The biggest concern with backpacking sleeping pads is finding the right balance between comfort and weight.And this balance depends largely on the individual. Ounce counters may prefer the lightest pad possible, even if it means forgoing some comfort. 　　However, other backpackers may prefer to give up weight in other areas so they can happily carry a larger, more comfortable sleeping...

　　I count the day my wife said she’d like to go on an extended backpacking trip with me as one of the happiest of my life. And to a lesser degree, a stressful one. 　　Kat eats gluten-free. On previous shorter backpacking trips, she made her own meals, like red chile enchiladas with corn tortillas that she would then vacuum seal...

　　It’s a dog’s life, as the saying goes, which is lucky for us when a dog’s life includes swimming in rivers, running up mountains, chasing friends in fields, and rolling in unthinkable messes. We tested the top dog GPS trackers so you can track where your pup ends up, even if you wish you didn’t (or didn’t have to smell...

　　The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is embarking on a $4.5 million restoration initiative that will close one of Colorados most popular and iconic hiking trails for most of the summer. Hanging Lake is an internationally revered hiking destination. Its a historic natural landmark, an important boon to the local economy, and a geologic phenomenon. 　　But following exploding visitation through the...

　　Around 30,000 Jeep Wranglers roam the planet wearing Tuscadero Pink paint. While it was supposed to be a limited-edition color back in 2021, strong demand has kept it available. 　　For 2024, not only does the Wrangler get Tuscadero, but for the first time, the Gladiator gets the pink treatment as well. 　　In even bigger news, the 2025 model year Jeep...

　　The electric-mountain bike market has grown exponentially in the last decade, and this year’s options are better than ever. Whether you’re looking for an option that feels the same as a regular mountain bike or you want a hard-charging chop-crusher, we singled out the best four of the year. 　　We tested eight bikes this year from Bellingham to Squamish, and...

　　Polaris crafts its XPEDITION series UTVs to access deep backcountry venues for all forms of adventuring. But for Brandon Semneuk, Polaris went over the top by creating a one-of-a-kind vehicle to help the equally unique athlete build the freeride trails he rides with impeccable style. 　　Polaris teamed up with DRACO UTV to design and build an XPEDITION worthy of Semenuks...

　　Betty the Backpacker loves to explore. Whether slogging up switchbacks, dancing over craggy terrain, or suffering through an unexpected cloud burst (with a big grin), she’s always stoked to find the perfect camp. 　　But like most seasoned backpackers, Betty knows that getting to camp is only half the fun. Over years of dialing in her kit — a mix of...

　　There are a lot of ways to be a responsible outdoor enthusiast: practicing Leave No Trace principles, telling someone where you’re going, carrying enough water. But how does a responsible trail user choose the right footwear? Many of the standard manufacturing processes used to create products like hiking and running shoes produce excessive amounts of waste. So, to get outdoors...

　　The latest trend in whitewater kayak design is to meld a creek boat with a half-slice. This creates a playful but forgiving whitewater boat suitable for a wide range of paddlers. Nearly every whitewater kayak company has brought one of these new boat designs to market in the last 6 months. Today, Dagger joins the movement with the Indra. 　　...

　　We used to say running was a pretty simple sport. All you need is a pair of running shoes and clothes, and off you go. However, with the advances in technology these days, we’re second-guessing that concept. 　　Somehow over the past 25 years, complexity crept in. GPS watch data, Strava segments, hydration vests, and the obligatory social media post-run selfie...

　　My favorite segment in the 2023 film Nothing’s For Free: The History of Freeride Mountain Biking chronicles the improbable comeback story of German cyclist Tarek Rasouli. One of the pioneers of freeride in the mid-nineties, Rasouli suffered a terrifying crash in Whistler, Canada, in 2002 that left him paralyzed from the waist down and reliant on a wheelchair. 　　The injury...