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Nate Mitka

Nate Mitka performed hundreds of reviews for GearJunkie before he decided to make the product he was reviewing, instead of reviewing it. After a number of years on the product team for one of the largest outdoor brands, Nate is back doing what he loves: telling stories by means of splitboarding, climbing cracks, trail running, gardening, attempting to surf, and cooking around the campfire. You’ll find him scarfing down the best pizza in Denver (2x blind taste test champion) after his high- and low-octane pursuits in the mountains.

Trending: Our Top Outdoor Stories This Week

Check out The North Face’s first tuxedo, a 300-pound pop-up camper, REI’s newest bike offerings, and more popular stories this past week, Feb. 24-March 2,…

Written by Nate Mitka March 03, 2019

Winter Camping Can Suck — Or It Can Be Epic: Watch

‘Winter camping has the potential to be the worst experience of your life.’ Or the best! Watch this homage to camping in the coldest season…

Written by Nate Mitka March 01, 2019

Climbing the Grand Teton With Colorectal Cancer: A Survivor’s Story

Brian McDonnell and Tate MacDowell were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016. The ailment delayed many adventures, but it didn’t stop them from climbing to…

Written by Nate Mitka March 01, 2019

Emerging Gear: Vacuum Bike Rack, Custom Chacos, ‘Avocado Toast’ Sauconys

A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.

Written by Nate Mitka February 28, 2019

Goodbye, Gore-Tex? Waxed Canvas Is Durable, Water-Resistant Alternative

Canvas treated with wax looks great and keeps you dry. Not to mention canvas lasts just about forever. The jackets and packs in this list…

Written by Nate Mitka February 28, 2019

Screaming Deals: Gear Savings of the Week

This week’s screaming deals highlight the Patagonia Better Sweater, Tentsile Universe floating tent, and spring hiking shoes.

Written by Nate Mitka February 27, 2019

Ski Photography: How to Carry a Camera While Skiing or Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are eye-catching activities for photography. But it’s tricky to carry an expensive camera with you on the wet and cold slopes. Use…

Written by Nate Mitka February 26, 2019

Watch: Jimmy Chin & E. Chai Vasarhelyi’s Oscar Speech for ‘Free Solo’

Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy Awards. Here’s what they had to say on…

Written by Nate Mitka February 26, 2019

Denver Hosts First US Ice Climbing World Championship

Athletes from around the world traveled to Denver to climb in the heart of downtown. It was the first time the U.S. hosted the UIAA…

Written by Nate Mitka February 25, 2019

Monday Bargains: 3 Steals to Start Your Week

Great outdoor gear at an amazing price: That’s our goal each Monday. Check out these bargains from Obermeyer, Hydro Flask, and Big Agnes.

Written by Nate Mitka February 25, 2019

Watch 18-Year-Olds Huck Triple Backflips: Quiksilver ‘Young Guns’

Some of the best young skiers on the planet gathered in Revelstoke to go as big as possible for Quiksilver’s Young Guns competition.

Written by Nate Mitka February 25, 2019

Oscars: ‘Free Solo’ Wins Best Documentary Feature

‘Free Solo,’ starring Alex Honnold and directed by Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi, won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy…

Written by Nate Mitka February 24, 2019

$5 to $50: Crazy-Cheap MTB Upgrades Video

Seth’s Bike Hacks has some cheap upgrades for your mountain bike. Improve the performance of your bike, and make it look prettier too!

Written by Nate Mitka February 22, 2019

Emerging Gear: Snow Bodyboard, Osprey Rook, Necklace Camera

A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.

Written by Nate Mitka February 21, 2019

Sport Climbing Proposed for Paris 2024 Olympics

The Paris Organising Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games proposed adding sport climbing and bouldering to the 2024 Games, with a separate competition for speed climbing.…

Written by Nate Mitka February 21, 2019

Weston Carbon Backwoods Splitboard Review: Most Durable Carbon Board?

Huck 30-foot cliffs with a carbon board? Now that’s a serious claim. Weston updates the Backwoods in carbon for 2019. We toured in Wyoming and…

Written by Nate Mitka February 20, 2019

Screaming Deals: Gear Savings of the Week

This week’s screaming deals highlight Black Diamond cams, a 3-in-1 jacket, and MSR Snowshoes.

Written by Nate Mitka February 20, 2019

Kings and Queens of Corbet’s: Watch Highlights of Cliff Huck Competition

Travis Rice and Caite Zeliff were crowned King and Queen of Corbet’s during the second-annual competition held at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. This video highlights some…

Written by Nate Mitka February 19, 2019

Kilian Jornet Skis Europe’s Tallest Vertical Rock Face: Watch ‘Troll Wall’

This wall is so steep it’s hard to believe Kilian Jornet made it down. Watch him ice climb up, then ski down slopes of more…

Written by Nate Mitka February 19, 2019

Alex Honnold Breaks Down Famous Rock Climbing Scenes: Watch

Was Tom Cruise’s climbing in ‘Mission: Impossible 2’ realistic? Alex Honnold analyzes iconic movie climbing scenes from ‘Star Trek’ to ‘Cliff Hanger.’

Written by Nate Mitka February 19, 2019

50% Off Patagonia: Massive Outlet Sale Just Launched, 100+ Products

Last season’s Patagonia gear is now in — at up to 50 percent off. Save on favorites like the R1 Fleece, Nano Air, Micro Puff,…

Written by Nate Mitka February 15, 2019

Would You Drop? Watch Massive MTB Jump Course ‘DarkFEST’

Brendan Fairclough and Clemens Kaudela are in the air for a long, long time in this POV edit of the DarkFEST mountain bike course.

Written by Nate Mitka February 15, 2019

Emerging Gear: Patagonia R1, Climbing Rope Belt, Handheld Jump-Starter

A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.

Written by Nate Mitka February 14, 2019

Patagonia Music Video: ‘Done in R1’

Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll and Nico Favresse put on the show of their lives, dangling high above the ground for the music video ‘Done in R1.’

Written by Nate Mitka February 14, 2019

Danner Vertigo 917 Review: The Comfiest Leather Boot Yet?

One of Danner’s mountain-to-town leather boots, the Danner Vertigo 917 uses a mix of modern midsole materials, elastic cuffs, and classic leather stylings. We wore…

Written by Nate Mitka February 14, 2019

Arc’teryx Academy: Backcountry Classes From Pro Guides, Athletes

Arc’teryx hosts three academies every year: backcountry ski touring, rock climbing, and alpine adventures. I attended the Backcountry Academy in Wyoming last week to learn…

Written by Nate Mitka February 13, 2019

Screaming Deals: Gear Savings of the Week

This week’s screaming deals highlight a knife sharpener, the Garmin Fenix 5, and the latest GoPro.

Written by Nate Mitka February 13, 2019

Watch Cody Townsend Descend Narrow Couloir on Snow Blades

Cody Townsend and his crew take a new spin on a popular descent in Nevada — Terminal Cancer. They drop in the narrow chute on…

Written by Nate Mitka February 13, 2019

Hold Your Breath! Watch Freediver Explore the Depths

It seems Guillaume Néry can hold his breath forever. This 12-minute short film is a beautiful look at his encounter with whales and crazy rock…

Written by Nate Mitka February 12, 2019

United By Blue Aims to Pick Up 1 Million Pounds of Trash in 2019

United By Blue announced its 2019 Waterway Cleanup Tour locations. This year, the brand aspires to pick up more trash from oceans and waterways than…

Written by Nate Mitka February 12, 2019