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Eight Outdoor Companies Helping with Harvey Relief
Hurricane Harvey unleashed hell on Texas this week, but thousands of volunteers and organizations have stepped up to assist with rescues and cleanup. Among them are a number of outdoor companies that...
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Why I Love the Humble Cam Strap
One of my most trusted and well-used pieces of gear is something I stole. About 15 years ago, I swiped a series of cam straps from the rafting company I was working for. (Sorry, Adventure Whitewater!)...
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The World Is Getting Hotter. You Need a Sun Shirt.
The Pacific Northwest, where I live, has had an exceptionally warm, dry summer, which is why there are so many enormous forest fires raging up here right now. I’d like things to go back to the wetter,...
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Why the Patagonia Crosstrek Is the Perfect Midlayer
In addition to writing this column for Outside, I’m the main midlayer tester for the annual Winter Buyer’s Guide. I’ve been testing for five years now and have probably worn or assigned reviews of more...
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Why the Sparkr Is an Essential Piece of Camping Gear
When I first got my hands on the Sparkr—an all-in-one flashlight, lantern, and plasma lighter that uses an electric arc to spark a flame—I thought it was a total gimmick. Yet another wannabe piece of...
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It's Time You Bought a Sleeping Bag Liner
It snowed in many of the West’s mountain ranges this week, but that doesn’t mean camping season is over. In fact, early fall is one of the best times to backpack. Before you head out, though, you’ll...
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10 Tips for How to Organize Your Garage
I’m about to be a dad, in a little less than two months and counting. In addition to getting the baby’s room ready, I’ve taken on the task of organizing my garage. Call it my form of nesting. This task...
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Gear to Help New Dads Get Their Babies Outside
With my wife and I expecting our firstborn in November, I’m starting to worry about a lot of things, like sleep training, college tuition, and whether I’m ever going to be able to leave the house and...
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An Ode to the Mountainsmith Tour Lumbar Pack
I have my wife, Sarah, to thank for a lot of things, like supporting my volatile writing career and loving me unconditionally. She’s also the person who introduced me to the Mountainsmith Tour, which...
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Why the Coalatree Trailheads Are the Best Hiking Pants
I am a proud defender of true, performance hiking pants. I’ve used them on many important trips—long floats through Grand Canyon, a six-month stay in South America—and I love the utility of...
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Why Everyone Should Own at Least One Roll-A-Table
I want to start this ode with an apology to my old bosses Ryan and Kyle Allred, who own Adventure Whitewater, where I guided for ten years. I’m sorry for ravaging your gear, particularly your Camp Time...
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How to Keep Your Camp Kitchen Clean
There are acceptable levels of grime I’m willing to put up with when cooking outdoors. For example, my buddies and I refer to our dishes and utensils as “river clean,” “hut clean,” or “camp clean,”...
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An Ode to the Stihl Pro Universal Forestry Axe
My transition from full-on dirtbag to stand-up working man was a gradual one. After living in my truck and on couches for two years, I moved to my friend Margaret’s farm in Phoenix, Oregon, where I...
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How to Tell If You Need a New Helmet
People ask me all the time when they should get rid of a helmet. My response—that you should replace your helmet every time you hit your head while wearing it, and at least every five years if you go...
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The Gear You Need for Campfire Cooking
It was my friend Lars Alvarez-Roos, co-owner of international outfitter Bio Bio Expeditions, who taught me how to skillfully craft a camp meal. I was working for Bio Bio as a guide, and he put me in...
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An Ode to the Performance Flannel
It sounds like an oxymoron: performance flannel. But there are a surprising number of these tops, and they exist at the convergence of techy outdoor capability and style. Take the classic Dakine Chuck...
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How to Layer for Resort Skiing
Improperly dressing for a day at the resort will ruin your day. Just ask Ryan Pyles, a ski instructor with a decade of experience at resorts like the Yellowstone Club, Mammoth Mountain, and Crested...
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An Ode to the Perfect Winter Beanie
Having precisely the right hat for every winter adventure is a luxury I really appreciate. I love having a super-lightweight option for running before work, a heavily insulated Polartec Power Fleece...
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What Are the Best Turkey Carving Knives?
As someone who camps, kayaks, and skis all the time, I have an almost unhealthy obsession with finding the perfect everyday carry knife that can do anything I need it to in any situation. While it...
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Why You Absolutely Need 3/4-Length Base Layer Tights
I am not prone to superlatives, but here’s one I feel confident dropping: If you ski, three-quarter-length base layer bottoms are an absolute must. I come by this strong belief not only from my own...
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