Jediah Porter

California

Gear Reviewer at OutdoorGearLab

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outdoorgearlab.com

Articles

The Best 4 Climbing Skins of 2025 for Backcountry Skiing

Dec 7, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter

By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Dec 7, 2024 The Best Climbing SkinsOur team of backcountry ski guides has continually tested the best climbing skins over the past decade. This review draws on their cumulative wisdom earned through skinning millions of vertical feet to directly compare 17 of the best skins side-by-side. We consider the needs of skiers across the spectrum of abilities, goals, backgrounds, and budgets to help you find the best option for your new setup.
How to Choose a Personal Locator Beacon

Nov 20, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter

Communication is essential—a universal truth. In the wilderness, where cell signals fade, staying connected becomes more challenging. While many venture into nature to escape modern communication, safety often requires a way to handle emergencies or bad decisions. Others may need regular contact with the outside world for personal or professional reasons. That's where satellite messengers, personal locator beacons, and other backcountry communication devices come in.
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus Review

Nov 20, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter

Price: $500 List Manufacturer: Garmin By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Nov 20, 2024 88 OVERALL SCORE RANKED #1 of 13 SOS/Emergency Messaging - 30% 10.0 Non-Emergency Messaging - 25% 10.0 Signal Coverage - 20% 7.0 Ease of Use - 15% 6.5 Portability - 10% 9.0 Our Verdict The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is the best device on the market with the best service and features. It uses the best satellite network, offers leading portability and battery life, and Garmin has added optimized user...
iPhone Satellite Messaging Review

Nov 20, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter

Casual outdoor enthusiasts (or even those that occasionally find themselves in an emergency without cell signal) now have access to satellite communications - with caveats Price: $999 List Manufacturer: Apple By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Nov 20, 2024 68 OVERALL SCORE RANKED #9 of 13 SOS/Emergency Messaging - 30% 10.0 Non-Emergency Messaging - 25% 6.0 Signal Coverage - 20% 2.0 Ease of Use - 15% 8.0 Portability - 10% 7.0 Our Verdict All iPhone 14 and newer variants have the same satellite...
How to Choose a Handheld GPS

Nov 4, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter |Aaron Rice |Trish Matheny

We have invested a great deal into covering a broad portion of the entire market of compact outdoor electronics — handheld GPS units are no exception. Along our journey, we have learned what to look for and what key components should be emphasized for certain pursuits. In the “information age,” outdoor enthusiasts and athletes are looking to better track and monitor their adventures.
How to Choose a Portable Grill

Nov 4, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter |Aaron Rice |Trish Matheny

Portable grills provide a rewarding cooking and dining experience in the outdoors. While camping stoves can make cooking feel more like a chore, travel BBQs can turn any gathering into a cookout, whether at a campsite, state park, on the beach, or tailgating. All in all, they are a simple solution for cooking an excellent meal away from home. This article helps you focus on the performance and features you need from your next portable grill.
Dynafit Blacklight 88 Review

Nov 4, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter

Price: $800 List Manufacturer: Dynafit By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Nov 4, 2024 60 OVERALL SCORE RANKED #15 of 17 Weight - 25% 9.6 Firm Snow - 20% 9.5 Powder - 20% 2.0 Crud and Poor Snow - 20% 4.0 Stability at Speed - 15% 3.0 Our Verdict The Dynafit Blacklight 88 is the specialized ski you want for hard-earned descents on steep, firm snow. This is what you want for that springtime road trip to sample volcanos in the PNW or for a long traverse across the Sierras in May. This is the...
Fischer Transalp 105 CTI Review

Nov 4, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter

In our review there are almost a half dozen close competitors to the Transalp 105 CTI. The sexy subcategory of soft-snow-focused touring skis receives a lot of attention from manufacturers, consumers, and our test team. In this realm, this Transalp is excellent. However, when the snow stops flying, it doesn't perform particularly well in firm snow.
Movement Alp Tracks 98 Review

Nov 4, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Jediah Porter

In our comparative tests, the Alp Tracks 98 ski performed about as well in firm and poor snow conditions as the previous award-winning Alp Tracks 100. Unfortunately, it just wasn't as lively in powder snow. The performance for the weight of the 98-millimeter-waisted ski is really darn good – few skis are this light and perform this well across the board. We still hope that some company will reintroduce a ski that offers the magic the Alp Tracks 100 seemed to possess.
Benchmade 15032 North Fork Review

Oct 26, 2024 | outdoorgearlab.com | Kyle Hameister |Jediah Porter

You can think of the North Fork folding knife as a special edition of Benchmade's other top offerings. Especially popular among the outdoorsman, it (purposefully) includes fewer customizable options (only available with one blade steel option, for example), no open assist action, and a heritage-style wooden handle aesthetic. It comes with a premium price tag but is undeniably a fantastically designed and high-performing knife.