Table of contents for 2020 Summer Buyer's Guide in Outside

It’s Not About the Gear We’re living in extraordinary times. As I write this letter, COVID-19 has brought entire countries to a halt. With the effects of the virus rippling through the outdoor industry and communities around the world, we’re all figuring out how to live and recreate responsibly. We maintain social distance on trails and support one another however we can—buying gift cards from local businesses, dropping off groceries for family. And faced with more uncertainty than many of us have experienced in our lifetimes, we also search for ways to escape. We read books. We snuggle our dogs. In my case, escape means emptying drawers of running clothes, hydration vests, and climbing shoes onto the floor. Some pieces I set aside for charity, some for friends who need…

a. Teva Universal Trail $100 A sticky undercarriage makes this Teva a great bet for slippery trails. The recycled-polyester webbing is extremely durable and features a soft lining, while a contoured EVA midsole gives you the arch support that many sandals lack. b. OluKai Ulele $75 Looking for street-shoe structure in a lightweight flip-flop? Look no further. The Ulele’s super-soft EVA midsole feels like it was made just for you. And the grippy outsole provides stability when things get slick, whether you’re poolside or at the put-in. c. Astral TR1 Mesh $125 Here’s an ultralight hiker that’s as comfortable as a sneaker but performs like a water shoe. The TR1 is great for everything from river romps to long hikes, thanks to a Ripstop 2D Mesh upper, TPU overlays at…

a. Patagonia Stretch Hydropeak Gerry Lopez $79 At 4.7 ounces, these minimalist shorts offer an ultralight option for the surfing vagabond. A durable water-repellent coating expedites the drying process, while the formfitting waistband keeps sand out during beach-break pound-downs. b. Vuori Sonic Seamless $94 These seven-inch-inseam boardies are unobtrusive when hunting barrels, running sprints, or walking around town. Laser-cut ventilation holes on the inner thigh keep things cool during beach workouts, seamless construction reduces chafing, and the flat drawstring lays comfortably against your stomach when you’re paddling out. c. Saxx Cannonball 2N1 $75 These lightweight trunks guard against skin-on-skin friction in critical areas for all-day comfort. Credit goes to the breathable mesh liner and a hammock-shaped pouch that keeps the boys in place. The 2N1 comes in stylish prints and has…

Just Do You Most shapers of my generation have gone the route of using machines. I’ve always loved hand-shaping—the doors it opened, the things it taught me in terms of focus and discipline. Pick Your Posse Trimcraft is basically four designers. Each of us have designs in the lineup. We’re friends. It’s a group of passionate hand-shapers. I call it a handshake brand. Support Up-and-Comers We’re a good venue for our younger shapers to get their names out. We hope to accelerate their careers. I wanted to make a brand that when I was 21, I would have been like, “Holy shit, I want to shape for them while I build my business.” They do the shaping, and Trimcraft takes care of the business side. Know Your Audience Outside California,…

Salewa MTN Trainer Lite Mid GTX $200 Finally, a hiking boot that does it all. With true-to-size fit and a lightweight suede and mesh build that requires zero break-in, the MTN Trainer Lite Mid is at home on mellow hikes. At the same time, the supportive cuff and semi-stiff sole excel on steep, rocky climbs and descents, with an aggressively lugged outsole that grips everything from kitty-litter scree to wet boulders. A rubber rand around the base of the upper boosts durability, while the supportive, cushioned footbed reduces fatigue. Salewa’s trademark heel-pocket design locks you in to avoid blisters. Yes, they’re expensive, but the years of use you’ll get out of them makes the investment a smart one. 19.4 oz (men’s) / 16.4 oz (women’s, pictured) BEST FAST-AND-LIGHT HIKER a.…

a. Camp Chef Rainier 2X $165 A powder-coated lid and reinforced knobs made this the hardiest stove we tested—and the heaviest. The combination grill and griddle on the left put a perfect crust on six burgers and was easy to clean, while the burner on the right capably handled simmering and boiling. b. Primus Essential Trail $25 The Essential Trail delivers functional design at a low price. Weighing in at four ounces, it’s heavier than some stoves, but a 4.3-inch wingspan makes it conspicuously stable, even when bringing three liters of water to a boil. c. Ignik 2-in-1 Heater-Stove $140 Testers had reservations about the real estate this combination stove and space heater required in the car. But when it became the focal point of a cold evening outside, everyone…

District Vision Junya $250 Ignore the woo-woo branding. In the hands of this Lower Manhattan–based company, whose glasses are crafted in Japan, eyewear ascends to art, with gracefully curvy, minimalist designs. But the Junya earns our accolades for more than aesthetics. It offers the sharp optics, full protection, and supreme comfort you need for pounding out miles in town and in the mountains, in sun or shade, without resorting to the flashy astronaut looks of so many race frames. The Black Rose synthetic lenses have a purple tint that works in a startling range of brightness, with incredible acuity and depth of vision in low to medium light. The frames seem small compared with showier shields but provide top-notch coverage and shelter even in gale-force winds. Frosty temples look like…

a. Nixon Yellow Jacket Patrol $200 Nixon’s new Yellow Jacket line nicely blends ruggedness with striking design. In the scaled-down Patrol, the company pushes back against its often oversize, overbuilt instincts with an attractive, restrained 100-meter-water-resistant watch. b. Shinola The Duck $650 Detroit-based Shinola has made its best-looking watch in years. The surfer-vibe Duck boasts 200-meter water resistance, a burly steel case, and a dependable Argonite 713 quartz movement. It comes in four styles, each with bright Super-LumiNova markers. c. Bertucci A-4T Super Yankee Illuminated $445 For years, Bertucci has nailed the field-watch concept: simple, lightweight, tough. A new Swiss-made, lithium-powered, gold-plated jeweled movement provides superior accuracy; the 44-milimeter titanium unibody design is much burlier than it looks; and water resistance to 200 meters doubles that of its other models. d.…

GEAR OF THE YEAR Brooks Divide $100 With the all-new Divide, Brooks proves that quality running shoes don’t have to break the bank. Head-to-head against kicks with sizable reputations, this trail all-arounder triumphed. It features the same midsole as Brooks’s bestselling Ghost: a biodegradable EVA compound that’s remarkably bouncy and smooth, exceptional for leisurely runs at any distance. The sticky rubber outsole and shallow, spaced-out lugs offer excellent grip on mild, buffed-out trails without feeling knobby on concrete. The soft upper doesn’t lock down or protect feet as much as more aggressive models like Brooks’s Cascadia, so this isn’t our go-to shoe for technical descents or up-tempo days. But for those who run on both pavement and smooth singletrack, these offered the best performance-to-value ratio in our test. 10.3 oz…

a. Patagonia Slope Runner Endurance vest $149 The three-liter Slope Runner won over minimalists and maximalists alike. Seven pockets hold two 500-milliliter flasks, a 1.5-liter bladder, a rain shell, a midlayer, snacks, and trekking poles for big days in the mountains. But at 6.2 ounces, it’s hardly noticeable once your provisions are gone. b. MSR Thru-Link inline water filter $40 The U.S. military has been testing this two-stage carbon filter for more than a decade. Now MSR brings it to consumers. Attach it to your hydration bladder and run the hose into the other end. The 7.5-inch, 2.5-ounce cylinder removes 99.99 percent of bacteria and protozoa without inhibiting flow. c. Nathan VaporHowe WaistPak belt $60 On short runs, this stretchy, breathable belt from Nathan is all you need. Both the women’s…

a. Fitbit Charge 4 fitness tracker $150 Fitbit’s first fitness tracker with GPS also records the time you spend in each heart-rate zone and alerts you when you need to ease back or push harder during a workout. Sleep monitoring with machine learning helps you wake up at just the right moment. b. Lynq location tracker $149 Get a couple of these (price for two: $249), pair them with each other, and use the one-button operation to find your buddy on the trail if you get separated, no cell service required. (Caveat: they sometimes struggle in cold weather.) Built-in GPS lets you locate friends at distances of up to three miles, depending on the terrain. c. Apple Watch Series 5 $399 and up Apple has been making the best iPhone-compatible…

Surftech x Prana Catalyst Tuflite V-Tech 11'2" $1,399 The Catalyst may not be the flashiest board, but its versatile shape, simple features, and low weight add up to a SUP that glides well on flatwater and is capable and responsive on small waves and in variable ocean conditions. The board absolutely cruised in the calm of California’s Monterey Bay. In four-foot waves, the length and moderately rockered nose made the drops easy—it felt like a shorter, nimbler longboard. The long single fin, meant for tracking straight, won’t allow you to carve hard, but it’s great for trimming in small surf. The Catalyst has the same environmentally friendly bamboo, carbon, and plant-based epoxy construction as Surftech’s Aleka, which won Gear of the Year in 2018. What’s new? A wider tail and midsection,…

At Trimcraft Surfboards, expert builders Ryan Lovelace, Gerry Lopez, Rich Pavel, and Davey Smith dream up the designs, and a cadre of experienced shapers bring them to life. The business model lowers the price without sacrificing boutique quality. Lovelace, who created the Burner ($835), describes it as “a shortboard for surfers who don’t shortboard.” But don’t mistake it for a beginners-only model. He initially designed it as an all-around travel sled that does equally well hunting tubes in Indonesia, carving European beach breaks, and groveling through sessions when the swell hasn’t quite arrived yet. A wide point under your chest and relaxed rocker make for easy paddling and early entry into waves compared with most boards in the six-foot range. It’s responsive and user-friendly, as long as you’re in the…

a. Left on Friday Hi Dive top and Hi Hi bottom $85 each The women who designed this wave-ready swimwear wanted it to offer the same support as their favorite workout clothes. The top’s high neck and crossback keeps chests up to a D cup secure, while the high waist and snug-fitting bottom prevent slippage during beach volleyball. b. Prana Aquilia top and Milan bottom $70 and $60 If you want extra protection from the elements, this simple rash-guard set is your jam. The fabric is UPF 50, and the high neck, long sleeves, and cropped torso prevent chafing during long sessions in the water. The Milan bottom provides plenty of coverage. c. Title Nine Better Bikini 2.0 top and Holy Grail Bikini 2.0 bottom $59 and $49 When you…

Sea to Summit Ascent AcII $399 We’ve seen the trend in jackets and tents, and now it’s come for sleeping bags: weight savings, warmth, and comfort are no longer at odds. Sea to Summit loaded its Ascent AcII with niceties, like an oversize shape that accommodates all sleeping positions and three zippered openings—full-length on one side, half-length on the other, plus a slit around the footbox—to regulate temperature. It boasts 19.4 ounces of 750-fill down, with a mix of vertical and horizontal baffles that keep the insulation in place and prevent cold spots, and a large draft collar to lock in heat. The result is a no-compromise sleeping bag that weighs just 2.4 pounds. “It’s much roomier than most light bags, but still toasty warm,” said one tester. On a…

a. Fenix HM65R Rechargeable headlamp $95 This Fenix’s spot- and floodlight modes can work in tandem. The resulting 1,400 lumens are like turning on your car’s high beams. Despite the tough magnesium-alloy case, it weighs a respectable 3.4 ounces. It’s fully water- and dustproof, runs on high for 21 hours, and has a secure rubber-lined strap. Swap the rechargeable battery for disposables on multiday outings. b. L.L.Bean Trailblazer 400 lantern $30 The vibe is old-school kerosene, but the Trailblazer is fueled by three D batteries and puts out 400 lumens of white light. It weighs just 11.6 ounces, can be safely dropped from three feet, and hangs from a built-in carabiner. It lasts 26 hours on its highest setting. c. MPowerd Luci Core lamp $18 The 40-lumen Luci Core emits a…

The art of grilling starts with, well, your grill. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue or want to eat like royalty in the backcountry, you’ll need the right instrument to finely roast meat and veggies. Luckily, there’s a tool for every occasion, from the high-tech to the simple. If you approach grilling like a science, the Traeger Pro 575 ($800, pictured) is your lab. With its D2 drivetrain and brushless 20-volt motor, Traeger’s machine excels at fine-tuning and maintaining specific temperatures, so you can smoke, sear, barbecue, and roast flavorfully meals year-round. (The brand’s wide variety of wood pellets, like apple and hickory, add punch.) A digital temperature controller, plug-in probe, and app functionality let you make full use of the 575 square inches of cooking area. Stick the probe into…

Eagle Creek Caldera Convertible International Carry-On $469 I’ve tested dozens of rollers, duffels, and packs over the years, and this is the first time excellence announced itself so quickly and indisputably. The Convertible combines functionality, sustainability, style, and tech in a convenient, reliable roller pack that works exactly how you need it to, whether at the airport or along rugged back roads. During a trip to a remote outpost in the Cascades that involved traveling by boat and then on foot, the Convertible’s oversize wheels rolled smoothly across an uneven dock, and the two handles made for easy hoisting. The 100 percent recycled Cordura ripstop fabric, fluorocarbon-free water-repellent coating, and storm-resistant zippers kept everything dry through sideways rain and lake water spraying into the luggage hold. The included NFC technology,…

Live the Dream I moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, after college to live the whole ski- and bike-bum lifestyle. Ultimately, I wanted to pursue a career in mechanical engineering and product design. I was fortunate to get a job at Specialized in 2006. I got to make bikes and travel the world to ride. I worked there for almost a decade before [Peak Design founder] Peter Dering recruited me. Shift Gears The engineering work I was doing at Specialized—working on carbon-fiber and full-suspension mountain bikes—involved making tubes, joints, and plastic, aluminum, and carbon-fiber parts. Well, what’s a tripod? All those things. So my experience aligned pretty perfectly to help develop Peak’s Travel tripod. That’s what pushed me to jump on board with the company. Try, Try Again A tripod, like…

a. Evoc Neo 16L pack $280 Hip packs are in, but big backcountry days re-quire extra capacity and comfort. The Neo has pockets for all your ride essentials, room for an optional three-liter bladder ($45), and ventilated spine protection. b. Garmin Fenix 6 watch $800 The feature-packed Fenix 6 is useful on the bike and off. With on-map directions, 32GB of music storage for phone-free playback, heart-rate and power monitoring, and tracking features for dozens of activities, it’s ready for anything. c. Tifosi Slice sunglasses $70 The Slice’s fit is secure as they come, and the interchangeable lenses provide impressive clarity in variable conditions. Best of all, it’s half the price of the competition. d. Club Ride Rambler Poly- Wool Henley $70 Functional on a ride and low-key enough for the brewery,…

Altra Provision 4 $130 The best stability shoes shed weight and run smooth without a lot of extra foam and plastic, but they’re usually clunkier than their neutral counterparts. Altra’s new Provision 4 changes that. What’s unique: a panel of laminated, perforated (read: breathable) foam that runs underneath the entire footbed and connects to a trio of TPU straps that wrap around the arch to the laces on the medial side. When your foot rolls inward, the straps catch and support it. When you’re not pronating, they’re barely noticeable and the shoe runs neutral. Testers said the Provision feels “remarkably smooth,” with an impressive balance of cushion and flex. That engage-as-needed support system makes for an exceptionally comfortable ride. It’s a great choice for neutral runners whose feet collapse inward…

Strive to Be Invisible Building a good product means it goes unnoticed. You don’t pay any attention to the gear you’re wearing, because you’re confident in it. Design for Power Users We create products for the extremes, knowing that, worst-case scenario, it will work for everyone else. We always want to test for the harshest conditions or the longest run. Ideals Matter As of spring 2020, every-thing in the trail-running line uses recycled materials and is built in a fair-trade factory. It’s showcasing our technical expertise in mountain running, but it’s also showing that we can do it without compromising or making sacrifices. Tread Carefully When we change things, most of the negative feedback we get comes from loyal customers who have been wearing the same shorts or jacket for…

Ten years ago, most cutting-edge boat designs were focused at the high end of the price spectrum. This year’s crop is proof of a paradigm shift, with an array of canoes, kayaks, and inflatables that are impressively user-friendly, for angling, whitewater, and everything in between. The new Hobie MiraPro Angler 12 kayak ($4,599, pictured) features one of the venerable brand’s coolest innovations: 360 Mirage Drive, a pedal system that now moves the boat in any direction, not just forward and back. You can parallel-park the Angler 12 in dock spots and back out of tight mangroves. Joints at the bases of the redesigned fins allow them to rest flat against the hull if they encounter major resistance, so you don’t have to worry about ruining them when entering and exiting…

a. Simms G4 Pro Stockingfoot waders $750 Seams down the front and back of these durable waders enhance your range of motion. Streamlined stocking feet and a fleece-lined chest pocket add comfort. b. Patagonia Fitz Roy Trout hat $35 With a bill made from recycled fishing nets and that iconic trout logo, this hat is for those who love to fish—and want everyone to know. c. Roka AT-1X Polarized sunglasses $170 Perfectly placed rubber on the nose and temples keeps these glasses from slipping, and sturdy polarized lenses reduce glare. d. Columbia Terminal Deflector Zero Mock Long Sleeve shirt $65 A proprietary chemical compound embedded in this UPF 50 shirt wicks moisture and keeps you cool when you sweat. e. Farm to Feet Missoula socks $22 These comfy merino-wool socks…

Black Diamond HighLine Stretch $299 Waterproofing, breathability, durability, packability, comfort, sustainability—you’re lucky if your jacket has a few of these attributes. The HighLine has them all. Most notable is the PFC- and palm-oil-free DWR treatment from Green Theme Technology. Unlike most DWRs, the process uses no water, and it’s applied at the fiber level, making it more permanent than topical coatings. It also firms up the jacket’s individual fibers, which Black Diamond claims reduces microplastic shedding. We tested the HighLine by bushwhacking uphill in the rain for three hours, followed by a hose-down. It came through without a scratch or a leak. That said, the jacket doesn’t feel like armor. Its durable three-layer construction is comfortable, with light, stretchy 15-denier nylon and a jersey-knit lining that feels like a well-worn…

Gregory Maven 65 $250 Built for comfort-minded backpackers who carry heaps of gear, the women’s Maven 65 (and men’s Paragon 68) has one of the most effective trampoline-style suspension systems we’ve ever seen. Wings of stretchy nylon at the lumbar produce a snug, wraparound fit for superior weight distribution and allow the sturdy, padded mesh hipbelt to pivot with each stride, keeping the pack blissfully stable under oxen-grade loads. “It feels like a bear hug on your back,” a tester said. Gregory goes full bore on the feature set, with side- and bottom-access zippers, a floating lid, phone-size pockets on the hipbelt, an adjustable back panel, and an integrated rain cover. But because it’s built on a flexible aluminum frame, the pack remains featherlight. 3.7 lbs (men’s) / 3.5 lbs…

a. ReVessel Adventure Kit $125 This bento-style box’s five stainless-steel containers are campfire-safe. The bamboo lid doubles as a cutting board. b. Goal Zero Yeti 200X power station $300 A no-brainer for photographers and a wise choice on long trips too, the Yeti 200X is Goal Zero’s lightest power station yet. It’s simple to use and stores enough juice to charge a laptop four times. c. Snow Peak Iron Grill Table system Snow Peak’s modular system lets you piece together the galley of your dreams. Choose a table length and height, then kit it out with an array of accessories. We like the single-burner stove, bamboo counter, and grill. (Price varies with configuration.) d. Stanley Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp set $80 This 21-piece, durable cookset with tableware for four nests…

a. Gerber Armbar Cork $39 This eight-tool, 3.1-ounce device is a solid base-camp assistant, with scissors, a hammer, and a 2.5-inch blade for an array of chores. Bottle, can, and wine openers keep food and drink flowing, and the stonewashed finish adds class. b. The James Brand Carter $159 This sleek everyday carry is as beautiful as it is functional. The de-sign is compact enough for small pockets and features a secure reversible clip. The 2.75-inch VG-10 blade is up to any task, and the ambidextrous slide lock makes it easy to access on the fly. c. CRKT Parascale $150 The Parascale is up to the toughest backcountry tasks. The lock was the easiest and safest we tested. The burly 3.1-inch blade tucks away with the press of a large…

Challenge Assumptions I’m always questioning the status quo and reassessing what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. Often, when you come back to the problem, you solve it in a different way. Get Inspired For the Mythic Ultra sleeping bag, the materials team was looking at how other industries decrease radiative heat loss. The idea of using titanium-coated fibers in the lining came from the reflectivity of satellites. Pollute the Filter I like the cross-contamination of ideas from other industries. Something like a medical back brace presents a lot of great ideas for packs, sleeping bags, and sleeping mats. Invite Creative Tension There’s always push and pull between designers who want to create amazing products and managers who say, “That’s too expensive. Make it commercial.” Sometimes it’s worth doing…

a. Outerknown Station jumpsuit $178 A roomy fit and ample pockets make the Station fit for almost any activity. The soft and sustainable cotton-linen blend lends unrivaled comfort on long flights. b. Patagonia Stand Up sun hat $55 Keep the sun off your hair and skin with this wide-brimmed bucket hat with SPF 50 protection. It’s made from 100 percent organic cotton. c. Darn Tough Topless No Show Hidden Light socks $14 The best summer socks are lightweight, no-show, and don’t bunch. Darn Tough’s merino-blend version comes in fun stripes and patterns, stays put, and wicks sweat so well you’ll forget you’re not barefoot. d. Aether Half-Zip Mesh sweater $325 Aether’s pointelle fabric combines a polyester-viscose-blend face with a wool-blend back. The result is softer and more breathable than knit…

Love the Sport Before I’m a product manager, I’m a cyclist. Every time I ride, I’m thinking about what I can do to my bike to have it go faster and farther, and how I can have more fun. Iterate and Innovate There are two ways we develop bikes: by improving on existing models with feedback, and by creating new categories. Ten years ago, when we got the prototypes of our first Turbo S e-commuter, we started to think: How cool would it be if we had this kind of performance in a road bike? E-Assist for Everyone We see performance e-bikes enabling people to explore more, encouraging riders to bike when they weren’t going to, and, most importantly, appealing to those who didn’t think cycling was for them. Wired…

a. Smartwool PhD Run Ultra Light Print socks $21 These nylon and merino socks maintain their shape after countless run and wash cycles. Mesh venting keeps your feet cool, and a reinforced cap helps reduce friction and protect your toes. b. Runderwear Merino briefs $35 DON’T RUN COMMANDO, reads the waistband. We rarely take orders from our undies, but with mesh paneling, seamless construction, and temperature-regulating merino wool, we’ll make an exception. c. Tracksmith Charles sunglasses $255 Tracksmith’s Italian-made frames conjure a classic Wayfarer look, but they’re ready for race day: silicone nose and ear pads keep them in place during fast efforts, and polarized lenses minimize glare. d. Salomon XA hat $25 Soft UPF 50 fabric, ample venting, and an adjustable elastic strap guarantee prolonged protection and comfort. e. Under Armour…

Beats Powerbeats Pro $250 Three things matter most in today’s wireless headphones: a dependable Bluetooth connection, quality sound, and a snug fit. Beats’ Powerbeats Pro nails them all. These earphones have the same light weight and low profile of your typical popcorn-size buds, but with hooks that help anchor them in place, so they don’t feel painfully wedged into your ears. But what puts the Powerbeats over the top is bold, clear, dynamic sound and louder-than-average output compared with other Bluetooth models. They last an impressive nine hours on a charge (a five-minute refill gets you 90 minutes more). The charging case, which holds 15 hours of additional juice, is bulky, but the Powerbeats have other virtues, like sensors that start and stop the music automatically when you put them…

a. Mammut Comfort Knit Fast Adjust harness $160 Testers loved Mammut’s harness for its wide leg loops and seam-free lining, which hugs the lower back without digging in. The 3-D-knit material held up to chimney squeezes in Moab without fraying. b. Livsn Designs Flex Canvas pants $99 These trousers from Livsn do it all, with zippered security pockets in front, reflective straps at the cuff for commuting, a gusseted crotch, and a mesh liner—all in a burly cotton-polyester blend. c. Black Diamond Camalot Z4 cams $70 Pull the Camalot Z4’s trigger and the stem stiffens for easy placement. Release it and it bends for safety in horizontal cracks. This also prevents the cam from walking. d. Scarpa Veloce climbing shoes $139 The Veloce is a shoe for all climbers. It…

Know Your Roots In the early eighties, we had one climbing shoe: the EB. It was extremely painful, and you had to wear it really small to get it to work well. The big challenge was to make shoes that would be less painful and still precise. That’s where I started. Trust the Process The most interesting part is the first time you go out with the prototype and test it on the rock. There have been models where I’ve made 50 prototypes before it works. On the other hand, many times the first prototype looks bad but works well. Then you want to make it better, and you actually make it worse. Lean on Experience I’ve always insisted on being the developer and the tester, so I’d directly feel…