If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy As gear editors, we get to test dozens of products every month, across the whole spectrum of outdoor recreation. From all-mountain skis to budget-friendly ski jackets, backpacker-approved sleeping pads to “holy cow, that’s expensive” rooftop tents, we put it all through its paces in our personal and professional lives.
But with great power comes great responsibility. We’re often testing more gear than we have time to write full articles about. That’s where this roundup comes in: the gear from October that surprised and delighted us and that we think you should check out, too.
Tested by Kristen Geil, Gear & Affiliate Director I tweaked my low back at tennis the other week, and I’ve never been so grateful to have the Therabody ThermBack LED, a combination heating pad/massager, in my back pocket (literally). I now wear it for 15 minutes before any physical activity to loosen the muscles, and honestly, I’m probably wearing it at this exact moment. (Heads up: I’m 5 feet 3 inches, and this takes up a LOT of space on my torso—it feels a little bulky. Worth it anyway.) Tested by Frederick Dreier, Outside Features Editor This summer I set out to find the perfect shoe to fit my adventure-dad lifestyle—footwear for trail runs, dog walks, mowing the lawn, short jaunts to the playground, and maybe a family dinner or two.
The Teva Hurricane Trailsetter GTX won the competition going away. The cushy HyperComf sole kept my joints from aching, and the Gore-Tex liner meant my feet stayed dry even in a flash rainstorm. The shoe’s real secret sauce is in its drawstring speed laces: an extremely convenient closure system that kept me reaching for them, no matter the activity.
Tested by Maddy Dapcevich, Outside Associate Editor The PrimaLoft Liner Jacket is an ultralight but uber-warm stylish jacket that is my go-to fall staple. Its Primaloft insulation is warm enough to keep Montana’s nippy cold mornings at bay, while still feeling stylish enough to go from the trailhead to happy hour. Tested by Jonathan Beverly, Senior Gear Editor When heading out for a run or bike ride, I reach for my Tifosi Moab Lite sunglasses more often than any in my pile of sunglasses (many of which cost far more) for one simple reason: they don’t get in the way.
The half-rim design is flat across the top—staying clear of my hat or helmet—and open on the bottom—curving close enough to my face to block the wind but not touch my cheekbones. And, thanks to the light weight and grippy rubber nose and temple pads, they never budge. Have you ever owned a garment that seems to defy logic?
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