Articles

  • 1 week ago | outsideonline.com | Joe Jackson

    Coolers are the gastroenterological core of every camping trip. If your cooler fails, your drinks are only lukewarm and your perishables go bad. While ice retention, exterior durability, and interior capacity are all important features to consider, we also think the devil is in the details when it comes to buying the right cooler. A massive amount of insulation won't do you any good if the clasps don't seal it closed, and spaciousness doesn't matter if you can't find things or carry it.

  • 3 weeks ago | outsideonline.com | Joe Jackson

    Thanks to instant coffee, which has been commercially available since the late 1930s, saving weight in the backcountry and still getting zooted on caffeine is not new. When I started raft guiding a century ago in the late '90s, we used to mix up heaping spoonfuls of Folgers with General Foods International Coffees Suisse Mocha and Orange Cappuccino powders to get fired up in the morning.

  • 1 month ago | fieldmag.com | Joe Jackson

    Joe Jackson Joe Jackson has 25 years experience as a guide, retail employee, magazine editor, and gear tester. As Outside Magazine's Gear Guy, he has tested thousands of pieces of gear across running, hiking, backpacking, camping, water sports, etc. There are many things that make my home of Ashland, Oregon a contender for the perfect outdoor town.

  • 1 month ago | outsideonline.com | Joe Jackson |Miyo McGinn

    Few things can tank morale on a camping trip like a bad night's sleep. Fortunately, with plenty of stellar sleeping pad options out there, there's no reason for your gear to prevent you from getting your beauty sleep, especially when you're car camping and you've got the room to go big.

  • 1 month ago | outsideonline.com | Joe Jackson

    Nothing quite beats having a place to rest your butt at camp. We’re talking about more than just a rotting stump you found trailside. From the ultra pared-down, highly portable bucket seat to the high-end armchair we’d consider using as living-room furniture, there is a camp chair that will enhance every trip. While you can buy cheap camp chairs for $10, you will see a lot of chairs with price tags north of $100 on our list.