Author: Jack Bogart

HOHENFELS, Germany – Green Berets with 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, put their skills to the test with a new and innovative training scenario, Exercise Deep Strike, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center here, February 15-23, 2026. This exercise simulated a complex real-world mission that challenged small special forces teams to infiltrate enemy territory, avoid drone detection, use drones to strike targets or resupply units, execute advanced tactics and complete stressful operations under winter conditions. It served as a crucial testing ground for modernizing the force, validating the effectiveness of cutting-edge technologies like…

The cool stream gurgled next to us as we backpacked along a single-track dirt trail, the spring runoff making its way down from the Continental Divide. After 10 miles and more than 1,000 feet of elevation climbing through a remote gully in rural Northern Colorado, I take the new Outdoor Vitals Carbon Evo 50 backpack off and stretch my neck and shoulders. I’m pleased to find that my feet are more sore than my back — a clear indication that this ultralight pack can carry weight with ease. The Carbon Evo 50 targets thru-hikers, fastpackers, and long-weekend backpackers who want…

Kia will launch a new midsize body-on-frame pickup aimed at the U.S. market before the end of the decade, the Korean carmaker’s CEO revealed during a Kia Investors Day presentation on Wednesday. Sharing platforms with the upcoming Hyundai Boulder SUV, it will be offered with a variety of gas, hybrid, and extended-range electric vehicle powertrains. Kia will charge into the growing U.S. market for midsize pickups with the launch of a new, body-on-frame package before the end of the decade, CEO Ho Sung Song announced on Wednesday. The truck will be one in an assortment of new models now under…

Belgium selects SkyCourier fleet to boost special operations airlift for troop transport, logistics, casevac and crisis response A new ally in the air: An artist’s rendering shows a Cessna SkyCourier configured for military operations, including a special operations paint scheme and mission equipment. The aircraft was selected by Belgium Special Operations Forces. WICHITA, Kan. (Apr. 7, 2026) –  Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced Belgium has selected the Cessna SkyCourier as its newest special mission aircraft, awarding an order for five multirole aircraft to support the nation’s Special Operations Forces. The selection launches the SkyCourier into the global…

Jack Wolf is giving the beloved sodbuster pattern a fixed blade reincarnation next week with the drop of the Pioneer FixEDC. This knife turns a hard-working folding knife into a fixie fit for long days in the field. The sodbuster pattern probably needs no introduction. Known by many names over the years, its stout, snub-nosed blade cuts one of the most recognizable profiles in the biz, and has earned its status as a workin’ man’s classic after decades of reliable performance. Jack Wolf is known for modern takes on the traditional staples, so we always knew we’d see a sodbuster…

After a long life of dangerous feats in the mountains, Jim Whittaker died peacefully in his Washington home on Tuesday. He was 97. He was the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest and a vital figure in the history of REI Co-op, where he eventually served as president and CEO. His impact on both climbing and the outdoor industry is impossible to overstate, and his life has become the stuff of legend. The tributes came quickly on Wednesday. REI said Whittaker “showed the world what’s possible when courage is grounded in purpose.” In a statement shared with…

Q Introduces the Lefty Silencer: Breathe Easy Q is proud to announce the release of the LEFTY, a new silencer built around one simple idea: if you’re going to do flow-through, do it right. The LEFTY utilizes Q’s Low Blow™ technology to control gas through a directional internal flow path – reducing backpressure, lowering port pressure, and minimizing gas to the shooter. The result is a suppressor that runs cleaner, cycles more consistently, and performs reliably across a wide range of platforms, including short barrels and higher-pressure cartridges. At the core of LEFTY is a 3D printed internal structure that…

When I started backpacking as a teenager, I never once thought about being sexy on the trail. In fact, at a time when body shaming and fat-phobia were rampant, the wilderness was one of the few escapes I had from the oppression of my own terrible body image. Out on the trail, my appearance was meaningless: All that mattered was making it up the next hill. Twenty years ago, no man or woman looked photoshoot-ready when they hiked a trail or went climbing. But in the age of social media, the pressure to look hot and attractive has now infiltrated…

Say hello to the snorkel. For 2027, Toyota has just added one of the features that makes us giggle every time we’re behind the wheel of the latest Toyota Trailhunter models. The high-mount air intake is the highlight of a small number of very Toyota-style changes that include a new paint color and heated and ventilated seats for the people in the back. Time to Roll That Window Down Every time we’re behind the wheel of the Tacoma or 4Runner Trailhunter, that high-mounted air intake — don’t call it a snorkel — starts the fun. The intake is way up…

Today’s red-dot sights are a far cry from those of yesteryear, which wasn’t all that long ago. We’ve come a long way fast.History is fascinating. A look into the past often feels like shaking hands with someone long dead. Some inventors were ahead of their time with an intellectual panache limited only by their place in history. Like da Vinci’s helicopter, their inventions could not get off the ground without supporting technology. The history of the red-dot sight or optical sight is long and filled with brilliant inventors and inventions.The optical sight was well on its way when mankind first…