Outdoor World ‘Center of Universe’ found in Vail
If there’s a more core and authentic outdoors festival than the GoPro Mountain Games we haven’t yet found it. See our recap of the weekend event in this 52-second video blitz.
Carnage on the River… ‘Full Contact’ Water Races
From our post: “I’m going to get on some elbow pads and a full face mask — it’s going to get ugly now.” This is a man talking about a kayak race…
World’s Top Kayakers Race on ‘Steep Creek’ at GoPro Mountain Games
Our quick video highlights boaters charging on Homestake Creek at the GoPro Mountain Games today. Eric Jackson leads off with some commentary before the kayakers drop full in…
‘GoPro Mountain Games’ Kick Off in Vail
National outdoor fest GoPro Mountain Games launched today with world-class kayakers battling class V rapids in near Vail.
12-Year-Old Kids Kayak Off Waterfalls, Beat Adults In Comps
Ever been beaten by a 12-year-old? If you go against these two whitewater kayak prodigies the chances are good you will come up second best.
‘Epic Slumber’ – A photo contest with Therm-a-Rest
Outdoors people sleep in the craziest places. Send us a shot of the most epic place you’ve ever taken a snooze for a chance to win a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad.
Face Level: Class V+ on a Riverboard
Eight years in the making and a feat that is “another step forward in truly legitimizing the sport of riverboarding.” That’s how Josh Galt describes his descent this week in the Green River narrows of North Carolina.
Best OfView All
GearJunkie Backyard: Never-Ending Winter
The date is April 23. Six inches of snow blanketed GearJunkie HQ in Minneapolis overnight. We decided to make the most of the circumstances…
Photo of the Day: Pack-Raft Alaska
Kyle Bock snagged this shot on the banks of the Chitina River in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska. Makes us want to get in and paddle away. . .
‘GoPro Mountain Games’ festival set to launch in June
Formerly known as the Teva Mountain Games, the annual summertime fest in Vail will be re-branded as the GoPro Mountain Games. The camera company nabbed the sponsorship title plus has plans to change the way the Games are viewed.
Energy Gel from a Wetsuit Brand
They don’t taste like neoprene. But wetsuit maker Body Glove is jumping into the energy category with SURGE, a new line of gels aimed at outdoors types as well as surfers.
Kayakers bomb Rainforest waterfalls in stunning CASCADA film
“Tangled vines. Endless rain. Dodgy hotel rooms. Mud. Biting flies. Aggressive viruses…Perfection.” That’s a description of this trippy new short film featuring boaters conquering huge waterfalls in remote Mexico.
Full-Size Kayak folds up, Fits in Backpack
Last month, while testing a packable kayak from Folbot Inc., our editor aided in the rescue of two entangled birds. The chase netted a great chance for a gear review, to boot.
Waterproof Adventure Duffel put to Test
Our writer tests the waterproof and rugged SealLine Duffel on an adventure trip through the wilds of Alaska. It has a drysuit zipper and fits 75 liters’ worth of gear, enough for a weeklong trip.
Video reveals ‘Most Deadly Whitewater on Earth’
Many have tried, only four have succeeded. Watch as these elite kayakers attempt to conquer the Inga Rapids of the Congo River, the most deadly whitewater on Earth. Here’s a teaser on the soon-to-be-released documentary film.
Sailing Jacket put to Test in Alaska
A sailing-specific jacket from Helly Hansen keeps our tester dry and warm on a day-long trip to sea. We test the HP Race model on the open ocean near Homer, Alaska.
Ally ‘Portable Canoe’ Folds Up into Box
The “folding canoe” arrived in a box that fit in the back seat of my Toyota Corolla. At 44 pounds, this canoe could ostensibly be transported on an airplane or through the Himalaya strapped on the back of a yak.
Kayaks, Waterfalls, Fjords: A Norway Pictorial
Think of any cliché of wilderness beauty and it’s nearly certain to fit in with the fjord region of Norway. Last month, our writer took a week to tour part of the region. Here’s a peek at what he saw along the way.
Pull-Behind Gear: Trailer offers ‘Massive Capacity’
We had four grown men and a stationwagon. We had mountain bikes, backpacks, paddles, life jackets, shoes, and all the food and extra gear required of a weekend away. Fortunately, we also had a trailer.
No Paddle Needed for ‘Body-Boat’ Whitewater Vessel
Lie on your belly and swim. That’s the totality of your control on a new invention, the Bellyak, from an Asheville, N.C., company. The thick-hull creation essentially looks like a kayak with its top chopped off.
Subaquatic Helmet-Cam Case
Got an underwater adventure on your calendar? A camera accessory from GoPro, new this week, was made for snorkel and scuba enthusiasts.
‘Off The Map’ Video: Lake Superior Sea Caves
Episode No. 2 in our “Off The Map” series takes viewers to Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, where GearJunkie and crew paddle a mile-long stretch of sandstone caves to go “spelunking in a boat.”
Apostle Islands Cave Kayaking
“Like spelunking in a boat.” That’s how a GearJunkie editor described a unique kayaking trip to a set of sea caves on Lake Superior this week. The venue was the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and the occasion was a day-long paddle and photo shoot for our upcoming “Off The Map” video series.
Man Has Goal To ‘Fatbikeraft’ the Arctic
How about taking a 7,000-mile trip over land and water with zero fuel? How about creating a new verb at the same time, “fatbikerafting”? That’s exactly what Andrew Badenoch is set to do with a project called 77Zero.
Not Tights, Not a Wetsuit. . . ‘Water Pants’ are Something Else
Filling a niche between a wetsuit and a drysuit, the Barrier Pants from Season Five borrow fabric technology from the world of wintertime outerwear. Our editor tests the pants on an icy Oregon river during a series of surfski paddling sessions this month.
Video: Team Training on Ore. Coast
For some fun, as well as in prep for Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers’ return to Chile and the Patagonian Expedition Race, we took a Christmas break trip to the Oregon Coast. Road biking, big-wave kayaking, water rescue drills, and smoothies laced with habanero sauce were all a part of the action!
Holiday Guide: Camp and Canoe Gifts
From an inflatable pillow to camp journals and a neat canoe seat, this post, written by Pam Wright of UpNorthica, dishes on a dozen options for that hard-to-gift outdoorsy person on your holiday list.
Upstart Company to make Sports Helmets out of Wood
Handmade in Oregon, a new line of sports helmets will eschew plastic and composites as protective shell material and instead rely on old-fashioned wood. Hard hats for biking, paddling, snow sports, and climbing in the works.
‘Essential Gear’ for Boundary Waters Canoe Area
As iconic outdoors destinations go, Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area takes a top spot. Our contributor, back from a solo trip, offers a few tips on gear for anyone planning to push a canoe into the quiet waters on their own.
‘Canyoning’ in the Austrian Alps
Gear Junkie’s Austrian adventure continues with a canyoning session deep inside a river gorge in the Alps. Rappelling waterfalls, leaps, and cold-water swims included in the trip.
Field Test: SPOT Connect with Smartphone
Among an arsenal of stay-in-contact communication devices, the SPOT Connect is unique. The small device links to a smartphone to provide a connection to a satellite network, allowing you to type and send messages from remote locations around the globe. Gear Junkie tested the setup on a sailing trip last month.
