Steve Graepel

Contributing Editor (and Gear Junkie Idaho Bureau Chief) Steve Graepel is allegedly a crook and a thief, conning his friends to steal away time from their families in pursuit of premeditated leisure, which typically involves a bike, a pack-raft, skis, running shoes, climbing rack, or all of the above.

couple-camping-in-tent-rei-dividend

The REI Dividend: What It Is, How to Spend It

Your REI dividend has arrived! Here’s how to spend it. With top outdoor gear picks and a bit of history thrown in, this is our guide to the REI dividend.

March 22nd, 2019
The Best Base Layers: Wool and Synthetic Tops for Any Adventure

The Best Base Layers: Wool and Synthetic Tops for Any Adventure

Base layers, ultralight to heavyweight, are critical pieces in your winter kit. We sifted through the heap to find 27 of our favorites with options to fit every budget.

March 12th, 2019
Custom Skis: Why You Should Consider Buying a Pair

Custom Skis: Why You Should Consider Buying a Pair

Custom skis can help you become a better skier and cost less than you think. We got in touch with Romp Skis out of Crested Butte, Colo., to learn more.

January 21st, 2019
Winter Running: Best Shoes for Cold-Weather Miles

Winter Running: Best Shoes for Cold-Weather Miles

At GearJunkie, we run year-round. These are some of the best winter running shoes we’ve reviewed that are available on the market for winter 2018-2019.

January 16th, 2019
Wahoo ELEMNT Review: Bike Navigation On Road and Off

Wahoo ELEMNT Review: Bike Navigation On Road and Off

Datavores rejoice! Virtual reams of cycling metrics are delivered to your handlebars with the Wahoo ELEMNT bike computer. In this review, we focus on the ELEMNT’s utility for bikepacking and route navigation.

November 20th, 2018
Best Winter Boots for Men

Best Winter Boots for Men

From hiking boots to snow boots, we tested winter boots for every budget and found some favorites. These are the best winter boots of 2018-2019.

October 29th, 2018
Rapha

Pedal, Rest, Repeat: Rapha Launches Sleep System for Bikepackers

From bike bibs to sleeping bags, Rapha expands to keep cyclists comfortable from the starting line to the campsite.

October 23rd, 2018
REI Co-op Tarn 40 Review: Pack Grows With Your Child

REI Co-op Tarn 40 Review: Pack Grows With Your Child

REI built the Tarn 40 for kids. But while the REI Tarn 40 is a starter backpack meant to grow with children, it’s still made with durability, comfort, and utility in mind.

September 21st, 2018
Schooled By Gravel: Lessons Learned From a 3-Day Bikepack Race

Schooled By Gravel: Lessons Learned From a 3-Day Bikepack Race

Preparation can get you to the start line, but a 400-mile bikepack race is far from in the bag. Here are the lessons learned from the school of bikepack ultraracing.

September 21st, 2018
Tested: Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt With 'Hideaway Hood'

Tested: Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt With ‘Hideaway Hood’

Quilts are lighter, cheaper, and nearly fail-safe. The zipperless down throws have become synonymous with fast-and-light endeavors. And now, Sierra Designs offers a hooded quilt.

September 17th, 2018
Bikepacking tools and hacks

Bikepacking Hacks: Tooling Up for Backcountry Adventure

We asked our favorite bike mechanic what to bring and what to know before departing on a bikepacking adventure.

September 4th, 2018
Gear Up for Long Miles: 10 Essentials for a Bikepacking Epic

Gear Up for Long Miles: 10 Essentials for a Bikepacking Epic

A former Tour Divide champion told GearJunkie what’s in his kit on race day, and we want to share it with you. It’s all the gear you need to finish a bikepacking epic.

August 22nd, 2018
Maximize Your Training for Epics: How to Be Ready on Race Day

Maximize Your Training for Epics: How to Be Ready on Race Day

Preparing for an epic physical challenge — like biking self-supported for 400 miles — comes down to dialed training secrets. Our own coach tells us how to prepare for race day and what to watch out for.

August 15th, 2018
Heat exhaustion

The Gruesome Realities of Overheating (and How to Prevent Them)

I flirted with death due to heatstroke once, and it will never happen again. Heat-related illness can be deadly serious, so here are all the gory details.

July 31st, 2018
Teton Tested: Salewa Raven 2 GTX Review

Teton Tested: Salewa Raven 2 GTX Review

Salewa offers a solid climber at a reasonable price point with its Raven 2 GTX. Out of the box and onto the mountain, we brought the Ravens out for a spin up (and down) the Grand Teton.

July 27th, 2018