No-Nonsense Gear Reviews: Real talk about water sports, beach and outdoor equipment

Em Forster Em Forster

Aqua Marina Air-K Tomahawk 440

The Aqua Marina Air-K Tomahawk 440 has good speed and tracking, is comfortable, has an open cockpit design and is easy to set up and pack down. Its fins are prone to damage in shallow water, though, and the footrests are awkward to adjust. Plus, it lacks built-in storage options. Overall, it’a a great inflatable kayak for casual paddlers, offering a good mix of performance and comfort.

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Em Forster Em Forster

Aqua Marina Memba 390 2P

The Aqua Marina Memba 2P has a stiff drop-stitch floor, great tracking, tough construction and comfortable seats. The customer support is lacking, though, and it’s not for whitewater use. It’s a kayak with hardshell-like performance without the bulk. While it's not meant for rapids, it's a fantastic choice for flatwater adventures.

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Courtney Cunningham Courtney Cunningham

Sea Eagle 370

The Sea Eagle 370 comes as a complete package, has adjustable seating and comfortable seats, and is stable and tracks well. It comes with an awkward paddle bag and basic paddles, though. It’s a reliable, fun option for lakes and calm rivers, just don’t expect it to handle choppy waters like a hardshell kayak.

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Courtney Cunningham Courtney Cunningham

Sea to Summit Trek Down

The Sea to Summit Trek Down is roomy and has a great warmth-to-weight ration, as well as great zippers. It’s not the most compressible for ultralight backpacking and it does have some breathability issues in mild/humid conditions, though, but overall, it’s great for comfort-focused people, but not perfect for ultralight or high-humidity conditions.

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Em Forster Em Forster

Top 5 Best Sleeping Bags USA 2025

After a long day on the trail, there are few things as important as a warm, comfortable sleeping bag. Here are our top five picks for best sleeping bag 2025.

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Em Forster Em Forster

The North Face Blue Kazoo

The North Face Blue Kazoo is a mummy-shaped bag that offers a great balance of warmth and quality at a reasonable weight and price. It has great water repellency and uses soft, breathable fabrics with good warmth distribution. Read more in our Blue Kazoo review.

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Em Forster Em Forster

Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20

At a mere 1lb 4oz, the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion is INSANELY light for a sleeping bag of this quality. It's been specifically engineered to be light weight so it's perfect for longer hikes — but keep in mind that does mean some compromises. Read more in our detailed sleeping bag review.

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Em Forster Em Forster

Kelty Cosmic Ultra 20F

The Kelty Cosmic Ultra 20F is a quality bag at a great intersection of warmth, weight, comfort and cost. Though mummy shaped, it has a slightly wider foot box so there was a reasonable amount of room to move, the zips worked well and the internal pocket was conveniently placed.

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Courtney Cunningham Courtney Cunningham

Big Agnes Sidewinder SL 20

The Big Agnes Sidewinder SL 20 Sleeping Bag is perfect for side sleepers and is warm and roomy. It only has down shedding, though, and is not for back sleepers. Overall, it’s a backpacking tent for cold conditions.

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Em Forster Em Forster

Best Kids’ Wetsuits 2025

Want to know how to choose the best kids wetsuit? We take you through our top five, with pointers on what to look for.

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Em Forster Em Forster

Tommy Bahama Beach Chair Review

Tommy Bahama’s Beach Chair approaches perfection in almost every aspect. Read our review to find out why this is our pick of beach chairs.

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Courtney Cunningham Courtney Cunningham

YETI Trailhead Camp Chair Review

In the Trailhead, YETI has produced an extremely high-quality, durable chair that provides a ‘real chair’ experience.

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Em Forster Em Forster

SONGMICS Portable Beach Chair Review

The SONGMICS Portable Beach Chair is lightweight and easy to carry, as well as well-priced, but it’s suited for small people only. It’s a basic but well-made option.

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Courtney Cunningham Courtney Cunningham

Dometic GO Compact Chair Review

The Dometic GO Compact Chair is lightweight, compact, made with good materials and has a stylish design. It does, however, lack common features, has a low seating position and only moderate back support. It’s a durable and portable camping chair with a sleek design, best for those who value aesthetics and compactness over added features.

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