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2 weeks ago | 
outsideonline.com | Joe Jackson
The everyday jogger isn't as robust as soft shell pants you'd climb a mountain in, nor are they lifesaving items like avalanche airbags or helmets that traditionally get tested more rigorously. But during my decade of working as Outside's Gear Guy, the tests I've enjoyed the most are when we've gone deep on everyday pieces of gear like the humble jogger.
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1 month 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.
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1 month 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.
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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.
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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.
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2 months 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.
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2 months 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.
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2 months ago | 
fieldmag.com | Joe Jackson
When Fielding Miller handed me an unbranded beanie before he and I climbed and skied Mt. Shasta together almost eight years ago, I had no idea the concept would one day turn into one of my favorite accessories. Over the years had helped Polartec, whom he worked with as a PR rep, make an extremely limited run of proof of concept beanies using their then-new Power Wool material.
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Mar 13, 2025 | 
outsideonline.com | Joe Jackson
Two years ago, I had a mild midlife crisis when I turned 40. I say “mild” because I did not make any negative life-altering choices or obsess over opportunities missed in the first 40 years of my life. I did, however, make the stereotypical massive purchase which had a toe hold in vanity. Driven by the determination to maintain some level of athleticism as I age, I cleaned out my garage—which had long been a gear hoarding space—and turned it into my ultimate home gym.
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Mar 12, 2025 | 
fieldmag.com | Joe Jackson
Field Mag may receive a minor commission from purchases made via affiliate links. The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel became an outdoor gear icon almost immediately upon release 21 years ago. Its basic design hasn’t changed—it is still a bag with, as the name suggests, a cavernous opening that accommodates heaps of clothes, gear, and equipment without fancy compartments or strap-down systems.
