Author: Jack Bogart

The best women’s rain boots do much more than just keep water out. These boots provide the comfort, grip, and walkability needed to tackle the messiest parts of daily life. During our recent 12-month testing cycle, GearJunkie Editor Chris Kassar evaluated nine pairs of women’s rain boots across 40 distinct outings. To push this footwear to the limit, we waded directly into rivers, streams, and creeks. We logged 150 miles from Alaska’s sloppy spring season and muddy trails in the Tetons to rainy travel days in Washington, D.C., and soggy birding routes in Nebraska. We crowned the XTRATUF Salmon Sisters…

FORT STEWART, Ga. — U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are redefining how modern warfare is fought during Raider Density, an intensive training event conducted from April–May designed to prepare units for large-scale combat. Across the installation’s training areas, Soldiers are adapting to a battlefield where information, speed and innovation are as critical as firepower, taking on expanded roles as battlefield technology integrators who connect emerging capabilities directly into maneuver formations. The concept is rooted in multi-domain operations, or MDO, which synchronizes effects across land, air, cyber and electromagnetic domains. During Raider Density, Soldiers…

The best camping cots help you sleep comfortably, whether you’re car camping, overlanding, or backpacking. Our most recent field testing took testers Meghan LaHatte and Nick Belcaster around Colorado and across Washington, testing six of this year’s newest options on 16 separate camping excursions. Whether you’re after a deluxe padded option like our top pick, the REI Co-op Wonderland Comfort Cot, or need something a bit more spend-wise, like the Kelty Lowdown Cot, we’ve found the best options for everyone. All-told, we’ve likely slept on close to 50 camping cots in our days, and tested them all on comfort, setup…

U.S. Army Expands Company-Level SUAS Solutions By Adding Three New Systems REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – The U.S. Army expanded the company-level Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) portfolio for priority Transformation in Contact (TiC) units by selecting three additional vendor solutions. Led by the Capability Program Executive (CPE) Aviation’s Project Manager for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS), this capability expansion supports the Department of War’s (DoW) Drone Dominance priorities, expedites Army TiC initiatives, accelerates Soldier feedback, and informs requirement refinement. The vendors and their respective systems are AeroVironment’s Vapor CLE, Mistral Inc.’s Thor, and Quantum Systems’ Vector AI. These systems were…

There’s nothing quite like a warm meal after miles on the trail. Our seasoned testers, Chris Carter and Ian Aktinson, have multiple thru-hikes under their belts, and in the last year alone, took five of this year’s most promising stoves on 100+ miles of trail in Colorado and Washington to test their mettle. While there isn’t a single backpacking stove that’s best for everyone out there, we’ve organized this guide into categories to help you find the best stove for you. Our top pick, the SOTO WindMaster, is an all-around winner for most backpackers out there, while the spend-wise GSI…

The spring runoff gurgles downstream, as I settle in next to the river flowing listlessly by. Thanks to the recent warm temperatures, snow hundreds of miles away is melting and catching everything in its path as it flows down towards the ocean. The runoff river may look drinkable at first glance, but it still needs to be filtered. Luckily, I brought my Katadyn Explorer Pro water filter. I pump the water through the filter and into my water bottle. It looks crystal clear, and I take a big swig of the ice-cold filtered water that tastes as good as anything…

Saab Launches New Carl-Gustaf Anti-Tank Round Saab has launched its new anti-tank ammunition round for the Carl-Gustaf weapon during a live firing customer demonstration in May at Karlskoga, Sweden.  The new round, designated HEAT 758, has been designed to defeat heavy armoured vehicles equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). Vehicles protected by ERA are increasingly more common on the battlefield. HEAT 758 features a tandem warhead; the initial charge neutralises the ERA installed on the outside of the armoured vehicle, allowing the main charge to then successfully penetrate the main armour. The main charge can defeat up to 700mm of…

From full-blown thru-hikes to fast weekend missions, we’ve clocked some serious miles with the best ultralight tents. Most recently, lead tester Nick Belcaster logged 35 days across six months on the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington with a slate of four new shelters to determine our latest additions.  Our top pick, the Durston X-Mid 1, is a do-it-all shelter to hike the PCT or AT. Beginners can go for a more spend-wise option like the Gossamer Gear The One. We even cover semi-freestanding options like the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. We heavily consider a tent’s weight (double-checked with a kitchen scale), material, interior space, and…

As we near the middle of 2026, it’s clear that Civivi wants to make fixed blades a focus for the back nine. It’s hard to know where to start, but we’ll begin with the High Grass, a smallish field knife with an ergonomic handle and a high-precision blade. This is a Matt Gentry design, the second to appear in the Civivi lineup. Gentry’s first contribution to the company’s catalog was the Gander, another outdoors user. We covered the Gander when it came out last summer, and made sure to bring the bad puns along for the ride, so we won’t…

Garmin Forerunner 165: 20% Off at REI In a world full of ultra-complicated, ultra-expensive wearables, Garmin’s Forerunner 165 is a welcome change of pace. It’s simple to use, lightweight, delivers the stats you need, and doesn’t cost a fortune. REI is now offering an even better deal on this watch, with a 20% discount. Shop Garmin Mystery Ranch Bridger 55L Pack: 40% Off at Backcountry (Photo/Ian Graber-Stiehl) Backcountry is offering a major discount on one of stalwart brand Mystery Ranch’s most popular packs. The Bridger 55L is the perfect size for an extended weekend trip, and has plenty of pockets…