“Let’s take the scenic route,” our guide announced to the group. We had only been on the trail to the Ciudad Perdida for about an hour, and we were already veering off course. He led us to a special swimming spot. 　　I was already drenched in sweat by the tropical forest of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest...

　　The Olight Baton Turbo, released this month, weighs 3.21 ounces (91 g). Thats about the weight of a deck of cards or three AA batteries. But push the button on this tiny torch and be amazed. On turbo, it launches 1,000 lumens to a distance of 1,673 feet (510 m). 　　Its shocking to see such a bright, tight beam come...

　　Its absolutely pitch black when I push the button. Surprise! I exclaim as a jolt of white light floods the inside of the wall tent. Two of my buddies grumble and roll away from the light — 4:30 a.m. comes early in elk hunting camp. 　　I click the button on the Duracell 2000 Lumen Tri-Power Lantern a couple more times,...

　　As I zipped through the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Terminal 2), I gleefully spun the hard-sided Roverlund Ready-to-Roll bag down the concourse. Like a figure skater linking triple lutzes to double axels, I kept twirling and whirling the bag ahead of me, its neon-yellow skateboard wheels silently carving up the linoleum. 　　Nimble had never been a criteria I considered when...

　　Dive watches are an odd category of equipment. In the modern era, theyre pretty much obsolete for scuba diving. Sure, theyll still do what they always did and allow you to manually calculate decompression stops. But realistically, divers just dont use them anymore. Computers are better, safer, and easier. 　　But that doesnt stop watch enthusiasts from placing them on a...

　　As a critical connection between you and your bike, finding the best mountain bike shoes is very important. Good shoes provide stability, control, and protection while delivering power into the pedals and hopefully remaining comfortable in the process. 　　Different styles of riding have different demands with cross-country, trail, enduro, and gravity riders all seeking varying performance characteristics from their footwear....

　　The original version of this article was published on ExplorersWeb. 　　Its been another busy climbing season on Manaslu. Every year about this time, the Himalayan mountain sees hundreds of ascents by paying clients. This year even saw a new record set by endurance athlete Tyler Andrews. 　　But now, many of those climbers cant fly off the mountain after locals blocked...

　　Tree saddles are a convenient and lightweight way to hang-and-hunt for deer hunters. While they’re mostly comfortable, they still sacrifice a level of comfort and stability compared to hang-on treestands. 　　In fact, when you compare them to lightweight treestands, saddles don’t offer much more than the hide-behind-the-tree claim to fame, but even this can be remedied if you know how...

　　Alex Honnold linked up with another weekend warrior, Connor Herson. Herson is a full-time electrical engineering student at Stanford and had just finished his semester final exams. 　　Although Honnold and Herson had to adhere to a normal weekend schedule, both are far from normal rock climbers. Honnold needs no introduction, but Herson also has serious rock-climbing roots. Herson was born...

　　I am excited by the promise of electric dirt bikes. Silently ripping through the woods or around a motocross track (in the middle of town!) without the noise and exhaust of internal combustion engines would eliminate many negatives associated with powersports. The heaps of torque common in electric powerplants also check the plus box. 　　Being an older rider, I cringe...

　　A man died Sunday morning as he rappelled off Devils Tower in Wyoming. Steward Phillip Porter, 21, was descending from a climb at 8:00 a.m. when he fell. Emergency responders arrived at 8:40 a.m. and declared the Eau Claire, Wisc., native dead at the scene. 　　His partner was stranded on the wall and was later rescued. 　　Porter and his climbing...

　　The picturesque landscape of Vermont is a wonder of the northeastern United States. Its stunning fall colors, historic cities, and quaint towns attract people from all over the world. 　　When most people think of Vermont, quaint and quiet outdoor experiences may be among the first that come to mind. While there is no shortage of relaxing farmstays, cozy inns, and...