Stories by Cory

Outside Online •

The Best Track Spikes of 2022, Reviewed

Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ . Whether you’re getting ready for a race or a hard workout, the process of spiking up stirs a familiar excitement and anxiety for what’s to come: your body instinctively knows it’s time to perform. If you want to compete at your best in track and field, spikes are essential—and today’s are better than eve
Field Mag •

The 10 Best Bouldering Shoes, Tested and Approved

Bouldering is the purest form of rock climbing. And the most accessible. You’re not burdened with ropes, harnesses, or quickdraws. Routes are short, intense, and powerful. And all you need is a pair of shoes and a chalk bag (a working understanding of key climbing lingo helps, too). But bouldering at your limit means no room for error. Each foot placement, toe smear, and heel hook must be perfectly placed. The tiniest release of tension or foot misplacement could mean the difference between send
Footwear News •

The 10 Best Running Shoes of 2022, According to Experts

I’ve been a runner for over 25 years, running coach for ten years and running shoe reviewer since 2014. Each year I get the opportunity to test between 40 and 70 pairs of shoes from every major brand. In all my shoe testing experience, I’ve come to understand one undeniable fact about running shoes: There’s no such thing as lousy running shoes. If someone dislikes a shoe, it’s because it isn’t a good fit for them. After all, there’ll always be another runner who loves that same shoe. Finding the
TripSavvy •

The Best Cold Weather Running Gear of 2022

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Running in the cold can be downright miserable. Numb hands, cold and wet feet, and howling wind can lead the most ambitious runners to question their daily run—or cause them to retreat to the treadmill. At the same time, there’s something special about going for a run in arctic-like temperatures. After fi
GearJunkie •

The Best Running Shoes of 2022

After countless miles pounding the pavement, our running fanatics found the best running shoes of 2022. I used to say that running was a pretty simple sport. All you need are a pair of running shoes and clothes, and off you go. However, these days I’m second-guessing that concept. Somehow over the past 25 years, complexity crept in. GPS watch data, Strava segments, hydration vests, and the obligatory social media post-run selfie are as standard as striped tube running socks were in the ’70s an
Footwear News •

The 12 Best Running Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis, According to Experts

I’ve been a runner and running coach for the past 28 years, and if I know one thing for sure about being a runner, it’s that you will get injured. I’ve never met a runner who pushes their limits and hasn’t gotten injured at some point in their running career. (After all, if injuries were avoidable, wouldn’t professional runners with their access to the best coaches, physical therapists and doctors be able to escape the agony of injury?) Among the most common lower leg running injuries that runn
Footwear News •

The 12 Best Winter Running Shoes, As Tested by a Running Coach

Whether you’re ready or not, cold, shorter days are upon us. That means it’s time to change out your favorite shorts and tank tops for the warmth and protection of jackets, long tights and gloves. While all runners eventually succumb to the seasonal tradition of changing their running wardrobe, most overlook an integral part – their footwear. It may not seem as obvious as the need for winter apparel, but trading your summer running shoes for winter-specific ones is just as important, perhaps eve
Gear Patrol •

The Best Men’s Workout Clothes

I’m going to date myself, but when I first started working out, cotton was considered a performance fabric. It soaked up sweat like a sponge. Sopping wet shirts drenched in sweat were worn as a badge of honor. The wetter your workout clothes, the better the workout. The sweatiest guy in the gym was unofficially crowned the hardest working. Since then, a lot has changed with workout apparel. Fabric technology has evolved. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, and synthetic blends have d
GearJunkie •

Best Boutique Running Brands for Style and Performance

If you want to stand out at your next running event — without sacrificing comfort or performance — these are the most stylish, trendy boutique brands you should shop. Line up at any road or trail race, and odds are you’ll find the same clothing brands on all the runners. Any sense of style or unique flair seems lost in the masses. If you’re tired of the same boring, mass-produced, formulaic apparel options for runners, there’s an alternative to the big-name brands: boutique running brands. Bo
Gear Patrol •

The Best Pre-Workout

When it comes to fitness, there’s no such thing as an athlete who doesn’t want an extra edge. The thought process usually goes something like this, “If I could just train a little longer, harder, or more often I’ll be able to…” Sound familiar? Enter Pre-Workout. Pre-Workout is a supplement commonly used by bodybuilders and strength-based athletes to improve athletic performance and strength by increasing energy, focus, and muscle metabolism. It contains a broad range of ingredients with the
TripSavvy •

The 12 Best Patagonia Jackets of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Patagonia’s purple, orange, and black logo depicting the Fitzroy Massif in Patagonia is synonymous with excellent craftsmanship and rigorous dedication to conserving the planet through environmental and political activism. Long before the first Patagonia jacket was even imagined by Yvon Chouinard, founder
Gear Patrol •

The Best Vegan Protein Powders Available

In the words of the immortal Kermit the Frog, “It’s not easy being green.” While I’m not sure all vegans and vegetarians would agree with this sentiment, when it comes to consuming adequate amounts of protein with all nine essential amino acids, their meat-eating counterparts certainly do have it easier. However, with a basic understanding of nutrition science and proper planning, protein intake for vegans and vegetarians is quite simple. Protein is the building block of human physiology. Witho
TripSavvy •

The Best Trail Running Gear of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Nothing beats a good run through the woods. The smell of pine trees. Majestic mountain views. Flowing freshwater streams. It’s as much therapy as it is exercise. Whether you run short or long, East Coast or West Coast, a pleasant day out on the trails starts with the right trail running gear. “The right t
Footwear News •

The 13 Best CrossFit Shoes, According to Experts

CrossFit is one the most fun and engaging forms of exercises you can do. Each workout is done in a supportive social setting and offers new and different challenges that combine calisthenics, weightlifting, running and gymnastics packed into one short, high-intensity routine. The group environment creates a fun and friendly competitive community to help get you through the toughest workouts of the day. And if you’re ready to try out a class, we’re here to help you find the best Crossfit shoes to
Footwear News •

The 10 Best Asics Running Shoes of 2021, Tested by Experts

Back in the ’80s and ’90s, Asics was largely considered one of the undisputed leading running brands. The team at Asics was on a roll innovating and introducing award-winning running shoes one after another. I still very clearly remember every runner during that time seeking out running shoes with Asics Gel technology. However, starting in the 2000s, the tide started to change for Asics. Brands like Nike, Brooks and Hoka stepped in the limelight, leaving Asics — who still relied on the formula
TripSavvy •

The 8 Best Hardshell Jackets

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. The hardshell jacket is your first line of defense against the elements. It’s the shell (hence the “shell” in hardshell) that protects you from wind, rain, snow, and sleet. The prefix “hard” comes from the jacket’s stiff and unyielding firm feeling that causes most to compare them to tinfoil—loud and crinkly. Softshell jackets h
TripSavvy •

The 8 Best Hardshell Jackets

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. The hardshell jacket is your first line of defense against the elements. It’s the shell (hence the “shell” in hardshell) that protects you from wind, rain, snow, and sleet. The prefix “hard” comes from the jacket’s stiff and unyielding firm feeling that causes most to compare them to tinfoil—loud and crinkly. Softshell jackets h
Footwear News •

The 10 Best Adidas Running Shoes, According to Footwear Experts

Three angled stripes — so simple, yet so iconic in the world of sports. This is the Adidas logo, a logo seen on the feet of Olympic champions, world record holders and some of the best athletes the world has ever seen. Adidas’ role in the sport of running began well before Nike was even a thought. As the second largest sports shoe company in the world today (Nike is first), adidas makes some of the best sneakers you can buy. How it all started is an interesting story. Most sibling rivalries in
Footwear News •

The 11 Best Nike Running Shoes of 2021, According to Experts

To say Nike shoes have shaped the sport of running would be a gross understatement. The two are as intertwined as peanut butter and jelly. Watch any race, and you’re most certainly going to find the notorious “Swoosh” logo littered on the feet of professional and amateur runners alike. Nike’s strong presence in today’s running market is a direct result of its origin in the sport. It was a relationship between University of Oregon’s track coach Bill Bowerman and one of his athletes that kindled
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