Outside magazine announces Summer 2012 Gear of the Year winners

Santa Fe, NM—Outside magazineannounced the Summer 2012 winners of the Gear of the Year awards, featured in the Outside spring/summer Buyer’s Guide, on newsstands May 1.

Outside is excited to unveil its 315 favorite products. Editors and evaluators spent several months torture–testing the latest crop of rugged cameras, tents, shells, boats, packs, and just about every other piece of gear you need to play outdoors this summer. This year’s edition features expanded stand-up-paddleboard coverage as well as the guide’s biggest bike section ever: in addition to the season’s best road and mountain bikes, apparel, and accessories are top-rated touring, freeride, and commuter bikes and apparel. Along the way, professional athletes, like long-distance backpacking specialist Andrew Skurka, dispense tips and advice on everything from buying your first stand-up paddleboard to how to prepare for an endurance-mountain-biking event.

The winners in the 14 Gear of the Year categories are…

• TENT: Easton Kilo 3
• SHELL: Outdoor Research Axiom
• SLEEPING BAG: REI Igneo
• BACKPACK: Eddie Bauer First Ascent Alchemist 40L
• TRAIL SHOES: Danner Crater Rim
• ROAD-RUNNING SHOES: New Balance Minimus Zero Road
• TRAIL-RUNNING SHOES: Montrail Rogue Fly
• CAMERA: Canon PowerShot G1X
• LUGGAGE: Tumi Ducati Due Porte
• SUNGLASSES: Oakley Radarlock
• MOUNTAIN BIKE: Specialized Stumpjumper Expert FSR Carbon 29er
• ROAD BIKE: Blue AC1
• BOAT: Sterling Reflection
• STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD: Pau Hana Crossfit

The Outside summer Buyer’s Guide not only highlights the very best in adventure gear, from sports equipment, tools, and gadgets to footwear, outerwear, and sunglasses, but also calls out the best values in each class. This year’s issue contains over two dozen Killer Values—as well as 170 products under $150—in everything from mountain-bike shoes to waterproof cameras. Organized according to sport and activity, the summer Buyer’s Guide is the ultimate resource for product reviews, technology, news, and tips.

Now in its 17th year, our annual summer Buyer’s Guide reaches over 1.3 million frequent gear purchasers. It will be on newsstands all summer, from May 1 through July 30. The iPad version, along with all our other monthly and special issues, will also be available for purchase starting May 1.