Gear
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Simply pop open Eureka’s collapsible aluminum Chenango and start setting the table. eurekatent.com…
Built with a wood core and vertical sidewalls, these snappy skis performed great in any snow. On an overcast morning at Copper Mountain, they sliced their way down ice and groomers and, when the sun came out in the afternoon, they were just as reliable in the bumps or anywhere…
Interchangeable lens, done right: Flip open the hinged front gasket, pop in a different lens (it ships with two) and in a matter of seconds you’ve got the right tint for the conditions. carrerasportusa.com…
A pair of FULs weighs just four pounds. But unlike other light-weight boots, they don’t skimp on freestyle flex or overall comfort. Credit the internal heel landing pad and secure harness, which held our heels in place during hard toe-side carves. ridesnowboards.com…
Julia Mancuso took hers to Olympic gold. On you, foam insulation, a honeycomb Aramid air layer, and multiple pad configurations make for a snugger (and slimmer) alter-native to the traditional bobblehead-style racing helmets. pocski.com…
WINTER TRAINER This snowshoe has a message for triathletes and runners trying to stay in shape during the winter: Get off the treadmill and go outside. By building an integrated snowshoe/boot system, the TSL saves weight and delivers better energy transfer than you get with traditional bindings. The Step-In Race…
CRUISE MISSILE Good for PowderSchlepping most oversize (and heavy) rockered skis up on a boot-pack can be spirit-crushing. Not so with the Megawatt. At ten pounds six ounces a pair, they’re markedly lighter than the norm. But they don’t ski wimpy. Although the Megawatt sports a rockered tip, it…
This intermediate-level boot’s duck-footed stance allows your feet to angle out slightly, which leaves you standing in a more natural position and makes for quicker energy transfers. It takes some getting used to, but the position does make it easier to get your skis on edge.
Two sports, one helmet. That’s the idea behind WRSI’s highly adjustable snow- and kayak-ready Fresh Roy. The only downside: With no vents, it’s the least breathable helmet here. Get the optional detachable face mask ($40) if you take big risks but like the way your face looks.
Good for All Mountain With a max DIN of 12 and full alpine- and AT-boot compatibility, the Freeride Plus remains the go-to binding for aggressive alpine skiers who spend equal time in and out of bounds. Downhill performance isn't quite as rock solid as the Baron, but the Freeride…
TELEMARK Good for Telemark Like all the women-specific telemark and AT skis we tested, the Joule didn't stand up to our most aggressive female skiers. But it held its own in tricky backcountry conditions, and it's impressively light for its dimensions. 125/95/112, 7.3 lbs; bdel.com …
Because the Marshall has a low-profile sole and footbed, testers agreed it affords the best snow feel. Narrow feet? This boot is probably too wide for you. romesds.com…
At 1.9 pounds per pair on our scales, these unisex shoes are remarkably nimble. While they meet US Snowshoe Association racing requirements, they work just as well knocking around your local trails. northernlites.com…
Good for Resort The problem with some boots with a Boa lacing system—wire laces you ratchet snug—is that you can’t fine-tune the fit. The Thraxis solves that by letting you tighten the liner and the upper and lower portions of the shell separately. It works: Testers…
Good for Frontside Last year’s Gear of the Year award winner comes back this season with an updated look, but the same explosive turn shape and no-nonsense edge hold. Essentially a World Cup race ski—wood core and sandwich construction—with a bit more girth, the Classic 80 is…
Because of its high-cut shell and 11 metal-screened vents that channel air in but keep snow out, I could feel the air rushing around my head, making this the perfect lid for those warm spring days. Available in ten different graphic options. nutcasehelmets.com…
ALPINE TOURING Good for All Mountain With unrivaled downhill performance, the DIN-16 Duke does anything a resort binding can—huck air, carve rails, hammer bump lines. Just don't think of it as an AT binding. It's an alpine binding with a walk mode. Yes, the Duke will tour when you…
A top-quality helmet with a (literal) twist. The inner shell rotates on impact, potentially reducing the twisting forces transmitted to your brain. Eight offset vents provide extra protection from pointy objects (like a branch or ski pole), but they restrict airflow a bit. TAGS: rotates, best protection…
Alpine Touring The Quadrant’s four buckles, consistent flex, and 40 degrees of touring motion make it BD’s best all-mountain option yet. Testers praised the stout overlap upper cuff and the way the Boa closure system in the boot’s liner cradles your ankle. 7.8 lbs; TAGS: all mountain, Boa…
A side-mounted Boa lacing system equalizes the tension between the upper and lower boot, and an oversize Velcro power strap seals the deal. The result: exceptional heel hold and a soft, responsive flex for everything from pillow lines to the park. TAGS: versatile, Boa…
Smart and Fast In an actual emergency, the last thing you want to do is fumble with zippers. Which is why Marmot designed the Backcountry’s external snow-safety-tool pocket with double zippers and a sturdy pull loop: You can rip it open with one quick tug. It’s just one of many…
FAT AND FURIOUS The Atlas was designed for guys who charge down 50-degree faces at downhill racing speeds. And what does that mean to you? Only this: The Atlas is fat enough for the deepest snow, but it handles like a traditional ski. So you can load it up and…
Why It’s CoolThis old-school panel-access pack reminds me how much I miss that architecture. No need for multiple pockets when you can zip a stretchy front panel up or down and nab necessities at will. » Internal compression panels and external straps keep the contents hypersecure—no load shift. » Superb…
The XCELERATOR SKATE NIS BINDING lets you microadjust your position on the ski to locate your personal sweet spot.
Your perfect weekend: packing a frying pan, camp chair, fishing gear, and 12-pack and marching 12 miles to a secret trout pond. Your perfect pack: the Catalyst. It features a dynamic suspension with a wide, firmly padded hipbelt linked directly to a pivot point in the middle of the…
All Mountain With a lower cuff, a super-comfortable walk mode, and a grippy sole, the intermediate, all-mountain Delight was a tester favorite. While it’s not quite as stiff as the Inferno (above), it delivers an impressive balance of power transfer and all-day comfort. Plus, quilted down in the lower liner…
Don’t let your daypack turn into a black hole. The compact Ray allows easy organization, thanks to dividers in the main compartment, deep exterior side pockets, and a separate pocket for your hydration system. It’s also light and secure enough for running. I ran the rigorous three-mile Jud Wiebe…
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 …
PROTECT YOUR JOINTS Can a low-cut hiker really deliver the ankle support of a high-top? Um, no. But the Camp Four comes darn close. The trick is accomplished with bands of thick PU molded to the rear of the shoe, which offered stiff resistance when my ankles tried to roll.
Why They’re CoolNothing beats a one-piece leather upper for durability, support, and comfort. A quick treatment with Nikwax Waterproofing Wax kept these boots totally dry. » Widely spaced lugs on the Vibram soles stuck to every surface I threw ’em at, from sandy washes to knife-edged volcanic ridges. » Should…
A Gore-Tex liner, built-in gaiter, and synthetic wool interior make this shoe watertight and warm. asolo.com…
With sticky, honeycomb-shaped lugs and a rubber-encased toe, the Zen Lady is grippy enough for scrambles up steep, rocky fourteeners, but a thick sole offers enough cush for long days on the trail. Suede uppers quickly mold to feet, and the toe-to-ankle lacing system tailors the fit. 13 oz;…
Good for SnowshoeingGaiters attach to a D-ring at the tongue base, and, like others here, a ridge on the heel keeps your snowshoe strap from slipping down. Tip: The sole is shank-free, so be careful when clomping around on rocky terrain. merrell.com…
A mash-up between a college book bag and a classic daypack, the streamlined, 2,000-cubic-inch Shrike was surprisingly versatile. The suspension system—basically a padded back panel and shoulder straps—isn’t anything fancy, but if you don’t overload it (30 pounds, max), it’s plenty comfy for long hikes. Around town, the front…
Sure, you can manhandle your 17-foot sea kayak onto the roof and ding your car in the process—or you can load it effortlessly and dent-free with the SlipStream. It incorporates a roof-long base-and-roller system that attaches to most racks. The movable cradles eliminate boat-car contact, make solo loading easy,…
A Stiff and Stout Day Hiker Some light hikers feel comfy at first, only to prove mushy after several weeks of testing. All the more reason to appreciate the up-front honesty of Oboz’s superstiff Contour. Sure, break-in time is longer, but that extra rigidity translated to a secure and stable…
This 2,520-cubic inch duffel, made from recycled materials, held a yoga mat, water bottle, and post-yoga clothes with room to spare. Plus the inside has organizational pockets for your cell phone, ID, and more. prana.com…
Workhorse The 29-liter Mazama doesn’t have any whiz-bang features. Rather, words like “solid,” “sturdy,” and “intuitive” kept popping up on tester cards. Plush padding on the hipbelt and shoulder straps made it comfortable for long hauls, it’s reinforced in all the right places (including the waterresistant zippers), and multiple side…
If a moon boot gave birth to a trail runner, it would look like the Ochoco. But we doubt it would run as well. The padded ankle, soft tongue, and firm arch support gave us blissful feet after long hours pounding the trail. The just-right midsole has enough cushioning…
Why They’re CoolThe treads—made of softer tacky carbon and resembling mini-cleats—behave like knobbies, plowing through gunk instead of caking up, while a perimeter ring of harder carbon-rubber lugs gives good grip. » After a stretch of riverbed mudflats, I sprinted up an embankment, yet didn’t end up falling on my…
LONG-HAULERThe X stands for ten—the number of revisions Asics has made to this lightweight standard bearer. Serious racers will still find Asics’s proprietary gel cushioning and the firm arch post they’ve come to depend on. But with an open-air mesh upper, this year’s DS offers a more stable ride, a…
DO YOUR RUNS BECOME CLIMBS? La Sportiva’s heritage is in climbing shoes and mountaineering boots, and you can see the alpine influence in nearly every aspect of the Fireblade: the impeccable fit, the sticky rubber outsole, the double-stitched seams on high-wear areas of the upper, the reinforced toe bumper and…
HARD CHARGER Aggressive, all-conditions runners will love these stable, protective, and well-cushioned shoes. Rocks, logs, unstable sand, and even snow gave us no trouble, thanks to a lug pattern that grips in all directions. The gel cushioning absorbs impact on hardpacked trails, and the forefoot flexes easily for a comfortable…
Live in a mild climate? These breathable mesh trail shoes (read: not winterized) are light and nimble, yet the grippy outsole allowed us to run confi-dently on loose terrain and packed dirt. The solid external heel counter adds stability, as does the no-slip fit. The feather-weight cushioning is best…
MOTION CONTROL LITE Runners whose mild or moderate heel rolling doesn’t warrant a fat, heavy heel brace will find smooth striding in the new Gel-3000. The wide, stable heel features a moderately cushy foam—offering the softness and sprightliness of a neutral-cushioning shoe at heel strike. But as the shoe rolls…
Runners seeking structure that can stand up to long training runs and marathon-distance races will appreciate this stability shoe. This tried-and-true model got some major updates this season, including better rear-foot stability and new women-specific support in the midfoot. 11 oz; asics.com…
CushioningCan’t stand the squishy feeling of your current running shoes? The Glycerin 7, by far the firmest shoe of our picks this year, might be more your style—especially if you’re a heavier runner or a slow-and-steady type. Of the neutral shoes on this page, the no-frills Glycerin…
Stable and protective, the all-terrain Release, with its women-specific fit, cushioning, and outsole, was our top pick for rocky trails and all-day hike-and-run epics. 11 oz; patagonia.com…
All-Terrain Rambler With a sticky rubber outsole, the light and flexible Tsali performs best on rolling, rocky trails. We especially loved the lacing system, which provides a snug, arch-supporting fit. And there's more than just a gender-specific last here: To accommodate a women's lighter weight, the Tsali's midsole and a…
Trail Newton’s first trail shoe still uses the company’s trademark set of prominent, extra-springy lugs under the forefoot to encourage mid- and forefoot running, but it adds tight mesh to the upper to keep debris out and grippier rubber for traction. It’s good for working on form and running fast,…
kona zing deluxe $2,000 Better known for its rock-bashing, mud-splashing models, Kona gussied itself up for 2006 with a series of new road bikes, including the Zing Deluxe. The teardrop-shaped 7005 aluminum tubing has more crackle than a box of Pringles, which made us grin on the uphills, where…
Why It’s CoolFive inches of cush out back and four up front let riders blaze down fire roads yet float above the fray. » The Cake’s steering feels assuredly stable, instilling confidence when the scenery starts to blur. » Stability credit also goes to Fisher’s Genesis Geometry, which uses a…
HIGH-PERFORMANCE HYBRID Cannondale, which built its reputation on top-end aluminum bikes, debuted its first all-carbon frame just three years ago. Fortunately, the company hasn’t forgotten its roots. By marrying a carbon front triangle (the top tube, head tube, and down tube) to an aerospace-grade-aluminum rear triangle (everything else), Cannondale delivers…
If you log big mileage, buy this bargain shoe. The thin carbon sole is stiff, but it never put our feet to sleep—even after six hours in the saddle. cannondale.com…
Worn by legends like Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong, Giro has long been a preferred brand of top pros. And the new 21-vent Ionos is the company’s coolest lid yet, in terms of both looks and breathability. giro.com…
Mountain Stalking Rugged, comfortable in-hand, and damn near hurricane-proof, the Legend Ultra is a mountain man’s binocular. The glasses are outfitted with Bushnell’s ED Prime Glass, which offers impeccable light transmission and color resolution, allowing them to excel in low-light conditions. That, combined with their ample field of view for…
The Body Geometry fit counters the natural cant of most people’s feet to correct knee-alignment issues (read: less pain), while Specialized’s stiffest carbon weave delivers a race-ready sole. specialized.com…
This wrist-top GPS manages a knife-edge feat: It’s equal parts cool and geeky. Sporting the X9i, I launched out on a run from my hotel room in downtown Buenos Aires. Within minutes, the 12-channel GPS receiver had locked on to satellites and was displaying my speed and distance. When…
Versatile and Burly We gave GT top honors in our 2005 Buyer’s Guide, and the company’s underrated proprietary “Independent Drivetrain” suspension continues to impress. The design has been refined over the years; it’s lighter and more efficient. But the main benefit—isolating all suspension movement from pedaling forces—remains, as evidenced by…
If you think catch-and-release is too prissy, unholster this seven-inch stainless-steel blade. With a retractable blade guard (which means less handle to get in the way when you’re slicing), this scalpel would make a sushi chef proud. www.benchmade.com…
The Perfect Blend The Infinito reminds us what the “comfort-performance” designation is about. Its geometry puts the rider in a more upright, spine-friendly position, but its high-end materials and components are all about speed. And of all the bikes in this category, none blends race-day efficiency and all-day comfort as…
DAY TRIPPERCanon engineered this 7.1-megapixel, brushed-aluminum jobbie for road warriors. Why? Its retractable, extra-wide, 28–100mm (film equivalent) zoom lens nails broad outdoor landscapes. In Punta de Mita, Mexico, I immortalized sweeping beach vistas—from the locals slicing open fresh coconuts under palapas to the surfers riding the point break—that…
When portability is paramount, Sony’s Vaio T is the ultimate machine. I’ve road-tripped mine across the United States and Canada. It’s survived a kayaking expedition to Madagascar, where it happily chugged a steady diet of digital photos. On my “recovery” days, it’s a coffee-shop conversation starter: “Is that a real…
WEATHERPROOF POCKET CAM Thanks to internal gaskets, the slim Stylus easily fended off steady rain while I was shooting in a storm on the west coast of Vancouver Island—conditions that would have fizzled non-water-resistant cameras in less than a minute. My other favorite feature is its image-stabilized 5x zoom lens…
Big, clear sound, 24 hours of playback, universal iPod docking/charging, an auxiliary jack, and a shock- and splash-resistant body spell the best portable system out there for active types. alteclansing.com…
With titanium handles and a veritable panoply of smart, multifunctional utensils, this thing is the RoboCop of all-in-one tools. leatherman.com…
We hope you’ll never have to search for a victim, but if you do, this ultralight (7.6 oz) and long (91 inches) probe assembles instantly and is sturdy enough to break through cementlike snow. bdel.com…
Satellite-telephone time ain’t cheap, which is why the handset of the GLOBALSTAR GSP-1600 ($599, plus monthly subscription fee) switches over to a regular cell network whenever you roam within range of one. In the backcountry, the 13-ounce phone patches in to the company’s fleet of birds for direct-dial via outer…
Lightweight aluminum sheathes both standard and serrated blades. A perfect pocketknife. gerbergear.com…
The MAGELLAN SPORTRAK TOPO ($269) is the first GPS sold with pre-installed elevation maps of the entire country. The six-ounce waterproof unit holds 108 megabytes of contours and elevations (along with 16 megs of memory for personalized mapping), and renders them sharply on the gray-scale screen.
A safe bet for ocean adventurers, LOWRANCE’S IFINDER PRO ($209) accepts marine charts made by market leader Navionics. The huge three-inch diagonal gray-scale screen looks sharp—even when viewed in bright sunlight. Minor bummer: It’s waterproof, but only when stuffed into the included plastic pouch.
The LCD digits look like they did circa 1981, but the no-nonsense Road Trainer’s functions are all 2009. With included heart-rate-monitor strap, it spits out maxes, averages, calories burned, six zones, split times for 50 laps, and so on. timexironman.com…
The G1 is the first phone loaded with Google’s Android operating system. And as you’d expect, it’s all about integration: Android promises to bring the same level of multifunction- ality you expect from Google—search, mail, maps, documents, etc.—to multimedia mobile devices. The interface isn’t quite there yet, but we’ve…
Although it was designed for ice climbing, the Minus One proved ideal for everything from backcountry skiing to cold-weather mountain biking. It’s waterproof, light and supple, reinforced in all the right places, and surprisingly warm. It fits snugly; consider upsizing. TAGS: versatile, warmer than it looks…
Feature-fanatic Timex does an about-face with the simple, analog Rugged Field series. The shock-resistant housing (smaller than most), water-resistant leather-and-canvas strap, and daiquiri-green Indiglo light make it a sweet deal for unfussy explorers. timexexpedition.com…
The Vapor’s lightweight plastic upper protects your feet from all things pokey or prickly, but thanks to a foldable heel, it also converts to slipper mode. The only downside: The plastic isn’t very breathable. merrell.com …
Ansel in Your Pocket The design-conscious Germans didn’t invent the category of full-featured, full-sensor compact (that honor probably goes to Sigma, for last year’s DP2). But they do it better than anyone. The 12.2MP X1 uses a top-of-the-line CMOS sensor and a fixed 36mm f/2.8 lens of the first order,…
With black lace and stretchy microfleece that mimics cashmere, the FLEUR D’HIVER LUCY camisole is flirty and functional. (208-726-2263, www.fleurdhiver.com)…
Maverick Most of us won’t need a watch that’ll withstand 12 G’s, but it’s nice to know it will keep ticking through an inverted flat spin. Add Casio’s antishock technology, 200-meter water resistance, atomic timekeeping, and solar power backup and you’ve got a high-performance, well-priced workhorse. Bummer: Learning to operate…