Why Cotopaxi has become my favorite outdoor clothing brand

The steam was how I knew it was done. Making food over an open flame feels different than making it on the stove at home. There is a feeling of ancient skill, an ability to survive on very little. You have dispensed with the comfort of the modern world and taken yourself back to the way ancient man made their food over a flame with wood gathered from the forest and minimal ingredients. At least, that is how it feels until I use my modern multitool to flip the steak on the cast iron skillet I placed over the fire I made with a modern lighter. Look, I am all about remembering who we used to be, but that doesn’t mean I want to dispense with ALL the comfort or the tools of today. Camping is one of the last activities of the modern family where you can leave all screens behind. And when I hit the woods, I like to go all out with something that will last me. Quality. Ruggedness. Dependability. Things that keep me taken care of. That is why I love Ball and Buck.

Something else I like to do when I go out there is read. Sure, it could be anything from a military memoir to instructions on how to make a steak in a cast iron skillet over an open flame, which may or may not be more done than it should be. But recently, it has been Jack Carr. The Fourth Option hit the shelves this summer, and it was one of the best books of the year. I love his work, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that he has an entire collection with Ball and Buck.

I’ve spent plenty of time riding e-bikes, but I’d never ridden an electric dirt bike before. When I had the opportunity to try the Yozma IN 10 Pro, I was curious to see how the two would compare. As it turns out, they’re completely different experiences. The IN 10 Pro is fast, surprisingly loud, and considerably more powerful than anything I’d ridden before.

I didn’t push the bike anywhere near its advertised top speed of 50 mph, and I didn’t need to. Even at lower speeds, riding the IN 10 Pro was a lot of fun. Between the powerful acceleration, responsive steering, and the way it handled gravel and dirt, there was plenty to enjoy. And despite all that power, the ride was surprisingly comfortable, even over uneven ground. It didn’t take long for me to understand why people love riding dirt bikes.

The new Arc’teryx x BEAMS collection celebrates the brands’ 25-year collaboration and the blending of technical function with street-savvy style. The line highlights a re-creation of the 1998 Arc’teryx Theta hardshell, a Gamma softshell jacket, and Jogen bouldering pants. All come in the signature Kōyō color palette, modeled after Japan’s autumn leaves. 

I wore the Gamma Jacket and Jogen pants during the fall changeover in Virginia’s picturesque Shenandoah Valley, testing for warmth, wind resistance, and style. Here’s my take.