GearJunkie

HOOAH! bars are a crossmarket product created by the U.S. military. In this Gear Junkie column—“Energy bars, the quantitative view”—I review the HOOAH! and a…

A trip to Tijuana used to be required for the procurement of a blade like the Buck Sirus. But this pseudo-switchblade, which has a spring-loaded…

In preparation for a trip to Utah last summer, I went purposefully overboard on the procurement of maps. Indeed, for this project I would end…

Body armor is de rigueur in this sport. Indeed, the sport of riverboarding is a whitewater niche that involves running rapids on your belly with…

In today’s New York Times, I paddle into the “million spindly legs of a mangrove swamp” in search of vine-covered ruins, dropped jewels, crocodiles, and…

Fast and light, in the flesh. . . This climbing gear from C.A.M.P. USA is some of the coolest I’ve tried out in years. Take…

The sport of “Speedriding” (which has been called “speed gliding” or “ski gliding” as well) is a kiteskiing-like discipline. A new product from the Italian…

Wow, this is gorgeous. Artful videography + insane downhill/stunt riding on Vancouver’s North Shore makes this one of my favorite videos of the year.

Teva’s line of shoes for hiking, trail running and water sports—which includes more than two dozen models—is a spread of gutsy innovation. This is my…

Alas, I’ll say one thing, skiing just ain’t what it used to be. . . Also, I’ve just been informed by a new skooler that:…

Feel your own heart beat. . . The High Gear PulseWare Duo and the Suunto T6 have been my wrist-top companions this year for training…

Of all my years of whacko ultra-endurance adventure, 2006 might just prove itself to be my magnum opus. From the eight-day Primal Quest Adventure Race…

This shoe is an odd animal. Made for orienteering and off-piste mountain running, the Inov-8 Mudclaw comes with one of the industry’s most aggressive outsoles:…

I journeyed to the ISPO trade fair in Munich, Germany, last summer, and the BrandNew Awards were among the most intriguing items on the show…

The WheelyBeast 2.0 is a 7,200-cubic-inches large colossus that takes in ski boots, skates, tents, pads, climbing ropes, collapsed kayak paddles, and weeks’ worth of…

It’s almost Adventure Bike season up here in the Far North! I’ve been investigating the “trend” of fat-tire adventure bikes this week, which are bikes…

Tea, in the guise of a South American mainstay called yerba mate, has been a top energy drink for me as of late. Indeed, two…

Foggy lenses, sweaty frames, mud splats on glass—all are common complications of wearing glasses in the great outdoors. But companies like Smith Optics and Julbo…

Gray skies are gonna clear up. . . or at least you know if they will or not. The WeatherNow console is a $199 tabletop…

In a letter addressed to all “Ultra cycling participants worldwide,” Anna Catharina Berge and Paul Skilbeck have made a call for the establishment of an…

In a story last month for New York Times, I wrote about the trend of “frontpacks,” which are packs with mesh pouches, zipper pockets, and…

The Gear Junkie has announced The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Gear Awards for 2006. After competing in a dozen ultra-endurance adventures around the country over…

Just returned from an epic adventure trip through the Yucatan, including cave diving, kayaking, mangrove-swamp exploration, fly fishing, ruins snooping, boogie boarding, and much hammock…