A New, Almost Completely Unrealistic Multi-tool Design
byWith all due respect to the makers of real and useful multi-tools, and with no constraints of what would actually fit in a multi-tool,…
GEAR
8 Adventure Gift Ideas Over $35,000
byHere you are again: Holiday shopping season is upon us, and you’re wondering, “How will I get the perfect gift for everyone on my…
12 Types Of Nightmare Outdoor Shop Customers
byNo one wants to be the person who leaves a store and becomes the subject of retail employees’ horror stories—but of course, lots of…
When Crappy Gear Is OK
byIn 2004, my friend Nick and I went on a 10-day road trip from Montana to Phoenix, where I was moving after graduate school….
The Joy Of Wearing Out A Piece Of Gear
byA lot of things felt like they were on the verge of breaking down in the six months of training for my first 100-mile…
Why Your Smartphone Is A Great Adventure Tool
byEvery once in a while at a book signing or during an interview, someone asks me: What’s your favorite piece of outdoor gear? I…
For Sale: Skis And Ski Poles — $5
byARE YOU READY for another ski season? These skis and poles sure are! And they could be yours for just $5. But first, you…
10 Basic Rules For Adventure
byEarlier this year, my book Surviving the Great Outdoors came out, representing about 12 years’ worth of poking around in the out-of-doors—climbing, backpacking, hiking,…
10 Tips For Buying Skis
byFact: ski season is just around the corner. Another fact: it’s hard to participate in ski season without skis. Don’t fret—we’ve got you covered…
Gear Of The Year: The Wheel
byIn “the outdoor industry,” people have thrown around the term “game-changing” for several years, using it to describe a new piece of gear that…
Introducing The First Backpacking Dutch Oven
byRemember your last backpacking trip? What was missing? Come on, think about it. That’s right, a shitload of pineapple upside-down cake. The whole trip…
Announcing A New Book: The Great Outdoors: A User’s Guide
byToday, I get to share something that some wonderful people and I have been working on for almost two years: a big, fat book…
7 Must-Have Gear Picks For Your Summer Adventures
by1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Just kidding. You probably have most of the stuff you need already. But I’ll tell you what,…
Now Available: These Things I Made For You
byI’ve been having fun drawing diagrams and cartoons for Instagram lately, because some jokes (and sentiments) work better in a visual form. Over the…
Review: Water Bottle
byAbout 12 years ago, I bought a water bottle with no water in it. I guess it was kind of a thing in the…
Dear Foam Roller:
byDear Foam Roller: I think— Oh, you thought I was just going to say “fuck you,” didn’t you? Well, hold on. It’s a little…
Celebrating 5 Years Of Semi-Rad: 25 Favorite Quotes
byFive years ago this week, I started this blog, hoping a few people might read it and get something out of it: a laugh,…
Some Of My Best Friends Have Been Bicycles
byI walked up the stairs at my apartment building last Friday morning, five $20 bills in my hand, and paused for just a second…
13 Pieces of Gear Every All-Around Adventurer Should Have
byNormally I use this space to talk about not buying a bunch of shiny new gear, to sarcastically review entire categories of gear, or…
Professional Gear Review: Spoon
by“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery After…
Shout Out To Old Bikes
byA couple Saturdays ago, I got this e-mail from my friend Lee: Would you or anybody else you know be interested in this classic…
10 Tips To Help Lighten Your Backpack
byA heavy backpack can make a backpacking trip no fun at all. Here are a few tips to lighten your load and maximize the…
The Best Backpack For You
byIf you walk any distance over one mile in the out-of-doors, you should think about getting a backpack. Sure, cargo pants, fanny packs, and…
Announcing A Revolutionary New MTB Wheel Size
byTHIS SUMMER. A REVOLUTIONARY NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE WHEEL SIZE. WILL TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM. please pause reading here for dramatic effect TWENTY INCHES….
What’s The Best Rain Jacket?
byWhen you’re buying a rain jacket, you probably have lots of questions, none of which really matter besides “Which rain jacket is best for…
You Wonder Why We Don’t Have Nice Things
byI sat down exhausted last Tuesday night next to my friends Chris and Forest in front of a granite shelter we’d just built on…
The Best Shoes In Life Are Not Shoes
byI walked onto the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder last Friday and a Denver Voice vendor looked down at my sandals, laughed and said,…