Rain was imminent, maybe 20 minutes away, and Id just arrived at camp. With no time to waste, I upended the stuff sack and unrolled the tent — not a single pole or stake to be found. 　　Instead, I plugged in an automatic air pump, flipped the switch, and as it whirred to life, I watched my Rise AirNEST tent...

　　The blissed out, swell chasing surfer with a single-minded focus on the next great ride is a pervasive outdoorsy archetype that’s completely at odds with the lived experience of many surfers. Take historian Kevin Dawon, a professor at UC Merced, for whom surfing serves as his connection to a rich tradition of African aquatic culture. Dawson is credited with resurfacing...

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　　Ski season is around the corner, and as people weigh which pass to buy, Alterra Mountain Company is expanding its Ikon offerings. On August 26, the resort corporation announced that it was adding five new mountains to its pass in Italys Valle d’Aosta region for the 2025/26 season. 　　The addition of these resorts brings the total number of destinations on...

　　With the drive mode dial turned to sport, I bury the accelerator. A futuristic ascending digital tone emanates as the Macan Electric shoves me to the seatback and speeds quickly approach triple digits. The tone comes courtesy of a $510 Porsche electric sport sound option. But the pull comes standard from the rear-mounted electric motor. Welcome to the future. 　　All...

　　When I saw a heavy storm in the forecast for my upcoming trip to British Columbia, I knew Id need a lengthy womens winter jacket to handle the squall. But I didnt have a ton of space. My solution? I stuffed the REI Co-op Norseland Down Parka into my bag. 　　Id been using the long coat on ice-cold dog walks...

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　　There are certain kinds of womens ski pants that you reach for again and again, and not because theyre the flashiest or most high-tech. Rather, you do it because the design nails the basics in a way that works for the majority of your days on snow. That’s the case with the Outdoor Research Snowcrew insulated ski pants for women....

　　When I invited my friend Sarah to join me in trying sensory deprivation tanks, as invented in 1954 by a so-called “consciousness researcher” named John C. Lilly, I saw a flash of understanding on her big-eyed face. She pulled up, on her phone, a vintage movie poster with the words: UNWITTINGLY, HE TRAINED A DOLPHIN TO KILL THE PRESIDENT OF...

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　　School is back, pumpkin spice is everywhere, but alas, its still summer — for several more weeks. That means you have plenty of time to check off more outdoor adventures and plan for some fall fun. 　　And since REI’s Labor Day Sale started on August 22, you can get a jumpstart on those adventures and save big at the same...