Form meets function
The great outdoors is both something to fear and something to cherish. While exploring, one of the most frustrating challenges can be sleeping comfortably. This renders a good tent a truly valuable asset, and a lot of details contribute to that quality. As comfortable as it is beautiful, the NEMO Equipment Losi ($450) is a [...]
Laundry without borders
Looking good should never be your first priority when trekking, but that doesn’t mean feeling dirty is fun. The Scrubba Portable Wash Bag ($30) is a new project started by Ashley Newlandon on the Kickstarter competitor IndieGoGo. The idea came to her while prepping for her summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. As she saw it, soaking [...]
Baby Got Back
At first glance, the Doubleback looks like your average VW Transporter van. Pushing a single button, however, completely transforms the popular European passenger carrier into a home away from home in just under a minute. Thanks to the extra room provided by the extendable pod, the central cabin serves as a fully functioning kitchen, complete [...]
Well hung
The 24-hour news cycle can keep your head spinning if you don’t take some time to escape. Heck, the fact that we know who Justin Beiber is upsets us. Viscerally. Nonetheless, when the time comes for a relaxing weekend get-away, think about packing the Hammock Compatible Sleeping Bag from Grand Trunk ($180) next to the [...]
Your campfire's officially fired
The antithesis of ultralight backpacking? Hauling your own oven to bake 12′ frozen pizzas in the great outdoors. We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with the drag-your-home-into-the-bush mentality (we’ll wolf down a DiGiorno as fast as the next desperate soul after days of dehydrated meals), but at 41 lbs, Coleman’s new outdoor portable oven and [...]
Go try a Kyte
Who doesn’t love car camping? All the benefits of the outdoors without having to forego some vital creature comforts. But it can still be a royal pain setting up and breaking down camp. Plus, moving from tent to eating/sitting/chillin’ areas can be not so seamless. The Holtkamper Kyte tent trailer can change all that and [...]
Amble on
KEEN is the master of versatile footwear (though they have yet to make a killer pair of wingtips), shoes that effortlessly go from trailhead to casual Friday to happy hour. And just when we thought they couldn’t possibly make another cool day hiker, they come out with a new one – the Ambler. Rather than [...]
From drive to desk, with nary a drip
Stanley’s classic all steel vacuum bottles have been a fixture of campsites and worksites for decades, thanks to their durable design and excellent sealing. The Adventure Multi-use Bottle ($10) is a natural progression from those classic roots. The versatile screw-off body makes the bottle easy to clean and also pulls double duty as a 24 [...]
Heat your meals, charge your phone
They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks — but the same axiom apparently isn’t true for the wood burning camp stove — the oldest camping gear dog of all. Like any other timber burnin’ stove, the BioLite CampStove is great for cooking, since there’s no risk of fire-starting chemicals flavoring your grub. Lugging [...]
Lite a fire
For grilling in the great outdoors, lightweight construction and portability are a must, but without durability and a flexibility, there’s really not much point (or culinary joy) in lugging one around. Oddly, there aren’t that many great options out there. Newcomer SlatGrill ($110), designed by Chris Weyandt of St. Paul Minnesota, offers up a solution [...]
What down side?
The next time you think Mother Nature has lost her edge to science, consider this fact. Despite all of the advanced synthetic insulators on the market today, no material boasts a better warmth to weight ratio than down. The trouble is that down’s got a serious achilles heel. As most outdoor enthusiasts know, its thermal [...]
Gourmet kitchen in nature's motel
Just because you can’t (or won’t) lug your Calphalons along with you doesn’t mean your bivouac has to be barren of cookware. At least not with a set of GSI Outdoor cookware like the Pinnacle Base Camper ($110). Built with durability and easy stowability in mind, the set includes everything you need for your next [...]
One glove that works better than two
Most winter gloves force adventure seekers to choose between protection and dexterity. If you’re sick of dealing with mummy-like hand skills for the sake of keeping warm, then take a gander at the G-Comp Wind Glove ($80) from Italian outdoor brand Camp. The medium weight base glove features a durable, synthetic leather palm and Grip’R [...]
Light Trail
Taking the road less more traveled, Adidas Outdoor (think: an athletic approach to getting outside) has unveiled a lineup of gear for 2012 that has us ready to shed the parkas and hit the trails. Namely, the Terrex Fast R Hiking Boot ($195). Featuring a high-tech Traxion sole developed in conjunction with Continental — yup, [...]
Chuck the plastic, toast the steel
If you weren’t one of our eagle eye readers that spotted them in yesterday’s Tasting Notes feature (there’s a hint after the jump), this should make things a bit more obvious. A collaboration between Nau and the BPA-free boffins at Kleen Kanteen, these stainless steel ($39) chalices are made from food-grade stainless steel and feature [...]
