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Our testers agree: The stainless-steel HammerHead is the toughest, most adjustable binding out there. Pick from five underfoot cable settings for varying terrain, foot size, or skill level. 3 lbs; twentytwodesigns.com Bonus: Enjoy more than two inches of spring travel for ultimate control on big, steep lines. Bummer:…
The shoe is built lighter and slimmer than the unisex version but with the same unique design: teeth cut directly into the aluminum frame, which flexes and bites into the snow as you press down. The free-rotating binding kept snow kick-up to a minimum. 3.3 lbs; msrgear.com. Pair them…
BIG-MOUNTAIN CARVER Good for Big Mountain Plenty plump for powder, the damp MX98 also drew top scores for quickness, edge grip, and stability. Like the four other skis in Kästle’s brand-new line, the MX98 benefits from classic construction and top-shelf materials—a high-end wood core (ash and…
If someone forgets or breaks their avalanche probe, these are great insurance. Pop off the baskets, screw the shafts together, and you’ve got a six-foot probe. Bummer: The mechanism that adjusts pole length can be finicky. Bonus: Comes with both winter and trekking baskets. life-link.com…
All skis this plump are a blast in powder, but the Goliath won our Gear of the Year award for its performance on firmer snow. During test conditions that ranged from teeth-rattling hardpack to boot-deep powder to crusty leftovers, the Goliath simply outperformed every other ski in its class. The…
Good for Big Mountain If we had a Gear of the Year award for boots, the Factor would win it. Constructed with an alpine-like overlap-shell design and progressive forward flex, the Factor was easily this year's most comfortable and best-performing downhill boot. Testers especially liked the liner's Boa closure…
EXPEDITION READY Simple. Light. Unbreakable. Infinitely versatile. What more could you ask for in a snowshoe? These hard-plastic classics can be extended with modular tails, so it’s easy to snap on more deck for powder or remove it to save weight. The no-gimmicks plastic-strap binding is effortless (just pull and…
With shock-absorbing base pads, stainless-steel cables, and a time-tested all-mountain design, the Team remains one of the most durable and quickest-securing systems we’ve ever tested. A redesigned strap shifts materials to areas that need more support. Translation: superior response with cradling comfort. flow.com…
Good for All Mountain Our favorite all-mountain, intermediate to advanced-level boot this year. Based on the company's newest high-performance shell, the HR Pro has a lower cuff for women and a cozy, furry liner for added warmth. The 115 in the name refers to this boot's flex, which is…
Like to move fast? This lightweight snowshoe took top honors among runners and speedier testers on even terrain. The binding’s crisscrossed webbing cinches tight with an easy tug, and the heel strap fits everything from low-profile running shoes to bulky snow boots. On icy days when you…
Good for Resort Like the 1980s three-piece Raichle classic but with much-improved performance thanks to a stiffer, reinforced tongue. Big-mountain skiers will especially like the way its predictable flex soaks up chatter at high speeds. Tip: Have the liner heated professionally. fulltiltboots.com…
Call it whatever you want—sidecountry, slackcountry, or frontcountry. But as the line between resort and backcountry continues to blur, the differences are obvious: Where we're skiing is changing, and so is the gear we're using. And just as our favorite alpine ski—the aptly named SideStash —is equally adept on both…
ALPINE TOURING Good for All Mountain The new four-buckle Titan was the toughest of the test—thanks to its overlap construction and progressive flex. “Ultimate ski control,” said one tester. “Stiff as an alpine boot.” Yet it has a comfy walk mode and tech fittings for any binding. 8.8 lbs;…
Big Mountain With the surface area of an aircraft carrier, aggressive rocker forward of the boot, and traditional camber underfoot and in the tail, the DarkSide dominates deep powder. “Scary fast and maneuverable in the fluff,” said one Utah tester. The stiff, flat tail provides a solid platform for…
Mark Landvik’s pro model, the Lando Phoenix is a big-mountain charger built for Landvik’s home playground near Juneau, Alaska. But like the Rome (opposite), it’s no one-condition pony. Testers loved how the mixed camber (rocker between the feet, with traditional camber at the tails) locked onto rails and made…
We may buy a small pack with the aim of paring down, but the Massif’s designers know us better than we know ourselves—we’ll still cram it full. And thus they have installed the best load-carrying system we’ve seen in a lightweight pack. Mammut’s aluminum Butterfly frame delivers rigid vertical…
CARVE IT ALL Like every model in Blizzard’s line, the M-Power is overbuilt, with beefy vertical sidewalls. The resulting deep edge penetration and an unwavering stability made the M-Power the best groomer ski in this category. But there was a tradeoff: It was a little hard to handle in soft…
Good for Backcountry This was our favorite pack for skiing around the resort. With its low profile, the Agent sits comfortably on a chair and stayed glued to our backs, even when hopping tight chutes out of bounds. Better yet, because the loops for its simple and…
SOFT SERVE ONLY We know, the name makes you lisp. But if you’re a hard-charging resort powder skier, you’re gonna have to deal. The Obsethed was the fattest ski submitted to our big-mountain test, and, outside of the Sierra or the Pacific Northwest, it’s all any serious powder skier really…
Go ahead and cram this pack full on the hottest day. The stiff Butterfly suspension supports a load of rocks, and a mesh panel lets air cool your back. 3.1 lbs, 1,830 cu in; www.mammutusa.com Bonus: A rain cover is included.
If your main objective is gentle, packed trails or snowy, rolling hills, the Crest is for you. Testers were drawn to it because of a comfortable and easy-to-ratchet binding, enough float for undemanding trails (like Vermont’s Bolton backcountry), and surprising grip. All at less than half the price of…
While all the shoes here are made specifically for women, we found that the Terrastryder’s lower- volume forefoot, cushioned ankle, deep Achilles cutout, and sloping collar combined for the best fit of the bunch. It feels more like a sandal than a boot but still has bootlike stability,…
Telemark Designed for the new, smaller NTN binding (above), the Priestess impressed us with its alpine-boot-inspired cuff, buckle placement, and overall ergonomics. Its only downside was that testers felt that the bellows were softer than they are on the men’s version of the boot. 7.1 lbs. TAGS: powerful, NTN-compatible…
CRAG BAG PLUSTapering like an inverted missile nose cone, this two-pound-ten-ouncer is one sweet summit-poacher. The main chute easily gulps down a stove, fuel, clothes, and a tightly compressed sleeping bag. The front hopper accepted my Nalgene and a couple of energy bars, while exterior diagonal lash points secured my…
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 …
MOST WATERPROOF When Moab's worst rainstorm in years coincided with our weekend plans, the Dryshield prevented a soggy retreat. In conditions that would have soused a lesser pack's contents, the 500-denier, polyurethane-coated packcloth kept our stuff bone dry. Its streamlined features—there's little more than mesh pockets and ax loops on…
CHAMELEON When worn alone, the Outtabounds’ detachable 728-cubic-inch yo-yo pack was perfect for riding lifts. Insert it into the main pack and you have a 2,300-cubic-inch combo with stable support, effective compression straps, and simple carry system (lash your board vertically or skis diagonally). It proved the perfect package for…
THE WETTER, THE BETTER Not surprisingly, sandal maker Chaco’s first-ever light hiking shoe excels in soggy conditions. As one of our testers shimmied down a waterfall drainage, he bloodied a knee, but, thanks to a full-coverage rubber rand, the Canyonlands escaped scratch-free. The low-profile outsole provided plenty of friction as…
Organizers will appreciate the many pockets in this petite daypack. There’s also a hydration sleeve and a bottom pocket for the stow-away rain cover. Despite all these features, it’s (relatively) light and streamlined: The harness system and removable waist belt are supportive but not bulky. 2.7 lbs, 1,500 cu…
Marmot knows how to mold a harness to a woman’s body. The Diva’s hipbelt and shoulder straps conformed to multiple testers’ torsos, and we loved this pared-down pack for long but still fast-and-light hikes. 3.1 lbs, 2,150 cu in; marmot.com…
The quick-cinch laces and trademark toe bumpers are a given for Keen. But what impressed testers most was the warmth-to-weight ratio: The waterproof-breathable Growler is every bit as warm as the Lynx but weighs just a bit more than Columbia’s Omni-Tech. 2.6 lbs; keenfootwear.com…
Top Box It’s pricey, yes, but it’s also the Rolls-Royce of rocket boxes. The sleek design helps decrease wind drag and preserve gas mileage, yet its 15 cubic feet of storage still easily fits five pairs of skis. And the solar-powered internal light that automatically comes on when you open…
Simple and Smart Although they’re best known for making school bags, JanSport also has a long track record making technical performance packs—like the 2,074-cubic-inch Salish. From long day hikes to more gear-intensive scrambles to local crags, it consistently received high marks as a comfy, versatile pack. An externally accessed hydration…
This is the warmest boot we tested this year (rated to 60 below zero). The key is a removable, quick-dry felt liner, with an inner heat-reflective layer that also helps draws moisture out of the boot, plus the mid-calf height keeps the snow out with the pull of a…
Good for Trails Even when the weather was truly heinous, the Razor helped us get in our runs. Wrapped in a waterproof, highly breathable eVent bootie that extends above the ankle, this unique shoe kept our feet warm and completely dry. The Vibram outsole proved adequate on…
Why They’re CoolLet the marathoners worry about shoe mechanics—here’s a fat-foot Cadillac for the rest of us. » Reebok’s top-of-the-line cushioning road shoes padded my peds like a down pillow. But it was the perforated heel that sold me. The innocuous-looking row of holes along the outer heel reduced skidding…
Hydration packs don’t come with more features than this. On a day hike in Utah’s Owl Canyon, the Isis’s leakproof three-liter reservoir toted plenty of water, the main compartment stowed lunch and more, and the large exterior pocket and cinch cord held extra layers. Even fully loaded, the pack…
OFF TO THE RACES Designers got out their knives—very sharp ones at that—and stripped the 790 down for speed: It’s a full five ounces lighter than some shoes here. Not surprisingly, the featherweight design didn’t impress any testers in the cushioning or armor departments, and it’s probably not the best…
Don’t resign yourself to bad form. My clunky stride isn’t pretty, and the Radial’s boldly curved outsole helped my foot roll from heel to toe more smoothly than usual—and get quicker rebound. That smoothness, combined with a triple-density EVA midsole and cushy air pad in the heel, made this a…
SPEEDY BUT GRIPPY Fact: The Italians make great shoes. Lesser known fact: They dominate competitive mountain running. That combined mastery is evident in the Crosslite, which is all about getting through the rough stuff as quickly as possible. A race-ready shoe with a minimalist design, the knobby-lugged Crosslite combines the…
With four easy-access storage pockets, a water-resistant iPod pouch, and a three-liter reservoir guaranteed against punctures for life, this updated classic is a smart pack for long rides and hikes. 1.4 lbs; www.camelbak.com…
HARD-CHARGER Good for Technical TrailsFor a debut shoe from a brand-new company, the Ignition gets enthusiastic Rookie of the Year props. It handled technical, rocky trails with aplomb, but unlike many other burly mountain-running shoes, it also felt remarkably light and nimble. Large, well-spaced lugs on the outsole clung…
em>Packed Trail If you run on a mix of pavement and dirt—often in the same outing—you’ll appreciate the Voza. To prove the point, we tested these lightweight trail runners on the streets of L.A., where the shoe’s midsole, and especially the amply cushioned heel, proved remarkably comfortable.
Good for Trails At a mere seven-plus ounces—almost half as much as the sturdiest trail runners—this featherweight flat initially seemed like it would be too flimsy for everyday running. Even though it’s designed for elite trail racing, we midpack runners still loved its fast and incredibly spry…
If I bring my dog Pontouf on a long run, I saddle him with Ruff Wear’s light, slim SingleTrak pack, which carries a liter of water. ruffwear.com…
Wave Runner “It feels like a racer with more cushioning,” said one tester. Indeed, this neutral trainer may not be as feathery as the Kinvara (page 50), but at a mere ten ounces it’s no slogger, either, thanks to a redesigned TPU “wave plate” (Mizuno’s springy cushioning device) and new,…
Cannondale is now manipulating carbon fiber for high-end race bikes as well as anyone, but the company hasn't completely abandoned its deep aluminum heritage. The Six 5 weds a carbon rear end and fork, which minimize painful road vibrations, to a stiff aluminum front triangle for pedaling efficiency. The frame…
Mountain Anticipating a trip to Moab in July? The Instinct’s cooling system has gaping channels that funnel air through like a fan. www.specialized.com Bonus: The on-off mountain visor is fast and easy.
Why It’s Coolhen the Trek engineers responsible for keeping Lance Armstrong in yellow had lightened the man’s frame as much as they could, they turned to aerodynamics. Using a wind tunnel, the team refined the tubing on what would become the Madone to eliminate tiny drag differences that purportedly added…
A fit system perfectly adjusts the Boss to your head—up, down, and around. And the smart closure on the strap is easy to manage even while you’re bouncing about on the trail. Bummer: Why no visor? uvexsports.com…
HEAD FOR THE HILLS In 2007, the mountainous Giro d’Italia and the best-climber’s jersey at the Tour de France were both won on Cannondales. It is with that climbing pedigree in mind that the company launches its new SuperSix. This is the same full-carbon frame Cannondale’s top pros are on…
SUPERSIZE MELast year’s Peregrines scored Gear of the Year by delivering sharp images and brilliant color rendition. By cranking the big objective lenses up to 50 millimeters—generally the upper limit for handhelds—and dialing back the magnification just a hair, Steiner is improving on greatness in a 26-ounce package. Bound for…
Most people’s feet tilt down and out when they dangle. As with all Specialized Body Geometry shoes, the carbon-soled S-Works are designed around this natural cant, to reduce knee and foot strain. specialized.com…
Why They’re CoolThe body is magnesium, the center axis shaft is titanium, there’s not a scrap of plastic in the focusing mechanism, and the whole works is rubber-armor-coated. » They’re good to go from minus 13 degrees all the way up to 131. Binoculars don’t come any more durable, and…
The fully-custom, carbon-and-titanium XS can save your ass, literally. One tester spent 19 hours on it—in a single weekend—and was still able to walk afterwards. Indy Fab, an employee-owned boutique builder in Somerville, Massachusetts, is known for its artistry (check the laser-cut lugs) and regularly pulls down awards at the…
Built for iPod (with a flip-down universal dock) but compatible with other devices, this retro unit features a 2.5-inch satellite speaker. Position it up to six feet away, for true stereo, or detach when space is tight. www.tivoliaudio.com…
Utility City, Smarter Our favorite commuter helmet, the Section is the lightest in its class and sports eight vents. Too few? If you ever yard-sale in this hard hat, you’ll appreciate its tougher shell and rounded profile—which won’t twist your neck like a more aerodynamically shaped helmet can when…
BRUNTON’s LAMPLIGHT pulls double duty as a flashlight for twilight wood gathering and a lantern with 360 degrees of alpenglow. (800-443-4871, www.brunton.com)…
Mr. Versatility Naming this sly cyclocross beast “Fox” (in Italian) was perfect: Whenever we got in a sticky situation, its big all-terrain rubber, triple chainring, and forgiving steel frame saw us through in style. And if you’re not riding your local trails or CX course on the weekend, you can…
The GT3 helps track recovery times and adjusts your zone alerts quickly midrun—great for fartlek training and intervals. The manual is a little puzzling, but the payoff is worth the decoding time. cardiosport.com…
Research in Motion wraps all of the classic BlackBerry features—e-mail, Web browser, personal organizer, phone/QWERTY keypad, and more—into a sleek, palm-size package that doesn’t make you look like you’re using a butter dish to make calls. Should your trekking porters turn tail on you, odds are your worldwide-roaming BlackBerry will…
Whether you’re surfing, boating, or fishing, suss tidal data for 275 preprogrammed global locations, or add your secret stashes to the lineup with lat-long coordinates. At the office, black out the digital display for a clean analog look. $300; reactorwatch.com…
Climbing the hills, but also the ladder? The SWISS ARMY STARTECH 4000 ($395) packs many useful mountain metrics—like temperature, altitude, and cumulative vertical ascent across a day, week, or season—into a cool black analog-and-digital package.
We consider it essential gear for boring dinner dates. Made to hang from the delicate wrists of snowboarders and skate punks, the analog TICKET ($200) is one of NIXON’s slickest models to date. The ultrathin Swiss quartz movement gives the case a thickness of just a few millimeters.
THINK OUTSIDE’S STOWAWAY BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD ($150) connects—without cables—to any Palm or Pocket PC handheld that supports the wireless Bluetooth protocol. You’ll feel like you’re tapping away on a laptop, until you fold the seven-ounce full-size pad down into a five-and-a-half-by-three-inch package.
GOOD WITH FACES For photographing family, friends, or a mob of dirtbags, the S12 is a beautifully simple solution. It boasts a 12-meg sensor, a sharp 3x zoom, and an advanced movie mode, but its best feature is a face-recognition function that detects as many as 15 unruly mugs and…
Gearing up for a long haul on two wheels or feet? This GPS-enabled training android measures speed, distance, and heart rate, and the included software creates three weeks of workouts and tracks performance. polarusa.com…
This workshop-sturdy unit can accommodate all bike sizes yet weighs less than 20 pounds and packs into a 39-inch-long carrying case. pedros.com…
We double-checked the weight of every bike—and a lot of the other gear—on these pages with this user-friendly scale. Hang it from a work stand or roof beam, and see if those new wheels are as light as the manufacturer claims. (They probably aren’t.) feedbacksports.com…
The X-Fi lets you wirelessly stream tunes and photos from your computer, listen to FM, record voice memos, and expand the memory with an SD card. Plus, it restores the quality of digitally compressed music. Yes, you really can tell. PC only; 16–32GB; creative.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…
Good for Backcountry Along with the system of beeps, arrows, and measurements that traditional avalanche beacons produce to help you find your buried friends, the S1 also draws you an easy-to-read picture, with precise distances and locations. It’s quick on the draw, too: When you open it,…
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…
Pinch Hitter With nine tools (pliers, scissors, two screwdrivers, etc.), this tough little keychain-ready steel number is perfect for all those times a full-size multitool would be excessive. leatherman.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,…
Mapping Maven This super-powerful GPS takes personal navigation to a new level. Testers were shocked by how eyeblink-fast it updated location on its gorgeous 4.3-inch screen—as if the satellites were just overhead—and how easy it was to enter a destination and then find arrival times, elevation, traffic alerts, and, of…
We didn’t expect the first hybrid Android smartphone/GPS device to do both jobs so competently. Preloaded with maps for North America—with worldwide ones downloadable from Garmin’s store—it uses cell towers and satellites, for better, faster mapping (especially in rural areas) than any other phone can offer. The camera, music player,…
The HOT CHILLYS SALSA SEAMLESS CAMI is made of nylon infused with silver for antimicrobial protection. (800-468-2445, www.hotchillys.com)…
Want no-compromise magnification without a weight penalty? At 19 ounces, the Echo is the lightest full-size model we tested. 10×32; www.brunton.com…