Awesome Outdoors

A short train ride north from Amsterdam will bring you quickly to the Oostvaardersplassen, one of Europe’s most important nature preserves, filled with abundant grazing herds (and no predators).

The waterproof and windproof Arc Teryx Veilance Field Jacket features a microseam allowance to reduce weight, watertight zippers, articulated elbows and lots of pockets to keep your stuff dry.

Columbia Sportswear’s new line of watches offers something for everyone. Our favorite is the Headstream – with weather, altimeter, and compass tech that helps you find your way home.

Douglas Ball and Jeff Sokalski’s Clipper CS-1, a shedlike, mancavey capsule, was designed for use inside a traditional office and is in the permanent collection at London’s Museum of Design.

The Broadsword Handle Umbrella is an excellent choice to cover your chainmaille with when you’re scurrying around Camelot in a downpour, and the carrying case doubles as a convenient scabbard.

Don’t let its triple “jaws” distract you–Monatauk’s Gnat Stove is the world’s lightest butane camp stove; the 11,000 BTU unit weighs 1.6 oz. and is made with titanium and aluminum.

Pentax’s Optio W90 sports a rugged body with the specs to match: waterproof (20 ft), shockproof (4 ft), cold proof (14°F), 12.1 MP sensor, 2.7″ LCD, 720p video, and 5x optical zoom.

The North Face’s 2 meter, geodesic Dome Tent has you ultra-covered: it’ll fit up to 8 people and features wind/snow pressure distributing sleeves, dual doors, and a chimney vent.

At 10 meters, Panasonic’s 14.1MP DMC-TS2 triples the water resistance of the TS1; it also boasts lower temperature resistance (14°F vs 32°F) and better shock proofing (2m vs 1.5m).

Beyond making you look like a badass, the ColdAvenger also protects your lungs by warming and humidifying the air; inside mask temps are 40ºF-60ºF degree higher than outside.

QT is anything but cute: the offroad company has three new models, ranging from the street legal 300STR to the 4.0L Jag V8 400DKR, which placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Pharaons Rally.

This 14 Day Lantern will last longer than we will in the great outdoors; its LEDs will produce 160 lumens of light on 4 D batteries for up to 336 hours and will work even if dropped in water.

Ideal for globe-trekking shutterbugs, Naneu Pro’sK5 Bag offers a cavernous 85L of space, a water-resistant/high-density shell, wet garment storage, and separate camera compartment.

While there are louder whistles, Ultimate Survival Tech’s JetScream Whistle is a potent blend of reliability (it won’t freeze in cold weather), portability (it’s flat) and loudness (122 dB).

Gear up for the mother of all arctic assaults with the Snowball Blaster; it’s essentially a slingshot and snowball maker all-in-one, with three built-in molds and a range of 50 feet.

The world’s slimmest shock-resistant camera at 0.78″ (and a looker, too), Casio’s 12.1 MP EX-G1 features a two-layer shell that’ll withstand 7′ drops, 10 feet of water, and 14°F temps.

Ruff Wear’s Palisades Dog Pack is Fido-friendly and praised by owners for being both comfortable and secure; it features load compression, water bladders, and removable saddlebags.

No WMDs here, but the H-Bomb Heated Wetsuit makes cold water surfing downright balmy: it features back mounted, Li-ion-powered carbon fiber coils that act as heating elements.

Nike’s K2 Expedition is a technical mountaineer’s jacket; it’s subject to 25 wash cycles to establish waterproofing, is fully seam sealed, and includes a brushed mesh lining with music pocket.

Equally at home on a river or on the road, SealLine’s Urban Backpack is lightweight yet durable and functional; it sports a watertight shell, roll-top closure, and modular pocket system.

Version 2 of TAD Gear’s F.A.S.T. Pack sports a technical alpine design that distributes weight to improve wearer endurance; it’s fully MILSPEC and AKA the 3 Day Assault Pack.

Orvis’ Pull-on SnowShorts are the ultimate convergence device: they sport a foam-padded PVC “seat” with runners that turn your butt into an instant sled. Yes, they come in adult sizes.

When you’ve got a small army to feed (or you have the appetite of said army), Weber’s Ranch Kettle saves the day: it boasts a giant 7.7 square feet of charcoal BBQing bliss.