Camping

Test: Kid-Size Backpacking Gear

Quality, kid-size backpacking and camping gear from Deuter makes it easier to get the little ones outdoors. Our writer and his two sons, ages seven…

Written by T.C. Worley June 21, 2011

High on Argon: Q&A with Founder of Inflatable Jacket Company

Handheld cartridge air pumps are usually reserved for bike tires. But Utah-based Klymit thinks it’s found a better way to insulate jackets and sleeping pads…

Written by Stephen Regenold June 21, 2011

Power Pack: Equal to 70,000 Batteries!

Need off-the-grid energy? Our writer, a professional photographer and adventurer, conducted a long-term test of Goal Zero’s portable solar power kit, the Sherpa 120, which…

Written by T.C. Worley June 08, 2011

Off-Grid Family Camping Trip

Gear Junkie founder Stephen Regenold gives a report from his family’s off-the-grid camping trip over Memorial Weekend to northern Minnesota’s Bear Lake.

Written by Stephen Regenold June 07, 2011

Coleman ‘Instant Tent’

Easy-to-setup camping tent strikes out on several fronts in Gear Junkie’s test. As per its name, the shelter goes up with ease. The compromise is…

Written by Stephen Regenold June 06, 2011

Camp Dish Cleaner: The Scrubr!

Scrubbing dishes clean in the backcountry is a chore we’d rather ditch. This spring, Lunatec introduced a simple cloth-like scrubber to aid in cleanup after…

Written by Stephen Regenold June 01, 2011

Vino for Outside: Clif Bar Wine

Wine in a pouch from the makers of the Clif Bar. That’s what you get with Clif Bar & Company’s “Climber Pouch,” a take-on-the-trail wine…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 26, 2011

Boot up! Wolverine Leather Hiker

A waterproof liner, Vibram’s “Mutant” soles, and a spinning rubber disc in the heel area of the boot make the Fulcrums from Wolverine among the…

Written by T.C. Worley May 26, 2011

Review: Micro Waterproof Pack, Ultra-Sil Dry Day Pack

It packs into a hand-size pouch and weighs scant ounces. But unfurl this pack and you have a roll-top closure waterproof bag complete with shoulder…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 25, 2011

Torture Test: Olympus ‘Tough’ Cameras

We ran one Olympus camera over with a mountain bike. A small boy taped another one to a skateboard to record. This torture test pushed…

Written by T.C. Worley May 24, 2011

Teepee Tent: Single-Pole Nemo ‘Pentalite’

One pole, five tent stakes, and a pentagonal tarp are all it takes to erect a solid backcountry shelter with this new tent from Nemo.…

Written by T.C. Worley May 23, 2011

FlashPoint Knife: ‘Blink-of-Eye Access to Sharp Edge’

Easy-open knives have been around for years. But knifemakers continue to find new ways to design and sell products that can be at the ready…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 16, 2011

All Hail the Titanium Spork!

Sporks normally offer a semi-usable, spoon-with-tines design. The Light My Fire model has the requisite “spork parts” but with a utensil head on either end.…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 15, 2011

Test: ‘Most Advanced Sleeping Bags Available’

With big claims and the promise of a “new benchmark” in the world of sleeping bags, Sea to Summit unveiled its first foray into the…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 12, 2011

Chimney Stove: Boil Water with Sticks and Grass

The Backcountry Boiler is a camp stove of sorts that combines the functionality of a cooking pot and a stove into one. It eliminates the…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 12, 2011

$38 Water Bottle: Nau/Klean Kanteen

Made of stainless steel, food-grade silicone and sustainably-harvested bamboo, the new Nau/Klean Kanteen collaboration bottle is advertised as the most environmentally safe, non-toxic water bottle…

Written by Stephen Regenold May 09, 2011

Break-Apart ‘Micro’ Trekking Poles

New for this summer, the Micro poles from Leki link together with cord like tent poles. The advantage: Full-length trekking poles that break down small…

Written by T.C. Worley May 05, 2011

SPACE Trailers: Tow-Behind Gear Hauler

Touted to combine the “versatility of a utility trailer” with attributes found in a haul-behind unit made for gear, SPACE Trailers are hitch-ready equipment haulers…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 29, 2011

Primer: Water Purification in the Outdoors

Clean drinking water in the wilderness is never guaranteed. In this roundup review, Gear Junkie looks at a half-dozen purification products made for the outdoors.

Written by Stephen Regenold April 21, 2011

Outside ‘Gear of the Year’

In its next issue, due on newsstands at the end of this month, Outside magazine will announce the Summer 2011 winners of its Gear of…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 17, 2011

‘Free’ National Park Week

From Yellowstone to Zion, beginning this weekend the NPS celebrates National Park Week, where entrance fees to the country’s 394 parks are waived.

Written by Stephen Regenold April 14, 2011

Campfire Pie Irons

Cook it up! Gear Junkie reviews pie irons, a classic campfire cooking tool. Just add buttered bread and filling, cook on coals, and open to…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 11, 2011

Review: Nimbus Trace 62

It’s built to carry loads of 40 pounds or more. A strange, gill-like panel was made to “fit the topography of your back.” Our writer…

Written by T.C. Worley April 08, 2011

Test: 3 oz. Jacket

It weighs about 3 ounces and packs in a tiny stuff sack smaller than a fist. But the Cirrus Pull-On from Rab can add enough…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 07, 2011

Test: $20 Gerber Machete

The $20 Gerber Gator Jr. machete is no heirloom piece. But it does the work of two tools and might make you look tougher, too.

Written by T.C. Worley March 25, 2011

Adidas Enters U.S. Outdoor Market

Athletics behemoth adidas AG is entering the U.S. outdoor marketplace with footwear, apparel, outerwear, and optics. Gear Junkie gets a Q&A with an adidas managing…

Written by March 24, 2011

‘Birdseed’ Energy Bar

A compressed block of nuts and seeds — flax, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower — make Raw Crunch bars appear to be made for the birds. Gear…

Written by March 20, 2011

Action Pants: ‘Softshell Jeans’

Oregon-based Thunderbolt Sportswear offers a premium pair of pants with its namesake “softshell jeans,” a Schoeller-based product that retails for $188.

Written by March 15, 2011