I spent the last four months testing backcountry touring skis across spring corn, mid-winter powder, and refrozen snotty crud in the Wasatch and Tetons. After logging roughly 38,000 vertical feet and counting, I narrowed my list down to eight standouts that genuinely earn their place in a touring rotation. If you’re shopping for the best … Read more
Picking the best snowboard bindings for beginners changed the way I learned to ride. After a few seasons spent catching edges in rental gear, I finally tried a soft flex setup and stopped feeling like the board was fighting me. I tested 8 beginner friendly snowboard bindings over three weekends at Breckenridge, and the difference … Read more
When the first real snow hits your favorite trails, the right pair of snowshoes turns a miserable post-holing slog into one of the best days of the year. I have been winter hiking for over a decade, and I have tested more snowshoes than I care to admit (some great, some expensive mistakes). For this … Read more
I learned the hard way what happens when an expensive pair of skis meets a baggage handler who treats luggage like a football. After watching my edges come out of checked baggage looking like someone had taken a file to them, I started testing ski bags for air travel the way I would test any … Read more
I have spent the last three ski seasons rotating through more than a dozen pairs of snow pants on everything from icy Midwest runs to deep Colorado powder days. When readers ask me what gear actually keeps them dry and warm versus what just looks the part, I point them to the best snow pants … Read more
Buying your child their first pair of skis feels exciting, but the wall of options at every ski shop can quickly turn that excitement into confusion. After spending three months testing junior setups with my niece, my neighbor’s twins, and three other families from our local ski club, I learned that the right beginner ski … Read more
I remember my first time on cross-country skis. I borrowed a 20-year-old setup from my neighbor, fell twice in the first five minutes, and walked home convinced the sport was not for me. That changed the day I tried a proper beginner setup with waxless bases and a forgiving flex. Suddenly the same trails felt … Read more
Looking for the best kayaks for beginners in ? You are in the right place. Our team spent 90 days on lakes, slow rivers, and sheltered bays testing 10 beginner-friendly kayaks across price ranges from $162 to $1,059. We measured how stable each one felt on the water, timed setup, hauled them onto roof racks, … Read more
Two summers ago I rented a hardshell kayak for a Class II float on the New River and spent forty-five minutes strapping it to my car’s roof rack. By the time I got to the put-in I was already tired, and the boat only handled one more trip before I sold it. The next month … Read more
I spent the last three months cooking through dinner for my family almost every night with eight different knife sets, and the difference between a sharp, well-balanced blade and a dull, clumsy one changed how I feel about being in the kitchen. The best knife sets for home chefs are not about counting pieces. They … Read more