To celebrate Black History Month we’ve rounded up some of our favorite stories that highlight diverse voices.

Historically, skiing has been a predominantly white sport, which makes it more important than ever to highlight new faces in the industry. Through perseverance and passion, these individuals are breaking barriers on the slopes and helping to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment within the skiing community.

I met Stan Evans in the winter of 1998 when we were on one of our first feature assignments for a new ski magazine devoted to the wild and aberrant freeskiing movement that was taking off as a ski subculture. This made us misfits by choice, and while I wasn’t aware of any other Black ski photographers, it didn’t occur to me that there was anything historic about our assignment. The following winter, Stan organized and produced the first snowboard magazine story featuring all Black riders, shot by a Black photographer. That this had never been done makes it objectively historic, and it stands as a benchmark of winter sports diversity. At the time, however, very little mainstream attention was paid to the quantum gap jump that Stan had just helped the sport clear.

, a Bend, Ore.–based skier, and filmmaker, decided to throw out the rulebook with “The Blackcountry Journal,”��a short film that mixes backcountry freeskiing with his lifelong passion for jazz. Beneath the smooth soundtrack and savory facade is a complex story about race in skiing, although the nuance may take a few views to rise to the surface. Shot in monochrome and structured in three parts, the film abstractly follows Duncan’s story as a black man trying to find his place in the white ski industry.

We sat down with Duncan upon his return from the Banff screening to learn about the making of “The Blackcountry Journal.” Be sure to����when it’s released to the public on Nov. 8.

On a spring morning at Vail, laughter fills the entire dining room of a restaurant lounge as a group of people gather around a stone fireplace. They clap one another on the back, cackling to inside jokes and generally enjoying each other’s company. At first glance, you might think you’ve stumbled into a reunion of some sort.

The truth is, most of us have just met each other this morning, brought together by an organization whose mission is to encourage, teach, and inspire Black, Indigenous, and people of color to participate in mountain sports by creating spaces for enjoying the outdoors. This convivial group is here for a ski day with the Denver-based ��(���Ѱ�).

An Oral History of the National Brotherhood of Skiers

The nation’s first Black ski group, the Jim Dandy Ski Club (named after an R&B song by LaVern Baker), formed in Detroit in 1958. By the early 1960s, a handful of U.S. cities had similar clubs, like the Snow Rovers in Boston and the Chicago Ski Twisters. In New York, there was the Four Seasons Ski Club, run by an NBC cameraman named Dick Martin, who owned a ski shop in Harlem and often played ski evangelist to his peers, screening films and proclaiming that a skier need not be a “blond-haired, blue-eyed Norse god.” Martin organized weekend ski buses that rolled out of Manhattan at oh-dark-thirty to wend their way north to the mountains of upstate New York. In 1964, a 25-year-old New York University graduate student named Ben Finley climbed on board.

Read the rest here.

Soft Life Ski, has a unique mission built on a combination of unlikely passions: skiing and Afrobeat music. The UK-based group hopes to increase inclusion and diversity in the winter sports space by organizing music-themed trips to ski resorts. “Soft life,” a term for an easygoing and relaxing lifestyle, is the feeling the group hopes to bring to the slopes. In short, SLS is a traveling music and ski festival aiming to introduce the joys of winter to its Black and African audience.

The post Our Favorite Ski Stories in Honor of Black History Month appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

It’s no secret that our editors love to ski. With below-freezing temps and plenty of snow in the past month, we have tested more winter gear on the slopes than ever this year. From new ski boots to the perfect shades to heated gloves, below you’ll find eleven items that our editors couldn’t live without this winter.

When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.��Learn more.

Away Carry-On Boot Bag 55L

I was taught at a very young age to never check your ski boots, no matter how tedious it might be to carry them onboard. While this practice is heavily rewarded with never having to use rental boots, it’s also downright annoying to carry clunky ski boots through airport terminals. I’m always in search of a comfortable solution, and my new go-to is Away’s ski boot bag.

The bag itself is so spacious that I can fit just about every piece of gear I’ll need for a ski trip, minus the skis (think several pairs of gloves, neck warmers, goggles, a helmet, a few sets of base layers, ski pants, socks, jackets, and of course boots). The bag also has a luggage sleeve, so it pairs nicely with a roller bag. I prefer to wear the bag on my back, but it can be carried as a duffle as well. There are also several clip-closure systems on the bag to help compress it for air travel. The bag itself is on the larger side for boot bags at 55 liters, so when fully stuffed, it may not fit under your seat. That said, I haven’t had any problems fitting the bag overhead. —Jamie Aranoff, digital editor

Quinn Snacks, Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets

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I just returned from a weeklong backcountry trip, and one of my main food groups was peanut butter-filled pretzels. I’m gluten-free which means I can’t always eat the same snacks as the rest of my team, but these pretzel nuggets from Quinn were so popular that my entire group, including the gluten-tolerant, were snacking. The pretzels are the perfect food for backcountry skiing thanks to the combination of carbs from the pretzel and protein from the peanut (or almond) butter. They’re also perfectly salty with just the slightest touch of sweetness. Now that I’m back in the front country I’ll be looking to try out all the different varieties. —J.A.

Loon’r Hi Flyer Boot

Two years ago, Mammoth Lakes, the sleepy mountain town I call home, received a whopping 73 feet of snow. I spent the majority of that winter shoveling more than skiing. One of my greatest grievances about shoveling was how wet my feet got each day. But no more.

These new knee-high EVA boots bring a smile to my face every time I pull them on. They’re super warm (my feet will go from cold to toasty within a minute of donning a pair) and fully waterproof. The tread on the bottom is sufficient for all but the slickest black ice, and the color is just delightful. Mine are Palisade Peach, a kind of neon orange that looks hilarious as I trade them for my also-bright-orange ski boots. Even though town has been snow-free for a month, I continue to wear them because they grip so well on the icy sidewalks. —Jake Stern, digital editor, ���ϳԹ���

Stellar Equipment Stellar Shell 2.0 and Stellar Pant 2.0

This kit feels like real-deal big mountain body armor. I tend to prefer my waterproof ski layers more on the breathable end of the waterproof/breathable spectrum because I love to hike, sidestep, and boot for stashes, but this new kit from Stellar shifts that paradigm for me.

The Stellar Shell and Pant feel incredibly premium—thick 3-layer material, a secure powder skirt, and excellent pocket placements (including a pass pocket, which should be mandatory on every ski shell in my opinion) all make for the perfect storm-day protection. All waterproof zippers and huge mesh-backed vents really round out what I like about this kit. If you have a sensitive chin, the top of the zipper may bother you until it breaks in a bit, but that’s no problem if you wear a buff. Once it finally snows again, I’ll be wearing this kit while storm skiing bell to bell. —J.S.

On Movement Tight

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A few years ago, sick of constantly having to hike my leggings up during workouts, I decided to forgo them entirely. This past fall and winter, though, I found myself wanting a pair for yoga classes and the gym. I was nervous to reenter the world of elastane and lycra, but the On Studio Tights put all my fears to rest. The seamless front is secure and camel toe-free, the drop-in side pocket on the right leg conveniently stores my phone, and the elastane and recycled polyester-blend fabric are wicking and breathable even in 95-degree Fahrenheit yoga classes. Most importantly of all: they stay put. I’m fully a legging convert—at least for this specific pair. —Miyo McGinn, assistant editor, ���ϳԹ���

Tecnica Mach1 LV 120 ski boots

Life’s too short to ski in pain, but if I’m honest, I’ve endured far more days of agony on the slopes than ones without. This unfortunate fact is due to my long, narrow, low-volume feet. Most extra-large models are far too wide in the toe box, and too roomy in the arch. My feet swim around, forcing me to either stuff the boot liners with footbeds and padding or to ratchet down the buckles to choke my foot into place. Neither method is particularly comfy.

That recently changed after I purchased a pair of Tecnica’s Mach 1 LV 120 boots. My coworker, digital editor Jake Stern, recommended them after I complained to him about my footwear plight. Prior to joining ���ϳԹ���, Jake was a professional boot-fitter, and he’s the smartest guy on ski gear that I know. I tried them on, along with several other LV models from different brands, and they fit the best. The “LV” stands for “low volume”—yep, boots designed for wonky feet like mine. And after eight days on the slopes thus far, I can say without hesitation that they are the most comfortable pair I’ve ever skied in. I’ve bid adieu to my pre-ski-day Advil, and even my post-ski-day complaints. Thanks, Jake! —Fred Dreier, articles editor, ���ϳԹ���

The North Face Summit Series Breithorn Hoodie

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It’s been an unusually cold and snowy winter here in the Southern Appalachians, which means I’ve spent a lot of time in this over-engineered, incredibly warm puffy. The Breithorn is stuffed with water-resistant 800-fill synthetic down, so I don’t have to worry when the snow shower turns into a wet “wintery mix.” This is the puffy many TNF athletes use in bitter cold, high alpine environments, and you could argue that it’s overkill for me, considering my mountains top out at 6,000 feet. But I’d argue that you can never be too warm when you’re drinking whiskey in the ski hill parking lot after a night skiing session. Also of note—this thick puffy is actually really packable, squishing down to the perfect airplane pillow size. —Graham Averill, travel and gear columnist

Filson Lined Mackinaw Wool Packer Coat

When the Bidens invited my wife and me to swing by their place for the White House Christmas party, my first thought was panic. What on earth does an outdoors writer who lives in rural Montana wear to meet the president? Over a wool suit and a vintage tie, Filson’s flagship jacket was the answer. It kept me warm while waiting in the security line in 30-degree temperatures, and the sheepskin collar added just the right amount of flare for the holidays. I know this not due to my own very limited fashion sense but because the stylist who did Dr. Jill’s Vogue cover told me so. The coat’s since worked just as well on a particularly chilly visit to the Dallas Country Club, and while dining out with family in Park City. —Wes Siler, contributing editor

Ibex Men’s Woolies Pro Tech Bottom

The new year found me staying in a cabin near Estes Park, Colorado,, and venturing out for hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. The first thing I put on every day were these lightweight wool leggings from Ibex. The merino/nylon Nuyarn blend was exceptionally soft and warm against the skin, but so thin and stretchy that I didn’t notice they were there. Whatever my level of effort or the weather—ranging from calm, sunny days with temps in the 30s to a howling blizzard with the thermometer barely reaching the teens—the Ibex bottoms insulated and breathed admirably under wind- and water-proof outer layers, keeping my leg temperature comfortably regulated. They didn’t even feel stifling sitting in a cafe eating lunch after a morning hike.

The tights are too thin and airy to ever wear alone outside, but they were snuggly as jammies for chilly evenings and nights in the cabin. —Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor, Gear

Ciele VLV Halfzip Running Midlayer

It’s damn hard to design a good midlayer for runners. You need something warm because runners love to head out at 6 a.m. when it’s cold and windy. But you also need something that breathes well because running is such a high-output sport. Ciele offers several smart solutions with the VLV. First, they lined the inside with a diamond grid fleece where the center of each diamond is hollow so that lots of air can escape. On first wear it feels like the VLV lets through more air than you would like, but after five minutes it’s perfectly regulated for running in temps anywhere from 10 to 40 degrees. The half zip also comes with a two-way zipper so you can open the bottom for ventilation but not have the collar flapping around in your face. I particularly love the purple colorway because there’s not a lot of good purple running gear on the market. —Jakob Schiller,�����ϳԹ�����correspondent

Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Hooded Waxed Jacket

Waxed jackets are having a style moment thanks to shows like Yellowstone. And while it looks cool when cowboys flip up the collar on their jackets, I’m here to tell you it adds almost no warmth. The wind will find its way around your neck and you’ll still be cold, even if you look tough. That’s why I’m a much bigger fan of this hooded waxed jacket. I still get the tough-as-nails exterior that develops a beautiful patina over time as well as a flannel-lined hood with a buttery-soft interior that keeps my head, ears, and neck warm when it’s bitter outside. The jacket gives off more of an urban vibe instead of making me look like I rode in on a horse, but I’m okay with that. —J.S.

The post The Gear Our Editors Are Loving This Winter appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Some of the biggest names in the outdoor industry will convene in Denver for the 2025 ���ϳԹ��� Summit, a multi-day networking and thought leadership event that begins in late May and rolls into the , a massive celebration of outdoor culture and community.

Featured speakers at the Summit include a diverse range of celebrated pioneers and rising stars. Among them are Co-Founder of and CEO of Reed Hastings, Global Brand President ofCaroline Brown, National Geographic and TV Host Albert Lin, Founder of Alyssa Ravasio, President and CEO of Carrie Besnette Hauser, President of the Kent Ebersole, Multidisciplinary Designer , Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, and Founder of Joey Montoya. The full lineup, which will continue to expand in the coming weeks, can be explored at .

The Summit brings together key stakeholders, career veterans, and emerging talents to set a vision for the future of the industry. Programming begins on Thursday, May 29, with a job fair hosted in partnership with , along with networking opportunities, then continues on Friday with a full day of talks, panels, and workshops, followed by evening festivities.

Over the weekend, Summit badge holders will have ticket holder access to the ���ϳԹ��� Festival presented by and , which takes place in Denver’s Civic Center Park and features musical performances by and among other major national acts, an adventure film series co-curated by Mountainfilm, conversations with iconic athletes, and an eclectic mix of outdoor experiences. Summit badge holders will also be invited to join exclusive Saturday and Sunday activities and gatherings, and gain entry to an ���ϳԹ��� Summit lounge on the Festival grounds.

Last year’s ���ϳԹ��� Summit saw 35 speakers, 27 panel discussions, and a sold-out gathering of more than 500 attendees. In 2025, the program will expand to a dedicated campus adjacent to Civic Center Park, with sessions taking place at the Denver Art Museum and newly renovated spaces within the Denver Public Library. The program will focus on entrepreneurship, storytelling, access, and sustainability, and will include a pitch competition for industry startups.

“The Summit is an embodiment of our mission at ���ϳԹ��� and serves the larger vision behind the ���ϳԹ��� Festival,” said Robin Thurston, founder & CEO of ���ϳԹ��� Interactive Inc., who will also be speaking at the Summit. “Last year’s inaugural Summit brought together changemakers from across the outdoor industry to spark important conversations about the future of our businesses. Our 2025 speaker lineup will continue building on last year’s success with an inspiring group of individuals who will empower more people to enjoy, discover, and protect the outdoors. I’m eager to hear their valuable insights.”

The complete schedule will be released early in the spring. Industry professionals interested in attending are encouraged to secure their spot today. A limited number of for students, those who work in education and government, nonprofits, and smaller brands or startups. ���ϳԹ���+ members receive a special discount on Summit badges, and group discounts are also available.

The post Major Figures in the Outdoor Industry to Headline the 2025 ���ϳԹ��� Summit appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

New Year’s resolutions are all well and good—we’ve even made a few ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with setting goals to improve your wellbeing, and the fresh start of January can be a great��motivator. But not every aspect of our lives needs optimizing.��Eating dinner at midnight, watching trashy reality TV, and blaring music through our headphones during a run—this is��the spice of life. Here are all of the vices that we’re hanging onto in 2025.

Not Planning My ���ϳԹ���s More Than Absolutely Necessary

At school and work I’ve always managed to be organized enough to get by, but it’s a constant struggle against my true Type B nature. In real life, I don’t even try to pretend that I’m a planner.

There are undeniable consequences to the seat-of-my-pants approach to life—I don’t make it to some really amazing backpacking spots because I don’t think to enter the permit lottery months in advance, for example. But even if you put aside the headache of making plans, I also just genuinely enjoy making last-minute decisions throughout a loosely planned adventure. I love being able to shape my weekend based on how far I feel like driving and what the weather’s like to the south versus the west and if, at that moment, I want to go for a hike or a bike ride. And I like that a loose itinerary leaves me flexible to jump on any unforeseen opportunities that might arise.

Obviously there’s a point when not making plans becomes inconsiderate (like when other people are trying to coordinate their schedule with yours), or even downright unsafe (like when you don’t have the right gear because you didn’t know the conditions you were getting into). That kind of thing is worth the extra effort. But in 2025, I fully intend to continue leaving town on a Friday afternoon with a full car and only the vaguest idea of what I’ll do the next day, or even where my campsite that night will be.—Miyo McGinn, assistant editor, ���ϳԹ���

Spending Way Too Much Time on Facebook Marketplace

Every night after we put our daughter to bed, my wife and I pour ourselves steaming cups of tea, curl up on the couch, and then scroll for hours on Facebook Marketplace. We hunt for the items we need and sell the items we no longer use. We bargain, lowball, and negotiate with random people on the internet. It’s not exactly the romantic ritual that we anticipated when we got married almost a decade ago. But back then, we never anticipated that parenthood, homeownership, and normal middle-class suburban life would require so much stuff. And with American wages still trailing far behind the post-pandemic wave of inflation, our checking accounts are far too empty to pay retail for the items we need. Enter, Facebook Marketplace: a user-friendly platform for buying and selling used stuff, where every asking price is negotiable. Winter jackets, toys, tools, books, ski poles, bathroom vanity units, automobile tires, shelves, and bicycle parts—these are just some of the items that I’ve bought and sold on Facebook in recent months. And while I could��abandon this practice and spend my evening hours reading or pondering the meaning of life, that’s just not going to happen.—Frederick Dreier, articles editor, ���ϳԹ���

Not Letting My Skins Dry Out In Between Tours

Skiing is my all-time favorite activity, but there are way too many pieces of gear involved. I’m not always the most organized person, so it’s essential to me that my gear is as simple and streamlined as possible. I try to be on top of it and let my touring skins dry out every time after a backcountry ski. But there have been way too many instances when I forget to re-pack them and drive halfway to the trailhead (or sometimes all the way there) until I realize I left them at home. And when I’m touring before or after work on weeknights, there just isn’t enough daylight to waste time like that. As a shoddy solution, I’ve taken to leaving my skins inside my pack right where I left them when I transitioned—ready to go for the next time I need them. My skins won’t stay as sticky for as long since they won’t dry out as well, but if it means it’s one less piece of gear to remember, that’s a price I’m willing to pay.—Kelly Klein, gear editor, ���ϳԹ���

Scrolling on My Phone Before Bed

I know, I know. The blue light , the flood of information my brain, and what I’m really doing is . But with a toddler, a stepdaughter, a farm, and a full-time job, I’m on the go from sunrise until the moment my little one is tucked into bed, and I just want an hour or two to myself. I want to catch up on the news I missed while I was in meetings all day and mindlessly watch cooking videos on TikTok—even if it means sacrificing a bit of quality sleep.—Abigail Wise, digital director, ���ϳԹ���

Driving an Absolutely Filthy Truck

In 2025, I might try and establish more of a morning routine, or make a habit of walking during my lunch break. But I will not wash my damn truck.

I live down a dirt road, on a dusty piece of desert land with a big garden, tall cottonwoods, four horses, and no garage to speak of. I park outside, in the baking sun and the driving rain. I spend my weekends romping through the mud to get to the bend in the river where the big browns live. I climb into the driver’s seat with dust from dozens of miles on high-alpine trails on my shoes. I road trip endlessly in the winter, through salt- and sand-treated roads, to chase storms. And as much as I love my cherry little 2002 Toyota Tacoma, I just can’t be bothered to try and keep her in mint condition. I will spare no expense when it comes to the parts that matter: her engine, suspension, good tires. But cosmetics? I don’t have the time or the money. She looks better with a little rooster tail of mud on either side, anyways.

Come to think of it, I’ll take the same approach to my body, too. I’ll happily pay for the things that make me go, like physical therapy, great food, and a comfy bed. But the crows feet gathering around the corners of my eyes? Well, it wouldn’t look right to drive a filthy truck with a flawless face, now, would it.—Abigail Barronian, senior editor, ���ϳԹ���

Eating the Whole Jar of Nutella

Long ago, in my twenties, I went on a women’s climbing exchange to France, climbing in Buoux, on Corsica, and in the Verdon Gorge. Among my cohort from America was Rhea Dodd, of Boulder, Colorado, and on that trip we were introduced to the Italian-made hazelnut-cocoa paste Nutella, which may not even have been available yet in this country. In La Palud, somehow, we five visitors were each given a little plastic sampler of it along with something—a cookie, a cracker?—to eat it on, and a tiny popsicle stick to dig it out. I thought it was the best thing I’d ever had, and Rhea, with a mock mournfulness that cracked me up, said, of our little bites, “That just makes me want more.”

Unfortunately, when I get a jar of Nutella—which contains 12 grams of fat per two tablespoons, and a primary ingredient of sugar—there is no stopping me. Only last week, my husband said, “What happened to the Nutella?” There had been a jar here…On a hiking trip to Patagonia two years ago, I was thrilled to be offered Nutella at breakfast, but OK, we were hiking eight to 12 miles a day, so we could eat a lot.

Rhea, who became a dear lifelong friend, who was a veterinarian and lifelong champion of animals, including elephants, is gone now, lost young to cancer; and I think of her every time I see a jar. Because I eat too much of it, I don’t always keep Nutella on-hand, but I never go too long between jars.—Alison Osius, senior editor, ���ϳԹ���

Not Unpacking from Trips Until the Next One

Few things bring me more joy than returning home after an all-day spring skiing mission, tossing my pack on the floor next to my bed, and not looking at it again until I’m about to head out the door for my next expedition. It makes me frantic to clean dormant electrolyte mixes out of stinky water bottles and throw out old, moldy snacks five minutes after I text my adventure partners, “On my way.” But the simplicity of not unpacking hits like hard drugs.

The spare bedroom of my apartment sits at an ambient 48 degrees Fahrenheit because the woodstove is upstairs and, shocker, heat rises. It isn’t good for much but a gaping, disorganized gear closet. It houses bikes, skis, and touring packs full of dubious goodies. It’s a nightmare, but it’s my nightmare, and I’ll keep it looking like someone tossed a hand grenade in a ski shop this year, and into the next one.—Jake Stern, digital editor, ���ϳԹ���

Hoarding Chapstick

I try to be extremely conscious of my consumption and buying habits, which goes only as far as purchasing chapstick. Living and working in the world of skiing, my lips get pretty dry in the winter and I’m no stranger to a bluebird ski day lip sunburn. I have at least ten different types of chapstick for all sorts of purposes—SPF for the day, endless tubes of Aquaphor for the night, ultra-moisturizing, aloe, and of course a treasure trove of some that are just for fun. I don’t need anyone to tell me I don’t need this many lip products, or even worse, that they don’t work (I won’t hear of it). Here’s the thing: I don’t care. Keeping a rotation of chapstick products is fun, and ultimately harmless. I’ll be bringing all of my chapstick with stride into the new year, and probably the year after that as well.—Jamie Aranoff, digital editor, SKI

Bringing a Gourmet Picnic on Every Outdoor ���ϳԹ���

When I moved to Croatia last year, I quickly realized I’d need to reassess my adventure fuel. My beloved Cliff Blocks, and the wide variety of protein bars I’d come to rely on in the states, were nowhere to be found. After attempting to choke down my 47th Corny Big (don’t ask) bar of the year, I decided it was time to branch out. What started as salami and a little bit of cheese from the deli blossomed into over-the-top sandwiches. My husband and I perfected our “mortadella, bresaola, fresh mozzarella, greens and pickled peppers piled on fresh-baked ciabatta with a hefty drizzle of olive oil” combo and it became a staple of every hike, ski day and road trip. Unfortunately, it pairs really well with a half-bottle of wine, so my backpack’s gotten way too heavy. I’m freshly back in the U.S. now, but I can’t imagine a Kind Bar is going to cut it after discovering the good things in life. I think, unfortunately, my snacks are never going back to ultralight.—Mikaela Ruland, editor-in-chief, National Park Trips

Not Wearing a Coat

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve found winter coats to be a sensory nightmare. Somehow, they’re always too tight, too bulky, and too warm. I hate the feeling of wearing them more than I hate being cold. And to be clear, I am cold. I have enough sense to bundle up for a hike, but I can’t bring myself to put a coat on when I’m only walking across the grocery store parking lot. “I’m just going to be in and out,” I say, even when the temperature is below freezing. The ease of forgoing this one article of clothing somehow makes running errands in the winter more bearable. My parents still tsk-tsk me for my ill-advised sartorial choices, but unfortunately, I’m an adult now and nobody can make me change.—Isabella Rosario, associate editor, ���ϳԹ�����

Eating Dessert Every Single Night

I have a major sweet tooth. I believe I inherited this from my Dad because he’s a late-night dessert eater, too. Maybe I have a sugar addiction—who knows? And who cares? The comfort and excitement that I feel when I warm up a brownie (I always heat it for exactly 23 seconds in the microwave) and top it with Ben and Jerry’s Half-Baked ice cream is worth the calories. I was born in April, and we Taureans like a little bit of luxury when it comes to treating ourselves. Each night, around 11, I sit at my dining table with my brownie-and-ice-cream-filled bowl, turn on my electric fireplace, ask Alexa to play smooth jazz, roll out a place setting, and dig in. When I’m done, I lift the bowl to my lips and drink the melted ice cream. As I type this, I’m already salivating. I can’t wait for tonight.—Ayana Underwood, senior health editor, ���ϳԹ���

Sitting Like a Bird

When I’m working, the only way I can focus is sitting perched on top of my chair. It’s hard to explain unless you’re also prone to perching but let me try: I put my feet on the seat, knees bent and tucked up to my chest with my upper body curled forward to type or write. When I worked in an office setting, this position would alarm people. I got a lot of, “How do you sit like that?” from colleagues. Embarrassed, I’d attempt to put my feet on the floor like a professional, but it felt like a prison for my legs. (According to the medical handbook of Instagram, this is typical for neurodivergent folks with concentration problems, and yeah, that’s me.) At some point, I’ll probably need new joints. I could resolve to save up enough money to get myself this but I don’t know if it will let me feel as bird-like as I need to do good work. So professionalism and physical health be damned, I’m sitting like a weirdo for life.—Ali Nolan, digital editor, RUN

Drawing the Line at Cheese

Over the last few years I’ve made some significant changes to my diet for environmental reasons. For instance, I grow a ton of my summer produce. And 95 percent of my home cooking is plant-based. I only eat meat when I’m dining out or someone else serves it to me. That’s because the meat and dairy industries account for about 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gases worldwide. I also switched to plant-based milk (coconut is my fave). But don’t come after my cheese. Cheddar, feta, parm, gruyere, mozzarella, it doesn’t matter which type: I’m nothing without these gooey, salty, satisfying cheeses. I’ll skip meat for the rest of my days if I have to. Just don’t come after my cheese.—Kristin Hostetter, head of sustainability and ���ϳԹ��� contributing editor

The post These Are All the Bad Habits We’re Keeping in 2025 appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

From tourists behaving badly in national parks to a camping trip in one of the hottest places in the world, ���ϳԹ��� published a long list of captivating features this year. My personal favorite, “Death on Shishapangma,” by the talented Gloria Liu, explores the risks of rushing to summit the world’s highest peaks through a terrible tragedy. Liu retells the deaths of four mountaineers with compassion, and her detailed storytelling brings the disaster—and the victims—to life.

I asked my colleagues to send me their top picks for the long reads of the year, too. Of the nearly 40 longform stories we published in 2024, these are our favorites. —Abigail Wise, digital director

“Can Colorado’s I-70 Traffic Problems Ever Be Solved?”

This story was a beautiful union of two great minds thinking alike. Senior editor Alison Osius suggested a profile of Colorado’s I-70, the often-clogged highway that leads to some of the most beautiful mountains in Colorado. Then she approached longtime ���ϳԹ��� contributing editor Gloria Liu to write it, and Liu said, “I’ve always wanted to write that story.” Liu brought a lot of creative thinking to the project, seamlessly melding funny and poignant scenes with traffic data. If you think you don’t want to read a story about a highway, think again. You’ll laugh for sure, and maybe even cry. —Mary Turner, senior brand director

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“Our Coast to Coast Walk Across Northern England Was an Exercise in Hope and Joy”

In this beautifully worded travelogue, author Steven Potter and his wife, Emma, take a belated honeymoon to northern England and cross it from west to east during a 200-mile walk. There are scenes of misery—blistered feet that have Steven hobbling, nettles that sting Emma’s bare bum on a pee break, and a 40-minute downhill run to make a supper engagement after they’d already knocked out 16 miles. But their delight and good nature override everything. Gorgeous photos by Emli Bendixen round out a happy adventure, with some deep thoughts on how wandering changes us, often for the better. —Tasha Zemke, managing editor

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“How Did This Climber Get Away with So Much for So Long?”

I choose “How Did This Climber Get Away with So Much for So Long?”��for the way in which the writer, Annette McGivney, assembled a huge and detailed mosaic of the key events, disturbing and sickening though the effect was. She was respectful of the victims and meticulous in reporting. I was proud of the editor, Alex Heard, and ���ϳԹ��� for the work and resources that went into this 11,000-word investigative piece. Such stories are difficult, and��important. —Alison Osius, senior editor

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“In Montana, a Threatened Swath of Old Growth Fuels a Longstanding Debate”

I’m a sucker for a passionate environmentalist. A fly-fisher defending her local waterways? A wildland firefighter committed to educating the world about sustainable fire? Can’t get enough. It’s probably why I love this story from Montana-based writer and producer Laura Yale so much: it’s packed with people who fight with everything they have to protect the forests they—and an endangered population of grizzly bears—call home. First, we meet Rick Bass, a prolific writer and activist who, lately, has been focused on protecting a rare swath of old-growth in northwest Montana from logging. Then we encounter the well-meaning Forest Service representatives, the tribal leaders, and the conservationists. This is a story of devotion, but it’s also a story with wonky, hard-to-parse policy and science. Yale expertly weaves��the two together, walking readers through the thorny overlap between economics, policy, and conservation without losing sight of what motivates her characters in the first place: a deep sense of responsibility for and interconnectedness with the land and all its inhabitants.�� —Abbie Barronian, senior editor

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“I Needed to Stop Drinking. So I Hiked 100 Miles in Maine.”

What struck me most about W. Hodding Carter’s��story about his struggles with alcoholism—seen through the lens of a grueling hike through Maine’s rugged 100-Mile Wilderness—is the sheer courage it took to write it. The vulnerability. The honesty. It had to be an agonizing story to tell—and even harder to live through. I mean, shit, it was painful just to read. But it was also incredibly inspiring. Carter’s struggle through an experience��he can’t control, his battle with himself, his pendulum of self-loathing and fierce determination to get himself right—there’s something really universal and relatable about it. Insert your own demon and you’ll probably see a little of yourself in the author. I know I did. —Kristin Hostetter, head of sustainability and contributing editor

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“I Went to Yellowstone National Park to Learn Why It Turns Tourists into Morons”

Tourists have, in recent years, been gored by bison, boiled alive in hot springs, scalded by eruptions, mauled by grizzlies, and more at America’s first national park. The headline to this story sums up the situation pretty perfectly, and the story itself is a deep dive into the chaos that happens when visitors get too close to wildlife and geothermal features. I rolled my eyes plenty reading this one. —TZ

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“Christina Lustenberger Skis the Impossible”

I didn’t know I needed to read this story until I did. I also didn’t know who professional ski mountaineer Christina Lustenberger was before it. This raw profile made me realize how few longform stories I’ve read about female skiers or alpinists. Though Lusti’s feats are superhuman, her experiences as a woman—down to an anecdote where she’s the supposed leader on an expedition but everyone is instead taking cues from a man—are so relatable. And her willingness to be genuinely vulnerable has the perhaps non-intuitive effect of making her only seem more formidable. This was a motivating and empowering read. —Gloria Liu, contributing editor

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“I Went on a Dark Cave Retreat. Things Got Weird.”

Tim Neville has been writing for ���ϳԹ��� for years now, and somehow each new story is better than the last. For this one, he spent four days in a pitch-black cave dealing with his thoughts, resulting in an intense inward adventure. It was grueling and enlightening and beautiful and, well, very dark. I’ll never forget the video of him as he emerged from the cave to see the light again. His insights will always stick with me. The story also just won a Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award. —MT

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“This Is What It’s Like to Camp in One of the Hottest Places on Earth”

Leath Tonino possesses an endlessly compelling voice, and he uses it here to point to spots of beauty and grace amid the desolation of Death Valley in August. We sent him to North America’s lowest point in the heart of a summer heat wave while hikers were dying��from heatstroke—perhaps not the most responsible editorial call. But Tonino, as always, found a stillness and peace in what he calls the Capital-H Heat. Nestled deep among climate anxiety, a respect for nature’s fury, and a heat so oppressive it all but robs him of language, Tonino found a way to depict of one of the most extreme places on the planet in a gentle, generous manner. —Jake Stern, digital editor

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“Navigating Orca Alley: One Family’s Journey Among Rudder-Bashing Whales”

I was fascinated by the stories of orcas ramming boats in European waters. Was it a revenge mission by the whales against humans? I kept seeing news story after news story about boats being sunk by the giant whales. Then Caroline van Hemert, a wildlife biologist and writer, reached out to tell me that she and her family planned to sail through the very waters where the attacks were happening in order to complete a voyage��to Greenland. There’s no one I trust more when it comes to the relationship between humans and wildlife than Caroline. She lives in Alaska and has grown up around grizzlies, is not a sensationalist writer, and usually sides with the animals. Her riveting account of their journey through Orca Alley is gripping—and finally makes some sense of why this is happening. —MT

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When we dream of outdoor recreation destinations, it’s usually best-in-class spots like Yosemite, or wild and remote places like Patagonia and Everest—the types of places that you can read about in the travel section of this very publication. But, of course, most people aren’t introduced to wilderness and our favorite sports on the most scenic trails and the raddest crags. ���ܳٲ������’s editors are no exception. Here, they fondly recall the local parks and other little pockets of nature��that opened them up to a whole world of outdoor adventuring.

South Table Mountain, Golden, Colorado

I’m spoiled: I grew up at the foot of the Rockies in Golden, Colorado. The hiking trails started just a short walk from my front door on South Table Mountain, a flat-topped volcanic plateau blasted by winds and covered in Prairie grass and prickly pear cactus. My friends and I lovingly referred to South Table as “The Mesa,” and over the years it was our go-to destination when we needed adventure or some space from our parents. As a youngster, these outings revolved around wildlife-spotting, flying kites, and gazing at the Denver skyline to the east. As I entered adolescence, my trips to the Mesa, admittedly, reflected my bottomless teenage desire for boy-mayhem. It became the place to shoot BB guns and slingshots, light off fireworks, and later, sneak a few puffs of cannabis.

When I was 17, the Mesa became the focal point for my budding interest in political protest. In 1998, local developers in Denver tried to woo apparel giant Nike to build a soaring campus atop North Table Mountain. My buddies and I hated the plan, as did most everyone in our neighborhood. On a windy summer afternoon, three of us hiked to the summit of The Mesa carrying lumber, tools, and bedsheets. We erected a massive sign that read “NO NIKE” that was clearly visible from the neighborhood 1300 feet below. The sign stood for several days until a violent gust blew it over the side. Nike never did build that campus on The Mesa, and I couldn’t be happier. —Fred Dreier, articles editor, ���ϳԹ���

The Arroyos, Northern New Mexico

I used to spend weekends on epic road trips to far-flung climbing, camping, or running destinations, but between the pandemic and motherhood, my adventures have moved closer to home. I’ve fallen in love with the outdoors all over again exploring the web of arroyos that run down the road from my home north of Santa Fe. While you catch the occasional glimpse of a far-off mountain range, most of the vistas are flat, desert stretches, and the sand is not my favorite terrain on which to run. But I rarely see another person out there, and it’s BLM land, so my dogs can run free alongside me. My backyard trails have taught me to appreciate the beauty in more understated outdoor spaces and have reminded me that an adventure doesn’t have to be epic to be worthwhile. —Abigail Wise, digital director, ���ϳԹ���

Carkeek Park, Seattle, WA

Growing up in Seattle, Washington, there were ample nearby opportunities to experience the outdoors. But as far as I was concerned, the absolute best spot was 220-acre Carkeek Park, just a couple miles from my parents’ house. It contained all the ecosystems that make the lowland Pacific Northwest special: a beach blanketed with dark pebbles and driftwood; a creek where my preschool watched salmon spawning every fall; and lush woods full of sword ferns and cedars.

Carkeek also had an elite playground, the centerpiece of which was a 25-foot slide shaped like a 3-dimensional salmon (you climb in the mouth and pop out the tail). We went there for picnics, birthday parties, class trips, and to get some fresh air on weekend mornings. I was free to run and climb and explore in this slice of nature, and it always felt like there was no limit to the treasures I might discover (usually cool rocks, the perfect stick, 0r sites to build fairy houses). I still go to Carkeek sometimes when I’m visiting my parents, to jog on the trails through the woods or watch the sunset from the beach. It always makes me feel like a little kid in an endlessly delightful world. —Miyo McGinn, assistant editor, ���ϳԹ���

Carderock Crag, Maryland

Growing up as an aspiring rock climber in the nation’s capital, my options were limited. I learned to climb on a summer trip to Looking Glass Rock in North Carolina when I was 13 and fell head-over-heels for the sport. But when I returned home to D.C., I was too young to drive and had little interest in pulling on plastic. I couldn’t make the journey out to Seneca Rocks or the New River Gorge in West Virginia, but I could take two buses and a long static rope to Carderock, a tiny crag on the Potomac river near the kayaking mecca of Great Falls.

The flaky mica-schist was too soft to place proper gear into, which was fine by me because I had no money for a rack of cams, but I took my copy of Freedom of the Hills and built top-rope anchors in the trees above the cliff face. My friends and I could climb the same 40 foot face for hours before we got bored. My time at that scruffy crag propelled me into bigger mountains later in life, including scaling a few big walls in Zion, buffeted by the confident ropework I learned in Carderock, Maryland. —Jake Stern, digital editor, ���ϳԹ���

Elk Mountain, Scranton, PA

I grew up on the Severn River, which fed into the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. We were always on the water. We swam—I remember a neighborhood raft and mudfights with the other kids, diving deep for cold stinky handfuls—and went crabbing and waterskiing. Later we windsurfed. Most summer and fall weekends, my family raced sailboats in different places around the bay.

When I was 13, my parents also, bless them, took us skiing: geared up four kids, loaded the station wagon, and drove five hours to Elk Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Skiing—my Maryland friends and I were so used to waterskiing that we called it snow skiing—was where I made my own strongest connection to nature. I remember the look and colors and lifts at Elk Mountain, the excitement of the surroundings and movement, and wanting to go every chance I could. One spring day I boarded the chairlift with my dad laughing and saying, “This is so much fun.” A few minutes later, he said, “You know, that makes a parent feel good, to hear that.” We began taking one or two trips to Vermont each year with other families and friends, and I started making decisions around skiing. When I applied to colleges, I only looked north. I went to Vermont, and after that moved West in part for the skiing and climbing, which had become even more central to my life. I thought I would miss the water and bay, but never did. —Alison Osius, senior editor, ���ϳԹ���

Shu Swamp Nature Preserve, Mill Neck, New York

I feel infinitely lucky that I grew up in the type of house where being outside was heavily prioritized (thanks, Mom and Dad, for not letting us have cable). In an effort to keep us outdoors for as long as possible, my parents frequented Shu Swamp in my early years. Less than 15 minutes from home, this preserve offered everything a young adventurer could possibly want: mud, fresh streams, and a large pond��filled with catfish that we would feed old bread.

Shu Swamp was the perfect place to be year-round. Winter offered endless questions about how catfish swim under ice, spring brought squishy mud to get your shoes as dirty as possible, summer brought bright green shade, and fall let the foliage shine. I have endless memories of walking across downed trees with friends, and the preserve even showed up as I aged—pulling into the parking lot to switch drivers during driver’s ed, serving as a haven while I was home during the worst of the pandemic. Shu Swamp is forever an, “if you know, you know” spot for those I grew up with, especially because of those weird-looking catfish. —Jamie Aranoff, digital editor, SKI

The Woods at the End of the Gravel Road, West Virginia

I spent my early years in a house at the end of a gravel road in a neighborhood on the outskirts of a small town in West Virginia. Rather than feeling like a Luke Skywalker-type, cast to the outer rim of the Empire, I actually believed that the whole universe existed right there in my backyard. Our house was bounded on two sides by the kind of temperate deciduous forest you find in Appalachia, and I explored it endlessly.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees in hand, my dad and I would leave the front door and quickly journey to another planet entirely, one that we called “Buckland” due to the fact that we regularly spotted trophy deer there. We’d press leaves into the field guide as we identified the trees they came from: oak, maple, birch, walnut. We’d practice quiet footfalls, making a competition out of creating the least noise while crossing the crunchy leaves. We’d scramble down one hillside, cross a deep-cut creek, climb the opposite hill via a deer path, and walk until we came to the incongruous radio tower��that sat in the lonely field just beyond the trees’ edge.

I especially loved a wide, thick bed of evergreen pin cushion moss that bordered one edge of our forest, upon which I would languidly lay, comfortable upon my fairy bed as summer light filtered through the trees. Looking back now, I realize our forest was really a very small patch of woods that bordered a sewage treatment plant (which you could frequently smell) at the end of a gravel road on the outskirts of a small town. But it’s still the place I learned my trees, and it’s still the place I fell in love with being outside. —Ryleigh Nucilli, contributor

A Tree On A Hill In My Childhood Backyard, Carlsbad, California

Deep in the suburban wasteland of HOAs and subdivisions, a hill in my backyard was my own wild escape. It’s the setting of a lot of my best childhood memories. My cat and I would spend hours sitting in carved-out spots under the trees that grew along the slope, watching the ants move and hearing the rustle in the leaves. (When he eventually passed at age 16, my family buried his ashes on our favorite spots on this hill.) I was just steps from the inside of my house, where I could play on my Nintendo DS or watch reruns on TV, but I preferred the feeling of squishy mud between my toes.

In sixth grade, I wanted to see how high I could climb on the most prominent tree out there. I scaled branches until I got to the highest one that could support my weight, and it’s almost like that branch was ergonomically designed to contour my back. I felt so connected and grounded that I stayed there until dinnertime. Like a young Henry David Thoreau, I even brought a notepad and wrote a poem up in that tree. That experience, plus a whole childhood of exploration on that hill, helped me become who I am as an outdoor writer and adventurer.—Emma Veidt, associate editor, Backpacker

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The Jersey Shore, Spring Lake, New Jersey

When I was a kid, at that age where you ask annoying questions, I wanted to know where the ocean ended. My dad and I were at the Jersey Shore—Spring Lake specifically—and I was mesmerized by the cresting waves. The Jersey Shore is beautiful, even if the name conjures images of spray tans, big hair, fist-pumping, and gym-tan-laundry folk. They’re there, part of the scenery, and that’s okay because the ocean is a miracle and nothing takes away from how you feel in its presence. Born in Jersey, I was there every summer of my childhood. Sun-drenched, sandy, with salt clinging to my skin—it was the first place I felt totally at ease outside. We’d collect shells, find starfish, and swim, but I could sit on the beach for hours and watch the tide.

I still remember the answer my father gave me when I asked where the ocean ended. “Nowhere,” he said. “It’s everywhere connecting everything.” —Ali Nolan, digital editor, RUN

The Woods Near My Childhood Home, Iowa

Like many immigrant parents, my mom and dad weren’t too keen on me going to friend’s houses or inviting them over to ours. But for whatever reason, they were perfectly fine with me playing outside with the neighborhood boys so long as I returned home before the streetlights came on. Between the tender ages of seven and ten, we spent summer days exploring a small wooded area at the end of our block, wading in the shallow creek and roaming the narrow dirt paths.

It was no outdoor oasis—there were used mattresses and discarded tires and Hot Cheeto bags everywhere. But the trees were a break from the monotony of churches, gas stations, and cornfields that populated the edge of our Iowa hometown. When we played there, I imagined I was in the forest from Bridge to Terabithia or The Chronicles of Narnia. Now, knowing that my home state ranks 48th in the country for access to public land, this little slice of nature is all the more precious to me. It reminds me of how important it is to protect natural spaces. A little bit of wilderness can open up a person’s entire world. —Isabella Rosario, associate editor, ���ϳԹ���

The post The Not-at-All-Epic Places Where Our Editors Fell in Love With the Outdoors appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Winter is finally here in full force, and our editors have been enjoying every last drop of snow (and sometimes rain) outside. From touring up our local ski hills to early-morning winter runs before work, we’ve tested countless pieces of gear this December. Below are the 12 pieces we’ve enjoyed the most–permission granted to steal some ideas for last-minute holiday gifts.

When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.��Learn more.

Skida High-Pile fleece hat

I use this fleece beanie year-round, but this month I haven’t left the house without it. Historically, I’ve struggled with headwear. I have a big-ish head and even bigger hair, which makes it challenging to find hats that don’t make my head look even more globe-like than it already does, or leave a crease in my curls—or both. Skida’s high-pile fleece hat, on the other hand, manages to check the boxes for both style and function. The thick recycled Polartec fabric is super cozy, and the four-cornered top and boxy shape stays in place on my hair without crushing it. It’s not the only hat I own, but it’s pretty much the only one I wear. —Miyo McGinn, assistant editor

Helly Hansen LIFA Merino Midweight Base Layer

I’m guilty of integrating my most technical, purpose-made outdoor garments into my rotation of everyday outfits. Yep, I’m the guy who wears his backcountry skiing midlayer to the office, and brings his $100 cycling gloves along while trick-or-treating. It should be no surprise, then, that I’ve used Helly Hansen’s cozy LIFA merino baselayer—which is designed for the coldest days on the slopes—for a wide array of banal activities that don’t involve skiing.

I wear this base layer when I walk the dog and shovel drifts off my driveway. I’ve worn it under my cycling jacket on long, cold bike rides. And yes, I’ve also worn the top as a long-sleeve shirt under a vest for trips to the grocery store. I realize this makes me a walking, talking, fashion faux pas. But I love this base layer. It’s incredibly warm, and it doesn’t itch or run like other ones made from synthetic material. And it also doesn’t look like long underwear. The merino layer is thicker than the other ones I own, and the angled stitching makes the garment look more like a technical long-sleeve t-shirt than an undergarment. So, for now, I plan to continue wearing my technical base layer—and other outdoor gear—to the mall, movies, and office. Call the fashion police. —Fred Dreier, articles editor

Nike Pegasus 41 Gore-Tex Shoes

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I recently doubled the number of miles I’m running each week as I ramp up training for a Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim attempt in May. That means I’m running rain, snow, or shine, and have come to rely heavily on the Gore-Tex version of the Pegasus 41, Nike’s well-known stability shoe.

Thanks to the waterproof liner, my feet stay dry, and more importantly warm, when I have to run through puddles or in a downpour. Cold feet, like cold hands or ears, is one of the easiest ways to lose motivation when I’m already straining physically on a long or fast-paced run. There’s no way to keep a little water from leaking in the cuff when it’s truly pissing rain, but if I keep the shoes tight and wear a mid-high sock, my feet stay dry enough to keep me happy. I also appreciate the reflective details all over the shoes that shine bright when I’m trying to avoid cars on early morning winter runs. —Jakob Schiller, contributing writer

Pas Normal Balance Insulated Vest

I’m tempted to wear a full windproof jacket every time I head out for a winter run because I’m scared of being cold. But then I remember that after 10 minutes I’ll be too hot and have to carry the jacket for a majority of the miles. As a compromise, I’ve recently run in this lightly insulated vest that adds plenty of warmth early on but breathes well enough once I start sweating.

I love the double zipper that allows me to unzip the vest from the bottom so I can vent without the upper part of the vest billowing in the wind, and the collarless design cuts down on any chafing around my neck and chin. I will say that thanks to extra-warm PrimaLoft insulation, the vest adds too much heat for runs when it’s above freezing. But it’s perfect for days when temps are hovering somewhere between 15-30 degrees. —J.S.

Outdoor Research x Mark Abma Skytour AscentShell Jacket and Bibs

I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical of a snow-camo printed backcountry skiing kit. But the black arms really do pop against a snowy background. If you vibe with looking like a snow leopard stalking its prey in the alpine, this kit could very much be for you. This print was made by Outdoor Research for US special forces, and the Skytour kit has the features to back it up.

Massive side zips vent heat from an already very breathable fabric that is fully seam sealed and sports watertight zippers. Thoughtful pocket placements and a beacon clip in the left thigh zippered pocket complete this dialed backcountry kit. On a wet, snowy Eastern Sierra tour the other week I was encouraged by the protection and breathability this kit offered. I’m even more excited to see how it will do come spring when the white color will repel the sun’s rays on hot days. —Jake Stern, digital editor

Men’s Baist Classic Glove

Baist Gloves, made in Vermont, are constructed from a waterproof goat leather and tough cordura shell that’s twice as thick at the knuckles and high-wear zones for maximum durability. They’re built to last, but the real secret sauce is the Baist liner, which Velcros into place inside the shell, providing a seamless, no fuss fit but also the opportunity to remove it and dry it separately at the end of the day.

Baist also gave the glove a few nifty features this year, like an interior pull cord and a velcro wrist strap to make sure snow never reaches your hands, and a loop on the tip of the glove that allows you to hang it upside down to dry. These are the warmest mittens I’ve ever owned. I skied in them all last winter and I’m psyched to pull them back on again now that ski season is upon us. —Graham Averill, ���ϳԹ��� travel and gear columnist

Roar Sound Machine and Speaker

This rugged and portable sound machine has become an essential piece of baby gear when we travel with our kiddos. It’s small and simple yet can blast brown noise, ocean waves, or summer rain. You can also connect the Roar to your phone to use it as a portable speaker. I loved the first iteration I tested despite some shortcomings: the sound machine used to alert you with a loud voice command when the battery was low, which woke my sleeping kiddo up in the middle of the night on more than one occasion; and its default volume once turned on was also very loud and startling. The newest version of the Roar addresses both issues by getting rid of the low battery warning and lowering the default volume, making this portable sound machine a no-brainer for families on the go. —Jenny Wiegand, associate gear director

Veer All Terrain Cruiser

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Veteran parents know there’s no such thing as one stroller to rule them all. Active families who are always on the go likely need a compact travel stroller, a jogging stroller, and some sort of gear hauler. We have all three, but these days, the Veer All Terrain Cruiser is getting more use than the others thanks to its versatility.

Unlike many other wagons out there, you can push the Veer like a traditional stroller, which is a really nice feature when you’re conveying a heavy load of kiddos and gear. It also has burly wheels that make it easy to navigate off the beaten path. But my favorite feature of this wagon is how compact it is. Unfolded, it seats two kiddos on built-in benches, or it can seat a toddler and accommodate an infant car seat with the appropriate adapter. Folded up with the wheels popped off, it lays flat for easy storage in the trunk of a car, in the roof box, or against the wall of our garage. We even flew with the All Terrain Cruiser in a gate-check bag for a beach vacation last summer, and it came back home with lots of sand but nary a scratch.

At $700, it’s expensive and double the price of similar hybrid stroller-wagons like the��. But like a�� cooler, the Veer is over-engineered to be extremely rugged and durable, making it a piece of gear that will stand up to kid abuse, travel, and years of family adventures. —J.W.

“What If We Get It Right?” by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Although it’s not gear in the traditional sense, this new book has gotten me through��a recent spell of climate anxiety. Written by one of the country’s most notable climate experts, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, it’s easy, provocative reading that left me feeling both relieved that the climate solutions we need are at our fingertips and inspired to take more climate action myself. Through a series of conversations with experts across a wide range of industries—from farming to finance to film and more—and concrete examples, Johnson examines what the world could look like if we come together and get climate action right. And what that looks like is pretty beautiful. –Kristin Hostetter, head of sustainability��and contributing editor

Backnobber II

Look simple? I’ve heard my husband call the Backnobber II the best tool in the house. He got it upon the recommendation of the accountant at our old workplace, Big Stone Publishing, at least 10 years ago, and uses it near daily. Mike has chronic shoulder issues from decades of climbing and shooting a bow, and serious back pain, either from some hard falls skiing or just years of charging around.

At such times, the Backnobber, near breathtaking in its S-shaped, dual-knobbed simplicity, saves him, as much as anything can. He hooks and crooks the knots and trigger points in his back, shoulders, and glutes; he can do it even while carrying on a conversation with some pitying friend who comes by to check in. I’ve barely used the thing, but I’ve had a front-row seat in witnessing its efficacy. He thinks it is a miracle worker, and I think for $35, you can’t lose. —Alison Osius, senior editor

Smartwool Active Fleece Jogger

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I love winter running once I get out in the fresh air and the miles fly by easily—but I still struggle to layer appropriately, especially on December’s first really cold days when I used to head out in shorts and tee. These 47 percent Polyester, 38 percent Merino wool, and 15 percent Elastane joggers have helped this year by being one cozy, dependable layer for my legs when the thermometer drops. The interior is a soft, brushed fleece that coddles my skin while a smooth, tightly woven exterior protects against wind and moisture. The relaxed fit makes them easy to pull on, but they aren’t so baggy that they get in the way on the run.

Despite being thicker than most running pants, they breathe remarkably well and don’t overheat when I’m warm, like most insulated apparel does. I don’t wear them when it’s over 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but I’ve reached for them a couple of times per week when the thermometer is below freezing and they’ve kept me comfortable from stepping out my door to charging up trails into the wind—and they haven’t collected any odor despite only one wash all month. —Jonathan Beverly, senior running gear editor

The post The Gear Our Editors Are Loving This December appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

In of The Road Less Eaten, chef and host Biju Thomas visits Utah’s Heber Valley, an unassuming corner of the western U.S. that has seen an explosion in its food scene over the course of the last ten years. While in the Heber Valley, Thomas spends the majority of his time in Midway, Utah, a town on the Eastern flank of the Wasatch Mountains, about an hour away from Salt Lake City and a stone’s throw from Park City.

Thomas tells viewers that local farming and great ingredients have made the Heber Valley a quiet food mecca with a vibrant culinary scene that can hold its own against other, more well-known food destinations. With farms and ranches dotting the landscape, and local bakeries and restaurants that understand the value of locally sourced ingredients, the Heber Valley is filled with dining destinations for visitors to explore after a day hitting the slopes or adventuring in the outdoors.

 

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Hawk and Sparrow Bakery

Thomas starts his journey through the Heber Valley food scene at , which is an organic, artisan bakery located in baker Andrew Berthrong’s home garage in Midway, Utah, that Thomas says produces some of the best bread in Utah. Hawk and Sparrow is known for its sourdough, which is a staple in Heber Valley restaurants that aim to showcase local ingredients and artisan products. Thomas describes Berthrong, a former academic, as “one of the best bakers in the country.”

Viewers watch as Thomas and Berthrong sample the popular sourdough, which takes a multi-day process to create. As they slather the bread with butter, Thomas remarks on the beauty and simplicity of freshly baked bread that’s made with just a few ingredients because it really has nothing to get in the way of its flavor.

 

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Lola’s Street Kitchen

From Hawk and Sparrow, Thomas ventures onto , a former food truck that now has a brick-and-mortar location in Midway, Utah. Owned and operated by David and Mandy Medina, Lola’s makes all of their own breads, buns, and pitas in addition to using some of the sourdough from Hawk and Sparrow. The Medinas envisioned the restaurant as showcasing the best of American street food, all made from scratch.

One of the highlights of Thomas’ visit to Lola’s includes a rundown of their three most popular items: the fried chicken sandwich on freshly baked potato roll, lamb gyro on handmade pita, and a portobello truffle melt on Hawk and Sparrow’s sourdough. Thomas describes Lola’s as approachable and affordable with beautiful dishes but without any fussiness or stuffiness.

Heber Valley Artisan Cheese

After his ride on the local “Heber Creeper” train, Thomas takes viewers to the fourth-generation family-owned dairy farm and shop. Thomas describes the dairy—and its owner and operator Russ Kohler—as embodying the ethics of the region. At Heber Valley Artisan Cheese, they do it all; they grow the hay that feeds the cows, and they raise the herd that produces the milk that turns into some of the world’s finest cheese.

And Thomas isn’t exaggerating. Heber Valley Artisan Cheese won a gold medal at the World Cheese Awards for its Lemon Sage Cheddar, and its Wasatch Back Jack is a National Champion. A highlight for Thomas comes when he gets to taste both prize winners. As he samples the cheddar, Thomas remarks that the cheese is actually “more buttery than cheesy,” which Kohler explains is a result of the cows’ diet. Because corn doesn’t grow at elevation, the Heber Valley Artisan Cheese herd has an alfalfa-based diet. Alfalfa diets create a richer, creamier texture in the cheese.

 

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Midway Mercantile

Chef John Platt then gives Thomas a tour and tasting at his upscale Midway, Utah, eatery . A former teacher and principal, Platt moved to Midway nearly two decades ago, drawn by the Heber Valley’s beauty.

While at Midway Mercantile, Thomas gets to sample their panko-crusted Alaskan Halibut, which is Midway Mercantile’s most popular dish. The fish is panko crusted in yellow curry, served with coconut rice and spinach, and topped with apple chutney. Thomas loves the dish—particularly the apple chutney. Thomas also gets to taste Sandra’s Classic Salad, a salad named after Platt’s wife and composed of greens, herbs, lemon vinaigrette, truffle oil, and grilled Juustoleipa cheese. Juustoleipa is a Finnish bread cheese that really has its flavors come out when grilled.

 

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Ritual Chocolate

Thomas finishes his exploration of the Heber Valley at , where Anna Seear has perfected small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate from ethically sourced heirloom cacao. Thomas notes that he and Seear actually both started their careers in the Boulder, Colorado, food scene.

After walking through the artisanal process Seear uses to create Ritual’s finely crafted chocolate, Thomas enjoys tasting Ritual’s unique, single-origin drinking chocolates, which are made from half hot water and half chocolate. After drinking both the Madagascar and the Ecuador, Thomas notes the cinnamon-y flavor and richness of the Ecuador, while the Madagascar has a brighter flavor.

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The ���ϳԹ��� Festival is back.

A year after the inaugural gathering brought some 18,000 people together for a rousing weekend of music and joy in the outdoors, the with presenting sponsors and will return to downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park, May 31-June 1, 2025. The just-announced lineup of musical headliners includes , , , , , , , and .

The two-day event will also feature conversations with iconic athletes, renowned storytellers, and inspiring changemakers, plus an adventure films series and a diverse mix of outdoor experiences.

The ���ϳԹ��� Summit, a precursor to the Festival and the outdoor industry’s premier networking event, which was attended by over 500 influential leaders in its first year, will return on Thursday, May 29. The Summit includes a full day of programming on Friday, May 30, plus exclusive gatherings during the Festival weekend.

The 2024 ���ϳԹ��� Festival and Summit was hailed as that created a new model for a national outdoor community gathering. Building off that momentum, organizers have expanded the Festival grounds to include Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park in order to accommodate an anticipated 25,000-plus attendees. Activities include climbing experiences, yoga classes, skills workshops, gear demos, a kids’ zone, exciting food options, and a variety of immersive brand engagements. Films and talks will take place at spaces inside the Denver Art Museum and the newly renovated Denver Public Library.

���ϳԹ��� Festival presenting sponsor Capital One is running an exclusive Capital One cardholder presale, giving eligible cardholders—including ��customers—48-hour early access to tickets beginning Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. MT, and ending at 10 a.m. MT on Friday, Dec. 13, or until the last ticket is sold. Supplies are limited. Those trying to access the Capital One Cardholder Presale must use an eligible Capital One Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card to purchase presale tickets. Excludes Capital One issued private label cards. Tickets start at $99 for the full weekend.

Immediately following the Capital One cardholder presale, all tickets will be released to the general public at 10 a.m. MT on Friday, December 13. VIP packages will start at $150 for a single day and $275 for the full weekend, with access to a premium VIP viewing area, exclusive food vendors, private bar access, expedited entry, and more.

���ϳԹ���+ members have access to early-bird pricing throughout the entire sales window on single-day general admission tickets and all VIP ticket types, plus members have the opportunity to purchase GA+ tier tickets at general admission pricing. Two-day GA+ tickets start at $175 and include perks like express entry, private bathrooms, additional food and beverage options, and access to the ���ϳԹ���+ Lounge. Children ages 12 and under enter free.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the .

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Before you sneak away from your family to get after some early season ice or a gym session, do your future self a favor: Snag these Black Friday climbing deals. Whether it’s time to retire some questionable gear or you’ve had your eyes on a new addition to your climbing kit, you’ll probably find what you need on sale now through Cyber Monday.

In particular, there are a number of deals on climbing shoes we love through both REI and Backcountry, so this is a great chance to add another pair to your quiver. You’ll also find hardware, some ropes, ice gear—and scroll to the end for the MVP of deals for climbers who love multi-pitch and remote backcountry routes.

Read on for the 14 Black Friday climbing deals that the editors at��Climbing��can’t pass up this year.

ED NOTE: If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.��Learn more.

REI’s Best Black Friday Deals for Climbers

REI launched its Cyber Deals on Tuesday, November 26. Since the co-op stages its annual #Opt���ϳԹ��� on Black Friday, the best deals will likely arrive on Saturday, November 30 and beyond. Here are a few we’re already eyeing and check back here on Sunday with some deeper discounts on climbing gear from REI to consider.

La Sportiva Miura VS Climbing Shoes

$148.93 ($199)

If your footwork repertoire involves pockets and micro edging, the La Sportiva Miura VS Climbing Shoe is among the best. We as the best tech shoe out there. With an aggressive downturn and semi-stiff, low-profile toe box, this shoe is perfect for precision climbing up slab and narrow cracks.

Update: The on-sale men’s version of this shoe is now sold out!��

La Sportiva TX2 Evo Approach Shoes

$86.73 ($159)

With great grip and breathability, these approach shoes strike a near-perfect balance between nimble hiking and climbing performance—without the weight. That’s why we as our top pick for a lightweight approach shoe. We also love that La Sportiva crafts it with recycled materials and a sole designed for easy repairs. The upshot: You’d be hard-pressed to find an approach shoe of this quality for under $100—we’re adding it to our carts now.

Update: The men’s version of this shoe is no longer on sale. Check back Saturday as REI adds more deals to see which approach shoes are on sale.��

The Best Black Friday Climbing Deals at Backcountry.com

If you’re looking for more techy climbing gear or alpine equipment and REI doesn’t carry it, try Backcountry.com, which is offering up to 50% off during its Black Friday Sale.

Scarpa Veloce L Climbing Shoe

$131.21 ($174.95)

Comfort meets performance in the Veloce line from Scarpa. This shoe also has an uncanny ability to mold to your foot, with its flexible and soft microsuede upper. That’s why, in our for every style, we chose the Scarpa Veloce L as the best training shoe. While the shoe is, according to Scarpa, purpose-built for the gym, we loved how it performed—and especially smeared—on real rock, too.

Scarpa Phantom Tech HD Mountaineering Boot

$674.21 ($898.95)

These solid boots got an update in 2023 and are now warmer, more durable, and more comfortable than ever. , these boots performed in downright frigid conditions. From long approaches to steep mixed climbs, these boots are a solid pick for your ice and alpine adventures—and over $200 off.

Petzl Sitta Harness

$131.21 ($174.95)

We love this versatile and lightweight harness for fast-and-light ice and mountaineering adventures—that’s in our recent roundup of the best ice gear. It also has two lateral ice-clipper slots for your screws and can fit a full rack of alpine gear. Impressively, the Sitta compressed down to the size of a bike water bottle, making it highly packable, too. A couple downsides to consider: the leg loops aren’t adjustable and the Sitta doesn’t provide enough cushioning to make it viable for hanging belays.

Petzl Sirocco Helmet

$97.46 ($129.95)

We’ve long been fans of this ultralight helmet from Petzl, and this year, it got some updates that make it an even more solid pick. Overall, the Sirocco got slimmed down for a better fit and field of vision, as well as a new ventilation design for more breathability. This helmet’s more comfortable than ever—and we think it , too.

Petzl Swift RL 1100 Headlamp

$104.96 $139.95

Super light and compact, this high-quality headlamp illuminates up to 155 meters (508+ feet). It’s a brilliant choice for night-time objectives or later-than-expected raps off that multi-pitch route. We haven’t field-tested the Swift RL, but we generally trust Petzl to effectively light the way on our nocturnal adventures.

Petzl NEOX Belay Device

$112.46 ($149.95)

If you’ve been less than stoked on dishing out slack to a lead climber using a Grigri, you’ve got to try the Petzl NEOX Belay Device. We’ve used it for rock, gym, and ice climbing and and .��Using the same cam-assisted blocking that makes the Grigri the safer choice over an ATC or other devices, the NEOX innovates with an integrated wheel that makes feeding out slack faster and smoother. Petzl also engineered the NEOX with recycled materials to reduce its environmental impact.

Edelrid Eagle Lite Protect Pro Dry – 9.5mm

$224.96-$247.46 ($329.95)

When we this year, this one was a clear favorite. In designing it, Edelrid drew upon material innovations in military and space engineering to make this rope super strong, heat-resistant, and abrasion-resistant. Did we mention it handles like a dream? Available in 60m and 70m.

The Best Black Friday Climbing Deals From More Brands

With Black Diamond dishing out up to 60% off, Rocky Talkie offering a flat 20% off everything, and the Canadians up at Arc’teryx getting in on the Black Friday fun with up to 30% off, the big retailers aren’t the only places to seek out climbing deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Black Diamond Ultralight Ice Screw

$72.21-$76.46 ($84.95-$89.95)

BD’s got a few ice screws on sale and for fast-and-light missions. Not only is this aluminum-steel hybrid screw super lightweight, but it handles beautifully, which we definitely appreciate when the cold is getting the better of our digits.

Black Diamond Camalot Z4

$75.46 ($89.95)

Build out your trad rack with these BD cams on sale—a . You can save on sizes ranging from 0 to .75 for bomber protection in small cracks—then pencil in that Indian Creek trip for spring.

Black Diamond Crack Gloves

$37.46 ($49.95)

Less tape, less waste, more time. These gloves might just be the answer to your crack climbing woes (from a few years ago when these gloves were first released). These sticky gloves are abrasion-resistant thanks to synthetic suede that makes cruising up that hand crack a relative breeze. We also think these make nice stocking stuffers for the trad enthusiast in your life.

Arc’teryx Alpha Parka

$700 ($1,000)

Dress warmer, belay longer (without shivering). This is our go-to belay jacket, but it comes at the premium you’d expect from one of the most trusted names in alpine outerwear. Now’s your chance to invest in your warmth at a discount as hefty as the 850-fill down inside this parka. Mapped synthetic insulation and a Gore-Tex Infinium shell also help keep you dry if snow starts falling.

Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio

$88 ($110)

20% off an award-winning communication device that makes belayer/climber comms a breeze on long routes or days in the backcountry? We’ll take it. We’ve of this tricked-out walkie-talkie for multi-pitch climbs and long days out there. With a max range of 35-plus miles and a rock-solid battery life, the Rocky Talkie is a climber’s (and skier’s) best friend.

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