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Nov 26, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Clark Tate
By Clark Tate ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Nov 26, 2024 The Best Axes for 2024It's hard to know how well an axe will bite, split, and deliver force without swinging it, so we purchased 12 top contenders to test blade-to-blade. We cleared birch trees in Maine, split oak rounds into firewood, and stacked kindling for a long northern winter. Down south, we bucked up fallen locust logs and chopped down and limbed every invasive autumn olive tree we could find.
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Oct 23, 2024 | 
techgearlab.com | Clark Tate |Jake Holmes
Best Overall LawnmowerIn a world where battery-powered tools have largely replaced the need for a loud, maintenance-needy, fume-producing engine, lithium-ion innovations can't quite keep up with internal combustion engines yet. As soon as we fired the Toro SmartStow Recycler 20340 up and got the blade spinning, it was clear to our testers that it offers the best power and performance of any mower in our lineup.
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Jul 9, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Zach Joseph Lovell |Clark Tate
Performance ComparisonGiven how important a radio's range and clarity is, we gave this metric 30% of the total score. We tested the Mountain Radio's range and clarity in real world settings, examining its capabilities when transmission scenarios weren't exactly perfect. We scored each radio based off their performance with minor obstructions, such as trees, to major obstructions, like a ridge or hill between the two radios.
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Mar 28, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Clark Tate
The Arc'teryx Gammas are the only soft shell option we tested, a category between regular pants and hard shell rain pants. Whereas hard shells are waterproof but struggle to breathe well to release sweat buildup, softshells are more waterresistant than most hiking pants but are more breathable than hardshells. They're a great option for high-output activities, like climbing a mountain, where you want your sweat to escape but need more protection from unexpected weather.
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Mar 28, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Clark Tate
After wearing the endless stretchy, fully synthetic hiking pants that make up the majority of options in this review, the rigid, poly-cotton fabric of the Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers can be a confusing switch. Once we broke them, we appreciated their sturdy fabric and thoughtful design and found that they're an excellent option for bushwalking adventures.
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Mar 28, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Clark Tate
Thanks to their killer comfort, super-stretch fabric, and useful features, these pants offer excellent value. We wore them hiking, climbing, working, and in yoga class, and they never held us back. Performance Comparison The Trailmade pants are among the most comfortable we've tested. With a more generous cut through the bum and thighs than most, they have a relaxed feel. We wore them all day at the office and then straight out to the trails or climbing gym. They felt great the entire time.
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Mar 28, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Clark Tate
These pants are casual enough to wear in various life settings but work well for hikes, bikes, and travel. They are made with a 95% recycled nylon and 5% elastane blend and have a straight cut. We also love that they come in a flared cut and in shorts. The Halle II comes in sizes from 00 to 16 and in three inseam options — short (28 inches), regular (30 inches), and tall (34 inches). You can count on these pants for unimpeded movement on the rock and trail.
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Mar 27, 2024 | 
bangordailynews.com | Clark Tate
Why do you climb a rock? I mean a single rock, a boulder about 10 to 20 feet high. Climbing a cliff is a bit more obvious. Sometimes it’s standing between you and where you want to go. In the past, people lived in caves perched mid-cliff to leave lowlands open for farming or to slow an enemy’s advance. You can follow in their carved out footprints in places like Mesa Verde National Park or Meteora, Greece, where monks built cliff-top monasteries to flee religious persecution.
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Mar 22, 2024 | 
bangordailynews.com | Clark Tate
It’s always hard to turn around on a trail because the next bend beckons. I’m usually hoping for a rare wildlife sighting, like the silver fox glimpsed last weekend. But I’ve never considered stumbling across a community treehouse, standing sentinel at the edge of a peat bog, facing the sunset and flanked by a beaver lodge. But that’s just what I found at the end of Carter Meadow Road at Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge last fall. “Treehouse” is a whimsical description.
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Feb 26, 2024 | 
outdoorgearlab.com | Liz Williamson |Clark Tate
The right winter jacket is the key to staying cozy in cold weather. What makes a jacket right for you depends on your climate, daily commute, and favorite wintertime activities. A casual parka with thick down encased in non-waterproof nylon will keep you warm but not dry in a wet storm. It won't be the best option if you live in the Pacific Northwest. A hardcore jacket built to keep you toasty when standing around in negative temperatures won't work for a technical ski tour or ice climbing outing.
