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.

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

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’

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 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

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

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

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

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

Gear Overhaul: Mountain Hardwear Doubles Down on Climbing

Mountain Hardwear hits the reset button for 2019, harking back to its alpine roots. Nothing on its equipment line goes untouched for the reboot. We joined the brand on the Grand Teton to get the story first.

July 16th, 2018

These Shoes Were Made for Traveling

Whether packing your bag to head to the hills, walk around the museums, or hit up the beach, we scoured the market, tested, and compiled the best travel shoes of 2018.

June 8th, 2018

How to Choose a Tent: An Explainer

With camping season upon us, we’re here to help you find the best tent for your outdoor pursuits. From tent features to sleeping capacity, we cover it all.

May 24th, 2018

Outdoor Hazard: How to Avoid a Cougar Attack

Cougar attacks are rare, but it pays to play defensively in mountain lion territory. Here, we provide some tips on how to avoid these encounters and what to do in the rare event of an attack.

May 23rd, 2018

2 Months, 2 Chairlift Accidents: Should You Worry?

Speeding up, running backwards, even being left overnight in mid-air – a few weird things have occurred on ski lifts of late. But how dangerous are they really?

April 20th, 2018

Outdoor Hazards: Sunburn (In Your Mouth and Beyond)

The most painful sunburn I’ve ever had was on the roof of my mouth. Sound crazy? Read on to learn how to avoid it there, and everywhere else on your body.

April 6th, 2018

DIY: Adventure-Worthy First-Aid Kit

Injuries occur when you least expect them in the backcountry. Be prepared with a minimal first aid kit.

March 6th, 2018