Last year we raved about the I/O’s seamless interchangeable lens system and distortion-killing Vaporator valve, which equalizes the pressure between the double lens. Our only gripe? On smaller faces, it looked like you were wearing a goldfish bowl. The I/OS is essentially the same goggle but in a…

ALPINE TOURING Good for All Mountain An update of the mainstay Fritschi Free-ride, the Eagle moves the pivot back an inch for a more natural skinning gait and broadens the mounting pattern for wider skis. “Kick turns are way easier than on Freerides,” said a tester. The DINs go…

The Chapter might look like it’s short on vents—just four small closable ports up top—but the inside has big circulation channels to let cool air flow around. As with the Smith, dialing in the right fit is a cinch, although some testers noted odd pressure points around the channels…

Telemark It wasn’t the stiffest boot, or the lightest, but the Push quietly won testers over with its ability to do it all. “One boot to drive anything in my quiver,” said one tester. The Push features adjustable forward lean, Boa lacing, and a thermomoldable liner that fit most testers…

Because the Cornea’s burly, cylindrical polycarbonate outer lens is attached to the outside of the frame, its peripheral vision is as good as it gets. We tested a bunch of lens colors but were especially keen on the “clear” option (the Persimmon Red lenses are pictured), which allows 45…

Nubuck leather, a Gore-Tex XCR liner, and midcut ankle support for $125? Snap this up before the bean counters at Aku snatch it back. You get an all-purpose hiker with aggressive traction, a near-perfect blend of cushion and stiffness, and a durable, instant-break-in upper. The tread bit into ice…

MOST VERSATILE It’s a frontside ski, so you can carve easy but powerful turns on it all day long, but thanks to subtle tip rocker (see page 39) and a big sweet spot, you can work the Rictor through bumps and mellow off-piste conditions with ease. Buy it if you…

Why It’s CoolThe frame has all the components of a big-beast carrier—a framesheet, an aluminum stay, and twin fiberglass rods—but each element is designed for medium duty, neatly hauling 35 pounds. The framesheet is punched full of holes to save weight and preserve flex. » It’s superlight (three pounds three…

MADSHUS‘s NANOSONIC CARBON SKATE R SKIS, some of the lightest and most responsive we tried last winter.

This climber-friendly pack has a removable hipbelt—a plus when wearing it with a harness—and a weight-shaving detachable lid. Brilliant: Tool attachments double as bottle openers. 2.9 lbs, 2,150 cu in; www.mountainhardwear.com…

Big Mountain As the stiffest boot in the women’s Inferno line, the Crush was our favorite advanced-level boot. “It’s a no-holds-barred women’s skiing machine!” one tester exclaimed. Its basic design—low volume with a very natural and efficient stance—fit most of our testers well right out of the box. A faux-fur…

Though it’s not billed as a trail runner, the Kota is constructed on a running-shoe last, and it shows. Racing to beat sunset, I sped down north Georgia’s Hemp Top Trail in these shoes and reached the car with no foot fatigue. Underfoot, the cleatlike tread bites the ground, while…

  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          …

Why They’re CoolThe Mizars’ radically low weight (two pounds four ounces) arrives courtesy of a feathery midsole-insole combination made of polyurethane and nylon. » Tough nubuck leather covers about 95 percent of the uppers, affording these lightweight boots heavyweight durability. Rubber toe and heel guards helps too. » The dual-density…

MOST VERSATILE The Lite-Speed is the triathlete of packs: This panel-loader seamlessly transitioned from an overnight in the Adirondacks to a three-day trek in the Tetons, and it’s light enough for day trips. An external stuff compartment holds lunch and layers, and oversize side and hipbelt pockets keep smaller items…

LIGHT AND FAST These winterized trail runners are perfect for cruising fast through sloppy conditions, thanks to waterproof-breathable XCR liners and clip-on ankle gaiters (included). lasportiva.com…

MOVES WITH YOU Built with a light plastic frame and hipbelt system and an Allen-wrench-adjustable pivot point that attaches a separate shoulder harness to the pack, the BA1 offers independent hip and torso motion. Testers were skeptical at first: The BA1 seems like a lot of money for a lot…

The faux-shearling collar and fleece lining are cozy. The Vibram outsole and air-cushioned midsole add traction and comfort. And the specially treated synthetic insulation fights stink. Rated to -40F. merrell.com…

Fast and Light We love that the Stumptown LT is made mostly from recycled materials. The only thing that impressed us more was its performance. At a wispy 11 ounces, it’s the lightest trail shoe that made the cut this year, and it quickly became a favorite…

The HighRoller’s universal attachment accommodates all wheel sizes from a 29-inch downhiller to Junior’s 20-inch Huffy. Bonus: The tire clamp eliminates contact with your bike’s frame, preventing ugly rub marks on that candy-coat paint job. yakima.com…

If glacier travel or some winter peak bagging is on the docket, the M-Possible is the ticket. This carbon-lasted, fully rigid mountaineering boot is step-in-crampon-compatible and, thanks to a layer of insulation, a heat-reflective layer, and a NASA-approved Aerogel footbed, warmer than the inside of a tauntaun. Soft-shell…

Stowaway Because it packs down to the size of a grapefruit, this sling always made its way into our suitcase. We liked it as much for what it lacks (superfluous straps, extra weight) as for what it has (a phone pocket and comfy shoulder strap). 7.7 oz, 427 cu in;…

VAUDE‘s ROCK 45+10 PACK. Its front crampon pocket keeps sharp points away from your jacket and rope, and its single-clip holsters fit everything from mountaineering tools to leashless axes with and without grips.

Size, Price: 70 oz, $28; 100 oz, $30Flow Rate: 3*Funk Figher?: Antimicrobial treatmentFilter-Compatible?: Yes, with $7 adapterValve Shutoff?: YesGotta Love: Angled mouthpiece puts bite valve where you need itBummer: Tricky to drySplat Test: Survived *Ratings: 1=Average, 3=Excellent…

Don’t be fooled by the adiStar’s low weight and mesh upper. It’s a solid motion-control shoe for heavier runners or severe overpronators looking to hammer out miles. Adidas recently streamlined its proprietary Ground Control System, resulting in a sleeker, lighter shoe with the same support benefits. It nips overpronation…

SUPERLIGHT AND SUPER-SECURE The lacing system on this shoe swerves so radically you might think it’s a factory blooper. It’s not. Less than a mile into a training run along the Boulder Creek Path, it was clear that the Concinnity’s off-center lacing system pulls double duty: It helps provide an…

ALL-PURPOSE This crossover shoe performs well on a variety of surfaces. On technical trails, it’s stable and comfortably cushioned, thanks to high-rebound foam in the midsole and a solid plastic protection plate in the forefoot; on hard surfaces, the cushion almost makes this shoe feel like it was made for…

If you’re one of the lucky ones who can trot out the front door and weave together a perfect run on a mix of trail and pavement, stop gloating and buy a pair of Odysseys. At first glance the toothy tread appears to be trails-only, but the low-profile lugs, four-density…

TRIATHLON-READY With a pronounced heel tab, quick-pull laces, and sole drain holes, the Tempo is designed to speed up your switches from bike to run. But the first-ever road shoe from the triathlon-apparel company Zoot is also a highly advanced, lightweight trainer for everyday roadies. The midsole’s dual-density foam and…

Thanks to a full-length TPU Flexion Plate that instigates forward motion, we simply felt fastest in these light stability shoes. In other words, they’re pricey but worth it. And you can run them hot: The breath­able mesh is treated with temperature-regulating material that actually seems to work. 10 oz;…

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may work as a guiding principle for, say, can openers, but not running shoes. Brooks took a popular, high-quality cushioning shoe and went back to the drawing board, producing the new and improved Radius 06. It’s a lighter and more generously padded runner…

The most gender-specific shoe in our test, the Wave Rider accommodates a woman’s unique biomechanics. The result is a nimble, comfortable, impressively breathable, neutral trainer that’s also ready to race. 8 oz; mizunousa.com…

Motion-control shoes have a rep for feeling big and clunky, but this agile cruiser defies the stereotype. The key component is the detached heel-strike pad, which moves independently of the rest of the midsole. The design isolates shock absorption from the rest of the shoe and stops mild pronation in…

Cool Runner We have to admit, the Ravenous surprised us. Columbia is new to the running market and debuts with this breathable, lightweight, perfectly competent trail shoe. It’s best on rocky terrain and—with its particularly breezy open mesh—begs to be unleashed in humid climes. The traction ranked high on dry…

Road Think classic American sedan: plush interior, soft in the shocks, and ready to cruise. The updated Ghost is a comfort-minded neutral trainer, ready for high-mileage days and moderate paces, though it was too spongy for our speedsters. 8.8 oz. TAGS: neutral, generous cushioning…

BEAT THE CLOCK With a one-inch-wide head tube and bladed fork, the full-carbon B2 enters the wind like a dart. A multi-position stem adjusts for the sweet spot between aerodynamic crouch and lower-back comfort. Shaped tubes keep everything hidden behind the front end to minimize drag, and even the rear…

Meet the Houdini of bikes: On the trail, the Anthem is so smooth it feels as if the bike has disappeared beneath you. Giant brings Maestro, 2005’s award-winning suspension, to 3.5 inches of travel, creating a lightweight ride that thrives on all manner of terrain—especially fast, technical, roller-coaster singletrack.

DISCOUNT TICKETThink of the Competition as a two-wheeled iMac: Pros may want more, but if you’re looking for a worry-free performance machine, clip on in. Raleigh is coming on strong for ’05 by combining cutting-edge frames with styling that harks back to the brand’s late-seventies/early-eighties heyday. Carbon tubing, aluminum lugs,…

A SMARTER WAY TO RIDE You know those glorious and rare outings when you think only about riding—and not about your bike? That’s what every ride is like on the carbon-fiber Epic. This year Specialized became the first major bike company to manufacture its own rear shocks, and their redesigned…

CROSS-COUNTRY REVELATION The Mach 4 is the first cross-country offering from MTB-design legend Chris Cocalis’s newly launched Pivot brand. It’s built around the same dw-link platform as the Gear of the Year–winning Ibis but tuned a bit firmer to stay active while eliminating energy-sapping pedal bob. The bike blasted up…

Birding on the Cheap Perfect for the neophyte birder who wants quality glass without blowing his inheritance. The DCF NV’s semi-compact design was fast on the draw, and the rubberized exterior helped protect them from inclement weather—and more than one clumsy drop. Their 16mm eye relief allowed for comfortable, strain-free…

While most folding bikes compromise wheel size or frame design, Ritchey’s unique coupling system delivers a full-size race rig. Also available in a sultry mix of titanium and carbon. ritcheylogic.com…

Training in unfamiliar terrain? This watch wirelessly connects to a heart-rate strap and a belt-or arm-mounted GPS unit for altitude and navigation coordinates. www.timex.com…

Though built for aggressive trail riding, this bike dished up so much speed, we had to double-check its specs. The aluminum Trailfox definitely uses all 5.5 inches of its travel, but the general consensus was that it often pedaled as well as a short-travel racer. “One of the fastest rides…

Weighing little more than half an ounce, the Two Can is either the lightest little knife we’ve seen this year or the smallest pair of scissors. www.kershawknives.com…

Mountain Happy Trails The comfiest mountain-bike helmet in the test? You’re looking at it. The thumbwheel up top lets you snug a headband around your noggin via a cable for a pressure-point-free fit that every tester raved about. Bonus: enough vents for the hottest days. 9.8 oz;…

ESSENTIALISTSuunto stepped back and asked, “What do athletes really need?” then answered with the t6, which charts heart rate, time, and elevation gain and shares it all with a PC. The bundled Training Manager software is easy to use. An optional wireless speed sensor ($109) attaches to your shoelaces and,…

CHALLENGE‘s handmade and all-conditions GRIFO OPEN TUBULAR TIRES offer tubular-like suppleness but mount like a clincher.

FLYWEIGHTCountless ambles down to the local java joint validated the TrailAudio’s always-at-hand design. I stocked this two-ouncer with 11 Led Zeppelin albums and clipped it to my belt loop. With a water-resistant casing, this 256MB memory-card-based player is ready for the rain and the rough. Plug it into a USB…

A LIGHTWEIGHT, WALLET-FRIENDLY DSLR A full-featured DSLR can be an awkward load when you’re traveling, especially in cities. Not the D40. I had no problem toting it through the streets of London and Barcelona. At just over a pound, the D40 is one of the lightest interchangeable-lens DSLRs around. But…

This Henry Kloss–inspired beauty, which takes auxiliary input from any player, features a high-precision AM/FM tuning dial, water resistance, rechargeable batteries, and a surprisingly beefy 2.5-inch speaker. tivoliaudio.com…

Find your way in the dark, or signal extraterrestrials, with this limited-edition titanium, true-variable-output, 70-lumen LED torch; it’s the size of your finger, weighs 1.9 ounces, and burns for 50 hours. surefire.com…

Because they stay sticky in a variety of snow conditions and temperatures, G3 skins have long been a tester favorite. This year, thanks to an extra coat of waterproofing and a redesigned tip attachment (which now fits any ski shape), they’re even better. genuineguidegear.com…

Made for music phones—note the mike on the wire— these little hi-fi numbers snug comfortably and stay put. v-moda.com…

Tweeze the unibrow, pick your teeth, drive screws, and, in case you’re trapped in a vehicle as it sinks to the bottom of a river, punch out the windows and slash your seatbelt. swissarmy.com…

The most full-featured of the key-chain strongboxes, SAMSUNG’S YEPP YP-55V ($199) holds 256 megabytes of music in bump-proof flash memory. It plays FM when your mixes get moldy, and records digital files from radio, voice, or aftermarket mike. To fill it up, plug the 1.2-ounce unit into your PC’s USB…

With a new third antenna that delivers more accurate distance-to-victim measurements, a pull-tab-activated search mode, and a directional display, this is the simplest and most intuitive beacon on the market. 8.8 oz; backcountryaccess.com…

Making the switch from point-and-shoot to DSLR? The 10.2-meg K2000 comes with a 27.5–85mm (35mm-equivalent) zoom lens and a flash for the price of some digicams. Plus, at 20.8 ounces with batteries, it’s one of the lightest and smallest DSLRs on the market. Beginner-friendly features include built-in image stabilization…

Looking for something more sophisticated than your basic cell phone but not crazy about stuffing a mini-computer into your pocket? This slim unit is a perfect middle ground. Because the touchscreen provides feedback—clicking and vibrating with each touch—we found texting, especially when multitasking, easier than with most phones. The…

Channel Ponch and Jon with these heirloom-quality shades. Military contractor Randolph offers a number of aviator styles, but the (questionably named) Intruder gets our vote for its modern take on a classic look, rugged build, and quality glass optics. randolphusa.com…

We love the actual physical control dial and gas-gauge-style memory and battery indicators up top of this 12.2-meg digicam, but its wide 24mm lens, ultrabright, three-inch active-matrix OLED display, and HD video are the real sells. samsung.com…

Even if you don’t know your starboard from your jib, it’s nice to have shades that are up to making the run to Tahiti. Though designed to dominate the fishing, sailing, and watersports categories, Costa’s superfine 580 glass is a thrill to wear anywhere. Silver mirroring ups the cool…

Why It’s CoolCanon clearly gets feedback from pros; their cameras are better balanced and easier to hold while scrambling up trails. » The metering system measures focal distance and light from 35 locations within the frame. I captured perfectly balanced images, whether I was using close focus to secure shots…

Time Trialer If this black-on-black piece from Spanish company Festina were a movie character, it would be one of the Nihilists from The Big Lebowski. In a very good way. With a scratch-resistant mineral crystal, 100-meter water resistance, and ultrasmooth movement in its three-dial chronograph, it’s all you’d expect from…

“I’d climb Everest in this jacket,” said one tester. We doubt his fitness but not the jacket’s. A top-tier combo of Gore-Tex fabrics—ounce-saving PacLite in the torso and burly three-layer XCR on the shoulders—provides maximum durability, waterproofing, and breathability with minimum weight. Superb details include two-way pit zips, a…

Like Suunto’s Extreme Edition Silver ($329), this watch has an altimeter, barometer, compass, storm alarm, sunrise/sunset times, etc. It’s also engraved with the signature of Apa Sherpa, who this year made his record 20th summit of the big peak. (It’s an edition of 8,848—the mountain’s elevation in meters.) Plus…

Unlike most cycling gear, which is either solid black or blue (thrilling!) or garish enough to offend your dog, Twin Six’s line of high-performance, retro-hip jerseys won’t make your partner cringe. www.twinsix.com…

Why They’re CoolThe 10×25 configuration is tricky—it’s a lot of magnification in a small package—but Brunton gives the XC10 the most solid, ergonomic, tactilely pleasing body in the field. The rubber-clad housing grips just right, with flat spots on the underside for the thumbs. The barrels stay just where you…

Waffling between a shoe and a sandal? The H2’s blend of protection, support, and air conditioning make it the perfect compromise. Just don’t expect to slip into it like a flip-flop. www.keenfootwear.com…

We’ve heard of one-size-fits-all hats, but bikes? And yet everyone who rode the Lisa RD raved about the comfortable fit. Benefitting from Kona’s comprehensive push in the road-bike realm this year, the Lisa is built with the same responsive Dedacciai Force 7005 aluminum used on higher-level frames, paired with…

COOL CHAMELEONOne of those rare pieces that delivers performance on the trail but still looks sharp on the street, this ingeniously paneled, 19-ounce hoodless number employs two breeds of Gore WindStopper—tough Trango on the yoke and arms, lighter Eiger on the rest—and its versatility is astounding: You’ll stay warm and…

Ounce for ounce, the lightweight and stretchy Contours are the toughest pants here. A DWR coating easily fends off rain, and hard-duty Cordura/Lycra fabric is still breathable enough for hot days. orgear.com…

DRY IN ANY STORM If you go out when others go home, this is your jacket. It’s a tad heavy, but the payoff is uncompromising protection. When a group of five testers ski-toured out of Washington’s Commonwealth Basin in steady rain, the only guy who stayed bone-dry was the one…

With a razor-siped, sticky gum-rubber outsole for traction on slick decks, and rustproof hardware to combat corrosive saltwater, this shoe is right at home on a boat in, say, Belize. columbia.com…

Get socks that’ll outlast your shoes. These seem like they were forged rather than knitted. After a two-month pounding, the merino/nylon/Lycra socks look good as new. darntough.com…

When your snot starts to freeze on your face, grab this goose-down monster. Smart vents in the chest minimize overheating on hard-charging descents. oakley.com…

The water-resistant Aidens can handle snowy driveways and sloppy sidewalks. But because they’re not insulated (but have comfy sheepskin liners), these shoes are a good choice for California winters and other moderate climates. uggaustralia.com…

These pants were impervious to Cascade storms, but still light enough for spring touring. The key: strong and breathable Gore-Tex Pro Shell, and removable suspenders that make for a smooth transition from foul to fair. scottusa.com…

The low-key style, almost hidden pockets, and minimal amount of PrimaLoft One synthetic insulation make it perfect for mild days. 1.2 lbs; merrell.com…