The outdoor industry lost one of its pioneers last month. Rodney Johnson, who founded Minneapolis-based outdoor store Midwest Mountaineering, passed away at the age of 76 on October 26. Johnson operated the store for over 50 years, helping an untold number of folks enjoy the great outdoors. Who Was Rodney Johnson? Johnson was an avid outdoorsman, climber, hiker, and paddler. In emails with GearJunkie, longtime store manager and friend, Randy “Rudi” Hargesheimer, recounted that Johnson was a true outdoor fanatic. “Rod was a gear-head and an adrenaline junkie, like so many of us outdoor-loving adventurers. He did everything his way,…
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has quietly retreated from his planned special session on gun control, but he continues to push for a ban on so-called assault weapons when the state legislature begins its 2026 session next February. The odds of a gun ban bill getting through the Democrat-Farmer-Labor-controlled Senate were already fairly decent, but there are a couple of DFL senators who’d been quiet about whether or not they’d support a ban. Now one of them, a supposed moderate named Judy Seeberger, has decided to break her silence and come out in favor of a…
The U.S. Coast Guard is piggybacking on the news of its highest recruiting numbers in decades by soliciting a new potential location for a training center, Military.com has learned.The service announced Friday that its Fiscal Year 2025 accession numbers were the highest since 1991, with 5,204 active-duty enlisted service members–equivalent to hitting 121% of its target of 4,300 members for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2024, and concluded Sept. 30, 2025. It exceeded USCG expectations.USCG, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), today announced a Request for Information (RFI) and market research to identify prospective locations nationwide…
I grew up on a steady stream of books that contained not only really great information, but a lot of high-quality pictures. I could probably spend hours reading and looking at Stephen Biesty’s Incredible Cross-Sections. These days, however, I’ve come to really appreciate the more historically oriented coffee table books that Headstamp Publishing has been putting out. Their latest book, authored by Forgotten Weapons’ Ian McCollum, Forged in Snow: Finnish Small Arms 1917-2025, is available now through their Kickstarter campaign, which has already fulfilled its funding goal, a mere 6 hours into it. Forged in Snow: Finnish Small Arms 1917…
From dawn patrol corduroy to hidden powder stashes, the best women’s all-mountain skis are made for skiers who want to do it all. These quiver-of-one workhorses thrive on everything the mountain throws at you — smooth groomers, wind-buffed ridges, or surprise tree runs with friends. We tested the top contenders in everything from knee-deep powder to East Coast ice, skiing hard at Stowe in Vermont, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, Utah’s Powder Mountain, and more than half a dozen Idaho resorts. What follows is our A-List, the cream of the crop for women’s all-mountain skis. Whether you’re chasing the all-around excellence…
I’ve long said that if you want mandatory gun safety training for people to exercise their Second Amendment rights, rather than mandating it before a purchase, mandate it as part of the school curriculum so that everyone gets it that way, and it’s not a barrier to buying a firearm lawfully. Most of the states that want mandatory training, though, aren’t exactly the kind of states that will embrace gun training of any kind in public schools.But some other states looked at it rather differently.Now, three require it.This school year, students in elementary, middle and…
If you’re an avid whitewater kayaker, take note: Werner Paddles is recalling two of its latest kayak paddles. The paddles may break, posing a risk of drowning. On Nov. 9, Werner Paddles posted a notification that it’s recalling its Covert and Stealth downriver whitewater racing models of kayak paddles. The brand says, “We have identified an issue with the collar of the paddle where the blade meets the shaft.” Basically, the blade can break off from the shaft. GearJunkie confirmed with a Werner team paddler that this issue is due to a problem with the mold and is being addressed…
The Senate reached a tentative agreement to re-open the federal government late on Sunday evening, and if the House concurs with the package approved by the upper chamber the Schumer Shutdown could be over in a matter of days. Once the shutdown is over the House is expected to return to regular business, and that includes a potential floor vote on HR 38, the “Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025” that was placed on the House calendar just before the shutdown began. Under the bill, which currently has 189 sponsors, “a person who is not…
United States President Donald Trump has promised every single American, except those who are “high income”, a $2000 tariff dividend. This dividend would be funded by his tariff policies and is currently under review for “legality” by the Supreme Court. “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday. “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!” the ruler added, insisting that the policy is contributing “trillions of dollars” to the U.S. budget and will help reduce the nation’s $38 trillion national debt. The tariffs are also…
Los Angeles may be known for its traffic, but for runners, it’s a city best experienced on foot. From coastal paths and canyon trails to early-morning track workouts and vibrant neighborhood run clubs, LA’s running scene is as diverse and energetic as the city itself. Plugging in is easy once you know where to look: a mix of local run clubs, curated resources like LA Running Connoisseur, and an ever-growing calendar of trail races and social runs that make the city’s sprawling geography feel connected one stride at a time. Keep reading for a full rundown on where to run,…
The way people try to explain gun control is that by putting restrictions on gun access, they can keep criminals from obtaining them, while ordinary people like you and me can, in time, access a firearm. At least, some firearms. It’s a very naive way of looking at things, though.We know that criminals aren’t going into gun stores to buy their weapons. They’re not following any rules. They get them via illicit means, either with a straw buy, a black market buy, a gun theft, or something darker.Something like this case out of Milwaukee, for…
Hackers may be sitting on a massive trove of government credentials — including emails and passwords tied to the White House, State Department, Department of Defense, and U.S. Army — according to new research from NordVPN’s affiliate companies, NordPass and NordStellar.The study found more than 53,000 passwords belonging to U.S. government employees exposed in publicly accessible databases and dark-web forums since early 2024. Among the most affected institutions include:Department of State – 15,272 exposed passwordsDepartment of War (Defense) – 1,897 exposed passwordsU.S. Army – 1,706 exposed passwordsWhite House – Seven compromised passwordsOne of the most commonly found passwords was “April@4142.”…
KETL Mtn. Apparel, a brand known for its travel and hiking clothing, is enticing customers with a good old-fashioned treasure hunt. On Oct. 18, the company will release coordinates to hidden jars of cash and KETL gift cards stashed away throughout the Front Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. If you’ve ever dreamed of following clues and maps to hidden riches, now’s your chance. Check out the details below to learn everything you need to know before you set out on your “Rocky Mountain Oyster” treasure hunt. What Is KETL Mtn. Apparel? KETL’s Vent Lightweight Active Pants; (photos/KETL) Founded in 2017,…
You’ve heard the term “This ain’t my first rodeo”, I’m sure. Well, I’m here to tell you that, with gel blocks, this IS my first rodeo. I have, for decades, wanted to shoot into them to test my handloads and cast bullet performance, but I really couldn’t justify the expense. Enter Clear Ballistics. They sent me a block to try, as part of an arrangement with them. I was truly grateful to get it… my first block ever, over right at 50 years of shooting. So you can read into that that I’m still learning about what to shoot, and…
It’s time to find a new home for my custom-made Jeep Camper, and I want to make it a fun experience rather than just being sad to see it go. This camper was designed and built from the ground up to explore the most remote corners of the globe. And, I want to see the new owner do exactly that, as I did. Nothing would make me sadder than seeing this expedition-ready machine just sit in a garage somewhere. So, I want to provide an incentive for the next owner to take big adventures. Just buy my camper, and I’ll…
It’s not often that new gear drops leave us with mouths agape, but some of this week’s sure did. Noovo released a tricked-out all-terrain camper van with the design and features of a luxury hotel room. Also, Normatec’s newest piece of tech, the Elite Hips, helps rehabilitate the hips and lower back, aka the sorest points for many athletes. If you’re looking for technical innovation that won’t break the bank, however, we’ve got that too. Superfeet released the first-ever carbon-plated insoles to turn any pair of running shoes into bouncy, responsive springs. Find it all in this week’s Emerging Gear.…
The ATF hasn’t been able to process NFA Form 4 applications ever since the Schumer Shutdown began, because the ATF examiners tasked with handling those applications have not been deemed essential employees. When I spoke with American Suppressor Association President Knox Williams for Monday’s Bearing Arms Cam & Co this morning, he mentioned that the group had been working with the White House and the Trump administration to bring those examiners back to work. Shortly after we concluded our conversation, the ASA released this post on X, and it sounds like that will happen at…
Israeli forces have killed dozens of people in Gaza despite having a ceasefire agreement. At least 23 Palestinians have been killed since the peace deal was signed. The ceasefire has been on a razor’s edge since it went into effect. While hostages have been released, and the remains of deceased hostages have been returned, people are still dying in the conflict. In addition to those killed in attacks, the Gaza Health Ministry said that 122 others have been wounded in the same period of time, since the beginning of the ceasefire. The circumstances of the attacks vary, but the death…
The LIDAR Data mapping Colorado’s Park, Custer, and Fremont Counties was published in 2020, and it raised questions for Eric Gilbertson. The mountaineer and mechanical engineer likes to conduct ground surveys on peaks in his spare time, and his friend Ben Loftin pointed out how close Crestone and East Crestone Peaks’ elevations looked on the LIDAR data. They were damn near identical on the map. Gilbertson couldn’t get that out of his head. “LIDAR data can have errors,” Gilbertson told GearJunkie. “So, if you see a summit thats elevation [is derived] from LIDAR, it could be plus or minus a…
The state of New Jersey is already suing Glock and seeking to stop the sale of the popular pistols throughout the state. Now Attorney General Matthew Platkin has filed a separate lawsuit that, if successful, would put an end to the sale of Sig’s P320 handguns as well. The P320 has come under fire (no pun intended) from several individuals who claim the gun has discharged without them pulling the trigger, and earlier this month a federal judge in Illinois ordered the Chicago Police Department to stop using the pistol as a duty weapon. The…
YETI has a knack for taking the simplest gear and turning it into something fad-worthy. The new LoadOut GoBox 1 is just the next thing that people are going to need to have in several seasonal colors. It is, at its core, a small hard case for your essentials, yet somehow feels over-engineered for a military expedition. Built from the same nearly indestructible Defender II material as the larger GoBoxes, this compact unit is waterproof, dustproof, and essentially everything-proof. Whether it is strapped to a UTV, tossed in the bed of a pickup, or buried under camping gear, the GoBox…
