America’s Best Backpacking and Outdoor Adventures
By Michael Lanza “There’s absolutely no one out here.” I was just a few hours into a solo backpacking trip around Mount Rainier National Park’s 32.8-mile Northern Loop when that realization hit me. It was a cool, clear day in October 2003. None of my usual hiking partners had been available to join me. So I decided to do the …
Down Jackets Sierra Designs Whitney DriDown Hoodie $169, 14 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL Moosejaw.com Sierra Designs Sierra DriDown Jacket $159, 12 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL Moosejaw.com The best, three-season down and synthetic insulated jackets stand out for high-quality construction and materials—which translates to abundant warmth per ounce, low weight, and excellent packability. …
By Michael Lanza What if every time you laid down money for hiking, backpacking, or other outdoors gear, you always knew exactly what you needed and were invariably satisfied with your purchase for years afterward? What if you knew every time whether it was smarter to spring for the pricier piece of gear or go for the cheaper model? What …
Insulated Air Mattress Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air Mattress $180, 20×72 inches rectangular, 13 oz. (including its stuff sack) Sizes: 20×66, 20×72, 25×72, and 25×78 inches rectangular and 20×72 mummy moosejaw.com As air mattresses have continued getting lighter, more compact, and more comfortable, one would think a limit has been reached on how small they can get before sacrificing real …
All-Season Shell Jacket Montane Ajax Jacket $380, 16 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: US men’s S-XXL, women’s 6-14 campsaver.com As the wind-driven snow came down heavily while a partner and I backcountry skied in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, I cinched the hood of my Montane Ajax Jacket closely over my head, looked around, and thought: “beautiful day.” We were skiing untracked, light …