“Dammit Wes,” a friend of mine shouted after I handed him my Swarovski binoculars for the first time. On my recommendation, he’d just splashed out $1,200 on some from another brand, and was so happy with them that he couldn’t believe mine would be noticeably better. But they were. 　　The phrase the best gets overused in gear reviews, but that’s...

　　There’s been a lot of buzz about physical strength training in recent years, but what about your mental strength? 　　Building strength is a feat that encompasses both body and mind. Learning to navigate cognitive challenges means you increase your capacity to do all manner of difficult things, from navigating anxiety to staying in Plank Pose. It’s all connected. 　　“Understanding self-discipline,...

　　REI Co-op: Up to 50% Off 　　 　　(Photos/REI) REI Co-ops Last-Minute Gifts Sale is live from Dec. 13 to 23, offering shoppers a chance to save up to 30%. To ensure delivery by Dec. 25, orders for gear, apparel, and gift cards must be placed by Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, the brand said. Shoppers can also use...

　　In traveling, I’ve always chosen to go it alone rather than not go at all. Over the years, friends have called me fearless. Don’t you get scared? they ask. Very rarely. Lonely? Honestly, never, even before the days of social media. And isn’t it more expensive to travel by yourself than with others? Traditionally, yes. Solo travelers often got slapped...

　　Search and rescue crews in rural Vermont are praising a small electronic tracking device for helping them save two people in the backcountry. 　　On Saturday, December 7, Drew Clymer, the deputy chief of Stowe Mountain Rescue, received a call from a local woman who said her husband and eight-year-old son hadnt returned from a backcountry ski outing. The sun had gone...

　　There are music festivals. There are film festivals. There are climbing and biking and yoga festivals. But there’s only one Outside Festival. 　　The Denver event blends everything that makes outdoor festivals so fun, and the result is much, much better than the sum of its parts. That’s why the inaugural Outside Festival drew almost 20,000 people. It’s also why the...

　　The original version of this article appeared on ExplorersWeb. 　　Themissing kayaker who faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europehas returned to his home state and turned himself in. 　　On Tuesday, 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt returned from the nation of Georgia to Wisconsin, where he surrendered himself to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The next day in court, he...

　　We get it. Were passed peak pumpkin. Its everywhere and its only gaining momentum. But being the BeerJunkie is not about doing the glamorous work; its about getting your hands dirty — like scooping out the orange guts and seeds kind of dirty. 　　And Paul Pabst isnt one to shirk his responsibility. So here we are at last: Pumpkin Beer. Pabst...

　　Long-sleeve running shirts are underrated. Finding a good one—soft, wicking, breathable, comfortable—can be the difference between looking forward to a winter run and dreading it. The best kinds of long-sleeve shirts can be worn on their own in mild temps and shoulder seasons, and they serve as the final line of defense against bitter cold when worn underneath protective layers....

　　The final pricing, fuel economy, and details about the 2025 4Runner have just been released. That means its time to dive into the details of a version of each that is most similar to each other — and directly compare the 2025 Land Cruiser 250 to the 2025 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium i-FORCE MAX. 　　While many trim levels of each...

　　It was a couple years ago, probably eightish miles up the Stuart Peak trail near my home in Missoula, Montana, when I first started thinking about it. A small tree had fallen perpendicular across the trail, no more than four inches in diameter. I had to slow my already-not-that-fast uphill trot to almost a complete stop to step over the...

　　During the summer, West Virginias Summersville Lake is a popular destination for boating, camping, and even rock climbing. But when lake levels get low in winter, it can become a bog of dense, sticky mud. 　　That might not sound dangerous, but it posed a major risk for a hiker who tried to cross the lake on Tuesday. Stuck waist-deep in...