LONG-DISTANCE TRAVELER Like a full-suspension mountain bike, the Arnuva can barrel over rocky, undulating trails with utmost comfort. The upper is armored against trail debris, and the ultrarunners on our crew deemed it an excellent choice for even the harshest high-alpine trails in Colorado’s Indian Peaks. A Gore-Tex liner keeps…

ROUGH AND STABLE Meet the grizzly bear of trail runners. The XT Wings are tough, unstoppable in rugged terrain, and, best of all, faster than their heft suggests. A broad heel base and medial pronation support provide stability on both flats and descents, while the pull-cord lacing delivers a snug…

Aerated foam backing, mesh shoulder straps, and a two-liter reservoir make this a good summer runner, but check the fit: Some testers found the straps set too far apart for their shoulders. 13 oz; www.thenorthface.com…

STORM CHASER Messy technical trails and foul weather are no longer deterrents for this major update. The new seam-sealed Gore-Tex upper kept testers’ feet warm and dry in cold slop (but it’s muggier in warm temps than its soft-shell counterparts), while the grippy outsole, underfoot protection, and torsional stiffness added…

Technical Terrain The Ascend 4 wins the award for best out-of-the-box fit. The low-to-the-ground silhouette, combined with multidirectional traction, make this shoe impressively agile, while its ample cushioning and structured, supportive heel kept our testers feeling fresh on ten-plus-mile runs. It’s not sturdy enough for nasty scree-filled…

Good for the Road No one likes to stand corrected; fewer still like to feel corrected while they run. Among stability shoes, the updated Sequence plays the part of the gentle guide, offering noticeable pronation correction followed by such a smooth transition to toe-off that the support…

Speed Demon For shorter trail races, no shoe made us feel faster than the Avi-Stoltz. It’s a highly reactive shoe whose comfortable, simple upper felt “like a house slipper,” according to one tester. (Others found the high ankle cuff annoying.) Despite its light weight, the Avi-Stoltz delivers enough support and…

Road The DS Trainer was minimalist before minimalist was trendy, and its 15th iteration is still extremely lightweight and has high-speed specs, gentle stability control, an airy upper, and just enough cushion for moderate-length runs. Our team raved about the fit, aided by pressure-free asymmetrical laces: “It feels like it…

Produced by a Basque collective in the heart of Spain’s Pyrenees and raced by Iban Mayo’s Euskaltel-Euskadi team, Orbea bikes are like cask-aged single-malt: They’re all about small-batch quality. With the Mitis you get classic European geometry — a stretched-out cockpit and a glute-engaging position — freshened up with…

LIGHT AND STIFF “The 595 is less yielding than Dick Cheney on Meet the Press,” quipped one tester. It’s true: The naked-carbon tubes might appear a bit thin, but the integrated seat-tube/seatpost system takes out lateral flex under the saddle. And where stiffness counts—at the bottom bracket, in the head…

This cleat stays cool on the hottest days. It has all the performance features you’d expect—rigid carbon midsole, removable mud cleats—combined with an upper that’s supercooled with swaths of mesh venting. northwave.it…

Surprisingly inexpensive despite its radical design, the fin-like Zuma cuts through the air but not your budget. rudyprojectusa.com…

Heat-moldable sections in the upper give the M230 a custom-fit feel, while the carbon-reinforced nylon soles nail the balance between efficient pedaling stiffness and hike-a-bike walkability. shimano.com…

A Classic Reinvented In an effort to lower the price of admission, Ellsworth offers up the Glimpse, its first-ever non- commuter bike not entirely made in the USA. The aluminum tubes are still produced here, but the shaping, welding, and assembly happen in Taiwan. (You probably wouldn’t have known had…

Utility Multi-Purpose Marvel A water-resistant, breathable, seamless soft-shell upper, rubberized toe box, and an aggressive ride/hike sole made this a favorite multi-condition shoe, and testers loved that its runner-like profile meant it was inconspicuous and comfortable for walking around (quietly) off the bike. 15.4 oz; pearlizumi.com…

Let there be light transmission! Kowa’s new 44mm lenses use patented multi-coating technology to enhance brightness. Ideal for glassing wildlife at twilight, this brute produces exceptional color and detail. 10.5×44; kowa-usa.com…

  London, Rio, L.A., and Tokyo on the itinerary? With 24 cities ringing the crystal, all you need to do is dial in the appropriate metropolis and you’re in the (time) zone. txwatches.com        …

This inch-square jobbie’s familiar interface and blue-on-black screen make navigation a cinch. Multiformat USB; www.mobiblu.com…

BUCK’s 172 MAYO TNT locking knife tucks a surgical-sharp three-inch blade into an ultracool titanium handle. (800-326-2825, www.buckknives.com)…

Looking for high performance at a low price? The N5 tracks lap times, stores data for 30 workouts, and offers the usual gamut of zone alarms, calorie counting, and percent of max—and doesn’t require a Ph.D. to use. nbmonitors.com…

The G4’s cool, buffed shell, recessed ports, and ergonomic edges house Apple’s most powerful mobile command center to date. We love iLife—an included suite of powerful programs that edit and organize photos, movies, music, and more. With 64 megs of dedicated graphics memory, a hard drive that buckles its own…

Stalking powder on the mountain all day? This is your multitalented timepiece, with weather-forecasting barometer, altimeter, digital compass, inclinometer, thermometer, timer, and more at your icy fingertips. quiksilver.com…

Keep your most essential files (baby photos, passport and driver’s-license scans, the great American novel) on you at all times with the two-gig USB “blade.” Oh, and it’s a sweet little pocketknife, too. swissarmy.com…

Tiny capsules filled with a luminescent gas will keep the hands and numbers on the LUMINOX ULTIMATE FIELD CHROMO 824 ($650) glowing continuously for 25 years.

The base of the HIGHGEAR ALTITECH2 ($150)—a digital multitool that reports temperature, altitude, and barometric pressure—pivots at a 90-degree angle to sit on a level surface. Presto! Alpine-start alarm clock. When you break camp, its carabiner clips to your backpack.

HI-DEF, IN HAND The V1253 is a fine still camera, thanks to 23 scene modes that match almost any scenario imaginable, plus a macro mode that can focus as close as two inches. But with its ability to capture HD-quality videos, and in such a minuscule package, this may be…

Elvis would approve. On snow or sea, slide on any Costa with the company’s top-of-the-line 580 polarized glass lenses and you’ll be amazed. Glare dies. Colors vibrate. Depth perception jumps. Silver mirroring, spring-loaded hinges, sticky rubber temples, and a gold scheme just sweeten the deal. costadelmar.com…

Whether you’re spying landmarks while at sea or just finding your bearings, the Navigator’s compass leads the way. This 20-ounce marine binoc took on stream dunks and foggy conditions with aplomb. 7×30; steiner-binoculars.com…

Sportsman These brown-tint polarized lenses had us fooled; so super­fine are the optics, we were sure we were looking through glass. Nope, it’s Maui’s proprietary Evolution material. The company won’t say much about the stuff except that it’s some new kind of plastic. Indeed, in a quietly stylish, manly wrap…

Call SUUNTO’S X9 ($699), the first GPS watch that’s more serious navigation tool than cyborg fashion statement. The integrated satellite receiver shows lat/long coordinates, stores waypoints, and delivers ETA and distance predictions for your destination.

If you’ve got the game to sport the aggro look—especially the loud and proud orange frames—the Instinct won’t let you down. Julbo’s new Zebra photochromic proprietary resin lenses work magic in low light, pointing up detail and contrast so much that you’ll swear you’re wearing high beams. The wide,…

Why It’s CoolFive-by-sevens printed up at near-35mm-film quality, which is a real testament not just to electronics but to the quality of the f/2.8 lens. The bonus here is a 27mm-equivalent wide-angle, which is great for shooting landscapes, and a 110mm-equivalent 4x optical zoom. » The videocam-style swiveling LCD preview…

Delivering huge, rich sound in a slim package, the Max speaker system is a must-have travel accessory. Dock your iPod or iPhone—or use the aux jack for other devices—and listen for 3.5 hours per charge. alteclansing.com…

The HOT CHILLYS SALSA SEAMLESS CAMI is made of nylon infused with silver for antimicrobial protection. (800-468-2445, www.hotchillys.com)…

Good for Backcountry We’ve never really liked previous integrated probe-shovel combos—they’ve been either short (the probe), cumbersome (getting it out of the shaft of the shovel), or both. The Arsenal is different. The ten-inch-wide blade and sturdy aluminum construction can move serious snow. And the seven-foot-ten-inch 240…

The Script’s lenses filter blue light for excellent depth perception and detail, and a curved three-tone frame provides optimal fit. www.oakleywomen.com…

Why It’s CoolA rather stunning metering system compares the kind of shot you’re about to take with an onboard file of more than 30,000 “image maps.” Instantly locating the closest match, the N75 balances the exposure perfectly. » This sucker will shoot almost two frames per second and, once you’ve…

Everybody wins with this cotton button-up: Its gauze weave lets cool air in—and your stink out. www.hornytoad.com…

Why They’re CoolTweak the omni-adjustable nosepiece and wire-core temples on the rad Ketyums and achieve new personal bests—in speed, daring, whatever. » The temples and frames are fashioned from a proprietary metal alloy, jointed over the eyebrows to allow for flex. » The mirrored copper poly lenses have an anti-mirror…

Our criteria for a good travel speaker: light, tough, and sounds good enough to keep playing once you’re there. The last one is usually the deal breaker, but the iP49 docking station flips open and pumps out surprisingly rich, bassy notes. Plus it has FM radio, alarm clock, equalizer, and…

ROSE-COLOREDThe Rhino’s copper-tint, polarized lenses tune out optical noise to reveal a richer reality. From a hilltop in Calabasas, California, distant homes looked like close-up toys. The wondrous convergence of extreme clarity and dense, reddish tinting picks up detail in the worst glare-hells, even the sun-on-snow variety. Wear these plastic…

The Talon delivers images as sharp as binoculars twice the price, plus it’s easy to use, 100 percent waterproof, and backed by a lifetime warranty. 8×42; www.vortexoptics.com…

Always getting in and out of the water? This true land/water hybrid has a layer of mesh sandwiched in the sole that drains water like a sieve. Bonus: An antimicrobial treatment helps fight funk. teva.com…

FLYWEIGHT Even in the hand, the Syluro appears to be screaming-fast, with not a milligram of unnecessary baggage. At just over an ounce, this svelte number weighs half as much as some shades here. And it still has beefed-up metal hinge pieces and super-strong ImpactX lenses (with material originally developed…

Unlike a lot of other big and sassy sunglasses, the Turntable’s high-tech lenses mimic the curve of your eyeball and help reduce eye fatigue. Upgrade to the polarized lenses if you spend a lot of time in or around the water. smithoptics.com…

INSULATED CONVERTIBLE Need variable warmth for variable conditions? The two-in-one Apollo, with its removable vest, is your jacket. The vest, insulated with synthetic fill, adds plenty of core warmth, but it snaps in or out in just a few seconds and adds very little bulk, allowing the jacket to fit…

Half skate shoe and half winter boot: From barhopping in Telluride to walking the dog in Chicago, our tester didn’t take the fleece-lined Chukkas off until Groundhog Day. vans.com…

Hats with built-in speakers have been around for years, but a faux-shearling-lined plaid Bomber that also plays tunes? Who can resist? bulabula.com…

When your palms start getting sweaty, crack the two zippered vents on the top of this waterproof soft-shell glove. seirus.com…

As comfy as slippers, these ultra-warm clogs can be worn with long underwear or slacks. The top-quality leather says dress shoe, but the thick, grippy outsole can take on the snow. bornshoes.com…

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK… There’s a lot to admire here, and we’re not just talking about the funk factor. Looks are deceiving: The Emit’s frame and temples are 30 percent recycled nylon. The polarized ZB-13 lens is a multipurpose polycarbonate wiz, lending itself to just about anything. The copper tint,…

The perfect summerweight waterproof/breathable rain pants. So light (11 ounces) you’ll always pack them, they’re capable of fending off even the nastiest afternoon thunderstorm. groundwear.com…

If some Chacos and Crocs had a love child, it might look like the Tikali. The nubuck leather lends a touch of class on land, while the Velcro keeps them securely on your feet in the drink. crocs.com…

Fluted bands across the knuckles + wool insulation that doesn’t bunch up = the best-fitting glove here. backcountry.com…

With thumb loops, an iPod pocket at the shoulder, and reflective piping, this was my favorite top for cool-weather running and biking. Bonus: Its cocona-treated polyester fabric is odor-resistant. newbalance.com…

Because 20 percent of the 650-fill insulation is goose feather, rather than higher-quality down, this standard-issue puffy is incredibly affordable but still toasty in the low teens. Bonus: Waterproof-breathable Pertex fabric protects the sleeves and shoulders. 1.3 lbs; outdoorresearch.com…

We loved the safety-goggle-like protection and peripheral vision of the Rx-compatible Semi Full. With the clear lenses in place, we felt more confident bombing down our favorite heavily forested local singletrack. Swapping lenses is a bit awkward, though. giro.com…

Heading someplace warm? Tiny vents in the uppers and midsoles keep air circulating, making the lightweight Un.access the most breathable shoe we tested this year. clarksusa.com…

Après Boots With a deeply lugged outsole and fleece lining, these street-stylish and waterproof boots are more technical than they appear. merrell.com…

Good for Trail More nano than puff. This half-zip, one-pocket, and lightly insulated synthetic pullover is remarkably bulk-free, considering how warm it is. We loved it as a midlayer on cold days at the resort or as a light jacket on chilly fall outings. 10 oz;…

Good for Resort It may look like it schussed in from the eighties ski flick Hot Dog… The Movie, but with all the resort-friendly features—like pit zips and a powder skirt—the Gunpowder is a seriously technical puffy. The real secret to the jacket’s performance is that the…

Form and Function The Ruston was the surprise hit of the test. For starters, Scott’s designers nailed the details on this highly water-resistant soft shell: The hood is top-notch, and there are good-sized pit zips. Even more impressive is that this jacket doesn’t scream “I’m wearing a super-techy soft shell!”…

Compression socks are catching on, and for long, blister-free runs, I’ve become a fan of toe socks; Injinji’s Ex-Celerator Compression Toesocks combine the two. injinji.com…

A naysayer to the skort? This quick-dry, mostly polyester skirt (with built-in shorts) is so comfortable it will convince you otherwise. Its 13-inch inseam hit just the right spot on our thighs to be flattering, and the four-inch shorts didn’t move midrun (read: chafe-free). Plus, two internal pockets secure…

Sure, your rain jacket can stave off a downpour, but it’s equally important to have quick-drying pants. These water-repellent nylon capris are roomy and have five secure pockets for stashing energy bars and a pocketknife. mountainhardwear.com…

Stash this tissue-thin, rain-resistant polyester shell in your jersey. It’s three ounces with a pocket, vents, reflective stripes, and a micro-stuffsack. bontrager.com…

The sock gurus at SmartWool created this hipster slip-on with natural gum rubber soles, wool-and-polyester upper, and cushy, moisture-wicking merino wool linings. You’ll wear it straight through on damp, chilly days—round the house, running errands, to dinner, and back—and then you’ll get up the next day and do it…

Luxury Comes Cheap Pata-Gucci? Not in this case. The Snowshot was one of the least expensive jackets in our test but also a tester favorite. Like the Cloudveil, it’s an ideal everyday, all-season jacket for Rocky Mountain resorts. It’s stuffed with the perfect amount of synthetic insulation. It’s waterproof. You…

WESTCOMB‘s SKEENA HOODY. It’s extremely water-resistant, stretchy, and lined with a warm, wicking merino layer.

The 100 percent merino-wool jersey knit in SMARTWOOL‘s moisture-wicking MICROWEIGHT TANK is so comfortable, you’ll likely have rolled out of bed in it.

When the weather is waffling, IBEX‘s merino wool INDIE ARM WARMERS have thumb loops—and are the perfect hedge against a cold start and a hot, sweaty finish.

Why It’s Coolhe Fever looks like a rodeo boat beamed forward in time from 1994. But ten minutes in the cockpit will remind you why those boats were so much fun. » Remember pop-ups and pirouettes? The Fever will bring back those classic tricks. » Smaller paddlers: this boat will…

Wide-set cups and full-coverage bottoms make this suit best for women with broad shoulders and muscular frames. $90; www.eddiebauer.com…

PARTY BOAT The Dirigo’s supersized rear cockpit has room for a pony keg, a well-behaved Lab, or, because it comes with a removable child-size jump seat, a water-ready grom. Primary paddlers have adjustable foot pedals, swaths of gunwale padding for your knees, and a “dashboard” complete with a cup holder…

For those who can’t disconnect, the waterproof speakers in the Multy Lynk work with any Bluetooth-enabled device. Best application: Use the boom microphone to call for help from your cell phone. vozsports.com…

Sail Away The Ventus was designed in collaboration with the U.S. Sailing Team. And while it certainly looks the part, it’s no one-trick pony. The siped outsoles and mesh-protected drain ports performed nicely kayaking around the lake, and just as well beachcombing in Florida. sperrytopsider.com…

Throw this sporty bathing suit on for surfing or volleyball. Then, to thwart tan lines, swap the top out for the Bali Bandeau ($40; not shown) in the matching print. carvedesigns.com…