Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than opening your cooler on day two and finding a lukewarm puddle where your ice used to be. I have spent the last several years testing camping coolers in everything from humid summer weekends to scorching desert overlanding trips, and I can tell you that the right cooler makes … Read more
Dragging a loaded cooler across soft sand without wheels is a back-breaking experience I would not wish on anyone. After watching my friend struggle with a 40-pound ice chest across 200 yards of dunes last summer, I decided it was time to find the best wheeled coolers for the beach and stop the suffering. Our … Read more
When you are three days into a backcountry traverse and your phone drops below 10 percent, the power bank in your pack becomes the most important piece of gear you carry. I learned this the hard way on a five-day trip in the Sierra Nevada, watching my navigation app drain faster than expected in cold … Read more
There is nothing quite like unzipping your tent at a campsite after dark and reaching for a light that actually works. After testing dozens of models over multiple seasons, our team put together this guide to the best camping lanterns for tents available in . Whether you are car camping with the family or backpacking … Read more
Getting lost on the trail isn’t just inconvenient—it can be dangerous. The best GPS watches for hikers give you navigation confidence right on your wrist, tracking your route, displaying offline maps, and lasting days or weeks without a charge. I’ve tested these watches across hundreds of miles of trails, from day hikes in the Rockies … Read more
When you are miles from the nearest trailhead with no cell signal and the weather is turning, your phone is not going to save you. I have been in that exact situation more times than I care to admit, and every time I was grateful to have a dedicated backcountry GPS clipped to my pack. … Read more
When you are miles from the nearest trailhead, the quality of your water source can make or break a backpacking trip. Finding the best camping water filters for backpacking means balancing weight, filtration performance, and ease of use so you can drink safely from streams, lakes, and rivers without carrying gallons of water on your … Read more
After spending dozens of nights suspended between trees across three states, our team narrowed down the best camping hammocks worth your hard-earned money. We tested everything from ultra-budget singles under twenty dollars to complete all-in-one kits with rain flies and bug nets. The result is a lineup that covers every type of camper, from first-time … Read more
I still remember my first time on the water in an inflatable kayak. It was a wobbly, slightly terrifying experience on a calm lake, but it hooked me instantly. That was six years ago, and since then our team has tested dozens of models to figure out which ones actually work for people just starting … Read more
I still remember my first time on a paddle board. I was wobbling on a borrowed board, gripping the paddle like a lifeline, and convinced I would swim more than I would paddle. That first session lasted maybe 20 minutes before my legs gave out. But something clicked. A week later I bought my own … Read more