Fast Clip Not only is this pocket-size, water-resistant flashlight impressively bright (25 lumens), but its included alligator-style clip accessory lets you attach the light to just about anything. 1.6 oz; nagear.com…

You can winterize any inflatable sleeping pad with an inexpensive (if bulky) closed-cell foam mat like THERM-A-REST’S Z LITE PAD.

Hate cold toes? This is one of the first boots with an integrated, rechargeable heating system in the liner—crank it to a cozy 104 degrees for up to six hours. Caveat: The liner lacing always seemed to loosen by midday. burton.com      …

POWDER KING The Gyrator strikes a nostalgic chord with its graphics, but there’s nothing retro about the ride. Reverse-camber construction (the deck has a concave bow) enables the Gyrator to float atop powder with the ease of bigger, wider boards. But it can also tackle groomers thanks to its progressive…

Basically a stripped-down and lighter version of Rossi’s Bandit B94 alpine ski, the Respect was the perfect ski for a day at Silverton that involved hiking, skinning, and skiing everything from untouched powder to windblown mank. It also impressed testers with its grip on firm snow. 122/94/112, 8.4 lbs;…

There's a reason Scarpa hasn't made many changes to the T2X over the past few years: It's solid just the way it is. A three-buckle lightweight that comes in at a pound less than Scarpa's bulkier boots, it's most at home far from $12 hamburgers. 6.5 lbs; scarpa.com   Bonus:…

Want an AT boot that can hold its own when you stay inbounds? Try the new Diva, which has rigid dual-density plastic that makes it beefy where it needs to be, plus a hinged tongue for easy touring. 6.7 lbs; scarpa.com      …

RIDE THE RAILS Good for Groomed RunsEquipped with a race-worthy binding plate and wrapped in the classic sandwich construction, the Cool Heat penetrates the hardest snow with minimal ankle flexion. “You can feel Fischer’s racing heritage when you bring these up to speed,” said one tester. The Cool Heat…

What’s unique about the Kamaleon is that you swap out just the outer lens; the clear inner lens (perfect by itself for night skiing) stays fixed. Use the mirrored gray on bright days and switch to vermilion for flat light. markerusa.com…

Good for All Mountain Don't let the new costume fool you. El Hombre's guts are unchanged, and he still controls all corners of the ring–er, mountain. “It has good western all-mountain dimensions,” said one tester, “and enough shape and torsional stiffness to rail on variable snow.” It can be…

This teardrop-shaped shoe is designed for speed: The binding cinches tight with a single strap across your feet. And the heel strap, which is fixed on one side and ratchets down on the other, was praised by testers for both its glove-friendly operation and snug fit. 24.5″;…

FAST AND LIGHT Hailed as the lightest snowboard on the market, this all-mountain model’s superior float in the soft stuff made it a tester favorite. But lightness doesn’t equal weakness. Thanks to a synthetic polymer placed beneath the binding inserts—K2 calls the stuff Harshmellow—this setback twin has guts, silencing chatter…

Dialing in the perfect fit is a cinch. A tug on the right pull tightens the upper and toe zones, while the left controls the ankle, the most sensitive pressure point. Then you can tuck both away in between the liner and shell. forumsnowboards.com…

Simple, easy to use, and time-tested, the durable Freeride remains as comfortable inbounds as it is on the Haute Route. Its 6–12 DIN accommodates a wide range of skiing styles and abilities, making this one of the most versatile AT bindings around.4.5 lbs; blackdiamondequipment.com      …

Good for All Mountain Hands down the most powerful ski in this category, the Magnum IQ sports race-worthy edge grip. “This is an all-mountain ski for East Coast hardpack skiers,” said one tester. Featuring a full wood core that’s overbuilt at the edges for still more bite,…

Good for Resort Salomon adapted the technology usually reserved for custom-boot makers for the rest of us. With some heat and the help of a professional fitter, two sections of special plastic on this all-mountain boot mold to your foot for a precise fit.

ALPINE TOURING Good for All Mountain Reengineered for 2010 with an early-rise, rockered tip that sucks up crud, the Overlord wowed testers with its take-no-prisoners, high-speed onslaught through choppy conditions. “The rocker, width, and length absorb every bump on the mountain,” reported one tester. Meanwhile, the squared-off pintail allows…

Fits Any Foot With most snowshoes, it’s just strap ’em on and go. That’s fine, unless you’re a bit duckfooted or pigeon-toed, in which case you’ll likely step on your tails, trip on your tips, and generally stumble around in misery. There’s another way: With the pull of a pin,…

LIFT SERVANT One tester described this pack as “a wallet on your back with water.” The 275-cubic-inch Scorpion’s two-liter bladder kept testers hydrated both on quick tours before work and skiing all day at the resort. Lunch, a spare pair of goggles, and an extra layer fit in the main…

Fast and Light With its paulownia-wood-and-carbon-reinforced core, the Aspect’s surface-area-to-weight ratio is tough to match, so it’s a natural choice for longer tours. And with a bit of tip rocker, the Aspect planes quickly and smoothly without affecting hard-snow edge hold, which multiple testers called “tenacious.” Add some extras, like…

Why It’s CoolThe framesheet is classic GoLite technology—made of corrugated polystyrene and ultrathin aluminum dowels, it provides support and structure yet adds only six ounces to the two-pound-seven-ounce pack. (Fanatics needn’t fret; it’s removable.) » The lumbar pad is the unsung hero—the ribbed design keeps the pack from slipping and…

Zeal has carved out a niche for itself in the ultra-high end of the market, and the SPPX Eclipse fits right in. Not only did the lenses get the highest score for optical clarity; they’re also polarized and photochromic. It’s the latter feature that will really blow you away,…

If you’re vaguely disturbed by the idea of paying more for a pack that weighs less, REI understands. The latest and largest in its UL line, this pack weighs little more than a pair of trail runners yet has space to stretch a long weekend into a week. Even…

ALL-TERRAIN DOGG The Snoop has been a mainstay in Atomic’s line since 2006, but the company redesigned the ski last season (it now has vertical sidewalls and laminate construction instead of a cap construction). And testers still loved it this year: On the snow, it feels livelier than earlier…

Cheaper shoes exist, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one that beats the Prima for dollar-per-mile value. It’s light enough for a day hike and sturdy enough for a week in the Grand Canyon, and its midcut height and waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex XCR liner will handle the sloppiest edges…

Based on the classic Raichle design from the eighties—with some cool updates—the First Chair has impressive quickness edge to edge and, of course, the trademark progressive flex. But it’s also got new metal buckles (lighter, more durable) and an updated cable system that’s easier to adjust. TAGS:…

GO ANYWHERE, FAST If we entered a shoe in the Dakar Rally, the Storm would be the choice. It’s tough, thanks to split-grain leather and plastic reinforcements on the upper. It’s light (16 ounces per shoe), due to details like nylon instead of metal eyelets and an absence of unnecessary…

The all-mountain OMG was at its best making big carves at high speed, charging down steeps, and gliding through trees. A bit of rocker in the tip and tail helped it power confidently up and over chop, but it was incredibly stable thanks to subtle traditional camber between the…

This sturdy hiker was our top choice when mixed terrain called for everything from cruising trails to scampering up summits. The uppers are nearly indestructible, thanks to a mix of leather and tightly woven mesh, and the stiff midsole can handle heavy loads and rocky footing. lasportiva.com…

LEKI‘s wicked-expensive but wicked-light SUPER SHARK POLES are worth ponying up for.

MOST VERSATILE Get the performance of a heavier boot in this jackrabbit-quick package, which has heat-welded overlays bonded to the upper for structure, plus an eVent liner to repel slush. hi-tec.com…

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…

GREEN-MINDED AND OLD-SCHOOL Mountainsmith managed to build the Phoenix out of an impressive 85 percent recycled materials, including 100 percent recycled PET fabric, recycled mesh back panel and zippers, and sustainable biopolymer buckles. That’s about the current eco-limit without compromising the pack’s performance. But there’s much more to the Phoenix…

Good for SnowshoeingThe Vanton isn’t TNF’s most technical boot, but it’s waterproof and rated to 40 below zero, plus the outsole’s rubber gets grippier as temperatures drop. thenorthface.com…

Mountain-Ready The Bushland’s understated good looks, combined with its snug fit and low-profile but seriously grippy Vibram outsole, made this our pick for days that had us pounding both dirt and concrete. Among the shoes featured here, only the Vasque beats this capable scrambler on steep mountain…

Good for Backcountry If the devil is in the details, this daypack is an unrepentant sidecountry sinner. Whereas most packs have one or two really smart touches, the Spindrift has half a dozen: a bit of mesh at the bottom of the avy-tool pouch so snowmelt can…

Weekender The back panel on this space-efficient pack—we carried up to four days’ worth of supplies—closely mimics the curve of a woman’s back, which makes it so comfy, testers forgot they had it on. We love the side zip for getting at buried stuff. 3.7 lbs, 3,112 cu in;…

Waterproof full-grain leather with faux shearling and a liberal dose of insulation made this grippy, midcalf lace-up a testers’ fave for mellow snowshoe jaunts that ended with lounging by the fire.

Why It’s CoolThe sleek new Platinum Pro holds up to 21 cubic feet of gear and opens from either side, but here’s the important part: I got this sucker out of the box and locked on the roof in less than two minutes, all by my lonesome. » The arched…

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,…

Keep It Simple Live in a flattish city and looking for a stylish, affordable everyday bike? That’s the whole point of this durable steel single-speed, which takes racks and sports a SRAM Torpedo rear hub that easily switches from freewheel to fixed with a screwdriver—no wheel flipping necessary. Tiny gripe:…

Attention, bicycle junkies: Whether you replace that quiver of bikes clogging your garage or just add to it, the Zirkel is for people who maintain a bike fund the way others stock a 401(k). This three-inch-travel cross-country cruiser picks up where Moots’s now retired Smoothie left off, with a…

SPECIALIZATIONA cousin to the bike that won a Gear of the Year award in ’03, the Epic is the best full-suspension climber on the market. True, this bike’s design isn’t quite as buttery as some others’, and its twitchy steering has scared off more than a few riders. But the…

A BIG-WHEELED RACER There’s only one problem with a bike this beautiful: You may hesitate to inflict the first scratch. Fortunately, the feeling passes. We fell in love with the Mamasita’s exquisite skewers and gorgeous paint job, and then our affection deepened after we banged it around the desert trails…

ALL-AROUND PERFORMER After each ride, we had to check the price tag—could a bike this good cost this little? Not only did Mongoose equip this four-inch ride with a plush Fox RP2 rear shock and smooth RockShox Recon Race fork; they also threw in a complete Shimano XT group, a…

How does Giro improve on its popular E2 cross-country race helmet? With an adjustable visor, an easier and more snug fit, and a lower profile that provides better coverage while increasing weight by less than an ounce. giro.com…

Like the Epic, the brand-new, full-carbon Blur XC is scary light—one tester pulled it right off the ground while navigating a short, punchy climb. And while its rear shock doesn't boast the same techy approach the Epic's does, the Blur flat-out rips on fast singletrack. Credit Santa Cruz's proven Virtual…

Carbon Comfort Carbon-fiber bikes in this price range are no longer an anomaly. To keep costs down, they’re constructed with a slightly heavier weave. The result is usually a significantly smoother road feel than aluminum-framed bikes have, though generally not quite as forgiving as the finest carbon cloth. The ultrastiff…

Trust us: It’ll make you a better photographer. The simple, intuitive M8.2 demands that you actually turn the aperture ring and shutter-speed dial manually, not just fondle screens. Luddite madness? Or a call for patience and thoughtfulness? The latter, no question. After days of shooting in Vancouver,…

The nylon soles on SIDI‘s new SPIDER SRS SHOES are firm enough for pedaling but just forgiving enough for muddy sprints.

The price of our favorite tide watch drops by nearly half, putting it within reach of the dirtbag surfers who want it. www.ripcurl.com…

Four two-inch speakers—a pair of twist-off satellites, on three-foot tethers, and a subwooferlike bass unit—make this 40-watt aluminum system bump like a P-Funk track. www.thinkoutside.com…

With an anodized-titanium handle swaddled in carbon fiber, XIKAR’s XI 158 EXCURSION knife is a techie’s dream cutter. (888-266-1193, www.xikar.com)…

Lose the chest strap. With a touch of the finger, the 10M takes accurate readings in four to five seconds, twice as fast as other strapless monitors. Don’t look for lap features or data storage, but you do get the usual zone alarms, a stopwatch, and a calorie counter.

Meet your new cross-country training partner. With its integrated GPS receiver, the FORERUNNER 201 ($161) from GARMIN spits out continuous pace data on its widescreen LCD. Input your time and distance goals, and a little animated sprinter lets you know whether you’re really whupping it, or falling behind.

Beneath the waves, this scuba bad boy—an air, nitrox, and gauge computer with electronic compass, four-button operation, and giant matrix display—is king. suunto.com…

How’s this for a pendant? String it around your neck and—no matter the disaster—you’ll always have a half-ounce, 1.8-inch talon handy. buckknives.com…

Named for the speedsters who wear it on the track, TAG HEUER’S FORMULA 1 ($600) is an all-around performer, even away from the asphalt. This rugged Swiss Miss serves up easy-to-grasp ridges on the crown, a unidirectional bezel, and a 200-meter depth rating for fumble-proof visibility on land and sea.

If you’re heading way off the grid (think Nunavut) and need real-time weather data, invest in BRUNTON’S ATMOSPHERIC DATA CENTER PRO ($249). The handheld instrument pulls in 24-hour trend graphs for temperature, barometric pressure, and altitude. Beam the data to your PC via an optional infrared receiver ($49).

ALL-WEATHER BADASS Digicam designers must not get out much; the 790 SW is one of only two made to scoff at the elements. (The other is Olympus’s even tougher, fancier, pricier 1030 SW.) Rubber gaskets seal out dust and render the camera waterproof to ten feet down—a feature we tested…

Ideal for backcountry scoping, the Infinity features rugged, powerful optics. With a durable yet light-weight chassis, it’s primed for all conditions. 8.5×45; bushnell.com…

Big. And burly. With its roomy grip, double-pointed aluminum blade, and virtually unbendable shaft, this was our favorite shovel. 40 in extended, 29 in collapsed, 1.8 lbs; life-link.com…

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…

Super-zoom digicams have come into their own. Check out the ten-meg 565’s specs: RAW shooting, exposure lock, built-in image stabilization to reduce image blur, a 20x zoom that stretches from 26mm to a ridiculous 520mm, to name just a few of its SLR-like capabilities. Over a week in Mexico,…

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…

An upgrade to Minox’s proven, staff-favorite HG line, the powerful APOs deliver great edge-to-edge color quality in a tough but lightweight magnesium package. But that don’t come cheap! 8.5×43; minox.com…

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,…