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Reviews
Shimano XTR Di2 Review: Can Electronic Shifters Make Bicycles Faster?
Shimano is bringing its electronically-actuated Di2 shifter technology to mountain bikes, claiming increased reliability, faster shift speeds and improved man-machine interface. Can it really make riding a bicycle easier? We spent a day on the trail to find out. What are electronic shifters and how do they work? Let’s rewind for a second. Traditional bicycle … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
What To Wear In The Jungle
I just got back from a week-long camping trip in a hot, humid, torrentially rain-flooded jungle. With a few missteps, I managed to stay dry and comfortable throughout. Here’s what I learned and how you can maximize comfort and performance in this difficult environment. All worth it when you wake up on your very own … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
How To Survive A Car Crash
Driving is the most dangerous thing most people do. It’s also something for which they likely have no or minimal training. Before you hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, let’s look at how to make it more survivable. The Best Way To Survive A Crash Driving is a skill like any other. And, to … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
Boy Scouts Will Permit Gay Adults
Speaking at the Boy Scouts of America’s National Meeting today, the organization’s President, Robert M. Gates, stated that he will not revoke the charters of local councils which permit gay adult leaders. The move stops short of calling the nationwide acceptance of gay adults to a vote, but opens the door for more local councils … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
How To Build The Only Five Campfires You’ll Ever Need
The most fundamental outdoor skill is also often one of the most misunderstood. Learn these five campfires and you’ll be able to cook food, scare off wild animals, stay warm or just have a bonfire on the beach. They’re simple, but everyone can probably learn something here. Fire Basics A fire needs three things to … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
Ask IndefinitelyWild: What’s The Best Add-On Camping Insulation?
You’re out camping when suddenly it’s colder and wetter than expected. What’s the best add-on or emergency insulation you can bring that doesn’t take up too much space or weight in your pack? Space blanket, emergency bivvy, silk sleeping bag liner…tell us your experiences. Welcome to the first in an irregular series — Ask IndefinitelyWild. … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Reviews
Off-Roading Above 10,000 Feet In The 2015 Ford F-150 FX4
This weekend, we took the off-road version of the new Ford F-150 pickup through the highest elevation trail in California. It’d be a test for its new turbocharged engine and its ability on dirt, rocks and sand. Could America’s best selling vehicle hack it? 10,000 feet is a border between worlds. Below it, trees grow … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Reviews
What I’ve Learned, Learning To Ride Mountain Bikes
I used to ride mountain bikes when I was a kid. They were a fun toy that took me places. But man, I never remember them being this much hard work! Looking for a little more adventure, I’ve been teaching myself to ride them again. This is what I’ve learned so far. That photo up … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
Be Your Own Action Hero
It’s Action Hero Week on Gizmodo and IO9 right now; a fun look at at the the tough guys we all like to watch in movies and on TV. But you don’t have to watch that stuff and look on in envy, you can be one of those heroes. Here’s how. The Will To Act … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Leaks
These are the first full photos of the all-new 2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin, perhaps the first bike to genuinely live up to the adventure motorcycle’s potential. Big dirt bike? Yep, and not much more. Snagged by Australian Motorcycle News, these renderings reveal the new Africa Twin in full. Following yesterday’s leaked video and this … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
UV Water Purifiers Are Bullshit
To achieve its claimed ability to remove pathogens, water going into CamelBak’s new UV purifier must first be cleaned by a filter from a rival manufacturer. And that rival product is cheaper. That’s according to CamelBak’s own lab testing. And its not the only water treatment technology that’s incapable of performing as claimed. This failure … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
Ferries, Bears And Adventure Bikes In British Columbia, The Video
Last September, I traveled to British Columbia with Aether Apparel for a 1,200-mile adventure motorcycle ride through its remote fjords and mountains. Now, there’s beautiful video we shot along the way. Read about the trip here. IndefinitelyWild is a new publication about adventure travel in the outdoors, the vehicles and gear that get us there … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
Why Switchblades Are Banned
Second Amendment enthusiasts are adding a new front to their right-to-bear-arms battle: Knives. In particular, the infamous switchblade, which has been banned by federal law since 1958. Why all the fuss? Well, it all dates back to racism, xenophobia, class warfare, and political theater. Sound familiar? It’s no coincidence this was the knife Freddie Gray … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
How Therm-A-Rest Sleeping Pads Are Made
In the early 1970s, two Boeing engineers used a sandwich press to put a slice of foam between two pieces of airtight fabric and invented the self-inflating sleeping pad for campers. Therm-A-Rest still uses that basic principle today, just the sandwich machine has given way to an entire factory in Seattle. This is that production … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
What’s Wrong With Electric Bicycles
A new electric bike — the Koben, from Karmic Bikes — promises to fix what ails the electric bicycle industry. We spoke to its designer to find out what those problems are, and how he thinks he’s solved them. Yesterday afternoon, the Gizmodo team was tossing around a press release about the Koben. “Damon [from … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
Did You Know Getting Bit By A Tick Could Paralyze Your Face?
30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC each year, making it the most common vector-borne disease in America. Both you and your dog are exposed to it every time you’re outdoors. It can block your heart, cause intense pain and, sometimes, even lead to death. And reported cases are on the rise. … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Reviews
Crowdsource Your Next Camping Trip
Looking for a good place to go camping this weekend? Need to borrow a tent to make it happen? The same tools you use to find a new restaurant or save money on hotels or rides are finally coming to the outdoors. Yelp, For Campgrounds How do you find new places to go camping? If … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
How The Tesla Battery Will Benefit Marijuana Growers
A medium-sized commercial weed grow with around 50 lights stands to save about $13,500 in electricity costs a year with the use of two Tesla Batteries. Those will also protect the plants in case of power outages while making the operation less visible to law enforcement. Elon Musk just made growing weed easier. Unveiled last … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech News
Last Week, I Was Paragliding; Now I’m Delivering Aid In Nepal
I am OK, but Nepal is not. The part of the country that got hit the hardest is the remote Gorkha district. Many small towns and villages are still not included in any government search and rescue effort. This is one of many stories from the area: One day, six volunteers and two villages. When … Continued
Peter Volf -
Tech News
Why A Volcanic Eruption In Chile Is Turning Brazil’s Sky Purple
This is what a sunset in Rio de Janeiro looks like right now, and it’s all thanks to that volcano erupting in Chile last week. Calbuco spewed 7,420 million cubic feet of ash into the atmosphere, turning nearby regions into a “grey desert” and altering weather thousands of miles away. The massive clouds of of … Continued
By Wes Siler