Mountain-Ready With its sturdy, full-grain-leather construction, Gore-Tex liner, and plush EVA midsole, the Ascend is far and away the burliest, most rugged boot to win our respect this year. It’s twice as heavy as the Stumptown but twice as supportive, too; it’s the only boot here we’d…

Good for Backcountry Winter hikers, stop making do with ski packs: The 1,700-cubic-inch AirZone Snow is designed specifically for you. The back panel is more like one found on a warm-weather backpack. Rather than flat padding, there’s an airy, suspended mesh that adds both comfort and ventilation…

Catchall Versatile is this bag’s middle name. The big opening makes it easy to pack for a weekend in a hurry. With both a shoulder strap and handles, it transforms from purse to gym bag easily, and the polyester interior dries quickly after toting sweaty yoga clothes. 2.1 lbs, 1,586…

Snowshoe runners and fast-and-light hikers, rejoice. Salomon’s most popular running shoe is now winterized, with insulation, Gore-Tex waterproofing, and a higher cut for keeping snow out.

Size, Price: 68 oz, $23; 101 oz, $25Flow Rate: 3*Funk Fighter?: Antimicrobial coatingFilter-Compatible?: YesValve Shutoff?: Yes, via capGotta Love: Spring-loaded valve barely needs biting; hygienic capBummer: Valve cap bangs around when not in placeSplat Test: Splatted *Ratings: 1=Average, 3=Excellent…

Pick up the pace with this fast-forward shoe. Fans of its predecessor will recognize the familiar heel-cushion design, with its embedded thermoplastic, impact-dispersing “waves.” But now there are three waves rather than two, and they’re angled farther forward. The effect: It improves heel-to-toe transition, propelling you into the next…

SPEED ABOVE ALL Let’s put it this way: If all the other shoes reviewed here are full-suspension bikes, the Wave Creation 8 is a hardtail. The stiffness, which makes this shoe startlingly lively, is the result of two suspended plastic plates embedded underfoot. Some break-in time might be required: “At…

MOST VERSATILE From a fast 5K to a long, slow jog to a moderate trail run, these shoes do it all. The 2120 has a lighter midsole material than its predecessors, and a solid support system helps both heel and midfoot strikers retain a natural stride while gently correcting overpronation.

LONG-DISTANCE TRAVELER Like a full-suspension mountain bike, the Arnuva can barrel over rocky, undulating trails with utmost comfort. The upper is armored against trail debris, and the ultrarunners on our crew deemed it an excellent choice for even the harshest high-alpine trails in Colorado’s Indian Peaks. A Gore-Tex liner keeps…

ROUGH AND STABLE Meet the grizzly bear of trail runners. The XT Wings are tough, unstoppable in rugged terrain, and, best of all, faster than their heft suggests. A broad heel base and medial pronation support provide stability on both flats and descents, while the pull-cord lacing delivers a snug…

Aerated foam backing, mesh shoulder straps, and a two-liter reservoir make this a good summer runner, but check the fit: Some testers found the straps set too far apart for their shoulders. 13 oz; www.thenorthface.com…

STORM CHASER Messy technical trails and foul weather are no longer deterrents for this major update. The new seam-sealed Gore-Tex upper kept testers’ feet warm and dry in cold slop (but it’s muggier in warm temps than its soft-shell counterparts), while the grippy outsole, underfoot protection, and torsional stiffness added…

Technical Terrain The Ascend 4 wins the award for best out-of-the-box fit. The low-to-the-ground silhouette, combined with multidirectional traction, make this shoe impressively agile, while its ample cushioning and structured, supportive heel kept our testers feeling fresh on ten-plus-mile runs. It’s not sturdy enough for nasty scree-filled…

Good for the Road No one likes to stand corrected; fewer still like to feel corrected while they run. Among stability shoes, the updated Sequence plays the part of the gentle guide, offering noticeable pronation correction followed by such a smooth transition to toe-off that the support…

Speed Demon For shorter trail races, no shoe made us feel faster than the Avi-Stoltz. It’s a highly reactive shoe whose comfortable, simple upper felt “like a house slipper,” according to one tester. (Others found the high ankle cuff annoying.) Despite its light weight, the Avi-Stoltz delivers enough support and…

Road The DS Trainer was minimalist before minimalist was trendy, and its 15th iteration is still extremely lightweight and has high-speed specs, gentle stability control, an airy upper, and just enough cushion for moderate-length runs. Our team raved about the fit, aided by pressure-free asymmetrical laces: “It feels like it…

Keep It Simple Live in a flattish city and looking for a stylish, affordable everyday bike? That’s the whole point of this durable steel single-speed, which takes racks and sports a SRAM Torpedo rear hub that easily switches from freewheel to fixed with a screwdriver—no wheel flipping necessary. Tiny gripe:…

Attention, bicycle junkies: Whether you replace that quiver of bikes clogging your garage or just add to it, the Zirkel is for people who maintain a bike fund the way others stock a 401(k). This three-inch-travel cross-country cruiser picks up where Moots’s now retired Smoothie left off, with a…

SPECIALIZATIONA cousin to the bike that won a Gear of the Year award in ’03, the Epic is the best full-suspension climber on the market. True, this bike’s design isn’t quite as buttery as some others’, and its twitchy steering has scared off more than a few riders. But the…

A BIG-WHEELED RACER There’s only one problem with a bike this beautiful: You may hesitate to inflict the first scratch. Fortunately, the feeling passes. We fell in love with the Mamasita’s exquisite skewers and gorgeous paint job, and then our affection deepened after we banged it around the desert trails…

ALL-AROUND PERFORMER After each ride, we had to check the price tag—could a bike this good cost this little? Not only did Mongoose equip this four-inch ride with a plush Fox RP2 rear shock and smooth RockShox Recon Race fork; they also threw in a complete Shimano XT group, a…

These “green” binocs use lead-free glass and non-chloride rubber, plus the case is made with eucalyptus pulp. And they’re both water- and fog-proof, a claim verified after we dropped them in a stream. 10×25; nikonecobins.com…

How does Giro improve on its popular E2 cross-country race helmet? With an adjustable visor, an easier and more snug fit, and a lower profile that provides better coverage while increasing weight by less than an ounce. giro.com…

Don’t be fooled by the swank stainless-steel casing: The X6M provides hardcore features, including compass, feet-per-minute altitude tracker, weather gauge, and PC connectivity. www.suuntousa.com…

Like the Epic, the brand-new, full-carbon Blur XC is scary light—one tester pulled it right off the ground while navigating a short, punchy climb. And while its rear shock doesn't boast the same techy approach the Epic's does, the Blur flat-out rips on fast singletrack. Credit Santa Cruz's proven Virtual…

Fancy yourself a Mr. Fixit? You’ll never lack for the right screwdriver with this foldout tool and its six interchangeable bits (Phillips, flat, and Torx). Fix failed? The ‘biner clip can pop open a cold bottle of consolation. www.leatherman.com…

Carbon Comfort Carbon-fiber bikes in this price range are no longer an anomaly. To keep costs down, they’re constructed with a slightly heavier weave. The result is usually a significantly smoother road feel than aluminum-framed bikes have, though generally not quite as forgiving as the finest carbon cloth. The ultrastiff…

The BENCHMADE 921 SWITCHBACK knife features an ultrasharp 3.4-inch blade for smooth slicing, plus a bonus two-inch cutter tucked in the back. (800-800-7427, www.benchmade.com)…

The nylon soles on SIDI‘s new SPIDER SRS SHOES are firm enough for pedaling but just forgiving enough for muddy sprints.

Not sure if you need a heart-rate monitor? End the debate with this bargain: It has basic functions (percent of max, calorie burn, and vibrating or audible HR zone alarm, but no lap splits or data storage) in a reasonably low-profile design. www2.oregonscientific.com…

If you want a serious heart-rate monitor, there’s simply no getting around that chest strap. Many chafe and leave red marks, but POLAR’s new M61 ($169) employs a soft fabric electrode to more comfortably tune in to your ticker. The unit also sets up your own target exercise zones, whether…

Music, photos, and video, sure—but FM, dual-orientation display, line-in recording, and a mike, too? This diminutive dude does it all. And talk about cute. PC only; creative.com…

This is as tough (and pretty) as a hatchet gets, plus the nigh unbreakable handle features a stow-away saw. gerbergear.com…

Just as Apple polished its Mac over the years, NIKE has perfected the user interface on the OREGON SERIES ALTI-COMPASS ($199). Huge numbers deliver the most critical information, and a clever system of rotating buttons allows you to scroll through barometer, thermometer, weather, and altitude readings.

The TRIPOD DATA SYSTEMS RECON ($1,500) is the ideal PDA for extreme environments. This Windows-based handheld withstands immersion for up to 30 minutes and repeated drops onto rock.

From a forge known for out-standing innovation and design comes this watersport knife, which features a combo blade with a snub nose—lest you poke a hole in your hose or raft—and an antigravity sheath (i.e., you can mount it upside down). crkt.com…

This little Napoleon (think small but powerful) packs high-performance optics into a lightweight, compact package that feels balanced and substantial in hand. 10×25; minox.com…

Made of lightweight carbon fiber, this sturdy probe is long enough for real rescues and thick enough to feel solid in chunky debris. 8 ft extended, 16 in collapsed, 8.7 oz; genuineguidegear.com…

The LX3 has ended up in the pocket of more than a few pros we know. Why? For starters, it has a hi-res 10.1-meg sensor, can shoot RAW files—the best format for creative post-processing—like a DSLR, and features a tack-sharp Leica lens that zooms out to an ultrawide 24mm…

Ideal for birdwatchers—but great for anyone who prefers seeing things afar in high definition—these palm-size Leicas fold down compactly. And at 9.6 ounces, they’re the lightest binocs we tested. 10×25; leica-camera.com…

This shock- and waterproof videocam, which features a 170-degree lens and five-meg sensor, is easily attached to your person, ski, snowboard, helmet, bike, or surfboard via mount kits ($20–$40). Shoot 30-frames-per-second video or set it to take a still every two or five seconds.

ULTIMATE ANGLERS Talk about fly. Optically ground glass, like Costa’s premium 580 line, is the connoisseur’s choice for acuity. (Just note these are shatter-resistant, not -proof.) The polarized copper tint nixes surface glare, so fish in the shallows pop out, while way-cool green mirroring provides that air of mystery. An…

Heart Matters A heart-rate monitor should be both intuitive and powerful. This affordable one does well on both counts, automatically telling you what heart-rate zone you should be aiming for and uploading your workouts to training software with an optional $55 FlowLink cradle. polarusa.com…

HARD CHARGER Textile wonks say the Velocity’s Schoeller NanoSphere fabric—which runs across the jacket’s shoulders and back—is inspired by the especially water-repellent leaf of the white lotus. How closely it resembles its natural cousin we can’t say, but the Velocity does shed water better than most soft shells. And because…

Slick Amphibian A unique mix of racing style and military fatigue, the new “khaki” Formula 1 is, at less than $1,000, a really good deal from TAG. Water-resistant to 200 meters, with a scratch-resistant crystal, it’s built to handle field duty, but the hipster look suits any urban setting.

We like this American watchmaker for its unique designs that hold up to the elements while looking great with a suit. This patriotic, red-black-and-blue number has a soft calf-leather strap, 100-meter water resistance, and dials for date, seconds, and 60-minute timing. TAGS: urban, sporty…

Why It’s CoolJake welded all the seams together, eliminating 26 feet of tape and a spool or so worth of thread. » This construction, along with the choice of fabric— Burton’s own Storm-Lite waterproof-breathable, which has a soft nylon outer shell—makes the Continuum Fuse noticeably more pliable than a sewn…

If you care about visual perfection (price be damned!), move up to this deluxe unit. The Golden Ring offers superior crispness, images brighter than those in other models, and a smart focus lock that keeps sharpness immune to clumsy fingers so that you can, well, focus. 8×32; www.leupold.com…

The S-Works iteration of the Boa ratcheting system is the best we’ve tried, providing a secure fit whether you’re screaming down singletrack or plodding through a hike-a-bike. 11 oz; www.specialized.com…

How good is the Stumpjumper FSR? One tester’s guy friend threatened to steal it and hock his own titanium hardtail on eBay. In short, this bike took best-in-show on technical singletrack. With a Shimano XT/XTR/LX drivetrain and Avid Juicy hydraulic brakes, Specialized spared no expense. You get almost five…

Here’s the ultimate in trickle-down. Crisp but still forgiving, the Pilot’s frame is built from OCLV Carbon, the same material Lance rode. And the new s.p.a. elastomer rear shock—Discovery’s George Hincapie rode it to second place in the 2005 Paris-Roubaix race—yields a half-inch of rear give for the plushest…

This luxe jacket has a mesh-lined back vent, three pockets, and an MP3 pouch. It’s heavy, but the wind- and water-resistant polyester fabric is breathable enough for a cool-weather run. 10.8 oz; brooksrunning.com…

The price promises a lot, and these shorts deliver. The bib is cut away in front to reduce binding and overheating, the fabric is impeccably sculpted to a riding position, and the chamois feels custom-fit. castelli-us.com…

EXCELS IN ALL CONDITIONS From paddling in Wisconsin to backpacking in New Mexico to skiing in British Columbia, the Stormlight was a tester favorite everywhere we took it, in wind, rain, and snow. The key is a smart blend of Gore-Tex’s most durable fabric (XCR) on the high-wear and high-motion…

They should have called this the Yosemite polo: It travels well from the high country to the Ahwahnee dining room. The fabric’s weave gives the moisture-wicking poly/cotton number just enough stretch for mobility. arcteryx.com…

Don’t settle for socks that go flat. The X-Hale Trailhead has double loops of thread at the ball, heel, and ankle, so high-impact areas won’t get crushed by miles of impact. bridgedaleusa.com…

Thanks to a wicking finish and a tall collar for trapping warmth, this waffle-knit pullover is an ideal midlayer on a cold day. With a deep 12-inch front zipper, it comes on and off over your helmet. mountainhardwear.com…

HARD CHARGER Consider this category-defying hybrid a soft storm shell. Waterproof-breathable eVent on the shoulders, arms, and hood keeps you dry, while the seam-taped and NanoSphere-treated Schoeller Dynamic soft shell breathes well and is incredibly water-resistant (and impervious to après beer and wine, which we also tested). Westcomb dared us…

Crappy out? These no-nonsense Gore-Tex Pro Shell pants were simply the best bad-weather trousers we tested. Added bonus: They come with a built-in Recco avalanche rescue system. thenorthface.com…

These chunky numbers hark back to the Buddy Holly frames of the fifties, but they’re lighter than they look. And when you’re riding the trail, the side-vented photochromic lenses quickly adjust from bright to dark yellow, ensuring clarity in changing light conditions. specialized.com…

On stormy, wet days in the Sierra Nevada, testers swore by the Stingray. It’s made of waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex Soft Shell, which is both supple and tough. arcteryx.com Bonus: It’s equipped with a Recco avalanche-rescue reflector.

CAN TAKE A BEATING This past fall, we sent three Boulder-based climbers to Moab’s Castleton Tower with half a dozen soft shells to test. And after a week of shimmying up tight sandstone chimneys and off-widths, the stretchy Current emerged as the sturdiest and most waterproof of the bunch. The…

BIG-AIR MAGNET The HiFi is like having two bikes in one: You can huck huge lines without sacrificing the light weight of your cross-country ride. With five inches of travel (compared with four in most new women’s bikes), it’s an invitation to step it up. The Fox F120 fork is…

STYLE AND PERFORMANCE Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but our testers were unanimous: Thanks to its sleek design and refreshing lack of logos, the Shelter is the best-looking shell in the bunch. And, like nearly everything the eco-conscious, Portland, Oregon–based Nau makes, much of the Shelter…

This highly breathable spring glove is insulated with recycled wool and Thinsulate. gordini.com…

TOWN AND COUNTRY Good for Backcountry Don’t worry, it’s also available in black and UPS brown. We were surprised that what looks like a soft-shell sweatshirt on acid could perform so well in nasty conditions. But this hoodie felt as at home riding the lifts on…

SPRING Made of Polartec Windbloc, the Reyna stopped the wind like a mesh soccer jersey, which is to say, not so much. Still, we loved this soft shell for its fleece interior, cozy lined pockets, and stretchy shoulders that allow freedom of movement. marmot.com…

It’s a sandal or a shoe. Four large teardrop-shaped openings and 12 drain holes keep them free of water, and a slimmed-down quick-lace system holds them firm. Step on the heels to turn them into sporty clogs. newbalance.com…

With the hood stowed away in the collar, the Carbon is sleek and stylish enough to blend in downtown (there’s even a subtle honeycomb pattern on one side of the back of the jacket for added evening flair). But it made the grade here because it’s also built to…

Good for Backcountry No bell, whistle, or expense was spared in making this uninsulated jacket: Two-way pit zips. Padded cell-phone compartment. Seven pockets. Reinforced shoulders. Removable powder skirt with belt loops. A Recco avalanche reflector. The list goes on, and you might ask yourself: Do I really…

Good for Backcountry The waffle-grid backing inside this stretchy fleece zip-T dramatically boosts surface area, speeding sweat evaporation. The smooth exterior lets it slip easily into midlayer sleeves. Our only gripe: The neck hole is too large. (You lose heat.) corelayers.com…

After a long day in overcranked ski boots—or at the beginning of a lazy, chilly morning—we slip into the faux-fur-lined OLR. They’re like wearing bunny slippers, except you can leave the house without getting high-fives from strangers. sanuk.com…

Mountain-Ready Eddie Bauer went all out to create its new line of high-end outerwear, packs, and accessories, enlisting the help of an A-Team of mountain guides like Ed Viesturs and Dave Hahn. You can tell. The Rainier Storm has everything we look for in a versatile shell: easy-to-adjust pit zips,…

Stylish Jock Split the difference between performance eye gear and streetwear—and between too cheap and too pricey. There’s lots to like here for less than $100. Brown-tint poly lenses, by optics meister Zeiss, revealed detail and depth and were exactly as big and wrapped-back as they needed to be for…

In Santa Fe, summer monsoons sweep through on an every-afternoon basis. I prepare by bringing this waterproof, breathable eVent jacket—it’s windproof up to 60 miles per hour. rei.com…

No other helmet in its price range will fit you as well. Our testers loved the Sierra’s superb airflow, removable visor, and adjustable harness that snugs the helmet to your head, all at a killer price. specialized.com/women…

Thanks to ripstop, quick-dry fabric with a bit of stretch, you can rock-climb happily in these pants. But a flattering flared leg means not having to change before dinner. lucy.com…

Strike a balance between cold weather and the heat you’ll be generating with RAPHA‘s CROSS 3/4 BIB SHORTS—long enough for cool temps but made of a thin, tough fabric.

Yup, these lightly insulated work gloves are basically the same ones you’ll find at the local hardware store. The difference is, this Denver company bakes them in beeswax, a natural water repellent. They received high marks for dexterity but are only so-so breathers. TAGS: tough, hardware store…