The 626-horsepower Octa is the ultimate Land Rover Defender. The company packed a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 under the hood, added its most advanced suspension system, and even fitted better seats to create an any-terrain monster. 　　Heres the rundown. 　　Most Powerful Defender Ever 　　 　　(Photo/Land Rover) Its 4.4L twin-turbo V8 makes this the most powerful Defender the company has ever built....

　　No matter who wins the Tour de France this month, Biniam Girmay and Richard Carapaz will return home as heroes. 　　After a brutally hot and chaotic start to the worlds biggest bike race this weekend, Monday brought the kind of historic victories that galvanize spectators all around the world to watch this month-long competition. 　　Girmay, from Eritrea, became the first...

　　Vans can be some of the most versatile vehicles out there, but most are two-wheel drive. The addition of a 4WD system can transform a van from a family runabout or package hauler to an all-terrain escape pod. The best 4×4 vans bring a whole other level of capability to the vans already cavernous storage capacity. 　　For years, 4WD vans...

　　It was the middle of May in Colorado. The snow line had melted up to 9,500 feet, giving way to the lush green understory of coniferous forests and budding aspens. My ski partner and I were grunting up a rocky pitch of a Forest Service road on our bikes deep in the mountains. But that was just a means to...

　　Factory off-roaders just keep getting better. Every year, we get more and more extreme off-road packages that deliver performance on and off pavement that we could only have dreamed about just a few years ago. 　　Even better, they do it with a factory warranty. There are so many it can be hard to keep track, but dont worry. Weve got...

　　When the going gets hot, weve all got to be a little more creative. If daytime temperatures feel overwhelming, why not have some outdoor fun in the cooler moments at night? That was my first thought when gazing at the beautiful night photography for Knogs new MTB bike light. 　　It made me reflect on night climbing in Central Texas to...

　　Mystery Ranch: Up to 25% Off 　　 　　(Photos/Mystery Ranch) Mystery Ranchs Independence Day Sale runs from July 2 to July 5, offering 25% off the brands excellent packs for outdoor adventure. 　　The discount applies to a broad selection of backpacking and hiking packs on the site. Shoppers can take advantage of this promotion by using the promo code TAKEAHIKE at...

　　Preparing for a 4-month stint in New Zealand was an exercise in traveling light. Despite having Patagonia’s Black Hole mega-hauler to cram my life into, I still had to rein in my tendency to overpack. 　　Gear with multi-functionality — running shoes that work on the road and the trail, a pair of jeans chic enough for a dinner date yet...

　　I’ve worn Kenetrek boots on and off for years. Despite trying different brands and styles of boots, quality and dependability always bring me back to a pair of Kenetreks. 　　The new Bridger High offering fills the gaps in the straight leather heavy-duty hunting boot market. While every boot fills a different need, the Bridger High will surely be a go-to...

　　Whitewater rushed against my legs up to my knees as white noise thundered in my ears. With a bridge out early in the Tour du Mont Blanc season, I was forced to ford a rushing torrent or turn around. Ford it was. 　　Fortunately, my feet and legs were well-outfitted with waterproof Trango Tech GTX boots and Fjallraven Keb trousers. Thirty...

　　Mark Cavendish is generally regarded as road cyclings all-time greatest sprinter. He was set to break the all-time record for Tour de France stage wins in last years race, his 14th and last planned appearance. But disaster struck, and he had to abandon on the eighth stage with a broken collarbone. 　　Cavendish delayed retirement for another year, and his Astana-Qazaqstan...

　　Whats the best way to see how well a brand-new brake system for e-bikes works? Get a pro like Danny McAskill set up with the new system and set them loose on their favorite slab MTB trails. 　　Thats why Magura, the performance bike part manufacturer, sent McAskill a brand-new Gustav E-bike Brakes set. It wanted the Santa Cruz-sponsored MTB and...