Product: 2-Person Tents

Manufacturer: Roundup:

Wired Rating: 0

Three may be company, but we’re more than happy to just double up — especially when it comes to camping. These two-person tents are perfect for sheltering you and a pal anywhere from the valley floor of Yosemite to the untamed wilderness of your own backyard.

MSR Carbon Reflex 2

The Carbon Reflex 2 is the Winnie Cooper of two-person backpacking tents — sweet, sensible and not without its charms. Its two-pole frame is quick and easy to set up. It’s also possible, if somewhat awkward, to set up the fly without the tent, which is a nice option: You can erect the tent under the fly to avoid getting the interior soaked under heavy rain, or you can set up the fly by itself for a quick bivy. Mesh sidewalls make the Reflex 2 incredibly breathable, even when the fly is on. And for such a light weight — less than 4 pounds with the ground sheet — the tent’s interior feels luxuriously spacious with 40 inches of headroom. A minor point: Brick red and canary yellow is a color combination that brings to mind carrot-flavored baby barf. But like Winnie’s turtleneck sweaters, it’s at most a cosmetic defect. And one we’re willing to overlook.

WIRED Aluminum needle stakes are lightweight, easy to use and attractive. Fly can be erected separately. Quick setup.

TIRED Gaudier than Liberace’s entire wardrobe. Drafty in inclement weather.

$400, msrcorp.com

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2

The Fly Creek is a tent aimed at beginning backpackers, which is to say — light, small, and not the most comfortable night’s sleep in the world. The tent’s dimensions were by far the most cramped of all the ones we tested. While the specs state that the UL2 offers 38 inches of headroom, those inches are towards the back of the structure instead of front where your head is. This makes putting on your pants a grueling, horizontal task if it’s cold or raining outside. Moreover, the Fly Creek must be thoroughly staked out to produce those dimensions, including two crucial stakes on each of the tent’s sidewalls. Rocky campsites cause the tent to collapse on itself, shrinking from 28 square feet of floorspace to what feels like about 5. Missing any stakes lets the UL2 flap noisily in the wind, while the miniature vestibule leaves packs and boots exposed to the elements. On the other hand, the ultralight silicone of the tent and fly felt like silk, packed up small, and kept out the fiercest cliffside breezes and rain. The Fly Creek is ideal for Daniel Boones who like to go fast and travel alone.

WIRED Unbelievably light (a shade over 2 pounds with groundsheet). Fly and tent pack smaller than a grapefruit. Single-hub pole setup is fast and easy. Interior gear loft. Well-ventilated, even under the fly.

TIRED Suitable for only diminutive hikers. Small vestibule leaves boots and bags soaking wet.

$350, bigagnes.com

Nemo Morpho 2P

Inflatable supports are a nifty idea in theory, but in reality the Morpho 2P suffers from several fatal flaws. Two thick, sturdy air booms support the Morpho in the front and back but not in between, which makes the tent difficult to pick up and shake out when damp or dirty. Moreover, the air booms save neither time nor weight. Each took about 30 seconds to inflate with the minuscule foot pump — which isn’t bad for a balloon-animal party, but a lot longer than the time it takes to assemble aluminum tent poles. And the tent itself was more than a pound heavier than any other tent tested. The integrated fly makes it impossible to separate the pieces to dry them or cut weight. And finally, for a three-season tent, it’s stuffy. The back vent is too small to allow much in-and-out air flow. Multiple interior pockets are a nice touch, but not enough to compensate for the tent’s deficiencies.

WIRED Booms stayed sturdy and inflated throughout rain and wind gusts. Inner vestibule keeps backpacks and boots dry. Convenient interior pockets. Cozy, cave-like interior.

TIRED Confusing setup. Heavy: 6 pounds with footprint. Gets hotter than a volcano stuffed with Victoria’s Secret catalogs.

$430, nemoequipment.com

Marmot Haven 2P

The Haven 2P is the ideal tent for a Saturday beach trip with friends. Leave the optional floor at home to cut weight, and stake all eight corners in warm, soft sand. Then clip the single support pole into place and unzip the tent’s top vents with the convenient stiff handles. The 10-second setup complete, your whole family can then stretch out in the unbelievable 56 square feet of space in the Haven’s well-ventilated interior. Yes, the Haven would be perfect there … and nowhere else. It’s impossible to use in places with limited space or on rocky ground, as all eight corners need to be staked for the tent to be secure. Moreover, the Haven leaves a few inches of open space above the floor, giving vermin, wind and rain free access to your vulnerable, sleeping head. A three-season tent? It’s barely a weekend tent.

WIRED Light in proportion to the tent’s size. Removable floor lets warm-weather campers cut weight. Excellent ventilation. Plenty of room for bags, boots and people.

TIRED Freezing in temperatures below 55 degrees. Gap between tent and floor lets dogs wriggle out and mosquitoes buzz in.

$200, marmot.com

Product: River Shoes

Manufacturer: Roundup:

Wired Rating: 0

Cold water. Hot sun. Sharp rocks. Slick docks. These obstacles mean nothing when traversing bodies of water with a good set of river shoes. The best ones will offer protection up top, and security below to keep you stepping, wet or dry.

New Balance SM921

If you want to make fast tracks across wet terrain, this lightweight low-impact river runner will add some serious twinkle to your toes. These kicks clocks in at a mere 11.3 ounces, and features a stable, running shoe-style sole with solid yet lightweight lugs that provide ample traction without stacking on grams. A quick-pull lacing system lets you enter and exit easily, and keeps the shoe secure on the foot so it won’t rub and cause blisters when wet. The mesh upper is flexible and light, and moves like a second layer of skin. We loved this shoe on a 5K run along the beach for crashing in and out of surf, and it was also our favorite for trail running.

But while it makes a great runner, its true calling is the life aquatic. Eight large holes along the sole evacuate water just about as quickly as it comes in. Likewise, a perforated rubber insole moves water through quickly without absorbing it along the way. Even better, not only does it let water escape, but sand and fine particulate matter also passes out of the shoe, rather than piling up in the toe or heel. When scrambling over wet rocks and wood, we kept a steady footing and were never in jeopardy of slipping. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that the mesh upper does a fantastic job keeping dry sand out, another reason we loved this shoe for athletic adventures around the water’s edge. Finally, the shoe dried extremely quickly in all circumstances, both in direct sun, and at home in a dark closet.

However, the SM921 did strike a couple of sour notes. While the quick-pull lacing system meant the shoes went on easily, it also meant the shoe sometimes slipped off the foot occasionally. When we tried trudging our way through deep mud, for example, we had to work to keep the shoe on our foot, and our heel came fully out multiple times. For the same reasons, small pebbles and other debris can come in around the ankle. And while the lightweight construction is great for fleet-footed excursions, it also means that the shoe doesn’t offer much stability against turning an ankle, or smashing your toes against the rocks. You’ll also feel sharp edges underfoot.

These are minor quibbles though. Overall, this shoe is an excellent choice for those who will be frequently moving back and forth from wet to dry and want something that provides freedom of movement, top of the foot protection, and underfoot traction.

WIRED Evacuates mud and sand like the Nile River. Dries exceptionally fast. Extremely lightweight and low impact, almost feels like being barefoot. Best beach runner we’ve ever sprinted across the sands in.

TIRED Comes off of foot waaay too easily. Pebbles and other debris get a free pass into shoe.

$90, newbalance.com

Keen Cimarron II

When it comes to all-around wet-and-dry performance, we were blown away by the versatile Cimarron II. The 12.1-ounce shoe is lightweight, and secures nicely via quick-pull laces. Loops on the tongue and heel help you get the shoe on and off quickly. Thick multidirectional lugs provide nice traction. And the webbed mesh upper provided both protection, and a degree of warmth in cold water. It all stacked up to a shoe that did just about everything well.

As a hiker, the Keen’s sturdy sole with protection for toes and heel proved stable and secure; we navigated rocky off-trail sections with peace of mind and without having to focus on our feet. It even made a passable trail runner that we logged a beach-side 5K in without any discomfort. In the water, it handled slick surfaces exceptionally well, and was also solid on sharp rocks thanks to a very rigid sole. We were also pleased with its performance in the mud, where it stayed on our feet even after sinking completely below the surface into the muck. While our heel did come up in the back end of the shoe, it never came out.

Yet we did have a few nits to pick out of these kicks. It did a fine job keeping out small pebbles and debris, but it did allow quite a bit of sand and smaller particulate matter in. And because silt is not easily flushed out, it tended to collect in the toebox, which was uncomfortable. Also, if you do manage to get a small pebble in there, you’ll have to take your shoes off to get it out again. Finally, while it does shed excess water, it doesn’t dry quickly. It was much slower to dry — both indoors and out — than the other two shoes we tested along side it. The wet upper combined with the collected sand rubbed our skin, but not in a good way.
The bottom line is that the Cimarron II is a very solid well-rounded performer. It wasn’t the best at anything, but it was pretty great at just about everything we threw at it. For a combination rafting and hiking shoe, it was aces.

WIRED Stuck to slippery rocks like a starfish. Heavy-duty toe and heel will keep your feet from getting stubbed out. First rate trail shoe; handled hiking and scrambling across rocks as well as it did water.

TIRED Tends to collect silt and sand. Very slow to dry, our feet stayed soggy in these suckers all day.

$100, keenfootwear.com

Teva Avator SR

While most river shoes are simply wetware versions of athletic shoes, the Teva Avator resemble work boots. The neoprene upper extends above the ankle, and it secures by means of a Velcro closure, plus two adjustable straps. Thick padding at the ankle and a stiff rubberized cup in the rear behind the heel offer some protection to keep your ankle from turning. Likewise, a stiff toe cup will keep you from totaling your toes on underwater rocks or other jagged edges. The hard sole was ace for stepping on sharp rocks and uncertain terrain, providing a secure platform that even stood up to a light stabbing from a Swiss Army knife.

And yet this work boot is very much a submersible shoe. Vents by the toe and heel allow water to escape, while the neoprene not only dries quickly, but it also keeps your feet relatively warm in cold river or ocean water. The adjustable straps stay closed no matter how turbulent the water, or what you wedge your foot in below its surface. Even when we plunged this shoe calf-deep in the mud, it never budged. Seriously, you’re more likely to have a beaver gnaw your foot off than you are to lose it in the water. Likewise, the ankle-high closure keeps out not only H2O but also dirt, grime and even fine sand. We were also surprised at how quickly the shoe dried. Although it has much more material than the New Balance 921 or Keen Cimarron II that we tested simultaneously, it was the first to dry in cool indoor conditions. It is, however, slow to drain, and in the sun it retained water longer than the others.

While we’re mostly positive on this kicker, but the shoe isn’t much of an athletic performer. The rigid ankle makes running and scrambling in it awkward, while the largely flat sole tends to become caked in sand and mud, and slips repeatedly on slick rocks and wet wood. It was also quite hot. While the neoprene upper is great for those moments when your dogs are sunk in chilly river water, in the sun they can get quite hot (and more than a little slimy) when you’re sitting in the sun.

Overall, we were impressed with the Avator, but it seems best suited to occasional splashes and is more of a workhorse than a thoroughbred.

WIRED More secure than a 64-character password; this shoe will not accidentally come off your foot. Exceptionally stable, great for walking through water where one can’t see below the surface. Neoprene upper kept our toes toasty. Dries quickly.

TIRED Banana peel-slick soles slid off algae-covered rocks like a fried egg off oiled Teflon. Slow to drain.

$90, teva.com

Product: Off-Road Trip

Manufacturer: Roundup:

Wired Rating: 0

Route 66 has the world’s largest ketchup bottle. Yay. Here’s a better road trip idea: Leave the asphalt behind and visit someplace that’s not already on a postcard.

1. Outdoor Research DryComp Ridge Sack
WIRED Super lightweight and surprisingly strong. Shrugged off mud, water, rocks, and scrapey branches. This day pack even survived the ultimate test—being checked as airline baggage. Comfy straps.

TIRED Hip belt could use some padding. Still smells like our campfire, even after washing.

$119, outdoorresearch.com

2. ARB Fridge Freezer
WIRED It may be the size of your old Igloo, but this is no mere cooler; it’s a full-on fridge, complete with electronic thermostat. Runs off a 12-volt socket yet works as well as your kitchen model.

TIRED Costs almost as much as your kitchen model. Exposed cooling fins are easy to damage. Heavy.

$854, arbusa.com

3. Cobra CJIC 350 Power Pack
WIRED We brought it along for its air compressor—handy for tailoring tire firmness to terrain—but it does so much more. It’ll jump-start a V-8, power a flatscreen, or charge your iPod.

TIRED Jumper cables too short. Wimpy compressor takes forever. Three separate power switches?

$100, cobra.com

4. Garmin Oregon 550t Navigator
WIRED Because “Elvis Rock” (a) isn’t on any map and (b) might not look like Elvis when you’re sober, the 550t lets you take a geotagged photo that you can click on later to find your way back. 16 hours of battery life! Water- and shock-resistant.

TIRED Better off-road than on: Street maps cost $100, screen is too small, and instead of “Turn here,” it just says “beep.”

$600, garmin.com

5. Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp
WIRED Small, bright, and rugged. Flashing red “follow me” light on back. Comes with a jillion different plugs for overseas charging.

TIRED No plug will help if you run out of juice in the middle of nowhere. Wiring-lined head strap chafes a sunburned brow.

$100, blackdiamondequipment.com

Product: First Responders

Manufacturer: Roundup:

Wired Rating: 0

We searched high and low for an ultralight, super-basic first aid kit that we could take anywhere. It didn’t exist, so we designed our own.

Video by Cody Pickens

The Wired Rickshaw Rescue Kit
Together with Rickshaw Bagworks, we created this water-resistant survival satchel to carry a pared-down collection of remedies that will get you back on the trail—or as far as the ER.

Ace Instant Cold Compress
Smash this packet to bring frosty relief to pain and inflammation.

Adhesive bandages
You know, Band-Aids. You also know when to use them.

Adsafe Plus CPR Face Shield with airway valve
Lets you give or get mouth-to-mouth without locking lips.

Advil (ibuprofen)
Fights inflammation. Pop two at bedtime to get your achy limbs ready to move the next day.

Alcohol prep pads
Use these to clean your cuts—and the Leatherman you’re about to use to remove that splinter.

Aspirin
Can help keep your ticker tocking if taken at the first sign of a heart attack.

Benadryl
Halts the sneezing, itching, and swelling associated with allergic reactions.

Burn Jel
This lidocaine ointment takes the burn out of your, um, burns.

Cipro
The broad-spectrum antibiotic in Cipro knocks out bacteria like Manny Pacquiao.

Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin
Still the best way to prevent blisters from bubbling into infected sores.

Imodium
Diarrhea can cause life-threatening dehydration. Imodium will stop the flow and help you get out of the john and back on the trail.

NexTemp Disposable Thermometer
Uncrushable, paper-thin, accurate to two-tenths of a degree.

Nuun Portable Electrolyte Hydration
Dissolvable tablets stave off dehydration by adding ions to your H₂0.

OxyContin
Highly addictive, but Tylenol won’t cut it if you snap your tibia.

QuikClot Sport Advanced Clotting Sponge
Slap this on a badly bleeding wound to halt hemorrhaging.

Steri-Strip Wound Closure Strips
Seal nasty gashes until you can make it someplace that has sutures, antiseptic, and anesthetic—or at least a needle and thread and whiskey.

Tegaderm Transparent Film
Leave that gauze at home with your leeches and hacksaws; this sticky, breathable dressing provides sterile protection for any body part.

Triple antibiotic ointment
Keeps nasty bacteria from turning a minor scrape into a serious infection.

Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Cools fevers like nothing else—and for some diseases, like dengue, it’s the only safe treatment.

Product: CJ3b

Manufacturer: Icon Motors

Wired Rating: 8

Back when records were state of the art, the pre-Jeep Willys CJ3B was king of the jungle trail. Unfortunately, its skills haven’t held up as well as its looks. Loving its style but not its capabilities, Icon Motors produced an aesthetically faithful update.

OK, update may be understating it. Severely.

Icon acquired a few old CJs and laser scanned all of their surfaces, generating a 3D model of the 70 year-old vehicle. Then, they pressed new body panels out of modern steel (the old Willys were made of wartime metals that aren’t as tough as modern stuff) and coated it all in a Teflon polyurethane powdercoat that we couldn’t scratch despite hurling the truck at trees instead of around them.

While the outside looks just like an old Willys, a 1940s mechanic would never recognize the undercarriage. The new, mandrel-bent frame is designed to accommodate a fully independent suspension; in place of the leaf springs is a fully independent suspension. The Chevy-sourced 4-cylinder engine makes 205 horsepower, but gets 23mpg. The 4WD system is adapted from of a 2010 model-year Jeep—they’re more advanced, and, as an added bonus, owners won’t have to scour eBay for antique replacement parts when they get overambitious in the offroad park.

And while a 1950s 3B tops out at around 50 mph on the highway, we throttled the Icon down LA freeways upwards of 80. Then, when we hit the Miller Jeep Trail, we switched into 4WD low and went way beyond our comfort zone without seeing the Icon balk: With 24 inches of wheel travel, it can scurry over boulders, romp rutted trails, and negotiate inclines that would make a Hummer run screaming for a pedicure.

WIRED Every light is LED—from the dashboard to the headlamps. At just 64 inches wide, it’s narrow and capable enough to tackle trails that Jeeps aren’t technically allowed on. Just try to scratch the paint—we drove through a big-ass thorn bush and wiped away the evidence with a rag. Attracts more thumbs-ups than the Coliseum. Only 83 grand.

TIRED 83 grand?! Just like the old CJs, high beam switch is next to the clutch. (They moved that for a reason.) Shifter feels sloppy, er, retro. Seatbelts were a little janky, prone to locking up even in the rare moments when had the Icon sitting level.