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NEW-SCHOOL PERFORMANCE In the span of two days at San Diego’s Mission Beach, we put this 1970s-style Tudor singlefin through both thigh-high sets and overhead walls. The 2.5-inch-thick foam kept us moving on the small stuff and got us into big waves earlier than on a shortboard. One tester noted,…
Improving on its top-of-the-line bent-shaft freestyle paddle, Adventure Technology shaved an ounce off its standard (30-degree offset) AT2 by switching to full-carbon construction. atpaddle.com…
Adjustable Flex The Lost Rocket has a pump to adjust the air pressure inside its EPS foam core and change how it rides. It’s no gimmick: For clean waves, boost the psi to add stiffness and speed. On smaller, junkier waves, let some air out for a damper feel. The…
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…
BIG-TRIP MASTER This 3,200-cubic-inch pack’s suspension system—a compression-molded back panel and nicely padded shoulder and hip straps—can handle the heaviest of loads (and the floating top lid really allows you to overfill the thing). But strip off the top pocket and framesheet and swap out the big hipbelt (pictured) for…
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 CoolThe Venus is heavenly, with its side-opening stuffsack that easily swallows and compresses the tent—no carefully choreographed roll-ups here. The fly and suspended canopy go up in one move, thanks to the one-way exterior pole sleeves and twin-hoop architecture. » A large main door and rear half-door have…
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…
Our go-to lamp for twilight trail runs, it switches between spot and spread beams with an easy slide of its light-dispersing filter. 3.4 oz; www.petzl.com…
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…
Ounce-counter special: The retooled Hightail has trapezoidal baffles to bolster insulation, a tough new shell, and a cut that’s less stingy at the shoulders than other featherweights. The 900-fill down compresses so well that even the bag’s modest stuffsack is too roomy. Only our coldest sleeper felt slightly chilled…
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…
For the no-frills gal who thumbs her nose at floral details and feminine colors, Marmot’s ultralight synthetic bag delivers women’s features in gender-neutral style. Primaloft Sport insulation crushes almost as well as down, and there’s extra fill at the feet, hip, and shoulder. 25ºF, 1.9 lbs; www.marmot.com Bonus:…
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…
THE LIGHTEST TENT ON THE BLOCK Some solo tents weigh more than this spacious two-person shelter. By utilizing ultralight materials and an every-ounce-counts design—notice the lack of fabric at the corners—the three-pound Evolution is in a class by itself. Which, considering it has two doors, a roomy interior, and four…
The Contour is light and strong—made with a tough aluminum alloy—and the new Airshock cushioning system (which can be turned off if more stiffness is required) serves up a soft ride. 15.8 oz per pair; komperdell.com…
SUMMER SLEEPER With a hood and pillow pocket, an external earplug pocket, full zip, and straps for holding your mattress in place, the Kaya is full-featured for such a compact bag. Filled with Polarguard Delta insulation, it sports a trimmer fit than the other bags we tested, which makes it…
Tiny but powerful: In mild weather at 9,500 feet, we easily boiled a liter of water in less than five minutes. 2.4 oz; optimus.se…
It can take a licking. A rubber grip makes this waterproof, one-watt LED flashlight hard to break or even ding. 6.8 oz; princetontec.com…
If you need a shelter that can handle the nastiest weather year-round, Hilleberg’s flagship model, the Kaitum, is the best non-freestanding tent we’ve ever tested. Setup, even in high winds, is a snap, and the tube-style design sheds snow easily. Because the body and fly are linked, you can…
We initially scoffed at the funky shape, but the ergonomic handle and soft rubber really helped us keep a grip on this impressively bright two-mode flashlight. It’s a tad heavy for backpacking but great to keep in the glove box for car camping. 7 oz; princetontec.com…
Can Take a Beating The Ascent 40 was designed with climbing in mind; for example, it comes with a rope tarp. And while it does a fine job getting rope to the crag, we also loved it as an adventure-travel pack. That’s because the 2,450-cubic-inch Ascent is basically, as one…
GSI Outdoors’ Pinnacle Camper is a 23-piece mess kit with everything from two pots and a frying pan to four insulated mugs and BPA-free plastic plates. gsioutdoors.com…
Three-density, lace-up thermomoldable liners and efficient walking mode make skinning up comfortable and effortless, yet it's plenty stiff and powerful to drive big boards like the Sickbirds. 7.9 lbs; garmontusa.com Bonus: The magnesium buckles reduce ice buildup. Bummer: A bit roomy for folks with narrow feet. …
THE ALL-AROUNDER Good for All Mountain How do you one-up the AC40, arguably the most versatile all-mountain ski ever made? You boost the edge hold with Marker’s iPT WideRide binding system, which transfers even more energy to this amazingly dynamic wood-core ski. You can feather…
With rigid lateral support and external heel reinforcements, this boot is made for all-mountain pounding. Bonus: The Cold Temperature Rubber on the sole hardens for better traction at temps below 33 degrees. dcshoes.com…
At 13 ounces, the featherweight of the bunch is for freeskiers who don’t want to feel like they’re wearing a helmet at all. Trim padding makes this a good-looking helmet for narrow faces. markerusa.com…
LIGHT AND FAST Wear a heart-rate monitor while you snowshoe? The Race is for you. Titanium claws help keep them light without compromising traction, and the V-shaped frame won’t trip you up at high speeds. The crisscross Race binding cinches tight without crushing feet shod in flexy shoes. 2.1…
With five adjustable underfoot cable settings, this binding, which was built to accommodate smaller boot sizes, suits all levels. 3 lbs; twentytwodesigns.com …
Thanks to its forgiving flex and an upright stance that makes for comfortable cruising all over the hill, the Dragon was our first choice for all-day skiing. “Advanced to expert skiers will love this boot,” said one tester. “It’s very smooth.” tecnicausa.com…
Malleable rubber gaskets behind the foam create a reassuringly snug seal. Free-spinning strap hinges eliminate pressure points. And the spherical-like lens was second only to the Smith I/O in clarity. spyoptic.com…
Good for Big Mountain When it debuted last year, Marker's Duke changed the AT-binding landscape with its alpine-binding-like toepiece, stout construction, and best-in-class downhill performance. New for this season, the Baron is every bit as tough but in a slightly lighter (1/3 lb per pair) package with less DIN…
Don’t mess with success. The Women’s Banshee incorporates Lange’s classic World Cup lower shell and a new women-specific upper cuff, providing a better fit and increased leverage without being overbearing around the calf. Improved rubber soles make it much easier to hike to the good stuff, and the shearling-like…
FOR POWDER AND PARK By replacing layers of fiberglass and resin with structural bamboo veneers, Salomon has figured out how to make a board that’s a bit healthier for the planet—and, of course, extremely fun to ride, especially when heading into the sidecountry. The tapered tails help prevent nosedives in…
The men’s version of this shoe won 2010’s Gear of the Year award. The user-friendly women’s version has plenty of bite, but our favorite feature is a flexing frame that removes any jarring, whether you’re walking around the lake or up the mountain. 22″; tubbssnowshoes.com…
Good for Resort Our favorite big-mountain board this year, the reverse-camber Megalight is all about hucking and floating. “I would drop off a cliff on it,” one tester said. “It was amazing in powder and easy to maneuver in the trees.” And while the Megalight is large—sizes…
Good for All Mountain Here's the rightful heir to one of the bestselling skis of all time, the Salomon X-Scream of the 1990s. But while the X-Scream was no fun in deep snow, the brand-new Fury excels in it. The wider, 85-millimeter waist helps, but it's the ski's new…
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…
Why It’s CoolIt’s so simple—a single strap secures the floating lid, and that’s all you see looking at the front of this bag. Not to fear; you get ice-ax loops, daisy chains, and compression straps down the sides, but the absence of front clutter is refreshing. » The suspension is…
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 They’re CoolThere’s a 20-foot-long slab of slick rhyolite near my house, inclined at about 55 degrees. Maybe one out of ten pairs of hikers I try will cling to it at all, but the sticky-soled Ventures just walked right on up. » Surprisingly, the sharp lugs also performed perfectly…
MADSHUS‘s NANOSONIC CARBON SKATE R SKIS, some of the lightest and most responsive we tried last winter.
Ankles prone to rolling? The Breeze’s stable platform makes it incredibly supportive for a light hiker, yet it doesn’t feel clunky. The mostly mesh upper breathes exceptionally well and dries quickly. The Breeze excelled on fast-and-light trips, like a jaunt up and down Vermont’s Stowe Pinnacle. www.tecnicausa.com Bonus:…
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…
Can’t bear to leave anything behind, even on a weekend trip? This sleek pack has the biggest capacity of the bunch, with a suspension that can handle 40-plus pounds and a height that didn’t cause instability when I hiked Colorado’s steep Liberty Bell Trail. The pack is on the…
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 …
LITTLE BIG BOOT A hike on the eight-mile trail to the top of Colorado’s 14,259-foot Longs Peak demands a lot out of a shoe: support, traction, durability, agility, and low weight. That’s a tall order, but the Namche carried the day, performing like a running shoe disguised as an approach…
HARD CHARGER Unless you huck off every cliff in sight, donning body armor is overkill. But a little back protection makes sense for anyone who ventures into exposed, big-mountain terrain. The multitasking, 1,450-cubic-inch Razor is built with a Shield Back System: foam-wrapped polyethylene pads that are part of the internal…
THE PERFECT TRAVEL HIKER We didn’t pick this shoe because it’s good-looking enough to wear to dinner. We picked it because it performs just as well as the other light hikers we chose and you won’t look like a dork walking around downtown later that evening. The mid-sole of the…
Thanks to beefy waterproof-breathable uppers and grippy lugs, the Alby Low is our top pick for inclement weather. Ultra-cushy soles pad finicky feet on long walks, and on a snowy day hike, one tester reported perfectly warm and dry toes. 13 oz; hellyhansen.com…
Why They’re CoolAt a scant one pound 15 ounces per pair, I could feel the V-Lites maximizing my fuel efficiency with every step. Yet the full-height uppers shielded my ankle bones from rocks, stumps, and gravel. » Hi-Tec built the V-Lites around a midsole of shock-absorbing EVA, which made for…
This was the best multi-day haul pack we tested. In terms of both price and usability, the 3,480-cubic-inch El Lobo hits the sweet spot. “Feels lighter than it is” and “really moves with you” were common tester refrains. Credit the Lobo’s X-shaped chassis and dual-pivot hipbelt, which, as advertised,…
Best for Scramble-Hikes Most approach shoes are either too slipperlike for hiking or too rigid for scrambling. But SCARPA’s Epic hits the sweet spot with its combination of a thick, shock-absorbing EVA foam midsole (for the hike in) and a sticky, smear-ready outsole (for the assault on the top). The…
Mobile Repair Stand This is a pretty smart add-on. By using one of the four adapters (price includes one), you can easily turn your Saris, Yakima, Thule, or, of course, Kuat hitch-mount rack into a bike stand. The clamp is totally serviceable if a bit finicky, and you can adjust…
I am an organization freak, so I find Zen when all of my gear has its own place, like in the multiple pockets of this compact 1,200-cubic-inch hydration pack, which holds three Nalgenes’ worth of water. ospreypacks.com…
Why They’re CoolWhy They’re Cool: They’re high-performance, but not so overdesigned that you’re afraid to get them dirty. » Tecnica named these 26-ouncers after their three-part midsole: You get swaths of shock-absorbing rubber for the heel strike, denser EVA to keep you from rolling inward, and a mid-density EVA layer…
PLUSH RIDELooking like a track shoe built atop a precarious scaffolding, the Mega Ride doesn’t scream “marathon.” But I found myself comfortably chewing up the miles on the cushy undercarriage. Near the end of one long run, I was still cruising on downhills where I’d typically be bracing for impact.
ROAD-TO-TRAIL WONDER Admit it: For most of us, the odds of running wilderness trails 100 percent of the time are about the same as the likelihood we’ll win the Leadville 100. Which is why the Wave Ascend 2 received high marks from testers who ran on a mix of trails,…
SMOOTH AND STABLE Prone to twisted ankles? The sole below the Ascend’s fore-foot fans out slightly, which made testers feel secure on trail and road alike. Additional support comes from a visible, wave-shaped, shock-absorbing composite plate that runs from the heel of the shoe to the midfoot. 9.9 oz; mizuno.com…
Tackle the trickiest winter trails with this all-conditions shoe, thanks to a tough toe cap, sticky rubber outsole, and rigid midfoot support. ASICS’s signature gel pockets in the heel minimize pounding, and testers loved the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off. 11 oz; asics.com Bummer: Check…
SLOW AND STEADY The Structure Triax creates fortresslike heel stability via three densities of foam: a rigid medial post that tempers foot rolling, a medium-density foam to absorb heavier heel strikes, and a supersoft crash pad that channels foot plants forward from the moment of impact. Amazingly, despite all the…
While this trainer may not serve up super-stability or piles of cush, we appreciated its simplicity, light weight, and ability to comfortably take on miles. It’s a good choice for neutral runners to mild pronators, as the medial post does offer a tinge of support, which is plenty for…
CushioningCombine a lightweight race shoe with a long-distance trainer, and you’ve got the Praya 2. Although it has more cushioning than the Karhu—and more than enough padding for ten-plus-mile runs—the midsole is light and snappy and had no trouble on shorter, faster-tempo runs. “It’s one of those…
No shoe is perfect for road and trail, but this one comes close. Gel cushioning in the heel and a flexible forefoot make the 2140 pavement-friendly, while traction (beefier than last year’s model) and good side-to-side stability help it perform off-road. 10 oz; asics.com…
Road A hydration shirt? Yes. This three-pocket cycling jersey has an integrated compartment that snugs a 72-ounce reservoir (included) to your back. Some testers were initially skeptical, but being able to carry more water—and not having to reach down for a drink—sold them. Works just as well off-road, too, though…
Trail Cheetah Training on rocky, technical terrain? This shoe is your superstable running partner. One-pull Kevlar laces lock down tight, securing the cradle around your foot and creating lateral stability and even tension throughout for an agile feel. Cushioning is on the firm side, which we thought was just fine…
Road Not so sure about this minimalist running craze? The Vectana hears you. It’s a classic stability shoe—beefy midsole, thick heel, and big medial post—with an agile feel and a noticeably secure upper. The ride is a bit stiffer than most. Some liked it; some wished the forefoot was more…
Road This value-priced lid kept testers cool (28 vents!) on even the most sweltering days. www.louisgarneau.com Bummer: Not everyone will love the exposed-foam look.
The TITLE 9 NO SWEAT STRING BIKINI has lightweight, wicking CoolMax Alta fabric to regulate temperature when the going gets hot. (800-342-4448, www.title9sports.com)…
A RACE-READY BARGAIN Raleigh reclaims some of its Tour de France-winning heritage with its new line of full-carbon, race-specific frames. The Supercourse is the most wallet-friendly of the bunch, but the cost savings come from the components. The frame is the same one Raleigh’s sponsored riders race, and you can…
This no-nonsense shoe is plenty stiff, has an aggressive tread, and sports a synthetic leather upper tough enough for the roughest trails. It performs as well as some cleats twice the price. bike.shimano.com…
At just nine ounces, the über-flashy S-Works is the lightest lid on the planet. Deep vents, Kevlar reinforcement, and an ingenious full-head fit system make it as sensible as it is light. specialized.com…
These nimble, pocket-friendly field glasses delivered surprisingly crisp images for their size (and bargain-basement price), and they also performed well in the wet. 8×26; carsonoptical.com…