Amanda Ellis
Former Contributor
Author/Co-Author of 225 articles
Amanda is an outdoor junkie and digital nomad with an insatiable hunger for gear. Based out of Raleigh, NC she travels to rock climb in remote alpine destinations all over the world. As a full time freelance writer and outdoor brand manager, she relishes in all of the technology needed to take you there. Learn more about her at investinginadventure.net
The best climbing shoes
Whether you enjoy pulling on plastic or ascending granite faces in wild places, here are our picks for the best climbing shoes you can buy. We've included options for all different types of climbing, experience levels, and a wide variety of brands highlighted by La Sportiva, Evolv, and Five Ten.
The best hiking GPS devices of 2018
It's easy to get lost in the wilderness and often hard to find your way back. Make those trips a literal walk in the woods by packing along a GPS device capable of allowing you to leave a digital breadcrumb trail. To help sift through what's available, here are the best hiking GPS devices you can buy.
The LifeSaver Liberty is the first portable water bottle with an inline pump
The LifeSaver Liberty filters 99.99 percent of all viruses, bacteria, and cysts -- making for a revolutionary backcountry experience. This is the first portable water bottle that includes an inline pump -- ensuring your hands stay dry -- and an activated carbon disc that removes chlorine, taste, and odor.
The best hiking backpacks
If you don't want to jump into full-on backpacking but still enjoy getting out into nature, day hiking might be the perfect activity for you. Here are our picks for the best hiking backpacks available, capable of taking you from trailhead to summit without breaking the bank -- or your back.
The best backpacking backpacks
Whether you're headed out on an overnighter or a month-long trip, a proper backpacking backpack helps you go the distance, offering comfort, support, and enough room for all your gear. To help narrow the available options, these are our picks for the best backpacking backpacks you can buy.
Turn any bike into an ebike in minutes with the lightweight Alizeti system
Transform any standard road bike into an ebike in just minutes with the Alizeti 300C conversion system. It's one of the lightest conversion kits on the market, fully featured, and easy to install -- no special tools required. The system boasts a 40-mile range and a top speed of 20 miles per hour.
Surfers can check the tide on their wrist with Nixon’s Base Tide Pro
Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the Base Tide Pro is designed to provide you with accurate tide height, tide time, sunrise, and sunset information so that you can spend less time searching for waves and more time out on the water. The watch includes information for 550 beaches around the world.
The North Face Alpine 50L pack review
The first outdoor gear product in the North Face Summit Series is the Summit Alpine 50L Pack. FuseForm technology makes for the lightest weight, most durable, and most comfortable hiking, climbing, alpine, and mountaineering backpack.
MSR Windburner review
Already an expert in the camp stove industry, Mountain Safety Research just released its Windburner Stove System Combo, which comes standard with a remote-canister design, a ceramic sauce pot, and 8-inch skillet. After taking it on a recent backcountry ski trip, we never want to leave home without it.
Fitbit Versa vs. Fitbit Ionic: A battle of the wearable maker’s flagships
Fitbit's latest smartwatch, the Versa, is an impressive wearable but without built-in GPS, does it have what it takes to supplant the Ionic as the brand's signature smart fitness tracker? Its updated operating system (for now), sleeker design, and cheaper price tag suggest it has what it takes.
Cruise the streets in style and comfort on Blix’s new Sol electric bike
Whether you're just testing out the ebike waters or getting back into riding, you want a bike that is simple, stylish, and comfortable. Blix's new Sol ebike is designed like a beach cruiser meant for your daily commute -- with a low step-through style that makes for easy mounting and dismounting.