Of the 1,000+ articles published in 2015, these were the most popular. Looking back, they stand out for an ability to inspire; the most-read articles make folks want to get out and be part of the action.
[roundup-item]
Backpack With Wheel: MULE Hauls Heavy Loads
The MULE is a sort of wacky, sort of genius way to carry really heavy loads on your back. But even while thousands of readers flocked to the story, not many were keen to drop the $600 for the contraption, which failed to raise the funding needed to launch the product commercially.
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Hikers Pack 1,000 Pounds Of Trash Off Appalachian Trail
Positive news can shine a light on the good in the world, and readers love to share good news. Case in point is this story. A trio of hikers took on the Appalachian Trail with the goal of removing 1,000 pounds of trash this summer. The Packing It Out initiative met the goal by August 15. The story was among the most popular of the year.
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Buy A Ski Resort For $149,000
When we reported that ski resort Soldier Mountain was for sale for $149,000, it inspired a lot of people to take action. Finally, a huge dream business affordable to the common man or woman! More than 2,000 emails flooded the small resort management, which eventually sold to lucky buyers Matt and Diane McFerran of Bend, Oregon.
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Volkswagen Unveils New ‘California’ Campervan
Oh, the irony! The California campervan that won’t be sold in California generated a huge buzz among readers looking for a small camper to travel the American highway. Inside the California is everything from seating for up to seven and beds for up to five to a literal kitchen sink (and stove). But for now, you’ll have to get one in Europe.
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Future Gear: First Look At 2016 Outdoor Equipment
We’re glad this Outdoor Retailer Show preview story did well. This gear is the bread and butter of our lives as GearJunkie editors, and we are happy to see our readers get the same charge out of next year’s equipment. Watch for a new “Future Gear” winter edition roundup coming very soon!
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Largest Ski Jump In America Set To Reopen In 2017
Well heck, of course you want to at least see someone hit this beast! Copper Peak, the largest ski jump — and only “ski flying” facility in the western hemisphere — will reopen its run for competition in 2017. Time for a road trip to Michigan.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
All-In-One Sleeping ‘Pod’ Is Winter Camping Upgrade
“Sleeping” outdoors in the winter can be tough, and those who have tried are often searching for a better solution. The Polarmond sleeping pod is a unique design, and seems to offer a solution to the shivering we’ve all experienced. Readers seemed intrigued by the idea, but were highly critical of the 12 pound weight.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Gym For The New Year? Get To Know The ‘Wildlife’
Well, this one took us by surprise. This comedic look at the humans of gyms in the style of a wildlife documentary made us laugh, but it obviously resonated with readers, too, with about 25,000 people watching the video on GJ in just a couple days.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Stop The Rock Stacking
When author Robyn Martin penned this article deriding the practice of stacking rocks outside the traditional role as cairns, it ignited a firestorm of comments on both sides of the issue. Seems like people really care about building rock piles, or knocking them down.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Campers Vs. Glampers: Which Team You On?
This “rap battle” is one of the funnier we’ve seen, and readers by the thousands watched the video of a camper and glamper one-upping each other. If you haven’t seen it yet, give it a watch and enjoy the comedy.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Colorado Has New Snow Tire Requirements For Passenger Vehicles
If you’ve done much driving in Colorado, you’ve probably dealt with horrible mountain traffic. The state began enforcing snow tire requirements during storms this year, and people clearly want to know more, flocking to this article to get the info they need to stay abreast of the rules.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Do It Now: How To Ditch Your Life & Travel The World
We’ve all had the dream of ditching the day job and heading out for parts unknown. This guide tells you how you can realistically travel the world. If you’re considering a big trip around the world, give it a read. The related article about a couple traveling the world is informative, too.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Vibram’s ‘Wrap On’ Minimalist Furoshiki Footwear
This funky footwear really grabbed readers’ attention. Vibram Furoshiki shoes are essentially rubber soles adorned with a swath of stretchy fabric. We got a first look at the wild new footwear and got a kick out of the design that came to market in late 2015.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Woman Sets New Unsupported Record On Appalachian Trail
In one of the most outstanding athletic accomplishments of the year, Heather “Anish” Anderson set a new unsupported speed record on the Appalachian Trail, finishing the approximately 2,190-mile route in 54 days. Wow.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
The Camper You Can Pull With Your Subaru
Weighing in at just 2,700 pounds, the Happier Camper captured readers’ imaginations with unique engineering. Really, who wouldn’t want to be inside that cool camper, their Triumph parked outside?
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
[roundup-item]
Texas Water Slide Launches Riders Skyward
When we posted this three-minute video of a water slide in Texas, the traffic nearly crashed our servers. More than a million pageviews later, the video of pretty people launching themselves into the air has proven to be the top performer of 2015.
Read Full Article
[/roundup-item]
