The lightweight carbon-fiber Snooker has great swing weight and an ergonomic grip. But we picked it because its pool-cue graphic made us feel like Fast Eddie Felton on skis. Don’t shoot stick? The Free ($110) is more subtle, with barbed-wire graphics. exelsports.net          …

PLAYFUL POWER As the name suggests, the Pro was originally designed for Dynastar’s big-mountain freeskiing team. But now any hard-charger with the chops can pony up for these wide bodies. This “big-boy toy,” as one tester described it, is built with a wood core, two sheets of metal, and a…

  The instrument of choice for the Austrian national ski team, this basic carbon-fiber pole has a Velcro strap for easy adjustment. Light, simple, and inspiring. Just knowing that the world’s best ski team uses them makes you feel fast. komperdell.com          …

MOST VERSATILE During a week of testing at Copper Mountain, the Mythic Rider’s composite-and-titanal core delivered a smooth, consistent flex on bulletproof groomers, soft bumps, and even manky, wind-scoured snow. And thanks to its thinned-down center and beefed-up edges, it has tenacious grip. Which is a good thing, because this…

  This aerodynamically designed pole is flat for speed and light for quick planting action. But fast doesn’t mean delicate. Because it’s made of carbon fiber and molded under extreme pressure, this pole is not likely to snap. swixsport.com          …

  Stiffer plastic in the upper cuff and lower shell make the Impact Pro beefy in all the right places. But it also has a soft side: Low-density plastic over the instep makes the boot easy to get on and off. salomonsports.com          …

WIDE BUT NIMBLE You don’t need to be a big company to make a big ski. Liberty, a small manufacturer in Avon, Colorado, has created a giant-killer with the Helix. An eco-friendly bamboo-and-poplar core gives it a light and poppy feel—but the Helix is still tough enough to land hard…

  Take a few turns in the Hawx and you’ll notice they don’t feel as clunky and rigid as other boots, due to a radical design that allows the boot to flex underfoot. “The flex translates to a fun, easy ride for intermediate skiers,” said one tester. atomicsnow.com    …

  Built from the same basic mold Lange has been using for 30 years, these all-mountain (and updated) boots have even more spring and power, thanks to a shock-absorbing boot board and a heavy-duty power strap. langeskiboots.com          …

  Break poles like Bode breaks rules? BD’s strongest carbon-fiber pole has a lower Kevlar wrap to further protect them against your skis’ edges. Plus oversize baskets stayed afloat even in powder. Heading into the backcountry? Also available in a collapsible version, with an aluminum upper shaft, as the Carbon…

CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING “An instant charmer,” said one tester. “Really versatile and easy to ski.” As with the rest of Rossignol’s popular B series, the damp feeling can be attributed to an aluminum insert integrated into the tip of the ski, which increases torsional rigidity and helps it plow through crud. New…

RACE READY The brand of choice for over half of the top World Cup ski racers proves it can make planks that arc for weekend warriors, too. The B5i’s capped construction allows for easy turn initiation and release, which is why one tester felt “like an Austrian in a one-piece,…

TAKE IT ANYWHERE The ultraversatile Apache Recon returns unchanged this year, remaining one of our top choices for intermediate to advanced skiers. A generous sidecut makes carving easy, but its plump shovel and tail allow the ski to float in powder, while its guts—a wood core surrounded by fiberglass and…

POWDER KING A 102-millimeter waist allows the Coomba to float easily in powder. But unlike some big-mountain skis, it’s also torsionally stiff enough to dice high-speed, large-radius turns with ease. Credit K2’s proprietary construction—namely, a shock-absorbing wood core with interlocking strands of fiberglass in the topsheet. 135/102/121; k2skis.com   Bonus:…

  This is the stiffest of the Italian company’s new freeride boots. Made for experts looking for gnarly terrain, the low-volume Agent contains shock-absorbing rubber to cushion hard impacts. tecnicausa.com          …

SPEED DEMON It’s rare for all of our testers to be on the same page, but everyone agreed: The new 888 is unquestionably the best ski the Slovenian company has produced in years. During several days of testing at Powder Mountain, these moderately wide planks (88 millimeters underfoot) effortlessly zippered…

© ASP / SCHOLTZ Surfer Stephanie Gilmore secured her fourth consecutive ASP World Title by beating out Melanie Bartels in the Women's Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico. “I’m really at a loss…

The following dispatch is from extreme kayaker, Ben Stookesberry, a member of the First Ascent kayak team. They are currently on an expedition in Africa to make a first descent of the…

Fourteen people have passed out while watching 127 Hours, the LA Times reports. The film tells the story of Aron Ralston, a hiker who amputated his own arm after a boulder…

Born to Run author Christopher McDougall will co-host Reinventing Running: The Cabaret with the actor and avid trail-runner Peter Sarsgaard on Friday, November 5 at the…

The NYC Marathon is Sunday, November 7. If you’re going to be in the area, check out Born to Run author Christopher McDougall’s prelude event on Friday, November…

Photo courtesy of Juushika Redgrave on Flickr. Didn't give away all of your Halloween candy to the neighborhood kids last night? Never fear. Snacking on sweets doesn't have to be a waste of calories–if you time it right. CorePerformance.com's Danielle…

American Bison: A bovine mammal (Bison bison) of western North America, having large forequarters, a shaggy mane, and a massive head with short curved horns; a buffalo. If you were on the internet this week you probably saw the picture of the torn-up…

After ten years of work, British climber Leo Houlding has made the first ascent of The Prophet, a new free route on Yosemite's El Capitan, Deadpoint Mag reports. The Prophet ascends the right side of El Cap, linking up pitches from established routes Bad To…

If you’ve ever been glued to the television during Discovery's Shark Week, chances are you've seen the work of Andy B. Casagrande. The 33-year old cameraman was obsessed with great white sharks as a kid and turned that passion…

Flying devils, physics: explained, a record high, a fine wine, and lo-jacked rhinos.  We're just getting started.  Here's the stuff you should click on this week.   “Flying Devils” — Johnny Rooks: 1. National Geographic: 0.     How High?Excalibur Billed As The World's…

Photo by Will Taylor  Recent studies show that discontinuing Daylight Savings Time (DST) could both save energy and encourage people in the Northern Hemisphere to exercise more, Reuters reports. “It must be rare to find a means of vastly improving the health and…

“Honey, I miss our bed.” Photo Courtesy Flickr High speed Internet access is now available in the Mount Everest base camp, Reuters reports. Nepali telecom company Ncell constructed the 3G-capable structure to…

Here's what you need to know.

Can you help me find a winter running jacket that breathes, keeps the real cold out (think below 20F) and that doesn't require 3 layers underneath? Would love to run with just a single base layer (merino seems best in these conditions) under a jacket that won't over heat or leave me cold.Dan Chicago, IL Location (City, State/City Country)

By Stephen Regenold The handheld radio crackled with static before coming to life. “Roger that,” came a voice. “What’s your location?” I was standing near a swamp, remote and deep in the woods of central Minnesota. The day’s task — scouting a wilderness race course…

The following dispatch is from extreme kayaker, Ben Stookesberry. He and members of the First Ascent kayak team are currently on an expedition in Africa. Their goal: to make a first descent on the…

I was climbing my local favorite, Colorado's Longs Peak earlier this year and noticed a new sign beside the trail. This was near the Diamond, famous for world class big wall climbs from Casual Route, 5.10a to Ariana at 5.12a and more. To be clear I was doing the passive…

A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization casts a foreboding future for California’s National Parks, which could become poster children for the likely detrimental impacts of climate change. The study found that 10 parks in the state, including Yosemite, Death Valley, Redwood, Joshua…

An Oklahoma woman will serve 24 years in prison for killing two cyclists in June, 2009, the Tulsa World reports. Tausha Borland's blood-alcohol concentration was over the legal limit when she struck three cyclists in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, then fled the scene of the accident.

Photo of the Himalayas courtesy of ilkerender on Flickr. Joe Puryear fell to his death on Tuesday while climbing Labuche Kang, a 24,170-foot mountain in the Himalayas, the Seattle Times reports. The 37-year old fell 1,500 feet when a cornice…

Not that you need to be thinking about this before your holiday party stretch, but the American College of Sports Medicine has released The Top 20 Fitness Trends of 2011. What's hot? Strength training…

  A group of Palestinian young men have turned to parkour to overcome the obstacles of life on the Gaza Strip, The New York Times reports. “Other than the siege and the difficult situation, there is a war every so often,” Mohammed Al Jakhbeer told…

                                                    Susan Casey (Photo by Ruven Afanador) Bestselling author Susan Casey discusses her new book The Wave, swimming with a tiger shark, and how—as newly appointed editor-in-chief of O Magazine—she’s showing her new boss how to catch a break.–Stayton Bonner  How’d you make the leap from Outside…

Photo courtesy of Flickr A new species of monkey found in Mayanmar has an upturned nose that fills with water when it rains, causing it to sneeze, Science Daily reports. The new species, named Rhinopithecus strykeri, is better known…

Conditions: cold, clear, dry, and deep. For early season weather and snow beta, check the American Avalanche Association to find your local avalanche forcast center. Be careful out there. —Christopher Van Tilburg, MD  …

It's huge. It's nasty. And it's a beast to get up. But guess what: The summit is worth all the hard work it takes to get there.

I want to buy my cousin a pack to carry his skis up the mountain. He's 18 years old, just started school in Flagstaff, AZ. Should be some good back country stuff for him to try. What's a good pack for back country skiing? Nelson Alexandria, VA

Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer finished running the 2064-mile Pony Express route on Monday morning, News Press Now reports. Meltzer completed the Red Bull-sponsored run from Sacramento, CA to St. Joseph, MO in 40 days, averaging 4.81 miles per hour,…

Photo from Tony Wan Kenobi on Flickr A major winter storm that has pounded Jackson Hole since Sunday has already dropped 33 inches of snow, Transworld Snowboarding reports. The immediate forecast calls for even more snowfall. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort isn't slated…

  Chris Sharma has won the Masters Series I Psicobloc, a unique new deep water solo climbing competition held in the Spanish city of Bilbao this weekend, reports Prana. Over 4,000 spectators lined the banks of the Bilbao Estuary to watch Sharma, 29, and over a…

Chrissie Wellington decided not to compete in Ironman Kona this year due to illness. The night before, “I woke up several times literally drenched in sweat, my head pounding and feeling like my throat was closing,”…

Ever wondered what it takes to snap award-winning wildlife photography?  So did the folks at New Scientist. They interviewed five photographers from this year's…

Caught in an avalanche. Mastless in the Indian Ocean. Come back alive from your worst nightmare.

Courtesy of shinealight on Flickr. Francis Crippen, 26, died during a 10-kilometer Marathan Swimming World Cup event on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reports. No information has been released about the cause of his death. Last year Crippen won bronze…

Courtesy of ♻ on Flickr. Organizers of the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia next January claim that Armstrong's last international competition will be theirs, Reuters reports. During this year's Tour de France, Armstrong, who finished 23rd overall, claimed…

Photo courtesy of edvvc on Flickr. The gizmo that fuelled billions of workout hours over the past 31 years is going the way of the eight-track, the AP reports. Sony is discontinuing production of the Walkman in Japan. Since…

It was 20 years ago this fall — November 17, 1990, to be precise — when Gary Erickson (pictured at left) started to bonk on the long bike ride up Mount Hamilton in Santa Clara County, Calif. He had six energy bars with him for the day, a stash…

There's more to Scotland than rain and whisky. A couple of weeks ago, I hit up the Adventure Travel World Summit in Aviemore on a mission to find the best international trips of 2011. I found them, and also brought back the top…

Courtesy Red Bull If you consider plummeting from the sky and hitting rock at more than 100 kph a lucky thing, then welcome to Karina Hollekim’s world. The Norwegian professional freeskier, BASE and ski BASE jumper is currently on tour around the US as part of…

Mamils: A term used in London for triathletes pushing middle-age, which stands for middle-aged men in Lycra. A little context for those looking to use the word in conversation: Research conducted by the retail analyst Mintel suggests there has been a surge in the number of middle-aged men choosing to…

Update: According to Jeeban Ghimire, director of Sherpa Shangri-La Treks, which organized the expedition, the search has been called off. After a six hour aerial survey, the search team deemed it unlikely he would have survived given the rough icy terrain where the avalanche occurred. Various reports say that Nima…

Cansdell flying on route to a CWC series win. Photo Courtesy O'Neill After stops in Scotland, Tasmania, Canada, South Africa, and California, Australian Shaun Cansdell won $50,000 and the the overall title of the O'Neill Coldwater Classic series.

If you’re strapping a camera to your helmet or handlebars and hurtling down a mountain, you want it to be able to take a beating because, presumably, you aren’t showing your bros footie of yourself schralping the bunny slopes. The toughest POV camera we’ve seen? Hands down…

By Stephen Regenold Newton Running is a Boulder, Colo., company known for a line of running shoes that promote midfoot or forefoot striking to dissuade runners from landing on their heels. The shoes are equipped with “actuator lugs,” stout rubber strips that sit beneath the foot’s…

Afraid of screwing up your 'do by wearing a helmet, but don't want to crush your skull in a bicycle crash? Two Swedish industrial design students have the solution to your dilemma: an airbag collar. The Hvvding (English translation: the Chieftain) “springs into action within 0.1 seconds, covering the…

View Larger Map A shark killed a 20-year old UC Santa Barbara student Friday morning off Surf Beach at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Santa Maria Times reports. The student was…

High-end cycling-apparel company Rapha is launching a free iPhone app that promises to make group rides a little easier to organize. The app, called Rendezvous, tracks not only the obvious stuff like mapping, terrain, etc., but also meeting points and the riders themselves. (See screen caps below.)…

In an effort to bring you the best in outdoor news each day, we comb through a lot of Web content.  And trust us, there's a lot out there. A good story can take a lot of clicks to find. But those clicks often lead us to content that, while…

  Christina Erb, here. Here's where we left off: I was debating running a marathon on a bum knee. Thanks, all, for weighing in. I decided not to. But, I still went to support my friend and Outside's assistant managing editor, Ali Troxell, who…

Photo courtesy of Flickr Officials unveiled the 2011 Tour de France route on Oct. 19, and the cycling world can’t decide if the climb-heavy route is good or bad. Tour Director…

In case you missed 'em, here are the top 10 posts from last month. We dare you not to click on number 5: “Woman Saves Choking Bear”. Number 10: Chrissie Wellington: Riding the Himalayas Number 9: Ironman Champ Chrissie Wellington's…

This year, Reel Rock moved away from its usual feature-oriented format to focus on short films. Co-creators Sender Films and Big UP Productions spent months documenting some of the most talked-about sends and stunts of the past few…

I've been frustrated for years with "waterproof" jackets. The waterproofing invariably wears off after a year or so, especially if the jacket is worn in the sun. (I know, I shouldn't do that, but I'm a city guy who likes to wear one jacket all day - when it's raining and when it's not.) Hasn't some manufacturer solved the problem of "disappearing" waterproofing? Jack New York, NY

What should I do if caught in a flash flood in a slot canyon? The Editors Santa Fe, NM

  Louis-Philippe Loncke, who completed an unsupported solo trek through Iceland in July, made a new video to show off his odd Iceland-inspired dance moves, The Adventure Blog reports. Loncke was apparently inspired by the Inspired by Iceland…

GardenFork's Eric Rochow shows you how to build your own bat house in a new video tutorial, posted at Wired Science. Yes, the end of October is rapidly approaching. And, let's be honest, if you…

The kayak action genre is generally known for pounding sound tracks and huck-a-minute waterfall drops. Wildwater, a new half-hour film from director Anson Fogel and narrated by kayak legend Doug Ammons that's making the festival rounds now, takes a slightly different approach. Shot with a…

Italy boasts an enduring culture of Alpinism, to-die-for cycling, and hard-core ultrarunning. It's why I planned a trip there this fall.  (Yes, there's also…The food! The vino!) I spent a week trekking in Abruzzo, a multi-sport mecca for climbing, trekking, paragliding and mountain biking. It's…

Master all things meteorological with our expert primer on sun, wind, snow, and rain

What should I eat or drink during a half marathon? The Editors Santa Fe, NM

We're standing in the dark. All 20,000 of us, ready to run the Nike for Women marathon. It's 6:30 AM and we're packed into San Francisco's Union Square, hugged by high rises. The group is so large it squirrels out into the surrounding streets and women in…

I'm starting to outfit for a trip to climb Denali via the West Buttress next year. My Julbo Nomad glacier glasses that I've used for years still work, but they've never fit well and always give me a headache. Additionally, since I wear prescription glasses, I would like to have a pair made with my script included. For five years, I've had great results with my Rudy Project cycling glasses that with photocromatic lenses. Reading your review of the Zyon Sailing glasses (noticing the removable side shields), I'm curious if I could have one eyeglass to replace them all? Would the Zyon photocromatic lens be dark enough for mountaineering? Or is a special hi-altitude lens required? I really don't want to have two pairs of custom prescription glasses made, especially if one is only going to be used during mountaineering. Joseph Washington, DC

I'm planning a trip for my husband's 40th birthday this fall, and I'm trying to find the place with the perfect mix of beach relaxation and adventure. You know, kayaking, hiking, sailing, snorkelling, and windsurfing to go with a super nice room, superb food, and a spa treatment or two. What are your suggestions? –Jill North Attleboro, MA

Before the event, the doc gave me a six-day course of steroids for my back and threw in a bottle of Vicodin. “At your age,” he said, “after this race, you’re going to need it.”