No matter how hard I looked, outdoor gear just wasnt made for me. While so many folks donned attractive technical outerwear, I was relegated to so-so products with basic protection against the elements. So I built a brand for plus-size outdoor adventurers. 　　That was 2019. My company, Alpine Parrot — which had a size run of 14 through 30 —...

　　Chick fil-A used to be my guilty pleasure, especially when traveling. When Im rushing through airports that seductive red and white sign always calls for a detour and a Chicken Deluxe. Now, thanks to a new study about the plastic chemicals found in food packaging, that sandwich is dead to me. A team of scientists and concerned citizens recently tested...

　　On Monday, January 20, the presidency of Joe Biden came to an end. During his four years in office, Biden, 82, focused on issues that impact outdoor recreation, such as the preservation of public lands and conservation. 　　The centerpiece of Biden’s conservation policy was the America the Beautiful Initiative, a commitment to conserve and restore at least 30 percent of...

　　We pretend that backcountry skiing in Colorado is all powder all the time. I’d be lying if I said my ski acquisitions over the last decade didn’t reflect that fantasy, too. 　　So when I scraped down a wind-scoured slope, thrashed through breakable crust, and gasped for air in a cloud of deep powder all within the span of one backcountry...

　　The countrys 47th president has wasted no time putting his agenda into action. President Donald Trump issued a flurry of executive orders following his Monday inauguration, many of them aimed at reversing environmental policies from former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. But its Alaska — a longtime battleground between environmentalists and oil and gas developers — that received immediate...

　　My favorite Tough Love question from the last eight years, the one I (somewhat inexplicably) recall most fondly, was from a woman whose boyfriend was grossed out that she used a pee rag—a.k.a. reusable toilet paper—while camping. We got a lot of impassioned reader feedback about that one: Pee is sanitary! Pee is gross! Bodies are normal! Women’s bodies in...

　　About an hour into a brisk winter hike along my local trail, pangs of hunger began to rumble. I tried not to think about it, but soon, the pangs became stabs, and my progress stumbled. 　　Fortunately, Im a big fan of self-care, so I unshouldered my pack under a pine tree and eagerly removed the venison sausage, sharp cheddar cheese,...

　　Researchers in Germany recently published one of those studies that, now and then, make me question my core beliefs. I’m a supplement skeptic, but I try not to let that identity prevent me from assimilating new data. And if there’s one supplement whose possible benefits I’ve been on the fence about in recent years, it’s vitamin D. 　　The new study,...

　　It takes a lot to push yourself to your physical limit alongside a significant other. It takes even more to do so for 12 straight days in some of the country’s most unforgiving terrain. And yet that’s what Andrew Hamilton and Andrea Sansone did in July 2024, when they set the couple’s record for hiking all 58 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot...

　　Looking for access to nature in the Boston area? You won’t have to roam too far from the city to enjoy the region’s diverse ecosystems and beautiful natural scenery. 　　From coastal vistas and riverside wetlands to working farms and wildlife sanctuaries, these recommendations invite you to explore New Englands unique landscapes and rich heritage. Lace up your walking shoes and...

　　Dear Sundog: Am I a jerk for not owning an electric vehicle yet? I live in a city, commute to work, and like to get outside. I have a decent car that gets decent mileage, but feel like I would be doing better for myself and the planet with an EV. Should I buy one? —Looking for Environmental Alternatives that...

　　When snowboarding athletes hit the X Games Superpipe on Thursday, a new artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be judging them. According to X Games, the new cloud-based system will not impact the athletes scores — this year. However, this soft rollout is an experiment to help event organizers gauge how well this new technology could be integrated into future competitions....