gear

We tested eight kayak paddles for recreational boats, fishing, and shared use, and sorted out which length and shaft material you actually need.

Six kid-sized camping chairs ranked by capacity, seat size, and frame lock, from toddler seats that last three summers to chairs that fit an eight-year-old.

We tested roll-top sacks, dry backpacks, and packing sets to find kayak dry bags that keep gear dry, and the ones best kept inside a hatch.

We tested insulated ski jackets for warmth, waterproofing, fit and zip reliability to find the best for resort days, tight budgets and layering.

We tested insulated tumblers for campsites, trails and truck cupholders. Here’s which lids actually seal, which hold ice, and which cup suits your kind of outdoor.

We tested instant coffee for quick camp mornings and desk cups, comparing taste, dissolvability, packability, and value.

We tested instant coffee for taste, cold-water dissolving, and pack weight. Nescafé Gold Espresso Blonde wins; Folgers is the value pick.

We tested instant coffee for camping and picked the packets, jars, and bags worth their pack weight, ranked by taste, bulk, and cleanup.

We tested inflatable paddle boards for stability, packed weight, inflation effort, and complete kits. Here are the all-around SUPs worth buying.

We tested insoles for hiking boots and found a useful balance of arch support, cushioning, and boot fit for high arches, snug boots, and heavy packs.