Climbing
Best Climbing Harnesses for Alpine, Sport, and Big Wall
A harness has to fit your body. Here's what to pick for each climbing discipline and why.
Gear
Climbing
Rope Management for Single and Double Rope Systems
The difference between managing single and double ropes is subtle but consequential. Here's what actually matters.
Alpinism
Multi-Day Alpine Climbing: Food, Fuel, and Weight Strategy
Alpine food planning is more technical than the climbing. Here's how to pack lean without bonking at altitude.
Skiing
Ski Mountaineering Boots Compared: Scarpa, Dynafit, Atomic
The Scarpa, Dynafit, and Atomic boots each optimize differently. Here's how to choose.
Climbing
Trad Climbing Gear Rack: What to Buy First and What Can Wait
A full trad rack costs $2,500 but you don't need it all in year one. Here's the real progression.
Climbing
How to Choose Climbing Shoes for Different Rock Types
Granite, limestone, and sandstone each demand a different shoe. Here's how to match the rubber to the rock.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing Progression: From First Lessons to Riding Waves
Kitesurfing seduces men with its hero highlights. The reality is a multi-year progression where most dropouts quit in month three. Here's how to not be one of them.
Bouldering
Best Crash Pads, Helmets, and Protection Gear for Bouldering in 2026
Most bouldering accidents involve the spotter, the pad placement, or the wrong pad for the problem. Here's what actually keeps you healthy across a decade of bouldering.
Backpacking
The Essential Ultralight Backpacking Kit for a 5-Day Wilderness Trip
There are thousands of ultralight lists online. Most were written by somebody who took two short trips in fair weather. Here's a kit built on real 5-day trips in bad weather.
Ski Touring
Ski Touring for Beginners: What to Learn Before You Leave the Piste
Ski touring looks simple until you realise a 30-degree slope is exactly the angle at which avalanches love to kill. Here's what to learn before you skin your first real line.
Alpinism
How to Climb Your First Mountain: A Complete Beginner's Roadmap
Most first-timers skip the unglamorous work — aerobic base, weighted hiking, navigation — and pay for it above 3,000 metres. Here's the plan I wish I'd had.