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SMOOTH OPERATOR Good for Big Mountain The Monster 102 is only a millimeter slimmer than Head’s pro-model ski, the plank-stiff 103, but the performance is a world apart. Thanks to its softer tip and a powerful tail, it’s easier to move through tight trees and…
You can’t see the changes. But by tweaking the shape of the lower shell (it’s more upright) and upper cuff (less forward lean), Lange has created the most responsive expert-level boot we’ve ever skied in. langeskiboots.com…
Our testers’ clear favorite this year, the lightweight Smith looks cool and has a low profile. Smart feature: The venting system can shutter closed on the fly if you get cold or the snow starts coming down hard. smithoptics.com…
Good for Touring If you're not an overly aggressive skier, or if you rarely or never ski in-bounds, a three-buckle boot like the Syner-G offers the perfect blend of smooth power on the way down and comfort on the way up. While it's not quite powerful enough to drive…
ALPINE TOURING Good for Alpine Touring A smaller version of the nx22 Black, the nx22 White better accommodates women's boot sizing and features Naxo's three-point hinge for ergonomic skinning. In downhill mode, torsional rigidity offers intimate power transfer from boot to ski. 4.6 lbs; backcountryaccess.com …
Two aluminum posts at each lace hook allow for super-tight lacing that kept our testers’ feet securely anchored in all conditions. Note: This boot fit our high-arched testers best. vanssnow.com…
ALL MOUNTAIN Good for All Mountain Developing an easy-flexing ski that still offers hard-snow performance has long been the holy grail of ski design. With the World Cup–inspired D2 (or Doubledeck), essentially a ski on top of a ski connected by free-gliding joints, Atomic has all but broken the…
Good for Resort Feel free to go big: An extra dose of cushioning in the Grail’s midsole makes for plush landings. Our big-footed testers also liked its low profile; their Shaq-like toes and heels didn’t hang as far over their boards, giving them more control.
Good for Big Mountain The all-new Gotama features both tip and tail rocker like a powder-specific, but Völkl claims it still carves a high-speed turn like a … Völkl. We were dubious. And although the Gotama doesn’t transition smoothly through the entire turn like the other skis…
Good for Backcountry Pricey, comfortable, and tough, the Pro Light Tour was the luxury SUV of our test. There are no cupholders, but with a separate pocket for tools, vertical-carry ski straps, and ice-ax loops, everything else has a place. Plus there’s ample padding and just enough…
On a slope full of shiny happy helmets, Pro-tec has a response: canvas. But don’t let the army-issue look and the sweet price fool you: The Ace has two adjustable front vents and two mesh-covered rear vents. pro-tec.net…
Why They’re CoolEvery month or so I study mountain lions on a rough tracking transect. During my most recent jaunt, the aggressive Vibram soles on the Nimbles negotiated myriad off-trail surfaces like a set of paws. » The low-cut uppers allowed my ankles to flex freely on steep climbs, but…
Built for the NTN (New Telemark Norm) binding system, the three-buckle, one-piece, overlap-shell Prophet is softer and smoother than the first-gen NTN offerings, which were all about big power and big skis. “This is the only NTN boot to truly match the feel of a normal tele binding and boot,”…
Visible technology may be the buzz at most design shops, but on trip after trip, this pack scored top marks because of what you can’t see: two hinges hidden behind the lumbar pad. Each side of the hipbelt swivels independently, allowing it to conform perfectly to your body shape…
All Mountain From a man who skied it all, a ski that does it all. The late C.R. Johnson spent years developing this ski, and testers found it a fitting legacy. It’s got full rocker at the tip for float, reverse sidecut for smearing, scrubbing, and changing direction, and just…
Why They’re CoolI’ve never experienced a more comfortable hike in boots capable of carrying 40-pound backpacking loads. The trick? A softer insert embedded in the heel of a dual-density polyurethane midsole keeps things pillowy, while a polyurethane heel cup and full-length thermoplastic shank do their share, adding the rigidity needed…
The best compliment this snowboard received from our testers: “This is a powder champ that doesn’t need to sit in the closet until the big snows come.” The keys to its versatility are Kevlar plates, which transfer energy to the edges for powerful turns on groomers, and bands of…
GREEN KICKS WITH GUTS Eco-friendly shoes used to be fine for backyard lounging, not the backcountry. With its new footwear, Patagonia makes it clear such restrictions no longer apply. Here’s why. Performance: The outsole’s narrow profile and stiff edges boosted my confidence on sketchy downclimbs, while the upper’s durable leather…
Retightening your boots has never been easier. A cord on the outside of the Ryker’s upper cuff lets you control the inner lacing system without having to loosen the rest of the boot. They look dangly, but the external cords never snagged on anything. TAGS: quick-adjusting, all mountain…
Ground-biting traction and a cushy, flexible midsole made this low-top our favorite for fast scrambling in steep terrain. scarpa.com…
BIG-MOUNTAIN RACER It’s the skinniest ski we tested in the big-mountain category, but with its wood core and two sheets of chatter-absorbing titanium alloy, the Sultan was also among the most powerful. So much so that it would have been overpowering if not for the rockered tip, which effectively shortens…
A waterproof inner bootie, full-grain leather upper, and stiff sole make this a legit snowshoe boot. A removable shearling insole makes it legitimately cozy. uluboot.com…
Atomic’s WORLDCUP SKATE BOOT is light and stiff.
LOVES BIG LOADS Can’t decide whether to pack the pinot noir or the grigio? Bring ’em both—and the cast-iron skillet. On a multi-day trip in the Cascades, the Argon’s burly suspension system and memory-foam hipbelt and shoulder straps didn’t flinch at 60-plus pounds. It’s also crammed with tons of user-friendly…
Alpine Touring With its alpine buckle configuration and beefy power strap, the respectably light Shaka is one of the burliest women-specific boots on the market, capable of driving the biggest, fattest skis. Even better, it’s also Dynafit-compatible and, thanks to rockered soles, sure-footed in the backcountry. 7.2 lbs. TAGS:…
Good for SnowshoeingThe diamond-pattern sole dug into snow and slush, while the shearling lining and shock-absorbent insole made the Woodbury feel like an outdoor slipper. timberland.com…
Stiffer plastic in the upper cuff and lower shell make the Impact Pro beefy in all the right places. But it also has a soft side: Low-density plastic over the instep makes the boot easy to get on and off. salomonsports.com …
This smart little pack brings a dash of technical know-how to a street-savvy bag. In town, you can remove the hip strap to dial back the crunchy-guy factor, while a bit of reflective piping increases your visibility when riding or walking in the dark. Wherever we were, the water-resistant…
Mud Control Tromping through sludgy puddles on the Appalachian Trail, the Moraga’s combination of a waterproof upper and snug-fitting gusseted tongue easily kept slop at bay. That was to be expected. What really impressed us was its bite. The Moraga’s toothy outsole shed the glop and provided plenty of stability…
Burly Day Hiker Whether for a dog walk or an eight-hour peak assault, testers came back to this shoe again and again—even if the forecast called for rain. The waterproof Gore-Tex lining in this nubuck hiker kept our feet dry but never steamy. Want something sturdier for multi-day excursions? Opt…
Board Sport Unbuckle the Blade’s padded back flap, place your snowboard across the pack horizontally, rebuckle, and you’re off. Not only is the process as quick and easy as it sounds, but testers liked the way this design balances the board’s weight, even if it’s not ideal in every situation…
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…
Size, Price: 70 oz, $23Flow Rate: 2*Funk Fighter?: Zip top opening for easy cleaningFilter-Compatible?: Yes, with $4 adapterValve Shutoff?: NoGotta Love: Dump an ice try in the zip topBummer: Pre-hike test of zip seal is criticalSplat Test: Splatted *Ratings: 1=Average, 3=Excellent…
Why They’re CoolThe Stormfronts reverse the paradigm of waterproof footwear construction. By using Gore-Tex XCR fabric on the exterior of the shoe, rather than tucking it in the lining, they move the first line of moisture defense out where the rubber meets the road—or where the nubuck meets the thaw-muck.
Ever had one of those days when your feet felt so light it’s like they weren’t quite touching the ground? The X-1/C is the next best thing to bottling that feeling. The secret is shaving every possible gram while still retaining the essentials: cushion, traction, and stability. The Encapsulated…
BEST FOR ADVENTURE RACING You run where others walk? Then this is the shoe for you. After cruising up Colorado’s wickedly steep Mount Sanitas Trail, one tester gave the Active Trail Pro props for its reinforced sides, protective toe cap, and branch-busting undercarriage. Plus the Vibram sole adhered to everything…
If you train like a mailman—neither rain nor sleet will stop you—reach for these submersibles. The seamless upper is sealed with a Gore-Tex XCR liner and reinforced with a see-through TPU rand, which toughens the shoe without marring its clean look. The masochists among our crew raced up Colorado’s…
SMOOTH OPERATOR Don’t mistake the minimalist Streak for a beefed-up road shoe—it’s more like a big-mountain shoe that’s been eating mostly salad. Though it has the airy mesh upper of a pavement pounder, underneath is a pliable plastic rock guard and sticky dual-density outsole that can handle full-speed switchbacks. With…
HEAVY SUPPORT, LIGHT FEEL Even the best shoes can’t turn a severe overpronator into a neutral strider. But the AdiStar Control makes trompers feel like bounders. Sure, it offers a wide base, rock-solid medial posting, and a beveled, decoupled-heel crash pad that will serve heavier runners or severe overpronators. But…
FLEXIBLE FLIER Good for Packed TrailsLike to blaze along your local fire road or creek path? The extremely light and flexible Paragon is tailor-made for off-road tempo runs and speed work. A sleek tread and multiple forefoot grooves make for a supple feel on the flats, but the Paragon…
Moderate Stability Think of the Triax+12 as a Mini Cooper. While wider-footed testers found the cockpit a bit cramped, everyone else raved about the shoe’s fast and in-control feel. Credit the Triax’s ample cushioning for heavy heel-strikers and nimble, low-to-the-ground profile. A sturdy medial post provides a…
The Stature was our favorite shoe for mellower trails, serving up ample cushioning, a medial post for pronation control, and a comfy, debris-thwarting neoprene ankle cuff. Traction was great on uphills, but our feet slipped too much inside the shoe on the downs. Testers loved the female-specific fit and…
Bare-Bones Speedster Designed with input from ultrarunner Anton Krupicka, who’s so allergic to carrying extra ounces he races nearly nude, this super-minimalist trail shoe, with its wafer-thin midsole and highly flexible forefoot, is among the lightest we’ve ever seen. Ideal for faster runners with perfect mechanics who pick their way…
BEAT THE CLOCK With a one-inch-wide head tube and bladed fork, the full-carbon B2 enters the wind like a dart. A multi-position stem adjusts for the sweet spot between aerodynamic crouch and lower-back comfort. Shaped tubes keep everything hidden behind the front end to minimize drag, and even the rear…
Meet the Houdini of bikes: On the trail, the Anthem is so smooth it feels as if the bike has disappeared beneath you. Giant brings Maestro, 2005’s award-winning suspension, to 3.5 inches of travel, creating a lightweight ride that thrives on all manner of terrain—especially fast, technical, roller-coaster singletrack.
DISCOUNT TICKETThink of the Competition as a two-wheeled iMac: Pros may want more, but if you’re looking for a worry-free performance machine, clip on in. Raleigh is coming on strong for ’05 by combining cutting-edge frames with styling that harks back to the brand’s late-seventies/early-eighties heyday. Carbon tubing, aluminum lugs,…
A SMARTER WAY TO RIDE You know those glorious and rare outings when you think only about riding—and not about your bike? That’s what every ride is like on the carbon-fiber Epic. This year Specialized became the first major bike company to manufacture its own rear shocks, and their redesigned…
CROSS-COUNTRY REVELATION The Mach 4 is the first cross-country offering from MTB-design legend Chris Cocalis’s newly launched Pivot brand. It’s built around the same dw-link platform as the Gear of the Year–winning Ibis but tuned a bit firmer to stay active while eliminating energy-sapping pedal bob. The bike blasted up…
While most folding bikes compromise wheel size or frame design, Ritchey’s unique coupling system delivers a full-size race rig. Also available in a sultry mix of titanium and carbon. ritcheylogic.com…
Though built for aggressive trail riding, this bike dished up so much speed, we had to double-check its specs. The aluminum Trailfox definitely uses all 5.5 inches of its travel, but the general consensus was that it often pedaled as well as a short-travel racer. “One of the fastest rides…
Mountain Happy Trails The comfiest mountain-bike helmet in the test? You’re looking at it. The thumbwheel up top lets you snug a headband around your noggin via a cable for a pressure-point-free fit that every tester raved about. Bonus: enough vents for the hottest days. 9.8 oz;…
CHALLENGE‘s handmade and all-conditions GRIFO OPEN TUBULAR TIRES offer tubular-like suppleness but mount like a clincher.
This updated classic has multi-position eyecups that fit well with glasses or without, ergonomic thumb grooves, and excellent clarity in all light. 10×42; bushnell.com…
Why They’re CoolThe Magellans are hermetically sealed and nitrogen-filled, thus dirtproof, waterproof, and ideal for, say, river-trip camping, where they’re likely to get dunked and gunked. » Sub-$300 binos usually guarantee a degree of eyestrain, but these embody optical features such as BaK4 prisms—fine, high-density glass that minimizes light scattering—and…
The great communicator gets better in 2006, with a radio range extended to 14 miles. In case you missed the earlier versions, the Rino is a fully functioning GPS and a two-way radio in one unit. While hiking in the Grand Canyon, we could split up on a whim…
Never miss a shot again. With virtually no shutter lag—a luxury previously found only on high-end SLRs—and an almost instantaneous startup, the 6.3-megapixel F10 is ready before you can say “cheese.” This lightning-fast responsiveness, combined with the F10’s small size (slightly larger than a deck of cards, it’s perfect…
SPORTSTERAt a paltry 23 ounces, the Pinnacles are three to six ounces lighter than many full-size binocs, making them delightfully quick on the draw when chasing down skittish scrub birds. At 5.5 inches long, they’re also a little smaller than many competitors, and thus easier to pack. Light transmission and…
The God Bless America entry in this group, HP plays to our bigger-is-better leanings with this tote-bag equivalent of Imax. Multiple headphone jacks, Harmon Kardon speakers, BrightView widescreen, and a handheld remote (obviating the long reach from your first-class seat to the tray table) re-create the cinema experience. And because…
LUXURY FOR LUDDITES Why go back to manual controls in an age of whiz-bang do-everything automatics? Two words: speed and creativity. The 7.5-megapixel Digilux 3 is pricey, but after a few days of street shooting, we found the perfectly-placed controls let us manually frame and expose shots just as fast…
The Pro’s aircraft-grade aluminum housing was unfazed by snow and a stream dunk. And the slick “fast, close” focusing system makes it easier to find—and follow—your subject. 8.5×26; steiner-binoculars.com…
BEST FOR BEGINNERS Never used a GPS before? Check out the refreshingly straightforward Venture. On day hikes and quick overnighters around British Columbia’s southern Coast Mountains, testers with limited GPS knowledge found the cell-phone-size Venture’s simple menu system the most intuitive to operate. Its relatively big (1.3-by-1.7-inch), bright color screen…
Feeling competitive with no partner in sight? This featherweight plastic training watch has a Shadow Racer feature that lets you compete against your previous runs to check your progress en route. adidas.com …
We love the Zen’s 2.5-inch screen and crisp sound. Music, photos, video, FM, and voice recording are standard, and a card slot lets you boost storage. PC only; creative.com…
Elegant enough for a five-star dinner but ready for anything, this brushed-steel, sapphire-crystal chronograph is rated to a depth of 100 meters and sports a tachymeter, date window, and luminous hands and numerals. swissarmy.com…
Although it was designed for ice climbing, the Minus One proved ideal for everything from backcountry skiing to cold-weather mountain biking. It’s waterproof, light and supple, reinforced in all the right places, and surprisingly warm. It fits snugly; consider upsizing. TAGS: versatile, warmer than it looks…
SMALLER AND SMARTER This is BlackBerry’s finest model to date. Svelte and ultralight, it’s more like a cell phone—and less like a paperweight—than its predecessors. But despite the diminutive scale, the Curve is endowed with a full qwerty keyboard we found to be unbeatable among smartphones for fast, accurate typing.
The Vapor’s lightweight plastic upper protects your feet from all things pokey or prickly, but thanks to a foldable heel, it also converts to slipper mode. The only downside: The plastic isn’t very breathable. merrell.com …
Not only is the Pro Elite the most stable portable stand we’ve ever tested, it’s also the easiest to use. The smart spring-loaded head allows for one-handed clamping and releases with the push of a button. feedbacksports.com…
With black lace and stretchy microfleece that mimics cashmere, the FLEUR D’HIVER LUCY camisole is flirty and functional. (208-726-2263, www.fleurdhiver.com)…
For the Cousteau in you, the Sea-Touch records data for up to 220 dives. It’s also outfitted with compass, alarm, thermometer, and chronograph, but the shockproof construction, 200-meter depth rating, and sapphire crystal are what inspire confidence. tissot.ch…
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…
The Bold is more than just a business phone. With a smoother, more intuitive operating system, it’s way more user-friendly than previous BlackBerrys. And it’s ideal for international travelers who want to stay in touch—with Wi-Fi to avoid roaming charges, cellular-assisted GPS, long battery life, and quad-band accessibility. For…
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…
Flying south for the winter? The island-friendly Navigator 2.0 has a compass, 30-lap memory, three alarms, and 100-meter water resistance. The cool innovation is the free-form mesh band, which does away with set holes—great for between-size wrists. freestyleusa.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…
Giant Killer The long-awaited prosumer follow-up to last year’s GOY-winning EOS 5D Mark II, the 7D is $1,000 cheaper than that top-shelf DSLR but in many respects a better camera. While it lacks the pro version’s full-frame sensor, the 18MP 7D more than makes up for it with a responsive…
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…
You’ll often leave before sunrise to make a summit push. Pack this small, light LED headlamp, which has two settings: a floodlight for illuminating the trail and a beam for long-distance (150 feet) spotting. princetontec.com…
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…