New technologies and better materials have enabled a few willing brands to make bikes with big wheels and extra-small frames feel nimble and fast Ten years ago, when I first rode a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels, I hated it. A lot of cyclists were hyping the performance benefits of the larger wheel size. But…
Colorado’s Yampa River is one of the best trout streams in the Rockies—and locals are working to keep it that way. It was in May, when melting snow turns the Yampa River into fire hose, that the water almost took my daughter. She was two, and we were walking on the paved bike path that…
The multi-tool as we know it didn’t exist before Tim Leatherman invented foldable pliers—and that was just the beginning. Like microbreweries and chocolate shops, the Leatherman factory in Portland, Oregon, offers public tours. Visitors come to watch silver ribbons of steel cut into intricate shapes by a massive press that booms like a giant’s footsteps,…
This sprawling review (co-written with Ryan Stuart) evaluated 2020’s new jackets to select the seven best models—including “Gear of the Year.” Take Cover Layers to keep you moving no matter the weather. Black Diamond Highline Stretch, $299 Waterproofing, breathability, durability, packability, comfort, sustainability—usually, you’re lucky if your jacket has a few of these attributes. The Highline…
From elk to bighorn sheep, our valley’s wildlife population is crashing. Are trail users, residents, and visitors ready to make sacrifices to protect the iconic animals they profess to love? Insomniacs count sheep. Craig Wescoatt counts elk. And lately the numbers have been keeping him up at night. Driven by a love for wildlife that…
Around the world, countries have created new national parks to preserve the planet’s last pristine bastions. Early adopters can experience a kind of solitude that’s impossible to come by elsewhere. Patagonia National Park, Chile The Lagunas Altas Trail is one of those ridgeline hikes that makes you feel like an eagle in flight—or in my…
Hiking is one of summer’s sweetest pleasures, and the right gear makes the miles fly by. Here’s the footwear, packs and apparel you’ll want for summit bids and seaside rambles FOOTWEAR HOKA ONE ONE STINSON MID GORE-TEX Heavy backpacks and rocky trails can punish feet, but not if they’re cradled by the super-plush cushioning of…
Is Fox’s Electronic Suspension Worth Thousands? Our writer will never go back The next time you shop for a mountain bike, you’ll need to decide if you want intelligent suspension that senses the terrain every three milliseconds and optimizes performance accordingly. Fox unveiled such magic in 2019 with its Live Valve system, which does what all…
This sprawling review evaluated 2020’s new Alpine ski boots to select the six best models. You’ll Fit Right In Control made comfortable. Lange LX 100, $500 The 100-flex LX brings Lange’s race-bred technology to intermediate skiers. Its 102-millimeter last is generous, but nothing is dumbed down about the Dual Core shell, which sandwiches soft plastic…
Colorado is in the midst of a trail-building bonanza. But research has revealed an inconvenient truth: The humans recreating on these trails are negatively impacting wildlife populations throughout the state. Is there a way to spend time in the backcountry responsibly without endangering the state’s fauna? One morning this past August, I pedaled my mountain…