Casio takes its heavily armored G-Shock line to a new style plateau. Powered by the sun and kept perfectly precise by atomic technology, the 200-meter-rated Rose Gold is one of the best all-around travelers we’ve tested. casio.com…

If God is in the details, the Zorro is heaven-sent. The hood, which adjusts behind the head and below the chin, cinches out of view with or without a helmet—making it the best we tested. The gaping chest pockets easily accept backcountry skins or salami, and the solid pocket…

For starters, the interface is almost too much fun, like having a Mac in your hands, and audio integration is a snap with iTunes. Like the first-gen iPhone, the 3G has a 3.5-inch touchscreen that’s almost impossible to scratch—proven on multiple beach trips. Unlike the original, it boasts a…

The ultimate summer jersey: The soft MicroSensor fabric wicked sweat well, and the mesh panels kept air circulating—even at high noon in Tucson. www.pearlizumi.com…

No one does GPS like Garmin. This totally wearable (but not waterproof) watch records distance, pace, and heart rate, saves data wirelessly to a computer, and has a new fine-tuned calorie counter that factors in heart rate. garmin.com…

Why They’re CoolThis petite sports wrap loves things strenuous and sweaty, while remaining—dare we say it?—a lady. The design slenderizes the familiar wrap by squeezing the lens into a pleasing feline shape. On a small face, nothing is lost in coverage. » The view is pretty, too, through poly lenses…

Whether it’s Black Eyed Peas or ABBA that gets you pumped to run, this iPod Nano–size armband (made for the Generation 4 version) won’t slip down your arm while running. It will also pull your whole look together—it’s constructed from nylon, just like high-end running shoes.

Why They’re CoolThe temples are made of bendable nylon—think Gumby—that remembers the shape you give it. » Glare is no match for the polarized copper-tint lenses, which yield a brilliantly high-res, high-contrast view. » The look is plenty smart, too, with wide temples plus wide, boxy lenses. » All is…

Not only does the HP PSC 2510 PHOTOSMART ALL-IN-ONE ($399) copy, scan, fax, and, yes, print all your mundane workaday documents, it also churns out superbly bright, high-resolution digital pictures. The PSC 2510 has slots for a Sony Memory Stick, Compact Flash, SD, xD, and SmartMedia so you can insert…

The poly/nylon Synapse scores a near-perfect balance between breathability and weather resistance. Despite the bantam weight, it includes a stowable hood, hem drawstring, and stash pocket. 4.1 oz; orgear.com…

Snap these aluminum grabbers onto any pair of Dynafit bindings and you can ski-climb slopes up to 25 degrees before having to de-skin and boot-pack. Available in three widths (82, 92, and 100 mm). 8.3 oz; TAGS: steep slopes, security…

With their Teflon-coated, water-resistant face fabric and fleecy liner, the Lodges are perfect for cool-weather hiking or camping. But unlike with most technical pants, the jean styling just needs a belt and you’re ready for dinner. royalrobbins.com…

A WATERPROOF SOFT SHELL, FOR PEANUTS In the future you’ll be able to get the perfect jacket: soft-shell performance, storm-shell protection, and windbreaker economy. Until then, we have the Gamut, a bargain-priced waterproof-breathable soft shell that has taped seams for real-weather protection. It’s not quite the future—the proprietary fabric wets…

BEST ALL-AROUND From lunch-hour sprints to a Sunday century, the Cannondale Synapse does it all. It’s as responsive, stiff, and zippy as high-end machines twice the price, but thanks to its relaxed geometry, it’s also comfortable on the longest days. Credit the full-carbon frame, which absorbed bumps even on Vermont’s…

At six bucks a pair, these synthetic, well-padded ergonomic socks are a bargain. powersox.com…

This two-in-one combo conceals a zip-in fleece track pant that serves as a midlayer on cold days and an instant lounger back at the condo. Also hidden within: a binding wrench that doubles as a bottle opener. 686.com…

Lounging around the condo? The Chill’s sheepskin lining and wool-fleece footbed are as slipperlike as a shoe gets. Have to shovel out the car? They’re also available in a mid-height boot version, the Encore Trek, for $130. merrell.com…

Perfect for spring days at the resort: not as quick-drying as the Stormtracker (below), but much more stylish. dakine.com…

The PrimaLoft-insulated 4 Pines is a full-featured ski jacket in disguise, complete with goggle pocket, powder skirt, and smart fleece patches that enhance wicking in the back and underarms. 2.6 lbs; cloudveil.com…

Most coated nylon shells are windproof saunas. Here, moisture buildup is minor in cool weather, and two front vents control airflow so you don’t have to unzip every five minutes. 3.8 oz; nike.com…

SUMMER-WEIGHT CHAMP Meet our new warm-weather favorite. The track-suit-inspired Avido was a godsend in the middle of summer when we didn’t want to stuff a full-on rain shell in our packs but then got blasted by cold winds up in the hills. The reason, as one tester pointed out, is…

Just twist the Whisper’s arms and insert your lens color of choice. It comes with three polarized options: clear, rose, and brown. smithoptics.com…

Whether the name applies or not, you’ll definitely be well-heeled in these office-worthy but street-tough oxfords, which prove that handcrafted high style and all-day comfort can collide. bornshoes.com…

Good for BackcountrySkiing in this soft shell is as close as you can come to doing sports in your jammies. But with a raised back waist, reinforced knee patches, and kick patches at the ankles, the water-resistant Randonee is worthy of fair-weather resort skiing or a backcountry hike.

MR. VERSATILITY Good for Backcountry Looking for something you can backpack in all summer and then ski in come winter? The Troll Wall is your jacket. Simply detach its powder skirt and you’ve got a lightweight—just 19 ounces—and easy-to-pack rain shell you can wear year-round. The…

COLD To make this ironclad but breathable jacket, Patagonia took a layer of 700-fill down, lined it with mesh, then topped that off with a waterproof hard shell. The fleece-lined chin and adjustable powder skirt are nice touches. patagonia.com…

Wasn’t Doc wearing these at the end of Back to the Future? But seriously, testers raved about Rudy’s photochromic red tint, which pumps up contrast and depth and self-adjusts in sunlight and shadow. We also loved the way the snug, featherweight polymer shield just disappears—no edges or obstructions in…

Climbing. Hiking. Backpacking. We knew the Offwidth was a winner when every tester filled out the “best for” line of our test card differently. True, it isn’t the most breathable or element-resistant soft shell around, but that’s actually a good thing—you can wear it for a wider range of…

Good for Backcountry It stretches and feels like a soft shell, but thanks to a waterproof-breathable membrane, taped seams, and waterproof YKK zippers, the Higgins repels snow and rain like a top-of-the-line hard shell. And, as with most stuff FlyLow makes, the Higgins can take a beating.

Good for Backcountry With its removable soft-shell bib/upper, waterproof-breathable eVent bottom, full zips, and scuff guards, the Revenant is the most feature-packed offering in our lineup. Testers loved the option to keep or ditch the top, depending on the latest plan of attack. westcomb.com…

Where I live, we do the Santa Fe Double in springtime: a morning ski tour followed by a bike ride. This lightweight, neoprene-cuffed, Gore Windstopper glove was my favorite for both. dakine.com…

Road Our bib tester, “the Sharkman,” rode 3,653 miles in roughly half a dozen bibs over the past 12 months. These are his favorites. Pearl Izumi will tell you it's the sculpted and seamless chamois and breathable fabric; the Sharkman reported “no hot spots, no bunching,'' and an overall “outstanding”…

All-Day Cyclist Makes sense that a sunglasses maison in Pacific coast Canada, where sunlight gets fuzzed up with airborne moisture, would get the tint right. Orange photochromic poly lenses destroyed mist and punched up depth in low to medium light. We prefered this slender wrap on a road bike: The…

Stretching is easy thanks to a mesh vent at the waist and a gusseted crotch. But the real reason all our testers—petite or tall—loved them is because they come in three lengths. movingcomfort.com…

Bargain-priced but equipped with polarized poly lenses and sticky rubber. suncloudoptics.com…

Breathable mesh-and-foam midsoles make these sporty Mary Janes perfect for roaming around a foreign city. An EVA footbed provides support, while a toe bumper ensures no stubs. keenfootwear.com…

Technical Top-shelf (800-fill) down + ultralight 15-denier ripstop nylon + an extremely athletic fit = as light and compressible a puffy as you can get. Our favorite feature: side zips that allow you to quickly dump heat or futz with inner layers. Least favorite: no zipper on the front kangaroo…

ALPINE DO-IT-ALL Take a hard-shell jacket, stuff it with sleeping-bag insulation, and you’ve got the Gravitor. It’s made with the same synthetic insulation as Mountain Hardwear’s sleeping bags. It sounds bulky, but it isn’t. The warmest jacket here, the trim-fitting Gravitor was designed with cold-weather climbing and hiking in mind.

When paired with high-quality base layers, PATAGONIA‘s supple and breathable WIND SHIELD JACKET is all you need 90 percent of the time.

On the coldest winter days, we turned to this waterproof full-grain leather-and-rubber snow tromper. A layer of Thinsulate insulation, felt lining, and deep herringbone tread make it the most stormproof boot here.

You’ll get the right support with HANDFUL‘s feminine but run-worthy BRA.

High-Performance Softboard Not long ago, the words “soft surfboard” would’ve drawn jeers from core surfers. Now comes the ultralight Y-Quad, a truly high-performance softboard designed by Tom Morey, inventor of the boogie board. The semihard slick-skin deck and bottom suggest a glassed board, but the soft rails and boxy tail…

Designing a one-boat quiver is always a compromise, but the Rx (a.k.a the Prescription) is no horse by committee. It can both play and run downriver, because it combines a flat freestyle hull—for spinning on a wave—with a progressive rocker and relaxed chines behind the hips, where eddy lines…

CREEK SPECIALIST The Habitat incorporates the trademark roominess of Wave Sport’s previous creekboats, but its new hull design is carvier, more forgiving, and not as flat-bottomed (read: you won’t crush your spine boofing). At just over eight feet, it was fast enough to cut across eddy lines on the Colorado,…

MOST VERSATILE The Avocet LV slices through ocean whitecaps as well as it holds a fast, true line on a glassy lake. This British-hulled boat—low-profile, high foredeck—has great secondary stability, which will build confidence in beginners learning to tour. But you won’t outgrow it, either. With fore, aft, and day…

Designed by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s son, Fletcher, the quad-fin Quark is one of the lightest, greenest, most durable boards we’ve seen yet. Its fishlike characteristics include a nearly 20-inch width, high flotation, and mild swallowtail that make even the mushiest surf entertaining. Meanwhile, the Quark has mucho acceleration…

Fitness King Paddling to get a workout? This lightweight performance touring kayak absolutely flies when you put your head down and hammer. “It sprang from stop to go like a racehorse,” reported one tester after zipping across Lake Champlain and back. The Cat 5's deck is arced high to accommodate…

Necessary addition to your starter kit: a chalk bag. Keeping your hands dry is essential for better grip. This bag offers easy access—and is available in feminine prints. metoliusclimbing.com…

For your first shoe, go with a simple yet versatile style and stick to easy on/off Velcro. The Hybrid handled both slab and crack climbs, thanks to its sticky rubber, which is also engineered for longer wear. millet.fr…

Yes, it cranks. But the true test of stoves this size is how well they simmer—and the Bantam passed our (scientific) evenly-cooked-pancake test with flying colors. White gas only, 10 oz; brunton.com…

Why It’s CoolThe Hubba Hubba beguiled me right away with its prismatic fly and seductive space-pod look. » This radiant four-pound freestander sets up in a jiffy, with a single arching pole, short pole, hub connector, and clip-in mesh canopy. » The 40-inch ceiling and 30-square-foot floor afford two adults…

The three-ounce Granite Gear Air Compressor ($24 for the small size) can crunch a standard 20- or 30-degree bag practically down to the size of an oatmeal canister.

This fabric accordion expands at the knees, which gave me—a sleeper with restless-legs syndrome—a welcome night of unrestricted tossing and turning. The elastic keeps the Exceloft synthetic insulation close to the body for efficient warmth, though some cold sleepers found the rating a tad optimistic. 32°F, 2.7 lbs; www.montbell.com…

GT designed its new i-DXC around the latest version of the company’s superefficient i-Drive suspension setup, so it rides as comfortably as a cross-country bike—without sacrificing race-day speed. Whatever your singletrack agenda, this Gear of the Year winner is equally equipped to play in the backcountry or jump into the…

It’s like a closeout deal without the closeout. This Thermolite Micro–filled sack has cozy touches not typically found on a summer bag, like extra chest insulation, a fleece liner at the feet, and a draft tube and full hood. And it still packs so small we stuffed it in…

Why It RulesDana eliminates the standard pack bag, while accommodating every weeklong-trip necessity. Imagine the skeleton of a pack: a back panel incorporating a superlight framesheet and two fiberglass rods, plus a front panel with two long pockets and a big mesh pouch. In between, there’s space to sandwich a…

A CLASSIC ULTRALIGHT Thunder Dome? Perhaps something was lost in translation, because there’s nothing Mad Max–like about this tent from Japan-based MontBell. Despite the name, its earth-toned fly, two-pole design, and taut pitch are all rather traditional—in a good way. What’s not traditional is the exceptionally low weight for the…

Value never looked so good. The D50 puts a pro-quality digital SLR in reach of ambitious amateurs who want to move beyond snapshots—without shelling out more than they paid for their first car. With the ability to swap out lenses and go manual, it allows utmost creativity. And cutting-edge…

BD’s signature FlickLock mechanism makes adjusting these sticks literally a snap (no twisting required). The oval-shaped, aluminum shafts are the stiffest we tested, and the grips nest perfectly in hand. 20 oz per pair; bdel.com…

Sick of the bulk and crinkle of traditional shells? The doctor prescribes the new bargain-priced Patagonia Ready Mix, an airy dream of silky, stretchy protection that packs down to the size of a pomelo. This sensual soft shell is all you need for everything but the soppingest, most high-impact endeavors,…

LUXURIOUS LIGHTWEIGHT This 2007 Gear of the Year summer bag is super-soft and impressively warm for the low weight. Plus it lets you chill without being chilly: It unzips to the hips on both sides, freeing your arms for reading or cooking while keeping the rest of you snug.

1. Loads of space for little weight: Thanks to a three-pole, cantilevered design, the Emerald Mountain is packed with features—two doors, a massive vestibule, a six-pocket gear loft, and a respectable 29 square feet of interior space—but still weighs just a few stakes over four pounds. 2. What…

This completely enclosed and integrated pot-and-burner system is incredibly fuel-efficient, boiling a liter of water in as fast three minutes. 13.6 oz (includes 1.7-liter pot); msrgear.com…

Ever since that heroic, fatal dash from Marathon to Athens, runners have been looking for an edge. Here’s a guaranteed advantage, whether you’re going 26 miles or two. ASICS’s Gear of the Year–winning Gel-Kinsei adjusts to various foot types and running styles, while improving performance across the board. The…

Our favorite: The Apollo is bright (three watts), compact (can-of-soup-size when collapsed), and easy on the eyes (you press a button to dim it). 11.1 oz; bdel.com…

This turbocharged iPod is our favorite multimedia device ever. It’s all here: music, video, Wi-Fi, maps, and the option of 15,000-plus games and apps. Plus the interface is still unmatched. Mac or PC; 8–32GB; apple.com…

The Minibus uses two parallel hoops connected by perpendicular brow poles that make for truly vertical sidewalls and the roomiest two-person interior in our test—five of us were able to comfortably sit in a circle and play cards. And although it resembles the hippie-mobiles of yore, its amenity package…

Let’s go ahead and call 2010 the year of the 29er. Though bikes built around 29-inch wheels, instead of the 26-inch standard, have been around for more than a decade, they’ve been largely a fringe category. No longer. Walk into any bike shop and you’ll see that 29ers—valued for…

A secure clip let testers affix this waterproof flashlight to the brim of a baseball hat without it sagging. Though tiny—not much larger than a roll of Life Savers—the Serac is remarkably powerful for a light that runs on just one CR123 battery. 3 oz; leatherman.com…

Quiet, slightly stretchy GoreTex fabric. A simple cinchable powder skirt. Smooth-tracking waterproof pit zip. A truly helmet-compatible hood with great periphery visibility. While other hard shells offer these simple features, nowhere are they combined as elegantly and with as much attention to detail. You can just tell that every feature—like…

All-Season Workhorse The Lookout 45 was designed with winter in mind—there are ski-, snowboard-, and snowshoe-specific straps. But our testers liked it so much, they kept grabbing this 2,870-cubic-inch bag for weekend adventures all summer. That’s because everything—from maps to hydration tubes to camera cases—has its place on this tricked-out…

Simply pop open Eureka’s collapsible aluminum Chenango and start setting the table. eurekatent.com…

CARVING CHAMP Essentially built just like a race ski—with solid sidewalls, a full wood core, and a 15-meter turn radius—this aptly named ski is in a carving league all by itself. “Watch out for yellow jackets,” cautioned one tester. But even when this ski was ripping high-speed turns down firm…

FINE ART The Wasteland’s topsheet is so beautifully constructed from nine types of sustainably harvested wood that it looks like it could hang in a gallery. But this mid-wide directional twin is made to be ridden—especially in powder. The poplar core with centered carbon strut provides the pop needed to…

Liked last year's Mt. Baker? These are the same, only lighter. By using thinner steel, K2 shaved off almost a pound per ski, which testers noticed on the way up: “I felt like I could run in them,” said one. 120/88/108, 6.5 lbs; k2alpineterrain.com   Bonus: In all other conditions—especially…

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…