Author: Jack Bogart

Some fanny packs are better precisely because they don’t try to do too much. That’s the REI Co-op Trail 2 ($35) in a nutshell. It’s a 2L waist pack built strictly for the items I inevitably carry on quick outings: a phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses, lip balm, dog bags, and a snack. It doesn’t boast a maze of pockets or a technical harness system, but its low-profile simplicity is exactly what makes it so appealing. I tested the Trail 2 over 10 months on more than 30 outings, bringing it along for everything from short day hikes to bike commutes…

Airborne and special forces are among the first units to be deployed in crisis and conflict scenarios. They require systems that combine strategic deployability, high mobility, and maximum operational flexibility. With the new Caracal 6×6, Rheinmetall is expanding its family of air-mobile vehicles with a high-performance platform for demanding mission profiles. On the ground, they also rely on high-mobility, rapid maneuverability, and flexible operational capability. During Eurosatory, Rheinmetall unveiled a new 6×6 version of the Caracal airborne vehicle for the first time. Developed in close collaboration with Mercedes-Benz and MAGNA International, the Caracal 6×6 expands the proven W464 chassis with…

If you’ve ever hiked up Angel’s Landing — arguably the most iconic trail in Zion National Park — then you know how dangerous it can be. In fact, falling is by far the leading cause of death in America’s second-most-popular national park. That’s what happened to Bernadette Vander Meer in August 2006. She fell to her death from the hiking trail “under suspicious circumstances,” according to local authorities. But after 20 years, no arrest was ever made in connection with her death — until now. On Monday, police arrested David Vander Meer, Bernadette’s husband, on charges of murder and insurance…

Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More Would you take a swim in a pit toilet for $1 million? How about a free cellphone? OK, how about a pair of sunglasses? As ridiculous as those questions sound, a gut-churning rescue at a California campsite has reignited an all-too-frequent discussion: Do you value a small personal item more than avoiding a plunge into a chemical toilet? On Saturday, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a man trapped in a campsite vault toilet at Camp Edison Shaver Lake. According to…

A cold blanket of fog interrupted what had been a scorching climb as I pedaled around a remaining snow patch perched above 10,000 feet overlooking Vail Mountain. Hot and out of breath, I waited for a deep chill to set into my sweaty body, the type that keeps you moving frantically instead of settling into a rhythm. Ortovox’s new wool Sequence Free Jersey and Shorts provided a legitimate buffer to the springtime temperature swing. Wool and Ortovox are two things you don’t see in the mountain biking world. But the latter has brought the former into play with the new…

By Dan Abraham Posted in #Gear I love 1911 handguns. There is something about the short and light trigger that helps me shoot 1911 pistols more precisely than any other pistol platform. Quite simply, the 1911 pistol hits “home” with me. The craftsmanship engineered into a 1911 supersedes other semi-auto pistols by far for me. I enjoy the solid construction and the comfortable shooting with the 1911. I especially appreciate modern features with the 1911. This is where Springfield Armory shines with cutting-edge technology and user-friendly functions that aids shooters to accurately shoot better than their abilities…

In what may be the coolest thing I saw at SOF Week, Envision Technology made the public debut of their PROTEUS. Portable Reconfigurable Observation And Targeting Expeditionary Uncrewed System or PROTEUS for short was designed in response to USSOCOM’s drone-in-a-box requirement which envisioned a multi-mode drone system, rapidly transitioning from air to ground use. Ultimately, PROTEUS DK40 was selected as a system for the US Army’s PBAS (Purpose-Built Attritable Systems) program. As you can see, it comes in a single deployment case, ready for use. Relying on Modular Open SystemsArchitecture (MOSA), PROTEUS is mission configurable in under 30 seconds to…

KETRZYN, POLAND, June 24, 2026 – Revision Military, a global leader in ballistic eyewear and protective systems, announces the expansion of its manufacturing footprint with the launch of assembly operations in Ketrzyn, Poland. The new assembly line supports the production of select Revision Military products delivered to NATO and allied customers across Europe. This expansion strengthens regional capability, improves lead times, and enhances supply chain resilience for mission critical eye protection systems. “For more than two decades, Revision has supported U.S. and allied forces with trusted ballistic eyewear systems,” said Karan Rai, Chairman and CEO of Revision Military. “Expanding assembly…

Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, hiker, or backyard griller, the right gear can often make — or break — your outdoor experience. As we head into the hottest, sunniest months of the year, Amazon’s Prime Days sale is coming up fast later this month. It’s a great time to snag discounts on whatever boosts your stoke for getting outside, be it tech items like smartwatches and power banks or standbys like hiking boots and backpacking tents. Of course, many of us would prefer not to search through Amazon’s seemingly endless deals. So it’s a good thing your friendly neighborhood GearJunkies…

For once, I wasn’t digging through three different pockets at the airport. My passport, phone, credit card, glasses, lip balm, earbuds, and a snack were all exactly where I needed them, and I had the Arc’teryx Mantis 1 Waist Pack ($40) to thank. This tiny 1.5L pack is too small for layers, water bottles, or anything bulky, but that’s precisely the point. It’s built for the small items that usually disappear into pants pockets or the bottomless abyss of a larger backpack. I tested the Mantis 1 over 6 months on roughly 30 outings spanning airport travel, daily errands, and…