Do you feel like everything worth inventing has already been invented? Sometimes I feel the same. But then I see this random guy racing above the water with a doggie friend, and all I can think is: Yeah, I want to do that. 　　The truth is there has never been a better time to explore the world of outdoor gear....

　　An estimated 50 million people visit Chicago annually. Precious few of them see the rest of Illinois, however, and they’re missing out. While the most famous city in Illinois always delivers good times, anyone who loves the outdoors will be amazed by what lies beyond the purview of the L. With 64 state parks, 289,000 acres of protected national forest,...

　　An enthusiastic transplant from the East Coast, Michael Zocco loves spreading joy about Austin, Texas, as a fantastic running city. “It’s a very special community,” says the co-city lead for the Endorphin Running Club, Austin Area. Zocco and his co-lead, Makayla Bassi, host group runs every Monday evening and occasionally other weekdays, plus long runs on Saturdays. Whatever the day,...

　　Two climbers are dead following an incident on 14,505-foot Mount Whitney in California, officials said. 　　On Thursday, May 9, the Inyo County Sheriffs office said that rescuers had received a call on May 7 of two hikers who were overdue on Mount Whitney. According to the report, the two had been hiking the Mount Whitney Mountaineer Route and had intended...

　　From multi-pitch climbing commands to calling your drop in the backcountry, a solid set of walkie talkies can be the difference between a good copy and a garbled transmission. After surveying the field and winnowing down to the most promising, we’ve gathered and tested 11 of the best walkies available. 　　We field-tested these handhelds over months of multi-sport use, challenging...

　　I climbed Mount Everest on my lunch break yesterday. 　　No, really—I did it from the safety and comfort of the Outside office here in Boulder. I tiptoed across sketchy ladder bridges in the Khumbu Icefall while Dave from accounting microwaved a frozen pizza in the lunchroom. After that, I inched my way up the icy Lhotse Face to the South...

　　If you had to pinpoint one thing that makes Breckenridge so awesome in summer, it’d probably be this: choice. As good as the mountain biking, trail running, fly-fishing, and rafting are—and make no mistake, they’re world class—those are just part of what makes the place so special. The town’s culinary and cultural scenes don’t take a back seat to its...

　　It is a great time to be a runner. Today’s smart shoe designers are using advanced materials, new geometries, and creative combinations of foams, plates, fabrics, and soles to create models that are faster and more comfortable than ever before. Many shoes in this roundup are franchise models, in their second, fourth, 17th, or 21st(!) iterations, representing the best of...

　　If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you already know the importance of protecting your skin from the sun. But despite what you may see in your feed, the best sunblock doesn’t come in a bottle. If you want reliable protection from the sun that you never have to reapply, you need to wear it. As a river-loving father...

　　When it comes to building a layering system, the most chatter seems to be around base layers and insulation layers. Rightfully so, because those land on completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of capability. 　　One breathes extremely well to keep cool and dry. The other traps heat to keep you warm. What resides between those two is a...

　　If you want to start riding motorcycles off-road but are unsure of your ability, why not try an automatic dirt bike? You can take one hassle out of riding by ditching the clutch in favor of a semi-automatic or completely automatic machine. 　　For many riders, the thought of riding off-road without a clutch is borderline heretical. However, there are times...

　　For one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, Charlotte, North Carolina, has an impressive outdoor scene that offers everything from urban parks and greenways to wild river adventures and hiking and biking trails galore. Outside tapped John Searby, executive director of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, for a local’s take on the best ways...