The flat fields of the Mississippi Delta seem endless, and they can magically transport a traveler into the past. Sometimes when I’m driving through a stretch of this crescent-shaped part of northwest Mississippi—not to be confused with the region hundreds of miles south of here where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico—I look at the landscape and feel like I’m in one of those classic shots taken by a Depression-era photographer like . I know those photos intimately from the pages of books, but when I’m here, I’m also wandering through the early pages of my life.

My family once lived in the Delta, and I’ve been visiting it since I was a child. But if I’m being honest, I didn’t fully appreciate the richness of this place until I was well into middle age, when I came back to Mississippi to teach after decades of living in the Northeast.

I’ve always been fascinated by the dramatic you experience just north of Yazoo City—near the southern end of the Delta—when your car goes down a hill and, suddenly, the land looks tabletop flat for as far as you can see. In my mid-forties, to connect with the memory of my younger self, I began driving Delta roads as a pastime. Later I began to wander from them and ramble through towns with a litany of colorful names—Midnight, Alligator, Panther Burn, Egypt—unsure what I was searching for. Now, at age 65, I’m still driving around, with a new and profound sense of wonder.

The post Mississippi Delta: Returning Home to Its Haunted Past appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

It’s that time of year again: springtime. And with the blooming flowers and occasional rain showers, comes watery eyes, itchy throats, and lots of sneezing. Allergy season is upon us.

Like me, you may have had the same exchange with your friends, coworkers, or even your barista: “This allergy season is brutal!” But is it really more unpleasant than previous years?

Is This Year’s Allergy Season Worse Than Usual?

You may think that your area of the country has been hit the hardest by this year’s allergy season. And while you may not be wrong, you’re not exactly right either. “I think this is a common issue across all of the U.S.,” says , an allergist and immunologist at Indiana University School of Medicine. However, in certain areas of the country, weather pattern changes may promote more pollination in our trees and grasses than a typical season, he says.

“Based on what my patients are telling me, it does seem to be a little bit worse than perhaps some of the more recent ones,” Jin says. “But I will say, overall, there’s a lot of variability from season to season.” It’s not unusual to have a season with higher pollen counts, followed by one with lower levels, he says, according to historical data. Pollen counts

You also may be dealing with those symptoms for a longer period of time. by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America found that recent pollen seasons are almost a month longer than they were 30 years ago.

Can Allergy Medications Become Ineffective?

If you’re anything like me, during the springtime months, you take your daily dose of an antihistamine, such as Zyrtec or Claritin, right as your morning alarm goes off. But if you’re still in a fog, you may wonder: Is this medication even making a dent?

“If a person’s been taking an antihistamine for a long time, they can seem to get less effective,” Jin says. In that case, he recommends switching to a different antihistamine. If you’ve identified as a Zyrtec person for years, you may want to switch to Claritin for a week or two—or vice versa.

When tablet medications don’t seem to do the trick at subduing your itchy eyes, Jin says you can discuss the option of adding on more medication with your doctor, such as a steroid-based nasal spray.

However, if the antihistamine and nasal spray treatments aren’t cutting it, Jin recommends meeting with an allergist to find out what you’re specifically allergic to. After completing those tests, you and your allergist can design a plan for desensitization, which may include allergy shots. “That’s a big way we help people manage the allergy symptoms,” he says.

I’ve Never Had Allergies Before. Why Am I Suddenly Being Walloped?

I’ll never forget my first time
 developing seasonal allergies. It was the spring of 2020 and along with dealing with the start of the pandemic, I was also confronted with itchy and watery eyes. Developing seasonal allergies later in life isn’t unusual, according to Jin.

“The development of environmental allergies can occur at almost any time point in a person’s life,” he explains. Even if it’s not well understood why that happens, Jin says he’s observed that in countless patients. You—and I—are not alone in our late-stage seasonal allergy development. And while that may not be much of a consolation, here’s to hoping for lower pollen counts next season.

The post What You Need to Know About This Year’s Allergy Season, According to an Allergist appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

The first full month of spring is always a relief. There is still a lot of temperamental weather, but no matter how harsh the winter has been—or continues to be—there are signs of the impending shift. The sun spends longer in the sky, buds emerge, and the birds begin to sing. șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű editors and contributors shed layers, and doubled down on our time out of doors. This is the gear that helped us do it.

SunGod Ultras Sunglasses ($180)

April threw every kind of weather at those of us living on the high plains, from blizzards to high-80s heat waves. The only thing guaranteed on my runs was wind. So I was glad to have these full coverage glasses to keep out the blowing snow and grit. But I didn’t fall in love with the coverage alone. The lens clarity is remarkable, particularly in a flexible nylon that’s tough enough that they’re guaranteed for life. The fit is comfortable and secure—with grippy temple tips and a choice of four easy-to-swap nose pieces. Given their light weight and frameless, wrap-around design that stays out of my peripheral vision, I often forget I’m wearing them. I also appreciate that the company is carbon neutral, a certified B corp, and gives one percent of its revenue to sustainably-focused non-profits. Bonus: they sponsor beloved ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter, too. —Jonathan Beverly, senior editor

Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen 50 SPF ($18)

I spent most of my life not wearing sunscreen, and I’m now at the age where I regret it. My aversion was primarily due to the greasy or filmy feeling most sunscreens left on my skin. This offering by Japanese beauty brand BiorĂ© is the first one I’ve tried that doesn’t leave that residue, and I’m finally wearing sunscreen regularly. It absorbs quickly, smells nice, and doesn’t leave a white cast. It’s not advertised as water- or sweatproof, but I wear it for hot summer mountain bike rides and warm spring skiing days, and it keeps me protected. I love it so much I’ve given it to other sunscreen-resistant friends. —Gloria Liu, contributing writer

Hudski Doggler City Bike ($2,220)

Finding the just-right commuter bike has been hard for me. At first I rode a piece-of-shit road bike that was unreliable and sometimes left me stranded. After I became a gear reviewer at șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű, I started using high-end gravel bikes that were amazing, but also made me anxious because I never wanted to leave them locked up outdoors. So I was very happy to discover Hudski, a brand which has worked hard to design a smart city (you can also buy it in gravel or mountain configurations; the difference is mostly in the tire and wheel sizes). The frame is made from aluminum but to spice things up they’ve included a carbon fork, high-quality tires, mid-range components, ultra-comfy handlebars, and a dropper post. The result is a not-too-heavy, plenty reliable, fairly cushy, and fun commuter bike that I left locked outside several times this month. Even better: if I were to slap some knobby tires on this bike (there’s plenty of clearance) it would immediately be a capable gravel bike that could handle forest roads all day long. And thanks to a ton of mounting points on the frame, I could sling it with bags and also use it for a milder bike packing trip. —Jakob Schiller, contributing writer

Epiphany Outdoor Gear Pocket Bellows ($15)

Want to up your fire-building game? This featherweight, collapsible fire straw has been my best friend all winter long, making fire-building in my wood-burning stove 100 times easier and faster. Just extend the metal sections and blow. The straw laser-directs your breath into a mighty gust that gets even punky wood and tinder crackling in no time. I keep one near the stove and one in my car-camping kit. —Kristin Hostetter, head of sustainability

Ron’s Bikes Fabio’s Fanny ($170)

This exceedingly handsome bag lives on the front of my do-it-all rigid mountain-commuter-bikepacking bike and carries my essentials on every ride. The main body (12.5 by 8 x 4.5 inches) houses a repair kit with plenty of room for layers, snacks, and a camera. Two slim side pockets are large enough to hold wallets or cell phones. It secures tightly to the handlebars, thanks to two six-inch Voile straps and a drawcord cinch that wraps around the headtube. But my favorite features are its two transforming tricks. As you may have gathered from the name, it is also a fanny pack. There’s a wool sleeve at the back of the bag that houses a waist strap that you simply slide out when you need it. (That wool panel also pads your bike and your waist.) The second trick is that the top of the Fanny is expandable: when you have it in normal mode, the spare fabric folds into the body of the bag. When you need to carry a half dozen burritos on top of your normal gear, simply pull the fabric upwards, load it up, and fold the top flap over to one of three magnetic clasps to secure your cargo. And there’s no need to worry about it busting at the seams: it’s made by hand in Connecticut with burly, waterproof  X50 X-Pac (500-denier Cordura) that is very light and durable. I’ve been using this thing for nine months, and besides a little dust, there aren’t any signs of wear. It’s going to last for years and just look better as it ages. —Will Taylor, gear director

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Trail Cap ($36)

This is my go-top hat for running, hiking, and traveling. It weighs just 1.7 ounces, features UPF-50 sun protection, and is made of a Bluesign-approved nylon-polyester blend that dries extremely quickly. I love the soft, crushable brim, which lets me stuff it in a pocket or a bag without worrying about it losing its shape. The top breathes well on hot days and is great for dipping in the water at a creek crossing for a quick cool down. I very often forget I have it on my head and that, in my mind, is what makes for a good cap. —W.T.

The post The Gear Our Editors Loved in April appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Hikers in Colorado’s high country keep losing their shoes in the spring snowpack—and it’s putting them in danger, one search and rescue group has warned.

In a Facebook post on Friday titled “,” Summit County Rescue Group (SCRG) said it had performed three rescues on Quandary Peak, a popular fourteener, in less than a week. All of them involved hikers who had lost their shoes while postholing through the soft spring snowpack.

On Tuesday, a hiker lost a shoe on the mountain; while she managed to dig it out, she then found herself postholing in snow up to her chest and had to call for rescue. On Wednesday, a solo hiker lost his shoe permanently, leaving him unable to descend. Finally, on Thursday, a group of three hikers required rescue when one of them lost their footwear.

Colorado is in the midst of a spring warm-up, with the snowpack in many parts of the mountains freezing solid overnight and softening into wet, heavy snow during the day. SCRG noted that the variable conditions may be tricking some hikers into venturing out without flotation, only to get into trouble when the snowpack begins to melt out.

“Some areas are well packed down and [there are] other areas where it has been a warm day but overnight, it got cold and that froze that upper layer of snow,” SCRG member Aaron Parmet told . “That upper layer of snow may be supportive allowing people to get off trail fairly easily, but that thin layer may be underlined by completely unsupportive snow. When it warms up during the day, and that layer softens up, instead of sinking in [a little] you can go all the way in.”

In its Facebook post, SCRG offered some blunt advice to spring-hungry hikers: Find somewhere already melted out to hike, bring the proper gear, or don’t go out at all.

“This is not a great time to go hiking, period,” the group noted. ‘If you’re going anyway, make sure you have skis or snowshoes. If you’re an experienced backcountry skier, choose your skis. If you’re not experienced with skis, choose snowshoes; otherwise you may have a whole new problem set. If you’re on snowshoes, do your best to stay on the trail. You will certainly posthole, even with your snowshoes, if you get off trail. You may posthole with snowshoes even on the trail.”

As for those who do end up leaving their footwear above treeline, SCRG has an unorthodox idea on how to fund their rescue.

“We will be auctioning off all shoes and boots found on Quandary this summer after the snow melts,” the group joked.

The post Hikers Beware: Spring Snowpack May Eat Your Shoes appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Welcome to °żłÜłÙČőŸ±»ć±đ’s Deals of the Week, where we find and share fresh gear deals that are so good that we would recommend them to our friends and family. We’ll post updates regularly with more curated deals to help you get outside without hurting your wallet.

Patagonia

Deals: Up to 60 percent off past-season styles

Just in time to add some high quality spring and summer staples to your wardrobe, Patagonia added tons of new styles to their . Sizes are limited for many products, so stock up while you can!

Dirt Craft Mountain Bike Shorts | $169 Now $84

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Baggies Shorts 5-Inch | $65Ìę±·ŽÇ·É $29-$32

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Check out the rest of the sale .

Sea to Summit

Deals: 20 percent off new storage line

Sea to Summit just launched their new and improved line of dry bags and packs, compression sacks, and stuff sacks, all revamped using improved materials, innovative engineering, and a lower environmental footprint. Take 20 percent off any item from the new  with exclusive code OUTSIDE20, now through April 25.

Big River Dry Bag (5L – 65L) | $40-$80 Now $32-$64

Hydraulic Pro Dry Pack (50L – 100L) | $399-$499 Now $319-$399

the entire new storage line collection.

Charge E-bikes

Deal: $800 off any e-bike

“We like e-bikes, and think you will too. Take $800 off any e-bike from Charge Bikes with the exclusive code OUTSIDEDOW800, now through the end of the month.

XC Electric Mountain Bike | $2699 Now $1899

City Ebike | $1799Ìę±·ŽÇ·É $999

all the Charge e-bike models.

Want more deals in your inbox? Sign up for our Deals of the Week newsletter!

The post Exclusive and Curated Deals on Some of Our Favorite Outdoor Gear appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

March marks the official start of spring, but we all know what that means: the weather will do absolutely whatever it wants to. Historic amounts of snow? Why not? Seventy degrees and sunny? Sure. It’s a challenging time of year, when we’re stuck between the yearning for warmer weather and the last gasps of winter. Here’s what șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű editors and contributors are using to charge the shoulder season.

Bubba Goose Large Duffel Bag ($160)

Originally intended for the sails of America’s Cup racing boats, VX21 is a white nylon triple laminate reinforced with Kevlar. When veteran soft good designer Delian Scudder discovered a forgotten supply of the stuff in a warehouse, he knew he had to give the fabric a second life as something awesome. The result is these handmade duffel bags. Featuring zero stretch and incredibly high tear strength, the material works as well for a bag as a sail. Scudder reinforced the floor with two layers of 1,000 denier Cordura to add some structure, which helps hold the bag open while empty. I’ve been carrying a 34-liter size, which works for a weekend carry on—big enough to hold several changes of clothes, a laptop, and a second pair of shoes, but small enough to easily fit under a seat, or potentially scrape by as a personal item on top of a wheeled carry-on. The material might be rugged and technical, but it also turns heads at the airport. — Wes Siler, contributing editor

Dip Sun Shield: Conditioner Bar & After Swim Detangler ($32)

In my quest to banish plastic packaging from my life, I’ve started using shampoo and conditioner bars, instead of buying watered down bottles. But finding a conditioner bar that actually detangled my long hair has been a struggle—until I stumbled upon Dip. It works just as well as the bottled stuff, and one bar replaces up to six bottles of store-bought conditioner, provided you store it properly (use a draining soap dish). My hair and I are hooked. —Kristin Hostetter, head of sustainability

Mystery Ranch D-Route, $109

I’m not much of a backcountry skier. I go maybe once a year—because resort skiing is so fun, and you can go in, warm up, and have hot chocolate. But our local mountain, Aspen Highlands, has a super awesome above-lift area called Highland Bowl, and I try to hit it every time I go. The hike, about three-quarters of a mile and gaining 800 feet to a 12,392-foot summit, takes about 30 to 45 minutes. You can throw your skis over your shoulder, a simple but uncomfortable solution. One day, when we reached the top, my husband asked if I wanted a drink. He had on a light pack with water—and left-over Christmas chocolate! Sold. After that I got the Mystery Ranch D-8. It’s slim and low-profile, letting you sit back on a lift, but allows provisions. It easily has space for a snack, sandwich, and water bottle. I like to keep it that empty, but you could certainly put in extra gloves or goggles, and the top flap holds sunglasses for the uphill. The diagonal carry system keeps skis from hitting the back of my head; and the molded back panel is comfortable when you peel off a layer. Although minimalist, the pack could even suffice for spring backcountry missions, since it has room for avalanche equipment. I’m skiing with a friend tomorrow who never brings food. I’ll have chocolate. —Alison Osius, senior editor

Voormi Diversion Hoody ($269)

I love a good hoody, and I’ve found my new favorite. The Voormi Diversion has been my go-to layer over the last few months, and it’s absolutely awesome for everything from working around the farm to layering under a ski shell. The Diversion features an outer that’s reinforced with nylon. As a result, this thing is both soft and cozy on the inside, and seemingly indestructible on the outside, which is not something I can say for many other wool pieces I’ve tested over the years. And because it’s wool, it’s breathable while you’re working hard, but keeps you plenty warm on chilly mornings. —Bryan Rogala, contributing writer

Blizzard Hustle 10 ($799)

I’ve been looking for the perfect “Santa Fe ski” since I moved here in 2014. You see, our local resort, , has a generous uphill policy that lets you skin up within the ski area boundary anytime, for free. It’s obviously best to do this in the morning before lifts start spinning on a powder day—you get fresh tracks, and a killer workout before most folks get out of bed. On really good days, my friends and I will often skin up early and then ride lifts once the resort opens. So a good “Santa Fe ski” is really just a good 50/50 ski that works as well inbounds as it does in the backcountry. It needs to be light on the climb, yet still damp enough to be fun inbounds on groomers or hardpack snow. For years now, my go-to alpine setup has been a pair of Blizzard Rustler 10s, so when they came out with the Hustle 10 in 2022 (which is basically a lightened version of the Rustler) I was intrigued. After finally getting to try it out this spring, I’ve finally found the one. To me, it skis damn near as well as my Rustlers on the descents, while remaining light enough for fitness laps or longer backcountry tours. That’s thanks to the ski’s core, which blends wood, carbon fiber, and fiberglass to keep it lightweight, yet stable. If you’re looking for a do-it-all ski that’s suited to, say, a trip to Salt Lake where you ski a few days at Alta or Snowbird and then tour in Little Cottonwood Canyon, this is it. —B.R.

Rawlogy OG Cork Massage Ball ($14)

I hurt my upper back while I was skiing last weekend. I don’t know how I did it—I didn’t fall, crash, or even twist more than normal. I just dropped in, nailed what I thought was a solid run, and then realized I couldn’t raise my arm above my shoulder without clenching my teeth. I’m slowly coming around to the idea that, as I get older, this may just be the kind of thing that happens to me more often. Fortunately, I have a pretty good collection of rehab equipment at home, and this cork massage ball is ready and able to help me roll out knots, strains, and uncooperative vertebrae. The pliable texture is more comfortable than a lacrosse ball, and the small-but-not-too-small size lets me get at pressure points without pressing too hard. A couple of sessions with this, a little ibuprofen, a little ice, and I’ll be ready to get back out there and hurt myself in some brand new way next weekend. —Adam Roy, executive editor

Janji Transit Tech Pant ($94)

I ran in this thin jogger more than anything else last month. The polyester-spandex blend is light and breathable yet effectively cuts chilly winds, so you can wear it when it’s cold but also when it warms up—a solid combo for spring. The fit is also loose enough so you can easily wear a thermal layer or shorts underneath, expanding the temperature range even further. And three zip pockets secure valuables from bouncing out during trail runs or in the airport. Best of all? The polyester is recycled and the DWR is PFC-free. —Will Taylor, gear director

Blackstrap Expedition Hood Balaclava ($40)

The Expedition is Blackstrap’s burliest balaclava, rated for skiing and boarding in low temperatures and cold wind. But I found that it’s breathable enough to work in temps up to 35 degrees, so this thing covers most resort riding in my book. My ear canals are super sensitive to the icy gusts from years of cold-water surfing, so I appreciate the wind-blocking prowess of the double layer nylon-polyester-elastane fabric, and love the hinged face cover for covering up when it’s blustery or dropping heat when it’s warm. It also dries fast, features UPF 50 sun protection, and is made in Bend, Oregon. —W.T.

The post The Gear Our Editors Loved in March appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

doesn’t remember the name of the documentary he saw in late 2019 about Uttarayan, an annual kite festival in western India. But he vividly recalls being awed by the YouTube video playing on his laptop screen. “The shape of the kites, the lines of thread, all these beautiful things flying in the sky—it really intrigued me,” says Coedel, who lives in Paris. Three weeks later, in January of 2020, the photographer flew to the state of Gujarat and then traveled around the region to witness the celebration himself. During the weeklong Uttarayan, people parade brightly colored kites through the streets of Ahmedabad and Vadodara and Mumbai from dawn to dusk, reveling in the end of winter and anticipating the spring harvest season. As Coedel snapped pictures and spoke with locals, he was moved by the sight of Hindus and Muslims of all ages eating and playing together. “At the beginning, I just wanted to make images that were compositionally appealing, because I didn’t know much about the culture before I arrived,” he says. “It evolved into not only creating images that capture the abstract shapes of the kites, but also documenting this magical time that people were enjoying.” The trip took place just months before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and he hopes to return this winter to photograph the festival again. “When I look at these pictures, I can’t help thinking that some of these children’s lives must have completely changed,” Coedel says.

The post Let’s Go Fly a Kite appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

The coming of the warm season is hard not to love: no matter how frozen a winter soul someone has, we can all— at least in in theory—appreciate having more sun. This year, it feels particularly bright. This is the gear șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű and company used this month to revel in it.

Ripton Women’s Smoke Jorts ($79)

I have been living in Ripton jorts this month. I’ve always just worn an old pair of cut-off Levi’s when it’s time for spring resort hot laps, but I’ll never go back after sampling this pair’s stretchy recycled cotton, polyester, and elastane blend. The waist never feels like it’s digging into my midriff in the way rigid denim can, which is key when I’m going hard. I love the worn-in look that the raw hem has, and the cut is super flattering—the 5.5-inch inseam looks way better when I’m on a bike than other mountain bike offerings. And even though they feel super supple and breathable compared to regular denim, they didn’t rip when I took a fall onto my right hip. My only quibble is that the gray color isn’t the best for hiding the inevitable butt sweat. —Kelly Klein, associate editor

Smith Bobcat Sunglasses ($209)

I have a little head, which is why I was hyped to see Smith come out with of retro sporty shield-style sunglasses with a smaller fit. Usually this kind of shade swallows the entire upper part of my face and looks a little ridiculous, but that’s not the case with the Bobcats. This smaller lens (compared to the OG Wildcats this pair is based on) is actually proportional to my head, so now I can revel in the excellent lightweight coverage on bright days in the backcountry. I’ll be wearing these for many adventures ahead. —K.K.

DUER Live Lite Pant Slim ($135)

I put five years of daily bike commuting into my last pair of Duer jeans, but breathability was always an issue in the summer months. On a recent, unseasonably warm spring trip to Moab, Utah, I tried out a pair of Duer’s new lightweight . They look great, with a slim fit, casual five-pocket design, and classic dark blue color. Most importantly, they breathe like a champ, even when hauling firewood and loaded coolers to a hard-to-reach campground in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park with mid-day temps in the low 80s. The cotton-lyocell-polyester-spandex blend is exceptionally stretchy and soft next to skin, while a gusseted crotch, triple-stitched inseams, and double-layered back pockets held up to scooting across slickrock and squatting over a campfire without drama. —Benjamin Tepler, assistant gear editor

Women’s Kyrgies Molded Sole—Low Back Slippers ($89)

Though the weather is warming up, I’m still padding around the house in cozy, simple wool slippers from . While these lightweight slip-ons became a daily staple for me at home, they stand out on ski trips, whether you’re posted up at a lodge or toured into a hut. I like the low back version with the molded sole, which are easy to get on and off and offer just enough grip in slippery conditions. —Abigail Barronian, senior editor

Hex Laundry Detergent ($12)

Shoulder season is a bittersweet time: putting a storage wax on my skis and packing away my helmet and goggles always makes me a little nostalgic for the laps of winters’ past. But doing right by my gear and storing it properly ensures that it’ll be in top shape when I’m ready to pull it out in six-to-nine months. And yes, that means washing your kit, and not just your base and mid layers. Your bibs and jacket need regular cleaning (and drying) to preserve their performance and waterproofing over time, which requires a performance fabric-specific detergent like from Hex. I love it because it leaves my kit smelling fresh and has the added bonus of erasing any beer and blood stains accumulated on closing day. —Maren Larsen, podcast producer

Wild Rye Lucy Party Shirt ($89)

I have a cheap Hawaiian shirt I ride in sometimes, and I have no idea what material it’s made of, but it might be the least breathable stuff on earth. party shirt made by women-led mountain bike brand Wild Rye is a big upgrade: its polyester-spandex blend is lightweight and quick-wicking so that I can ride in it on warm days. My favorite feature (besides the fun, eye-catching design) is that it ripples in the wind like a superhero cape when I’m going off of jumps. —Gloria Liu, contributing writer

Adidas Ultraboost 22 Shoes ($190)

I took a break from running after I completed my first trail ultramarathon in November 2021. Just last month, I started running shorter distances on the road to build strength, prevent injury, focus on form, and get my legs back. The road kicks provide ample cushioning for pavement workouts. They form-fit my narrow feet, deliver arch support through my entire stride to prevent overpronation, and their soft, sock-like upper makes them comfortable as I work into higher mileage. Road running isn’t my favorite, but this pair helps make it more bearable. —Patty Hodapp, interim digital director

Patagonia R1 Fleece Pullover Hoody ($129)

Before “active insulation” became a buzzword in the outdoor industry, there was the . This is the light, thin, grid fleece that inspired an entire genre of lightweight midlayers. But the one I’ve recently been wearing nonstop is not just any R1. It’s the R1 that I’ve had since roughly 2006. At this point, it’s been stretched out from years of abuse and the wicking properties of its synthetic material have been compromised from too many trips through the drier. It’s basically just a technical sweatshirt. But that doesn’t matter for low-key climbing and yard work, or for pulling on after a run. In fact, I prefer it. Sometimes, it’s nice to return to something un-flashy and familiar. Plus: after a few years relegated to a bottom drawer, this old fleece has reminded me of just how long a piece of gear can remain useful. —Ariella Gintzler, associate gear director

Stages SC2 Stationary Bicycle ($2,246)

A common judgement about bike racers is that we look down our noses at indoor cycling classes. In truth, we often rely on indoor cycling for a quick fitness boost when we’re traveling, or when it’s nuking snow outside. Plus, many of us have discovered amid the growing popularity of virtual racing platforms like Zwift that you can actually push your body harder on a stationary bicycle than on an outdoor bike. (Veering off the road due to exhaustion simply cannot happen on a spin bike.) A few years ago I got my hands on a as a way to stay fit during the winter. This stationary bike is the workhorse of Stages’ line, and you can find them in hundreds of gyms and indoor cycling studios across the country, which is why they’re also frequently for sale for good prices on secondary marketplace sites like Ebay and Craigslist. I love the SC2 because it is bombproof and simple. This bike is wonderfully no-frills—it lacks the “smart’ capabilities of newer bicycles that can be used on Zwift or other virtual racing platforms, but it does have a crank arm-mounted power meter that is similarly reliable and indestructible. There’s something enjoyable about locking in, tuning out, and just blasting away for a short and intense sweat session. —Frederick Dreier, articles editor

Hoka All Gender Performance Hat ($30)

My wife and I are training for the same 50K together this summer and it is making our shared custody of a beloved running hat untenable. I switched to bright hat from Hoka because it marries the style of a five-panel hat with performance features like a highly breathable crown and a fantastically comfortable stretch-cord adjustment. It is now my long run hat of choice due to how quickly it pulls moisture from my noggin. I was scared I couldn’t pull off the color on my first run, but received a compliment on the hat from a young gas-station attendant while I was fueling up on my way home. I have barely taken it off, running or not, since. —Joe Jackson, Gear Guy

DemerBox DB2 Speaker ($399)

As a video creator, I practically live out of Pelican cases, which are the versatile and burly waterproof cases that can be customized to protect all sorts of gadgets. I’m also a bit of an audiophile, so when I came across the it felt like destiny. It’s basically your trusty Pelican case but with built-in Bluetooth, battery, and speakers that are all sleekly tucked into the lid, while still being bombproof. I highly recommend the DB2 model, which has a larger box cavity for better low note reproduction. And yes, you can play music while it floats! —Jackson Buscher, video producer

Lightforce Striker LED Driving Light Twin Pack ($475)

My wife and I recently went on an overlanding trip and our first camping spot was nine hours away from home. We ended up driving the last 20 miles on a dirt road in the pitch black, including two miles of fairly technical rock-crawling terrain. My wife was not happy about the bumpy ride, but we were able to navigate just fine because I have four of Lightforce lights attached to the rack on my Tacoma. All together they produce about 14,000 lumens of light and were able to clearly and spectacularly illuminate the road up to a quarter mile in front of us. All that light made the late-night driving safer and easier, and it also helped us find a bad-ass camping spot. I chose the Strikers instead of the , which Wes Siler prefers, because they fit better on my build. Drivers with smaller cars like Subarus should look at the Strikers as well. —Jakob Schiller, contributing writer

100% Hypercraft Sunglasses ($155)

April is always windy on the high plains of western Nebraska, but this year was insane. Day after day the wind howled relentlessly over the sandhills, making it impossible to avoid getting blown around if you went outside at all. Eye protection became more essential than usual, and I quickly started looking for sunglasses that offered maximal coverage without adding bulk or heat. The are so light and skeletal they initially felt fragile, but they have held up to a month of steady wear, plus being tossed around my vehicle and occasionally dropped while running, biking and coaching. More importantly, they hold securely, disappear when on, don’t fog or trap heat, and make it possible to keep my eyes open when leaning into 40 mile per hour winds. —Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor

Oiselle Sport Sandals ($48)

Things warmed up in New Mexico last month, and as sad as I was to see ski season end, it wasn’t at all bittersweet to tuck my cozy aprĂ©s boots and fuzzy socks into a storage bin and slip back into my . They’re as easy to slip on as Crocs but the soft EVA foam is far cushier, and the heel strap combined with the little bumps on the inside of the sole and foot straps keep the shoe snug without rubbing or restricting air flow. They’re a dream for trail-sore feet, and versatile enough to be the only non-athletic shoe I need now that I’ve moved back into my van full-time. Besides being super comfy, the bright color and simple, functional design makes them great backcountry camp shoes and easy to slip on to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. But they still clean up well enough (just scrub ‘em with soap and a sponge) to wear with a sundress into town and not stand out as the dirtbag that I am. —Miyo McGinn, editorial assistant

New Balance Impact Run 5-Inch Short ($55)

I’ve tried a lot of running shorts, and I almost always have something to gripe about in each pair. But not . It’s like New Balance compiled all my complaints about others—they ride up, there aren’t enough pockets, the waistband is uncomfortable—and made the Impact Run in response. The shorts’ low, stretchy waist hits right below the belly button, helping me avoid any stomach issues mid-run but never falling too low to make me insecure. The five-inch inseam is just long enough to provide full coverage, but never gets caught in my thighs (there are also three and seven-inch inseam options). And the pockets are discrete yet large, big enough to hold both my phone and keys.—Kelsey Lindsey, senior editor

Yakima StageTwo Tray Hitch Bike Rack ($849)

I’ve tested a handful of racks while hauling my gravel bikes to trails around New Mexico and New York. They all worked well, but I love the StageTwo’s staggered tray system that allows you to increase the space between each bike—that way, handlebars and other bike components don’t bump up against each other. Trunk access is easy, too: it has a tilt lever that dips the tray down toward the ground, so your hatch can swing open. In terms of security, the StageTwo has a built-in bike lock cable system and spin knob, which secures the whole thing to your hitch and locks/unlocks with a key. I found it easy to assemble, too. It all came together in less than 20 minutes. All in all, I’m really content with this rack. I envision that this will be my main bike hauler for years to come. —Jeremy Rellosa, reviews editor

REI Co-op Outdoor Blanket ($50)

After many a car camping trip sitting on sleeping pads and getting them wet or dusty, I splurged on a for picnicking. REI’s offering ticks all the boxes: it’s got a polyester bottom that’s water resistant and can take on cactus needles or rocks, and the top layer is a super soft fleece. It now lives in our car camping box and is ready anytime we need to sit or lay down for a meal or nap. —Luke Whelan, senior editor

The post The Gear Our Editors Loved in April appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

The end of winter can be terrible. Snowmelt causes mud, which greedily clings to dogs, bikes, shoes, and tires, creating a mess in your car and house. At the same time, warming air temperatures cause wind, which blows dust into your eyes and makes the days feel colder than they should be. To help mitigate the spring suck, I’ve assembled a whole list of gear that makes this season a bit more tolerable.

Orvis Grid Recycled Water Trapper Mat ($170)

I have young kids and two rascally dogs, so the only way I keep my house even remotely clean during spring is to forcefully insist that everyone wipe their muddy, wet feet on as they come in the front door. The tough fibers always knock the dirt off, and even after a year of hard use, there isn’t any fraying. A waterproof construction has kept snow from seeping through and ruining my wood floors, and its rubber backing ensures the mat doesn’t slip. I like that you can choose from nine different colors. Bonus points to Orvis for building the mat out of recycled materials.

WeatherTec Floor Mats ($60 and Up)

If you track mud on the normal fabric floor mats that come stocked on most cars, you have to wait for that mud to dry, then bang it off, then rinse the mats, and then wait for the mats to dry—all a total pain in the ass. That’s why I invested in plastic floor mats from . Even if these are caked in mud, it rinses right off with a quick hose spray, and the mats dry in a matter of minutes. WeatherTec makes perfectly measured models for most newer cars. If you’re like me and drive an older car (I have a 2002 Tacoma), you can get the , which isn’t quite as nice but still gets the job done.

Buff EcoStretch ($20)

Temperatures are all over the place come spring. It’s unnaturally hot one day, then some version of winter returns the next. That’s why I always wear , whether I’m skiing, running, hiking, or just out watching my kids play soccer. When it gets chilly, I pull it up over my ears and around the bottom of my chin and wear it under my trucker hat. When the weather heats up, I slide it back down around my neck. I go for the regular, non-merino version, because I’ve found the material retains it stretch longer and doesn’t wear out quite as quickly.

Julbo Fury Reactiv 0-3 Sunglasses ($220)

Large-lens sunglasses seem like overkill, until they’re not. Try riding your bike into the wind on a dusty day with regular sunglasses and you’ll quickly understand the benefit of shades that shield your entire field of vision and keep debris from flying in. The is my go-to pair in this style, because the lens darkness changes depending on the brightness of the sun. I can wear these to run when it’s cloudy and they’re not too dark, and I can also wear them on a bluebird backcountry ski day and end the afternoon without eye fatigue.

Ruffwear Dirtbag Seat Cover ($90)

My 20-year-old Toyota has leather seats that are already beat-up and wash off pretty easily. Still, there are times during spring when my dogs get so muddy at the dog park that I want an extra layer of protection. is quick to install (just a couple minutes), and the waterproof fabric never leaks, even when the dogs are sopping wet. After a big adventure, I take it out, shake off the mud, and let it dry in the sun, which is usually enough to keep it spick-and-span. It’s also machine washable if you think it merits a deep clean.

Soap in Seconds ($19)

I’m new to but am now obsessed. It’s the perfect way to wash my hands after loading muddy dogs into the car or trying to clean my mountain bike. If you’re not familiar, Soap in Seconds is like hand sanitizer, but does a better job of removing any grime from my fingers and isn’t full of hand-drying alcohol.

Snow Brush ($10)

I have in all my cars at all times, and I mostly use them to brush off snow. But they’re also great for scraping mud from my kids’ shoes and brushing dry grass and mud off my dogs. If used gently, the brush will also clean muck off a bike before it’s sprayed down.

Free Fly Men’s Breeze Jacket ($128)

Traditional old-school windbreakers are great for spring gusts, but the nylon doesn’t breathe well and lacks stretch. Built with 14 percent spandex, changes that: it’s stretchy, comfy, and never inhibits my movement. Made from a more air-permeable polyester, it cuts the chill of a cold wind but doesn’t cause me to immediately overheat when I’m huffing up the trail or commuting on my bike.

Astorflex Bitflex Boots ($215)

Chelsea boots are having a style moment, but they’re also a great utilitarian option for spring because the ankle-high build is ideal for walking through rain showers or down muddy trails. They wash off easily, and all the abuse adds a nice patina to the exterior. I’ve tested many different pairs but love  for two main reasons: the environmentally friendly, aged Italian leather has a zero-day break-in period, and the rubber soles don’t track mud but still provide plenty of grip.

The post Everything You Need for Mud and Wind Season appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Spring comes annually due to the tilt of our planet and the way that it orbits the sun. The days grow longer, buds emerge on trees, and the rays warm our skin—and every year it’s just as sweet. Here’s what the șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű crew used to enjoy the shift in seasons.

Janji Multipass Sling Bag ($50)

You know you love a product if you’re devastated when you lose it. That’s what happened with from Janji: I went into a state of panic when I couldn’t locate it this winter (spoiler alert: I had just left it at my parents’ house). This distress was warranted, though, as it had become my go-to carryall for a variety of activities, including skiing, hiking, and running, both on the trails and during errands around town. Its two-liter capacity lets me pack all the small essentials—on a recent ski trip it carried my lunch, a snack, beanie, sunglasses, sunscreen stick, wallet, and ChapStick—but my favorite feature is the hidden cross strap that can be deployed to secure the pack to my body when it’s in over-the-shoulder mode. Because of this feature, it’s the only sling I’ve ever tested that doesn’t slide around while running or flip over my head when I bend down to tie my shoe. Plus, I’ve received more compliments on this bag than any other. —Kelsey Lindsey, senior editor

Power Tank 15-Pound CO2 Tank ($660)

Airing down—decreasing your tire pressures—is crucial for traction, ride quality, and puncture resistance off-road. But what goes down must come up. The low pressures you use off-road aren’t safe to use on pavement, and filling up oversize tires using a normal compressor can take 15 minutes or more. That’s been enough to discourage me from airing down as often as I should. The solution? Speed. Airing my 34-inch tires up from 15 to 42 pounds per square inch (psi) using CO2 already compressed inside a takes maybe 30 seconds a tire. And that time saving enables me to air down more often, ensuring that I’m getting the most traction, ride quality, and puncture resistance possible every single time I drive off-road. Bonus: the Power Tank can be mounted externally, and requires no electrical connection, so it’s easier to carry than a compressor, and more reliable too. Need more air? Any welding shop in the country will fill your Power Tank for just a couple bucks, and the 15-pound canister is enough to last half a year or more of use. —Wes Siler, contributing editor

Smartwool Women’s Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Long Sleeve ($85)

I’ve been living in base layer for the past few months. It’s my go-to for ski touring, as it’s lightweight (150 weight) and breathes well when I’m going hard, and it has a longer hem that prevents it from riding up under the waistband of a pack. A snug, flattering fit, cute crew neck, and casual, nontechnical look means I can also wear it out for casual dinners or brewery hangs, too. This one doesn’t sit in a drawer for long—I’m either wearing it or washing it—and it’s survived countless laundry cycles without being worse for wear too (though I do hang-dry it). If I could clone this layer I would. —Gloria Liu, contributing writer

Swiftwick Flite XT Trail Socks ($24 to $27)

As milder March weather melted the snow, I spent most of my outdoor time running and hiking on trails. As a shoe tester, nearly every day I headed out in a different pair of runners, but on more days than not reached for merino-blend socks. The Flite XT Trails, with their wicking blend of merino and Olefin fibers, worked admirably at keeping my feet dry and reducing friction. But what made them stand out was the slip-resistant fibers in heel and forefoot, which helped anchor my footplants, particularly under the ball of the foot where I feel like I’m always compromising between locking down a secure fit and allowing a natural foot splay. This “micro tread” grip, combined with light compression support around the ankle and arch, made every shoe feel a bit more nimble on iffy terrain. The sock thickness and merino fiber might make them a bit hot come summer, but they’re perfect for the variety of temperatures and conditions of spring. I have two pairs, and re-wore them several times between washes without noticing odor or stiffness. —Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor

Organic Cotton Raw Neck Boxy Tee ($52)

This month, I’ve made a uniform out of a t-shirt from one of my favorite brands for basics, Mate. I have its  in two muted tones—sage green and creamy white—and I just keep cycling between the two. Made from 100 percent organic cotton jersey, the shirts are impossibly light and drape like your favorite vintage tee, while a subtle boxy cut feels flattering and modern. Perfect for tucking in or layering over, these shirts have become part of my capsule wardrobe: the pieces I can wear whenever, wherever, and know I’ll be comfortable and look put together. —Abigail Barronian, senior editor

Adidas FastImpact Luxe Run High-Support Bra ($80)

I came of age in the late nineties, when the only sports-bra options for larger chested women consisted of uncomfortably tight racer backs or overly complicated body-armor-like devices with too much coverage and too many straps and clasps. So, as sports-bra technology has exploded over the past decade, I’ve become a connoisseur. And has me head over heels. Why? The clasp system. All good high-impact bras that accommodate large cup sizes have some sort of mechanism to adjust the tightness of the bottom band, usually in the form of back clasps like you’d find on a regular bra. These are effective, and allow you to loosen the bra for easier on-off. But they only yield a small amount of size range. Plus, reaching behind your back is a pain—literally. Adidas’s ingenious solution: a two-part bottom band with left and right sections that overlap in the back, stretch around the side body and then hook onto fabric loops on the front. Unhook one side to open the bra up wide to put it on without any arm wrestling, then stretch the band around and hook it to one of four loops (you can do this on both sides, yielding roughly two inches of range). All of these mechanisms are low-profile enough to avoid unwanted bulk. Did I mention the straps are adjustable too—or that it comes in the equivalent of a 30 to 46 band and an A to F cup? I have an embarrassing number of sports bras in my dresser, but since this one arrived a month ago, it’s the only one I want to use. —Ariella Gintzler, senior editor

Blizzard Hustle 10 Skis ($800)

I’m a 41-year-old dad with kids, and as such, my backcountry powder days are few and far between. Most of the time I ski whatever snow safely presents itself on the days I’m free. To ensure I still enjoy myself, I recently upgraded to the new skis (102 millimeters underfoot). They’re a good choice for those of us that can’t be too picky with conditions, and they’re a big step above traditional touring skis in terms of stiffness and drivability, while still being significantly lighter than a traditional inbounds ski (the 180’s I tested were a reasonable 7.8 pounds). Over the past couple weeks I’ve happily used them to drive through breakable crust and cruise over icey chunder—I even enjoyed the hell out of them on a pitch of perfect corn. —Jakob Schiller, contributing writer

Crocs All-Terrain Clog ($55)

I recently came back from a couple days of backcountry skiing in Colorado’s Elk Range and noticed that Crocs were the preferred spring aprùs footwear in parking lots. I got my hands on a pair of the new afterward—and not just to fit in. Like the originals, the ultra-wide, foam-cushioned, and ventilated footbed is a wonderful resting place for tired and sweaty feet that have been crushed in vice-like ski boots for eight hours. And the slip-on design was exactly what I wanted after struggling to get those boots off. But the All-Terrains have a beefed up sole for a little extra grip on snow and dirt, thanks to some firm lugs on the edges. That, along with the adjustable heel strap that allowed me to ratchet them down for a more secure fit, made me thankful I had this in those slushy parking zones.  —J.S.

žé±đłÙĂŒ±ô Premium Bike Fit ($400)

The bicycle is hardly a set-it-and-forget-it piece of gear—it’s a good idea to regularly replace tires, brake pads, and even your drivetrain. This fall I discovered another item to add to the list: your fit. One month after turning 40, I started to feel pain in my lower back during rides, and I noticed that my right foot shimmied awkwardly with each pedal stroke. My most recent bike fit was in 2014, when I was 33, childless, and raced regularly. Needless to say, my life has changed, so I scheduled a long overdue appointment with Todd Carver, one of the cofounders of the 3D bike fitting system , based in Boulder, Colorado. The session lasted nearly three hours. Carver asked me a long list of questions about my riding habits (miles per week, racing ambitions, and type of riding I do, and many others). He then measured my flexibility with a digital wand-like tool. When placed in žé±đłÙĂŒ±ôs new proprietary software, this data—my flexibility metrics and my answers—created a set of personalized bike fit parameters based on historical data from thousands of other žé±đłÙĂŒ±ô customers. From that, Carver knew, more or less, what angles my various joints should be at when pedaling a bicycle. Then, similar to my fit from 2014, I got onto my bicycle on a stationary trainer, and Carver affixed Velcro-mounted body markers to my joints. I then pedaled in front of a motion-capture camera, and watched a real-time avatar of myself appear on screen, pedaling furiously. Carver adjusted my seat height, handlebar tilt, and other measurements until my body hit the angles recommended from the off-the-bike assessment. Then, we refined those measurements until I felt comfortable. The motion-capture element has been part of the žé±đłÙĂŒ±ô process since its founding in 2007, but the company’s ability to customize a series of angles for your riding style based on historic data is new. Also new is a funky iPad tool that measures your sit-bones and matches you with the correct saddle width—keenly called the “assometer.” As it turns out, both new elements helped refine my fit. We traded out my narrow saddle for a wider one. We also dramatically raised my seat post and pushed my saddle forward. Finally, we raised my stem by five millimeters and rotated my handlebars slightly upward. The position made it feel like I was pedaling a new bicycle. I’m now riding pain-free, and the shimmy in my pedal stroke is gone. I just wish I had more time to ride and race! —Frederick Dreier, articles editor

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