Outside

Outside readers are passionately committed to leading an active lifestyle. Outside not only motivates readers to uncover and define their own personal day-to-day adventures, but also provides them with the tools, products and information to fulfill them.

Between the Lines • I’ve always felt the best adventures start when you just say yes.

Outside

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO THIS SUMMER

Outside World

Should We All Just Submit to Our eMTB Future? • Electric mountain bikes are no longer anomalies on the trail, and some say they’ll soon outnumber traditional bikes. If you feel like that escalated quickly, you’re not alone.

Swimming, Running, Biking, and Chilling in CHICAGO

Altitude in a Bottle • A new approach to endurance training that involves carbon monoxide is reviving old debates about dying to win.

My Outside Life • Chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson talks reconnecting with his Ethiopian heritage, philanthropy, and how his mom dared him to run his first marathon.

The Rise of the Rain Skirt • Once a niche piece of lightweight gear, this waterproof layer is now strutting trails and runways.

Cool Van, Man! • On a family road trip in Northern California, Volkswagen’s update of the original hippie-mobile finds its groove.

Urban Tree House • Denver’s most enchanting forest romp is in the most unlikely of locations: a downtown hotel.

There’s a Beer for That • No matter your outdoor plans, one of America’s nearly 10,000 breweries makes a beer to match. From alcohol-free quenchers to big IPAs, here’s how to stock a cooler that’s up for anything.

Bird to the Flame • Live-fire cooking is more than grilling—it’s primal, versatile, and totally addictive. Here’s how to master the art.

Island Hop • The new Stockholm Archipelago Trail offers a through-hike with no beginning or end—but everything else, from solitude to DJs.

Happy Trails • After thousands of miles of wilderness testing, this is the camping and backpacking gear that kept us smiling, no matter the weather.

Tents • Call any wilderness home with a cozy sleep setup and storm-worthy shelter.

Sleeping Bags

Pads

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FIRST CAMPSITE • From etiquette to ecological considerations to plain common sense, here’s how to pick your landing pad.

Backpacks • Squeeze more out of summer with these top rucksacks.

HOW TO AVOID OVERPACKING • The easiest way to lighten your pack isn’t to buy new gear. Instead, leave things behind.

Boots and Shells • Kit up in technical layers and footwear for every occasion.

Hiking Boots

Shells

PFAS ARE BANNED. • IS MY NEW JACKET WATERPROOF?

Accessories • Up your game with these clever gadgets and campsite luxuries.

HOW TO BACKPACK UNPLUGGED • For decades, backpackers and through-hikers did it the old-fashioned way, with a compass and notebook. But in 2025, it’s no easy feat to untether ourselves from our smartphones. Want to fully unplug in the wild? Here’s how to do it.

FIND YOUR CREW!

Looking for a Third Place? Get Outside • The activities we love may be our best shot at building the community we want.

The Outdoor Small Talk Cheat Sheet

A Little Help • Anyone who’s ever received or handed out water at a race knows how volunteering can be both fulfilling and fun. Here are seven other service opportunities that may lead to new pals.

What’s in Store? Friendship • Brick-and-mortar shops are offering more than just gear. Stock up and stay for the ride excursions, group runs, and game night.

Fight For Your Right to Run Club • Loud? Sure. In the way? Maybe. But these crews are carving out space—and making cities feel like home.

United We...