GJ Week in Review: Budget Choppers, FKT Origins, Boundary Waters Mining

A recap of top stories for the week of April 29–May 5, 2018.

1) Monday Bargains: 3 Steals to Start Your Week

Looking for great outdoor gear at an amazing price? Check out these discounts and sales from Hyperlite Mountain Gear, KEEN, and Chaco.

2) Want a Boat Ride (or Deck Hand)? Try This App

Whether you’re a willing deck hand, friendly passenger, or welcoming captain, Boat With Me wants to make waves in ride sharing.

3) Big Knives on a Budget: 3 ‘Choppers’ Tested

We put three big, burly chopper knives to a head-to-head test to find out which was the best value. Kershaw, Steel Will, and Schrade head to the starting line in this chop-off for glory.

4) Gear, Beer, Music: Outdoorsy Block Parties Span U.S. This Summer

Parties are on tap this summer, and you’re invited to the festivities at nine cities across the U.S. Every event will raise money for outdoor nonprofits.

5) Patagonia ‘Unbounded’: Documentary Reveals Wild Controversies

One film crew trekked for four months through one of the most rugged trails in the world. Their goal? To uncover the greatest threats to the Patagonian people and wilderness.

6) After Controversy, Vista Outdoor May Sell Off Bike, Gun Brands

Vista Outdoor faced boycotts due to its manufacture of firearms and ammunition. Insisting the possible sales are not related to boycotts, the corporation may sell off several brands to focus on the “company’s core.”

7) Man to Spend 22 Years in Prison for Shooting at Kayakers

A Wikieup, Ariz., man will spend more than 22 years in prison after opening fire on four kayakers last year.

8) Bike Path to ‘Float’ Along Italy’s Largest Lake

The first three miles of the “floating” bike path around Italy’s largest lake open this summer – and the just-released drone footage looks incredible.

9) Race Historic ‘Fur Trade Route’ for $1 Million

Ten weeks, 2,600 miles, two mountain ranges, and five river systems: The Brigade offers an epic adventure race for an equally epic prize – $1 million.

10) Fastest Known: Film Documents ‘Origins of FKT’

An original production from GearJunkie and Wild Confluence, ‘Origins of FKT’ gives a visual timeline of the rise of fastest known time attempts and the culture that has developed around it since 2000.

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11) Boy Scouts to Change Name as Girls Join

After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is changing its name to reflect its co-gender initiative.

12) Reusable Straw Raises Almost $1 Million: Here’s Why

Plastic straws suck – in every way possible. This one aims to be the last one you’ll ever use and people are going nuts over it.

13) Dagger RPM: The Iconic Whitewater Kayak Is Back

Dagger will bring back the iconic RPM and RPM Max kayaks for its 30th anniversary. First introduced in 1996, they’re two of the top-selling whitewater kayaks of all time.

14) Screaming Deals: Gear Savings of the Week

Outdoor Research, Therm-a-Rest, Granite Gear, Fitbit, and more are on sale this week. Our weekly column finds the best deals from across the web to save you money on outdoors gear.

15) Indestructible Jeans? Outlier Dyneema Denim First Look

Slash it, scuff it, thrash it: Outlier say it builds Dyneema jeans for more abuse than your average pants.

16) Karlmann King: Meet the World’s Most Expensive SUV

Super villains rejoice – escape Batman in style with the bullet-proof, $3.8 million Karlmann King luxury SUV. But start saving now, the brand will build just nine of these outlandish 4x4s.

17) Knife Blades: Common Steels Explained

All the info you need to understand the steel in your knife blade.

18) Surprises Among 2018 Most Bike-Friendly Cities

City Ratings is likely to cause a stir among cyclists with its list of the top 10 bike-friendly cities. Find out where your city was ranked by a new People for Bikes metric.

19) Want to Be More Creative, Healthier, Happier? Science Says Go Outside

Spending time outdoors isn’t just fun, it’s part of a healthy lifestyle – both mentally and physically. Don’t believe us? Here are five surprising stats about the benefits of spending time outside.

20) Emerging Gear: Outdoor Products This Week

From next-gen tech to ingenious innovation, our weekly peek at emerging products examines the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.

21) Visit Philippine Surfer’s Paradise of Siagro With Josie Prendergast

Enjoy six minutes of tropical bliss as Josie Prendergast puts on a masterclass in longboard surf style in the film “Born Here.”

22) LifeProof Launches Packs to Protect More Than Phones

From bike commutes to long weekend treks, LifeProof hits the backpack market with options for a variety of needs.

23) ‘Eco-Friendly’ Marmot Eclipse Rain Jacket Put to Test

Marmot does away with the shortcomings of potentially toxic DWR treatments with the introduction of the Eclipse Rain Jacket. Instead, it introduces EvoDry technology to make water bead on the surface.

24) Interior Renews Mining Leases Near Boundary Waters

The federal government gave Twin Metals Minnesota the green light to explore controversial mining opportunities near the BWCA, which have been the focus of heated debate for years.

25) Coming Soon: ‘Mountain’ Movie Trailer Gave Us Chills

Premiering in the U.S. this May, “Mountain” gathers the best parts of outdoor cinema in one feature film. Between the beautiful audio and stunning visuals, “Mountain” provides a breathtaking look into what draws us upward.