As technology grows more complex, theres increasing competition to make that tech feel less like a gadget. The smartwatch segment is a clear example of that, as screenless wearables like Whoop have become more popular. 　　Now, Polar aims to carve out a piece of the marketplace. Long known for its sports computers and heart rate monitors — since the 1970s—Polar...

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　　For years, snowboard bindings have remained relatively the same, with two straps to put on and take off, requiring extra time at the top of the lift compared to skiers. Companies like FLOW had tried to create a fast-entry binding with a droppable high back. But these were often heavy, awkward, and didnt have the performance of expert-level riders needed. Thats where the Jones...

　　Several feet away, with camera in hand, I stand on a massive patch of asphalt and watch the test driver WOT (wide-open throttle) the HEMI-equipped Ram. As his left foot still lightly rests on the brake, the rear tires start spinning furiously, roaring their way around a white cloud of tire smoke billowing from the roasting rear rubber. I capture...

　　I live in Crested Butte, Colo., where winter easily reaches into three seasons. Its essential to have a pair of womens winter boots that are warm, waterproof, and easy to pull on and off. Of course, its important to find one with style, too. After testing the Stio Colter, I wish I could wear these sneaker-esque snow boots year-round. 　　When...

　　Loons call through the falling dusk over an impossibly calm mirror surface of Lake One in Minnesotas Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I step away from the campfire and press a button on the top of the BioLite Range 500, the newest headlamp from a brand focused on comfortable lighting. A red glow illuminates the path to my food pack, where...

　　Garmin handhelds have always been tough, reliable, and, honestly, a little boring. To be fair, the gadgets are tools, not toys. 　　But that may have just changed. 　　The new GPSMAP H1i Plus ($1,000) packs a built-in camera and microphone, so you can send photos and voice notes straight from the device without pulling out your phone. It certainly adds a...

　　When Lawlor Coe lost his brother Hunter to suicide, one of the ways he coped was by lacing up his joggers and running. At first, he was trying to elude his grief; over time he found that the physical suffering he endured on the trail helped him find a way toward peace and, from there, joy. After sorrow and anger,...

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　　When health issues force one of climbings best athletes to stop, what happens to his unsent project? Black Diamonds new short film, The Pirates Code, documents Connor Herson finishing Mason Earles unsent project several years after Earle was diagnosed with chronic illness. It explores questions of legacy, friendship, and vision along the way to Hersons big send. 　　In the 2010s,...

　　I was initially skeptical of inflatable fishing paddleboards and kayaks. Like many people unfamiliar with inflatable paddleboards and kayaks, I thought it would pop the first time I stabbed it with a stick, ran across some rocks, or had a lure come flying back at warp speed and embed itself in the side. 　　After testing several inflatable watercraft, I can...