Design and Tech
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Plenty of North American brands make high-performance outdoor gear. But the leaders of these seven companies are taking it further—with quality craftsmanship, thoughtful designs, and artistic flair—to create products that are also works of functional art.
One gear editor goes kiddo a mano with her dad
We tested 20 new products on trails, treadmills, and trains to find the best earbuds and headphones for every listener and budget
We Loved the Classic Look of These Earbuds from Marshall. Then We Were Wowed by Their Sound Quality.
The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds made us feel like we were inside a recording studio
Our editors agree that multipurpose gear is generally not it—but one of them makes an exception for the claw
A crew of athletes and adventurers put in well over 1,000 miles running, hiking, and biking, plus tracked hundreds of workout hours and daily activities to find the best watch for every athlete
Those floppy ski hats everybody’s wearing? They didn’t make themselves. Handmade goods from tiny startups are taking over, and we’re loving them.
After testing hundreds of products over the years, these stand out for being absolutely gorgeous
SOAR Running’s ultra-light racing vest promises to conduct heat away from your body. We put it to the test.
Our writer tested five e-bikes in the field and on a test track to find out what works best
We found a novel treatment that actually removes the itch
Backpacker editor Zoe Gates sets off to discover if chatbots are the solution to our trip-planning woes
Jean-Luc Diard, cofounder of Hoka, has been innovating in the outdoor world for decades, and he’s not done yet
These humble blue straps may have been designed for rafting, but their utility is (almost) as limitless as your imagination
Our Outside experts examine the internet drama and nasty comments about this week’s Titan submersible catastrophe
The brand with the hard-to-pronounce name has been making industry-leading sports shoes for 125 years
After being hit by a car, the entrepreneur was afraid to cross the street. Training for a marathon helped her take back her life.
We put this spring’s super spikes to the test on the oval to sort the top models for each distance and the best-value options on the market
All ski jackets and pants will eventually be available in three fit choices: fitted, regular, and relaxed, and skiers can choose them based on fit and style preference
Brooks’s innovative Aurora BL gives your feet both comfort and freedom
Donate? Auction? Burn? Experts weigh in on how the apparel giant should navigate its footwear crisis.
Our editor has tips for staying warm—but not too toasty
Being incarcerated at a young age taught the gear designer that we can move past our biggest mistakes—as long as we keep going
Are expensive sunglasses worth it? Two Outside gear editors don’t exactly see eye to eye.
If our half-baked effort resulted in the first Grim Donut going six seconds quicker than a production bike, what would happen if we sat down and took it a bit more seriously?
A primer on how to shop for secondhand gear
The activity tracking company received criticism after raising fees based on a user’s region, billing type, and date of signup
Stio will open retail stores in Boston, Lake Tahoe, and Bozeman in 2023
Reliable weather apps are crucial for summer adventure-planning, so we spent a month testing dozens to find the best ones
Who says smartphones take you out of the moment? Used smartly, they can open your mind and make you more present than ever.
VF Corporation searches for new CEO
High-end materials and designs go mainstream, delivering smooth-rolling, versatile rides for every runner
The Swiss brand, known for its unique cushioning pods, has transcended running with its style and innovation
Companies are realizing the business benefits of size inclusivity
The outdoor giant accuses Gap of willfully copying its Snap-T pullover
Rab reveals new product labels to fight greenwashing, challenging other outdoor companies to follow suit
Let’s all get mad about where our cables go in our pedal bikes
Good news: there’s a new generation of super shoes that are cheaper, just as fun, and might be better suited for your running
It all started with a marine store in Washington and a company called Showa
We’ve never encountered a zero-degree puffy this light and packable
Over the course of last season, this touring shell impressed us with a combination of serious weight savings and surprising durability
This lightweight, storm-resistant puffy earned an Editor’s Choice award. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
We ran in ten new supershoes and compared their feel and ride so you can narrow your search for the model that best fits your stride and preferences
It will now be known as “high pile,” the company announces
Some of the top gear makers sell national parks apparel and products. Here’s what’s on our list.
Smart upgrades remove most of the frustrations with previous generations of the ubiquitous action camera
The Ultra gets a titanium case, sapphire face, significantly better battery life, and better GPS and off-grid route-tracking features, making it a much more robust backcountry tool
Need to haul a bunch of gear? These devices make it easy.
Nuyarn is the natural fabric heavy sweaters have been waiting for
The post–Usain Bolt era has delivered a bevy of thrilling performances
I’m a Denver Broncos fan. I’m also an environmentalist, outdoorsman, and bike rider who lives in a world that seems increasingly choked with oversized adventure vehicles. Can I really be both?
Where did the brand known for its huge, cushy soles come from—and how did they get on the feet of Britney Spears?
Using vintage vibes, natural fibers, and old-school designs, this Salt Lake City–based manufacturer has inspired a devoted user base—and Instagram fans—all over the world
A small Minnesota company believes it has developed the future of fitness tech. Now it has to teach the rest of us how to use it.
With fabrics created from alga, graphene, and copper, and hoodies built to last a hundred years, two British ad men are creating the apparel and gear of the future
It’s way more expensive and not as comfortable. Our gear director weighs the pros and cons of an über-light kit.
Doesn’t look like you’ll head back to the office any time soon—why not add some luxury to your home setup?
Our picks for Outdoor Retailer Gear of the Show flip old ideas on their heads
The Revolution Go is an ideal machine for toting your favorite records to picnics, park days, or anywhere else under the sun
We reviewed 341 pieces of gear. But these ones stood above.
This portable, packable device will repel mosquitoes no matter where you take it
This compact solar panel will juice up your next long-distance trek
Devices bringing innovation to the trails and beyond
Runners smack the ground harder—but get injured less—in more cushioned shoes. New research explains why.
No, you can’t toss the Essential in your curbside bin. But 75 percent of it can be broken down at the brand’s factory.
They’re almost never waterproof, and not as warm as other jackets. Why bother?