It is a great time to be a runner. Today’s smart shoe designers are using advanced materials, new geometries, and creative combinations of foams, plates, fabrics, and soles to create models that are faster and more comfortable than ever before. Many shoes in this roundup are franchise models, in their second, fourth, 17th, or 21st(!) iterations, representing the best of what they have been in the past and integrating modern technologies to give us banger new versions. Others are brand-new, including a $90 model wowed us this season, garnering a Best Value pick. So whether you’re looking for a ..read more

Two climbers are dead following an incident on 14,505-foot Mount Whitney in California, officials said. On Thursday, May 9, the Inyo County Sheriff’s office said that rescuers had received a call on May 7 of two hikers who were overdue on Mount Whitney. According to the report, the two had been hiking the Mount Whitney Mountaineer Route and had intended to descend to a feature called the “Notch” before skiing and snowboarding down to their camp at Upper Boy Scout Lake. When the two did not arrive at their destination, a third person in the party called rescuers. “Tragically, both hikers were ..read more

I climbed Mount Everest on my lunch break yesterday. No, really—I did it from the safety and comfort of the Outside office here in Boulder. I tiptoed across sketchy ladder bridges in the Khumbu Icefall while Dave from accounting microwaved a frozen pizza in the lunchroom. After that, I inched my way up the icy Lhotse Face to the South Col, where I paused for a minute or so and then made my summit push, reaching Everest’s windswept top just as Ted from marketing Xeroxed documents. The most challenging part my Everest journey was explaining to HR why I had just staggered around the office in a ..read more

Stepping into the Nike Vomero 17 is like pulling on your old college sweatshirt and a pair of pajama pants. They’re insanely comfortable and make you wonder why you’d ever want to wear anything else. Thankfully, they perform a lot better on the run than your old cotton digs, and testers raved about their ride on long runs and shorter speed efforts alike. Nike Vomero 17 (Photo: 101 Degrees West) Pros and Cons: ⊕ Extremely comfortable upper ⊕ Soft, smooth cushioning ⊕ Versatile ⊗ Super slippery laces that come untied Weight: 10.6 ounces (men’s), 8.5 ounces (women’s) Stack Height: 39.5–30mm Drop ..read more

On May 3, authorities in the Mexican state of Baja California discovered the bodies of three surfers—two Australians and one American—who had been missing for a week. Authorities announced the arrest of three people in connection with the alleged murder. The crime has generated headlines and intense media scrutiny around the world, turning a spotlight onto the Baja peninsula and the infrequent-but-shocking collisions between its beautiful, austere landscapes and the violence occurring by its border with the United States. Is Baja more dangerous than it used to be? Is it still safe to cam ..read more

I’ve always thought that planning my own trips was the most cost-effective way, but I’ve been hearing more about travel agents making a comeback and saving their clients a lot of money. What kinds of outdoor trips should I turn to a travel agent for, and are there any who specialize in working with adventurers like me? Technically, I’m a professional traveler. As a journalist, it’s my job to research and connect with locals to get beneath the surface of a destination. So I have never really used travel agents. What could they plan better than I could? A lot, it turns out. Over the years, I’ve ..read more

Need an icebreaker at a mountain town bar, or a conversation starter around a campfire? Try this: What’s better, a van or a truck camper? It’s a debate I’ve had with friends many times over the years (and a topic I’m sure my wife Sarah would greatly appreciate never hearing about again). The pro and con list for each can be endless, and “better” can be in the eye of the beholder and depend on how exactly you want to use the vehicle: Which is more comfortable to camp out of? What does better off road? What gets better gas mileage? Which one does better in the snow? For the sake of keeping this ..read more

Free dog treats are usually a welcome gift for pet owners—but a recent sabotage attempt in Pennsylvania marks a notable exception to that rule. At least a dozen fish hooks were found embedded in treats along the Appalachian Trail yesterday, in an apparent attempt to injure or kill unsuspecting pets. Officials made the discovery in the Lehigh Gap area near Slatington, Pennsylvania, and immediately issued a warning via social media. “All treats that were found have been removed, and authorities have been notified,” wrote the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in a recent Facebook post. “Hikers with pets ..read more

Mountain biking made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Since then, the United States—birthplace of the mountain bike—has won just two bronze medals in the discipline. Switzerland, meanwhile has ten medals, But our country’s medal tally may increase this summer. Team USA’s Olympic mountain-bike racing program will enter the Paris Games in its strongest position in decades. In women’s racing, Haley Batten of Park City, Utah has entered into the highest echelon of international racing, regularly battling for the podium against the world’s best on the UCI World Cup series. Batten, 2 ..read more

Mountain biking made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Since then, the United States—birthplace of the mountain bike—has won just two bronze medals in the discipline. Switzerland, meanwhile has ten medals, But our country’s medal tally may increase this summer. Team USA’s Olympic mountain-bike racing program will enter the Paris Games in its strongest position in decades. In women’s racing, Haley Batten of Park City, Utah has entered into the highest echelon of international racing, regularly battling for the podium against the world’s best on the UCI World Cup series. Batten, 2 ..read more