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Essential Everyday Carry Gear for the Outdoorsy Guy

Is your everyday carry ready to go off-road? When you get a last-minute invite for an adventure, can you hit the trail with what you’ve got in your pack?

If your gear is anything like these outdoorsy essentials, you’ll be ready for almost anything.

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Leatherman Skeletool KBX Pocket Knife – $25
Leatherman Skeletool KBX Knife
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Part of the just-released Coyote Tan collection of Leatherman tools, the Skeletal KBX knife is strong, minimal, and above all, useful. It’s coated in the new tan Cerakote finish, a ceramic composite often used on firearms that improves abrasion and corrosion resistances, impacting strength and hardness. The 2.6-inch long blade is made from 420HC stainless steel for extra durability and easy sharpening.

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Rite in the Rain Memo Book – $6
Rite In The Rain Softcover Memo Book
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Phones, tablets, and laptops are insanely powerful these days, but there’s something freeing about good old-fashioned pen and paper. There’s just one catch: You can’t use them in the rain.

With Rite in the Rain waterproof books, however, rain can be coming down sideways and you can still be taking notes, writing your next novel, or sketching a business plan. The small size and soft cover of these memo books help them fit perfectly in a pocket for easy access. The books are available in hardcover and coil bound versions as well. They are best used with pencils or the brand’s special pens.

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Alchemy Goods Franklin Wallet – $34
Alchemy Goods Franklin Wallet
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The Franklin Wallet from Alchemy Goods is a slim billfold made from old rubber tubes. Inside are four card slots and one long bill slot; the stitching comes in a handful of different colors. On the corner of every Alchemy Goods logo is the percentage by weight of upcycled material. The Washington-based brand strives to hit the highest number it can.

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Suunto Core Watch – $370
suunto core watch ultimate black
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Why do you need a watch if your smartphone can tell time? Just like with pen and paper, there’s something satisfying about having a nice timepiece on your wrist. Suunto’s aren’t your classic Rolex, but they’ll be a lot more useful off-road. The Suunto Core with its altimeter, barometer, and compass is what you need on the trail to keep you safe and headed in the right direction. Take the temperature for notes in your trip journal. The built-in storm alarm will let you know when it’s time to head home. The brushed steel colorway is eye-catching but can go with any wardrobe.

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Moment Battery Photo Case – $100
Moment Camera Case iPhone
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No pics, it didn’t happen. Right? But who has space to carry a whole extra camera with them these days? With the camera quality on phones these days, you don’t need to. Just use your phone and some tiny Moment lenses, which snap right on to the brand’s phone case (complete with extra battery power) and give you wide angle, telephoto or macro powers with just your iPhone 7, 8 or X. The case also protects from bumps and drops, which are bound to happen outdoors. “It’ll be the most durable ribbed, rubber product you’ve ever bought,” Moment says.

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Boundary Supply Errant Pack – Preorder for $100
Boundary Supply Errant Pack
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You’re not going far without a bag to carry all this. The new Boundary Errant can do triple duty as a sleek bag for work, an organized pack for travel, and a durable hauler for weekend gear.

The DuraMax Kodra material is water resistant thanks to Boundary Supply’s Barricade DWR coating. The top flap keeps things dry with either magnetic snaps or a waterproof zipper (or both). If you need to see everything quickly, unzip the back panel, which opens up the whole pack. Interior pockets organize everything from 17-inch laptops down to chargers, notebooks, and phones.

A separate waterproof compartment in the bottom can hold a pair of shoes or a six-pack. Boundary Supply also has modular packing cells and camera modules if you are escaping for the weekend or need to keep your drone accessories organized. All materials are sustainably sourced and blue-sign approved.

After a highly successful Indiegogo campaign, the Errant Pack is scheduled to ship in October.

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Ross Collicutt
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ross is an outdoor adventure writer, amateur photographer, and computer programmer based on Vancouver Island, British…
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ever since the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has slowly but surely been reopening sections of the park following reconstruction efforts. The Cosby Area, which is a popular place for visitors to hike, camp, and picnic, is next on the list. As of May 12, 2025, the Cosby Area has officially reopened following the completion of a culvert replacement under Cosby Entrance Road.

This is one of many rehabilitation projects in the area aimed at protecting aquatic species and managing water flow, since flood damage has been a major concern. Heavy rainfall, flooding, and recent debris buildup have heightened risks in the area.

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Top attraction at Sequoia National Park finally reopens after 4 years
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Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park

Crystal Cave, which is Sequoia National Park's most popular attraction since the park's opening in 1940, will finally reopen for guided tours on May 23 after four long years of closure. These closures were due to several consecutive natural disasters, including the 2021 KNP Complex wildfire, as well as 2022 and 2023 winter storms which brought heavy snow, flooding, and landslides.
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Do golf balls go bad? Here’s how to know when it’s time to toss them
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Golf ball near the hole

Maybe you've found a box of old golf balls in your garage, or an unclaimed one out on the fairway. You might be wondering, do golf balls go bad? Modern golf balls are actually pretty robust, lasting as long as five or ten years or more without significant degradation, but it's always good to check. Golf balls can degrade over time, and the signs aren't always obvious. Here's everything you need to consider when teeing up with old golf balls.
How to tell if your golf balls are bad

Look for structural damage
The first thing to look for is structural damage. If your golf balls have visible scuffs, cuts, or cracks from play, they aren't going to serve you well out on the fairway. These deformities, even if they are small, can affect the aerodynamics during flight. You might be okay with very minor dings, but use your best judgment.
Checking the health of the core
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The saltwater test
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