Smartphones dont make most lists for hikings Ten Essentials. Maybe thats because they are so deeply embedded in our daily routine that nobody has to remember to pack them. The reality is that smartphone (and smartwatch) activity apps are here to stay, and the first choice for many. At the summit of these hiking apps stands AllTrails. Real-time navigation on...

　　The outdoor shelf life of your GPS watch could last even longer, thanks to a new repair program from Coros. The California-based smartwatch brand just launched a repair program meant to lengthen the life of its high-tech devices, including watches and bike computers. Its a welcome option for anyone who has busted a dial or cracked a screen while going...

　　The Turtlebox Ranger makes no sense to me. As a lifelong musician, I always thought it was self-evident that high-quality audio means sensitive equipment. Improvements to durability must inevitably come at the cost of aural clarity — or so I believed. 　　My experience with the Ranger blows those assumptions out of the water. This speaker shakes off as quickly as...

　　Sandboarding is really, really dirty. There is a lot of falling, rolling, and tumbling down giant dunes. And if youre keeping track of time, your wristwatch will get kind of thrashed about. I couldnt think of a better place to test a wristwatch that is tool to the core, the TUUL Filthy 13. 　　With a name like TUUL, its pretty...

　　A 1,000-horsepower turbocharged V6 screamed past and faded away as quickly as it had approached. The unseen Formula 1 machine was turning hot laps ahead of qualifying inside the Miami International Autodrome. Meanwhile, I navigated a security checkpoint and began the upstream swim through a river of Ferrari red, McLaren papaya orange, and dark blue Red Bull outfits. 　　I, a...

　　As a kid, my parents encouraged me to use my imagination and explore the countryside. Everything around me was farmland, filled with barns attached to rolling hills that popped out of fields that stopped at the horizon. After breakfast, I would get on my bike with my backpack filled with everything I needed to explore for the day. My mom...

　　Runners who find sports watches to be overwhelming or cluttered now have a pared-down option. By taking a run-first approach, the Suunto Run ($250) eliminates some data bells and whistles to concentrate on training, racing, and recovery. This streamlined approach also reduces the watchs heft and price. 　　 　　Runners will appreciate the sleek design and weight of 36 g; (photo/Suunto)...

　　We were near the top of our first rocky pass on a weeklong overlanding trip through the San Juan mountains when it dawned on us: We’d entrusted our lives, or at least our ice cream and margaritas, to a magic box that, along with solar panels and an electric cooler, converts energy from a distant flaming ball of hydrogen into...

　　Let me tell you now, before the nitty-gritty, there are many who assume the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED is something it is not. It is not just a cheaper version of Garmin’s Fenix smartwatch — that watch is designed for your Indiana Jones heading on expeditions. The Instinct line is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who love hiking and backpacking on...

　　Its no coincidence that the first video ad for the Volonaut Airbike was published just before May 4, a.k.a. Star Wars Day. The videos aesthetic will be immediately familiar to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the science-fiction franchise. Since the first film debuted in 1977, hover bikes speeding across the Tatooine desert have captivated the imaginations of fans...

　　The weekend comes, and theres an urge to shake up your routine. Its time to take a long run or ride to new places. That often takes tinkering on a map and can eat into riding time if you havent planned ahead. 　　Then comes the urge to just wing it, which can be fun —unless you end up riding down...

　　It was 2:30 a.m., still a couple of hours until my alarm would wake me from my slumber to chase turkeys in the Colorado spring hunt. Annoyed, I sat up and started whacking the ceiling to clear the snow and keep a collapse at bay. But I glanced again at the watch, impressed by the lume, the only thing I...