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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Traveling Light These pocket-friendly glasses proved their worth on a trip down under, where spotting honeyeaters and musky rat kangaroos was easy. On our test back home, they were the best small binocs of the bunch, with tight, clean images, thanks to top-of-the-line SF prism glass and a light (13.5…
Place two fingers on the Duo’s sensors and, seconds later, you’ve got your pulse rate. The bargain price also includes a wireless heart-rate strap (for more accurate measurement) and chronograph. www.highgear.com…
At just 2.4 ounces and 2.5 inches when stowed, this microknife conceals some oversize innards: seven tools and a pair of pliers for those on-the-go, clutch repairs. www.gerbergear.com…
WEATHER BEATERThe Stylus 500 is one of the only cameras out there equipped to handle a downpour: I shot supercrisp photos along B.C.’s Howe Sound Crest trail in rain that would have fried most digis faster than you can say “one-year warranty.” The secret? Tiny rubber gaskets within the all-metal…
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…
BEST FOR PORTRAITS Are you a people person? What separates this camera from all the other 6-meg point-and-shoots is a sensor that enables it to detect faces in the frame—up to ten at a time—and automatically set the precise focus and exposure for each one. I was skeptical, but at…
Svelte (a quarter-inch thin), featherweight (1.4 ounces), and tough (anodized aluminum), this unit will be surpassed only by its descendants—plus it has more custom accessories than Barbie. Mac or PC; apple.com…
Designed by a fireman, the Rescue is the ultimate emergency knife, with snub-nosed blade, thumb stud, seatbelt hook, and window punch, plus an oxygen-tank wrench in the handle. gerbergear.com…
Beacon technology continues to evolve: The new S1 has the smartest electronic signal separation for multiple burials we’ve seen. It also includes an inclinometer and electronic compass. ortovox.com…
Audio quality is still not as good as you’d expect, but it’s good enough, and the two-inch screen renders video surprisingly watchable. Buying the red unit helps fight AIDS in Africa. Mac or PC; apple.com…
This mountaineer-designed looker covers the basic bases with both work and pen blades, lanyard loop, flathead screwdriver, and, of course, vino liberator. buckknives.com…
Lance Armstrong’s preferred eyewear during his return to racing, the new Jawbone uses a hinged frame for easy lens changes. Small bumpers inside the tops of the frame secure the smudge-free, hydrophobic lenses without distorting them. oakley.com…
Thank goodness for progress—the underwater MP3 player is finally here! The two-inch-diameter earbuds on the OCEANIC H20 AUDIO ($399) clip to your mask strap or sit inside your hood, sending sound waves a short distance through water, to play a surprisingly hi-fi starfish soundtrack.
Angle away with these optical wonders. Though they’re great for wearing out and about, the Baysides sport glass lenses in a greenish tint that’s perfect for fishing streams and saltwater flats in low light, yet the polarization knocks out surface glare to reveal the water’s wily inhabitants in any…
Jimmy Odén’s new ski-mountaineering bible is so comprehensive—366 pages on route finding, equipment, avalanche safety, etc.—we’d shelve it next to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. But the stunning photography and hip design suggest a better home would be on the coffee table. freeskiingthebook.com…
Besides being mighty handsome, the sapphire-crystal Night Vision II has a superbright LED that not only allows reading in the dark but, should you get stranded, can also strobe/signal for help for a week straight. swissarmy.com…
DIAD stands for “done in a day,” but even testers who didn’t speed-climb El Cap appreciated this wispy storm shell. It’s perfect for windy summits and surprise squalls—and so light we never debated packing it. Designing a seven-ounce jacket requires cutting a few corners, which in this case means…
Why It’s CoolTo support one-handed shooting, Fuji glued soft rubber where the heel of your mitt meets the camera’s body, and finger grooves up front on the “handle” below the shutter housing. » The 3.1-megapixel FinePix will shoot almost five frames a second, for five seconds. That fast mode, combined…
Sidi has long made bombproof shoes for mountain bikers and the Blaze is no exception. With two sturdy Velcro straps and a rugged plastic sole, these synthetic leather cleats will simply not succumb to trail abuse. 12 oz; www.sidiusa.com…
For pushing big sound around outside, the rugged Tailgater is a solid value. A 16-watt amp powers a six-inch woofer and one-inch tweeter; it’s not stereophonic, but it’ll get the party started. Just dock your iPod (or use one of several other auxiliary jacks) for 12 hours of audio…
Cross a rubber tire with a sandal and you get this cool beast. A pull-through cord snugs each “rib” (actually made with EVA plastic foam) down like a clamp for great stability. www.mionfootwear.com…
Shots in the Dark It’s no secret that Nikon’s 12.3MP D300s (an HD-video-enabled update on their popular D300) and the Canon 7D go head to head in the prosumer DSLR category, but the two companies took different tacks in their designs. The D300s favors the still photographer, with a zippy…
This compact road-racing machine offers the best of both material worlds: The aluminum main frame makes for a snappy ride (and keeps the price reasonable), while the carbon seatstays, seatpost, and flat-bladed monocoque fork smooth out road chatter to keep your body fresh. The combination makes the Finest light…
One-Man Band A versatile backcountry watch at a great price. The Nomad has no fewer than eight intuitively designed functions: time/date, compass, altimeter, barometer, stopwatch, timer, alarm, and temperature. Yellow hurts your eyes? It also comes in white or black. freestyleusa.com…
Split the difference between superlight and full-featured: This packable polyester shell has a fleece-lined collar, hem drawcord, and chest pocket that doubles as a stuffsack. 5.8 oz; cloudveil.com…
There’s something reassuringly Terminator in this model’s military khaki “Unobtainium” rubber strap. With Swiss-made computer numeric control, an “impact-forged” steel case, and 100-meter water resistance, it’s the watch we grab when we don’t know what to expect. Thus its name, in honor of the hardcore World War II battalion.
Why They’re CoolThis handsome three-lens wrap may be all you’ll ever need—from above treeline to surfaces hard, soft, and man-made. » The darkest of the swap-out poly lenses are polarized gray. For less searing conditions, there’s brown. My fave is an almost-clear orange that pops details out of the murk.
VERSATILE PERFORMER “It’s super-comfortable, looks cool, and beat back steady rain for hours,” said one tester, summing up the Virtual’s virtues. In a category that has never been known for sleek style, Ground has elevated the game by creating an all-purpose storm shell you won’t mind wearing when it’s not…
Yak leather and a direct-injected outsole combine to make this shoe lightweight, yet tough for the long haul. With every stride, air is pumped through the insole to help reduce foot funk. eccousa.com…
Butter. That’s the best way to describe the feel of these socks, which blend soft merino and alpaca fibers. Wicking channels at the forefoot move moisture up to the ankle, where it evaporates more easily. dahlgrenfootwear.com…
Made of Peruvian alpaca wool, this antistink base layer is even softer than the finest merino we tested. Plus it won’t shrink in the wash like some wool base layers. powderhorn-world.com…
Need something warm enough for Wisconsin or Wyoming? Thanks to a Thinsulate lining and an inch-thick, insulated footbed, the waterproof Bota Bags are the warmest boots here. sorel.com…
Get these soft-shell pants for classic winter conditions: more cold, snowy, and windy than wet, slushy, and rainy. The Gore Windstopper fabric is tough on the outside, but has a soft fleece lining. cloudveil.com…
An angler’s dream, these high-definition, polarized amber lenses cut the glare coming off the water, plus the removable rubber side shields ensure you won’t have to worry about wind, dust, sand, or spray. costadelmar.com…
Bring this 650-fill-down puffy on your next hut trip. At just 19 ounces, it stuffs into a sack the size of a small melon. It’s cut just above the hip, which means it’s perfect for wearing with a backcountry pack. isisforwomen.com…
SIMPLE BUT VERSATILE First impression: generic name, not many features. But we decided to give it a chance thanks to its comfy fit, good looks, and the fact that it costs half as much as the most technical jackets here. Final impression: It’s a solid jacket for the money.
GOING DOWN? For speed and control on the descent, the aluminum BMC took top honors, with our riders reporting significant increases in their downhill speed, so much so that they were catching other bikers they normally wouldn’t even see. On a ripping descent of Vermont’s Cliff Trail, turns were quick,…
LIGHT BUT TOUGH Like a clever fighter capable of KO’ing guys with considerably more heft, the Thunderhead offers protection that belies its light weight. That’s because it’s cut from Gore’s best stuff, Pro Shell, with lighter, thinner (but more abrasion-resistant) material in the shoulders. The hood is beautifully designed—easy to…
Good for Backcountry Problem: Snowy lifts are cold. Solution: the Hoback. Cloudveil took a two-layer Gore-Tex Pro Shell and shot it up with PrimaLoft insulation. Too toasty? Unzip the thigh vents. cloudveil.com…
EURO CORE Good for Resort The Formula is the Porsche of this test—damned pricey, just as flashy, but worth every cent. Kjus’s designers tossed in everything from an integrated balaclava to a dedicated cell-phone pocket with a keeper leash. So plentiful are the hidden accessories that…
RAIN While the ultralight, compressible Kulshan repels snow and rain as well as a fully featured rain jacket, the eVent hard-shell material, a waterproof laminate, is still miraculously breathable. Wear it when you plan to bust ass on a wet day. rei.com…
Crocs’ take on the boat shoe, the Cove has a quick-drying suede upper paired with the classic Croslite foam-like midsole. White and blue too Nantucket for you? It’s also available in brown. No socks allowed. crocs.com…
Soft ShellsWe barely noticed this five-ounce piece in our packs. But when conditions changed, we appreciated every feature, from its chest pocket to its stashable hood. The cut is just generous enough to fit over a fleece, while the DWR-coated ripstop nylon is water-resistant enough to fend off a…
Good for Backcountry The trim-fitting Lobuche is every bit as breathable and snow- and rainproof as any hard shell we’ve ever tested. But it’s got something else up its sleeves. Because glues and seams can interfere with breathability, Mammut uses electrical current to bond the Lobuche’s…
Good for Backcountry Don’t let the slim-cut vintage looks fool you; these Icelandic pants are thoroughly modern—and great for ski touring and boot-packing as well as days spent sculpting bumps. Wind-cutting Polartec Power Shield keeps you cozy and dry no matter your agenda. 66north.com…
With the sheepskin-lined Brantling, the winterized duck boot continues to evolve, but now it breathes. Waterproof leather in the upper keeps your dogs toasty but not sweaty, and rubber bumpers and layered leather provide serious durability. uggaustralia.com…
Ignore the Forecast All-purpose windbreakers like the nonstretchy Shadowland have been around for a while—and with good reason. More lined than insulated, the Shadowland is essentially what you’d get if you fused your softest, fastest-wicking base layer with your favorite wind shell. Translation: It’s a remarkably versatile and highly wind-…
Driver/Hiker Hit the highway, then hit the trail. Serengeti brings its signature superfine optics for driving into the realm of outdoor exertion with these sporty poly Polar PhD lenses in a wide wrap design that looks upmarket and uptown. Gray-tint polarized lenses showed the world sharp and bright. A big…
A snap-out chamois liner hides under a pair of stylish plaid shorts, perfect for heading from the trail to the pub. pearlizumi.com…
The beauty of this crushable, natural raffia hat: You can stuff it in an overhead bin and it won’t look worse for wear. Testers also liked the inner sweatband for its soft touch. pistildesigns.com…
GIRO‘s BLAZE GLOVES have just enough insulation to keep your fingers warm without impairing dexterity.
The folks up in Vancouver have created an Armani suit for your hands. With the dexterity of a spring glove and the warmth of a mitten (there’s a removable fleece liner), the Gore-Tex-and-leather-palmed Alpha SV is as impressive and unbelievably precise-fitting as it is pricey. Best full-gauntlet glove we’ve…
What do you get when you combine pearl snap buttons, western-shirt styling, and technical fabrics? Our new favorite shirt. The DWR-coated and wind-resistant Whiskey River works as a great outer layer (think high-tech wool shirt) on cool days or a midlayer on colder days. TAGS: water-resistant, snaps…
For slogs into the backcountry, this soft shell carried its (barely there) weight with smart features like a chenille-soft chin guard and slanted pockets you can still access with a pack on. It won’t stand up to a major snowstorm—the Pro Tour is only water-resistant—but it’s the go-to jacket…
MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR‘s 100 percent wool ARA DOME HAT lets hot air escape out the top, while its recycled-polyester fleece ear band adds extra warmth.
USER-FRIENDLY RIPPER Top pros like Bruce Irons, Joel Parkinson, and Luke Egan all ride Aussie shaper Jason Stevenson’s designs; the 6’5″ 300KW thruster we tested is identical to the one Egan surfs on in competitions. The bottom features a speedy, single-concave shape that transitions into a double-concave section near the…
Though it’s more than a year old, the Jefe, like its Tsangpo-stomping predecessor the Gus, has no equal as a creek and expedition boat. The long waterline, medium chines, displacement hull, and heavily rockered bow allow the boat to accelerate, track through turns, climb out of holes, and get…
TWICE AS FUN, TWICE AS HARD How much do you really trust your paddling partner? How solid is your marriage? The Topo Duo may have the answers. It’s the only two-person whitewater boat in production. A strong paddler can right both the boat and an accompanying novice, but beware: There…
GET UP, STAND UP Last year saw stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) move from the wacky fringe to the pages of Us Weekly, as seemingly every celebrity picked it up. With the fad still on full burn, shapers are racing into the SUP market, which is what makes the C4 special. It…
Like the cushy longboards that initially bore the Bing name, the single-fin Lovebird is gorgeous, with a gloss coat, fabric-inlaid deck, and pigment-colored bottom and rail wrap. But this isn’t some artsy old-school replica. (The brand was relicensed in 2000.) We tested our 9’2″ model in a variety of…
Top Touring Boat Paddle the nearly 18-foot-long Infinity as a day boat and it's fun if a bit cumbersome. Load it and head out for a week or more and it really shines. Serious paddlers looking for a comfy boat will love the Infinity's large cockpit and raised foredeck, which…
You can cram all your climbing gear in Mountain Hardwear’s Trad pack. The alloy-reinforced framesheet gives plenty of support for a 30-some-pound load, and the full-length daisy chain makes lashing on extra gear easy. mountainhardwear.com…
Weight saver: Don't be fooled by this stove's tiny dimensions. It cranks out big heat, adjusts down to a simmer, and has four serrated pot supports that are surprisingly stable for the size. A hingelike joint enables the Flex to fold flat and pack away like a deck of cards.
Why It’s CoolWhen a big wind whipped down Blowin’ Ridge, we climbed inside. With three poles and industrial-strength clips, the Equinox held the line. » Setup is intuitive, with pole sleeves and canopy clips, and you can torque this tent at the corners to milk every cubic inch inside. Broad…
The Big Agnes Air Core, with its nylon laminate and seven lengthwise air chambers, looks like an inflatable pool toy and feels as springy as one—it blows up to a cushy 2.5 inches thick—but weighs an astounding 22 ounces and is rated to 35 degrees.
REI changed everything but the name on this sack: Designers kicked up the goose down to 750-fill, changed the shell, and added a lighter, softer liner. The updates shave seven ounces off last year’s version. It kept us warm on late-fall nights in the Grand Canyon, but the tradeoff…
The Light Year looks like many other 650-fill down bags. It packs small and is plenty lofty. Unlike others, it zips open at the feet, letting you micromanage temperature. And on cold mornings, the foot opening lets you walk around without getting out of the bag. Even “I never…
Snowshoeing is simple. No lift lines, overpriced cheeseburgers, or long list of expensive accessories. All you need is some snow, a warm pair of boots (see page 107), and a pair of versatile shoes that’s up for whatever terrain you’ll encounter. To settle on our Gear of the Year–winning…
A STOUT, LIGHTWEIGHT HYBRID The split-personality Vario uses a weight-saving design—two sides are single-wall, two are traditional double-wall—to achieve an impressive weight/strength/space ratio. And it’s even roomier than it appears, thanks to a brow pole over the center of the tent and precurved poles that maximize interior space. The only…
Cross a Suburban with a BMW and you’d get the automotive version of Lowa’s Jannu Lo: a smooth and fast ride anywhere. By combining a tough upper with a solid platform and then lining the inside with baby-butt-soft leather, the Jannu delivers an exquisitely plush, but armored, feel. The…
Deluxe two-burner: Are you a stealth car camper? Hide this stove in the trunk. The clamshell design is much more compact than traditional two-burner units yet unfolds into a sturdy, propane-burning stove that rivals your dad's old Coleman for performance. 4.5 lbs; coleman.com …
Sony’s 7.2-megapixel DSC-V3 nabs Gear of the Year by combining the soul of a pro-level SLR with silicon guts capable of punching out truly tack-sharp images. Thanks to a blindingly fast processor, you won’t have to forfeit now-or-never moments to “shutter lag”—that maddening pause between hitting the button and nailing…
DURABLE This puncture-resistant self-inflater is reinforced with closed-cell foam on the bottom. It didn’t leak even after we laid it atop a pile of sticks and jumped on it. 20′ x 72′ x 1.5′, 2.5 lbs; thermarest.com…