Author: Jack Bogart

The best running vests carry water, fuel, and safety layers without bounce, bulk, or breaking your stride. Over a three-month test cycle, ultrarunner Constance Mahoney tested three new running hydration vests, logging more than 30 miles in each. From a 50K in Northern California to mountain missions and crewing for a 200-mile ultra-race, Mahoney tested each vest for fit, bounce, storage access, breathability, and long-run comfort. The Salomon Adv Skin 12 remains our best overall pick for its dialed fit, smart storage, and proven long-distance comfort. Meanwhile, the Decathlon Kiprun Essential Trail 5L earned our budget award for delivering dependable…

By Mason Berryman Posted in #History The M1 Abrams was conceived with a singular, unyielding purpose: the total destruction of enemy armored formations. Over the last four decades, it has become the absolute pinnacle of tank warfare made manifest. Its sheer battlefield dominance has not only won conflicts, but forced militaries across the globe to fundamentally rewrite their combat doctrines when it comes to both employing and defending against armored units. From spearheading the rapid collapse of the Iraqi regime in the famous “Battle of 73 Easting” to maintaining overmatch and superiority in all manner of theaters…

The best power banks keep your essentials alive without unnecessary bulk. Whether you’re traveling, working remotely, or exploring outside, a solid power bank can save your primary tools for communication, photos, navigation, and more. For this round, GearJunkie Editor Chris Kassar put two power banks through a 6-month testing cycle, draining and recharging them at home, on flights, during road trips, and in the field. From flights to Jackson, Wyoming, to hikes and long driving days through Yellowstone National Park, Kassar tested how each model balanced capacity, charging speed, port layout, packability, and real-world convenience. We crowned the Nestout 15,000mAh…

Nothing ruins a hot hike or a freezing morning faster than a lukewarm drink. The best insulated water bottles reliably keep ice water frigid, coffee steaming, and hydration effortless. Lead tester Meg Carney and GearJunkie Editor Chris Kassar put six of our top insulated water bottles through a rigorous 9-month testing cycle. To directly compare temperature retention, lid usability, and leak resistance, we logged over 150 hours on the trail, 3,000 multi-state road trip miles, and hundreds of daily office hours. These bottles weathered continuous, real-world use across scorching Colorado foothill hikes, hot-weather gravel rides, and the daily commute. This…

The best first-aid kits keep essential medical supplies organized, accessible, and ready when minor injuries or backcountry mishaps happen. Lead tester Meg Carney and GearJunkie Editor Chris Kassar long-term tested seven kits over the past 12 months. Carney is a guide and climbing instructor who has responded to numerous field emergencies, while Kassar is a longtime Wilderness First Responder. We brought these first-aid kits on high-alpine hikes up Colorado fourteeners, kayaking trips off the Washington coast, and casual car-camping adventures. Across those outings, we logged more than 30 field days and 150 backcountry miles while assessing internal organization, durability, and…

FENTON, Mo. (May 14, 2026) — FirstSpear®, the industry leader in innovation and standard-setting load-bearing technology and personal protective equipment, will exhibit at SOF Week 2026, taking place May 18–21, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. FirstSpear’s booth will be located in the Bayshore Ballroom at the Hilton Tampa Downtown as part of SOF Select, a focused industry exhibition running alongside the main SOF Week event. The booth will showcase FirstSpear’s full platform lineup alongside the newly integrated Recon K9® brand, with live demonstrations scheduled throughout the week. SOF Week is the premier annual convention for the global special operations community, co-hosted…

HONOLULU— The U.S. Army is moving forward with the establishment of Multi-Domain Command-Pacific (MDC-PAC) following a successful multidomain command experiment that demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating maneuver formations with advanced multidomain capabilities at the theater level. The initiative combines the 7th Infantry Division and the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force into a theater-enabling joint force integrator designed to synchronize multidomain effects across the Indo-Pacific. According to the MDC-PAC Deputy Commander for Support Col. Todd Burroughs, the effort originated from a December 2024 operational experiment that tested a combined two-star headquarters capable of integrating multidomain operations for the joint force. “What we…

Pocket knives are flat-out handy. And they’re a ton of fun. Whether you’re a general outdoorsman, blue-collar worker, or someone who’s looking for an everyday practical tool, they can quickly turn into an obsession. Since its founding, GearJunkie has tested, reviewed, and reported on more than 800 knives. For this buying guide, contributor Nick Lefort and editor-in-chief Sean McCoy have tested about 100 pocket knives since 2021. Here’s the brass tacks of hundreds of hours of testing: The best all-around pocket knife you can buy today is the Benchmade Bugout (the Vapyr edition is the best of the best, but…

Runners won’t want to miss this week’s batch of gear, especially as we prepare ourselves for summer heat. From graphene running apparel and special-edition smartwatches to vests, shoes, and hydration powder, brands clearly know that plenty of people are about to hit the roads and trails now that the sun has arrived in plenitude. But there’s some other fun stuff here, too. Anglers and water-sports lovers have two new pairs of boots to ogle, outdoor chefs will salivate over some fancy hibachi grills, and anyone who loves Smokey Bear (trick question: everybody loves Smokey) has some pretty awesome camping chairs from…

Just in time for warm-weather hikes and the backpacking trips you dreamed about all winter comes the REI Anniversary Sale. Now is a great time to complete your gear wish list at a discount. During the sale, now through May 25 (Memorial Day), you can save big on all hiking and backpacking staples like boots, tents, sleeping bags, and more from brands you trust. We combed through the sale to find the standout deals below. Take note, many highlighted products represent an entire gear category marked down by that brand. Shop the REI Anniversary Sale 2026 REI Co-op Member Savings…