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Trekking: Strap in and step up with our favorite crampons
Trekking in the snow requires more than a pair of cargo shorts and synthetic-leather boots. Check out five of our favorite crampons, from the likes of Black Diamond, Petzl, and Hillsound. -
Trekking: The Sky Nest takes camping to new heights
Snow Peak's Sky Nest lets you sleep suspended between two trees, allowing you to swap uneven ground and wet terrain for lofty views of the backcountry. -
Style and Substance: So iLL Climbing
Whether you're regularly sending big routes in the Red River Gorge or just learning the ins and outs of climbing, So iLL's new line of climbing shoes are perfect. Combining the best performance characteristics of serious sticky rubber with retro design, their shoes should be on your radar. -
Trekking: Yes, the roof of this camper moonlights as a boat
The American Dream Trailer is a compact, customizable camper that sleeps two and features a detachable rowboat that conveniently doubles as a secondary roof. -
Worn Out Wednesday – Alpine Climber Jess Roskelley
For a short time was the youngest American to summit Everest -
Trekking: The Smart Outdoor Watch lives up to its name
Casio's forthcoming WSD-F10 combines Android Wear with a wealth of built-in sensors, culminating in a tool that looks to be your next backcountry companion. -
Trekking: The NightShift V2 is as subtle as it is suitable
Proper catch-all bags are hard to come by, but Seagull Bags' flagship backpack is just as suited for your morning bike ride as your next backcountry trek. -
The Best Baselayers for 2016
A good set of baselayers are your second skin when out on the trail. They'll wick sweat away when you're working hard, and provide a little extra warmth when the temperature drops. Whether you're a devotee of natural fibers, or looking for the latest high tech fabric innovation, we've got the best for you. -
Priority Bicycles makes cycling simpler by listening to its customers
Launched in 2014 by way of a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, Priority Bicycles turns to its customers for the limited release of the Priority EIGHT. -
Westcomb: Alpine Goes Urban
For urban adventurers, sometimes wearing that oversized ski shell just doesn't quite fit in with the winter commuting crowd. British Columbia based Westcomb set out to change that with their urban styled parkas and shells. After seeing the results, we're definitely converts. -
The Pendleton Limited Edition is built for the outdoors (not your budget)
So, what do you get when two iconic brands partner in honor of the National Park Service's centennial? A rustic, high-class camper that will make you drool. -
5 essential winter trail running tips
For some runners, the arrival of snow will signal a transition to training on skis or perhaps running indoors on a treadmill. For others, it’s simply a chance to play in the mountains. -
Serious Backcountry Travel: Brooks Range
Brooks Range Mountaineering was born from a small cadre or mountaineers and backpackers. Their roots trace a lineage of ski mountaineer lines in Alaska, thru hikes down the Pacific Crest Trail, and backcountry campgrounds for decades. If you’re looking for fast and light, you won’t find better gear. -
Trekking: Stay connected with our favorite outdoor apps
We love to unplug at the Manual, but tech can enhance outdoors. Take these 15 apps, for instance. -
Ortovox: German Mountain Gear
German brand Ortovox launched their venerable apparel line in North America this ski season. The technical wool pieces combine European mountain style with serious performance. If you're looking to separate yourself from the typical mountain town crowd, we can't think a better way to do it. -
Winter Hiking: Don’t Forget to Bring a…
When the weather is warm and the sun is shining, hiking can be a remarkably simple affair: get a pair of good boots (or even a pair of running shoes), make sure you have plenty of water, and… you’re basically set. For a day hike on a prepared trail, at any rate. Hiking in the […] -
Trekking: The Kronos is the world’s first wooden ice axe
Not every ice axe is made of metal. The Kronos uses a beech laminate and meets industry standard safety certification. -
Trekking: The Throwback Snowboard takes Burton back to the basics
The Burton Backhill is one of the most iconic boards in history — and the Throwback is its resurrection. -
Best In Show: Outdoor Retailer Winter 2016
Between walking the show floor, and getting on the snow for hands on testing, Outdoor Retailer features the absolute best in the outdoor industry. After a few days of complete gear overload, we've picked ten stand out items that will define the market this fall when they hit shelves. -
Trekking: The Cricket Trailer is NASA-approved… well, sort of
The Cricket Trailer is everything you want in a pop-up camper, one outfitted wealth of amenities and an intuitive design courtesy of a former ISS engineer. -
Red Bull’s Stevie Smith traveled to Japan to bike down an active volcano
To satiate his need for adrenaline and edge-of-your-seat thrills, Red Bull's downhill mountain bike racer Stevie Smith traveled to Japan to ride down Miyake Island's active volcano, Mount Oyama. -
Trekking: The Snogo Snobike combines the best of both worlds
Want the sensation of biking and the freedom of skiing? Meet the Snogo Snobike, a Kickstarter-backed device built for the backcountry or your own backyard. -
Pack it In: Uphill Skiing
It's nuking powder in the west. There's no time like now to venture out of the resort for the first time and start doing some uphill skiing. Whether you're a dawn patrol expert or exploring out of resort boundaries for the very first time, we've got the very best uphill skiing gear for you. -
Trekking: A Tabletop Book Fit For The Park Service’s centennial
This summer, the National Park Service will celebrate its 100-year anniversary. -
Trekking: The Sunnto Traverse is smart only where it matters
Smartwatches might be all the rage, but most don't provide you with off-the-grid navigation and withstand a 100 feet of water. Suunto's outdoor-friendly Traverse is built for such instances, however, allowing you to access the metrics that matter. -
The Manual’s weekend warrior gift guide
To help you shop for the weekend warrior in your life, we've compiled this list of the best gear fit for anyone who considers the outdoors not only their second home, but a way of life. -
Camping Gifts for Gear Heads
This might come as a surprise to you, but not everyone who enjoys camping is an “I’ll chop down this tree and build a goddamn cabin right now” type of person. Some of us like to catch our own prey, ferret out wild edibles, and make campfires by glaring at kindling with such primal rage that it bursts […] -
Ski Season Preview: DPS Skis Tour1
At the forefront of the backcountry movement is the push for lighter gear to take advantage of both the uphill travel, and downhill powder. No company we've seen is doing this better than Utah based DPS Skis. Their new Tour1 skis are the best backcountry touring and pow slayers we've ever ridden. -
Autumn In the Angeles – Perfect LA Hikes For Fall
Remember how it was well over 90 degrees in Los Angeles about a week and a half ago? Remember how the “fall” came in September only to see Southern California experience record setting heat weeks into October? Yeah… thanks, sunshine and climate change, that was awesome. Anyway, the mercury has finally dropped (though basically no […] -
Trekking: The Pampa Cuff WP Lux looks as good on the trail as off
Romping through the woods in the fall requires a different kind of boot. Thankfully, Palladium's Pampa Cuff WP Lux provides protection from the elements without sacrificing style, making them as fit for the trail as the tavern. -
Ski Season Preview: Under Armour
Under Armour's push into winter action sports has been quietly growing for a few seasons. They have rebuilt winter focused apparel from the skin out, and the results are a set of top notch base, mid, and outer layers for every skier and rider on the mountain. -
Ski Season Preview: Salomon MTN Collection
Our experience testing the Salomon MTN Collection this year while testing some the skis, boots, and apparel at Alta Ski Resort in Utah has us convinced that Salomon has once again pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the mountains. Powder hounds rejoice – we've got your new gear ready. -
Ski Season Preview: Eddie Bauer Custom Down
Eddie Bauer's Storm Down sets a standard. With a DWR treated shell and 800-fill hydrophobic down, their Microtherm Hooded Jacket has been our go to mid layer for quite a few ski seasons. Now that they've added a customizable option, this mighty mid layer should definitely be on your Christmas list. -
Ski Season Preview: Voormi Core Construction
Voormi's model of locally sourced wool, jobs in the mountain towns, and new waterproof technology is poised to upend the outerwear market. Whether yiou're in the market for serious baselayers or a full blown technical wool ski jacket, Voormi is the mountain brand of the future. -
Trekking: Skate meets surf with Iris’ handmade surf boards
Iris may have made a name for itself crafting decks composed of recycled skateboards, but the company's latest offerings are more apt for the waves down the road than the concrete streets lining your local neighborhood. -
Recharge Anywhere: Power Practical
For the modern day outdoorsman, documenting your adventures and staying connected is almost as important as getting out on the trail. We were lucky enough to meet the team behind Power Practical at the Outdoor Retailer Show this summer, and have been carrying their portable battery packs ever since. -
Trekking: The Frontier Plus is the wood stove we’ve been waiting for
Practicality is rarely as portable as it is with the Frontier Plus camp stove. Not only does the wood-burning device break down for easy transport, but it allows you to control the temperature and cooking heat when fully assembled. -
Man School 101: Hiking to an Overnight Camp
Today we're going to have a little primer for the first time (or amateur, at any rate) backwoods camper. -
Trekking: The O Six Hundred kayak takes a cue from IKEA
Kayaks can be unwieldy. Composed of Kevlar and 42 individual ribs, the O Six Hundred weighs a little more than 22 pounds and capitalizes on an Inuit design more than 4,000 years in the making. You can even assemble it without tools. -
Kevin Russ: Trekking the World With an iPhone
Feeling like your life is going nowhere? Maybe you'll be inspired to follow the footsteps of iphone photographer Kevin Russ. -
Trekking: The Vasque Inhaler GTX hits the high notes (and more)
The world of hiking boots is vast and varied. That said, the Vasque Inhaler GTX provides resounding comfort and support within a lightweight build that's made to handle soaring temperatures, jagged peaks, and the occasional storm. -
We ran the Rugged Maniac obstacle race and lived to tell about it
To see what all the fuss was about, The Manual sent three writers to run the Rugged Maniac obstacle race. Somehow, they lived to tell about it. -
Trekking: 3x1s latest collab is a selvedge denim surfboard
Selvedge denim might be a hot commodity, sure, but not so much when you submerge it in several inches of saltwater. The 3×1 x Token Surfboard Collection features three beautiful boards, each of which comes outfitted with subtle denim detailing. -
The Coolbox used Indiegogo success to revolutionize the job site
The creators of the latest crowdfunding phenomenon aim to flip ordinary tool boxes on their head and bring job sites into the 21st Century with the Coolbox. -
Trekking: The Multi-Mission Axe is the only axe you’ll need
The most resourceful axe should do more than simply chop wood. Thankfully, the Outland Equipment Multi-Mission Axe lives up to its name and then some, providing you with a blade, seatbelt cutter, hammer, and more. -
Dirtbag Summer: Black Diamond
With hundreds of miles of trails, dozens of world famous climbs, and a handful of ten and eleven thousand foot peaks within sight of their headquarters, it's easy to see where Black Diamond get's their mantra of "Live, Climb, Repeat." We've tested their latest apparel and gear so you don't have to. -
Trekking: Hit the highway with the High Camp Teardrop Trailer
The teardrop trailer is nothing new, but Portland's High Camp Trailers is adding a touch of modernism to a classic build that's been around since President Herbert Hoover was in office. -
Summer Trekking: Fjallraven
Fjallraven's spring and summer line this year is inspired by the brand's Swedish heritage, and will easily perform on the trails and water, while setting you apart from the typical yoga pants crowd. It's time to graduate to high quality apparel that will last on the trail as long as you will. -
Trekking: The Summer 2015 Outdoor Gear Guide
Frankly, summer is a time best spent outdoors. We've rounded up some of our favorite pieces of gear, from sleeping bags and utility axes to headlamps and torso-forming backpacks, so you can spend less time mulling over the right equipment. -
KEEN: The Boots of Summer
Whether you're a seasoned thru-hiker who destroys footwear, or buying your first pair for a weekend adventure on the trail, quality boots are worth every penny you spend. That's why we chose a pair of American built KEEN boots for our summer adventures this year. Your feet will thank you, trust us.