If 2024 has proven anything about Benchmade, it’s that the Oregon knife-maker is all about coloring outside the lines in its quest to innovate — literally. A couple of months ago, Benchmade launched the Water Collection, a well-rounded series of knives aimed at “the wilderness that lies beneath the surface.” All six knives sport MagnaCut steel, new color combinations, and radical...

　　Way back in the plane, I was the last to walk out of coach. I landed in Osaka, Japan, running from the rising sun for the last 12 hours. “Now that’s a nice carry-on!” the flight attendant piped. “Expensive!” 　　I chuckled. She wasn’t wrong. My kit for 2 weeks was packed in Sterling Pacific’s yet-to-be-released40L Cabin Travel Case, a four-wheeled...

　　Where do you look when you want to know about the latest and greatest in outdoor gear? Right here in Emerging Gear! 　　Were big fans of cool new stuff to use outside (its in our name, after all), and we track the newest additions to the worlds gear repertoire right here. Whether youre a runner, hiker, biker —or just like...

　　The current state of cycling navigation apps: Options. Galore. Plenty of states are expanding commuter cycling infrastructure. The bike industry continues to push gravel bikes as do-it-all options that expand navigable terrain, and its somehow fashionable. Bikepacking is even in vogue. 　　The options for how and where to ride are now incredibly varied, and everyone who puts foot to pedal...

　　The mountains are no place for an average boot. Sparse, yet full of life, alpine zones’ rugged terrain, copious moisture, and extreme temps are exceptionally tough on hiking boots. The same can be said for the high desert, where abrasive red rock and scorching temps conspire to tear up your everyday hiking footwear.  　　Both conditions are typical in the areas...

　　When Noah Dines answered the phone, his breath was labored, and I could hear crunching snow in the background. It was July 5, and he was skiing uphill on Mount Hood. As of that phone call, the 30-year-old Bedford, Mass., native said hed already logged 2,067,000 vertical feet uphill toward his goal of hitting 3 million in a year. 　　Thats...

　　The Park Fire, a massive blaze that emerged overnight near Chico, Calif., has already burned more than 45,000 acres and forced the evacuation of thousands of local residents. 　　Less than a day after it began on Wednesday, fire investigators arrested a 42-year-old Chico man on suspicion of pushing a burning car into Bidwell Park and starting the blaze, according to...

　　There are a million ways to sharpen a knife, but in the last couple of years, rolling knife sharpeners have become a viable option. Last year, I tested out Work Sharps Rolling Knife Sharpener and found it to be easy to use and adaptable to a multitude of knife types.  　　Recently, I had the opportunity to test out the Tumbler...

　　There are plenty of benefits to riding an electric motorcycle. Thanks to the use of modern motor technology, electric bikes enjoy instant power, thrilling acceleration, and hair-raising performance. 　　And since many motorcyclists ride their bikes in pursuit of high speeds and two-wheeled excitement, electric motorcycles appeal to a wide range of riders, both current and new motorcyclists alike. 　　Although electric...

　　As the only point of contact between your bike and the road, road bike tires are a critical component for performance, comfort, and safety while riding. Tires also happen to be one of the most underrated and affordable upgrades that can be made to your bike. 　　Relative to other components that promise to transform your ride, tires are inexpensive and...

　　If you love carving, get a ski built for it. Most all-mountain skis these days make big promises of being perfect for everything from powder to carving to X-Games. (OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a touch.) The reality is that most skis are better in some conditions than others, and Fischer’s RC One 86 GT doesn’t hide the fact that it’s...

　　Over decades of living and visiting North Americas sunniest and hottest places, I grew tired of flimsy packable shades and versions that were anything but portable. I had given up, no longer willing to toss sunshades in the trash after a summer or deal with heavy behemoths that took up too much space in my vehicle. 　　Helinox had seemingly dodged...