Trailspace Blog

The Best Down Jackets

Members of the Trailspace community share their top picks for toasty down jackets for all conditions.

Call for Reviews: Your Favorite Winter Gear

As the days get shorter, Trailspace community members are increasingly looking for winter gear advice. You can help them, and expand the outdoor community’s collective knowledge, by reviewing your cold-weather equipment and clothing. What gear did you rely on to get outside safely and comfortably last winter?

Short Days, Bright Lights

Autumn can be a great time to get outside, but shorter daylight hours can often put a pinch on outdoor activities. Trailspace members share their top picks for headlamps, flashlights, and lanterns that can help you beat back the dark and make the most of every day.

Shout it Out for Your Favorite Gear

Give a shout-out to your gear and help others get outside, simply by sharing a review. Whether on an epic thru hike or a quiet morning paddle, telling people how your gear fared helps others of all experience levels and backgrounds access the outdoors safely.

The Best Vests for Fall Adventures

Handle autumn's cooler and variable weather in comfort and style with one of these top vests, as reviewed and rated by the Trailspace community.

Top-Reviewed Boots and Shoes for Hiking, Backpacking, and More

Reviewed and rated by the Trailspace community

The Best Tents and Shelters for Camping and Backpacking

The Best Packs for Every Trip

Reviewed and rated by the Trailspace community

Fall Hiking & Camping Gear

What gear is keeping you warm and comfortable outdoors this fall? Spread the word and help others get outside safely with a review of it. Or need some new gear for your next outdoor adventure? Check out other users' reviews and compare prices first.

2021 National Outdoor Book Award Winners

Bicycling with monarchs. Skiing across Northwest Canada. The packraft handbook. Working in a fire lookout tower. The 2021 National Outdoor Book Award winners have been announced. Find a new read for yourself or a friend.

How to Build a Community Gear Lending Library

If folks in your community lack the gear to go hiking or camping, consider starting a gear lending library. We got advice from the experts on gearing one up for long-term success.

How to Get Outside and Recreate Responsibly this Winter

Whether we're expert skiers, avid winter campers, or new trail runners, it's in our best interests to help mountains and trails stay open, and to keep our communities safe. To recreate responsibly, consider the following before heading out this winter.

Gear Libraries Increase Outdoor Access, Equity, and Adventure

The cost of outdoor equipment is one of the top reasons people say they don't get outside. Gear libraries that share tents, stoves, sleeping bags, and skills help make the outdoors more accessible and equitable for all.

The Outdoor Guide to Wearing Face Masks Hiking, Running, on the Trail

Face masks are the surprise essential gear trend of 2020, and outdoor brands have stepped up with a variety of options, whether we're prepping for a trip to the store or a trip to the mountains. From high-tech performance masks to made in America to ones that give back, check out our guide.

How to Gain Outdoor Skills through Online Education During COVID-19

While many outdoor trips and trainings have been cancelled due to the coronavirus, here are resources for online outdoor instruction—trip prep, navigation, LNT, survival, photography, avalanche awareness, knots, and more—that you can access anywhere, anytime.

The Privilege of Nature: Diversity, Inclusivity, and Being an Outdoor Ally

For many, the outdoors is a refuge. I'd like to think that on the trail and in the mountains I escape politics and worldly concerns, and we're all equal. But that's untrue, naive, and privileged. As my country confronts its racism, I'm also doing so personally and professionally, and I encourage our outdoor community to do the same.

How to Support the Great Outdoors while Stuck Indoors: Become an Outdoor Advocate

Despite the pandemic shutdown, we can remain connected to the outdoors we love to hike, run, ski, climb, and paddle. Here are some ways to get involved, stay engaged, and become an outdoor advocate, even if you're stuck inside.

Outdoors in the Time of the Coronavirus

Amid the more immediate and severe concerns about public health during COVID-19, you may be wondering if you can still go outside. We've compiled some recommendations and updates on getting outdoors, plus effects on the outdoor industry, including Trailspace.

Packs to Potty Trowels: Presenting the Top 16 Gear Reviews of 2019

From the expected—trail footwear, packs, shelters, and a quilt—to the not-so-expected—corn chowder, an umbrella, bungees, and a potty trowel—here are our Top 16 gear reviews of 2019.

Outdoor Insiders' Top 10 Tips for Standout Gear Reviews

What makes a product review valuable and trustworthy? We've been asking community members, reviewers, and outdoor industry professionals to share their insights. Here's what we learned.

Lighten Up: Illumination is Outdoor Essential #4

Illumination is #4 on the 10 Essentials list. We talked to experts from Black Diamond, Ledlenser, and Petzl to learn more about headlamp technology and what to consider when selecting your backcountry illumination.

A Brief History of Outdoor Insulation: Essential #3

To celebrate extra clothing (#3 of the 10 Essentials), we looked at the origins of some classic outdoor insulation: wool and polypro baselayers, down and synthetic jackets, and ever-popular fleece.

Sun Protection is an Outdoor Essential Year Round

Sun protection isn't just for sunny hikes or summer swims. And effective sun protection means more than slapping on some sunscreen. So, as part of our Year of Essential Outdoor Gear, we're taking a look at Essential #2, sun protection.

How Trailspace Members Rate Their Navigation Gear

A detailed topo map and compass have topped the 10 Essentials list for decades. But we wondered: What navigation gear is tops among our community members?

Arc'teryx Voltair Avalanche Airbag Offers Multiple Deployments

Pete Hill, Senior Designer at Arc'teryx, showed us the company's new Voltair avalanche airbag for backcountry skiers and snowboarders while at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2016.

Fuel, Flames, and Water: More Gear From Outdoor Retailer

We're going elemental today from Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. These new gear highlights from Primus, Snow Peak, BioLite, and SteriPen all involve water or flames and fuel.

Backcountry Skis, Shells, Boots at Outdoor Retailer

New and updated backcountry ski gear is in abundance at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. We share a few ski and alpine highlights from Arc'teryx, Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Gregory, and Osprey.

Black Diamond Debuts 25% Lighter Camalot Ultralights

For many rock climbers, Black Diamond's Camalot is the standard camming device. Come spring you'll be able to get one that's 25 percent lighter.

Fishing Kayak, Ti Ax, Fast Inflatable: Demo Day Videos

A fishing kayak, a titanium ax head, and a fast inflatable pad: as promised here are three product videos from the Open Air Demo at Outdoor Retailer.

Gear to Paddle, Cut, Cook, Capture, Eat, and Sleep

Paddlers had a myriad of options to get them on the water at Outdoor Retailer's Open Air Demo. But there was also a range of trail gear on hand. Check out our daily highlights.

Titanium-Infused Garments, Retro Rain Gear, LED Tents

Sierra Designs celebrates 50 years with its decidedly retro Elite Cagoule and Rain Chaps. Big Agnes shows off mtnGLO tents with integrated LEDs. And Vargo Outdoors embeds titanium into its performance apparel.

MSR Solo Stove, Tough Tufto Pants, UTMB Ultra Pack

A solo stove from Mountain Safety Research, bomb-proof scrambling pants from Bergans of Norway, and a super-niche ultra running pack from CamelBak: new gear was practically popping out of the booths on the second day of Outdoor Retailer.

Black Diamond and P-Tec: Lights and Lightweight Poles

Black Diamond and Princeton Tec showed off new charging and waterproof lights. Plus, a pair of super-light trekking poles from Black Diamond highlighted Day 1 at Outdoor Retailer.

Outdoor Retailer Demo Day: Novel Bars, Paddling Solo

A few standouts from Outdoor Retailer's Demo Day included energy bars with interesting ingredients, plus an Old Town canoe built for one.

It's Time for Outdoor Retailer Summer Market!

Trailspace is at Outdoor Retailer. Stay tuned for recaps on the backcountry gear, apparel, and footwear coming your way in 2015. And follow our coverage here, on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and YouTube.

Full Gear Coverage from Outdoor Retailer Winter 2014

In January, Trailspace was on the scene at Outdoor Retailer, where the latest gear, apparel, and footwear for winter 2014-15 was announced. Here's our coverage recap.

Black Diamond Introduces First Jet-Fan Avy Airbags

Black Diamond has entered the avalanche airbag market with a new technology that uses one of the oldest methods of moving air—a fan. Plus, backcountry leaders on safety gear and responsibility.

BioLite Turns Stoves into Generators and Powers Group Gadgets

BioLite, which makes camp stoves that charge electronics, has two new power products: a BaseCamp stove for groups and a Packable Generator that works with any stove.

Arc'teryx Hybrid Shells, Vapur After Hours: OR Day 4

Arc'teryx designs hybrid shell jackets and pants for backcountry skiers and climbers. Vapur brings the After Hours beverages. Join us for Day 4 of Outdoor Retailer.

BD Apparel, Easton Snowshoes, Bergans Ski Touring: OR Day 3

Black Diamond's women's apparel, ski touring from Bergans, composite molded snowshoes from Easton, alpine packs from Lowe Alpine, down hoodies from Rab, fast jackets from Salomon, and a waterproof, ice-gripping Vibram FiveFingers running shoe.

One-Piece Jacket, Dial-a-Headlamp, Electrifying Gloves: OR Day 3

A jacket made from one sheet of North Face waterproof-breathable fabric, a Princeton Tec headlamp that switches modes with a dial, and new Outdoor Research gloves that include electric heat. Join us for Day 3 of Outdoor Retailer.

Touchy Headlamp, Performance Down, Spiky Shoes: OR Day 2

A swipe-to-shine Nite Ize headlamp, down-synthetic PrimaLoft blends, spiky IceBug running shoes, and CamelBak packs. Join us for more from Day 2 of Outdoor Retailer.

Winter Packs, Trail Runners, American Made: OR Day 2

Packs for backcountry skiing, rando, summit pushes, and expeditions. Nano skis and winter trail runners and hikers. American-made bars for dogs, fine mountain wear, and merino wool socks: Day 2 of Outdoor Retailer.

Origami Stove, Rocket Snowshoes, Toasty Rain Coats: OR Day 1

An origami-inspired stove, a snow saw with built-in avalanche hazard analysis tools, a carbon fiber snowshoe that weighs less than a paperback, and insulated down-filled rain jackets: more action from Day 1 of Outdoor Retailer.

Cooking without Fire, Lightest Ski Helmet: OR Day 1

Cooking without fire, the lightest snow sport helmet, an AT boot that automatically switches from walk to ski mode, a new packraft, plus insulation and footwear. Check out some highlights from Day 1 of Outdoor Retailer.

Outdoor Retailer Demo Day: A Winter Wonderland of Gear

Outdoor Retailer's Demo Day was packed with winter gear, including a hybrid touring snowshoe/ski, a ski for your fat bike, and new shovels from MSR.

4 Ways to Give Great Gear

The holidays are an ideal opportunity to share the gift of outdoor recreation with friends and loved ones. Here's how to efficiently navigate holiday gear purchases, so you can spend less time shopping and more time outside.

A $2K Tent, Self-Motivated Headlamp, More Gear News

A $2,000 Cuben tent from Easton, a headlamp with "optic motility" from Snow Peak, plus final gear highlights from brands exhibiting at summer Outdoor Retailer.