Outside • 1st April 2026

Do You Actually Need a Weighted Vest or Rucking Pack—or Can You Just Use Your Backpack?

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyWeighted vests and rucking packs are all the rage among the suburban middle-aged walkers, hikers, and runners (and TikTokers, I’m told) looking to build strength, improve bone density to ward off osteoporosis, and burn extra calories. I get the concept. Walking the dog? Throw on something weighted to gain strength at...

Outside • 24th March 2026

After Testing 100+ Road Running Shoes, These Are the Ones We Can’t Stop Wearing

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyAfter testing 20 of the latest models over hundreds of miles—from recovery jogs on tired legs to blistering 5k speed sessions—the best road running shoe for most runners is the Asics Superblast 3. We found its massive-yet-lightweight cushion and hyper-bouncy energy return to be the most versatile ride on the market. F...

Outside • 11th March 2026

Your Ski Boots Are Ruining Your Après. Here's What to Wear Instead.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyFor me, a typical weekend in the mountains means a ton of time in my snowboarding boots, both riding and uphilling on my splitboard. Occasionally, I’ll step into cross country ski boots or a winterized trail running shoe, but I spend the majority of my time in my snowboarding boots. I’m grateful that they’re comfortab...

Outside • 26th February 2026

Are Gravel Running Shoes a Gimmick or Can They Actually Enhance Your Training?

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyAs an increasing number of brands introduce running shoes in the “Gravel” category, piggybacking on the success of gravel cycling, I think some differentiation is in order. There have long been shoes that bridge characteristics of road running shoes and trail running shoes, referred to as “hybrid,” “cross-over,” or “r...

Outside • 11th February 2026

I’ve Run Outside Through 23 Colorado Winters: This Is What I Wear When the Temps Are in the Single Digits

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyIt’s mid-February, and Punxsutawny Phil says winter isn’t over yet. That’s a good thing to anyone in the west, since we desperately need snow and have had a creepily warm winter—for the most part. A few weeks ago, an Arctic blast hit Colorado. A few inches of snow fell where I live in Boulder, and the mercury dropped...

Outside • 9th February 2026

These Bindings Solve Snowboarding's Most Annoying Problem

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyAs a young 20-something living in San Francisco, I had the good fortune of having friends who worked for snowboard binding company Switch. They got me gear—a used Rossignol board, and Switch boots and bindings—and we’d all head up to the Lake Tahoe ski resorts on weekends, where they taught me how to snowboard.
Back t...

Outside • 21st January 2026

I’ve Tested a Dozen Running Midlayers—These Are the Ones I Actually Use

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyThis season, multiple brands introduced midlayers meant specifically for running, and I applaud the trend. They’re more like thin sweatshirts than technical running shirts, and who doesn’t love pulling on a cozy sweatshirt?These versatile pieces can be worn as marketed—a midlayer between a close-fitting baselayer and...

Outside • 16th January 2026

Every Major Brand Has a Winter Running Shoe Now. We Found the Ones That Actually Work.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyWinter running shoes are everywhere this year. Maybe it’s because more runners want to head outside in all sorts of weather instead of settling for indoor workouts. Or maybe it’s because innovations in weatherproofing shoe uppers and underfoot traction have improved the experience of winter running. Whatever the reaso...

Outside • 12th January 2026

I’ll Upend My Entire Sock Drawer to Find These Perfect Pairs

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyWhether I’m getting ready to run, hike, snowboard, or just lounge around the house, I’m always digging through my sock drawer to unearth a pair of Smartwool socks. I’m not sponsored by the company in any way, I just love these socks.I love my cushy Smartwool over-the-calf snowboarding socks, my thin and breathable Nor...

Outside • 9th January 2026

We Tested Women's Long-Sleeve Running Shirts from the Cold, Snowy Rockies to the Wet, Windy Coasts: These Are the Best

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyThe best long-sleeve running shirts feel great against the skin from the moment you start getting dressed, transforming a winter run from daunting to doable. Once you’re moving, these shirts breathe effectively and help wick sweat from your skin to the fabric’s exterior, where the moisture evaporates into the winter e...

Outside • 9th August 2025

I Shaved One Leg With a Razor Made for Male Athletes and the Other With a Women’s Model for Three Months. Here’s What I Discovered.

Years ago, when I was 20-something, I heard comedian Jon Stewart on stage in San Francisco quip, “Do you ever shave one of your legs to make it feel like you’re in bed with someone else?” All these years later, Stewart’s line came back to me to inspire a unique way to test the Bolt Performance Razor, which claims to be the first razor made and marketed for men’s legs.Many male cyclists, triathletes, and swimmers shave their legs for reasons related to performance that include aerodynamics, ease...

Outside Online • 7th May 2025

10 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Active Moms

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up!
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Do you know what the absolute perfect Mother’s Day gift is? A well-coordinated family activity in the great outdoors with mom’s loving children not complaining about any of it, the entire time.
But we know that a family hike, backpacking trip, camping overnight, bike ride, paddle, or climb can be hard to...

Outside Online • 6th May 2025

These Expert-Tested Sports Bras are Comfortable, Supportive, and Perfect for Summer

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up!
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Every woman is built differently and has a different idea of what makes the perfect sports bra. But every woman wants (and deserves) a bra that is comfortable and supportive, and lets her do activities with zero distraction. In light of that, we had a team of testers—all different sizes—try more than 30...

Outside Online • 22nd April 2025

You Won't Believe This Gear Is Made Out of Garbage

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An increasing number of smart, eco-conscious entrepreneurs are putting Earth first by utilizing unwanted materials that would otherwise end up as trash. From trendy tote bags and fanny packs made out of billboard vinyl to casual and recovery footwear made from leftover running shoe midsole scraps, the fo...

Outside Online • 20th April 2025

Can THC Really Make You a Better Athlete? I Tried Micro-Dosing to Find Out.

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More and more athletes have been tapping into THC/CBD products to try to enhance their performance, feel less pain while training or competing, or aid their recovery from workouts, which includes improving their sleep.
The use of THC—the primary psychoactive compound from the cannabis plant—for recreatio...

Outside Online • 18th April 2025

Carry Your Fluids and Gear More Comfortably with These Top-Performing Running Vests

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Hydration vests have become the preferred method of carrying fluids for most runners, and you can find over 25 different options on the market this season. We tested them all. Vests carry liquids and supplies comfortably by distributing the weight evenly across your chest and upper back; the best ones be...

Outside • 17th April 2025

Keep Everything You Need on the Run Handy with These Tester-Recommended Running Vests

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policyThe best hydration vests for running become part of your body. They distribute weight evenly across your chest and upper back, fit closely to your torso, and move minimally as you run over hill and dale. They carry liquids in soft flasks or bladders, and supplies like fuel, lip balm, phones, and layers in well-thought...

Outside Online • 10th April 2025

Tackle Any Terrain with Confidence in These Top Runner-Tested Trail Shoes

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Trail running shoes are like adventure partners: find a good one, and you feel safe, confident, and excited to explore all sorts of terrain. We put the season’s offerings to the test on every kind of topography, from Rocky Mountain singletrack to Santa Barbara bluffs, Nebraska gravel backroads, and the r...

Outside Online • 28th March 2025

After Months of Testing, We Sorted Out the Best Running Shoes for Training and Racing

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Running shoe technology is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the wide range of people getting out, gaining fitness, and pushing their personal limits. Today, the range of styles available to runners is greater than ever before, with shoe developers constantly introducing new foams and novel shapes...

Outside Online • 5th March 2025

Why These Three Women Outdoor Leaders Are Facing More Challenges Than Ever

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Let’s face it: It’s a tough time to be anything besides a white male. And while the outdoor industry has long been a fantastic place to find our joys in nature, the industry—like many others—has been male dominated, especially when it comes to leadership roles at the brands that make the gear we all use...

Outside Online • 28th February 2025

These Running Shoes for Mixed Terrain Are the Perfect Blend of Smooth and Rugged

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In the past two years,  a handful of brands have leaned into—or doubled down on—the category of shoe that can both run smoothly on pavement and keep you from falling on your face on a trail. Several brands, like Craft Sportswear and Salomon, have introduced what they’re calling their “Gravel” category of...

Outside Online • 26th February 2025

My Favorite Sweater for Winter Activities Isn’t Made from Wool

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As a gearhead who mostly tests running shoes and apparel made for high-energy activities, I don’t often fire up about a sweater. But when I pulled on Paka’s  Original Sweater for the first time, I didn’t want to take it off.
I wore it while working at my desk. I wore it while walking my dog. I even ran a...

Outside Online • 25th January 2025

I’m Wearing Running Gear Right Now (But You’d Never Know It)

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On a quick trip to San Diego over the holidays, my friends couldn’t stop asking about the shoes I had worn on the plane and around town.
“Those are cute, who makes them?”
“Ooh, what are those?”
“You don’t run in those, though, do you?”
The answers to these questions were Tracksmith, my sneakiest, most ve...

Outside Online • 17th January 2025

Winter Ice and Snow Can’t Coop Me Up: I Have Claws

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up!
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In the foothills of Colorado, winter creates a wide range of (sometimes dangerous) running conditions. The one I like to avoid the most is the indoor treadmill. I’m an outdoor animal. Like my yellow lab, Lulu, I sleep and lounge indoors but need to breathe fresh air, run on a natural surface, and be amon...