About 475 filtered results
by Joseph Albanese · Posted
Who doesn’t love a road trip—the thrill of the open road, the siren song of what may be hiding just around the next bend? It’s the kind of freedom that can only come from chewing up the asphalt on some well-worn two-lane or freshly paved Interstate. The way the wind from a cracked window caresses your hair, the allure of the world’s largest ball of string at a roadside pull-off. This is the lure that created our nation’s fleet of flatbed cowboys, pulling steel or grain from one end of this great nation to the other. You may not feel the need
by Joseph Albanese · Posted
Leica knows that serious outdoorsmen demand more from their optics. When you’re out in the bush, miles from the nearest road, the ounces in your pack add up fast. Things happen quickly. The game you have been pursuing over the last three ridgelines isn’t going to sit still for long, and you don’t have time to switch between your binoculars and your rangefinder. You have one chance at the trophy you have worked so hard for.
Built to last with an aluminum chassis and rugged rubber armoring
by Shawn C. Steiner · Posted
Up your lighting game with the speedy Angler Q400 Monolight, which boasts a 400Ws output along with a blazing recycle time of just 0.4 seconds at full power. Flash duration is measured from 1/5000 to 1/8000-second to ensure crisp images—and for those needing a rapid fire light, the Q400 can reach up to 10 frames per second. This makes it great for action, fashion, event, and
by Morgan Lyle · Posted
A sleeping bag is a pretty simple piece of gear, but there are several factors you should keep in mind when selecting one. After all, a bag that might be perfectly adequate for a summertime backyard slumber party could be completely inadequate for camping in sub-freezing temperatures. By the same token, spending a summer night in a cold-weather bag can make you feel like a burrito fresh from the microwave.
Comfort Ratings
Sleeping bags almost always come with a comfort rating. Most three-season bags, for example, will have a comfort rating
by Joseph Albanese · Posted
There are few things as beautiful as the natural world. Throughout the animal kingdom, there are amazing colors and patterns to be seen. Unfortunately, these wild creatures are often very wary of people, making it hard to get a good look. Because of this, binoculars are essential equipment when it comes to viewing animals outside of a zoological setting. Fortunately, Hawke
by Christopher Witt · Posted
In the comments for one of my other binocular articles, a reader pointed out that I had neglected to suggest binoculars for children. In response, we’re publishing this piece that is devoted strictly to kids, and will deal with the different types of optics we offer here at B&H: binoculars, spotting scopes, and microscopes. Buying for children presents a complicated set of contradictory ideas. You don’t want to spend too much on them because they tend to
by Morgan Lyle · Posted
As everyone knows, there’s plenty to do in New York City: dining, shopping, sightseeing, concerts, museums, sporting events—and camping.
That’s right—real camping in a tent, with a campfire, in a wooded area off a former airport runway in Brooklyn.
The public campground at Floyd Bennett Field, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, is just one of the unexpected delights to be found in New York City’s national parks. As the National Park Service gets set to celebrate its centennial in 2016, New York metro area residents can say “happy
by Joseph Albanese · Posted
For some, there is nothing better than cooking directly over an open fire. Fire can be mesmerizing—I challenge you to look away from the campfire when there’s one near. You can’t, and no one else in your party will be able to either. The way the flames dance seems to transfix all those whose gaze happens to fall upon it. There is certainly is something about the crackling roar wood gives off as it succumbs to the flames surrounding it, transforming into embers. And wood smoke definitely has a certain appeal to it, as well; the way it cloaks
by Joseph Albanese · Posted
Java. Joe. Go Juice. Morning Jolt. Cupped Lightning. However you refer to coffee, the odds are pretty good it’s an integral part of your morning routine. Maybe even lunch, too. And let’s not forget the afternoon. Out on the trail or in the woods, you can’t just rely on your local barista to provide you with your favorite brew. All is not lost though, because there are many ways to prepare your favorite beverage in the great outdoors so you can get your fix—no matter how far from civilization you are.
Cowboy Coffee
This was the method preferred
by Daniel Wagner_1 · Posted
Photographers who’ve dreamt of a light source that could be bent into a large variety of shapes will pinch themselves to make sure they’re awake when they see the Westcott Flex LED Mat System. Westcott LED Mats consist of flat panels with rows of controllable LED lights. Panels come in a variety of sizes and are 0.25" thick, dimmable and, most of all—bendable. The mat
by Christopher Witt · Posted
The vast open expanse of our country has inarguably bred a culture that craves the open road. From our first expansion west over the Appalachians, to breaking out across the plains and prairies, then the final push over the Rockies, we yearn for the wind in our faces that harks back to galloping on a trusted steed over a boundless sea of grass. That’s our culture—our heritage—and our mythology.
For many of us, from New York to Los Angeles, we end up sitting in traffic trying to avoid texting jerks drifting into our lanes, potholes, or
12,771 Views· Posted
In the following video, Doug Guerra takes on the ubiquitous on-camera light and demonstrates five other ways to use this normally utilitarian fixture. Using the Litepanels Brick to illustrate his points, Guerra explains the general advantages of freeing the on-camera light from your camera, while highlighting some of the strengths of the Brick light unit itself. So sit back, enjoy, and let these five suggestions inspire you to
by Joseph Albanese · Posted
Muggles. You have probably heard that term before, in reference to J.K. Rowling’s now iconic Harry Potter series. In those books, and subsequent films, “Muggles” refers to people who aren’t magical; those who are not in the know about such fantastical things. Another group of people has taken to using this term, although they do not use it to allude to any mystical powers. They do, however, use an invisible force to guide them in their quest.
In the Skies above Us
"Suddenly, people almost anywhere in the world could pinpoint their position to
by Christopher Witt · Posted
When you’re ready to take your astrophotography to new dimensions, you’re likely going to need optical tubes and mounts specifically designed for what you want to accomplish. While other brands, such as Celestron, are household names in the industry, there is a lesser-known brand that specializes in purpose-built gear for astronomers and imagers who require precision equipment: Sky-Watcher.
Mounts
Star Adventurer
Since Sky Watcher is primarily geared toward astrophotographers, it should come as no surprise that the company offers a photo
by michael sukhotin · Posted
One of the most common and tragic mistakes amateur outdoor enthusiasts make is to underestimate the importance of proper hydration and backcountry water purification when planning their outdoor activities. Water is the Number Two most important ingredient after air for sustaining life and maintaining normal metabolism. For example, an average person needs about two liters of water per day under normal conditions. However, in hot weather, up to one liter of water per hour may be required. Many people underestimate this requirement and do