excited to see them launch the v2 that improved on an already bomber design.

Inside, the bag can carry two mirrorless/DSLR bodies and two pro-quality lenses via the medium camera cube or 鈥渃ore unit.鈥� You can access your cameras two ways: a backpanel that splays open to provide a full view of your gear, or a side zipper that you can reach when you still have the bag slung over one shoulder. The core unit comes with a little padding so nothing will get damaged when you鈥檙e bouncing around on skis or a bike, and like all camera cubes, it鈥檚 infinitely adjustable so you can carry your exact camera setup. Two padded laptop sleeves each fit up a 16-inch MacBook Pro.

What I love most, however, is the rolltop pocket on top of the X50. Out on the trail, or when you鈥檙e chasing skiers in the snow, you have to carry all your outdoor gear in addition to cameras. This pocket is perfect for stashing extra layers, lunch, and anything else you鈥檒l need to spend the day outside. Most other photo bags forget this pocket, forcing you to squeeze jackets, gloves, inReach devices, and more wherever they鈥檒l fit.

Straps on the outside allow you to carry skis, ice axes, and tripods, and the bag also comes standard with a mesh helmet-carry strap, a water bottle holder, and a pocket on the front strap where you can store your phone. A waterproof cover deploys easily when it鈥檚 dumping rain or snow and gives you peace of mind that your very expensive cameras and laptop will stay dry鈥攅ven if you have several hours to go before you鈥檙e back at the car.

Unfortunately, all these features come with a bit of a weight penalty鈥攖he bag comes in at 4.6 pounds on its own. I can attest to the fact that nearly five pounds makes a difference during a daylong slog and have often wished for a more feathery build. Add on a $425 price tag (with the camera cube included) and you definitely narrow the customer field. But even with those penalties, the X50 v2 is still the best bag, by far, for those of us who have to carry lots of camera weight and outdoor gear for long periods of time.

Best Photo Sling

Peak Design Outdoor Sling with X-Small Camera Cube

国产吃瓜黑料 dimensions: 13.58″ x 8.46″ x 4.13″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Doesn鈥檛 scream 鈥渃amera bag鈥�
鈯� Great on a bike
鈯� Light
鈯� Doesn鈥檛 come with a camera cube included

If you鈥檙e just carrying one camera and one lens and want to move fast, this is your bag. It鈥檚 big enough to fit a mirrorless/DSLR and a smaller lens like a 35mm f1.4, but is even better suited to smaller cameras like the Sony A7CII or the splurge-worthy . You鈥檒l need to buy a Peak Design Camera Cube as well ($50, not included), but the bag and cube work perfectly together and create a snug and protective spot for your pricey camera.

I like the Photo Sling for when I鈥檓 trying to move fast and follow athletes, either on bike or on foot. I鈥檝e ridden with it and loved how easily I can bring it around from my back to my chest, unzip it, and access the camera, all with only one hand. I also appreciated how snug it fit to my back while chasing my daughter around a cross-country meet.

The bag weighs a feathery .74 pounds but is still feature-rich, with a quick-adjust shoulder strap that can be worked with one hand, several internal pockets that hold a large phone, keys, camera cards, and other knickknacks, and a burly 210-denier ripstop nylon exterior that comes with a PFAS-free water resistance treatment and is matched with weatherproof zippers. The bag is not water tight, but it effectively shrugs off light rain and snow.

Two elastic and adjustable gear cords at the bottom of the pack hold a small tripod, a jacket, or a water bottle so that you can bring the accessories you need to stay out for several hours of shooting.

Best Old-School Camera Bag

Mountainsmith Day Lumbar Pack with Peak Design Camera Cube V2 Size Small

国产吃瓜黑料 dimensions: 13鈥� x 12鈥� x 6鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Bombproof
鈯� Sits well on your hips and your stomach
鈯� Well featured
鈯� The top zipper doesn鈥檛 splay open wide enough

Next time you鈥檙e at an event where there鈥檚 a pack of photojournalists鈥攁 football game, ribbon cutting, graduation鈥攍ook at what bag those photographers are using. I bet you鈥檒l spot at least one Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack in the crowd that shows the patina of hundreds of assignments and years of abuse.

The Lumbar Pack is not an actual camera bag, but it became a thing with photojournalists (photographers who work at newspapers and magazines) some 20 or so years ago. Back then, the camera bag market was much smaller鈥攖here weren鈥檛 many options if you didn鈥檛 want to haul around a full backpack.

By combining a camera cube with the Lumbar Pack, you have a bag that鈥檚 big enough to carry a body and at least two lenses, can swing around to your stomach for easy access, comes with a comfy shoulder strap, and is stacked with important accessories like two huge pockets on the sides for things like a water bottle, extra layer, or reporter notebooks.

I realized the Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack was a great camera bag all the way back in 2005, when I was a photo intern at a paper in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was trying to copy all the staff photographers who already had one. I found that it was the perfect grab-and-go option for running from assignment to assignment. One ding: If I鈥檓 trying to wrench a camera out in just a few seconds, a wider opening on the zippered top would be nice.

Today, several companies make a number of well-designed photo bags that are a similar size, but I鈥檓 still a fan of this old-school favorite because it鈥檚 such a proven workhorse. It鈥檚 made from 420-denier ripstop nylon and comes with bombproof YKK zippers, making it burly enough to survive years of hard abuse. I鈥檝e had several Lumbar Packs over the years, but my current one, which I鈥檝e had for more than five years, barely looks like it鈥檚 broken in.

Best Lightweight Backpack

F-Stop Loka 37L – Ultra Light with Slope Medium Interchangeable Camera Unit

国产吃瓜黑料 dimensions: 22鈥� x 12.5鈥� x 11鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Light
鈯� Sleek design
鈯� Not as comfortable for heavy loads
鈯� Flashy colorway

When you鈥檙e trying to climb 5,000 feet of vert or hike 20 miles with camera gear on your back, every pound matters. And at just 2.7 pounds, the Loka is light yet packed with features and comfortable to carry even when loaded down with electronics.

Like the Shimoda bag, the Loka is big enough to haul two mirrorless/DSLR bodies and two pro-quality lenses. You access your gear through a back panel that splays open, or you can pull the entire camera cube insert out through the top zip pocket. An external pocket on the front and two on the sides will hold a water bottle, a small rain jacket, and other daily items. An internal sleeve stores a large laptop, but it鈥檚 not padded, so you鈥檒l need to cover your computer with its own protection.

The Loka is not as feature-rich as the Shimoda pack (no roll top for example), and the harness system is not quite as robust, but I鈥檝e carried 30 pounds in the Loka for an entire day and never had any major problems. You can strap skis on the Loka, but I鈥檇 be hesitant to carry a full load of cameras plus outdoor gear because the harness is not designed for an extra heavy load. I鈥檝e come to think of the Loka as a bag that I use for big day trips that don鈥檛 last more than 12 hours. If I鈥檓 traveling or on a multi-day trip, I reach for the Shimoda.

Style-wise, I鈥檓 a fan of the clean lines on the Loka because there aren鈥檛 many straps or doodads that will get stuck on trees or ripped off if I鈥檓 trying to squeeze through a slot canyon. But the baby blue straps are annoying out in public and scream 鈥渓ook at me,鈥� which is not something I want when traveling with cameras.

How to Choose a Camera Bag

Don鈥檛 put the cart before the horse when it comes to camera bags. And by that I mean: Don鈥檛 buy a camera bag until you鈥檝e figured out your ideal camera setup. Do you need two mirrorless cameras so that you can easily switch between a wide-angle and zoom lens during high-octane shoots? Do you only use one mirrorless camera and a 24-70mm lens? Are you a Leica fan? Once you鈥檝e determined what gear you鈥檒l haul most often, then you can get the bag.

Camera Backpacks vs. Smaller Camera Bags vs. Camera Slings

If you want to haul two cameras, look for bigger bags, like the offerings from Shimoda and F-stop. The companies also make larger bags that fit three cameras or a giant 300mm f/2.8 lens.

If you just have one mirrorless camera and a couple lenses, you may still want to shop for a backpack because it will always carry better than a sling or waist pack, and mirrorless cameras and lenses get heavy, quick. There are smaller 20- and 30-liter options from and that are well-liked by many photographers. If you鈥檙e just shooting with a Leica, or a smaller camera, then you don鈥檛 need a fully-featured backpack and will be fine with a sling.

If you can afford it, I would recommend that all mirrorless/DSLR shooters get a sling or hip bag in addition to a backpack. There are going to be instances where you just want to haul one camera and one lens so that you can move as quickly as possible, and these smaller bags will be much less cumbersome and easier to access on the go.

What to Look for in a Camera Bag

Start by choosing a bag that鈥檚 the right size for your current setup plus a little extra space, so you can haul a few more lenses or bodies when you invest in new gear. Next, look at how the bag is designed for access. Some bags, like a hip pack, allow for access on the go but won鈥檛 carry as much gear as a backpack. Most backpacks have to come off your body if you want to really dig through your gear. An included camera cube is nice but not a dealbreaker, as you can always add your own.

Extra pockets are more important than you think because your bag has to carry more than just cameras. If you鈥檙e going out for long periods of time, you鈥檒l need a bag that comfortably carries water, food, extra layers, and a first-aid kit. Even bags that are just meant for a quick assignment need well-thought-out pockets because you鈥檒l still need access to water, snacks, and your everyday carry.

If you plan to shoot photos in remote places where it rains or snows a lot, make sure the bag comes with a waterproof cover. Larger backpacks like the Shimoda come with a rainfly that鈥檚 easy to deploy and covers the entire bag, so you can hike out in a total downpour and be confident that $10,000 worth of gear won鈥檛 get ruined.

How I Tested

Camera people tend to be gear geeks. We love dialing in our setup and chasing down the newest and best thing that will help us capture a stunning image. That means it鈥檚 easy to also be obsessed with camera bags. If we鈥檙e going to spend lots of time figuring out what cameras to use, we鈥檒l gladly spend a similar amount of time figuring out how to carry everything around.

I鈥檝e probably touched, tested, and trashed well over 40 camera bags to find the ideal setup over the past two decades. Testing highlights include several trips to the Middle East where I was loaded down with cameras and audio gear, events like Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona, where I walked 20 miles chasing down a gallery of the most creative rigs, many days in the Sangre de Cristo mountains north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I took cameras backpacking and skiing, and long bike rides around Albuquerque where I was constantly trying to find the best way to carry a camera on a bike.

After testing so many different bags, engineering has become my number one priority. Is it obvious that the company built the bag with a real photographer in mind, and can I tell that the designers wanted to find smart and helpful ways to allow photographers to carry their gear鈥攏o matter the terrain? Is the bag designed so that it will carry anything comfortably? This usually comes down to a great harness that can handle weight, durable materials that can take a beating, an easy-to-access main compartment, and accessory straps and pockets that will carry extra gear.

If a bag didn鈥檛 meet my needs, it immediately got rejected. That鈥檚 a privilege I have as a gear tester, but also a commitment to the work of testing. I knew the camera bags were constantly evolving as photography exploded in popularity and I wanted to work through the pile in order to find the bags that worked best for those of us who love to travel and explore.

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For decades, American alpinist Kitty Calhoun made a name topping out on some of the world鈥檚 highest peaks, including the West Pillar of 27,766-foot Makalu in the Himalayas. But what stayed with her more than any summit view were the alarming effects of climate change.

At such elevations, she often noticed melting ice, a hindrance to her ascents. But in the high deserts of Utah, the repercussions were causing real daily struggles for those living on the Navajo Nation, something she became aware of while mentoring an Indigenous climber who鈥檇 grown up there.

For over a century, natural resources like oil, coal, and uranium extracted from Navajo land have powered the American West, yet approximately one-third of the Navajo Nation, roughly 13,500 families, live without power. That indignity on its own is hard to fathom, but climate change has also exacerbated the aridity and seasonal heat in this region, forcing families to endure more triple-digit days without respite.

With that in mind, last year Calhoun persuaded Utah-based Lion Energy to donate 35 solar-powered kits鈥攍unch-box-size generators that can be charged in as little as four hours鈥攁nd raised $32,500 to buy an additional 65 for families in one of the reservation鈥檚 most disadvantaged areas, remote Navajo Mountain. Equipped with 100-watt solar panels, a single kit can run a mini fridge for 16 hours, charge a laptop 11 times over, and last up to 20 years.

Calhoun then reached out to Norman Lameman, the Native founder of , a nonprofit devoted to preserving tribal values, to lead the distribution efforts. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to force kits on people,鈥� Calhoun says. 鈥淚f they were interested, Norman could explain how the technology worked in their language.鈥�

Angelo Baca, a Navajo-Hopi distance runner and filmmaker, and Sahar Khadjenoury, a Navajo-Persian producer and director, documented the project using a grant Calhoun received from Protect Our Winters for a film called Navajo Solar Sunrise.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important for us to take care of people. From an Indigenous perspective, the people are part of the land,鈥� Baca said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to step away from extractive resources鈥攐ur people are still dealing with the effects of uranium contamination on the reservation. And solar isn鈥檛 the end-all solution, but it鈥檚 an important first step.鈥�

In October of 2023, the trio traveled with Lameman to oversee installation and document the myriad ways the kits can improve lives. Families were able to run fans when temperatures soared and refrigerate food, medication, and breast milk. They could rely on electric blankets and small space heaters to keep them warm in winter, and access the internet to apply for jobs, government programs, and educational opportunities. They could charge their phones. Before the kits, Calhoun says, many residents relied on car batteries to power such necessities.

鈥淟iving simply should not mean living in poverty,鈥� she says.

To donate for more solar generators in the Four Corners region, click here.听

The post Many in This Navajo Community Didn鈥檛 Have Electricity. An Unlikely Foursome Collaborated to Make a Difference. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

1. BSW Wealth Partners

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 31
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 27 days after 10 years

Perks: Paid volunteer days, work from home and hybrid work schedules, home-office/workstation stipend, early Fridays for weekend adventures, annual ski trips, paid sabbatical after a decade, summer and winter fun days, custom branded gear, dinner and babysitter stipend to celebrate work anniversary, matching 401k, paid parental leave, kids鈥� first day of school off, plus a fully stocked breakroom, Thursday catered lunches, craft beer and unlimited seltzer, and an office located near local mountain trails

What makes it great: 鈥淲e prioritize work-life balance and flexibility, allowing our team members the freedom to work independently while fostering trust and accountability. Meaningful work is at the heart of what we do. We solve impactful problems, genuinely help people, and continuously evolve to make life better for our clients. Additionally, our vibrant culture of fun and connectivity sets us apart. We believe that a workplace should inspire, support, and uplift its employees, and at BSW Wealth, we do just that.鈥�

2. Workshop Digital

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 28
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 12 days of PTO

Perks: A four-day work week, your birthday off, fully remote work, hybrid work option if located near Richmond headquarters, quarterly team recreation events, and two company-wide annual offsite events

What makes it great: 鈥淎t Workshop, we’re all about staying connected in our remote/hybrid world, finding creative ways to build relationships from virtual coffee dates to in-person pickleball meetups and company-wide retreats. We celebrate each other’s lives through active Slack channels, sharing everything from travel stories to pet pics. We’re passionate about our work, and we’re just as passionate about getting outside鈥攈iking, running, cycling, or training for marathons and triathlons.鈥�

3. Landmark Consultants, Inc.

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 18
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 30 days of PTO

Perks: Full coverage of health insurance costs for employees and their dependents, a physical health benefit equivalent to a full Ikon ski pass, flexible, hybrid work schedules to encourage outdoor activities, team sponsorship for the STARS Mountain Challenge fundraiser, an annual summer camping trip, and a company ski day

What makes it great: 鈥淟andmark offers professional careers with excellent benefits in the heart of Ski Town U.S.A. Our office is just 1,000 feet from Howelsen Hill Ski Area and its summer trail network, half a mile from the Spring Creek Trailhead, which connects to the Continental Divide, and only three miles from the Steamboat Springs Ski Resort. We believe that a flexible schedule to enjoy powder days, sunshine, and fresh air are vital for a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle, which in turn allows us to consistently deliver high-quality work for our clients.鈥�

4. Tilting Futures

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 20
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A $750 annual stipend for professional and personal development courses, an international trip to one of the company鈥檚 program countries after two years, and a month-long paid sabbatical after three years

What makes it great: 鈥淥urs is a culture where authenticity triumphs and self-care prevails. We invest in our people personally and professionally with the tools, flexibility, and support to thrive. As a team, we bring our full human selves to the work and have a lot of fun in the process.鈥�

5. GFM|CenterTable

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 35
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO after one year

Perks: Flexible schedules, an on-site meditation room, quarterly mental health days to unplug, a monthly 鈥淗appiness Allowance鈥� to pursue personal passions, paid volunteer time, a vacation day for the Colorado Rockies home opener, an annual Groundhog Day party, and a paid sabbatical every five years

What makes it great: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 just talk about work-life blend鈥攚e live it with flexible schedules, meaningful benefits, and a deep commitment to community impact. From sabbaticals every five years to volunteer days, Beverage Club celebrations, and onsite yoga, we create space for growth, connection and laughter. Our shared passion for making a positive impact fuels not only our work but the meaningful relationships we build with each other and our clients.”

6. WorkBright

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 45
Average Salary: $100,000
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Work from anywhere, health benefits, an annual professional development plan supported by a company stipend, an annual personal development grant for one employee, monthly wellness challenges, two offsite company trips per year, rewards like AirPod Pros or $100 to take your family out to eat for important revenue milestones

What makes it great: 鈥淎s a B-Corp, we consider people and culture part of our bottom line and invest time and dollars accordingly. We incorporate our core values into hiring, recognition, and performance management. We invest in the heart, head, and briefcase of our managers with annual upskilling trainings to ensure that managers have the tools to support their teams both as people and as coworkers.鈥�

7. Gunpowder Inc.

Location: Delafield, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of Employees: 24
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Remote work opportunities and flexible schedules, comprehensive health benefits and 401(k) match, an annual team summit, professional development opportunities, company-paid cell phone and internet, paid parental leave, a dog-friendly office, holiday and anniversary gifts, winter break between Christmas and New Years Day, and annual performance bonuses

What makes it great: 鈥淕unpowder encourages and enables its team to enjoy their interests, whether those be fishing, hunting, camping, or other activities, while working on meaningful projects for leading outdoor brands in the categories they鈥檙e passionate about. With a focus on authentic storytelling and impactful media strategies, Gunpowder empowers its employees to thrive in a creative, purpose-driven environment, helping brands connect with people on a deeper level.鈥�

8. Global Glimpse

Location: Fully Remote/Oakland, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 19
Average Salary: $94,000
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: An annual international team retreat, bi-weekly half-day 鈥淲ellness Fridays,鈥� 100-percent employer-paid healthcare, fully remote work, 12 weeks parental leave for all employees, a 鈥淲orkiversary鈥� Milestone Program that includes flight vouchers, swag, and sabbaticals, plus a week off for winter holiday and another for summer holiday

What makes it great: 鈥淎t Global Glimpse, we combine passion with joy, hard work with play, and growth with gratitude. We are redefining what it means to be a great place to work through a deep commitment to both our mission and the people who make that mission possible. Global Glimpse is a culture-centered organization that seeks to foster an inclusive workplace that enables our diverse team to be connected, feel supported, and thrive.”

9. TDA_Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 28
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: An annual fitness stipend for sports-related expenses, year-round half-day Fridays, 100-percent health care coverage, employee milestone anniversaries with a travel stipend, $1,000 donation to an employee-chosen charity for every fourteener ascent, and an annual outdoor company adventure

What makes it great: 鈥淲e feel incredibly lucky to be building a vibrant work culture that makes it possible for our people to enjoy what they do. Our Boulder location and proximity to the outdoors has always contributed to a happy workplace, but as more of our people work remote, this recognition means that much more.鈥�

10. C1S Group, Inc.

Location: Dallas, Texas
Focus:
Number of Employees: 53
Average Salary: $119,460
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO, plus one day for each year with the company

Perks: Flexible work-from-home policy, catered lunch one day a week, breakfast tacos every Friday, regular happy hours, kickball, Top-Golf, and running teams, and a stocked beer fridge

What makes it great: 鈥淐1S understands that rewarding work is just one part of a rewarding life. We fiercely protect personal time spent doing all the other things that make life great, like travel, coaching a soccer team, volunteering, or checking things off your bucket list. You shouldn鈥檛 wait for retirement to start living life to the fullest.鈥�

11. Western Environmental Law Center

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Focus:
Number of Employees: 28
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 20 days PTO and a three-month sabbatical after five years

Perks: Flex Fridays, 100-percent employer-paid health care, $100 monthly office stipend for remote workers, dog-friendly offices, a three-month sabbatical after five years, and two annual retreats鈥攐ne on Oregon鈥檚 coast, and one near Yellowstone in Montana

What makes it great: 鈥淲ELC is a powerhouse of environmental advocacy, and each staff member is a high-performing luminary in their own way. We challenge one another, help one another, and camaraderie is through the roof in part because we鈥檙e all rowing hard in the same direction鈥攖o protect the places, communities, and creatures we love in the Western U.S.鈥�

12. GetUWired

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 37
Average Salary: $58,000
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, 15 days of PTO after two years, and unlimited PTO after three years

Perks: A variety of personal and professional growth training opportunities, weekly guided meditations, anniversary and additional appreciation gifts, paid parental leave, flexible scheduling, 401(k) matching, and quarterly team building events that regularly take place outdoors (lake days, tubing, low ropes courses)

What makes it great: 鈥淲e鈥檙e 100-percent remote, but we still try to make sure to create those watercooler-type moments in a virtual setting so that we don鈥檛 lose that personal touch with one another. Our company鈥檚 mission, purpose, and core values are key to who we are, how we make decisions every day, and how we grow as a company. We’re passionate about helping small businesses succeed.鈥�

13. Cheley Colorado Camps

Location: Estes Park and Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 15 year-round/210 seasonal
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO for year-round staff

Perks: Employer-paid healthcare, a generous retirement plan and profit sharing, flexible work hours during the off season, paid training for industry conferences, pro-deal access to many outdoor companies, paid volunteer hours, and company-supplied housing for some staff

What makes it great: 鈥淲orking for a youth-development organization that is committed to building character and resiliency in a challenging and nurturing natural environment makes it rewarding to show up every day. Spending your days in the Colorado Rockies around amazing people is also a plus. It is also amazing to work for a fourth-generation family business where our average year-round employee has worked here for over 13 years.鈥�

14. Cocona Labs

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 19
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Flexible work schedule, support of volunteer work, and great benefits

What makes it great: 鈥淐ocona Labs supports a dynamic, engaging, and exciting culture with team members across the world. We foster an atmosphere of trust and collaboration, where employees feel valued and heard. The company prioritizes professional growth, offers flexibility, and promotes a healthy work-life balance, creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to shared goals.鈥�

15. Tenacious Holdings, Inc. (Ergodyne)

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Focus:
Number of Employees: 85
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Flexible PTO

Perks: Half-day Fridays in the summer, team 5K runs, a fully equipped gym with a Peloton machine, weekly workout classes, two work-from-home days per week, and an employee wellness program

What makes it great: 鈥淲e are a high-performing, passionate bunch who take the work we do and our results seriously. We like to say: Come for the cause; stay for the people. Most folks who dig our vibe are passionate about helping workers and making a difference.鈥�

16. Inntopia

Location: Stowe, Vermont
Focus:
Number of Employees: 72
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Flexible work arrangements, random days off throughout the year, professional development program, employee service awards, lodging and activity comps at North American resorts, company-sponsored events and competitions, paid volunteer hours, medical, dental, vision and pet insurance, employee assistance program, and wellness reimbursements

What makes it great: 鈥淪omehow Inntopia always finds good people. And when you have passionate, innovative, and hard-working people, it’s a recipe for success. When a company knows the work gets done, and it gets done well, it’s easy to offer flexible schedules, encourage community involvement, and support life outside of the office.鈥�

17. Creative Alignments

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 18
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: Flexible work schedule, an annual retreat, virtual and in-person events throughout the year, versatile health coverage options that are 75 percent employer-paid, reproductive healthcare, employer-sponsored long-term disability, employer 401(k) match, and access to a free financial advisor

What makes it great: 鈥淲e believe that work should be additive in people’s lives and that happiness created through work makes the world a better place. Our reason for being is to create a great workplace and to help scaling companies that have a similar commitment hire great employees, creating a cycle of good that inspires a sense of purpose, belonging and positivity in people’s lives.鈥�

18. CampMinder

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Number of Employees: 83
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: On-site retreats with yoga, cooking classes, escape rooms, and a hike with goats, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, employer-funded wellness savings accounts, employee resource groups, and flexible work-from-anywhere options

What makes it great: 鈥淚f you were to ask any Minder what makes this company great, their answer would include some variation of 鈥榯he smart, caring, authentic, fun people I get to work with.鈥� Many of our team members are former camp counselors or directors. Their camp experience enables them to empathize with our clients and bring the spirit of camp into the workplace. Employee engagement is the company鈥檚 top priority, and we regularly review employee feedback and implement changes based on team members鈥� input.鈥�

19. Turner

Location: Denver, Colorado, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Miami
Focus:
Number of Employees: 55
Average Salary: $114,200
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Paid volunteer days, a free ClassPass membership for all full-time associates, flexible and hybrid work schedules, early Fridays for weekend adventures, discounts on client apparel, gear, and hotels, dog-friendly offices, mental health speakers, zen rooms, and Calm App subscriptions paid for by the company, stocked wine fridges and a local brew kegerator, a “recess” committee that organizes games, happy hours, and outings, a professional development program, and a committee that leads engaging activities

What makes it great: 鈥淲e consider ourselves incredibly lucky to make lifelong memories on an epic scale and call it work鈥攕unrise hot balloon rides over Albuquerque, New Mexico, wear-testing experiences for our brands that take us to summit views in Colorado, rock climbing gyms in Midtown Manhattan, New York, being on-set for Top Chef in Wisconsin, taking over an entire Texas resort to disconnect with Airstream. And that鈥檚 just the last six months.鈥�

20. 国产吃瓜黑料Smith Explorations

Location: Truckee, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 16
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Up to 26 days of PTO

Perks: Remote/hybrid/flexible work environment, near-annual, all-expenses-paid trips on company expedition cruises and wilderness adventures, 100-percent employer-paid healthcare, 401(k) matching, discounted personal travel, a powder day clause, gear discounts, team events, and a dog-friendly office located in the heart of an outdoor adventure mecca

What makes it great: 鈥淧assport stamps to far-flung destinations鈥攃heck! A team that feels like family鈥攃heck! How lucky we are to transform our shared love for outdoor adventure into such an inspiring workplace. It鈥檚 thrilling to craft (and experience) trips of a lifetime, and we revel in the excitement of our clients鈥� and colleagues鈥� travel stories and new experiences鈥攚hether it鈥檚 hiking near glaciers in Alaska, kayaking among icebergs in Antarctica, or snorkeling with penguins in the Gal谩pagos. I couldn鈥檛 imagine a better group of passionate and knowledgeable individuals to surround myself with鈥攂oth at work and beyond.鈥�

21. Evotek

Location: Solana Beach, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 202
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Flexible work location, premium employee medical, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with employer match, and an annual company overnight retreat to destinations like Napa Valley, Austin, or a private yacht in Miami

What makes it great: 鈥淭he Evotek team is comprised of people with unique backgrounds and experiences who are always happy to give a helping hand. We are not only given the opportunity to learn but are encouraged to expand our knowledge and expertise through continual learning. Our many events allow us to make solid connections with each other as well as with our valued partners and customers.鈥�

22. Obviouslee

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Focus:
Number of Employees: 26
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO, with a minimum of 15 days per year

Perks: End-of-year weekly closure, paid volunteer days, an annual wellness day, flexible working arrangements, yearly anniversary gifts for team members, a yearly company retreat, year-round early Fridays to get a head start on the weekend, a dog-friendly office, and access to outdoor gear and discounts

What makes it great: 鈥淥bviouslee truly values its employees’ well-being and fosters a strong work-life balance, enabling them to pursue their passions, especially in the outdoors. As a certified B Corp, Obviouslee demonstrates its commitment to social and environmental responsibility, which resonates with employees who care about making a positive impact. The company offers great benefits, all while working with purpose-driven brands that value sustainability and protecting the environment. This creates a positive and fulfilling work experience for employees who love marketing and the outdoors.鈥�

23. Geocaching HQ

Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus:
Number of Employees: 90
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 25 days of PTO

Perks: Comprehensive health benefits, 401(k) matching, free geocaching premium membership (including an extra buddy membership), time to geocache, free gear to rent on-site for adventures, unlimited free lift tickets anywhere in the world, reimbursements toward outdoor activities, a lunch subsidy, learning and development budgets, monthly social events, a sabbatical every seven years, and a special geocaching travel award every ten years

What makes it great: 鈥淎t Geocaching HQ, kindness and community are at the heart of everything we do. Our leadership genuinely cares about the team, the exciting game of geocaching that brings people together, and the vibrant community who plays it. Whether we’re collaborating on projects or heading outside for a geocaching adventure, we thrive on connection and shared passion.鈥�

24. Fortnight Collective

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Number of employees: 21
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Winter Fridays off, professional development stipend to attend training and/or professional conferences, wellness benefit stipend to use toward personal passion or travel, an annual mountain resort retreat, and 14 weeks of paid family leave

What makes it great: 鈥淔ortnight Collective intentionally ensures all employees enjoy the perks of living in Colorado, like getting outside. That is why, from day one, we implemented Winter Fridays. It is designed to get people out and about to take advantage of whatever passion suits them. In addition to our annual mountain resort retreat at resorts like Keystone or Steamboat, we also kicked off our Boulder Beach Day (at a lake). Our office is in the heart of downtown Boulder, with a bustling town to the north and the famous Flatirons to the west. Lunchtime hikes are not out of the question.鈥�

25. Shine United

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus:
Number of Employees: 45
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Full healthcare and dental benefits, summer Fridays, weekly company-wide gatherings, outdoor adventure stipend, flexible work environment, company-sponsored community activities, quarterly Re-Energize Days (days off), and unlimited family, personal, and sick leave

What makes it great: 鈥淲e may be a business, but the ethos of Shine has always been simple: Work hard, play hard, do good work for good people, and try to change the world for the better. When you see that belief in action, when the work culture, hiring guidelines, as well as life-work balance echo and demonstrate this belief, it turns out to be a pretty great place to work.鈥�

26. Charles Cunniffe Architects

Location: Aspen, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 20
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 25 days of PTO to start, up to 35 days of PTO after five years

Perks: An annual ski pass or equivalent wellness stipend, weekly flex hours for outdoor recreation or personal commitments, paid month-long sabbaticals after 10 and 20 years, 100-percent paid medical and dental, FSA, 401(k) matching, paid monthly volunteer hours, paid birthday off, free bus passes and company car, hybrid work schedules, free snacks, and a stocked fridge

What makes it great: 鈥淲e believe in working hard and playing harder鈥攚hether that鈥檚 on a mountain trail or a project site! Our flexible schedules, paid sabbaticals, generous benefits package and perks like a free ski pass and outdoor group outings keep our team happy, healthy, and motivated. And with paid volunteer time and ongoing community service initiatives, we鈥檙e not just building great projects, we鈥檙e making a meaningful impact every day.鈥�

27. Workstand

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 70
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 14 days of PTO to start, up to 24 days of PTO after 6 years

Perks: Fully remote work, flexible work hours, Get 国产吃瓜黑料 Friday, outdoor industry discounts, new parent leave, paid time off to volunteer, monthly game hour, and weekly coffee/snack chats with company president

What makes it great: 鈥淲e are proud to have a shared purpose of helping local bike shops because we believe bicycles make the world a better place. Bike shops are an important part of enriching the cycling experience for people and communities. Workstand is a company that values each employee by embracing our individuality and leaning on a bottom-up decision-making philosophy. We love getting outside, supporting one another and our families, and sharing the best pics of our pets.鈥�

28. BrainStorm, Inc.

Location: American Fork, Utah
Focus:
Number of Employees: 61
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 12 days of PTO to start

Perks: Outdoor equipment, three paid volunteer days, corporate ski passes, ping pong tables, organized out-of-office activities, paid volunteer days, and annual company trips

What makes it great: 鈥淏rainStorm is exceptional because of its culture, which starts at the top. We focus on people, continuous learning, community involvement, personal growth, and creating tangible value for our customers and partners. The company prioritizes hiring individuals who exemplify its character-building values and fosters an environment where employees are encouraged and inspired to live life in bold.鈥�

29. Duft Watterson

Location: Boise, Idaho
Focus:
Number of Employees: 23
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO after five years

Perks: Work-from-home Wednesdays, half-day Fridays, a Linus commuter bike for each new employee, employee contributions for self-directed charity donations, a dog-friendly office, and an annual all-agency (plus families) mountain weekend getaway

What makes it great: 鈥淲e believe that an outdoor lifestyle leads to happier employees and better ideas, design, and motivation. Our team works together and plays together, given single track trails, a Sawtooth Mountain-fed river, fly fishing, a surf park, skiing, and an alive downtown are all a few steps or a short ride away. Every year, we take the entire team and their families for a weekend at places like Sun Valley and Tamarack, either for summer fun or skiing.鈥�

30. Toad&Co

Location: Santa Barbara, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 53
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO to start, 25 days of PTO after 5 years

Perks: Every other Friday off, a hybrid work-from-home schedule, a dog-friendly office, outdoor wifi, lunchtime yoga classes, birthday donations to a non-profit of employee鈥檚 choice, company adventure days for time outside, a paid sabbatical after 10 years, and an annual employee campout on the Channel Islands

What makes it great: 鈥淲e鈥檙e a mission-driven company full of people who truly believe in doing good (and having a good time while we鈥檙e at it). We鈥檙e super involved in our community, taking advantage of paid days off to volunteer and hosting events with other local businesses. We make a point to celebrate our wins 鈥� big or small 鈥� and keep things light hearted and fun, from our annual ‘Grilled Cheese Smackdown’ to a costume party at the holidays to our Channel Islands campout, where our CEO dusts off his secret margarita recipe each year.鈥�

31. The Brand Leader

Location: Greenville, South Carolina (HQ); New York City; and Boulder, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 32
Average Salary: $74,500
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Bagel Thursdays, spot bonuses, summer picnics, subsidized mental health care, annual retreats, a pet-friendly office, summer hours, extensive parental leave, and adoption subsidies

What makes it great: 鈥淏y fostering a culture of work-life balance where each person feels valued and supported, we鈥檝e built a company where people are passionate about serving one another and our clients. From helping employees qualify for homes to offering generous parental leave and unlimited PTO, our goal is to create men and women of character who push the limits of what鈥檚 possible in and out of the workplace.鈥�

32. Wild Montana

Location: Helena, Montana
Focus:
Number of Employees: 27
Average Salary: $72,571
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: Four-day work week, fully paid health and dental insurance, a three-month paid sabbatical after five years, retirement plan, 15 paid holidays including the last week of the year, flexible work schedules, an office accessible to trail systems, a dog-friendly office, and an annual health stipend

What makes it great: 鈥淲ith a trusting team culture and a strong commitment to work-life balance, Wild Montana empowers employees to drive impactful conservation efforts while staying connected to the landscapes we work to protect. Time off is essential, as we believe personal connection to the outdoors is what inspires and sustains our mission.鈥�

33. Buzz Franchise Brands

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 69
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start

Perks: Happy hour Fridays, half day Fridays in the summer, a pool table and ping pong table in the office, monthly company outings, and an annual company trip

What makes us great: “Whether it鈥檚 taking a walk to a nearby coffee shop, borrowing an office bike for lunch, or joining our outdoor sports teams, we believe in recharging to fuel high-energy work. Located just minutes from the beach and a couple of hours from the mountains, we take our love of the outdoors even further at our annual company offsite with activities like beachside wild horse tours, hiking, and s’mores around the campfire.”

34. The Pinnacle Companies

Location: Frisco, Colorado
Focus: Number of Employees: 109
Average Salary: $111,724
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 25 days of PTO after six years

Perks: A family weekend in Denver, monthly social gatherings, a summer picnic, employee interest groups for activities like hiking and biking, outdoor gear access, employer-paid healthcare, paid volunteer hours, work anniversaries with special perks, shareholding opportunities, an annual all-inclusive retreat in Mexico, and an annual ski day at Arapahoe Basin

What makes it great: 鈥淥ur culture is built on strong friendships, both inside and outside the office, with meaningful connections that extend beyond work. We foster personal and professional success through employer-paid medical plans, opportunities for every team member to become a shareholder, and development programs centered on coaching and feedback. This combination of camaraderie and thoughtful benefits creates a workplace where we grow and succeed together.鈥�

35. Polar Field Services

Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 68 full-time/ 100+ seasonal
Average Salary: $102,000 (full-time)
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start

Perks: An employee stock ownership plan, 401(k) matching, 100-percent employer-paid healthcare, a $1,000 annual personal development stipend, a dog friendly office, paid cell phone plan, paid Costco or Sams Club membership, annual schwag gifts, wellness challenges, anniversary gifts, and employee recognition programs with rewards like cash or Amazon gift cards

What makes it great: 鈥淔rom planning snowmobile expeditions to collect ice cores on the Greenland ice sheet to supporting the launch of high-altitude balloons that bring connectivity to remote regions, the work at PFS is what draws employees to the company. As an employee-owned organization, everyone has a personal stake in the company鈥檚 success, fostering a close-knit, family-like atmosphere and promoting a shared commitment to work ethic and values.鈥�

36. Eagle County Paramedic Services

Location: Edwards, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 100
Average Salary: $96,500
Vacation Time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 40 days of PTO

Perks: Flexible work schedules, a $1,200 annual stipend for ski passes or other recreational pursuits, a housing assistance program with 10-percent annual loan forgiveness, and employee gifts like Osprey backpacks and Melanzana hoodies

What makes it great: 鈥淭he people who work here are really fantastic. You get to work with some of your best friends and then get outside and recreate with them when you’re off duty. The schedule really contributes to being able to enjoy the incredible outdoor opportunities where we live鈥攈iking, biking, skiing, climbing, and rafting. Plus, it’s really rewarding to know that we’re helping our community every day.鈥�

37. Stio

Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus:
Number of Employees: 185
Average Salary: $87,000
Vacation Time: Accrued vacation time or flexible PTO

Perks: Flexible remote work policy, 401(k) matching, fully paid health insurance, expanded medical coverage for reproductive care, 10 paid holidays, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, paid medical leave, a work-from-home allowance, an annual gear testing stipend, and an annual team summit

What makes it great: 鈥淪tio was founded in a mountain town by people who are passionate about mountain life. This perspective serves as the foundation for our company culture. It’s a place where living our values is important. We want balance, we want to do the right thing, we want superior products to get us out into the mountains, and we want to be a part of a community that shares in that vision. When you can start there, good things will come.鈥�

38. Optera

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Number of Employees: 51
Average Salary: $138,000
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Every other Friday off, 13 paid holidays, fully paid-healthcare, a 401(k) match up to 4 percent with ESG options, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, a sabbatical program, and generous stipends for wellness and professional development

What makes Optera great: 鈥淎t Optera, we dedicate our skills, talents, time, and passion toward meaningful solutions that will help stop climate change and make the world a sustainable place for future generations. Not only do we work for the planet, but our perks also enable us to get out and enjoy the planet we all love so much. You鈥檒l often find employees using their Recharge Fridays to ski, hike, bike, or relax in nature.鈥�

39. Wilderness Travel

Location: Berkeley, California
Focus: Number of Employees: 50
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Annual travel opportunities on a Wilderness Travel trip (with a plus one), a $4,000 annual travel stipend, 10 Fridays off annually, a dog-friendly office, birthday celebrations, and fun team outings like kayaking, escape rooms, an Alcatraz tour, or curling

What makes it great: 鈥�Wilderness Travel is a family-owned business with a passionate team of adventurous, globally minded travelers. We encourage employees to explore the world with a generous annual travel stipend and access to unique, once-in-a-lifetime trips, from trekking in the Himalayas to snorkeling in Indonesia and tracking pumas in Patagonia. Our home office is a dynamic hub where we collaborate with global partners, bond over happy hours and team outings, and support each other鈥檚 personal and professional growth in a welcoming and vibrant environment.鈥�

40. Aspenware

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 40
Average Salary: $140,000
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: A paid volunteer day, $1,000 annual reimbursement for health and well-being, an annual National Parks Pass, an Ikon Pass, $1,500 annual training reimbursement for professional development, and an annual team summit in Denver with employee ski day at local resort

What makes it great: 鈥淎t Aspenware, our collaborative culture goes beyond the office through engaging activities like virtual coffee chats, company-wide challenges, and an annual team summit. While we鈥檙e focused on developing cutting-edge e-commerce solutions for mountain resorts, our team also enjoys top-notch perks like health stipends, free ski passes, and national parks access. We prioritize innovation and connection, making Aspenware a place where great ideas鈥攁nd great experiences鈥攖hrive.鈥�

41. GoPro

Location: San Mateo and Carlsbad, California
Focus:
Number of Employees: 476
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Hybrid remote work options, offices close to beaches, trails, and world-class cycling, skating, and water sports, monthly reimbursement toward wellness expenses, access to free coaching and therapy sessions and a digital health platform that supports all paths to parenthood, organized hikes and days out for product testing, fireside chats with world-class GoPro athletes and ambassadors, and the latest camera and accessories (along with company challenges) with each product launch

What makes it great: 鈥淕oPro empowers employees to live their desired lifestyle while being able to show up to work as the best versions of themselves鈥攚hether in a GoPro office, their remote workspace of choice, or a bit of both. We believe that there is strength in numbers and that people do their best work when they can form lasting bonds with their colleagues, associates, and members of the GoPro community.鈥�

42. East West Partners

Location: Avon and Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 60
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: A $1,200 annual wellness bonus, 14 weeks of paid parental leave, a paid month-long sabbatical after 7 years and again every 5 years, outdoor-inspired team outings from trail repair and floating the Yampa river to crawfish boils and pickleball tournaments, dog-friendly offices, ski-in/ski-out locations, exclusive access to Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games, and a company 鈥淪now Days鈥� holiday

What makes it great: 鈥淥ne of our core values is ‘Live Where We Work,鈥� so our team members have the rare opportunity to grow thriving careers in stunning mountain locations like Vail, Park City, Steamboat, and Snowmass, or in dynamic urban locations like Denver and Charleston. Our work enables us to make a lasting, positive impact through sustainable, net-zero carbon projects and meaningful civic contributions. And we do it all with a team of creative, hard-working people who know how to have fun along the way!鈥�

43. Superfeet

Location: Ferndale, Washington
Focus:
Number of Employees: 152
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 25 days of PTO

Perks: Time off to volunteer in the community, $1,000 annual contribution per employee to the non-profit organization of their choice, gym and national park pass reimbursements, 100-percent employer-paid premiums for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long term disability, long term care, and an employee assistance program, 401(k) matching flexible hybrid work schedules, and a dog-friendly office

What makes it great: 鈥淧eople are at the heart of everything Superfeet does, and that very much includes a commitment to creating an empowering and inclusive workplace culture for our team members. Superfeet team members are empowered to participate in cross-departmental committees, engaging all-company meetings and annual strategic planning that involves employees at every level. Superfeet prioritizes flexible work arrangements, from remote employees to state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring every team member has the resources and space to excel.鈥�

44. Cactus

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:
Number of Employees: 75
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Ski passes, an annual all-agency ski day at Arapahoe Basin, discounted ski equipment rentals, an employee group that enjoys outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and indoor rock climbing, a paid monthly fitness benefit, agency-funded group registrations for run/walk events around Denver, an annual agency kickball tournament, monthly team happy hour events, free Calm premium membership and access to YOU@Cactus, a customized mental well-being portal

What makes it great: 鈥淐actus is a special place to collaborate with truly amazing people who do meaningful work for clients they believe in and have fun doing it. We share a belief in the power of small agency creativity and innovation to solve some of the world鈥檚 biggest problems. We have a workplace culture driven by values like respect, belonging, passion, courage, tenacity, collaboration, well-being, and critical thought.鈥�

45. 85Sixty

Location: Solana Beach, California
Focus: Number of Employees: 88
Average Salary:听Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Subsidized Ikon Passes, dog-friendly offices, locations by ocean and mountains, travel experiences around the U.S., gift cards for the company swag store, discounts for travel and outdoor products, and paid industry conference opportunities

What makes it great: 鈥淎t 85Sixty, we believe in putting our people first! Our fun-loving culture is all about teamwork, flexibility, and empowering everyone to shine, whether they鈥檙e hitting the trails or shredding the slopes. We encourage our crew to connect with brands they鈥檙e passionate about, making work feel like play. With the right tools and supportive leadership, we ensure our team has everything they need to do their best work while enjoying the journey together!鈥�

46. Pathlabs

Location: Missoula, Montana
Focus:
Number of Employees: 108
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: Unlimited PTO

Perks: Hybrid/remote flexibility; paid civic engagement days, weekly catered lunches, Friday yoga, a casual work environment welcoming shorts, hats, dogs, and long weekend excursions, company-sponsored events like river tubing, pickleball, golf, axe-throwing, and river cleanups, events in Missoula for outdoor activities and team bonding, and charitable donation matching up to $250 annually to qualified 501(c)3 organizations

What makes it great: 鈥淲e are committed to our core values, with 鈥榩eople first鈥� at the forefront. A laid-back, adventure-driven culture balances our fast-paced, award-winning growth. Headquartered in Missoula, Montana, we are steps away from access to world-class outdoor activities. We foster an atmosphere where we work hard, celebrate wins, and enjoy time together as humans, not just as coworkers.鈥�

47. Arts & Letters Creative Co.

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus:
Number of Employees: 150
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 25 days of PTO

Perks: 25 holidays, including one week off to recharge during July 4th week and the holidays in December/January; 401(k) and a 4-percent company match that is 100-percent vested from day one; a suite of wellbeing resources, including an annual wellness reimbursement, two employee assistance programs, access to OneVillage one-on-one coaching, and all-agency in-person events

What makes it great: 鈥�Arts & Letters is reimagining what it means to be a creative company by doubling down on a belief that building teams is the best force multiplier for creativity. Keeping people and how they connect at the center of everything, A&L incubates more inclusive talent development programs for both managers and contributors, increases support of employees through concierge services, and launches new programs to connect employees in their local communities. A&L believes firmly that a place should work for its people, and not the other way around.鈥�

48. Young & Laramore, Inc.

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus: Number of employees: 70
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Unlimited paid sick leave, company bikes for riding around downtown, showers and lockers for workday runs and rides, an annual Field Day event, office closed for the last week of the year, a two-day fall retreat at a state park or college campus, and a room for meditation or quiet time

What Makes it Great: 鈥淓very day we walk into a 120-year-old schoolhouse with a gymnasium where we can all hang out. We run together. Sometimes it鈥檚 a five-miler at lunch, other times it鈥檚 a full marathon. We compete against each other every year at our annual Field Day event as well. We love spending time together, and being active is a big part of that. We love having dogs in the office and hitting the Cultural Trail or the canal in downtown Indy for walks at lunch. We also have an annual pumpkin-carving contest and a pretty competitive chili cook off.鈥�

49. Alianza

Location: Pleasant Grove, Utah
Focus:
Number of Employees: 286 (136 U.S. employees)
Average Salary: Unspecified
Vacation Time: 20 days of PTO

Perks: Flexible work schedules and fully remote options, a $500 annual fitness reimbursement for a gym membership or outdoor gear and apparel, in-office yoga, corporate passes for skiing, rock climbing, and golf, a fleet of e-bikes for employee use, a fully stocked kitchen with vegan and paleo options, and 100-percent employer-paid healthcare premiums

What makes it great: 鈥淎lianza encourages everyone to be their best self at work, which includes taking advantage of our Utah headquarters location and exploring new outdoor activities and wellness habits. Between the perks and flexible work options鈥攊ncluding a collaborative, welcoming, and fully-equipped office space with stunning mountain views and a wellness room, aptly named Zen鈥攊t鈥檚 easy to balance hard work with fun, growth, and outdoor exploration.鈥�

50. Falling Creek Camp, Inc.

Location: Tuxedo, North Carolina
Focus: Number of Employees: 18
Average Salary:听Unspecified
Vacation Time: 10 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO

Perks: Access to miles of multi-use trails on 900 private acres, use of camp activity equipment, free meals during summer operations, free on-site housing for seasonal employees (available year-round for some full-time staff), paid-for certifications like Wilderness First Responder and Waterfront Lifeguard, health insurance for full-time employees, 100-percent paid vision insurance and cell phone, and half-day Fridays from September through April

What makes it great: 鈥淲e exist to shepherd the journey of personal growth through love and adventure. Camp is not just for the camper: the leadership cares about each staff member鈥檚 growth and wellbeing. Employees are empowered to get out in camp, join in the activities, and make a positive impact through interacting with the camp community. They develop lifelong relationships with staff and campers and learn ever-important soft skills through managing teams, navigating interpersonal dynamics, and problem-solving day to day situations.鈥�

Honorable Mentions

Backbone

Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus:

commonFont

Location: Bozeman, Montana, and Providence, Rhode Island
Focus:

First Descents

Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus:

Geographic Expeditions

Location: San Francisco, California
Focus:

Idea Ranch

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wichita, Kansas; Durango, Colorado
Focus:

Moving Mountains

Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus:

Putney Student Travel

Location: Putney, Vermont
Focus:

Yakima Products, Inc.

Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Focus:

The post The 50 Best Places to Work in 2024 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

We tested hundreds of products earlier this year to round up the best holiday gifts currently on the market鈥攁ll explicitly curated for your outdoorsy loved ones. From travel gear to tech gifts to fitness products, from $20 to $1,600, we have something for everyone. Be sure to check out the rest of our favorite picks in our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide.

At a Glance

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Sonos Ace Headphones

Thanks to lots of plush memory foam in the cups and vegan leather, these are the most comfy over-the-ear headphones we鈥檝e ever worn. Crisp highs and powerful lows help everything from music to phone calls come through in ultra-high-definition. We use them wirelessly on commutes thanks to the noise cancellation, but also love to plug them into a (via USB-C) and then into our laptop for an extra rich listening experience.

Rocky Talkie 5-Watt Radio

Most outdoor walkie-talkies are dead after a day, if not sooner. But thanks to a specialized 1800 mAH battery, this radio lasts up to five days, which is a big leap for hunters, backcountry skiers, and rescue personnel who spend multiple days in the backcountry. The radio also transmits the highest GMRS power permitted under FCC regulations (5 watts), so your loved one will get up to 35 miles of range in clear areas and up to eight miles in mountainous terrain.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Power Bank with Qi2 15W 5K

With enough juice to keep an iPhone running for 16 additional hours, this wireless charger will get the traveler in your life through a long day on the road. We love the small size of this wireless charger because it doesn鈥檛 block your phone camera, so you can still snap photos. Bonus: it comes with a kickstand that keeps your phone upright, so you can charge while watching your favorite show.

The Howl R4 Propane Campfire

Thanks to special, radiant heat tubes inside the Howl R4, you can have that same wood-fired coziness from a propane stove.听 We love that it鈥檚 certified for use during burn bans and will continue to pump out plenty of heat in a downpour or windstorm. With 6.5 hours of run time on a standard 20-pound tank, you鈥檒l stay toasty deep into the night.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY SWISS TECH OUTDOORS
Swiss Tech Kumpel Headlamp ($19.98)

This meticulously crafted and ultra-compact headlamp combines versatility and precision, ensuring that you have the perfect light source wherever your journey takes you. Customize how you wear with both a cap clip and headband as options.

Jlab Go Air Sport

If you鈥檙e shopping for a fitness enthusiast but on a budget, these smooth-sounding earbuds are just the ticket. Comfortable, bendy ear hooks all but guarantee a secure fit during workouts, and with an IP55 rating, they can handle dust and moderate rain. The 8-hour charge is more than adequate for most workouts and daylong activities, and the case provides another 24 hours of juice.

Turtlebox Gen 2 Speaker

Encased in a super-burly drop-proof case that鈥檚 completely waterproof and even floats, this lunchbox-size, 9.5-pound boombox has quickly garnered a following among outdoors enthusiasts for its durability. The bass tones flowed thumbed beautifully and distortion-free from this 120-decibel speaker, thanks to the 6-by-9-inch woofer. An 85Wh Lithium-ion battery lasts for up to 25 hours on just one charge. With five color options, you鈥檙e sure to find one to please the adventurous audiofile on your list.

Fujifilm X100VI Digital Camera

The X100VI digital camera is small, stylish, relatively simple, and captures gorgeous images. About the size of three iPhones stacked together, the camera weighs just 1.1 pounds, so backpackers, hikers, or skiers won鈥檛 feel weighed down. The sensor is much bigger (40.2 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS 5 HR), than an iPhone鈥檚, so it creates super detailed photos and performs much better in low-light scenarios.

Heat It mosquito device

Everyone has that one friend or family member who mosquitos can鈥檛 resist. Luckily for them, this itch-relief product actually works. The device weighs four grams and plugs into the power port of a cell phone. Controlled by a user-friendly app, it delivers a pulse of concentrated heat between 117 and 126 degrees directly to the bite, neutralizing the reaction. It鈥檚 about the size of your thumb, so there鈥檚 no reason not to bring Heat It on every buggy adventure.

How We Tested Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

• Number of Testers: 6
• Number of Products Tested: 125
• Number of States Tested in: 7
• Tester Age Range: 30-75
• Highest Elevation Reached While Testing: 14,006 ft.

The best holiday gifts often fit in two main categories. The first category is: 鈥淎 gift that makes my everyday routine that much better. 鈥� The second goes something like: 鈥淭his is a gift I鈥檇 never splurge on, so it鈥檚 amazing that I received it from someone else.鈥� With those parameters in mind, we reached out far and wide to find gifts both big and small, expensive and affordable, and obvious and unexpected. A team of six testers put well over 100 products through their paces, and after weeks of testing and comparing, we came up with the final list.

For example, one of the products that made the cut under the 鈥渆veryday routine鈥� category was the Suunto Race S watch in our fitness category. Running tester Meg Healy loved how it was the perfect training watch that kept her motivated and updated all week long, no matter the length of her workout. Lead tester Jakob Schiller flew all over the country (Alaska, California, Seattle) with the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 pack and was always impressed with how it was perfectly sized for a three-day trip, easily fit in an overhead compartment, and was comfortable to wear while schlepping through airports.

Presents that fell into the 鈥淚鈥檇 never buy this myself category鈥� included things like Sonos Ace headphones and Howl propane campfire in the tech category. The headphones, which are as much as a car payment, seem excessive, but you understand the appeal once you hear how they truly enrich every piece of music, from John Coltrane to Taylor Swift to Cypress Hill. A $1,300 gas campfire seems absolutely ridiculous until you stand next to one on a chilly fall night and realize that this new piece of technology is actually as warm as a campfire (if not warmer) and does a great job setting the vibe after dark.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Jakob Schiller

Over the past decade as an 国产吃瓜黑料 editor and then columnist, Jakob Schiller has gotten to know many UPS drivers by name thanks to the frequent stops at his house for gear drop-offs. He’s opened so many cardboard boxes he could start his own recycling facility, and his garage, as you might suspect, is a mess. But thanks to all that gear, Jakob and his family of six (plus two dogs) have been able to adventure around the world and visit many of the globe’s most beautiful spots. When he and his family are not on the road, they call Albuquerque, New Mexico home.

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The room has a heartbeat. It鈥檚 the first thing I notice when I walk into the lab: the gentle thrum of machinery, the metallic click and stretch of springs, and the rhythmic thud of two boots strapped to a gadget called the Time Machine that cycles above a treadmill.

At least, that鈥檚 what Adam Trenkamp tells me it鈥檚 called. Trenkamp is the 国产吃瓜黑料 engineer who runs editorial testing at this new gear facility on the campus. The 国产吃瓜黑料 Gear Lab is the first of its kind in Colorado and one of just a few in the country. Last spring, 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc., CU Denver researchers, and Colorado-based outdoor startups began using it to test, study鈥攁nd break鈥攐utdoor gear of all kinds.

I step further into the room, a stark white affair that鈥檚 half-classroom, half-science lab, nearly 1900 square feet in size, tucked deep in the campus鈥檚 engineering wing. Trenkamp follows me over to the Time Machine, which I later learn is a gold-standard piece of equipment designed and built by footwear test company . There, he pauses, then deftly catches one of the steel arms mid-swing. He holds a boot in his palm, and I peer to take a closer look at the sole.

The machine, which uses a system of weighted plates, shocks, and springs to simulate the impact forces of human legs, has been running on the treadmill for nearly 48 hours straight. That鈥檚 the equivalent of 70 miles on each shoe. I finger the tread. You can already see bits of the rubber wearing away. Corners of the sole are in shreds.

鈥淲oah,鈥� I say. I鈥檝e been reviewing gear for ten years, and it usually takes me at least a month to get this kind of durability testing in the field. Trenkamp鈥檚 machine has cut that process down to a tiny fraction of the time鈥攁nd in a way that鈥檚 scientific enough to accurately compare the performance of one product against another.

鈥淭his could totally change the way we test gear,鈥� I say. Trenkamp smiles, just a little bit.

鈥淓虫补肠迟濒测.鈥�

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The 2022 Tour de France Femmes was decided in the Vosges mountains, during a brutal seventh stage with three category-one climbs. Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten attacked on the second climb, then opened up a four-minute gap on the final push of the day, a grueling 3,163-foot ascent of the Grand Ballon. It was the hardest day of the Tour, and with another mountain stage coming the next day, recovery was crucial. But with their legs fried, their cortisol levels soaring, and their nervous systems cranked in fight-or-flight mode, would the riders actually be able to sleep properly?

Surprisingly, the answer was yes鈥攐r at least, mostly. Nine of the Women鈥檚 Tour riders were wearing Whoop bands on their wrists; their data, which was published earlier this year in Sports Medicine鈥擮pen, showed that the riders got an average of 7.6 hours of sleep that night, compared with an overall average of 7.7 hours both before and after the Tour. They did, however, spend a little more time than usual in light sleep and less in restorative REM sleep. Whether that matters in any practical sense is the fundamental question confronting athletes, coaches, and sports scientists as they enter a new era of sleep tracking. The technology is better than ever; we just have to figure out what to do with it.

Tracking Sleep Stages Is Still a Challenge

Sleep is hardly a new biohack, but it has been a hot topic in performance circles ever since neuroscientist Matthew Walker鈥檚 2017 book Why We Sleep. The problem with first-generation sleep trackers, though, was that they relied on accelerometers and basically assumed that if you weren鈥檛 moving, you were asleep. The latest generation of devices is more sophisticated, adding heart-rate measurements and other physiological cues like breathing rate and skin temperature to refine their algorithms, and able to tell the differences between distinct sleep stages. As a result, says Charli Sargent, a sleep scientist at Central Queensland University in Australia and lead author of the Tour de France study, 鈥淭he whole world is becoming a sleep laboratory.鈥�

Companies like Apple, Garmin, Oura, Polar, and Whoop have gotten very good at detecting sleep. Compared with sleep-lab studies, where subjects are wired up to record brain and muscle activity, the latest consumer wearables were typically 86 to 89 percent accurate at determining whether a wearer was asleep or awake, Sargent and her colleagues found. Detecting individual sleep stages, on the other hand, is still a work in progress: the wearables only got it right 50 to 61 percent of the time.

The picture for athletes is more complex. Many of the new sleep-stage algorithms rely on heart-rate variability, or HRV, the subtle fluctuations in timing from one beat to the next. HRV changes with sleep stage, but it鈥檚 also influenced by vigorous exercise. Indeed, Sargent found that HRV was systematically lower after mountain stages in male Tour de France riders. Another new study, led by Marc Poulin of the University of Calgary, had a group of healthy volunteers do a hard interval workout in the early evening, then tracked their sleep with an HRV-based Polar watch as well as collecting gold-standard sleep-lab data. The good news: the accuracy of the sleep tracker was undiminished by the workout.

What Can Athletes Do with the Data?

Overall, then, wearable sleep trackers are already pretty good, and they will likely continue to improve. The next question鈥攖he really hard one鈥攊s what we should do with the data. If cyclists are getting less REM sleep after mountain stages, what should they do differently? 鈥淩ide easier鈥� isn鈥檛 useful advice; and it hardly seems like we need a fancy algorithm to give us the usual sleep-hygiene advice about bedtimes, alcohol, and electronics before bed.

For some people, simply having objective data about when to hit the hay and when to wake up might function as a useful reminder to cover these bases, in the same way a step tracker spurs you to get your 10,000 steps. Athletes might also be interested in seeing how their sleep changes at altitude, as an indicator of whether they鈥檝e acclimatized and are ready for hard workouts. And there may eventually be subtler insights: for example, preliminary data from Poulin鈥檚 lab in older adults suggests that those who don鈥檛 get enough deep sleep are more likely to develop cognitive problems years later. For now, the best approach is to establish a baseline and then look for changes, Sargent says. If you usually get 15 to 20 percent deep sleep and that changes to 10 to 15 percent, you should probably figure out why.

Against these putative benefits, you have to weigh the risks. Poor sleep is not always a problem that can be solved by trying harder and worrying more about it鈥攐r by collecting sleep-tracking data. 鈥淎nxiety related to sleep can be both a symptom and a cause of some types of sleep problems,鈥� Sargent acknowledges. The study that sticks in my mind, from Oxford University in 2018, involved giving subjects bogus feedback about whether they鈥檇 slept well or poorly. Those who were told that they鈥檇 slept poorly the night before reported feeling scattered, fatigued, and cranky. A little bit of data can be a dangerous thing, especially if its accuracy is questionable.

As for the mystery behind the surprising finding that Tour cyclists sleep just fine, thank you very much, even after the physiological disruption of brutal mountain stages, Sargent and her colleagues propose a disarmingly simple explanation. The cyclists prioritized sleep: they went to bed early and consistently, and gave themselves plenty of time there; ergo, they slept well. Earlier studies found that super-intense endurance exercise, especially when repeated day after day, led to diminished sleep鈥攂ut the new generation of athletes are on top of it. There will be plenty to learn in years to come from the new sleep-measurement techniques, combined with robust analytical approaches like machine learning and AI. 鈥淚 consider sleep to be the next frontier in physiology,鈥� Poulin says. But none of it matters if you鈥檙e not putting in your time in the sack.

For more Sweat Science, join me on听听and听, sign up for the听, and check out my book听.

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I am a total luddite. So when 国产吃瓜黑料 proposed I test the latest artificial-intelligence travel-planning tools, I groaned. When it comes to researching trips, my MO remains steadfastly old-school. I still read books to learn the history of a destination and look to recent magazine and website articles for restaurant and hotel suggestions. I scan local news sites to get a pulse on upcoming events. Mostly, I rely on word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and colleagues in the travel industry.

But around 70 percent of Americans are using AI for travel planning, according to a conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the personal-finance app Moneylion. That stat convinced me it was time to give AI a try myself. Wouldn鈥檛 it be awesome if it could save me hours of research? What if a quick 鈥渃onversation鈥� with a chatbot could deliver intel on par with what I get from real people and my reporting? I decided to give it a go with an open mind.

My AI Trip-Planning Test

Maui is my part-time home, and because I know it so well, I chose it as the logical destination for this experiment. I honed in on the island鈥檚 west side, curious to see if AI would direct travelers to the island鈥檚 main tourism hub, the town of Lahaina, which is still recovering from the decimating wildfires of August 2023.听I haven鈥檛 visited this area since then, and while some parts of Lahaina remain closed to the public, several restaurants and businesses have reopened, and the tourism board has encouraged visitors to respectfully return.

I tested four free AI tools in mid-August. All were incredibly easy to use, even for a tech-phobe like myself. For most, I simply typed in my vacation wish list: I wanted to take an adventurous weeklong solo trip to west Maui in October, and I wanted to experience ocean sports, cultural activities, great food, and fun hikes. In seconds I was usually presented with a thorough itinerary. I could continue to ask more refined questions (like intel on the best food trucks) to fine-tune the details.

Some AI tools, however, started by asking me a handful of quiz-like questions, which is helpful if you need a bit of travel inspiration. The more specific ones queried where exactly I wanted to travel, approximate dates, with whom, my budget, my interests (the beach, nightlife, shopping) and my travel style (i.e., On a sliding scale between adrenaline rush and peace and quiet, what is your ideal vacation?). The nitty-gritty questions resulted in a more robust itinerary.

Results for these AI trip-planning tools ranged from the comically wrong to the simply outdated. None completely nailed the trip planning. All included what AI users call hallucinations鈥攆alse facts that this technology makes up when it doesn鈥檛 have an answer. But one did seem to stand out among the rest.

Here are how the ones I tested fared.

A Ranking of the AI Trip-Planning Tools I Tested, from Worst to Best

听 pitched me the most hilarious hallucination. This trip-planning app provided me with four prompts: Inspire me where to go, find cheap flights, show me amazing hotels, and build me an itinerary. I chose the latter for west Maui, and it generated a chummy reply: 鈥淎h, Hawaii! Aloha vibes all the way.鈥� It then spit out a seven-day itinerary for the entire Caribbean. Day one, for example, suggested I visit the Blue Hole, in Belize. That same afternoon, the itinerary had me sunning on Seven Mile Beach, in the Cayman Islands. When I reached out about my experience, a spokesperson replied that current models are prone to hallucinations.

听 asked me several questions up front, in an effort to account for my preferences, but the process never allowed me to specify that I wanted to focus my trip on the west side of Maui. Instead, the tool generated a generic, island-wide itinerary, peppered with Maui鈥檚 biggest tourist attractions, such as Haleakala National Park and Wailea Beach. Both are beautiful places, but enjoying them means knowing when to go to avoid the crowds. Day one was entirely devoted to Lahaina, with no mention of the fires. The suggested accommodations were nearly an hour鈥檚 drive from the sites the bot wanted me to visit. And when I clicked on specific recommendations, like Lahaina Harbor, I was booted to Viator, an online marketplace for tours and activities, where I was given a selection of island-wide tours to book.

has a dynamic interface that allows users to cross-check suggestions with maps and reviews. I appreciated that. You can view the suggested plan as a printable itinerary or in calendar mode; plus, everything is shareable.

It prompted me with a straightforward: 鈥淲here to today?鈥� At first I typed in that I鈥檇 like to take a weeklong vacation in Maui, and within seconds I was given a list of attractions, activities, hotels, and restaurants鈥攊ncluding the shuttered Lahaina Grill. I mentally docked it a point for that. When I refined my ask to the west side of Maui, I was told: 鈥淯nfortunately, due to the heavy damage from the fire in 2023, there are currently no tourist services operating in Lahaina,鈥� which isn鈥檛 true. The Royal Lahaina resort is open, as are a handful of businesses, such as Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate.

Company spokesperson Michelle Denogean admitted that this particular aspect needed updating. She said that recommendations Mindtrip users receive are informed by a combination of ChatGPT and the company鈥檚 proprietary knowledge base, which contains over 6.5 million frequently updated places. 鈥淲e are continuously adding new ones, updating important information like opening hours, and flagging ones that are permanently or temporarily closed,鈥� Denogean said.

听GuideGeek,听a chatbot from the media brand Matador Network, is available via Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp and has over one million users. It was my favorite. I liked the ease of messaging and that I could ask for more details or tweaks to its initial itinerary. The tool cross-checks its suggestions with content from Matador鈥檚 130,000-plus online articles.

Matador founder Ross Borden told me over a phone call that when the platform launched in spring 2023, it was accurate about 85 percent of the time, meaning the AI would get confused or provide inaccurate information approximately one out of six conversations. GuideGeek has since drastically reduced the occurrence of hallucinations and now boasts 98 percent accuracy. Vigorous human intervention is key to minimizing hallucinations, he told me, and more staff have been hired to follow this issue. The technology has also relied on users flagging misinformation; errors are logged and then addressed before regular updates, he said.

Like other AI tools, GuideGeek produced a broad itinerary of Maui鈥檚 greatest hits, including the snorkel spot Turtle Town and the Road to Hana. However, I found that many of its suggestions, particularly tour operators, were spot-on, and I was impressed to see it mentioned newer offerings, like the Mangolani Inn, a recently renovated hotel in the North Shore town of Paia. It also provided booking links to hotels and offered useful tips like, 鈥淗eads up bring cash as there isn鈥檛 an ATM in this area.鈥�

But when it came to Lahaina, its information wasn鈥檛 up-to-date. I queried GuideGeek about cultural activities on the island鈥檚 west side, and its two recommendations鈥攖he Baldwin Home Museum and Lahaina Heritage Museum鈥攈ad both burned to the ground in the fires.

When I told Borden about this outdated information, he said it comes down to fielding enough input to create updates. The company receives regular feedback from users, as well as 20 or so tourism boards or destination management companies that pay Matador to create custom versions of GuideGeek鈥檚 AI tool.

I shared my suggested GuideGeek itinerary with Lei-Ann Field, a member of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, which does not partner with GuideGeek. 鈥淥verall the itinerary is pretty good, but there are other nuances that are missing, like considering guided tours for the Road to Hana and necessary online reservations for Haleakala sunrise,鈥� she said.

Will I Be Using AI Going Forward?

My takeaways: I was impressed by how seamless and fast these AI tools were. And it鈥檚 key to remember that the more specific questions you ask, the better the responses will be. Most are a good starting point, offering an overview of a destination, and they create a loose plan way faster than I could have using my traditional methods. That plan is a good enough outline to modify and build upon with further research.

My issues: Every AI tool suggested the same attractions in Maui, which contributes to overtourism. The personal touch is noticeably missing; for example, I鈥檇 tell a friend who wanted to visit Maui to opt for lunch instead of dinner at Mama鈥檚 Fish House, a North Shore spot where it鈥檚 nearly impossible to score reservations; to skip the downhill mountain-bike sunrise Haleakala experience (a recipe for injury); to stay overnight in Hana if you really want to make the most of that drive; and to make a point of engaging with locals and being aware of cultural and environmental sensitivities.

I asked Jack Ezon, founder of the travel agency Embark Beyond, if he thought AI would ever be able to deliver the accuracy of a human travel agent. 鈥淓ven in its infancy, in just a few seconds AI is able to create itineraries that are about 80 percent of what a true expert can create,鈥� he said. 鈥淪oon it will be able to suggest the right place for someone to stay and the best experiences they can consider.鈥�

That said, he doesn鈥檛 believe there will ever be an equivalent to best the advice of travel agents or friends. He sees AI as a tool agents will use to deliver even more customized advice for clients, though. To wit, Embark Beyond recently launched an AI-powered 鈥渃lienteling鈥� tool for advisers that examines all experiences, cultural events, and promotions in the marketplace and then suggests clients that would likely be interested and why.

WIll I be using AI to plan future trips? If I鈥檓 heading to a popular place like Paris or London or even Moab, Utah, for the first time and don鈥檛 want to miss the star attractions, it鈥檇 be a something I鈥檇 look to initially. But I like to get off the beaten path when I travel, and I鈥檓 not convinced AI would get me to that less-trafficked trail or mom-and-pop breakfast spot that鈥檚 only advertised via locals in the know. For now, I鈥檒l remain a luddite and stick to good old word-of-mouth travel planning.

Jen Murphy is 国产吃瓜黑料 Online鈥�s travel advice columnist. She prefers to be off her devices when she adventures and believes a town鈥檚 local bartender often has the best recommendations for restaurants.

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I鈥檓 getting ready for my first marathon in the fall, and I am trying to dial in my kit. I keep hearing about these 鈥渟uper shoes鈥� people use for racing, but they鈥檙e expensive, and I don鈥檛 know if I should switch to something new for race day. Do I need to buy a super shoe to run my best? 鈥擭ewbie Distance Runner

Dear Newbie,

Super shoes are no doubt attractive. The lightweight racers with ultra-bouncy foam and embedded carbon plates have been shown to enable some athletes to reach higher speeds with less effort.

Could a super shoe help you run slightly faster and easier than you would in a standard trainer or racer? Yes. Probably. Maybe. It鈥檚 complicated.

If you鈥檙e a sub-seven-minute-mile marathoner, you鈥檝e established serious training habits and built a strong, athletic stride. And in that pace range, the research says you鈥檒l likely get a 3 or 4 percent improvement in running economy from the shoes. This is why no elite runner would toe the line in anything but a super shoe.

But as a first-time marathoner, do you need that edge? Will it be impossible for you to accomplish your goals without these shoes鈥� performance-enhancing benefits? No, absolutely not. And there are some good reasons why you might not want to invest in a super shoe.

Research on the benefits for slower runners is mixed. One data analysis of slower marathoners showed time improvements鈥攅ven greater than among faster runners鈥攁fter adopting super shoes. In contrast, a controlled study revealed that the slower the runner, the lower the boost in running economy, with 9:40-mile runners seeing only about 1 percent improvement.

Still, any help is appreciated in the marathon, and some experts believe that the real advantage may have more to do with the shoes鈥� ability to reduce muscle breakdown and fatigue than with improvements in efficiency. If super shoes make finishing strong more likely, they might be worth the $250-plus price tag.

Be aware, however, that nearly a third of the slower runners in the same study showed a decrease in running economy鈥攖he shoes made running harder, not easier. Other studies have found even greater variability in runner response.

This is partially due to the fine-tuned bounce and roll of a super shoe鈥檚 midsole and plate. Every runner鈥檚 stride is unique and interacts with the shoe differently. When we staged a 国产吃瓜黑料 Online鈥�with three runners comparing 16 different super shoes head-to-head鈥攚e found that a shoe that felt magical to one runner often went clunk on another.

Even if a shoe seems good when you are fresh and running strong, it might not be what you want on your foot when you start to tire. Super shoes exacerbate any stride imbalances because of a trampoline-like action that magnifies all forces and movements, for better or worse. Can you maintain the even posture and powerful push-off that a super shoe requires over 26.2 miles? A tall, wobbly platform isn鈥檛 what anyone wants when doing the marathon shuffle. For slower, first-time marathoners, the risk of a super shoe impeding their efforts may not be worth the meager potential reward, especially at these prices.

If you decide to go with a super shoe, be sure to test out multiple models to find one that enhances your natural gait rather than changing it or, worse, fighting against it.

Regardless of what you choose for race day, remember that the first rule of marathoning is to dance with the one who brought you: if in doubt, go with old friends鈥攜our favorite tried-and-true trainers. Nothing different. Nothing new. Any change opens you up to the possibility of blisters, an altered stride that causes you to fatigue faster, even injury. If you want to wear a specialty shoe, start using it far enough in advance that you鈥檝e adapted to it by race day. Gradually add miles over eight to twelve weeks, building up to several solid marathon-pace runs and at least one long run.

Marathon success depends far more on factors like how well you trained, how well you hydrate and fuel, and how the weather gods treat you than on which shoes you wear. In the end, the best shoes are the ones that get out of the way and quietly let your fitness shine.

Have a question of your own? Send it to us at deargear@outsideinc.com.

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