From UPF clothing to dog rescue harnesses, here’s what you think we should test next—plus, a sneak preview of how we’d approach these new experiments.
Published June 24, 2026 10:39AM
When we test outdoor gear in the field, we make sure to use it as intended and, well, get outside. All year long, our teams get out and get dirty to bring you expert gear picks across a wide variety of categories. Whether you’re looking for featherweight rainshells, backpacking packs, climbing ropes, ski boots, e-bikes, or even yoga mats, one of Outside’s gear teams has put it to the test.
But in the outdoors, we can’t control every environmental factor to ensure products are all stressed the same during use—if we could command a torrential downpour or summon powdery snow at will, we would. That’s where the Outside Lab at CU Denver steps in.
The lab evaluates product performance in controlled settings, meaning each product is subjected to the exact same punishment. These methods allow us to strip away variables so we can accurately compare “apples to apples” and give you an objective breakdown of a product’s characteristics. We even push gear to its literal breaking point—without putting testers in harm’s way—so you can confidently know exactly how far your gear can be pushed when you’re in extreme conditions. This is for science first, but let’s be honest: it’s also extremely fun.
To decide what (and how) we test in the lab, I collaborate with our gear editors, using real-world feedback from the field to design testing protocols for each category. At Outside Days 2026, we opened the lab doors to you, the reader, to find out what else we should be torture-testing. Below are some of the many excellent reader-sourced test ideas generated during the three-day event that sparked some fun conversations at the Outside Lab at CU Denver tent, and how we’d bring them to life.
UV Exposure
From tents to sun shirts, UV protection is top of mind for anyone spending long days outside. Not only does our skin break down from exposure, but so does our gear, with materials becoming brittle and weak from ultraviolet light over time. In the Outside Lab, we can tackle testing from two different angles: UV aging and UPF protection over time.
UV aging: This measurement describes how well a material holds up to exposure over time—more simply, it’s the product’s sun life. First, we test the performance of the material when it’s brand new, and then expose the material to artificial sunlight using UV bulbs (lights made to mimic the sun with a consistent output, like what you’d find in terrariums). At set time intervals, we remove the item and test it again until it fails. Because the bulbs provide a consistent UV output, we can test months of exposure in a short time, and accurately translate lab hours into “days” in the sun.
UPF protection over time: When we test UPF protective clothing, we aren’t looking at fabric strength; instead, we evaluate how much harmful UV sneaks through. We use a special lightmeter to measure the ultraviolet radiation just above and directly underneath the fabric sample. We track the time until radiation that gets through increases, to tell you how many hours you can spend in direct sunlight with full UPF protection. We also test for product longevity, putting the clothes through aggressive wear and wash cycles to assess how long before a beloved sun shirt loses its ability to protect against harmful rays.
Trekking and Running Poles
Hiking poles—or running poles for those of you sadistic enough to go on long runs in the hills— were another popular topic at Outside Days. Namely, everyone wanted to know how durable different poles are, considering the various material and construction options available.
To test poles in the lab, we’d break out our universal testing machine—a.k.a. “Hulk”— to see how much weight these sticks can bear. We mimic real-world trail conditions by fully extending each pole and then cranking up the load until it fails. In this test, “failure” means a complete break, crack, or permanent bend. Since you’re rarely pushing straight down on the pole, we’d perform the test at a few different angles to get a well-rounded performance review.
Dog Harnesses
At Outside days, we met a lot of people who have a four-legged best friend, and love getting outdoors with them. More than a few of you asked us to evaluate the performance of adventure-ready daily harnesses and rescue harnesses. As someone who regularly takes my pup on adventures of every kind, this suggestion hit close to home.
If the worst happens, you need absolute confidence that a rescue harness can safely support your dog’s full weight while you hoist or haul them back to safety. In the lab, we’d test rescue harnesses for load carrying capacity (similar to how we test backpacks), as well as durability of the construction and materials.
For everyday-adventure harnesses, we’d mostly test for durability to account for the rough-and-tumble conditions you might encounter in the backcountry—like mud, water, or sharp rocks and sticks. A few of the tests we already have in our back pocket for durability include abrasion resistance, tear strength, drying time, breathability, and air permeability. These tests would help us feel confident recommending the best dog harnesses for you and your canine adventure buddy.
Other Great Ideas
Here are a few more ideas that either sparked some geeky lab conversations (science!) about new testing ideas or confirmed that work we already have in the pipeline is exactly what you want to see. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming Outside Lab-backed results on gear reviews across Outside’s channels.
- Footwear: Running shoes, hiking boots, trail runners, even barefoot sandals. You flooded us with questions about outdoor footwear and all different forms of performance. We heard you loud and clear, and we’re on it.
- Waterproof fire starters: For anyone adventuring outdoors, a waterproof fire starter can be a life saver. We’re as obsessed with finding out how well they really work as you are.
- Bug repellent and bite remedies: One that unfortunately often requires a “volunteer” to properly test. While we wait for a consenting guinea pig to emerge, check out previous coverage on tick removal, tick prevention, and mosquito bite prevention
- Goggle and lens scratch resistance: Snow sports are more fun when you can see where you’re going. We’re investigating ways to test lens abrasion beyond the industry standard.
- Snow outerwear: it’s like you read our minds. We’ve got some major winter-shell testing protocols to reveal later this year. Stay tuned.
- Adaptive tech: This is a massive, crucial category, and we’re passionate about improving the gear that helps get anyone and everyone outside. We’re currently mapping out how to accurately test adaptive outdoor equipment to ensure it delivers the performance, safety, and durability that outdoor people of all abilities need.
