Published June 22, 2026 03:02 pm Culinary mishaps are a rite of passage for most backpackers. We’ve all tried – at least once – to cook an elaborate group meal on a small aluminum pan. An hour later, only to show up with a charred and somehow undercooked onion, you resolve to buy a proper
In the age of big box retailers and online shopping, local, independent gear shops are an endangered species. How will it survive when REI or Backcountry can always offer lower prices than smaller gear stores? Ivan Maynard, founder of gearhouse In Seattle, the answer may have been found: build community. Part gear rental store, part
Cool and colorful is the name of the game this week. Nearly half of this week’s lineup of new gear offers functional outdoor gear in bright colors that reflect the longer days of daylight ahead of us. From dog kennels to portable batteries to sporty sunglasses, there’s something for everyone to use outdoors — and
Scott Einsman is Outdoor Life’s gear editor. He oversees the gear team of editors and writers who are subject matter experts in bows, knives, hunting, fishing, backpacking, and more. He lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and two bird dogs.