Month: January 2024

The previous time I skied into the Yuditna Cabin on Eklutna Lake, a backcountry cabin in Alaska, I was smarter. It turns out that pulling 75 pounds of gear on a sled in winter is easier with classic skis, and is not recommended, nor fun, with skate skis.  Alas, despite my poor choice of flotation,

Atomic just released the newest version of its hybrid touring and alpine bindings, the Shift2. After listening to consumer feedback and consulting with professional athletes, the brand claims to have addressed all of the most common issues skiers had with the original Shift bindings. When Salomon launched the S/LAB Shift MNC Binding (and sister brand

One unlucky snowboarder ended up stranded overnight on a ski resort’s gondola last week near South Lake Tahoe in California. Monica Laso boarded a gondola at Heavenly Ski Resort at about 4:58 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, after deciding she was too tired to continue down the slopes. A resort worker had directed her to

Dry January ain’t what it used to be. Back in my day, giving up alcohol for a whole month meant giving up everything associated with it — wine, cocktails, and beer. For folks like me who enjoy the occasional happy hour with friends or co-workers, Dry January meant being the one person at the table who’ll

The demands of spot-and-stalk bowhunting are many. Your gear needs to keep up with the demands of what it means to be on the move. Pants are no exception. Slipping into bow range is no easy feat, so the pants you choose need to be quiet, comfortable, and capable. When investing hard-earned dollars into hunting apparel,

I’m never satisfied. I pack and repack my bags for ever-slimmer margins of improved gear accessibility. My camp cook set has half a dozen DIY firestarters, each theoretically better than the last. I completely regrind every knife I own, and I often swap or modify handles. After all, if my EDC blade doesn’t sport a

Winter is usually the best time to camp in Southern Arizona. The temps are mild and the crowds are elsewhere. But we got a pretty cold spell to start the year and, unsurprisingly, no one wanted to join me on a frigid weekend in Ironwood Forest National Monument.  Indeed, even my partner, Hannah, didn’t want

It’s a Jeep Gladiator based on a super-cool Matchbox model. The SEMA-build truck is going to auction with the proceeds to build homes for vets and first responders. Doetsch Off-Road in Arizona built the custom Gladiator for RealTruck to replicate the 1:64-scale Matchbox version. It started with a 2023 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. Then Doetsch went

LandX is a new electric pickup truck company looking to make its mark on a segment with big growth potential. But if you’ve been following the EV pickup segment, the LandX truck will look familiar. That’s because we’ve seen the truck before, along with the founder of the new company that’s meant to build it.

It was 6:15 a.m., the sun was not out yet, and snow whipped violently all around us. Bodies moved in the dark, busily loading cats, side-by-sides, and snowmobiles with luggage and skis. Engines idled. Wind howled. And the occasional shout punctuated the din. This was the fourth day of the Atomic ski trip to Monument

The 2024 Consumer Electronics Show took place in Las Vegas this past week, with thousands of tech companies on hand to unveil a staggering number of new products. Unsurprisingly, AI and VR were the buzzwords (buzz acronyms?) most commonly heard on the show floor, although plenty of TVs, laptops, electric vehicles, and other gadgets were

Patagonia: Up to 40% Off Bitter winter cold returned to much of the U.S. this week, but Patagonia’s tried-and-true winter wear will save those shivering appendages. The company announced 40% off many products through Jan. 29. Plenty of winter clothing is included, along with backpacks, beanies, and trucker hats. At 40% off, you can snag

I thought I had tried every form of natural-based insulation out there. That was until I learned about Jetty and its blended insulation made from oyster shells. The innovative material is called Oystex and is a mix of crushed oyster shells and recycled plastics. It’s different than traditional down and synthetic insulation, and yet in

Ford aims to push to new extremes when it debuts a “demonstrator” version of the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup at the grueling King of the Hammers off-road race next week. Dubbed the F-150 Lightning Switchgear, it features a broad array of suspension and body updates — though it retains the same twin-motor drive system powering

The new manual-transmission car is a rare breed these days. Given that there’s no substitute for that connected feeling when rowing through the gears yourself, it’s worth seeking out what’s still available with a manual gearbox on the U.S. market today. Though there is some hope in Toyota’s dreams of a stick-shift EV, we might be

You can save big by taking advantage of the Helly Hansen Winter Sale. It’s no secret that winter sports are expensive. Between a ski pass, transportation, and taking time off — plus food and gear — the numbers really add up.  But this winter, Helly Hansen wants to help you save some cash and update

I was excited to test the Cannondale Scalpel SE2, as the original Scalpel was one of my favorite cross-country racers back in the day. I was skeptical of simply adding a longer travel fork and shock to such a proven racing chassis, but I told myself to keep an open mind. And I’m glad I

Unlike permanent or even hang-on tree stands, tree saddles give you the versatility to hunt almost anywhere you can find a tree. Not to mention, tree saddles weigh a couple of pounds at most. This makes them ideal for long treks in the dark or other situations where weight is at a premium. Even if

Everyone can agree that cold hands are just not fun, if not dysfunctional. On freezing cold days, I definitely opt for hand protection that’s slightly warmer. Enter the Give’r Frontier Mitten, which has all the top qualities that the Give’r gloves are known for, just in mitten form. To give you an idea, the Give’r

It becomes clear pretty quickly that Keegan Rice is both a natural photographer and an experienced snowboarder. I make that conclusion based on two quotes from this fun little edit: “I think I got addicted to the sound of the shutter,” and also, “All my homies were throwing down.” Yep! That passes the inspection for