Theres nothing like having $400 in cash in your pocket to help you understand the importance of studying self-defense. Id just withdrawn more $20 bills than Id ever held at one time and was now pedaling a public Nice Ride bike through Minneapolis, doing my best impression of someone who was totally not carrying $400 in their pants pocket. 　　It...

　　Is necessity really the mother of invention? Or does invention sometimes create the necessity? Here at GearJunkie, we dont have time for those kinds of existential questions —were too busy getting stoked about new stuff to use outside! 　　Thats why the Emerging Gear column is one of our favorite stories all week. When we get to explore high-tech swim goggles,...

　　My headlamp illuminated yet another snow patch, this one close to 30 feet across, looming out of the shadows to completely swallow the trail. Even on a path this narrow, contouring along the side of the valley at night should have been easy, but these intermittent snow fields were killing me. Ollie, my hiking partner, barely slowed, stamping footprints into...

　　The box arrived at our office with nothing more than a fragile sticker to betray the remarkable product within. But once I cracked the tape and pulled aside some hastily packed bubble wrap, there it was. Glinting silver and black in the dim office light was a geometric, no-nonsense shape. Emblazoned with a red dot front and center, and the...

　　It was 1 a.m., and my carbon monoxide alarm suddenly went off. The beeping was intermittent but piercing. I sprung up, opened all my windows and dug out the manual. I checked it again, still half-asleep and painfully listening. To my relief, it was only a malfunction with the units battery. But, I didnt have a replacement battery to fix...

　　Welcome to Tough Love. We’re answering your questions about dating, breakups, and everything in between. Our advice giver is Blair Braverman, dogsled racer and author of Small Game and Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube. Have a question of your own? Write to us at [email protected]. 　　My friend and I recently went on a three-day backpacking trip together, which involved several...

　　For the first time on the U.S. market, the M5 sedan will be joined by the Touring (station wagon) variant. U.S. enthusiasts have been asking for hot wagons forever, and until just recently have had very few options. While we still have few options, the 2025 BMW M5 Touring joins the Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon and Audi RS...

　　Narrowing in on that elusive 5-pound base weight? Youre probably fastidiously scouring the web for the lightest ultralight tent, backpack, and sleeping bag, but beware — these flimsy, unassuming pieces of gear need to be chosen with care. The lightest model on the market may not be the best, or the safest, move. Theres a lot to consider when buying...

　　Vortex Optics has taken a confident leap into the sunglasses market. Today, the brand launched Vortex eyewear, and I can tell you firsthand that this isnt a gimmick product. These shades are rad. 　　Ive had the Jackal and the Banshee frames for a few weeks now, and though I was skeptical, I am impressed. I think brands often take the...

　　A dream vacation nearly turned into a logistical nightmare this week when eight passengers on a Norwegian cruise line were stranded on São Tomé and Príncipe after they were delayed returning from a tour of the island. 　　Despite being flummoxed and uneasy at being left behind, however, the eight tourists did quite well in their short stint being grounded on São...

　　With more than 18 million acres of public lands and the lowest population density of any state in the United States, Wyoming has room to roam—and then some. The variety of landscapes across the state can’t be beat. Picture: rugged mountains, dense forests, deep canyons, mesmerizing badlands, and blue-ribbon rivers. There’s something for every kind of adventurer, which is why...

　　Colorado wildlife officials confirmed that a calf had been killed by a wolf. This marks the first recorded since the hotly debated December wolf reintroduction. 　　The report was made on Tuesday, April 2, and confirmed after an investigation by officials. Wolf tracks were located nearby, and the injuries were consistent with what a typical wolf kill looks like. 　　The field...