Chris Brinlee Jr, Author at Gizmodo

How To Backpack Alberta’s Most Scenic Trail

Alberta’s Skyline Trail is popular for a reason. It offers stunning alpine scenery, exciting hiking, and it’s easy to access. We spent two days trekking it; here’s everything you need to know to tackle it yourself. Why should you go? Hikers are greeted with alpine country within a few hours of embarking on the Skyline…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Six Months After The Earthquake, Nepal Is Open For Adventure

Nepal is home to the best climbing, trekking and mountaineering on earth. But, earlier this year, it also had a massive earthquake, an avalanche on Everest and is right now subject to a “blockade” by its neighbor India. Can you still visit? Surprisingly, now may be the best time ever. An avalanche on Everest killed…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

How GoPro Is Turning Its Athletes Into Storytellers

Sport photography isn’t shot from the sidelines anymore, it’s made by athletes as they do their thing. But before they can do that, they have to learn to shoot like a pro. We went inside the camp where they’re trained. The GoPro athlete camp I attended was geared specifically towards the company’s adventure athletes: rock…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Your Ultimate Guide To Mountaineering Gear

Ready to geek out on outdoors gear? Combining climbing, high altitudes, camping and extreme winter weather, mountaineering is probably the most gear-intensive sport there is. And here’s your ultimate guide to the best gear for it. Over the last year or so, I’ve climbed mountains in the Sierra, Cascades, Canadian Rockies, Iceland, Norway and Nepal.…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 Review: The Ultimate Adventure Travel Computer?

The LaVie Z is the newest ultrabook from Lenovo. At just 2 lbs, it’s the lightest in its class. Does that make it the perfect adventure-travel companion? We’ve been carrying it everywhere to find out. Update: As multiple readers have pointed out, Lenovo has a huge problem with spyware right now. Consider that before you…

Reviews Chris Brinlee Jr

Peak Design Everyday Messenger Review: The Perfect Camera Bag?

Peak Design changed the way photographers carried their cameras with the introduction of an innovative clip. Now, they’re taking on camera bags. We tested their Everyday Messenger to see how it performs. What Is It? The Everyday Messenger ($250) is a versatile new photography-specific bag from Peak Design that was just funded on Kickstarter (it’s…

Reviews Chris Brinlee Jr

So You Want to Become a Mountaineer?

According to Hemingway, “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.” I just learned that last one. Here’s how you can too. My first real mountain backcountry experience didn’t come until I was 24; it was the one that started it all. I experienced the call of…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Sony A7S Adventure Tested: Ultimate Low-Light Mirrorless?

I’ve been dragging the Sony A7S on all of my adventures for the last few months — shooting in broad daylight and the dead of night. It’s gotten dirty; even dropped. Here’s how it performed. Earlier this year while riding a $450 motorcycle through Vietnam, I lost my backpack along with everything in it —…

Reviews Chris Brinlee Jr

Soaring Over Big Sur On A Paraglider

With its golden hills, lush green forests, and turquoise-colored ocean, Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places you can visit, but it looks even better from above — while paragliding. My girlfriend isn’t inherently the “outdoorsy” type, but she does appreciate amazing scenery, good food, and relaxing in nature — so for the…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Nikon D810 Review: The Ultimate Adventure Camera?

Last month, I took the Nikon D810 out on the Sierra High Route — one of the toughest adventures around. It got dirty, wet, and constantly banged around. Here’s how it performed. Three years ago, my roommate bought a D800E. I’ve always shot Canon, but he let me borrow his Nikon for a couple of…

Reviews Chris Brinlee Jr

Exploring Santa Cruz Island

Twenty miles off the coast of Ventura lies Santa Cruz Island — a remote mecca for adventure. We spent a weekend exploring it. Here’s how you can too. After having a two week and nearly 200 mile sufferfest on the Sierra High Route, I needed to relax. My idea of relaxation, however, is kayaking around…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

The Hardest Hike In America? We Backpack The Sierra High Route

Stretching 200 miles through the Sierra Nevada, most of the High Route is off-trail, posing challenges both physical and mental as you attempt to navigate dangerous, unmarked terrain. It took us two solid weeks. Worth it? Well, at least the photos came out good. Brutal. That’s how I’d describe my experience on the Sierra High…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

GoPro’s New Camera Is a Tiny Cube. I Took It on Adventures.

I’ve been keeping a secret, and today I can spill the beans. Last month, I took a new camera on some adventures. Yes, it’s a GoPro. A smaller, lighter, more versatile GoPro than you’ve ever seen. Full disclosure: GoPro flew me and a handful of other journalists out to Vail, Colorado for a few days,…

Reviews Chris Brinlee Jr

I Got To Be A Mountain Hardwear Designer For A Day

Mountain Hardwear designs some of the most technically-advanced outdoors apparel and gear on the planet. I just got to spend a day working alongside their designers. This is what their process is like. The invitation was intriguing enough: “Come be a Mountain Hardwear designer for a day.” Having graduated with a design degree (albeit not…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

This Is The Gear That Took Me To Southeast Asia

What clothes, gadgets, and backpack does a photographer and writer for an adventure travel site rely on when he’s going to Asia and traveling light? This is my pared down adventure-storytelling kit, and how it performed. I spent nearly eight months adventuring around the globe. The second half of my trip took place in Nepal…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

I Lost All This Stuff In Vietnam

On March 27, while riding a $450 motorcycle through Vietnam, I lost my backpack. It contained my camera, computer, and two hard drives containing seven months of RAW photos and videos. This is what I learned from the ordeal. First, you’re probably wondering how I managed to lose $8,000 worth of equipment that’s essential to…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Buying These Epic Photos Will Help Nepal

I spent two months — this past November and January — trekking and climbing in Nepal. I journeyed there for the mountains, but the tiny country’s vibrant culture and kind people are what stole my heart. https://gizmodo.com/anyone-can-do-this-8-day-trek-through-nepal-1682949559 https://gizmodo.com/achieving-himalayan-ecstasy-at-20-000-1664180012 I spent an entire evening hanging out with these two Sherpa kids – playing hide and seek…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Riding Motorcycles And Ostriches In Vietnam’s Mountains

Want to see the mountains, forests and farms of the “real” Vietnam? Get away from the tourist hoards, get on a motorcycle and go. I just did that, and even got to ride an ostrich. Here’s how you can too. Vietnam’s central highlands are defined by mountains, pine forests, and farms — and the rich…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Inside The World’s 3rd Largest Cave

The world’s third largest cave has “rooms” that stand 330 feet high and span 600 feet across. It’s so spectacular that it’s playing home to several upcoming blockbusters, including this summer’s Pan, and others the force compels us not to disclose. We hiked through the Vietnamese jungle to explore it. Hang En translates to “swift”…

Movies Chris Brinlee Jr

What America Feels Like After 7 Months Of Foreign Adventure

Last September, I boarded a plane to Denmark. It was the start of a seven and a half month, round-the-world adventure. Yesterday at 10:05am, I landed at LAX. Man, this place is weird. My adventure led me overland from Denmark to Norway, where I wild camped outside of Oslo, then watched sunset from the most…

Tech News Chris Brinlee Jr

Chris Brinlee Jr

How To Backpack Alberta’s Most Scenic Trail

Six Months After The Earthquake, Nepal Is Open For Adventure

How GoPro Is Turning Its Athletes Into Storytellers

Your Ultimate Guide To Mountaineering Gear

Lenovo LaVie Z 360 Review: The Ultimate Adventure Travel Computer?

Peak Design Everyday Messenger Review: The Perfect Camera Bag?

So You Want to Become a Mountaineer?

Sony A7S Adventure Tested: Ultimate Low-Light Mirrorless?

Soaring Over Big Sur On A Paraglider

Nikon D810 Review: The Ultimate Adventure Camera?

Exploring Santa Cruz Island

The Hardest Hike In America? We Backpack The Sierra High Route

GoPro’s New Camera Is a Tiny Cube. I Took It on Adventures.

I Got To Be A Mountain Hardwear Designer For A Day

This Is The Gear That Took Me To Southeast Asia

I Lost All This Stuff In Vietnam

Buying These Epic Photos Will Help Nepal

Riding Motorcycles And Ostriches In Vietnam’s Mountains

Inside The World’s 3rd Largest Cave

What America Feels Like After 7 Months Of Foreign Adventure

Two Songs We Really Wish Were the Anime Outros for ‘Steel Ball Run’

AI Training Data Giant Mercor Is Reportedly Looking to Buy the Work You Did at Your Old Job

Utah Is Giving Dr. AI the Power to Renew Drug Prescriptions

Here’s the Perfect Excuse to See ‘Project Hail Mary’ Again

US Airlines Are Hiking Bag Fees Amid Iran War Oil Crisis

This Ridiculously Simple Trick Might Stop Gulls From Nabbing Your Lunch

‘Starfleet Academy’ Season 3 Could Have Done the ‘Voyager’ Sequel Episode of Robert Picardo’s Dreams

Judge Kills Lawsuit Against Infamous Study That Might Have Increased Teen Suicides

Artemis 2: Follow the Mission With Our Live Updates 🔴

Researchers Discover How to Add Psilocybin, DMT, and Other Psychedelics to Tobacco

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life