Nothing ruins a great camping trip faster than feeling grimy for three days straight. After spending weeks testing portable camp showers across car camping trips, vanlife weekends, and a muddy beach outing, I can tell you the right shower transforms your outdoor experience from “roughing it” to genuinely comfortable. The best portable camping showers in … Read more
Last summer I logged 280 trail miles across three national parks with seven different packs strapped to my back. By the end of that trip, my shoulders had opinions about every brand. That’s exactly why I wrote this guide on the best hiking backpacks available in . Our team spent eight months testing 10 packs … Read more
Soft coolers have quietly become the most useful piece of outdoor gear in my kit. After two summers of hauling drinks to lakes, baseball fields, and weekend camping trips, I can say with confidence: a great soft cooler changes how you spend a day outside. The best soft coolers combine the kind of cold retention … Read more
Last , our team laced up ten pairs of the best hiking boots for men and put them through 90 days of trail testing across the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Appalachian foothills. We logged 1,400 miles total, carrying packs from 15 to 45 pounds, crossing creeks, scrambling scree slopes, and trudging through three separate … Read more
Finding the best backpacking backpacks comes down to three things: fit, capacity, and how much weight you can comfortably carry for miles. I have spent over five years testing packs on trails from the Appalachian foothills to the desert Southwest, and I have learned that the wrong pack can turn a dream trip into a … Read more
I have logged more than 2,400 trail miles over the past seven years, from weekend loops in the driftless region to 12-day backpacking trips in the Sierra. Through all of that time, one piece of gear has mattered more than any other: the boots on my feet. After testing dozens of pairs alongside three teammates … Read more
I spent the last three months putting eight of the best trekking poles through their paces on rocky scrambles, muddy valley trails, and a 75-mile stretch of the Superior Hiking Trail. My pack weighed between 18 and 38 pounds across those hikes, and I rotated poles by trip so each pair saw at least 25 … Read more
I spent 60 days testing nine of the best daypacks on the market, hauling them through Rocky Mountain trails, packing them into overhead bins on three flights, and stuffing them under my desk during my morning commute. By the end, I had a clear picture of which ones earn their place in your pack closet. … Read more
I have spent the better part of two years testing hydration packs on desert trails in Utah, muddy mountain bike paths in Oregon, and half-marathon training runs in the heat of a Texas summer. When you are fifteen miles from the trailhead with the sun beating down, the difference between a great hydration backpack and … Read more
I remember my first trail run in regular road shoes. About three miles in, my foot slid off a wet rock and I went down hard. That bruising lesson is exactly why investing in the best trail running shoes matters. After our team spent four months testing 8 top models across Rocky Mountain singletrack, Pacific … Read more