Crux X1 Assault
Innovative fabric eliminates drippy condensation, the bane of singlewall mountain tents.
Author
Casey Lyons
My Stories
3 Fire-Building Techniques
Teepee, Log Cabin, and Lean-to are three options for setting up a strong fire base.
The Complete Guide to Fire
From the dawn of history to dusk last night, fire is mankind’s oldest and most useful tool. Learn how to harness its strength to cook, survive, and connect to a primal force as old and powerful as time itself.
Why You Should Never Pee on the Fire
You’ll be very sorry—and very, very smelly.
Princeton Tec Byte Headlamp Review
One of our favorite headlamps ever.
Saved By: A Paper Clip
Even the dullest of pocket debris can become a survival implement. Use a paper clip to catch dinner, treat wounds, and even start a fire.
The 7 Coolest Tents at Outdoor Retailer Summer 2014
"Livability" is this year's buzzword for tents. Some do it by cutting weight, others by making huge tents you can stand in. Our senior editor picked out his favorites.
Six Ways to Survive with a Plastic Bag
Nothing but a plastic bag? Use it to waterproof clothes, signal for rescue, and more.
My Partner Ate My Socks!
A goatpacking adventure in Utah’s High Uinta Mountains.
The Ultimate Survival Kit for Backpackers
Want to make it out alive? Consider packing this 16-item kit, assembled with help from a Yosemite rescue ranger.
Life List: Moonlit Presidential Traverse, New Hampshire
An after-hours trek on one of the Northeast's best hikes yields unexpected sights.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2012: Tents
A lightweight shelter for any storm.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Mountain Guide Tarp
This lightweight shelter served as a basecamper, a day shelter for a climbing party, and a winter mess tent.
Gear Review: The North Face Bastion 4 Tent
If you value elbow room over ounces on your winter treks, this is your four-person tent
Gear Review: Exped Pegasus Tent
The next best thing to a hut
Gear Review: L.L. Bean 2-Person Backcountry Dome
A tough, spacious two-person tent for under $400.
Gear Review: Brooks Range Invasion Tent
This tent is so small and light, you'll barely notice it in your pack–until you need it.
Gear Review: Easton Expedition 2P Tent
Carbon poles with monofilament connectors make this tent light and cold-weather friendly
Gear Review: Hilleberg Soulo Tent
A go-anywhere solo tent that's spacious for one.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Tents
From solo tents to big basecamp, eight bomber tents for cold-weather camping.
Survival: Sea Kayak Flip
Do a T-rescue for a flipped sea kayak.
Review: Camp Lights and Headlamps
Find the perfect backcountry glow for any occasion.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Black Diamond Eldorado Tent
A bomber tent with lots of legroom
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Nemo Obi 1p Elite Tent
A super light double-wall tent
Gear Review: Nemo Obi 1p Elite
Check out Casey Lyons's author page.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: The North Face Assault 2 Tent
A lightweight, easy-pitching, two-pole tent.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Mountain Equipment Co-op TGV2 Tent
No other double-wall tent we tested offers so much protection for so little money and bulk.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Big Agnes Royal Flush 3 Tent
A tent that can handle it all - temperature swings, ripping wind, humidity, and rocky campsites.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Mountain Laurel Designs Circus Tent
With a massive 96-square-foot (floorless) area and 70-inch peak height, the Circus Tent can fit up to seven.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: MSR Storm King Tent
An ultralight shelter for four.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Nemo Alti Storm 3p Tent
A tent with all the bells and whistles you'd want--large vestibules, super sturdy, and great ventilation.
Gear Review: Snow Peak Hozuk
A soft shell lantern that's perfect for illuminating a tent.
Gear Review: Kelty Lumapivot
A bright LED lantern that's perfect for car camping.
Gear Review: Mammut X-Shot
The brightest headlamp we tested.
Gear Review: Princeton Tec Byte
A great headlamp for ultralighters.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Storm
The Storm has multiple setting options for only $50 and four ounces.
Deepest Daks
Journey through America's most accessible wilderness in search of untouched places, and you might just find peace of mind to match the lakes and hills.
Rip & Go: New England National Scenic Trail – Mt. Grace State Forest, MA
Walk deliberately into woods filled with waterfalls and stone walls.
Rip & Go: Tonahutu Loop – Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Cross elk-filled woods and bighorn- busy flats on this park's quiet side.
National Parks: Glacier
Rule #1 when planning a hike through this iconic park: Let your ambition match the scenery.
Gear Review: Wenger EvoWood S557 Multitool
Keep the Wenger EvoWood S557 multitool handy to cut, clamp, screw or slice.
Local Hikes: Northeast
Head out on one of these trails in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Rip & Go: Long Path Loop – Harriman State Park, NY
Enjoy soaring views from open ridges on this easy-access overnight.
Local Hikes: Northeast
Paddle to Maryland's Assateague Island; pack an ice axe for the Presidentials.
Rip & Go: Turkey Creek Trail
Hike through three ecological zones in east Texas's carnivore country.
Trip Finder: Appalachians
Your favorite Appalachians hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Top 25 Winter Trips: United States
Find the best skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter camping trips in the U.S.
Local Hikes: Portland, ME
The best hikes near Portland, ME.
Local Hikes: Rochester, NY
The best hikes near Rochester.
Local Hikes: Burlington, VT
The best hikes near Burlington.
Local Hikes: Philadelphia, PA
The best hikes near Philly.
Local Hikes: Manchester, NH
The best hikes near Manchester.
Local Hikes: Boston, MA
The best hikes near Boston.
Local Hikes: Pittsburgh, PA
The best hikes near Pittsburgh.
Local Hikes: Albany, NY
The best hikes near Albany.
Local Hikes: New York City, NY
The best hikes near New York, as selected by the Big Apple's best hiking clubs.
Local Hikes: Northeast
The best hikes, as recommended by the best hiking clubs in the Northeast.
Rip & Go: Watchtower to Sheephead Loop – Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, MT/ID
Have rocky ridges and sparkling alpine lakes all to yourself.
How to Buy the Right Sleeping Bag
Buy the right bag for your sleeping style and destinations, and it will keep you warm for years.
The 5-ounce Fix Anything Kit
Build this light, affordable kit to repair any backwoods blowout.
Gear Review: Pacific Outdoor Equipment Ether Elite Sleeping Pad
A cushy sleeping pad for ultralighters
Gear Review: Mammut LightPump Mat
A luxurious mattress that insulates from the cold ground
Gear Review: Kelty Backpacker Sleeping Pad
An affordable and rugged self-inflating mattress
Gear Review: REI Expedition -20 Winter Sleeping Bag
A puffy, waterproof sleeping bag that really seals in heat
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Solar Flare Winter Sleeping Bag
A seriously warm women's sleeping bag
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear ExtraLamina 0 Winter Sleeping Bag
A bargain cold-weather bag with plenty of roll-around room
Gear Review: GoLite Adventure 4s Winter Sleeping Bag
A toasty, big and tall bag with a recycled nylon shell
Gear Review: The North Face Hotlum 3-Season Sleeping Bag
This rugged down bag won't break the bank.
Gear Review: Big Agnes Tumble Mountain 3-Season Sleeping Bag
An innovative down bag with no cold spots
Gear Review: Lafuma Warm'n Light 950 Pro 3-Season Sleeping Bag
A trim-fitting bag that packs light and small
Gear Review: Kelty Cosmic 3-Season Sleeping Bag
A super warm down bag at a super good price
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Vapor 3-Season Sleeping Bag
The lightest 15-degree bag on the market
Gear Review: GoLite RS 1 Summer Sleeping Bag + Season Quilt
A summertime quilt for steamy nights
Gear Review: Eastern Mountain Sports Velocity Summer Sleeping Bag
An affordable synthetic bag with down-like performance
Gear Review: The North Face Mercurial Sleeping Bag Liner
Crank up your bag's temperature rating by 10 degrees with this liner.
Gear Review: Eureka! Kotey Summer Sleeping Bag
A slim-fitting, summer bag for under 100 bucks
Gear Review: Vaude Ice Peak 150 Summer Sleeping Bag
A down bag that packs tiny and heats up fast
Headlamps Test: Lightest of the Lights
We hike and camped through 78 inky nights from Whitney to Katahdin to evaluate five featherweight headlamps--then ran a battery of controlled tests to rank brightness and longevity.
Gear Review: Coast LED Lenser Micro Headlamp
The Coast Lenser is the lightest and cheapest headlamp we tested.
Gear Review: Mammut Lucido TXlite Headlamp
The Mammut Lucido provides the steadiest light.