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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.
On this wave glutton, I had to stop myself from gobbling up more than my fair share of rides. Designed by legendary shaper Al Merrick, this seven-foot-six-incher is basically a scaled-down longboard. The payoff: It’s versatile enough to handle ankle biters as well as pitching six-foot faces. The 21-inch…
With exceptional primary and secondary stability and surprisingly speedy acceleration, the Tsunami blends beginner-friendly handling with performance that won’t leave you wanting once you’ve mastered the basics. Everyone who paddled it—from testers to their mothers—had fun. A high-backed seat provides superb support, and with seven sizes available, it fits…
A DO-IT-ALL BARGAIN This is the shortboard for surfers with champagne taste and a box-wine budget. The six-foot-plus Glider was designed by Al Merrick, the revered shaper at Channel Islands Surfboards, and then mass-produced in Thailand by Global Surf Industries. It’s a classic all-around shape, and in both medium-size beach…
EXPEDITION BOAT The Delta Sport 17’s full-volume hull, from bow to stern, means dry decks and more than 55 gallons of covered storage—not counting what you can cram around you in the cockpit. Translation:It’s possible to haul up to 350 pounds of gear in this expedition-ready boat. It’s tough:…
It’s five bucks cheaper and every bit as comfortable and secure as any leash we’ve tried. Plus, it’s the first leash made from recycled rubber. Comes in six-to-nine-foot lengths. wavetribe.com…
Packable Sailboat “I can hardly believe it,” remarked one tester, “but it really does sail like a legit boat.” That pretty much sums up our take on the inflatable Smartkat. It took testers about an hour to assemble, but once on the water this 15'7″ masted catamaran, which is capable…
Eventually, you’ll probably own multiple pairs of shoes for different types of rock, but at first you want something with a flat last and ample support that’s agile in a variety of conditions, like SCARPA’s Thunder shoes. scarpa.com…
Long a champion of oversize aluminum tubing, Cannondale shifts gears to create an all-carbon rig that’s fast enough for testosterone-addled group rides but much more comfortable than its trademark metal frames on epic outings. With slack geometry, a moderately upright riding position, and the superior road-damping qualities of carbon…
Why It RulesThe Momentum is exactly what it needs to be. Thanks to a slim, clean cut and spare styling, this piece will keep you comfortable on the crags as well as in the city. » The Schoeller Dryskin fabric functions by virtue of its construction: A tight, double weave…
Last year, Wave Sport’s designers must have taken the same trip through the wind tunnel that Lamborghini techs made recently. Gone are the rococo flourishes and hard angles, replaced by spare, fluid lines. But where the Project’s predecessor, the ZG, allowed comfort and speed to compromise performance, this year’s…
Why It RulesThis heart-rate monitor and wrist-mounted coach makes everything—except the huffing and puffing—a snap. Think of it as the one-handed corkscrew, the clip-on bow tie of fitness equipment. Yes, it’s that easy to use. » Don the chest strap to measure beats per minute, and secure the plastic foot…
Why It’s CoolIt’s one of the few solo tents I can get dressed inside of without doing Pilates. The 36-inch ceiling let me sit posture-perfect. The 20-square-foot floor spans seven and a half feet, with enough room to sleep and also stash my clothes and other essentials. » The all-mesh…
1. The Hercules garnered more envious comments than any other jacket we tested—there’s just something about a sharp-looking soft shell with a fuzz-lined hood that people can’t resist. But less obvious touches—like flap-free drawcords and cuffs that repelled snow and rain without feeling constrictive or bulky—are what ultimately…
Why It’s CoolWhen considering an envelope rated to 40 degrees or higher, make sure it’s light. The Butterfly weighs in at a pound and change. It shaves ounces by using a quarter-length zip, 700-fill down, and moisture-repelling Pertex Quantum fabric for the shell and liner. » An interior storage pocket…
1. An eco-conscious makeover of one of Marmot’s most popular pieces for the past 15 years, the redesigned Catalyst won over nearly every tester. An outer polyester fabric kept out blasts of wind, and the soft recycled-polyester liner stayed cozy even while wicking sweat. Our favorite update: Stretch-fabric panels…
Separate buttons for each set of LEDs — there are penetrating beams in both spot and spread patterns — save click-through hassle. The three-watt power is superbright, but as with the L3, it’s a hefty package. 9.8 oz; www.princetontec.com…
1. Keeping rain out is never the problem; a $2 poncho can do that. But if you want a jacket that also holds up the other end of the bargain, letting moisture out, it’s going to cost you—usually around $200. Which is why we were so impressed with the…
Eyeing the Morpho’s inflatable beams, I was ready to dismiss this pneumatic freak. Then I pumped it up in about one minute and dived into the two-person playroom. Intrigue grew when a not-so-errant pocketknife didn’t pop the rigid airbeams, which are made from a derivative of sailcloth, with guy-outs…
While pack makers continue to experiment with new suspension and ventilation systems, fit is still the most important factor. Go to an outdoor specialty store and try on several. Load up with at least 20 pounds, adjust them, and walk around. Take time to fiddle with all the straps…
We took this mini-lamp everywhere—hiking, paddling, road-tripping—because it weighs an ounce, has several modes (including a red LED for night vision), and, thanks to a highly adjustable strap, can be worn on the head or wrist, or lashed to almost anything. 1 oz; petzl.com…
DATE NIGHT, UPGRADED The problem: You and your significant other share a love for camping, but your zipped-together sleeping bags and mismatched pad combo are causing a divide. The solution: The King Solomon. When its internal pad sleeves are stuffed with two 20-inch-wide mats, the King’s system works beautifully—there’s no…
BEST FOR HOT WEATHER Beat sweaty-back syndrome with the Z 55's ventilated suspension. The frame's concave shape creates a pocket of cooling air between your back and the pack. Most impressive: There's zero drop-off in load support. The perforated framesheet efficiently transfers weight to a perfectly sculpted hipbelt, and a…
Tiny and versatile: Simply slide the featherweight, CR2-lithium-powered headlamp’s toggle to strap it to anything, be it your cranium, messenger bag, or handlebars. 1.4 oz; coleman.com…
VERSATILE THREE-SEASON SACK The EcoPro costs a bit more than Marmot’s other synthetic 15-degree-rated models (like the Trestles 15, $90). But this bag has good karma. Its insulation and shell are spun almost entirely out of recycled plastic bottles. In fact, the only unrecycled things on this roomy bag are…
For such a light and warm bag, the 800-fill Peggy is packed with such thoughtful features as a built-in pillowcase. Like all of Big Agnes’s bags, there’s no insulation on the underside, but it’s compatible with any 20-inch-wide sleeping pad. 15°, 2.5 lbs; bigagnes.com…
EMS’s 20-degree Boreal is the first sack to use a new synthetic insulation from PrimaLoft called Infinity, which EMS claims is “18 percent warmer and 25 percent more compressible” than comparable fill. Although it was impossible to test that boast, the Boreal squashes down to the size of a…
Thrashers Welcome The 725-fill Tumble Mountain features recycled fabric, zipper, drawcords, and cordlocks, making it the most sustainable bag here. It’s also the most tricked out. Big Agnes shaves a few ounces by eliminating the unnecessary insulation under the half-length pad sleeve on the back. Slide any standard-width (20-inch) pad…
New-School Lantern Your old propane-powered lantern might have sentimental value. But it’s also fragile and high-maintenance. That’s why we like the Titan. It runs on four D batteries, is bright enough to illuminate an entire cooking area (45 feet in diameter), and has a power meter to let you know…
Not that you’d need it, with SIERRA DESIGNS’ BTU -5 SLEEPING BAG—an 800-fill down heat factory with one of the best heat-sealing hoods we’ve ever tested and a waterproof-breathable fabric.
Despite nasty conditions—slushy snow on the way up; a boulder-strewn snowmelt streambed on the descent—one tester reported dry feet and not one slip, even on ice. Credit the Gore-Tex liner, grippy outsole, and stiff midsole. asolo.com…
THE MODERN CLASSIC Sure, it looks a bit retro, but the Winter Rover offers more than just old-school charm. Best for gentle meanders on rolling terrain and packed trails, it features a bent white ash frame with a flexible plastic deck that delivers good float in powder, while low-profile aluminum…
PARK POUNDER This directional twin is the fix for park junkies. The Choice spins fast and easily, and the quasi-fiberglass topsheet gives the board tremendous pop, putting testers in the air for longer than expected. Other park-friendly features include the blunt-shaped tip and tail and the Magne-Traction sidecut, which has…
“Big and stable…these hogs peg the powder-skiing fun meter,” said one tester. And unlike most skis this fat, it doesn't get squirrelly at high speeds on firmer snow. 136/110/126, 9.3 lbs; bdel.com Bonus: Love the UPS brown and subtle holograms. Bummer: It's available only in two lengths (182…
Thanks to interchangeable tongues (one stiff, one hinged for touring) and a sole that's compatible with every AT binding on the market, the Spirit 4's are this year's most versatile boot. 7.6 lbs; scarpa.com Bonus: Smart touches include tour-friendly Dynafit tech fittings and lighter-weight thermo-moldable liners. Bummer: Some…
Total maneuverability, exceptional side-hill traction, and the most aggressive crampon system out there make this shoe a top all-arounder. The heel lifter flips easily and securely to reduce calf burn, while a Spring-Loaded Suspension prevents shin bang. 3.9 lbs; atlassnowshoe.com. Pair them with: ASOLO ELYSIUM GTX…
BACK-BOWL BOARDS Good for All Mountain More of a freeride ski than the Blizzard or Völkl, the Lord excels at slinking around the resort in search of bumps, steeps, and leftover powder. But it’s no noodle. The edge grip was unfailing—especially impressive for a ski with…
All you really need: a standard-issue aluminum pole, with a comfy grip and some graphics. joystickskiing.com…
Good for Big Mountain The Zealot is unchanged for this year; it's still big and brown. More important—thanks to its snappy wood core and strategically placed rubber woven into the tip, tail, underfoot, and along the edges—it's better at holding an edge on firm snow than almost any other…
Good for All Mountain The only difference between Scarpa's widely popular (and alpine-inspired) Hurricane boot and the Typhoon? The Typhoon has a walk mode, which adds a bit of weight but, our testers agreed, makes it much more comfortable when you're skinning or hiking. And with its double-injected upper…
EASY STROLLER The best value out there for casual snowshoers, the Xplore is a light-duty shoe designed for packed trails and gently rolling terrain. But our testers found that the aggressive carbonsteel toe and heel crampons dug in well enough on the occasional crust, and the deck provided more than…
Good for All Mountain A new take on a classic all-mountain board. With a wider shape, more forgiving flex, and rocker both between the feet and just outside them, the revamped Feelgood impressed testers with its edge-to-edge response. The only (minor) drawback: It’s a bit chattery…
Built with a women-specific anatomical liner and last, the Shiva got highest honors in fit and flex, balancing comfortable uphill mechanics with downhill dependability. “Super flex, and stiff enough for downhill, yet the walk mode feels like you're in slippers,” declared one tester. Tech fittings mean it's compatible with lighter-weight…
Good for All Mountain Bring the Xplorers up to speed and they’re as damp and predictable as any ski in this test. Ski them lazy and slow and they won’t buck you. In other words, K2 has mastered the easy-to-ski mid-fat all-mountain ski. Thanks to the right…
Good for Resort Ski patrollers, lifties, and anyone who likes to hike will love the new all-mountain Blaster. It skis as well as boots priced hundreds of dollars more and, thanks to a grippy outsole and a sturdy (and inconspicuous) walk mode, is way more comfy when…
ALPINE TOURING Good for All Mountain The ZenOxide owes its lightness to a Paulownia-poplar core and its edge-to-edge quickness and control to its round flex pattern. Capped construction at the tip and tail make for high-torsional rigidity at speed, while the laminate build underfoot maintains the ski's solid and…
TELEMARK Good for Touring Garmont's new three-buckle Voodoo pairs a high, alpine-inspired cuff with asymmetrical bellows for un-tele-like smoothness. Testers backed up Garmont's claims that the new toe-box design creates better snow feel and also loved the lively new thermomoldable liners. “Ski it right out of the box,” said…
All Mountain “Gobs of power and stability and no speed limit,” said one tester. The rockered Alias floats through powder like a much larger ski and cuts through crud like a GS racer, with just enough camber in the aspen-and-poplar core for snappy rebounds. Warning: This ski is not for…
The all-mountain One Magtek got the same high scores as the Lando Phoenix (but doesn’t require a black belt in snowboarding), even though its profile is the exact opposite—traditional camber between the feet, with rocker in the tip and tail. “Reverse camber done right,” said one tester after experiencing…
The Weekender “This is the Chuck Norris of hiking shoes!” proclaimed one tester. Even if we couldn’t see the resemblance, we certainly agree that the Col packs an impressive punch. Bolstered by a waterproof liner, the mostly full-grain leather upper—the toughest breathable material—proved itself on weekend after weekend of wet…
PLAY ANYWHERE If you think an all-mountain ski needs to handle crust and crud as well as it deals with powder and corduroy, then the Chris Davenport–designed Kästle FX94 is for you. Kästle builds the nicest race-room-quality, laminated-wood-core skis you can buy, but what makes this one so versatile is…
Why It’s CoolThe least expensive pack in this lineup is also one of the few with adjustable torso length, which nails the fit for a comfortable carry. » Precisely tuned for a 35-pound load, the framesheet and the U-shaped stay transfer weight to a hipbelt with moderate padding. » Kudos…
Expert skiers have long favored the precise fit and feel of Lange boots. The only problem was, if you didn’t have narrow feet, the fit could be painfully tight. Enter the brand-new RX 130, the first high-performance boot Lange’s made—it’s the stiffest boot here—specifically for folks with wider feet.
Paper-thin silicone-treated nylon, compact size, and a frameless suspension make the Iso superlight—and a good choice for speed hikes. The tradeoff is decreased abrasion resistance and minimalist support. 1.6 lbs, 1,200 cu in; www.gregorypacks.com…
Our skepticism of these radically designed bindings was quickly put to bed. “I couldn’t tell where the bindings stopped and the board began,” one tester said after trying out the pictured duo. “They felt like one unit.” The single strap held us in with more responsiveness than any others…
Some low-cut shoes beg for mercy under the weight of a 40-pound pack. But the Passage Ventilator can bear a load, thanks to a muscled chassis that includes an injection-molded plastic plate in the midsole and a broad outsole that provides a stable platform for every step. Molded plastic…
Team-proven Snowboarder Scott Lago’s binding, the Flow NXT-ATSE, keeps getting better: This year’s is lighter and easier to adjust on the fly. Testers liked how quick it was to strap on, making skier friends equally pleased at the top of the lift.
SPEEDY HYBRIDVector charts a course that’s swift, stable, and true. The reason? Hi-Tec injected the shoe with a hypodermic needle full of running-shoe DNA—it’s very flexible and weighs only 13 ounces. But like a heavy-duty hiking boot, the Vector proved surpris-ingly water-resistant. Bonus: A closed-mesh upper and tongue let my…
CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING “An instant charmer,” said one tester. “Really versatile and easy to ski.” As with the rest of Rossignol’s popular B series, the damp feeling can be attributed to an aluminum insert integrated into the tip of the ski, which increases torsional rigidity and helps it plow through crud. New…
TAKE IT ANYWHERE Small enough for short jaunts, cool enough for the heat of the desert, and tough enough for the mountains. The Direct 28 does it all, and for a sweet price. The abrasion-resistant 210-denier nylon body—and doubly reinforced bottom—is made for alpine abuse, while an aggressively arched frame…
FEATHERWEIGHT At just two pounds, the Light Speed makes good on its name while delivering ample space (915 cubic inches) for a day of sidecountry stashes and booter building. Plus, it withstood a beating during tight glade runs at Colorado’s Beaver Creek, thanks to poke-proof 600-denier polyester fabric. There are…
BEST FOR BIG LOADS Looking for something that isn’t a clodhopper but can handle a three-day back-packing trip? The Kayland’s waterproof eVent membrane lets sweat out, while the shoe’s plastic stabilizers and EVA foam form a lightweight support structure that allowed us to carry 40-pound packs without wincing. And if…
Mountainsmith’s Modular Hauler storage system is built around cubes that measure 15 inches to a side. In that space, the Bike Cube Deluxe holds (and organizes) tools, a changing mat, clothing, eyewear, shoes, and a helmet. mountainsmith.com…
Fast and Light Somewhere in your closet, there’s a pair of shoes you reach for more than any other, be it for hiking, knocking around town, or traveling. In this year’s test, that shoe was the Redmond. It’s easy to achieve a perfect fit, thanks to the…
With five layers of protection from the elements in a soft removable liner, this is the warmest boot here (it’s rated to 75 below zero). Traction is pretty damn good too, thanks to a proprietary outsole with specially formulated, grippy pads. 4.4 lbs; baffin.com…
Minimalist Nomad The beauty of the 3,050-cubic-inch Backtrack is its versatility—it’s a shoulder bag, a suitcase-style hauler, and a backpack with a detachable daypack—which we enjoyed on backroad rambles in Colorado. Deploy the adjustable suspension and head out with a week’s worth of goods bundled with dual compression straps. The…
Nothing flashy or newfangled here. Rather, the fully insulated Beluha impressed testers the old-fashioned way. It received high marks for ankle support, traction, and, thanks to the fleece-lined cuff and tongue, comfort. TAGS: high cut, tough nubuck leather uppers…