The 7 Best Adventure Travel Weekenders

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or someone who travels regularly for work, the most important piece of gear you carry with you is your bag. While there is a time and a place for a heavy duty duffel and an easy-to-lug carry-on, for many summer trips you need a bag that’s versatile enough to handle an intense weekend of adventure.

As travel bags continue to evolve and include more fancy accessories, your go-to bag should be able to get tossed around in the trunk of a wagon, thrown in the back of a small plane and strapped to a motorcycle without looking worse for wear. Here are the bags we’d take with us on any off-road adventure.

Eagle Creek Converge Weekend Bag

In typical Eagle Creek fashion, this bag has multiple uses — all of which are extremely useful. Wear it as a backpack to the gym, use it as a messenger to go to work, and then unzip the clamshell to easily store clothes for a weekend away. The front two pockets fit an iPad and phone comfortably, and the 17-inch laptop compartment in the back is a necessity when leaving straight from work on a Friday.

Timbuk2 Wander Pack

This bag shines as a durable backpack with enough pockets to store anything you can think of. Type A packers will appreciate the separate area for clean and dirty clothes, a dedicated sneaker pocket and mesh sections in every spot on the bag to organize your credit cards, passport, license and other small necessities. An internal compression strap creates more storage and an airmesh ventilated back panel saves your body on hot days.

Patagonia Black Hole 30L Duffel

This unstoppable duffle is a staff favorite. The seemingly never-ending void of storage works for all types of adventures — whether you’re camping, hiking, bikepacking, skiing or snowboarding. The 210D nylon ripstop material treated with DWR keeps the bag safe from all rain, snow, sleet and hail.

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

Slightly bigger than Patagonia duffel above, the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack can still squeeze above or below the seats on a plane with its 35-liter capacity. The padded laptop and tablet sleeves keep electronics separate from the gear you’ll need for the weekend. A full-wrap zipper opens up the pack like a suitcase. Open it out to see multiple subdivided mesh compartments so you can keep your toothpaste separate from your wet bathing suits.

Alchemy Equipment Weekender Bag

This over-the-shoulder bag is offered in two colors: black waxed and black ATY nylon. Internal compression straps keep everything in place and make more room for any trinkets you pick up along the way. Instead of resorting to stuffing all of your odds and ends into plastic baggies, the water-resistant compartments streamline toiletries packing. The 35-liter pack has a PU coating over 900D Kodra fabric to prevent water from seeping inside the bag.

Fjällräven Splitpack Backpack

Rounded edges and a full-zip clamshell design give this bag some street cred. Similar in style to a gym bag, just with backpack straps, this bag unzips right down the middle exposing two large mesh compartments. The exterior is made from a ballistic weave, so when you set it down at the train station, there’s no worry about the fabric. The duffle-like shape stands the bag up straight, so you don’t have to lean it up against anything while waiting to get to your destination.

Gregory Alpaca Duffel

With a capacity that starts at 45-liters, the Gregory Alpaca duffel is ideal for climbers. With seemingly-endless loops around the front of the bag, there are plenty of places to attach carabiners and accessories to the outside of the bag. The durable and waterproof material will survive inclement weather. Handles on both ends make the bag easy to haul and an internal compression strap (only on the 120-liter model) creates space you didn’t know you had.

All the Gear Used to Win One of the World’s Toughest 100-Mile Races

The Western States 100 is the world’s oldest 100-mile race and this year’s event took place on June 23 to 24. Runners start in Squaw Valley, California and end in Auburn, California climbing more than 18,000 feet and descending almost 23,000 feet in the many hours before the finish line. On top of all that, participants have to cross the American River. With a finishing rate of 81-percent, only the toughest survive.

How long does a 100-mile race take? If you’re Jim Walmsley, you’ll run for 14 hours, 30 minutes and four seconds. Walmsley set a new course record despite the over 100-degree temps. Whether you’re looking to run five miles or ten, Walmsley’s gear picks will get you through any distance.

Hoka One One Mafate Evo

“These are light and cushioned throughout the entire length the foot. They have a snappy response, drain water quickly, and supreme grip.”

Drymax Hyperthin Socks

“These are very thin with a fitted design, they soak up minimal water and the mini crew cut keeps the sock on your foot. There’s a special PTFE anti-chafe on forefoot and heel areas, too.”

Patagonia Duckbill Hat

“It’s breathable, functional, soaks up and holds water. I used as a sponge in the creek crossing to drench my entire body.” We’re big fans of this hat for all runs.

Garmin Forerunner 935

The Forerunner is the watch-choice of running superstars everywhere thanks to it powerful features. Walmsley likes the 935 for its “24 hour GPS battery life, altimeter and barometer for accurate reading.” It’s also lightweight so you’re comfortable during 5, 10 or 100-miles.

Oakley Radar EV Pitch with Prizm Daily Polarized Lenses

Running for 14 hours can be straining on the eyes. These sunnies feature an “all day lens tint that works for morning, afternoon, and evening [light]” Walmsley says. “[They have] extreme detail and clarity, and my vision stays clear even with water on the lenses throughout the day.”

The 7 Best Travel-Friendly Hiking Shoes

Hiking boots tend to be bulky and take up a lot of space in your suitcase, but a pair of sneakers sometimes just won’t cut it. While it’s common to see travelers wearing sneakers to the airport and around town, if you’re planning on hiking a peak or exploring the backroads, sneakers just don’t hold up. While there are plenty of hiking boots that you can wear exploring, there are a few that are more versatile than others.

Just as there are sneakers you can wear all day long, thanks to some much-needed upgrades, there are also hiking boots that do the same. The category of light hikers or heavy-duty trail running shoes will serve you well both traveling and hiking. While these don’t provide quite as much ankle support as a full boot, it also means they are lower profile and leave ample room in your suitcase for any keepsakes from the trip. These alternatives to standard sneakers keep your style fresh and your feet comfortable throughout all of your adventures.

Five Ten Access Mesh Approach Shoe

A durable and breathable upper with a rubberized exoskeleton lacing system makes these Access Knit sneakers ideal for summer hiking excursions. A reinforced toe cap protects your digits from sharp points along the trail.

Lowa Locarno GTX Lo Shoe

An all-tan option blends seamlessly with cargos or Carhartts, so you can wear them to work as well as up a mountain. The Gore-Tex fabric guarantees no wet feet in puddles, so these are a smart idea for year-round use.

Ridgemont Outfitters Heritage Boot

The EVA foam footbed guarantees comfort and the solid lugged rubber tread grips on snow and ice. A waterproof Hydroguard lining eases any summer to winter boot transitions. And the premium leather upper will survive rainstorms, hail and other weather ups and downs.

Danner Tramline 917

Handmade in Portland, Oregon, these all-leather mountain boots are built to survive the tough temperatures the Northwest brings. They are also 100-percent waterproof with a shock-absorbing Vibram outsole.

Adidas Outdoor Terrex Solo Approach Shoe

While these boots look slightly more technical, the all-green or all-black colors work just as nicely with jeans as they do with hiking pants. Plus, when Adidas partners up with Alexander and Thomas Huber, who climbed El Capitan in just two hours and forty-five minutes, the shoes are bound to be lightweight and protective.

Arc’teryx Acrux SL Approach Shoe

With technical-enough specs to climb tough summits, these low profile climbing sneakers fit like a glove. The seamless PU-coated nylon upper features a high abrasion tolerance so you can drag these all over the Pacific Crest Trail without ruining them. An intense Vibram light approach sole with Megagrip compound stays put over all types of terrain, and the all-black and all-navy uppers blend in with jeans, so you can go straight to the bar post-hike without changing your kicks.

Five Ten Access Leather Shoe

A fast-moving hiker with an EVA midsole that’s still comfortable enough to wear to the bar after the summit is ideal for a travel-friendly hiking shoe. The leather upper adds a bit of an aesthetic edge to typical hiking sneakers. The mix of leather and suede will have you standing out (in a good way) on rock scrambles or in the baggage claim.

10 Pieces of Outdoor Gear Your Dog Needs Now

One of the joys of dog ownership is that you’ve got an adventure partner that’s always up for getting out. When your human friends show up for an excursion or expedition, you expect them to come prepared with the appropriate gear to achieve the agreed-upon goal. And yet your dog accompanies you, very few questions asked, equipped only with the evolutionary features humans have forced upon him through thousands of years of domestication and selective breeding. He’s far from the wolf he’s descended from and deserves some gear to make up for it.

Fortunately, a small group of outdoor companies has realized that people want to bring their dogs on all of their adventures. With products like backpack harnesses and paw booties with Vibram-soles, dogs can be as prepared as humans for wandering in the backcountry. If you’re going to force your four-legged friend into chasing you up rugged trails or down through fields of deep snow — all so that you can exploit his photogenic face on Instagram — the least you can do is kit him out.

Flowfold Trailmate Dog Leash

It’s made of recycled climbing rope from Maine’s Sterling Rope company, so it’s lightweight and durable, as all the best outdoor products are.

Stunt Puppy Stunt Runner Leash

Free your hands during runs with this self-adjusting leash that secures to the waist like a belt.

Ruffwear Front Range Harness

A pooch-friendly pack to carry all of the other accessories on this list.

KAVU Buddy Bowl

It’s like the dog version of a water bottle (you still bring the water though). Also used for kibble.

Rocky Mountain Underground Grrowler

RMU rolled up two accessories into one — this dog collar quickly converts into a bowl for a quick summit drink.

Nite Ize Nite Dawg LED Dog Collar

Your dog doesn’t need a headlamp to see in the dark, but it helps if you can see him. This collar is equipped with a red LED that emits light in solid and flashing modes.

Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar

Bayer’s flea- and tick-repelling collar is an Amazon best-seller, and will keep the pests away from your dog — no DEET necessary.

Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots

Ruffwear’s Grip Trex paw booties are built for hard trail-use with Vibram rubber soles, just like the boots you wear.

Orvis Grip-Tight Water-Resistant Hose-Off Seat Hammock

Best used post-adventure, this hammock-style, washable seat cover will keep your undiscerning pooch from ruining your car’s leather interior.

Kurgo Loft Wander Dog Bed

Just like your sleeping bag and pad, this dog bed rolls up for easy travel. It’s also waterproof on top and bottom, so feel free to lay it out anywhere.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

9 Running Shoes You’ll Want to Wear All the Time

The 8 Best Headlamps for Any Adventure

Keeping your hands free while lighting the trail on your next outdoor adventure is a must. And while that flashlight duct taped to your head might be a wallet-friendly solution, there are much more elegant and functional products out there. When you’re out on the trail at night, whether you planned to be or not, your headlamp becomes the most important part of your kit. You could have the best backpack, or the best hiking boots, but without a headlamp you might as well stay at home. Whether you’re a backcountry skier gearing up for your next heli-skiing trip or just looking to walk the dog at night, these headlamps have you covered.

Understanding Headlamp Specs

We’ve outlined the key specs for each headlamp in this guide, but it’s important to know how to read them correctly. In a store, a headlamp will typically be displayed with its lumens front-and-center on its packaging. This is slightly deceiving, and you wouldn’t be blamed for assuming that the number of lumens a headlamp is capable of emitting is equivalent to its overall power. This is true, to an extent.

These specs refer to light emitted by the headlamp at its most powerful setting. The catch is that many headlamps have a burst mode, which may only be operational for a short period. So, a headlamp claiming 500 lumens may only emit that much light for a period as short as 10 seconds.

The good news is, headlamp manufacturers are generally very transparent with this information, providing detailed charts and graphs on how long a light will last at a given strength. In this guide, we detail each headlamp’s maximum light output as a measurement of lumens in its most powerful setting. Similarly, maximum runtime refers to how long each light will last on its lowest setting.

Buying Guide

Editor’s Pick: Black Diamond Spot

Best Overall: The Spot is great because it’s simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s basic. The headlamp uses three AAA batteries (which you’ll be able to find pretty much anywhere on the planet), and it’s fully waterproof. The main light is 300 lumens, which emits a beam to a claimed range of 80 meters (about 262 feet) and is easily dimmable. There’s also a red night vision setting.

Black Diamond equipped the Spot with its PowerTap Technology, which lets you cycle through modes by tapping the side of the lamp housing (a feature that strays toward gimmicky but is actually very useful for reading and cooking, among other things). Another smart feature is a lock mode that prevents the light from turning on in your backpack and killing the batteries — you only forget to use that function once.

We’ve tested this headlamp from park-in campsites to the top of Mt. Rainier, and it’s performed adequately in both situations; it truly is a well-rounded light. But the great part about the Spot is that for all this functionality it’s still only $40.

Power Source: 3 AAA batteries
Max Output: 300 lumens
Max Runtime: 175 hours
Weight: 3.1 ounces

Nite Ize Inova STS

Most Innovative On/Off Control: Boulder, Colorado-based Nite Ize is known for crafting innovative, outdoor-oriented technologies and the Inova STS headlamp is no exception. The Inova is unique in that it offers a simple touch-activated user interface dubbed Swipe-To-Shine and is also waterproof down to one meter. Swipe-to-shine is an easy interface that works like swiping to unlock your smartphone; one direction for white led, the opposite direction for red. It features one high-power white LED and two red ones to preserve your night vision. Both the red and white LEDs offer five beam modes: high, variable dim, medium, strobe and lockout.

Power Source: 3 AAA batteries
Max Output: 142 lumens
Max Runtime: 255 hours
Weight: 3.3 ounces

Coast FL75

Best Lumen to Price Ratio: Portland, Oregon-based Coast makes some of the brightest and most durable headlamps on the market. The FL75 is one of its latest releases, which is capable of pumping out a massive 430 lumens and comes with an IPX4 weatherproof rating. Its construction facilitates switching between different beam outputs with the twisting of a bezel — no repetitive tapping necessary — and there’s a separate button to engage the red LED. Impact resistance was also a priority for the design of this light, but if you aren’t sold on the durability, the FL75 is backed by Coast’s lifetime guarantee.

Power Source: 3 AAA batteries
Max Output: 435 lumens
Max Runtime: 17 hours
Weight: 3.7 ounces

Petzl Actik

Most Reliable: Petzl’s latest headlamp features an easy-to-locate, large push button that toggles the lamp off and on and allows access to a proximity bulb, wider flood light, and a red LED that can operate in solid or strobe mode. The headband comes with a safety whistle attached and can be washed easily after long hikes or runs.

Power Source: 3 AAA batteries or Petzl Core
Max Output: 300 lumens
Max Runtime: 80 hours
Weight: 3.25 ounces

Black Diamond Icon

Highest Quality: Combining a 500-lumen maximum output with Black Diamond’s durability is a recipe for a great headlamp — thus, the new Icon. If you’re looking for the highest quality at a reasonable price, this is it. IP67 rated, the Icon can be submerged down to 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes and still operate perfectly.

Power Source: 4 AA batteries
Max Output: 500 lumens
Max Runtime: 200 hours
Weight: 10.6 ounces

Fenix HP25R

Most Versatile: Fenix is a well-known flashlight and utility light maker, but it often gets overlooked by people shopping for headlamps. It may not be as flashy as some of the outdoor companies, but its roots are in lighting and in headlamps, that’s what matters. The HP25R is a high-powered headlamp with smart features. A dedicated push button for both the flood and spotlights means that you don’t have to fumble through the headlamp’s every setting. A rugged aluminum chassis also helps to shed heat away from your head and keeps the lamp cool during extended outdoor activities. The light also includes a battery level indicator so you don’t get surprised without power mid-adventure.

Power Source: One 18650 rechargeable Li-ion battery (included) or two CR123A batteries
Max Output: 1,000 lumens
Max Runtime: 150 hours
Weight: 6.5 ounces (excluding battery)

Petzl Reactik+

Best Technical Innovation: Petzl has long been an innovator when it comes to headlamp technology, and its latest tech is reflected in the Reactik+. This headlamp features reactive — hence the name — lighting that automatically dims or brightens the bulb based on ambient lighting conditions. The Reactik+ also comes readily-compatible with Petzl’s proprietary Bluetooth mobile app, which allows you to custom-tune your headlamp to your specifications from your phone. Monitor battery life, control output, and set it up for specific, pre-programmed activities or create your own. You can even write out a message that the headlamp will convert into Morse code.

Power Source: 1800 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (included)
Max Output: 300 lumens
Max Runtime: 60 hours
Weight: 4.06 ounces

Light & Motion Seca 2000 Race

Brightest: If you ever imagined a headlamp that’s as powerful as the average car headlight, the Light & Motion Seca 2000 Sport is the answer to your prayers. With a blinding max output of 2,000 lumens, the Seca is the perfect headlamp for high-speed after-dark activities like skiing and mountain biking. It’s waterproof and comes with a full set of mounts that’ll let you integrate it into whatever sport you need it for.

Power Source: Lithium Ion
Max Output: 2,000 lumens
Max Runtime: 6 hours
Weight: 12.52 ounces

BioLite PowerLight Mini

Best Headlamp Alternative: Camp lighting usually boils down to two options: headlamp or lantern. BioLite’s PowerLight Mini is a little bit of both. Unlike the cylindrical construction characteristic of most lanterns, it’s a rectangle. It has a rotating metal clip that can act as a hanger or kickstand-like support. That clip can also be used to secure the PowerLight Mini to a shirt or pocket though, which is why we’re pointing it out on this list. No, it’s not a headlamp, but it can be used similarly, and like some of the great lights on this list, it’s affordable, offers a variety of brightness settings and can even be used as a backup battery to charge your tech accessories.

Power Source: 1350 mAh Li-on, USB Rechargeable
Max Output: 135 lumens
Max Runtime: 52 hours
Weight: 2.82 ounces

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

4 Trainers Share Their Home Gym Essentials

Personal trainers make their living working with clients at gyms, but many of them also train clients in their own homes, meaning they have to think on their feet — depending on the tools and machines available. A talented certified trainer can take one look at the gear you have on hand and craft a unique workout that’ll push you to your max. Whether a trainer walks into a full-on basement kitted out with the best gear possible, or just a cleared out corner of your apartment, the key is making do with what you have — creating a challenging workout with what’s available.
To help you get your home gym ready for any trainer (not to mention help you prep for summer), we talked with four experts to hear about what you need in a home gym. We asked how each of them works out, what tools they always keep on hand and what a perfect home gym looks like. Here are the 14 gear items you need to stock your gym and work your body to the max.

Lindsey Clayton

Barry’s Bootcamp Trainer

Clayton teaches coaches at Barry’s Bootcamp — the intense weights and treadmill workout that has a cult-like following. She also coaches Brave Body Project classes and still finds time to exercise on her own while training for the New York City Marathon. “For me, a home workout needs to be something that I can do with virtually no equipment (hello tiny NYC apartment), and it needs to be fun, quick and have an element of stretch/restorative movement to it as well,” Clayton says. Here are her top five picks.

Woodway Treadmill

“This is hands down the best treadmill on the market. The slatted belt reduces impact and provides more cushion when you land. It feels like you’re running on a cloud. I’m a runner, so on days when the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s perfect to hop on and log your miles that way.”

TRX Trainer

“The TRX trainer and suspension system is the perfect addition to any home gym. TRX uses gravity as your resistance, so you can get an amazing full-body workout and make it as easy or as hard as you want. Because you’re working against gravity on all of the exercises, you’ll automatically get in extra credit work. It’s easy to set up — all you need is a door for the anchor.”

Power Systems Gliding Discs

“[Gliders are] another one of my favorite tools that weigh nothing and takes up virtually no space. They are a great way to mimic moves you’d see on a Megaformer,” Clayton says.

B-Force Bands

“I love resistance bands, especially for glute activation before my run, but they are so versatile you can essentially do an entire workout with just one band.” Check out some exercises using resistance bands here.

Rep Fitness Heavy Weight

“If you don’t want to take up a lot of space, but still want to lift heavy, get one weight or heavy kettlebell that you can use for a unilateral work. Unilateral exercises have been shown to increase muscle mass and solve strength weaknesses between the right and left side of the body,” Clayton says.

George Foreman III

Owner of Everybody Fights

In 2013 George Foreman III opened up The Club in Boston to help share his methodologies. Foreman III finished his boxing career with a perfect record of 16-0 back in 2012, and continues to train to this day. Foreman III’s gym EverybodyFights has expanded since then to include five locations across New York and Boston, with a sixth studio in Philadelphia in the works.

“The key to a great workout at home is to have the ability and space. Treat it like a gym: buy a great mat, maybe set up a rubber floor. A big part of the being consistent and enjoying a workout is the atmosphere,” Foreman III says.

Aquabag

True to his roots, Foreman III recommends a punching bag — and a double-ended bag. “A double ended bag is filled with air, has bands on top and bottom, and helps you work on precision. The more you learn how to box, you can throw fast, powerful and precise punches, and the double-ended bag will give you a great workout without hurting your hands,” he says.

For beginners, Foreman III recommends the Aquabag. “The beauty of an Aquabag is that for a person who doesn’t know how to box, it’s hard to hurt your hand because it bounces back off the bag,” he says.

Concept 2 Rower

“I would not have a gym without one. Especially as a boxer, most of boxing is pushing out and you have to do the recall, pulling the punches to balance it out.”

Sonos

“For music, I stream a playlist on Spotify through my Sonos,” Foreman III says.

Bianca Vesco

Personal trainer and coach at NYSC Lab

Bianca Vesco teaches some of the toughest classes at New York Sports Club Labs. For her perfect home workout routine, Vesco has a winning combination: “a cardio burst, balance and stability training, and strength training,” she says. “I usually have clients do strength and stability together and cardio on its own. There are a million ways to train the human body, and there’s no right or wrong here. You will find a routine that your body responds to through trial and error, so continue to mix it up.”

NordicTrack Treadmill

“A treadmill is necessary for cardio purposes,” Vesco says. “Especially if you live somewhere with a cold winter and can’t run inside, there are no excuses when you have cardio equipment inside.”

Bosu Ball

“This piece is an absolute must. When I take on a new client, I make sure they have a Bosu as part of their home gym. It is one of the most beneficial, versatile pieces of equipment and doesn’t take up much space. Balance and stability work should be part of everyone’s routine. It doesn’t matter how strong you are if you can’t stabilize your movements at the same time,” Vesco says.

Dumbbells

“Having free weights is a no-brainer when it comes to strength training. Not everyone has the room or money to put an entire cable system or barbell rack in their home gym, but there are a few options. Most people I train have a few sets of weights — usually 7, 12.5 and 15 or 20-pounds — however, Bowflex makes an incredible adjustable set that I love.”

David Reavy

Founder of React Physical Therapy

If you’re lucky enough to have a session with David Reavy, he’ll evaluate you from head to toe and tell you what’s working and what’s not. He’s the founder of React Physical Therapy in Chicago and has worked with athletes like Jerome Randle, Mike Magee, Alshon Jeffrey and Paul Davis, among others.

Lululemon Yoga Mat

“[A yoga mat is] great for body weight movements. I enjoy doing exercises barefoot whenever I can to make sure my foot muscles are working,” Reavy says.

Indoor Cycling Bike

“When my time is limited, I can hop on this bike for a quick ride. I typically do 45 minutes for cardio,” Reavy says. “You don’t need much of a warm up since it’s not as high impact as running.”

Lacrosse Ball

“Ideal for self-releases, it’s easier to get at hard-to-hit areas such as hip flexors,” Reavy says.

Best Made in America Outdoor Brands

There’s a special pride we take in learning about craftsmen who have found a way to continue producing and making gear in America. As more and more companies move out to keep prices down, there are a few that have continued to produce as much as they can here in the US. The outdoor space is no different. Whether it’s a line of sneakers or a specific type of tent that is put together from start to finish, there are brands spread across the country making high-quality gear stateside — from as far west as Seattle to as far east as Biddeford, Maine.

We pulled together a list of outdoor brands that are tried and tested, with much of their gear made right here in America. With any of these brands, you can feel proud about supporting them in your outdoor pursuits this summer.

Outdoor Research

Started by Ron Gregg in 1980, Outdoor Research’s first product was a pair of insulated gaitors designed to help mountaineers climb in some of the coldest temperatures on earth. Gregg didn’t stop there, and continued innovating, designing products that anyone who spends time in the backcountry can appreciate. Since the brand’s inception, the manufacturing facility in Seattle has been stop one. Currently there are 80 employees there, all specializing in tactical gear for the elite forces of the military.

Thule

Thule makes everything from hard goods to soft goods, and while not all its products are made in the USA, all of its cargo boxes sold in the US are made stateside in Chicago. Back in May 2016, Thule opened a new center for all cargo box production. Thanks to this facility, Thule is more efficient and flexible when creating the boxes that help Americans everywhere travel with more gear for their adventures.

GoRuck

Jason McCarthy, founder and CEO of GoRuck, creates gear and apparel that serves troops at home and abroad. Pulling from his military background, McCarthy designs rucksacks, apparel and boots. All the gear is durable, compact and tough enough to survive special forces missions. The brand name pulls meaning from movement — literally go and ruck — where you’re moving with a rucksack or backpack. The bags are hand-made in Bozeman, Montana or Colorado.

Darn Tough

Darn Tough has been making high-quality and durable socks in its Northfield, Vermont mill since 2004. Currently worth over $40 million, Darn Tough’s mill at Cabot Hosiery has 208 machines running 24 hours a day, five days a week, pumping out thousands of socks per day. Merino wool is the magic fabric that keeps these socks running for years.

Filson

Filson makes some of the most handsome jackets, bags and clothing for the outdoor market in Seattle. Its luggage recently caught our attention,, but we’re also big fans of its rain jackets and rugged outerwear. Since 1850, C.C. Filson sold entire outfits to west-bound pioneers during the gold rush. The rugged aesthetic continues to guide the brand as it crafts durable and comfortable gear well into its 168th year.

Topo Designs

While not everything Topo Designs makes is born in the USA, the brand’s classic packs are built in Colorado. Day packs, quick packs and mountain packs are available in Topo’s signature, and distinctive, bright colorways. One of our favorite Topo Designs products is the Accessory Bag with 1000D Cordura fabric and a sturdy YKK zipper.

Keen

Keen’s EVOFIT One sandal is born and bred in the USA — more specifically, in Portland, Oregon. The sneaker/sandal hybrid is built for use in the water or on the trail, and feels like a second skin. The shoe takes its cues from nature and its technology from the Keen Innovation Lab, making it versatile and comfortable.

Danner

Since 1932, Danner has crafted boots to help you conquer your next adventure — whether that’s trekking through the snow to work, hiking along tree lined Adirondack trails, or navigating the switchback trails of the Grand Canyon. In use, you can feel the difference in quality of Danner’s boots over other competitors. The Portland Select line of boots includes city to mountain hikers and dress boots, all made in the USA.

FITS

MMade in Chattanooga, Tennessee, FITS socks are built by third and fourth generation textile manufacturers. The brand’s staff-favorite socks are great for hiking, running, skiing and tactical pursuits.

Western Mountaineering

Western Mountaineering, a brand that specializes in top notch sleeping bags, has been around for more than 30 years. The brand’s bags are some of the best ones in the market and are made in San Jose, California. No matter what temperature you’re sleeping in, the bags will keep you warm from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Smartwool

The majority of Smartwool’s performance and casual socks are made in the USA. The process starts in Tennessee in the brand’s research and development lab, and then continues as the socks are knit from merino wool in both Tennessee and North Carolina. For the past 20 years, Smartwool has been making some of our .

Duckworth

Duckworth’s wool comes from Merino sheep that live in the high elevations of the Montana Rockies. The process begins at Helle ranch in Dillon, Montana where the sheep are shorn, the fibers are graded and then sent to the Carolinas for textile production. The fleece is selected for its specific style used in everything from tees to sweatshirts.

ZPacks

If you want ultra-lightweight gear that still performs at the highest level while out on the trail, head to Zpacks. Its shelters, backpacks and sleeping bags have been made in America since 2005. Joe Valesko, the founder, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and more. If you’re heading out on a long trip, Zpacks gear is a good place to start.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Between Kennebunkport and Portland, Maine, you’ll find the town of Biddeford. There, in an old mill building, Hyperlite Mountain Gear designs and manufactures all of its outdoor gear — including shelters, tents, stuff sacks and outerwear. You’ll find lots of Dyneema — a fabric and fiber that’s 15 times stronger than steel, yet still waterproof and durable, especially through Maine’s winters.

Mystery Ranch

In 2000, Mystery Ranch began crafting backpacks for the hunting enthusiasts, wildland fire and mountaineering folks in Bozeman, Montana. Just four years later, Mystery Ranch was approached by the Navy SEALS to create a line of custom packs for them, and thus began a long partnership. To this day, Mystery Ranch creates some of the most durable and intense packs for military and civilians alike.

Nalgene

BPA-free plastic water bottles are some of the least-expensive, yet high-performing bottles on the market. Nalgene’s 32-ounce size keeps your sleeping bag warm through chilly San Juan nights, and holds ice water for trips into Death Valley National Park. Born in Rochester, New York in the 1940s, these leak-proof and lightweight bottles are still hard to beat, even after all these years.

The Best Outdoor Sandals Available in 2018

A lot is implied by the word “sandal”. Upon hearing it, one might conjure up an image of footwear made of leather and cork loosely affixed to a pair of worn feet stemming from a guitar-toting, shower-adverse long-haired hippy. That picture would stereotype both man and shoe though.

Sandals have their place outside of cultural generalizations; in rafts, for one. Teva, one of the most highly-regarded makers of outdoor sandals, got its start in 1984 when Mark Thatcher, a river guide in the Grand Canyon, used two Velcro watch straps to modify a pair of flip-flops so that they wouldn’t come off of his feet.

The outdoor sandals available today are more robust than that — in fact, they’re about as beefy as can be without losing the light and open qualities that make them great in the first place. Sticky rubber soles with heavy lugs, platforms molded for arch support and anti-blister constructions are just some of the traits that make the best outdoor sandals suitable for use beyond boats and water. Hike in them, bike in them, climb in them — these sandals are built to go everywhere.

Teva Terra Fi 4

Tevas are the classic outdoor sandals, and the Terra Fi 4 model is akin to the original many of us remember from childhood, but with a few crucial upgrades that make it great for all-around outdoor use. For one, it features a molded midsole with a nylon shank for extra support on uneven ground as well as a sticky rubber outsole. But the Terra Fi 4 also has additional padding supporting points of high abrasion, a cushioned shock absorber at the heel and a zinc-based antimicrobial treatment that keeps them from developing sandal stink.

Bedrock Sandals Cairn 3D

Bedrock thought that even traditional sandals were too constraining, so it redesigned the strap layout into a design that’s something of a hybrid between a flip-flop and Tevas. The paracord thong uses an aluminum insert instead of the very-breakable plug design found on normal flip-flops, and an adjustable heel cuff that provides rear foot stability. The Cairn 3D features a contoured footbed for additional comfort and a Vibram outsole for the best possible grip. If it looks too minimal for long adventures, know that it isn’t — the company’s chief experience officer, Naresh Kumar, hiked New Zealand’s 3,000 kilometer Te Araroa trail in a pair.

Keen Newport Hydro

Many of Keen’s sandals walk a fine line between sandal and shoe, and the Newport Hydro does it expertly. It’s open everywhere except the toe, which makes it perfect for wear during water activities when underwater rocks can become especially hazardous to toes. Its washable webbing exterior is backed with a comfy PFC-free, quick-drying lining. The sole has tread enough for hiking on dry land too and is supported by a light shank for additional support.

Chaco Z2 Classic

Chaco’s most iconic sandal is also one of the most polarizing, largely due to the unique loop that helps secure the big toe. People either hate it or love it; we find that it provides the extra bit of leverage that’s useful when scrambling up trails and over rocks. (If you really don’t like it, there’s a toe-less version too.) The sandal is simple in build — it’s composed of only eight parts — but is podiatrist-approved for its super supportive sole. That sole may be a bit chunky, but it’s also capable for use on even long-haul treks.

Freewaters Trifecta

Flip-flops are great for casual wear but, for all their wonderful qualities, are not great outdoor sandals; they’re too minimal, and often quite breakable. But leaving the heel free to breath is nice (and prevents abrasion to one of the foot’s most blister-prone areas). Freewaters approached the zero-sum situation by axing the heel piece and leaving a Velcro strap over the top of the foot. It also included a soft foam platform and a supportive arch, both of which help this flip-flop mutant roam much farther than the sidewalk or the beach.

Astral Filipe

Astral’s take on the flip-flop uses a smart hybrid design that allows wearers to choose whether they want additional support. At the base of the main straps are two notches that allow for the insertion of a supplementary piece of webbing that runs across the heel and over the top of the foot. This makes the Felipe more secure for its intended in-water use — think rafting, canoeing, kayaking and swimming — but also makes it a safe bet for light hiking too.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

Why the Hell Are Outdoor Brands Selling Insulated Shorts?

The 12 Best Cigars You Can Buy in 2018

To novices, smoking a cigar can be more intimidating than fun. This definitive guide to the best cigars of 2018 covers everything you need to know before you buy your next cigar, including basic etiquette, know-how and a breakdown of best cigars across different price points and flavor profiles.

Prefer to skip directly to the picks? Click here.

The Short List

Best Cigar for Beginners: Nat Sherman Sterling Series

An approachable, balanced, and affordable cigar with fantastic construction. A prime example of the pleasant nuance of a Connecticut wrapper.
Tasting Notes: Connecticut wrappers impart a creamy, buttery flavor, with notes of cocoa, wood, and toasted bread. This cigar in particular is the perfect pairing with a cup of coffee.
Filler: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Wrapper: Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut
Price: $132+, box of 10

Best Cigar for the Money: Davidoff White Label Short Perfecto

The quality of the tobacco here is extremely high, and it’s a benchmark of construction. It’s smaller than other Davidoff cigars, meaning it won’t won’t break the bank, and it is an excellent example of a mild-bodied cigar that’s still rich and complex.
Tasting Notes: Starts with hay and buttery smoke, transitioning into earthiness and even a touch of pepper spice in its final third.
Filler: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut
Price: $18+

Best Cigar for Special Occasions: Illusione Epernay

This box-pressed cigar was designed to cater to the European profile — it’s milder than many Americans prefer — and it was named for the famous Champagne region. Just like a bottle of bubbly, it might be best saved for special celebratory moments.
Tasting Notes: Distinct floral notes give way to honey, coffee and cedar.
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Corojo, Nicaragua
Price: $230+, box of 25

Introduction

T

o novices, smoking a cigar — hell, just venturing into a local cigar store to buy one — can feel more daunting than fun. The mechanics of properly smoking one (how to draw without inhaling?) don’t come naturally. Faux pas (when to ash the thing?) abound. And then there’s the basic question of which cigar, in a room stuffed with boxes of the things, to buy.

You’re not imagining it: cigar smoking is full of tradition, ritual and enigma. The good news, says Pierre Rogers, is that cigar smokers form a natural, welcoming community — acolytes not just to the rolled leaf, but to lighting them up together.

Cigar smoking is full of tradition, ritual and enigma. The good news is that cigar smokers form a natural, welcoming community.

Community is Rogers’s purview. He’s the founder of PuroTrader, the world’s largest peer-to-peer cigar trading platform, hosted in an online service that also includes community-created cigar ratings, forums and blog posts. Rogers created the service as a searchable e-humidor for collectors after discovering that someone had stolen a single cigar out of a prized box he’d been saving for over a decade. “Initially, we set out to create a way for every collector for free to build an online humidor — a way to catalog their own collection, take notes on each cigar, and then make it searchable. You could log on and look at anybody’s humidor, anywhere in the world. The inevitable conclusion to that was, ‘You got something I want — how do we make that happen?’” he says.

The service’s soul rests upon this shared community. “It’s the best community in the world,” Rogers says. “No offense to wine guys or Scotch guys. But to my knowledge, cigar guys are the only guys in the world that do cigar bombs” — when a random stranger sends the greatest cigars they can get ahold of, with the expectation only of “paying it forward” to the next unwitting smoker. “If anybody’s ever been out smoking cigars, there’s a good chance they’ve met some random stranger, and there’s a good chance that person has just straight up given them a random cigar. It’s happened to me a ton of times. You don’t saunter up to the bar and someone hands you a Macallan 21. But with cigars, it happens commonly.”

So while curious amateurs can certainly learn the hobby on their own, there’s a great chance their local cigar shop is full of resident smokers willing to help out — and, barring that, they can be found online with a few strokes of the keyboard. It won’t take long to immerse themselves in all of the other great things about cigar smoking: the craftsmanship of the cigar itself, more authentic conversation, and even what Rogers calls the “forced meditation” that comes with taking the time to sit down and take some deep, slow draws of fragrant smoke.

Still, a baseline of knowledge will help you focus on those pleasures and making new friends, rather than discerning the difference between a V cut and a straight cut. So I asked Rogers to give me a rundown of cigar etiquette and basic knowledge, along with the cigars he loves most, across a range of prices and through the common categories of mild-, medium-, and full-bodied. Consider them a good starting place to figure out what you like and don’t like.

Cigar Terms to Know

Wrapper: The single leaf that literally wraps the outside of the cigar. It imparts around 60 percent of the cigar’s final flavors. Its flavors have to do with its country of origin, the way it’s grown (in the sun or shaded), and the type of tobacco plant. Different examples include Connecticut, maduro, claro and oscuro.

Filler: The innermost leaves rolled within a cigar, almost always a blend of different types of leaves.

Binder: The tobacco that helps hold a cigar together. It must be the strongest leaf in a cigar, but also imparts flavor.

Ring Gauge: The diameter of a cigar, measured by sixty-fourths of an inch. The bigger the ring gauge, the bigger the diameter.

Head/Cap: The end of a cigar that is cut and put in your mouth. Make sure not to cut off the entire cap, which will unravel the wrapper.

Foot: The end of a cigar that is lit. Smell this end before lighting to get a whiff of all the tobacco inside.

Strength and Body: Are not the same. The strength of a cigar has to do with how powerfully its nicotine affects the smoker; the body has to do with the impact of the cigar’s flavors in the mouth, its mouthfeel, and its overall richness.

A cigar’s wrapper imparts around 60 percent of the cigar’s final flavors. Its flavors have to do with its country of origin, the way it’s grown (in the sun or shaded), and the type of tobacco plant.

How to Smoke a Cigar

Step 1: Cut the cigar.

“Before you light it, you’ve got to cut it. The trick with a cut is when you look at any cigar, any shape, you can see where the roller has rolled an extra cap line between the wrapper of the cigar and head of cigar. When you cut, you want to cut just above that line. You’re only removing the cap. You’re not cutting into the wrapper. If you cut into the wrapper, i.e. you cut a little too much off of the top, it will start to unravel and fall apart in your mouth. There are several different kinds of cuts: A straight cut is the classic way to do it.”

Step 2. Toast the foot.

“[Use] a match or a butane lighter. You want to use the heat, not the flame. You want the cigar to be a quarter inch to an inch above the flame, and you want to toast the foot of that cigar. Rotate the cigar and toast. You should be literally toasting it. Browning just the edges, just barely. Don’t get any char or flame on the wrapper.

Step 3: Draw and rotate.

“Once it’s evenly toasted, still using just the heat, draw and rotate. That should only take a moment to light it if you’ve properly toasted it, since the cigar is primed to make that happen. The different types of tobacco in there are meant to be smoked in a linear fashion; you don’t want a third of the bottom to be lit, because then you’re only tasting that one piece, and destroying the profile. Another obvious but overlooked tip: when using a match to light, let the head burn off, and only use the stick of wood to light the cigar. Allow the sulfur head to dissipate, because you don’t want to pull any of that into the cigar.”

Step 4: Keep the cherry cool.

“One of my tips about maximizing the enjoyment of any cigar, cheap or expensive, new or old, is to keep the cherry cooler. You do that by taking long, slow, easy draws on the cigar. Don’t take short pulls where you heat up that cherry. That’s a way to create acidity, acridness, and a burnt carbon taste.

Step 5: Taste the cigar.

“Allow the smoke to come into your palate from the tip of your tongue, front to back and side to side. You don’t want to push all that smoke out too rapidly. Just gently exhale the smoke. Obviously with cigars you’re not inhaling. It’s just for the flavor. So think about how that flavor hits your tongue. Start with the basic ones. Is it salty? Sweet? Bitter? Sour? Those are basics. We tend to all agree on those things.

Step 6: Ash the Cigar

“The best way to do it is a light touch on the bottom of an ash tray, and roll the cigar to let the ash fall off. The real reason you do it is to control the temperature of the cherry, the lit part. You want to keep it well lit but cool. There’s a perfect ratio. If you don’t smoke your cigar fast enough, because there are no additives in a cigar, it’ll go out. The cherry gets too cool. However if you start puffing away on it, and the cherry becomes really bright, it becomes bitter and acrid, and you don’t want that. So there’s this balance that you’re always trying to strike between keeping your cherry fully lit but as cool as possible.”

Best Mild Cigars

“A mild cigar is similar to a great cup of coffee with a touch of half and half in it,” Rogers says. “It’s warm and rich, but it’s also soft and very approachable.” According to him, the best examples come from the Dominican Republic; they also tend to have a Connecticut wrapper, which is golden and light in color. “The flavor tends to be very subtle and soft,” Rogers says. “No sharp edges, no bitterness. Something that on a fresh palate with nothing in your stomach you can really enjoy, and it won’t disrupt your day. That’s what a great mild cigar is to me.”

Nat Sherman Sterling Series

Most Approachable Mild Cigar: An approachable, balanced, and affordable cigar with fantastic construction. “They do a great job with all the finesse that goes into it — the branding, packaging, and the nuance of the cigar itself — and at a very reasonable price point,” Rogers says. It’s a prime example of the pleasant nuance of a Connecticut wrapper.
Tasting Notes: Connecticut wrappers impart a creamy, buttery flavor, with notes of cocoa, wood, and toasted bread. This cigar in particular is the perfect pairing with a cup of coffee.
Filler: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Wrapper: Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut
Price: $132+, box of 10

Davidoff White Label Short Perfecto

Best Short Smoke: “Davidoff is the Mercedes-Benz of cigars,” Rogers says. That means high quality — at a high price. The quality of the tobacco inside is extremely high, and it’s a benchmark of construction. But this smaller cigar won’t break the bank, and it is an excellent example of a mild-bodied cigar that’s still rich and complex.
Tasting Notes: It starts with hay and buttery smoke, transitioning into earthiness and even a touch of pepper spice in its final third.
Filler: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut
Price: $18+

Foundation Highclere Castle

Best Mild Yet Complex Blend: Nicholas Melillo, the founder of Foundation Cigar Company, hails from “the great state of Connecticut.” That means he has a great appreciation for the light-colored wrapper that bears the Connecticut name, and the creamy smoke it produces. The Highclere Castle uses Nicaraguan filler and Brazilian binder to add complexity to the mild flavors.
Tasting Notes: Creamy, with pepper, citrus, and leather.
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Brazil
Wrapper: Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut
Price: $216+, box of 20

Best Medium Cigars

An increase in the body of the cigar has a lot to do with with how its smoke feels in your mouth. “Is there an oiliness there? A richness?” Rogers asks. “Wine people call it mouthfeel, and it’s no different with cigars.” Medium cigars are what most people end up smoking — they’re a great middle ground. “It provides enough strength that can be paired nicely with everything from a coffee to a bourbon. Flavors tend to be richer, the mouthfeel warmer and oilier. The smoke tends to be denser and richer,” Rogers says.

Illusione Epernay

Best Box-Pressed Cigar: “This is a fantastic box pressed cigar,” Rogers says, indicating its squared-off shape from quite literally being pressed into a box. It was designed to cater to the favored European profile — milder than Americans prefer — and named for the famous Champagne region. And just like a bottle of bubbly, it might be best saved for special celebratory moments.
Tasting Notes: Distinct floral notes give way to honey, coffee and cedar.
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Corojo, Nicaragua
Price: $230+, box of 25

Tatuaje Tattoo Series

Best Spicy Cigar: Founder Pete Johnson and master blender Don ‘Pepin’ Garcia are well respected for making cigars that consistently receive high scores from reviewers. The secret may be “Cuban-esque” flavors, stemming from Cuban-seed Nicaraguan-grown tobacco.
Tasting Notes: More spice and pepper than other medium-bodied cigars, though it also features cocoa, sweet cream and cedar notes.
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Habano, Ecuador
Price: $146+, box of 50

Camacho BG Meyer Gigantes

Best Big Stick: Part of a bolder series of cigars made by Camacho, the Gigantes is a play on the 6-inch by 54-inch cigar format, with a large ring gauge. But bigger cigars aren’t necessarily more intense: a larger size means more airflow and less density of the tobacco.
Tasting Notes: Grassy and earthy, with subtle spice, mocha, woodiness, and a berry sweetness.
Binder: Brazil
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Habano,
Price: $33+, pack of five

Padron 1926 Series

Best Mellow Smoke: Padron is a beloved cigar-making institution, founded by Jose Orlando Padron, a Cuban refugee living in Miami, in 1964. The 1926 series is their most limited, and the natural wrapper version (as opposed to the darker, pungent maduro) is a mellow, smooth smoke.
Tasting Notes: Caramel sweetness, a cedar-y tang, and notes of black and cayenne pepper.
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Natural, Nicaragua
Price: $56+, pack of four

Ashton ESG

Most Balanced Smoke: While Ashton is generally thought of as an entry-level cigar, the ESG (Estate Sun Grown) jacks up the price tag. “Because of that high cost, it doesn’t get fair press,” Rogers says. Its sun-grown wrapper (as opposed to the more common shade-grown) creates a more oily, pungent leaf.
Tasting Notes: Oily nuts, leather, earth and cedar, with a light, creamy smoke.
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Sun-grown, Dominican Republic
Price: $20+

Best Full-Bodied Cigars

Full-bodied cigars can go in a few different directions, particularly, becoming spicy. “You can have a few different kinds of spice,” Rogers says. “A white pepper, black pepper, or even a cayenne pepper.” Those larger flavors can hold their own against a steak dinner or a peaty Scotch. “But the key here remains balance. Strength is not flavor. When you smoke that cigar, you want the palate to be full of flavor. Rich, complex. That’s what makes a great full cigar — not the strength,” Rogers says.

Arturo Fuente Anejo

Best Cognac Barrel-Aged Cigar: In 1998, the OpusX’s downfall was to cigar smokers’ benefit: After Hurricane Georges created a shortage of wrapper tobacco, the brand switched to Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper aged in Cognac barrels, and the Anejo was born. The OpusX returned, of course, but the Anejo stuck around, treasured for the sweetness that wrapper layered atop the spicy, robust binder and filler.
Tasting Notes: Cognac, oily sweetness, butter and nuts.
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf aged in Cognac barrels, America
Price: $10+

Padron Series 3000 Maduro

Best Maduro Cigar: Padron grows its own maduro wrappers rather than sourcing them, then wraps them around long-aged Nicaraguan binder and filler. The result is one of the most balanced full-bodied cigars around.
Tasting Notes: A “barnyard” earthiness that gives way to cocoa sweetness and oily nuttiness.
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Price: $7+

Ashton VSG

Best Affordable Full-Bodied Cigar: This is Rogers’s pick for an affordable, full-bodied cigar, with plenty of flavor and solid construction despite Ashton’s entry-level price. Its bold flavors are thanks in part to a sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper that’s oily and rich.
Tasting Notes: Cedar, espresso, and dark chocolate.
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Sun-grown, Ecuador
Price: $12+

Fuente Fuente OpusX

Best Collector’s Cigar: When it was released in 1995, the OpusX proved that Dominican-grown, Cuban-seed tobacco could be the best in the industry. Ever since its release, it’s been considered one of the best full-bodied cigars on the market, and is a collector’s favorite.
Tasting Notes: Cayenne pepper and leather.
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Price: $13+

How Run Commute to Work, According to Five Real People

The thought of run commuting can be a daunting one. When I first started, I was convinced that I had to run in both directions, to and from work, carrying everything I needed for the day. It was intense, and often felt like I was running uphill both directions. But then someone told me that they only ran to or from work, and that made run commuting far more approachable. It was a new outlook for me.

But the type of gear that works for my run commute, might not work for yours. To get a sense of how real people — with real jobs — commute to work, we surveyed some. Below, they each share their top pieces of gear, what their commutes are like on foot and what their philosophy is when it comes to run commuting.

Nicholas Thompson, Editor in Chief at Wired

The Editor in Chief of Wired, Nick Thompson, used to run almost eight and a half miles to get to work. He still runs to work, albeit to the luminous World Trade Center instead of Times Square. To make it work, he leaves suits in the office, then showers at the New York Sports Club around the corner. He’s currently running in the Asics Gel Kayanos. “They’re good on city streets and limit plantar fasciitis,” Thompson says. He’s also testing the ON Cloud X. A fanny pack is “best for carrying my keys and cell phone,” says Thompson, and AirPods “do a good job of not falling out when cutting through traffic,” he adds. And as for tees, Thompson says he likes to “wear reflective colors, particularly in the winter.”

Gel Kayanos by Asics $120
Cloud X by On Running $140
by Mountainsmith $22+
AirPods by Apple$159
Ionic Smartwatch by Fitbit $279

Mark-Anthony Gilbert, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Nurse

Based in NYC, Gilbert is a runner with the Black Roses, one of the fastest running crews in NYC. He’s also a nurse at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. “I typically run commute three to four days a week from my job on the Upper East Side to my home in Bedford-Stuyvesant,” Gilbert says. “It’s a nice run since I get to cross both the Queensborough Bridge and the Pulaski with its perfect views of the New York City skyline.” In total, it’s a six and a half mile commute.

“For apparel, I usually stick to Nike tops and shorts, and in cooler months, I’ll wear a vest,” Gilbert says. “I love the Nike Pegasus 35. It’s got nice cushion for when I want to take it easy, but is also responsive with some good bounce for nights I either need to rush home, or just pick up the tempo. I’ve had the Patagonia Nine Trails Pack for almost two years, and it has great storage for my clothes, lunchbox and water bottle. I typically get off work at 9 P.M., so it’s dark out. I’ll clip a Nathan Strobe Light clip to the front of my pack and one on the back.”

Dry Miler Running Top by Nike $10+
AeroLoft by Nike $90
Air Zoom Pegasus 35 by Nike $120
Nine Trails Backpack 28L by Patagonia $159
Strobe Light by Nathan $10

Matt Imberman, Coach at Brooklyn Distance Running

Imberman’s life is a balancing act — he’s a running coach for Brooklyn Distance Running, an antique jewelry dealer and has two young kids. Most of his training occurs running to or from work, so he uses the time to log about 10 miles. He’ll take clothes to work at the beginning of the week, then leave some running gear at work so he can run home.

Essentials include his Nike Epic Reacts — “it’s hard to find a shoe that runs well and looks decent enough to wear if it’s a casual day at the office or you’re running to meet friends at the bar,” Imberman says. He also swears by zip lock bags for when he needs to keep his phone dry.

Strider Pro 5″ Short by Patagonia $65
Sense Pro Tee by Salomon $80
Forerunner 935 by Garmin $435
Lightweight Mini-Crew Toe Socks by Injinji $12
Running Band by Naked $$46

Michael Wardian, International Ship Broker

Wardian is known throughout the Washington DC area because of his run and bike commuting adventures as well as his accomplishments as a competitive runner. In 2006, he raced five marathons in 45 days — winning four of them. His tips for beginners include spending some time planning out your meals, especially if you’re carrying everything, and to really double down on the gear. “I work in my boss’s house, where there’s a shower,” Wardian says, “but when I first started there was no such luxury, so I had to figure out how to not smell all day. Especially, if you have to meet with clients, there are ways to do that. Find a gym close to the office where you can shower, and most offices have some personal space, so I’ll put a suit, shirts, underwear, socks, ties, belt and a nice pair of shoes, and then I can change into those when I need to see clients and look professional.”

While he’s running up to 8 miles into the office, he’ll listen to a podcast. “I’m a podcast geek. I will bore you with all the podcasts I enjoy, but here are five great ones that I love: Planet Money, Fantasy Focus Podcast, Ultrarunner Podcasts, Ear Hustle, RadioLab.”

iPhone by Apple $670
Daisy Duke II Short by HOKA One One $65
Co-Op Essential Rain Jacket by REI $70
Cortina Vintage Sunglasses by Julbo $32
5 Panel Prostyle Trucker Caps by Otto $13

Gordon Wright, President of OutsidePR

As the founder of Outside Public Relations based in San Francisco, Wright is no stranger to running gear. While his total commute both directions is 15.4 miles, he tends to only run that entire length when he’s in full-on training mode. When he’s not training for big races, Wright will drive part of the way to work, park his car, and then run to work from there. It’s a good compromise.

Challenger ATR by Hoka One One $130
Cool-Lite Strike Lite Shorts by Icebreaker $80
Cool Comfort Short Sleeve by Craft $40
T2 Men’s Outdoor Lifestyle Sock by Lorpen $18
Repel Wind Jersey by Craft $130

The EDC Items We Can’t Live Without

It’d be easy to call the wake-up-commute-work-commute cycle mundane, but it wouldn’t be true. Even during the longest of weeks, there are moments of beauty to be found, however brief, within the action of a single day. No matter how trivial our choices may seem, how we move through a day is in itself a form of self-expression, and the items that facilitate the process become more than things, they become integral. Here, Gear Patrol staff members share the everyday carry essentials that have done exactly that.

Brenden Clarke, Social Media Coordinator

“When it comes to my daily use items, I’m an all-in-or-fold kind of guy. If I like something, I’ll use it until I can’t anymore — and then I’ll buy another one. I’m a fan of simplicity, ease and reliability. My Porter coin pouch is fantastic — large enough to fit the essential cards and some cash yet small enough to stay concealed and light in my pocket. The Bic Cristal — to this day, it’s my stalwart go-to, an absolute joy to write with — no smearing, vibrant color and what seems like a never-ending ink cartridge. Oh, and they cost less than a dollar. Playing Cards? Yeah, I know. Are they necessary every day? Yes. There are a plethora of things you can do with some cards, and these Copags are quality.”

Airpods by Apple $159
Coin Case by Porter $75
Cristal Xtra Smooth Pens by BIC $7 (10-pack)
Spearmint Gum by Trident $10 (12 packs)
Finley Esq. Sunglasses by Oliver Peoples $385
Transit Issue Keychain by Apolis $28
Playing Cards by Copag $16 (2 decks)

Ali Carr Troxell, Managing Editor

“Having a multiple-hour commute that starts as the sun crests the horizon means I have to have systems in place. First, I start with a backpack that fits my body well and has dedicated pockets for things like my work laptop and smaller items (like my must-have mint-infused lip balm). Next, comes my wallet — Shinola’s is high-quality enough that it won’t bust no matter how much I shove it in-and-out of my bag and it holds everything I need. I’m never without sunglasses — polarized polycarbonate lenses make it easy to wear these from the car to the trail to the bike, and they never feel heavy throughout the day. I’m also never without a water bottle. You might call my pick self-promotional, but I’m a water bottle snob; I’ve tried over a hundred styles and none is as enjoyable to chug (credit the mid-size mouth opening) nor as easy to carry.”

Remmy 49 Polarized Sunglasses by Raen $170
Cubik Small Blended Grey Backpack by Pinqponq $160
Zip Continental Wallet by Shinola $295
Vacuum Insulated Bottle by Gear Patrol x Miir $32
Beeswax Lip Balm with Peppermint Oil and Vitamin E by Burt’s Bees $4

Nick Caruso, Associate Editor

“I strongly dislike carrying things. If it doesn’t fit in my pocket, I’m not sold — the Kindle is a stretch, but barely meets my criteria. I’m also a creature of habit, so I don’t change my EDC very often. It’s all got to be durable and functional — and, hey, if I can easily open a beer bottle like the slick SOB I am, all the better.”

Note Sleeve Wallet by Bellroy $90
Titanium Key Ring by Grovemade $79
Kindle Paperwhite by Amazon $120
Data Traveler USB Drive by Kingston Digital $6
Vault iPhone Case by Caseology $15

Will Price, Associate Staff Writer

“I’m frequently lost, and not one who handles it very well, hence a book to choose where I should eat and drink in my newly-adopted neighborhood — a book that is literally about the value of getting a bit lost. I also carry my grandfather’s silver St. Christopher pendant, who is literally the saint of making sure people don’t get too lost. You could even say my Bitter Southerner membership card is a sign of my directional ineptitude, and I wouldn’t argue — what is someone who went to school in a Southeast Georgia town that prides itself on gnats and its extraordinary level of sadness doing in Brooklyn? On top of losing my bearings regularly, I enjoy compact carry where I can get it — hence the very clever keyring and the best coffee mug money can buy.”

OrbitKey 2.0 by OrbitKey $40
St. Christopher Medal by All Patron Saints $89
On Trails by Robert Moor $9
Brooklyn Mom & Pop by Herb Lester Associates $16
The Bitter Southernor Membership by The Bitter Southernor $25+
Ember Travel Mug by Ember $150

Andy Frakes, Editorial Assistant

“While I might appear to be very high-low in my EDC decisions, everything I carry is pretty much the best version (in my opinion) of itself. And that’s got nothing to do with price tags — it’s all about function and usability. This pocket knife, for example, bypasses “inexpensive” to be downright cheap… but it’s quirky and cool in a way that makes me shrug at more expensive options, plus it’s very low-profile and totally unobtrusive until I need to slice open a package or cut some twine. Same goes for the disposable pens and the plain black leather wallet — there when you need it, easy to use, easy to replace. I opted to get some nice sunglasses because I’m good at not losing them, and classic Persols have the best lenses and frame construction I’ve ever worn — and as for the always-full water bottle and pricey face moisturizer, well, those speak for themselves. Self-care, my friends.”

Douk-Douk Knife by Douk-Douk $23
Leather Bi-Fold Wallet by Field & Stream $16
649 Round Sunglasses by Persol $151
Precise V5 Pen by Pilot $13 (12-pack)
Vacuum Insulated Bottle by Gear Patrol x Miir $32
Facial Fuel Moisturizer by Kiehl’s $28

John Zientek, Staff Writer

“I really don’t like carrying things on my person. For years growing up, I toted a guitar with me for rehearsals, lessons and practice. In the evenings I’d load amps and pedal boards into my car. I’d have bags full of cables, replacement batteries and extra sets of strings. I’ve had to stress about taking priceless instruments on buses, planes and taxis. So now, I keep my EDC dead simple: phone, wallet, keys and maybe a pair of sunglasses and a cap.”

Wallet by Yuketen Learn More
Fish Skeleton Key Fob $1
iPhone 6S Plus by Apple $649
M21 by Silver Lining Opticians $290
Travel Cap by Battenwear $50

AJ Powell, Assistant Editor

“My approach to EDC can be described in three words: simple, stylish and functional. There are stories behind each of my essentials as well. For example, the Böle Card Case I carry was given to me by Jan Sandlund, the third-generation leather craftsman at Böle Tannery, when I visited him in Sweden two years ago. My EDC lives mostly in my pockets, so keeping things slim is crucial — only the necessities and nothing more.”

Pixel 2 by Google $749
Card Case by Böle ~$116
SRP779 by Seiko $475
Key Lanyard by Tanner Goods $55
The Shorty by Quiet Carry $68

Tanner Bowden, Associate Staff Writer

“I shoot for minimalism in most aspects of life, and that includes the essentials that I carry with me on a daily basis. A water bottle, pen and notebook are perhaps the closest items that border on unnecessary, but I know that the day I leave one at home is the day that I’ll need it most. The rest of my favorite items are aimed at practicality: a knife that’ll go unnoticed on my keychain, a hat to help manage my extra-long locks, a key that gives me access to a bike anywhere in New York. Oh, and I recently slimmed down my wallet, and I’m never looking back.”

20oz Wide Mouth Bottle by Miir $33
Fineliner Pen by Pilot $5 (2-pack)
Pocket Notebook by Moleskine $11
Elko Pocket Knife by The James Brand $60
Donner Hat by Coal $24
Annual Membership Key by Citi Bike $169
Slim Sleeve Wallet by Bellroy $80

Bryan Campbell, Staff Writer

“I absolutely detest having anything in my pants pockets, which is why I only buy jackets with inside chest pockets. The first thing I do when I get to my desk in the morning is dump my wallet, phone and keys onto my desk to unburden my pants of the bulky cargo. The thought of carrying around a knife, a pen, a flashlight and whatever else qualifies as “EDC,” is entirely foreign to me. My EDC consists solely of my watch (not of the pocket variety), my wallet, my sunglasses and my iPhone, which is fantastically slim and pocket-friendly. I guess I could buy cargo shorts, but then I’d be wearing cargo shorts. So, no.”

Stradale Automatic by Autodromo $875
Cliffside Sunglasses by Spy Optics $120
Trifold Wallet by Guess $15
iPhone 7 by Apple $549

Tucker Bowe, Staff Writer

“Aside from the obvious MacBook Pro, iPhone and the bag that I carry with me every day, there are few other trinkets that have become pretty precious to me. Lip balm is a priority, obviously. Same with sunglasses. Then comes my little compact camera, because I’m still pretentious enough to think I can take significantly better photos with it. And I also usually carry two sets of truly wireless earbuds. There are my AirPods (because I love them), and then there’s another pair because I don’t want sweat to ruin my AirPods.”

Hexagonal Flat Lenses Sunglasses by Ray-Ban $153
RX100 III Compact Digital Camera by Sony $648
Key Chain by DSPTCH $26
AirPods by Apple $159
Encore 20K by Supreme x Mophie ~$150
WF-SP700N Wireless Earbuds by Sony $178
Medicated Lip Balm by Blistex $8 (6-pack)

Hunter D. Kelley, Associate Designer

“My EDC ethos is simple yet purposeful; I only bring the most essential items I need to get through the day. By having a light load, I’m less likely to lose something, and I know where my stuff is at all times. As far as color choice goes, I’ve aimed to keep my items black, or subdued, so that they go with any outfit I want to wear. Keeping things low-key also results in a less-flashy carry, which is nice to have in a busy city like New York.”

PO3129S Typewriter Edition by Persol $320
Ridge Wallet by Ridge Wallet $65
ZOLO Liberty Wireless Earbuds by Anker $99
Keytron by SOG $27
Signature Lite Pocket Knife by Victorinox $33
Khaki Quartz ref. 9239 by Hamilton Learn More
iPhone 6s by Apple $449+

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

How to Buy an Engagement Ring

Introduction

In a sunlit office on the 23rd floor of the World Diamond Tower, overlooking the corner where 47th Street runs into Fifth Avenue in New York City, men, occasionally couples and sometimes entire extended families sit at a small white table and make one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their and their significant others’ lives. Welcome to custom ring designer Jade Lustig’s office. Please step in.

The reason is simple: this is a transaction premised on personal relationships and trust. Lustig offers something that can’t be easily replicated online or from a cheaper operation abroad. A ring is a decision that leads to a starter home, minivans, fights, family dinners and vacation days. In many cases, when jewelers sell an engagement ring they earn a lifelong customer. After all, after marriage comes anniversaries, birthdays and surprise gifts for when you’ve fucked up. You want someone you trust. Please sit.

There’s a “sex appeal of the stone that isn’t on a certificate,” she said.

Jade Lustig’s family, the Traus, have been in the diamond industry since Jade’s great great grandfather started selling rose cuts in 1880. Then, after World War II, Lustig’s grandfather’s eldest brother, a Belgian POW, became a sight-holder of a De Beers mine as part of war reparations, giving the family access to rough diamonds 10 times a year. Lustig’s been in the jewelry world herself for 17 years. She got her start ensuring that cuts were done precisely and now, with her husband, she owns and operates Jade Trau, a boutique custom jeweler in NYC.

The first question Lustig asks her clients is always the same: How much do you know? “I always prefer when they have a bit of education so they feel confident,” she says. Then the questions move along: “Do you have an idea of the shape?” “What sort of ring?” “What’s your budget?” “What’s your timeline?” With these questions answered, Lustig says the sky’s the limit. That’s the truth not just at Lustig’s shop, but wherever a customer chooses to go. Engagement ring options exist online, in stores with iconic blue boxes and historic names, or in any of the offices down the hall from Lustig. We spoke with Lustig and other industry experts to mine the knowledge required to make the big decision confidently, whether that be one of the more traditional rings that Lustig designs, or something different. The options are near infinite, and this guide is designed to start you down a stressful and rewarding path.

The Journey of a Diamond Ring, a Film
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Film by Sung Han

Tradition & History

Then in 1947, an advertising campaign changed the industry. Copywriter Frances Gerety coined the famous slogan, “A diamond is forever,” linking the rocks and love, while magazines showed celebrities and movie stars in cocktail dresses with sparkling fingers, ears and necklines. By 1965, 80 percent of all new brides in the United States were wearing diamonds at their wedding, according to the American Gem Society (AGS). Since then, diamonds have remained firmly in the minds of Americans as being synonymous with marriage. The Rapaport Diamond Index, which has measured diamond prices since 1978, shows that, with the exception of the 1980 diamond bubble, the real value of diamonds has remained largely constant in America.

It’s therefore natural that the first step in designing an engagement ring is selecting the diamond — the main event. Everything else about a ring makes up the supporting cast, designed to secure the diamond structurally and highlight its aesthetics without stealing the show. In the case of a man choosing a ring for his spouse, Lustig says to come prepared. “It’s good to do a little recon. If [the woman] doesn’t have a sister or a confidant to ask, or he wants it to be a complete surprise, I ask for pictures of the girlfriend, or her outfits, or other jewelry,” said Lustig. “Sneak in and get a random picture. It gives me a little indication of who they are.” But what are men deciding between?

Roughly $13 billion in diamonds are mined each year. Of these, 30 percent are considered gem quality and make it to jewelers. But for high-end engagement rings, like the ones Lustig designs, the diamonds are much, much rarer. Many of the diamonds that she carries are Forevermark, a brand from the De Beers Group of Companies. Of all the diamonds mined today, Forevermark claims that only one percent meet their standards to carry the brand name.

“Cut is the most important thing, unequivocally.”

To use Forevermark as an example: the diamonds are all in the color range of “D” to “L”, in the clarity range of “FL” to “SI2”, and carry the cut rating of “Very Good” to “Excellent” on the Forevermark Grading Report. These are the types of letters and numbers that face consumers looking at rings — the four C’s of Cut, Clarity, Carats and Color — and they mean little to most people. The confusion increases when the choice comes down to two diamonds that are identically graded on paper — a report from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or a similar grading organization — but look very different. Lustig says a more rational buyer will have a hard time deciding between the stones, but “at the end of the day this is something that comes out of the ground…they differ a lot from stone to stone.”

To decide, Lustig says you need to pick the one that speaks to you. There’s a “sex appeal of the stone that isn’t on a certificate,” she said. But first, what does the certificate mean? Below is an overview of the most common factors in deciding between a ring, before we explore options for those looking to get more creative with their choices.

Four C’s (and an S)

“Cut is the most important thing, unequivocally. That’s something I always open with,” said Lustig, explaining that of all the C’s, you should never look to a worse cut to save money. A great cut can make a bad stone sparkle, and in the end, sparkle is vital. Lustig keeps on hand an extreme example: two brilliantly cut round diamonds, one nearly flawless and the other full of inclusions and flaws. One costs $25,000 and the other $8,000, but from across the room they both sparkle the same amount.

In the ’40s and ’50s, the GIA developed the International Diamond Grading System, which allowed for comparison between jewelers and a uniform way of speaking about the diamonds. Then in 2005, the institute released the GIA cut scale, a uniform system which it uses to determine the grade of round-cut diamonds. There’s currently no internationally accepted system for grading fancy cut diamonds, so grades for these diamonds are more subjective but still reliable. The scale ranges from Excellent, at the top end, all the way down to Poor, and is a reflection of the “brilliance (the total light reflected from a diamond), fire (the dispersion of light into the colors of the spectrum), and scintillation (the pattern of light and dark areas and the flashes of light, or sparkle, when a diamond is moved).” Because weight (and therefore money) is shaved off of a diamond to form the angles required for a top-tier cut, not all diamonds are cut to the highest standard.

Besides GIA, the AGS grading system is also highly regarded, ranging from “Ideal”, down to “Poor”. As GIA and AGS are the only not-for-profit diamond rating institutions, it’s highly recommended to get your diamond evaluated by their labs.

Color

“Color is the biggest misnomer,” said Lustig. “People come in and say ‘Oh I want a white diamond.’ But in reality they want a sparkly diamond, one that has life.” The color grade refers to how little color is in the stone. The scale starts at D, a colorless “white diamond”, and ranges all the way to the light yellow or brown of a Z-colored diamond. (According to GIA, the scale starts at D in order to differentiate itself from other scales at the time, which usually started with A.) Lustig said that if you were to compare a D and a G diamond under normal light, the stones would appear nearly identical, but the D would cost significantly more. In order to show color, Lustig flips the diamond over and shines light through the stone while it sits on a white envelope. Only then do the differences become clear. “Generally speaking I like J-plus color,” said Lustig, referring to scores in the “Colorless” or “Near Colorless” categories.

Clarity

“In some parts of world the diamond is a symbol of purity, so clarity is the most important thing,” said Lustig, before adding, “In America it’s about size, obviously.” Clarity refers to how uniformly the carbon molecules aligned in their lattice when the diamond was formed. Any hiccups occurring on the inside of the diamond are called inclusions; on the outside they are called blemishes. These imperfections are usually difficult to see and are judged by viewing the diamond through a 10x magnifying loupe. The exact location of flaws are noted in the diamond’s grading reports. The top-tier stones are deemed “Flawless” diamonds, which are extremely rare, even to jewelers. The scale then drops to Very Slightly Included at the mid-tier and Included at the bottom. Lustig encourages anything above an SI2+ (Slightly Included or above).

Carats

A carat is unit of mass equal to 0.2 grams. Like all aspects of diamonds, there are trends in carat weight selection. “I see movement towards a little diamond that’s centered,” said Mark Moeller, owner of RF Moeller Jeweler in Minnesota. “10 years ago…you couldn’t sell a diamond then that was under a carat.”

Diamonds are priced per carat, but this pricing jumps up based on the diamond’s weight category. In other words, the difference in price between a 0.98 and a 0.99 carat diamond is small compared to the difference in price between a 0.99 diamond and a 1.00 carat diamond. These “benchmark” categories exist at weights like 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.0 carats. (For a much more detailed explanation of pricing structure, look here.)

Shape

According to the GIA, 80 percent of diamonds sold are round cut. The reason for this popularity is simple: if diamonds are forever, buyers want something that’s forever in style. “I feel that [the ring] should exist in a classic landscape because you should be able to wear it forever and stay current,” says Lustig. The other shapes, called fancy cuts, trend depending on the decades, and the wearer’s age and location. Lustig says she can’t sell some cuts to older clients who recognize them from their mother’s finger, while Moeller said jewelers in the Midwest don’t see trends that originate on the coasts until much later. “Things are slow to come around; by the time princess cuts were popular here in the Midwest, they’d been popular on the East and West Coasts for years,” he said.

The most popular shapes are round, princess, oval, marquise, heart, emerald, pear, Asscher, cushion and radiant. This is a matter of style, but it’s good to note that cuts like Marquise, Pear and Oval make a diamond look larger compared to a similar-sized round cut, due of the elongated axis. Conversely, Cushion cuts tend to look smaller than similarly weighted round cuts. These fancy cuts are representative of a small portion of engagement rings, always fighting for second place behind round cuts. But the trend toward alternative engagement rings is strong, especially among millennials who value personalization and less expensive options.

Alternative Rings

What Burton Athlete Kimmy Fasani Packs for Summer Snowboard Trips

Since age nine, Kimmy Fasani has been ripping up the slopes on a snowboard. At fifteen, she won the USASA National Slopestyle Crown — and then repeated that feat for two more years. She was the first female snowboarder to ever land a double backflip and has continued to trailblaze her way through the snowboarding world, collecting a Rider of the Year win from Snowboarder in 2017 along with countless other nominations and awards.

Most recently, she worked on a video with Absinthe Films trekking to Haines, Alaska to film her part. She continues to push the limits of snowboarding, carving a place for herself in the history books. We caught up with Fasani before her summer of travel to ask her what gear is necessary for her training, and how she packs for a month-long trip to New Zealand.

Kimmy Fasani’s Gear

Hoka One One Speed Goat 2

“I always travel with running shoes, and I use Hoka Ones for that — so I try to find trails. Right now, I try to run three to four days a week, but also try to hike so I’m doing [something] five to six days a week. I wear [these] on the trail for hiking too — the Speed Goats are an all-around hiking/running shoe. I’ve also had some injuries and they make it feel less daunting.”

Zeal Optics Magnolia

“I always travel with a pair of sunnies or two, and these are my Zeal Optics sunnies. I try to switch it up because Zeal makes a great variety of sunglasses, but because I always find myself active, I find the Magnolia is a great fit for that. They’re still fashionable, so when I’m walking around town it doesn’t look like I have a super techy pair of sunglasses on. But when I’m running they wrap a bit, so they protect my eyes from the wind as well. I’m all about the universal products that I can wear [all day long].

Burton Annex Backpack

“I usually travel with one bag, and my favorite one is a Burton bag called the Annex backpack. I love it because it’s got lots of pockets and I can put things in all different places and find them easily. And it’s big enough where I can stuff everything in, but it’s still super comfortable for those long travel days.”

CLIF Nut Butter Energy Bar

“I always have snacks in my bag and Clif bars are my essential. Those are great for the backcountry, hiking and on airplanes when you don’t want to eat the food. I always have a few bars in my bag and they have these new fruit smoothie filled ones, which are amazing. They also have nut butter filled ones, that are great because they give me a lot more protein and it’s like I’m having nut butter with granola. It’s a really balanced blend of protein and carbs. I like the almond butter flavor — chocolate is great — but I try not to have sweets all the time. I would say the coconut almond butter is delicious.”

Kimmy Bib

“The number one thing I always bring is the Kimmy Bib. It’s a Burton [ak] Kimmy Bib with Gore-Tex that is super reliable, breathable and technical, but also has really good fit. It’s my go-to pant.”

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Burton Family Tree Story Board Snowboard

“Most importantly I ride a Burton Storyboard, which is part of the Family Tree series of boards. I pair that with the new Step On binding, which is a really simple way of getting in and out of your bindings. There are no straps and it makes it so that I’m way more efficient — that’s what I rode throughout my whole pregnancy, and I really was into it. It’s just been a great, convenient piece for me to make my strapping in process a lot quicker.

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The 16 Best Running Shorts of 2018 for Every Type of Runner

This guide to the best running shorts of summer 2018 provides picks for the best running shorts for each type of runner and also offers tips and advice to know before you buy.

Introduction

Let’s role play for a second here. You’re laying down on tufted leather couch, the real mid-century type with nicely-aged leather, in my office. There’s a small library on the wall opposite the couch and a few framed photos of me giving a post-race thumbs up, an Ironman finisher medal hanging from a nail, next to my degree in cognitive psychology from some fancy university. Now take me back to a time when you went out for a long trail run. Picture that creamy blue sky, the color of a robin’s egg; the aspens are in full bloom, setting the sky on fire. You felt fantastic leaving the trailhead, hit your stride around mile five, only to start chafing terribly halfway through the run at mile seven. The fire has moved from the trees to between your legs. You walked the last five miles home bow-legged and with a new appreciation for the depth of experience you can have when a wayward seam rubs against your sensitive inner thigh. Feel that burn for a second. Crawl inside it. Good.

Now let’s talk about how to avoid it: with a great pair of running shorts. From split shorts made for laying down a PR on the track to 8” shorts that put comfort first, here are the 17 best running shorts you can buy now.

How We Tested Them

Like running shoes or a pair of jeans, fit is absolutely personal when it comes to running shorts. As Mike Burnstein, co-founder of Janji, explains, “shorts are one of the most challenging pieces for our team to design because a) they have the biggest impact on your run out of any piece, b) they are on a part of the body that has such variation across different bodies and c) there is such vastly different personal preference for how short people want to go.” That said, there are qualities of running shorts that can be objectively considered: Do they look good? How does the material perform in different conditions? Are the features, like pockets, useful or does everything jiggle around? And so on. We assessed these on the roads and trails in and around Fort Collins, CO, from the technical trails of Reservoir Ridge Natural Area, to the smooth singletrack in Lory State Park, to some hiking trails just over the Wyoming border in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

Terms to Know

Inseam: On the inside of the leg, the measurement from the crotch to the hem.
Outseam: On the outside of the leg, the measurement from the top of the waistband to the hem.
Bluesign: A Swiss organization that provides a system and a certification program for the sustainable and clean manufacturing of textiles.
Nylon: A synthetic thermoplastic linear polyamide known for being strong, durable, elastic, easy to clean and water-resistant.
Spandex: A fiber made of a long-chain of synthetic polymer comprised of at least 85% of a segmented polyurethane. It’s stretchy while retaining its length and shape. It’s durable, smooth, comfortable and resistant to abrasion. Also known as Lycra and elastane.
Polyester: A category of polymers used commonly in clothing and home furnishings. They can be naturally-occurring or synthetic. Generally speaking, polyester is stain-resistant, strong and resistant to water and wind.
Merino: Wool from the merino sheep.
DWR: Stands for “durable water repellent,” a coating added to fabrics to make them water-resistant.
Polygiene: An antimicrobial silver chloride treatment applied at the finishing stages of textile production to control odor in a garment.

What to Look for in Shorts

Let’s just make it simple and call it the F-words, shall we? Fit, function, features, fabrics and fashion. These may not be the official industry terms, but they cover everything you need to think about when buying a pair of shorts. In terms of fit and function, the soul of running shorts is split shorts, the shortest shorts out there, the uniform de rigeur of cross country runners, with a split up the outer thigh for mobility. These typically have a 2” or 3” inseam. They’re lightweight, barely there, give no fucks shorts.

At 5” inch inseam, there are now lots of great options that feel nearly as performance-oriented as split shorts thanks to really thoughtful design and great materials, without showing quite as much of the upper thigh — instead of a split up the thigh they usually have a v-shaped notch. Whereas split shorts will fly up like a skirt on a windy day or, say, the rowing machine at the gym, some 5” shorts have enough structure that they’ll stay in place. “Our most popular is our Middle Short, which is 4.5″ inseam and kind of the sweet spot for our core customer who wants something light and fast, but something you won’t be embarrassed to walk into a coffee shop with,” Janji’s Burnstein says.

Once you get up to shorts with a 7” inseam and longer, they are typically either unlined (meaning: you need briefs) or have built-in undershorts or compression shorts, which means you’re dealing with a good amount of fabric and will trade performance for a combination of modesty, luxury and comfort. There are exceptions, of course, like Iffley Road’s Brighton Shorts, which at 8” still feel pretty light, fast and mobile.

Features are important, because whether you can carry a phone or a handful of snacks informs where and how far you’ll run. “Since our core consumer goes on long trail runs, we have built a pocketing system with enough capacity to hold adequate amounts of Gu, water, snacks, emergency pieces and gear,” says Eric Andrews, The North Face Product Manager for Run + Train. “We took extra care to make it stealth enough to not distract or bounce during their run.” A rear center zip pocket is the most common form of storage — the bare minimum. Some brands get creative, like Tracksmith’s three interior pockets hidden in the liner of their teensy Twilight shorts, or Patagonia’s barely-noticeable four mesh pockets on the waist of the Strider Pro shorts.

Other touches like the grippy interior of La Sportiva’s waistband on the Auster shorts or the super minimalist waistband on the The North Face Flight RKT shorts can end up making you fall in love with a particular pair of shorts — and the only way to know is to try them on.

Finally, there are the fabrics (there’s fashion, but you can look at the pictures). As you can see with each product, most are made of some combination of nylon, polyester, and spandex (also known as elastane or Lycra). This doesn’t tell you very much, though, since depending on how the materials are woven, treated and blended — which is often proprietary and gets its own branding, like Olivers’ All Over Stretch Weave or Lululemon’s Out of Mind liner construction — the end product needs to be touched and worn to be understood. (Gone are the days when we just ran around in Umbros and that was that.) As a general rule, however, shorts are getting lighter and faster while still offering great quality and functionality, says ultrarunner Rob Krar, who designed the Flight RKT shorts with The North Face. “The nylon/polyester mix was chosen for its perfect blend of being incredibly light while maintaining the durability expected in trail running apparel,” Krar says. “Along with the polyester knit liner with FlashDry, the shorts dry exceedingly fast, another advancement in material and technology that has improved over the past few years.”

The point is: You don’t have to settle for ordinary running shorts, because there are truly delightful garments out there.

Buying Guide

The Best Split Running Shorts of 2018

Janji 3” Split Short

Editor’s Pick: Made from Janji’s AdventureVent Ripstop mesh and a brief liner, these shorts are super lightweight and breathable thanks to tiny perforations throughout, not to mention a deep split up the side. A zippered pocket in the back can hold keys or a phone if you work it in. These are split shorts with serious attitude, meant to be worn when you win at everything.

Materials: AdventureVentRipstop Mesh, 97% polyester / 3% spandex

Tracksmith Twilight Split Shorts

It doesn’t get much shorter than the Twilights, which carry forward Tracksmith’s collegiate aesthetic with some fancy fabric work: Bravio is a micro-polyester and elastane blend that’s stretchy, lightweight, anti-microbial and super soft. The liner has three clever pockets in the back for storing gels and means of payment, not that you’re showing this much thigh around town for any extended period of time.

Materials: Bravio fabric, a micro-polyester and elastane blend

La Sportiva Auster Short

A featherweight pair of split shorts with a 3” inseam. Running in the Auster short feels like you’re barely wearing anything, and the Bluesign-approved fabric is a bonus if you care about the trails you’re running on. The unique waistband is minimalist in the front and lined with a sticky rubber-like material in the back to keep the shorts in place. There’s also a zip pocket in the back and two side pockets for nutrition on longer runs.

Materials: Outer: 86% Polyester, 14% Elastane; Brief – 96% Polyester, 4% Elastane

Satisfy Short Distance 3” Shorts

The undisputed style arbiter of the out and back, Satisfy makes beautiful shorts that are also extremely functional, with a stretchy and chafe-preventing interior, a hook for keys, four pockets, and optional tie-dye printed fabric. When you run in these shorts, Champagne is your recovery drink.

Materials: Outer: Printed ripstop, lightweight and breathable fabric from Italy; Interior: Satisfy Justice (moisture control, fast dry, odor control, 4-way-stretch) fabric from France

Lululemon Surge Short 4”

Not technically a split short since they’re bonded above a v-shaped notch in the hem, the Surge shorts are nevertheless short and performance-oriented. There’s a clever no-zip pocket in the back for a phone and a few slots in the waistband for gels on longer runs. The main innovation here is a super breathable liner that fits like trunks rather than briefs.

Materials: Four-way stretch, sweat-wicking Swift fabric; OOM (Out of Mind) liner construction

The Best 5″ Running Shorts of 2018

Olivers Breakaway Short

Editor’s Pick: As an everyday running short, it doesn’t get any better than these. The cut is flattering and a bit structured — some split and otherwise lightweight shorts can be a bit blousy — while still being lightweight and unrestrictive. There isn’t a liner to speak of, so comfort might be an issue on a very long run, but they’re otherwise flawless.

Materials: All Over Stretch Weave: Water repellent, moisture wicking, soft and light. 88% nylon, 12% spandex

The North Face Flight RKT Shorts

Designed in partnership with ultrarunner Rob Krar, these are, texture-wise, quite different than anything else in the performance category. The nylon-poly ripstop fabric reminds you of a windbreaker, and they sort of float off your legs while you run — very light, very comfortable. The waistband is also very minimal, a detail that most shorts overlook. There’s one zip pocket in the back and that’s it.

Materials: Fabric: 17D 39 g/m² 72% nylon, 28% polyester ripstop woven with durable water-repellent (DWR) finish; 80 g/m² 100% polyester-knit jacquard with FlashDry

Icebreakers Cool-Lite Strike Lite Shorts

Though Icebreaker carries the merino torch, these shorts are actually a combination of fabrics, with a comfortable polyester lining and a super lightweight outer material that’s 50 percent wool blended with other fabrics. Laser cut holes keep them well-vented and two pockets — one zipped, one mesh — provide storage for small belongings like nutrition and a credit card.

Materials: Body: 100% Polyester Lining: 50% Merino Wool, 33% Tencel, 12% Nylon, 5% Lycra

Sugoi Titan 5”

Lightweight, stretchy, breathable and with an articulated “smart pouch” — that’s for your nuts — these are no-nonsense running shorts that are casual enough for other gym activities, too.

Materials: Active Flex is a lightweight, four-way stretch woven fabric; Icefil brief liner with smart pouch construction

Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts

These shorts jam a ton of performance and style into an ultralight package. The design is thoughtful, with polyester micro dobby fabric used for most of the shorts and some mesh over the thighs, all of which drapes comfortably and with style — even with four mesh pockets on the hips. Polygiene treatment keeps the briefs from getting too funky and DWR keeps the rest from getting wet.

Materials: Body: 100% polyester micro dobby with a DWR; finish. Panels: 100% polyester highly breathable mesh. Rear pockets: 79% nylon/21% spandex. Liner: 00% polyester (42% recycled) crepe with Polygiene permanent odor control. Fabric is certified as Bluesign approved

Craft Essential 2-in-1 Short

If you want short shorts that retain a sense of modesty, Craft’s inner tights provide thigh coverage and some extra support. The outer material is ultralight, with a strip of mesh on both sides and in the back above the hips.

Materials: 95% Polyester 5% Elastane

The Best 7″+ Running Shorts of 2018

Iffley Road Brighton 8” Shorts

Editor’s Pick: Although these shorts are 8” and cut for a more relaxed fit, they still feel like they’re made for performance. The fabric is lightweight and breathable, there’s mesh along the inner thighs and the waistband doesn’t have any extra bulk. The rest of the features make them appealing as gym shorts, with traditional side pockets and a zip pocket on the hip.

Materials: Technical Italian fabric

Saxx Pilot

As the company name suggests, these shorts are built around accommodating your sack, which if we’re honest is super inconvenient for running. They do so with “a 3D hammock-shaped pouch designed to keep everything in place” — and everything else around them is lightweight and breathable, suitable for long runs or hitting the gym.

Materials: Shell: nylon (52%), polyester (48%). Liner: nylon (77%), spandex (14%), polyester (9%). Panels: nylon (88%), spandex (12%).

Rhone 8” Phase Short

Rhone is relatively new to the activewear scene, and they make a variety of run-friendly products, from the 5” Swift shorts to the ones we’re including here, which is a sort of contemporary take on tennis whites. The Phase has a full-length compression liner and more traditional side and back pockets, so there’s plenty of fabric — you’re probably not running a 50-miler in these, but for everything else, they’re a nice alternative to shorts that feel singularly focused on running.

Materials: 85% Polyester, 15% Spandex

Mammut Runbold Light

The Runbold light is really a hiking short, but because it’s so light, nicely tailored, and performance-oriented (UV protection, fast-drying, DWR coating), we like it as an alternative to traditional running shorts — especially for taller guys who want more coverage without the extra weight. These are unlined, so you’ll probably want to wear something underneath.

Materials: Main material 94% Polyamide, 6% Spandex; Insert 85% Polyamide, 15% Spandex

Cotopaxi Crux Active Shorts

Stretchy, breathable, roomy and available in bold colors like bight blue and green, these are versatile shorts for running or the gym.

Materials: 85% nylon, 15% spandex

Outdoor Voices 7” Runner’s High Short

The athleisure pioneer makes these comfortable shorts out of recycled water bottles, which they’ve turned into a functional pair of shorts with a very comfortable liner and tons of pockets — traditional side pockets, a zip pocket in the back and the side, and a small one inside for keys.

Materials: 86% Recycled Polyester 14% Spandex

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