After a demanding workout, it’s validating when your watch notices the effort you exerted. Wearing a fitness tracker during your strength workouts, whether you’re deadlifting or rowing or powering through a bodyweight routine, is like having a personal coach on your wrist keeping track of your progress and your overall health, too. Fitness watches make it easier than ever to get deep insights into your workouts and performance.
Some features to look for when shopping for a watch for workouts include heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen testing, recovery time estimates, and sleep and stress tracking. Bonus features include GPS tracking for outdoor efforts, music integration to keep you entertained, and downloadable meditation and workout sessions to mix up your strength sessions.
Keep in mind the size and comfort of fitness watches as well (though these characteristics can sometimes be tricky to gauge online). Most brands have generous return policies, but always check before you buy. You don’t want your watch getting in the way of pushups or floor routines. The good news? Fitness watches and trackers are generally more affordable than the beefier mountaineering and cycling watches while still offering some of the same metrics.
Below, we’ve detailed the specs and benefits of six of the best fitness watches and trackers for strength workouts.
The Best Fitness Watches for Strength Workouts in 2022
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It’s no secret that electric vehicles are the future, but electric trucks and SUVs, in particular, are a quickly growing category. Upstarts like Rivian are producing rugged battery-powered vehicles, GM’s Hummer brand is returning as an EV, and now another player with a familiar name is about to enter the space: the Scout—resurrected as an electric SUV and truck. Volkswagen announced this week that it plans to launch an all-new electric vehicle brand using the name and heritage of the legendary International Harvester Scout trucks.
According to a Volkswagen press release, the new Scouts will be designed, engineered, and produced in the U.S. for the American market. Although controlled by its German parent, Scout will be a separate brand from VW. The automaker has only released renderings of the new vehicles (an SUV and a pickup), but as you’d expect, they bear a strong resemblance to the boxy shape of the original Scout.
The new trucks will be built using an entirely new EV base platform, and VW expects to unveil the first prototypes next year. The first EV Scouts will start rolling off the assembly line in 2026—well over 40 years after the last internal combustion Scouts left the International Harvester factory.
So why all the buzz? The Scout is a vaunted model among off-roaders, and it has a long history in the American truck market. The original Scout was introduced for the 1961 model year. It was a simple, rugged 4×4 designed to compete with the Willys Jeep, one of the few four-wheel-drive utility vehicles available in the civilian market at the time. The first-generation Scout was designed to be as versatile as possible, thanks to features like a removable top and a fold-down windshield—and it was produced mainly in a wagon body style.
Although various engine and transmission combos were offered over its lengthy production run (it was produced until the 1980 model year), the Scout always featured the dependable combo of transfer case-driven four-wheel drive and solid axles, which gave it excellent performance off the pavement.
With its boxy look and off-road chops, the Scout helped define the 4×4 category as we know it today—and that means the new Scouts will have big shoes to fill. But with electric SUVs already hitting the road (both paved and unpaved), the Scout might once again have the chance to pioneer the future of 4x4s.
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From American conservationist John Muir’s mantra, “The Mountains are calling and I must go” to Jack Kerouac’s rephrase, “In the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn—climb that goddamn mountain,” we get why alpinism, skimo, and plain-old peak-bagging are so popular. There’s something uniquely fun (and sublimely ass-kicking) about mountaineering, whether it’s climbing Oregon’s Mt. Hood in June or dropping into the Super C Couloir in Portillo, Chile in late August.
If you dream of climbing this spring and summer—whether it involves Canadian icefields, Peruvian volcanoes, Alaskan steeps, or Colorado “14ers,” (and 14ers in disguise like New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington), you’ll up your chances of success (and survival) by bringing the right gear. Each specific mission requires a different recipe, but here are some basic ingredients for a safer, more comfortable adventure through spring, summer, and beyond.
Back Country Access T4 Avalanche Rescue PackageCourtesy Image
1. Back Country Access T4 Avalanche Rescue Package
Avi gear isn’t just for backcountry skiers. People who love mountains know that avalanches and crevasse falls happen year-round. If you’ve hesitated about equipping yourself with a shovel, probe, and beacon, the T4 Rescue Package is a foolproof option—offering core equipment that you can use from the backcountry and steep-deep resort skiing to alpine climbing and glacier travel. The package includes the Tracker4 avalanche transceiver, extendable B-1 EXT avalanche shovel, and quick deploying Stealth 270 avalanche probe—all state-of-the-art equipment. You can buy each piece of this treasure trove of safety gear separately, but save serious green on package pricing.
The highly versatile Agility 9.1 is rated to serve as a single rope, as well as in a double or twin set up. Light, strong, and extremely durable, it also comes with an optional waterproof treatment. The best part? The middle and both ends of the rope are woven in a different, contrasting color as the rest of the rope, so you know when you’ve reached the halfway mark or if you’re nearing the end of the line. Think of the Agility 9.1 as a safety net for big mountain objectives and an ideal tagalong for local cragging. [$365; trango.com]
Orienteering gear is similar to what any outdoorsman would need in the wilderness. If you’re unfamiliar with the sport, you creatively navigate challenging terrain, hitting predetermined checkpoints, trying to finish with the quickest time—all by just using a map and compass. It’s a really fun way to spend some time in the woods, plus it gives you a decent mental challenge along with lots of great aerobic exercise.
You have to plot out your course by studying the terrain to find the path of least resistance to get to each checkpoint. Also called a control point, it’s what you mark on your map and is represented, in reality, by an orange-and-white flag and punch. The physicality comes in by having to bound and dash through whatever terrain the course is set on, which requires stamina, sturdiness, and speed. To do that successfully, you’ll want to be outfitted in some of the best new woods-worthy orienteering gear, like we’ve gathered here.
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1. Camelbak Octane Dart 50 Hydration Pack
Staying hydrated is key when running contour lines through a forest, and Camelbak’s Octane Dart 50 Hydration Pack is a minimal, lightweight (7 ounces) way to carry plenty of agua. Easily accessible front pockets can be packed with energy gels or bars, and the pack comes with the new Crux reservoir to deliver 20 percent more water per sip.
E-bikes are fun, no doubt. You get the wind-in-the-hair freedom of a regular two-wheeler, but also the bonus of a drivetrain that’s beefed up by electrons. Steep hills and long commutes become an annoyance of days’ past once you saddle up on an e-bike. But most e-boosted machines on the market are a bit dull when it comes to styling. More thought has been put into range and power than panache. Enter retro electric mopeds.
These three electric mopeds exist at the intersection between run-of-the-mill e-bikes and de facto motorcycles, due to their dashing looks and daring performance. Harkening back to the cool, simple lines of two-stroke powered mopeds—which were noisy and polluting, but oh so fun!—the welcome and worthy evolutions of the motorized bicycle are now here and ready to ride, cleaner, quieter, and more powerful than ever.
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1. SUPER73 S2
If Steve McQueen were forced to ride an e-bike, it would be this one. That reference might be lost on the hipster demo to which this seems aimed at but, nonetheless, everyone can appreciate the melding of next-gen tech with vintage looks.
This nexus is exemplified by the battery, which, instead of being tucked away on the lower frame, is shaped like a teardrop gas tank and proudly positioned between seat and handlebars. Fenders, fat tires, a long seat, and a full-size headlight further beef up the profile.
So how does it perform? With grin-producing gusto. At 73 pounds, the S2 is no nimble corner carver, but even when relying solely on the pedal-assist function, minimal leg pumping translates to power that conquers most cityscape inclines. Or press the thumb throttle to go total easy rider and let the rear-tire mounted hub motor do all the silent work of zooming around rush-hour-bound traffic.
Set to Class 1 mode, speed tops out at about 20 mph, which makes the S2 legal on most bike paths—and feels plenty fast. An app unlocks additional modes, including “unlimited,” which allows speeds to easily surpass 30 mph.
Such variables can greatly affect battery charge, of course; California-based Super73 claims a full-charge range of about 40 miles using only the throttle and 75 miles using minimal pedal-assist.
The smiles-per-hour reach even higher on electric mopeds such as this. The S2 turned plenty of heads and sparked several envious conversations. Indeed, while riding it may never make you as cool as McQueen, you could soon find yourself the leader of the local pack.
If you live in a densely populated metro area, there’s a good chance you’ve already spotted this e-bike. That’s because it’s a go-to for delivery guys. Its props are many, including a 20-inch steel frame, a cushy seat, and fat tires paired with a heavy-duty front suspension that helps turn cobblestone streets and speed bumps into a fun challenge. The only other standard feature is a headlight and taillight, which means it costs about half of other, more tricked-out electric mopeds. It ain’t bad-looking, either. Despite the utilitarian, black-on-black design, the Zip exudes a retro, understated Night Hawk vibe.
The 500-watt motor’s top speed holds steady at 20 mph, which is fast enough for whizzing past irked 10-speedsters in the bike lane or weaving through stop-and-go traffic. The battery, which can be removed only with a key, ekes out 37 miles with intermittent pedaling. However, once the full-charge (four bars) on the LED control drop to two bars, max speed drops to around 14 mph.
The SWFT website recommends Zip for any rider taller than 5’5″, but it’s not ideal for dudes over 6’0″ because the seat can’t be adjusted upward to maximize efficient pedaling. That means a reliance on the throttle, which decreases range and the (imagined) sense of getting in a workout. The bike could also benefit from sideview mirrors, blinkers, and a horn. Such basics might not be needed when tooling around the ’burbs, but you become aware of their absence when trying to race the other working stiffs home.
Key ignition. Cruise control. Hydraulic disc brakes. A 2,000-lumen headlight. USB port. If some of its standard features make you suspect the HyperScrambler 2 is not what reasonable people would call a “bike,” wait till you ride it.
Boasting beefy torque and cadence pedal sensors, dual suspension, and super-sensitive throttle twist, the pride of the SoCal-based Juiced Bikes fleet provides the power and responsiveness to, as the company says, “make you feel bionic.” With a motor generating 2,000 watts of peak power and top speeds of 30-plus mph in “Race Track Mode,” this baby begs for bursts of speed—handy when accelerating off the line at congested traffic lights or running late for crosstown appointments.
The real seller is range. Instead of the usual single battery, the HS2 is equipped with a pair of high-capacity batteries that promise a charge life of 33- to 100-plus hours, depending on where you fall between aggressive and economy riding styles. “Aggressive” basically means cruising on throttle only, an easy habit given how simple it is to ride this bike the way you would a moped, albeit without the two-stroke racket. But the rewards of sustained pedal-assist become clear when you discover after a week of riding that it still doesn’t need a charge. Bye-bye, range anxiety.
The trade-off for that stamina is weight. Including those twin batteries, it comes out of the box at a beastly 119 pounds. This isn’t a bike for hauling up stairs or casually chucking in the back of an SUV, at least not without risking a groin pull. Demerits for being cumbersome aside, once on the road the HyperScrambler 2 excels on mad dashes through the urban chaos or on extended, stress-free rides in the countryside.
For a tick of a secondhand a few years back, it seemed like smartphones might make sports watches obsolete. Quickly, however, athletes and outdoorsmen realized that the best adventure-focused watches meant less fiddling with your phone and more of what you headed outside to do in the first place.
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Our favorites are long-lasting, stylish, and pack in easy-to-use features that enhance your time outdoors instead of forcing you to focus on tech when you’re heading outside to unplug. For those reasons, the Garmin Fenix 7X Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition is our top overall pick. Most adventure watches retail under $1,000 and we highlight watches at a range of price points and share options from fully analog to the most connected, digital options available.
What You Should Look for in an Adventure Watch
Adventure watches can be analog, digital, or a hybrid, but the best ones are waterproof, durable, and provide metrics such as altitude, humidity, navigation, and, of course, time. Smart adventure watches go further and bring maps, GPS route tracking, and biomarker monitoring to your wrist. Here are the key features to compare when shopping.
Mapping
Many watches incorporate built-in maps, which allow you to leave the phone at home or at least reference it less often. The combination of internal compass and readable maps right in the watch turn these timepieces into powerful navigation devices whether you’re out for a run or embarking on a multi-day backpacking trip. Most offer downloadable maps as well, meaning they work without being tethered to a phone or data connection. The mapping features often include powerful route-building tools so you can lay out runs, bikes, and hikes at home and easily follow them out in the field. Most of the map packages are free but Garmin also offer a premium mapping package for a $50 annual charge that, like other subscription mapping services such as OnX and Caltopo, adds property ownership layers and more detailed contour lines.
Solar Charging
Solar recharging of watch batteries has been around since the 1970s, but the tech has drastically improved and is showing up in high-end adventure watches to extend the relatively short battery life of these energy-hogging digital watches. Solar charging easily keeps traditional watches and smartwatches running few features charged indefinitely—given cooperative weather. In high-consumption modes, you’ll likely need to supplement with charging from an external power source. But no matter how you run them, the solar charging capability will extend the battery’s runtime and is worth paying a bit extra if you hate dealing with low battery warnings or spend time away from reliable power on multi-day excursions.
Cellular Connection
The more mainstream smartwatches (most of the Apple and Samsung offerings) can access wireless data networks without tethering to your phone. Most fitness-first watches from brands such as Suunto and Garmin do not, meaning you’ll either need to keep your phone on you for messaging and other connected apps and download maps for offline use. Having a data connection for your phone makes it much more capable but it also drains the battery faster and almost always requires an additional line of data on your wireless plan which usually costs around $10 per month.
Why You Should Trust Me
After refusing to wear a watch for a decade (figured my phone had the time), backpacking and backcountry hunting made me appreciate using my phone less for telling time, navigation, and tracking. Since then, I’ve tested many of the major releases from brands like Garmin, Suunto, Timex, and Casio. The Garmin Fenix 7x is my current go-to but I also cycle in the Suunto 9 Peak and Nixon Regulus for certain outings.
Best Overall Outdoor Watch: Garmin Fenix 7X Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition
Garmin Fenix 7X Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition
Courtesy Garmin
This is the GPS watch for the outdoor athletes that want it all. Garmin has a bewildering array of full-featured tracking watches for racers and adventurers, but the Fenix 7x Pro Sapphire Solar edition brings together fitness tracking and navigation features as well as any watch to-date. To get the most out of the significant investment here, you’ll need to value the robust fitness tracking features from sleep monitoring to ECG heart rhythm monitoring to stress and endurance scores to help you dial in your training. For outdoor adventurers, it’s the maps and navigation tools that seal the deal. The GPS uses multi-band tech for maximum accuracy and you get altitude and compass readings like any good outdoor watch. But the mapping stands out with premium features such as golf course maps, ski area maps, suggested routes back to your start, and even turn-by-turn directions for at-a-glance wayfinding when you’re moving fast.
CASE: Titanium/polymer
FEATURES: Touchscreen, Bluetooth, GPS, LED light, solar charging
SIZE: 51mm
STRAP: Silicone
Casio G-Shock Mudmaster
Courtesy Casio
Best Rugged Watch: Casio G-Shock Mudmaster
Casio’s G-Shock line has defined military-grade rugged dependability in the adventure watch category for decades. The display is digital but this watch has an analog feel with no email notifications in sight but all the essentials such as date, time, temperature, altitude, compass, and solar charging for near-infinite operation away from power sources. Buttons are large, protected, and easy-to-use in any conditions and though the watch looks chunky, it’s fairly slim and streamlined as far as outdoor watches go. And while this isn’t a full-featured fitness tracker watch, it does add in a Bluetooth connection option to record routes, step counts, and elevations.
CASE: Carbon fiber/resin
FEATURES: Bluetooth, shock/mud resistant, LED backlight
SIZE: 55.4mm
STRAP: Resin
Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar
Courtesy Suunto
Best Outdoor Smartwatch: Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar
Suunto’s new Vertical packs their best fitness and navigation features into their latest flagship outdoor watch. One big improvement over earlier watches from Suunto is the addition of solar charging to minimize the annoyance of needing a charge when you most need your watch. (That said, the Vertical and similar watches take a charge quickly if you just need enough juice to track your next ride or run.) The other major feature rollout is free downloadable maps—that don’t rely on your phone or cell signal—that are easily readable on the 49mm face.
CASE: Titanium/polymer
FEATURES: GPS, solar charging, free maps
SIZE: 49mm
STRAP: Silicone
Coros Apex 2 Pro
Courtesy Coros
Best Hiking Watch: Coros Apex 2 Pro
Coros owns a smaller share of the GPS smartwatch category, but their Apex 2 Pro stands out for delivering most of the great tracking features from Garmin and Suunto but in a slim, understated watch that doesn’t get in the way. The price tag is also about half of what you’d pay for many of the other watches, yet it still includes built-in free and interactive mapping. The battery life is excellent but the GPS tech isn’t as robust as other brands’, so tracking and navigation don’t have quite the same pinpoint accuracy.
Seeking a wear-everywhere outdoor watch with luxury Swiss styling and rugged dependability? Neverest is Norqain’s ode to Everest and the intrepid spirit of sherpas. The GMT watch boasts an anthracite grey dial with gold cracks running across the surface to mimic the crevasses found on Everest. Daytime hours are indicated in white and night-time hours in black. The knurling on the edge of the ceramic bidirectional-rotating bezel makes adjustments easier when fingers are cloaked by gloves. Moreover, the automatic-winding NN20/2 movement is visible through the sapphire glass case back, and you can engrave the plate on the left side of the case. Perhaps the biggest selling point is Norqain’s partnership with Butterfly Help Project: 10 percent of all Neverest watches are donated to the charity in Nepal, which aids families of sherpas who’ve lost their lives while guiding, giving their children access to education.
CASE: 316L stainless steel case
FEATURES: Anti-reflective, scratch-proof, double-domed sapphire glass; open case back; 200m water resistance; anthracite glacier dial with golden cracks that mimic crevasses on Mt. Everest; 70-hour power reserve
SIZE:41mm
STRAP: Stainless steel, rubber
More Adventure Watches We Love
Best Tactical Outdoor Watch: Nixon Regulus Expedition
Courtesy Nixon
Nixon’s Regulus watch blends tactical with practical. This updated version stands out for keeping things ultra-simple and staying easy to read and operate in any conditions. The all-digital display doesn’t try to cram too much in. The numbers are large and displays are uncluttered unlike many outdoor watches that try to pack too much into a readout. Likewise, the buttons are large and easy to operate with cold, wet, or gloved hands. You won’t be consulting topo maps on the display, but there is basic journey tracking for runs and hikes and the battery lasts for years. Plus, you get all the essentials such as temperature, altitude, and compass—which can all be made primary displays in the same simplified readout format as time and date.
Best Stylish Outdoor Watch: Casio Pro Trek Solar x Pendleton
Courtesy Casio
While a bit less chunky and rugged than its G-Shock siblings, the Pro Trek delivers most of the same features and thus is a great choice for guys that want a rugged, outdoor-minded watch but with a more streamlined design. The Pro Trek is slimmer and lighter and because it’s less overtly tactical, and works better as an everyday wear watch than the G-Shock line. The Pendleton collab we’re featuring here has a unique patterned band with great style for outdoorsy guys. Beyond the aesthetics, you get a combination of analog timekeeping and digital date display. Use the buttons to toggle from date to the other essential readouts: altitude, compass bearing and temperature. Because of the streamlined feature set, this isn’t a battery hog smartwatch, but just in case, this Pro Trek augments battery power with solar charging.
CASE: Stainless steel/resin
FEATURES: Barometer, solar charging, auto LED backlight
SIZE: 51.6mm
STRAP: Fabric
Best Budget GPS Outdoor Watch: Suunto Race
Courtesy Suunto
This new release from Suunto provides most of the same features as the Vertical but with a more digestible price tag for folks that don’t want to spend nearly $1,000 on a GPS smartwatch. The AMOLED display delivers better contrast than the more-common LCD displays, and makes reading the offline-ready maps a joy while out on a hike or run. The biggest difference from the Vertical is the lack of solar charging, but the battery life is still excellent for a GPS watch and, for many, the need to charge a bit more frequently will be worth the savings of several hundred dollars over the Vertical and similarly priced GPS watches. The Race’s battery life depends greatly on how many tracking features are enabled. With absolutely everything on from 24/7 heart-rate monitoring to notifications, you’ll get an estimated 40 hours, while in a stripped-down standby mode, the device should make it about 26 days on a single charge.
CASE: Stainless steel or titanium (an additional $100)
Best Minimalist Outdoor Watch: Timex Ironman x The James Brand
Courtesy Timex
The Timex Ironman, first released in 1986, was one of the original sports watches, adding lap timing to the digital watch basics of time and date. The INDIGLO backlighting comes on with the touch of a button for nighttime visibility, and you can time up to 30 laps in the built-in memory, a functionality that hasn’t changed much in nearly 40 years. Rather than trying to keep pace with more high-tech watches, this Ironman collaboration with The James Brand leans into retro with bright colors, a lightweight fabric band, and low-profile face that’s unobtrusive on the wrist but stands out from the crowd.
Best Analog Sports Watch: Citizen Promaster Altichron
Courtesy Citizen
If you want the reliability of a fully analog watch, but still need outdoor-oriented features such as altitude, it’s hard to beat the rugged Promaster Altichron from Citizen. While most of the watches on our list deliver the ABCs (altitude, barometer, compass) digitally, the Promaster Altichron manages altitude, date, and time through more traditional watchmaking engineering for a classic look and reliable functionality. And despite being a higher-end watch brand, the price tag is still less than most of the top-end GPS watches.
CASE: Stainless steel
FEATURES: Compass, 32,000 feet altimeter, solar charging
SIZE: 47mm
STRAP: Polyurethane
Best Analog-Digital Hybrid Watch: Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar
Courtesy Garmin
Garmin leads the GPS smartwatch category with feature-rich, tech-heavy watches such as their Fenix 7x, but their Instinct has an interesting hybrid design that combines analog time hands with digital display. Despite a lower price tag, there’s also solar charging and a ton of tech here. Pay without a wallet using Garmin Pay, track outings and view it all on your smartphone, and receive email, text, and other notifications on your wrist.
Bringing your pet along on excursions is a great way to bond with your adventure pup, but you need to ensure you’ve got the right dog gear for camping, hiking, fishing, and more. Just like the right essentials keep you comfortable, well-fed, and prepared for the unexpected, so does specialized dog gear for camping and outdoor adventures.
From sleeping bags and life vests to multi-function leashes and protective goggles, there’s a whole assortment of cool gear designed specifically to help your dog get the most out of any outdoor experience. We selected some of the newest products to chase any adventure.
Best Dog Gear for Camping, Hiking, and Outdoor Adventures
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1. Wilderdog Sleeping Bag
Durable and water-repelling on the outside, soft and micro-fleecy on the inside, Wilderdog’s canine-specific sleeping bag will help you get a good night’s sleep by giving your dog a dedicated space that’s cozy and warm without being confining. The sleeping bag unzips flat and zips three-quarters of the way around so your pup can snuggle inside. Loops hang the bag for drying and airing out. And when it’s not in use, the extra short sleeping bag packs into a stuff sack.
This three-in-one travel bed, quilt, and sleeping bag will keep your canine comfy on cold nights. The baffled quilt is stuffed with synthetic insulation and attaches to a durable base with plenty of options to stick a head or paw out. Size it to fit your curled-up pup, and slip a pad into the base for extra insulation.
Kurgo’s backcountry-ready dog harness’ molle and Velcro attachment system lets you attach panniers, a hydration pouch, a dog treat dispenser, a first aid kit, and more. The base harness has a padded back and a broad chest to disperse weight and minimize strain. Dual haul handles give you options for grabbing your pup in case you need to give a boost.
Losing a dog on the trail is stressful. Garmin’s compact Alpha 10 tracker and TT15X collar keep tabs on your pup if it takes off. The nine-mile-range Alpha is a phone-compatible GPS that also shows your dog’s precise location and can recall it remotely. The TT15X collar has 80 hours of battery and easy-to-spot LEDs.
The most innovative dog leash on the market, Ruffwear’s Hitch Hiker is a 12-foot-long line for your pup that stores in a mini-hip pack. When you want to give your dog room to roam, squeeze the belay device-like camming mechanism to let the lead out. And when you need to bring Rover back to base, pull the cord, which locks like a climbing rope in an auto-belay device.
Designed to offer a bunch of options for hooking your dog up to you to keep them safe and secure, the Magic Link can be worn as a belt or shoulder bandolier, used as a wrist-strap and it simply convert to a slip-on collar with leash, or just be set up as conventional leash that you attach to a collar or harness. It’s made from an industrial strength cord that’s waterproof, mold-proof, and strong—it’s rated up to 350 pounds of pull force. High quality, matte black aluminum hardware handsomely sets off the nine available colors.
Ruffwear’s Float Coat, a buoyant harness/life jacket, helps your dog feel safe and confident in the water, and it gives you total control. The foam-filled PFD has an adjustable neck, and easy-to-operate buckles that won’t irritate your pup and a sturdy haul handle for lifting your dog out of the water. The well-padded jacket will easily keep a 75-pound dog afloat—attach a light to the loop on the back to make your pup visible in low light.
Rex Specs’s curved lens goggles will protect your canine’s corneas from snow blindness and irritants like bugs, dust, sand, and wind so they can comfortably accompany you on adventures. The goggles come with easily changeable clear and smoke lenses, and have better fit, greater stability, a wider field of view, more streamlined design, and better range of motion than previous versions. There’s a learning curve, and your dog will look like an astronaut wearing them, but they work.
Conserve the water you’re carrying with Vapur’s 0.7 oz. BPA-free, wide-mouth “anti-bottle.” Flip open the three-layer flask’s dust cap and an oversized roller reminiscent of a gerbil water bottle lets your dog get a drink without drips or spills. An integrated clip keeps it convenient, and the roller clicks off for cleaning. And as the dishwasher-safe flask drains, it folds to take up less room in your pack. Also available as a pet and owner two-pack.
Make your dog visible for six hours on a charge with this Nite Ize ultrabright collar. Push a button for glow or flash, and two ultra-bright LEDs illuminate an integrated optical fiber that’s consistently bright all around the dog’s neck and easy to spot. The rest of the time the highly water-resistant, metal belt buckle-close collar is low chafe, secure and an all-around great collar. The collar recharges in 1.25 hours via micro-USB.
Keep your pup organized on their next play date, car trip, or visit to the grandparents with Orvis’ Chuckwagon. With everything your dog needs in one spot, you can grab the bag and go for impromptu adventures without forgetting a thing. The Cordura Eco tote comes stocked with dog-on-the-go essentials—collapsible food and water bowls, a zippered food carrier held in place with removable internal dividers, and stretchy pockets for toys, meds, and more. Poop pickup bags live on a dispenser cord in an outside pocket, while treats are easy access when stored in the outside pocket on the other side. The tote has a reinforced bottom that’s also water-repelling and zippered opening makes everything inside easy to reach.
This article was produced in partnership with Pandora
So you did it again. You waited until the eleventh hour to buy Mom or another important lady in your life a Mother’s Day gift. Sure, you could go e-mail her a gift card, but why not wow her with some dazzling jewelry? At Pandora, there’s free shipping on eligible orders and estimated delivery is two-to-four business days, with the option to expedite your order in one-to-two business days. Below, our top picks for spring, from gorgeous bracelets to eye-catching charms.
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1. Pandora Moments O Pendant T-bar Necklace
Surprise Mom with a thoughtful gift like this, and she’s sure to be ecstatic. Though this necklace looks gorgeous with a charm, the unique T-bar closure gives it added visual interest that makes it just as lovely a piece without trinkets, too.
Hand picking charms shows thoughtfulness and care, and allows you to customize a gift without breaking the bank. For a holiday that’s all about love, our top pick is this sterling silver and 14K rose gold-plated dangle with clear and fancy fairy tale pink cubic zirconia and phlox pink crystal. It pairs wonderfully with any of the Pandora Moments Bracelets or opt for the 14K rose gold-plated Cable Chain Necklace ($185).
Give your mom, aunt, or dear family friend, a new symbol of everlasting love with this stunning tennis bracelet. The sterling silver bracelet with clear cubic zirconia is as elegant as she is. For fans of pink, we also love the Sparkling Heart Tennis Bracelet ($150), a 14K rose gold-plated unique metal blend, adorned with sparkling orchid pink man-made crystals and a large pink man-made crystal heart in the middle.
If “Family Always” is your motto, say it with a special Mother’s Day gift. Does your mom or wife always sport gorgeous earrings? Add to her collection with these encircled sterling silver hoop earrings with clear cubic zirconia that are equal parts fancy and fun.
Say “Happy Mother’s Day” with a sparkling reminder of your bond in the form of this lovely double dangle charm. The word “Mom” is written across the bauble, accentuated by cubic zirconia within the letter “o”—which is in the shape of a heart—and a swivel of fancy fairy tale pink cubic zirconia. Complete the gift with the Pandora bracelet or necklace of your choice, or even the Pandora Moments Charm Key Ring ($55).
This beauty from the Pandora Timeless collection is one that’s sure to elicit a gasp from your mother or mother figure upon opening. It’s a sterling silver ring with a clear cubic zirconia heart .
Another gorgeous choice from the Pandora Timeless collection, this sterling silver heart charm with fancy fairy tale pink is a little something for someone who’s given you everything. You may want to buy two or three to have something to delight a few of the women you cherish the most.
This sterling silver ring with clear cubic zirconia showcases the word “Mom” and has a little message on the inside of the band: “Love you forever.” You’ll get major brownie points for this Pandora Moments ring, trust us.
The best saltwater fly-fishing gear can withstand sun and spray for a more productive, enjoyable day on the water.
For most people, fly-fishing brings to mind clear mountain streams and rainbow-colored trout sucking down tiny flies. But fly-fishing can encompass much more than just the hunt for stealthy trout—if you can catch it with a traditional spinning rod, you can catch it with a fly rod, whether largemouth bass in freshwater or the abundance of fierce-fighting fish found in saltwater. In the ocean is where you’ll find some of the hardest challenges for the fly-fisherman, as quarry can range from swift and strong albacore tuna to picky bonefish.
Though those are just a few examples of the hundreds of species of saltwater fish available to eager anglers, to properly stalk the fish that live in in the sea with a fly rod though, you need similar gear to your regular freshwater fly-fishing set up. But there are some special items and beefier upgrades you’ll need to take on bigger, tougher saltwater denizens.
We’ve gathered some of the best saltwater fly-fishing gear to buy right now.
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1. G. Loomis NRX+ Fly T2S Fly Rod
Upgrade your quiver this year to reach more saltwater fish with the recently released G. Loomis NRX+ Fly T2S Fly Rod. It’s handmade in Washington State using a unique blend of materials and tech designed to increase casting distance without undermining the delicacy needed to stick short casts. Titanium guides and an aluminum reel seat protect from corrosive seawater.
Tote a work of art with you on your next trip for tarpon with Abel’s new Rove Series Reel. Not only is it a total looker, it uses Abel’s super-smooth cork drag system that’s serviceable on the beach or boat. This high-capacity, ultra-durable reel may end up your one and only saltwater slayer.
Pounding across bays in skiffs brings lots of salt spray in your face. Toss your gear in Fishpond’s Thunderhead Submersible Backpack to make sure nothing gets soaked, in the boat or out on the flats. The fully waterproof pack offers lots of outer lash points and includes gear straps to secure a fly rod tube.
It’s always handy to have a knife by your side when fishing, and the Spyderco Pacific Salt is the one you want out on the ocean. Clip this bright green blade in your pocket and the special LC200N, ultra-corrosion-resistant steel (available in fully serrated or with a plain edge) will take on all fishy tasks without rusting and breaking down over time.
Prying hooks out of saltwater fish can be tougher than with a typical freshie, so strap on Simms’ Flyweight Pliers to release your catch cleanly. The anodized aluminum construction will keep corrosion away, and the ergonomic design lets you easily maneuver the textured jaws in tight mouths.
Fly-fishing on the coast means being bombarded by unrelenting rays all day, which is why light and airy protection like the Howler Brothers Loggerhead Hoodie is essential. Made from 50 percent recycled polyester and rated at UPF 35+, this hoodie has a microfiber-lined stash pocket, kangaroo pocket, and thumb holes for hand protection.
When the sun is beating down relentlessly out on the flats, it’s nice to have your legs and tops of your feet covered by a physical barrier. Enter Orvis pants. Not only do they offer UPF protection of 50+, but they’re treated with a water-repellent coating so they stay dry all day and use a soft, four-way stretch fabric so any onboard movement is comfortable and restriction-free.
For a more sure-footed stance on a rocking boat, switch from bare feet to Grundens’ new SeaKnit boat shoes. They’ve got a non-marking gum rubber outsole cut with siping for non-slip goodness, plus a shock-absorbing EVA midsole to provide your dogs with all-day comfort. The upper is a seamless, breathable nylon knit treated for light water resistance.
This full-size outdoor electric grill raises the bar of sustainability, no gas or propane to worry about running out of. With the Napoleon Rogue EQ™ Connected Electric Grill you’re no longer limited to those smaller or portable versions of the electric grill we also know. With two burners, and a ton of features, this electric grill is just as powerful, sleek and dependable as your gas-powered grill.
If you like gadgets, you’ll love taking a step into the grilling future with full control through an app on your smartphone. A sharp LCD screen conveniently features the temperature and grill controls allowing you to easily see what’s happening inside.
Napoleon Grills
And just because it’s electric doesn’t mean it’s not versatile. Perhaps the Napoleon Rogue EQ Connected Electric Grill is even more dynamic than your traditional grill, offering three ways to cook: grill mode for searing and normal grilling, oven mode for roasting and smoker mode to infuse some smoky flavor.
Napoleon Grills
“Napoleon’s goal has always been to manufacture grills with the most advanced features on the market yet make them attainable to the grilling enthusiast. With our Rogue EQ series, we’re making sustainable technology and alternatives mainstream with a full-size grill at an affordable price” says Stephen Schroeter, Co-CEO, Napoleon.
Starting with two burners for now (and with offerings of three and four burners in the near future), the Napoleon Rogue EQ™ Connected Electric Grill provides ample room to feed a crowd. And you’ll need it once your neighbors and friends find out you’re in possession of the next revolution in grilling.
If you want to connect with the evolution in grilling, you’ll need to wait until this fall. However, you can get your name on the waiting list now. Sign up at napoleon.com and you’ll be the first on your street to possess the power of electric grilling at your fingertips.
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