Real mountain adventurers. Honest, in-depth gear reviews.

A woman wearing the Arc'teryx Beta AR jacket while hiking a Colorado 14er

Arc'teryx Beta AR vs Beta SL: How to choose between the versatile, high-performance Gore-Tex shells. Read the review.

Latest Reviews

Arc’teryx Rush Jacket and Bib Review

Ski touring through trees wearing the Arcteryx Rush ski jacket and pants

The Arc'teryx Rush jacket and pants featuring Gore-Tex Pro are constructed to be a lightweight, waterproof, and breathable kit for the backcountry. We took them to Arc'teryx's backyard in British Columbia for some real-world testing during ...

Arc’teryx Rush Jacket and Bib Review

First look: The 2025 Arc’teryx Proton SL Hoody

Arc'teryx Proton SL Hoody in men's side active view

The 2025 Proton SL Hoody is available in three colors for men, including Dynasty. We've got great news for fans (and future fans) of Arc'teryx's lightest-weight version of the uber-comfortable, uber-versatile Proton insulated hoody: it's officially back ...

First look: The 2025 Arc’teryx Proton SL Hoody

Patagonia Stormstride | Testing the backcountry ski pant

The Patagonia Stormstride series is designed for backcountry touring but capable of pulling double-duty at the resort. This waterproof and breathable ski pant offers plenty of stretch for movement. Patagonia Stormstride pants. Size: Medium. Color: Smolder Blue. ...

Patagonia Stormstride | Testing the backcountry ski pant

Arc’teryx Serratus Hoody review: First look at the new technical softshell

The Serratus Hoody, and its women's counterpart, feature two different softshell fabrics to maximize durability and breathability. Arc'teryx's midwinter 2025 release of the Serratus Hoody adds a new technical softshell to the brand's ever-expanding jacket lineup. The ...

Arc’teryx Serratus Hoody review: First look at the new technical softshell

Stio Environ Jacket review: A full-featured ski shell to slay resort days

Rocking the full Stio Environ kit during a cold January day at Copper Mountain, Colorado. I expect three things from a full-featured ski shell: weatherproof performance for whatever Mother Nature throws my way, dependable durability for harsh ...

Stio Environ Jacket review: A full-featured ski shell to slay resort days

Patagonia Stormstride Jacket review: Testing the backcountry-focused ski shell

Ski touring with the Patagonia Stromstride men's backcountry ski jacket

The Patagonia Stormstride is a backcountry ski jacket made for high-output ski touring. The Patagonia Stormstride series is the brand's most breathable jacket and pants for ski touring. The Stormstride jacket offers a three-layer waterproof fabric that ...

Patagonia Stormstride Jacket review: Testing the backcountry-focused ski shell

YETI Roadie 15 vs 24: How to choose

Yeti Roadie 15 hard-sided cooler being carried by the shoulder strap

The all-new Roadie 15 showing off the DoubleDutyâ„¢ carry strapThe taller and deeper Roadie 24 with the HeavyHaulerâ„¢ handleYETI Roadies keep getting more portable!With the introduction of the all-new YETI Roadie 15, the Roadie 24 is ...

YETI Roadie 15 vs 24: How to choose

Yeti Hopper M30 vs Backflip 24

The Yeti Hopper M30 soft cooler tote in navy being carried off a boat

The YETI Hopper M30 (see image) is not your average tote bag. This soft cooler has enough storage capacity to hold up to 28 lbs of ice. It also features exceptional durability that won’t begin to fray ...

Yeti Hopper M30 vs Backflip 24

Yeti 105 vs 110: More varied than meets the eye

Yeti Tundra 110 hard cooler being unloaded from a boat

What’s unique about the YETI Tundra 105 (see image) is the dimensions. The clever folks over at YETI extended the height of the cooler while decreasing the footprint. To be specific, the exterior measures out to be ...

Yeti 105 vs 110: More varied than meets the eye

RTIC 45 vs 65: How to choose

RTIC 65 quart cooler on sand with ice and drinks

If you have a larger group size, upgrade to the RTIC 65 QT (see image). The 65 quart capacity breaks down to 70 pounds of ice or 64 cans. That’s roughly 2.7 cases of beer.In the market ...

RTIC 45 vs 65: How to choose

Yeti 65 vs 75 Review: Which classic Tundra cooler size is best?

Yeti Tundra 65 hard-sided cooler full of ice and beer

With the YETI Tundra 65, you get all the same technology as the YETI Tundra 75 at a less expensive price.Update:YETI just launched its newest (and smallest, and cheapest) hard cooler - the Roadie 15. Here's our ...

Yeti 65 vs 75 Review: Which classic Tundra cooler size is best?

Yeti Tundra 35 vs 45 Review: Is bigger always better?

Yeti Tundra 35 hard-sided cooler on a standup paddleboard

The portability and performance of the YETI Tundra 35 are a perfect combo for a 2 day camping trip.Looking for a portable companion to fuel your adventures?The YETI Tundra 35 and Tundra 45 hard coolers are ...

Yeti Tundra 35 vs 45 Review: Is bigger always better?

First Look: Arc’teryx Vertex Speed Trail Running Shoe

Arc'teryx Vertex Speed trail running and technical approach shoe.

Arc'teryx has released the Vertex Speed as a high-octane edition of its Vertex Alpine approach shoe. Here is what is new and different with this technical trail shoe made for running up (and down) mountains.We picked ...

First Look: Arc’teryx Vertex Speed Trail Running Shoe

First Look: 2025 Arc’teryx Norvan 4

A pile of Arc'teryx Norvan 4 trail running shoes.

Arc'teryx took input from their sponsored athletes and made notable changes to their long-distance trail running shoe. Here is a look at what has been updated on the Arc'teryx Norvan 4 along with our first impressions ...

First Look: 2025 Arc’teryx Norvan 4

Arc’teryx Shoes | Sylan, Sylan Pro, and Sylan GTX Review

Runner on a trail with the Arcteryx Sylan Pro shoe

Trail testing the Sylan Pro, the Arc'teryx shoes built for fast mountain running. The Arc'teryx Sylan Pro is part of the new for 2024 Sylan series, released from the brand's dedicated shoe design center in Portland, OR. ...

Arc’teryx Shoes | Sylan, Sylan Pro, and Sylan GTX Review

Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L Travel Duffel Review

Walking with the Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L rolling travel duffel.

The Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L travel duffel bag offers durable materials, solid construction, and ample space for up to a week on the road. We put it to the test for a winter trip to Whistler, British ...

Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L Travel Duffel Review

Best Osprey Travel Backpack

Image belongs to Farpoint 40 (women's counterpart is Fairview 40) - my overall top picks. As most of you know, as a big fanboy and devoted first-hand customer... ...I've been publishing in-depth guides to all kinds of ...

Best Osprey Travel Backpack

Osprey Talon vs Stratos

Osprey Talon 22 backpack

If I were to day-hike with my pack 80% of the time or more, then I'd prefer the Stratos 24 [read my review]. DEAL ALERT: The Osprey Stratos and Sirrus packs in sizes 24, 34 and 36 are ...

Osprey Talon vs Stratos

Best Backpacking Tents for 2025

Setting up a backpacking tent in the Wyoming backcountry

We dive into the important features of backpacking tents and how to decide what you need, along with our picks for the best backpacking tents of 2025.Through-hiking the Teton Crest Trail. Jackson, Wyoming.We’ve spent a lot ...

Best Backpacking Tents for 2025

Best 1-Person Backpacking Tents 2025

Pitching the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 ultralight backpacking tent

We dive into the important features of  a 1-person backpacking tent and how to decide what you need, along with our picks for the best solo shelters of 2025.Testing solo tents in the Wyoming backcountry.We’ve spent ...

Best 1-Person Backpacking Tents 2025

Best 2-Person Backpacking Tents 2025

A backcountry camp featuring the NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2 ultralight backpacking tent.

We dive into the important features of  a 2-person backpacking tent and how to decide what you need, along with our  top picks of 2025.The NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2 is our top ultralight 2-person backpacking ...

Best 2-Person Backpacking Tents 2025

Best 4 Person Backpacking Tents 2025

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4 ultralight backpacking tent

We're talking about lightweight backpacking tents here! If weight and packability aren't your two most important criteria, then you'll get more for the price in the family camp category. If you're backpacking, hiking into a tent-only site, or ...

Best 4 Person Backpacking Tents 2025

Marmot Limelight vs Tungsten

Marmot Limelight 3 camping tent

Quick summaryWhile both tents are rated for two people to camp comfortably and three people to camp not-so-comfortably during three seasons, the clear winner is the Limelight 3P as it had more bells and whistles included with it, ...

Marmot Limelight vs Tungsten

MSR Elixir 3 Review

MSR Elixir 3 is quite popular mainly because of its livability. Most backpackers including myself really like the ample headroom it offers - but it also is incredibly well ventilated, easy to set up and offers ...

MSR Elixir 3 Review
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Other cool gear

Best gravel tires| going fast and going far

Bike rider on a gravel road

Racing the Panaracer GravelKing at the 2024 Steamboat Roubaix  As the gravel scene grows so do tire options. In this article I provide a guide to make the selection process for gravel tires easy for you. ...

Best gravel tires| going fast and going far

Garmin Edge 840 | Review & Testing

Showing the Garmin Edge 840 mounted using the ENVE road stem mount.

The Garmin Edge 840 fits nicely using the ENVE Road Stem mount.I’ve owned a number of cycling computers going back to an old Ciclosport and some early Garmin Edge models. For the last 10 years I’ve ...

Garmin Edge 840 | Review & Testing

About Outdoor Crunch

At its core, Outdoor Crunch is about helping fellow adventurers find and choose the best gear for your pursuits. We prefer to be outdoors and in the backcountry as opposed to our desks. So while we juggle day jobs and family life from our home bases in Colorado mountain towns, our real passion is using, testing and reviewing the gear we rely on to perform well in critical situations. Head to the About Us page to learn more about Outdoor Crunch, including why we do it and how we sometimes make money from it (spoiler: we're 100% reader supported, and it doesn't cost you a thing).