A recap of top stories for the week of March 25–31, 2018.
1) Fire Blazing Through Shimano Factory in Japan
At least 20 firefighters responded to a blaze at a Shimano factory in Japan. According to reports, a large vat of sulfuric acid may have been involved.
2) Gunmaker Remington Outdoors Files for Bankruptcy
U.S. gunmaker Remington Outdoors filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, citing years of falling sales.
3) Duo Smashes 870-Mile Great Himalaya Trail FKT
Ryan Sandes and Ryno Griesel braved frostbite and high altitude to break the speed record on the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) by three days.
4) Dividend Deals: 6 REI Bargains to Get Right Now
If you are one of REI’s 17 million members, you recently got your annual dividend. These are some of the best deals you’ll find all year, available through April 9. Use your code for 20% off an already-discounted REI Garage item and grab a bargain!
5) Rubber Recycled: TreadWright ‘Remolded’ Tires Tested
High-performance, affordable rubber for your truck? TreadWright claims it does just that – and in an environmentally responsible way. We put a set on our truck to test ’em out.
6) Review: Rudy Project ‘Protera’ MTB Helmet Made for Dirt
We got dirty with Rudy Project’s first trail-specific bike helmet, the Protera, for this review. Rudy Project’s Protera is well ventilated, light, comfortable, and safe. But it does have some flaws.
7) First Ride: Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt Is Lightning on Trails
Rocky Mountain storms onto the trail with its all-new Thunderbolt series, including the mid-priced Carbon 50. We got an exclusive pre-launch test ride to write this review.
8) Watch: First Ascent on Faroe Islands ‘Biggest Sea Cliff in the World’
Cedar Wright, James Pearson, and Yuji Hirayama climb the biggest sea cliffs in the world on a remote set of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The team encounters choss, puking birds, and sheep on the way.
9) ‘Dareful’ Denim: Jeremy Collins Launches Jeans for Outdoors
When a renowned artist/rock climber/adventurer creates a line of blue jeans, expect things to be a little different than your typical jeans. Meet Meridian Line denim.
10) Jackson Kayak Takes On Fishing Market With New Brand
Blue Sky Boatworks launched this month with the twin-hull 360 Angler and Escape that are turning heads in the fishing world.
11) Review: Osprey’s Sub-2-Pound Levity and Lumina Backpacks
Two of Osprey’s most anticipated packs, the Levity and Lumina, hit the market this spring. We got our hands on a Levity 45 to see how the ultralight pack carries.
12) Review: Orvis Built the Pro Wading Jacket for Fishing Guides
The Orvis Pro Wading Jacket is a waterproof/breathable shell designed for serious anglers braving nasty weather. I took it fishing in Montana for this review.
13) Watch: The Complete History of the Land Cruiser
This video chronicles one of the greatest off-road vehicles of all time, the Toyota Land Cruiser. Get ready for some classic footage of the beastly vehicle in action.
14) Meet Leentu, the 150-Pound Pop-Up Camper
Move over Sprinter Van, there’s a new adventure-mobile in town. The Leentu pop-up camper will transform your truck into a road trip machine.
15) Screaming Deals: Gear Savings of the Week
Our weekly column finds the best deals from across the web to save you money on outdoors gear. Check out the discount gear from MSR, Columbia, Chrome, Patagonia, and more.
16) Online Retailer Backcountry.com Launches Branded Gear
Online retailer Backcountry.com redefined the online-only shopping experience. Now, it announces plans for a year-long rollout of lifestyle apparel, in-house gear, and collaborations with other brands.
17) NordicTrack Does Dumbbells: Select-A-Weight Review
Two dumbbells, 30 weight settings. NordicTrack takes a swing at the adjustable weight market with a design aimed at improving reliability and ease of use.
18) Emerging Gear: Outdoor Products This Week
From next-gen tech to ingenious innovation, our weekly peek at emerging products examines the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
19) Trekking Poles: Why You Need Them and What to Buy
Decrease injury and increase speed. It’s time you started hiking with trekking poles. Here are our picks for the best ones for your needs.
20) Review: The Shower Pouch Is a Bigger, Better Body Wipe
Don’t just spot clean the dirtiest bits. Get a head-to-toe scrub down with this pH-balanced, vegan, hypoallergenic body wipe
21) Free Gear Fridays: Cairn Obsidian Box Giveaway
Win a Cairn Obsidian Box in this week’s Free Gear Friday giveaway! Click to enter now.
22) Carbon-Handled ‘Sebenza 21’ Knife Is a Razor-Sharp Gem
Chris Reeve’s small Sebenza 21 Insingo in carbon fiber is the best custom knife you can buy without selling your Subie. Find out why in this review.
23) REI’s ‘Unimog’ for Bikepacking: ADV 4.2 Bicycle Review
REI launches the ADV 4.2 – an all-terrain bikepacking bicycle meant for extended self-supported adventures. We tested for three days in the Arizona desert for this review.
24) Speed Records: How to Document Your FKT
Looking to try to set a “fastest known time” (FKT)? Here’s how to record your attempt the right way to ensure your FKT will be valid among the community of athletes who follow FKTs.
