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Latest by Steven John

A sleeping bag inside a camping hut with snow on the ground outside.

Going off the grid? You’ll need these essentials

Whether you're saying goodbye to society for a month-long campout or an indefinite plunge into the wild, going off the grid requires planning and preparation.
what are hops sam adams jim koch hallertau harvest munich 5  dirk spath

What Are Hops? A Deep Dive Into the Beer Essential with Jim Koch of Sam Adams

Hops are an essential ingredient in beer. But, the question is — what exactly are hops? Here to help is Jim Koch, founder of Sam Adams and Boston Beer Company.
sourdough pilsner beer bread

Cooking with Beer in 3 Easy and Flavorful Recipes, From Bread to Beef

Cooking with beer is easy and delicious. Plus, you get to drink beer while doing it. Here are the ins and outs, as well as three recipes to try out: beer bread, beer soup, and pot roast beef with beer.
iffley road performance apparel feature hero image

Iffley Road Is an Activewear Brand That Seamlessly Blends Style and Performance

The Iffley Road collection was designed to be suitable to wear whether you’re running, at the gym, or off to the pub.Their garments check all the boxes you'd expect from active wear while also offering style you wouldn't normally see in performance wear.
29029: Mt Everest Climb

‘Climb’ Mount Everest All Day and Glamp All Night with 29029

If you're willing to shell out a few bucks, you can conquer your very own Everest. All you need to do to "climb" Mount Everest is sign up for an adventure care of 29029, grab some hiking boots or trail runners, and head to Utah in August or Vermont in October.
how to winterize a grill

How to Winterize Your Grill and Make It Last

Before the cold weather comes, your grilling gear should be properly cleaned and stored. Here's are three easy steps for winterizing our grill, as well as additional safety tips for gas grills.
outdoorsman brendan leonard wants you to get out there and do it whatever your is 2

Brendan Leonard Wants You To Get Outdoors and Do It, Whatever Your ‘It’ Is

Brendan Leonard, outdoorsman and author of the forthcoming book, 'The Art of Getting Lost,' has done it all, but he doesn't consider himself an expert. That's the point. You don't have to be a pro to have an adventure. And you don't need the fanciest gear, a wealth of free time, or, well, wealth.
utmb race 2018 running

Reflections on Running 40 Kilometers Through the Swiss and French Alps

Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) has grown from not just one epic trail race, but into a week-long event with multiple races through the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. Here's what I learned competing in the 40-kilometer (that's 24.9-mile) MCC race for the first time.
cyber wildlife crime ifaw how you can help brown turtle swimming in the ocean

Cyber Wildlife Crime Sucks. But You Can Help Fight It Right There From Your Computer

It may come as a surprise to some, but not to many, that the biggest marketplace for the illegal trade of wildlife is the web. But the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) wants you to know you can help right from your own home. Here's how.
how to winterize a home yard house

How to Winterize Your House and Yard Before the Cold Weather Comes

As the cooler weather sets in and the long pants and fuzzy socks come out of the drawers to replace the shorts and sandals of the bygone summer, it's a good idea to spend a weekend or a few afternoons preparing your property for winter. Here's what you need to do.
corridor clothing

Meet Corridor, the Fashionable Clothing Company Founded by a Former FBI Agent

A Corridor garment won't catch your eye from across the street, but will hold your gaze as you look at the guy next to you in line at the coffee shop. And when you wear a shirt, jacket, or pair of slacks from the company, you feel as good as you look. It's also all designed by a former FBI agent.
no barriers

Erik Weihenmayer’s No Barriers Organization Helps People With (and Without) Disabilities Achieve the Awesome

Erik Weihenmayer first started kayaking when already more than 40 years old, but nonetheless he soon paddled all 277 navigable miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Oh, also he went blind at age 13. His No Barriers Foundation now works to help people with disabilities achieve the awesome.
lesser known states making wine vina new mexico

Move Over, California: 4 Lesser-Known States Making Excellent Wine

If you want quality wine from the United States, you don't always have to look to California or Washinton state. There are plenty of lesser-known states making wine. Here's your introduction to some of the best regions in the country: Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Missouri.
new shiner beers wicked juicy ipa and summer session ale

Shiner Adds Two New Beers to the Lineup: Wicked Juicy IPA and Day Quencher Session Ale

Though Shiner Bock is the best-known Spoetzl Brewery beer (and is in fact the only Shiner beer many people can identify), it is but one of a much larger line of brewed the establishment makes, including two new Shiner beers we had the privilege of tasting.
sausage peppers recipe

3 Easy Recipes Showcasing Sausage for the Ultimate Sausage Fest

Thanks to the simplicity of their heat-and-serve prep, sausages allow you to focus on all the other foods you'll be preparing for your feast. From the fanciest multi-fixing hot dogs to a traditional Italian sausage and pasta dinner, these fine recipes are as easy as they are delicious.
Kapten & Son Wristwatches

Kapten & Son Watch Review: Simple and Elegant

Though there are dozens of different wristwatches to choose from, selecting the right Kapten & Son watch for your wrist is remarkably simple.
Zippo Mag Strike Lighter Spark

Zippo Mag Strike Review: You Are the Firestarter

If you're like me, you like to be prepared. That's why I tested out my Zippo Mag Strike fire starting tool at home; now I'm ready to make fire in the bush.
disaster preparedness tips kit

Disaster Preparedness Tips to Keep Yourself Safe

Don't pretend it can't happen to you. (But do hope it won't!) Follow these disaster preparedness tips and be ready to face that tornado, hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, Russian invasion, or horrific combination of all of those plus a tsunami thrown in for good measure.
steven john running training

What it Takes to Train for a Marathon in the Swiss Alps

The races at Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), the "World Summit of Trail Running," take place annually in the Swiss Alps. I'm training for the newly added de Martigny-Combe à Chamonix (MCC), a 40-kilometer run that will host about a thousand amateur runners.
Cessna Private Jet Experience

What It’s Like to Fly on a Private Jet

Despite the general impression of private jet travel as an exclusive affair reserved for CEOs and celebrities, a large portion of passengers aren't using the planes for fun, but rather to get work done. At least, that's what I learned on my first private jet flight.
Emerson Resort & Spa

3 Luxury Resorts in the Northeast that Outdoor Enthusiasts Will Love

There's no reason to choose between enjoying the finer thing in life and enjoying adventure if you know where to look. These three luxury resorts in the Northeast have it all: spas, restaurants, bars, wineries, and close proximity to the beautiful outdoors.
Epic Outdoor Books

Vicariously Enjoy the Adventures of Others With 3 Epic Tales of Wilderness Exploits

What is the outdoor enthusiast to do when life's many duties prevent him from clambering up to altitude or rambling off into the backwoods? Read about it, of course! When you can't get out there into the wilderness yourself, at least you can wander off into the pages of an outdoor adventure book.
Stickwood

Easily Upgrade Any Space In Your Home With Stikwood

Stikwood gets its name for a fairly obvious reason: You peel away a covering of paper protecting adhesive strips on the back of these thin pieces of wood and then stick them on the wall. Here's what we learned after spending an afternoon installing Stikwood in our home.
kiryb chambliss red bull hot air balloon race kirby passby 2

Pilot Kirby Chambliss Casually Raced Around Hot Air Balloons in the Desert and It was Awesome

Kirby Chambliss has made a name for himself as a nimble and lithe aerobatic pilot, bringing his fierce flying style to Red Bull Air Races around the world. This time, instead of flying through gates, he's he performed aerobatics around hot air balloons.
Snow Peak 60

Snow Peak Celebrates 60 Years of Making Products that Last a Lifetime

Venerable Japanese outdoor outfitter Snow Peak celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Take some time to learn more about a company that will make the only camping mug you'll ever need (among other outdoor essentials).
homemade hamburger buns

Homemade Hamburger Buns: Easier Than You Think, Tastier Than You Buy

When it comes to the burger bun, if you're like most people, you settle for a few blasé store-bought options. But you shouldn't. Homemade hamburger buns are an easy way to up your grill game and they come together quickly and with hardly any effort.
extravagant gift ideas for fathers day les anderson 175603 unsplash

Awesome (and Somewhat Extravagant) Gift Ideas for Father’s Day

Another year, another Father's Day. What phoned-in gift will it be this time, folks? Cigars? Socks? A book? What we'd really appreciate this Father's Day is a unique gift that's a pleasant surprise to unwrap. Like, say, a new personal submersible or a $45,000 wristwatch, to name a few good options.
Pretzilla Pretzel Burger Buns barbecue picnic 

The Bun Makes the Burger: Choosing the Best Bread for Your Meat Stuffs

Without a great bun, that grilled meat, toppings, and condiments are just a bunch of food piled upon the plate. If you're going to sink your teeth into a delectable hamburger, chicken sandwich, or double bacon cheeseburger, that patty and all its fixings belong between the best burger buns for the job.
Cinch Tent Rendering

The World’s Smartest Pop-Up Tent Just Got Smarter

The Cinch tent is one of the first smart tents ever developed. The company, which first launched in 2014, recently scored a considerable amount of crowd-funding via Indigogo: over $404,000, to be exact, which means consumers can expect quite a few improvements to the original design.
survival hackers handbook gear

Survival Hacker’s Handbook: An Enjoyable Read That Just Might Stave Off Death

Among the things I'm hoping I never have to deal with are a grizzly bear attack, an avalanche, and being caught in the middle of a flash flood. But, if any of those things happen, I'll be better prepared to face them thanks to Ted Alvarez's enjoyable, informative new book, The Survival Hacker's Handbook. 
drywall

5 Easy DIY Life Hacks to Make Common Projects Less Annoying

With a bit of how-to knowledge and a couple of easy DIY life hacks, you can tackle all sorts of projects around the house in less time and with less effort than you expect. We cover how to hang a picture, remove a stripped screw, fix a whole in drywall, repair bathroom caulk, clean a microwave.
review william wood watches peacock watch feature

William Wood Watches Are as Affordable as They Are Refined

The elegant simplicity of William Wood Watches catch the eye, and the detailing keeps it there. We took a Peacock Edition for a test-run and walked away with a better understanding of affordable luxury.
easy world records to break worlds largest disco ball at bestival

Easy World Records to Break: How to Become No. 1

You're never going to be the world's strongest man. We've found five easy world records to break that might actually get you a few free beers (or at least a nod of genuine admiration).
famous beards of history best leonardo da vinci

Hirsute History: The World’s Most Famous Beards

The mistake many make when discussing great beards from history is to conflate the man behind the beard with the facial hair itself. We're not talking about famous bearded men, but rather the most glorious, ridiculous, and outright impressive beards from history.
Valley of Fire running

50 Places to Run Before You Die: Your Runner’s Bucket List Just Got Serious

My first thought on flipping through Chris Santella's book 'Fifty Places to Run Before You Die' was something along the lines of: "I'm going to die before I run in these places."
Cayenne pepper

Searching for Something Spicy? Hit Up the 2018 NYC Hot Sauce Expo

Like hot stuff? Like crying because of hot stuff? The NYC Hot Sauce Expo is for you. Here's what to expect (other than a burning sensation, of course).
who invented modern inventions when joseph cugnot first automobile

5 Modern Inventions That Are Way Older Than You Think

We live in technologically wondrous times, but many of our favorite inventions we think are a product of our times are actually surprisingly old.
Beer Ripples The Manual logo 16-9

Watch Beer Ripples Make Our Logo Out of Beer Foam

You know what's better than coffee? Beer. Especially beer with unique pictures and notes "printed" atop the foamy head thanks to the brand-new Beer Ripples.
dry sparkling soda

These Healthy Sodas Prove That Low-Calorie Can Be Tasty

Sometimes it's sublime to sip a sweet, cold soda. If you get a hankering for sparkling sweetness, don't guzzle down some calorie- and chemical-glutted concoction. Instead, try one (or all) of these five delicious, semi-healthy artisanal sodas.
gary john bishop landscape

How to Unfu*k Yourself: Unabashed Life Wisdom from Gary John Bishop

We all need to unfu*k ourselves. Sometimes we just need a little motivation. That's why we chatted with Gary John Bishop about his book "Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life."
little passports ben john

Cool Toys for Boys (that Dads Will Also Love to Play With)

These toys were carefully selected after a rigorous testing process involving a four-year-old boy. They will surely rise to the top of the proverbial toy basket in your household.
Birmingham Alabama

Where are the Most Stressed-Out, Drunk, and Overweight Places in the United States?

Which stats is the most stressed? Where will you find the largest concentration of obese Americans? Does your region hold records for booze consumption?
cleaning gutter

Outdoor Spring Cleaning Tasks You Should Actually Complete

Along with all the pleasurable pastimes, warm weather encourages a certain sacred responsibility: spring cleaning. Don't ignore the outdoor spaces of your home. Here are four serious tasks you should be prepared for this season.
filippo loreti blue 1

How Filippo Loreti Offers Luxury Watches at a Surprisingly Affordable Price

To hear the folks from Filippo Loreti tell it, the brand's fine timepieces are worth a thousand dollars yet priced at only a few hundred. How do they do it?
things to do in munich germany travel guide munichv2

A Few Fine Things to Do in Munich

While there is much more to do in Munich, Germany, than drink beer and eat sausages, you're doing it wrong if you don't spend at least a decent portion of your visit drinking beer and eating sausages. Discover these and more in our Munich travel guide.
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The First Non-Athlete to Receive the ISPO Cup is 93-Year Old Gert Boyle

In 2018, the ISPO Cup award went to Gert Boyle, a 93-year-old woman who stands about five feet tall and who has never set a record of any sort in any sport.
BridgePort Brewery Original IPA space

Watch BridgePort Brewing Send an IPA into Space

Forget the SpaceX launch. BridgePort Brewing (from Portland, Oregon) just sent a bottle of its celebrated Original IPA into outer space. Don't believe us? You can watch the video.
ispo 2018

Our Overwhelming 36-Hour Visit to ISPO, the World’s Largest Sports Trade Show

What is ISPO? Only the world's largest sporting goods and apparel trade show, which takes place annually in Munich, Germany. Here's a brief glimpse into the madness and beauty of the 2018 international expo.
homemade energy bars

Easy Homemade Energy Bars That Actually Taste Great

Here are three easy recipes that teach you how to make homemade energy bars that taste way better than the commercial brands.
2018 predictions milestones same sex marriage 2

Looking Ahead to History: 5 Scientific and Cultural Milestones That Might Just Happen in 2018

Last year was rough, but there's reason to believe 2018 will be better. In the realms of culture and science, we are on the precipice of major milestones.