Design and Tech
Archive
Whether you think e-mountain bikes are a godsend or an abomination, as companies like Currie Tech prepare to roll out whole lines of electric-assist trail rides for 2014, it’s clear the debate is upon us.
Clothing that’s purpose-built for serious outdoor activities has been migrating to the city for several years now.
A closer look at how air bags increase your chances of surviving a deadly slide
It’s not too late to reboot your career. Just ask David Lang, who bounced back from a layoff by launching a thriving underwater-exploration startup in a matter of months.
Getting older doesn’t have to mean getting slower. Not with a leg up from the frontiers of science.
Don't touch that wild water until you've used at least one of these methods
A camera can capture things the human eye can't—including star trails.
Hack your way to comfort in the great outdoors
The best way to keep your water supply squeaky clean
How to show off your heart rate to the world
This titanium-body chronograph is the smallest, sharpest-looking personal beacon we’ve seen.
The outdoors can be deadly if you're unprepared. But these gear items will help you make it home alive—even if everything else goes wrong.
Next-gen satellite phones make it easier than ever to stay connected
Hiking is a gloriously simple activity, but that doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvement. These five products, including waterproof cell phones and rescue-ready drones, could make you look at backpacking in a different light.
Can guidebook companies survive in the digital age? We take a look and try some new alternatives
Flying a kite may be child’s play. But done right it can be serious, no-holds-barred child’s play.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, but be sure to bring it along.
Escaping the easy way with summer’s coolest new ride, the M8 Rivoli
Not everybody can get behind screaming, flourescent shades. That's OK. This year's crossover designs pair subdued styling with hotshot performance.
Fitness tech to measure your effort, keep you motivated, and let you know when to go hard and when to back off.
Finally, a waterproof gadget fit for an outdoorsman
The world’s most accomplished blind adventurer has jumped out of airplanes, mountain-biked Leadville, and summited Everest. But nothing has proven to be as challenging as his current goal: to solo-kayak the Grand Canyon.
Stay comfortable and illuminated with LuminAid's TPU pillow lantern
R&D at outdoor companies is being revolutionized by 3-D printing. The result: Better gear that gets to you faster.
But, seriously, can what you sleep on really make a difference?
Want to watch the Tour de France but don't have premium cable? Try these nifty alternatives.
Three Kickstarter-esque projects that caught our eye this week
Shoes fall into the “do not skimp” category when it comes to gear.
Want to get rid of that greasy tattoo on your leg? Check this out.
New technology has made it easier than ever to keep real-time tabs on an endless array of fitness metrics. Don't drown in the data stream.
From ferrying kids to preschool to hitting up the farmer’s market, Xtracycle’s beefy longtail can handle it all.
Green your showers with this easy upgrade
I’m training for a trail race, and I’m looking for a way to bring water for a couple of hours’ run. I don’t want to haul a huge waterbag on my back. What’s my best bet?
My girlfriend is looking for a new phone, and she’ll be using it outdoors a lot this summer. Which one has the most protective case available?
Anson Fogel, founder of Forge Motion Pictures and winner of more than 60 awards at outdoor film festivals, on how to get the most out of your action cam.
The Pong case can help to reduce your radiation
ϳԹ picks the best iPhone cases of May 2013, including the Lifeproof Fre
Bell’s new enduro-oriented Super is the latest in a quickly expanding market of all-mountain helmets. But are these new, bigger lids really safer?
Get your dog airborne with the Doggie BASE Rig from Caninsanity.
I figure a new do might help me shave some time off of my bike and run. Right now, my hair’s just kind of long. What should I do with it?
A Depression-era insulating material is becoming the hottest thing in outerwear
One of the greatest big-wave surfers alive nearly died on a 50-footer in December. Now many in the surfing world are blaming another heavyweight—and the jet-powered board he was riding.
GoPro shrunk the latest Hero to the size of a dental-floss dispenser and still managed to pack a lot of power.
Christopher McDougall started it, throwing a brick at long-held theories about striding styles and shoe designs in Born to Run—and inspiring believers to wear minimalist shoes or no shoes at all. What followed was a war, pitting lightfoots against traditionalists and filling shoe stores with a mind-numbing array of choices. Who’s right? Andrew Tilin jogs
Behind the customization revolution that's changing the way we buy everything from candy bars to sea kayaks
Why fitness training via webcam is more popular than ever
The weather's been bad, and all I've been doing is sitting at home and practicing my knots. Is there an app for that?
I'm starting to get more serious about my training. What heart-rate monitor should I buy?
Kickstarter has become the go-to funding source for serious expeditions and boondoggles alike. And that has some benefactors wanting their cash back.
I want to get a small portable solar panel to charge my phone. Do any of the ones on the market work, or are they more trouble than they're worth?
My gym has one of those vibration machines that’s supposed to help you lose weight by standing on it. Do these things really work—and are they safe?
I’ve started using my mobile phone to view topo maps when on the mountain. What app would you recommend to look at them offline?
I have a marathon coming up in a few months. How can I get online coaching tailored to my ability? Oh, and how can I get it for free?
When it comes to holiday giving, you should never have to choose. This year, our editors have pulled together 68 perfect ideas—priced from $4 to $50,000—guaranteed to make anyone on your list feel like a million bucks.
Jason Diamond looks at how the Hudson Bay's gone from a treasured heirloom blanket to a vintage fashion piece
Over the past five years, Google has taken its Street View maps to 43 countries, deploying cars, trikes, snowmobiles, and even a submersible to map 360-degree panoramas of the world around us. In June, the company announced a new initiative to bring the same seamless experience into the backcountry in a bid to create the world’s most amazing trail maps.
London is being called the Twitter Olympics—there were more Olympics-related tweets on one day in May than there were during the entire Beijing Games. Here are the Twitter accounts, sites, and apps that matter.
From magic coatings that repel water to wired ski poles, these are the four innovations of tomorrow
Can I transform my smartphone into a more functional piece of gear?
A titanium bike with swooping lines and parallel triangles for added flex and greater shock absorption.
A running monitor that turns any workout into a game and collects information on your every move
Of the dozens of poles, stoves, multitools, and other essentials we tested this year, we kept reaching for these six, from the Brunton Get-Back GPS, which stores up to three waypoints and steers you to the trailhead, to MSR SureLock TR-3s, which, at 20 ounces a pair, aren't ultralight, but they are quite sturdy and strong.
Still fumbling around with wires and a prehistoric bike computer? It's time for a performance boost. Here are six ways to enhance your next ride, from the headlight-taillight combo Light & Motion Urban 500 to the data-collecting Garmin Edge 200 to the iBike Sports iDash Phone Booth, which you can buy as an all-in-one bike computer.
A cardio and resistance trainer inspired by surfing motions
We break down the best sites, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and apps for travelers, bikers, gear nerds, and more
ϳԹ picks the essential tech tools, including the OtterBox Defenders Series case.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the K2 Rescue Shovel Plus.
A documentary about electric cars, a cool climbing app, and the best long-form journalism websites