Snow Sports
ArchiveThe nimble, lightweight Velvet Guru stands head and shoulders above the competition in a park setting.
Like riding in slippers, the Boa Coiler is one comfy boot.
Our testers raved about the great energy transfer that the DVa delivers.
When the results were tallied after our on-mountain evaluations, these were our female testers’ favorite planks.
After air bags saved lives in several high-profile slides last year, demand (and curiosity) has never been higher. In 2011, there were five manufacturers making air-bag packs. This winter there are at least 10, and an increasing number of cat- and heli-ski operations are outfitting their clients with them.
Your skis might be flashier, but your boots are the more critical piece of gear. You could roll the dice and buy online, but we highly recommend getting them the old-fashioned way: in person. The more knowledgeable the shop is, the better.
Cyclists, climbers, alpine skiers, and trail runners are all crossing over to nordic skate skiing for two simple reasons—it’s fun as hell, and it delivers a freakishly efficient full-body workout. First know this: skate skis aren’t alpine skis; you don’t choose them by length alone.
I want to keep biking deep into the fall—maybe even winter. What’s the most important piece of gear to stay warm?
We're not sure what inspired a couple of inventors to name their new ski bag the Douchebag. If it was just a ploy to get some attention then, well, it worked. But it wasn't the name that made us want to introduce you to it here…
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Summer Buyer's Guide, including the Scott Contessa Spark RC.
I’ve been reading about a lot of avalanche fatalities recently. What do I need to stay reasonably safe in avalanche country?
Outside picks the best gear for your alpine-touring setup, including the K2 WayBack skis.
I need a new ski pack for resort and backcountry skiing. I'm looking for something that can carry skis, water, and my gear on day trips out of bounds, but won't get in the way on chairlifts.
If you’re like me, you probably still have some holes (ahem, a lot of holes?) to fill on your holiday shopping list. Have no fear: There’s still time to score the season’s most coveted loot for little rippers, naughty or nice. Icebreaker Bodyfit Base Layers …
When I ski or engage in other outdoor winter sports, my hands get cold–really cold. Any suggestions for a fix?
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 gift guide, including the Lib Tech C2BTX snowboard.
She can shred like nobody's business. Here's what to get her.
It's starting to snow, and I'm anxious to get out and do some winter hiking. What's a good combination of snowshoes and winter boots?
Cross-country skiing is among the world's great human-powered modes of movement. Whether you ski classic or skate, here’s the gear you’ll need to get started.
Five years after retiring from the NFL, former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe is jumping on a rising trend and building his own line of bespoke skis
In the world of big mountain skiing, Dean Cummings is a legend. He was the captain of the US Freestyle Ski Team, has hundreds of first descents to his name, has been featured in dozens of ski films and shows, and for years was…
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Jones Snowboards Mountain Twin.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Line Celebrity 100 skis.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Salomon F4.0 snowboard boots.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Pro-Tec B2 Snow helmet.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the K2 Rescue Shovel Plus.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Marker Duke bindings
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Arnette Mercenary goggles.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Arbor Swoon Board.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Fischer RCS Carbonlite Skating Hole skis.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Black Diamond Custom boots
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Moving Comfort Rebound Racer Bra.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Nau 3/4 Length Cocoon jacket.
Outside Buyer’s Guide editor Sam Moulton takes Intern Dave and Patagonia’s waterproof Primo Down jacket to the carwash.
For this winter’s Buyer’s Guide our testers teamed up with Backcountry magazine to put the skis through the ringer, for a week, in waist-deep powder.
Our top snowboard picks for winter '11-'12, including the Arbor Wasteland
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoe
Do a pair of expertly crafted custom skis pay out on the slopes, or is that extra money you spent just vanity underfoot?
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Tecnica Cochise Ski Boot
I'm heading into the backcountry this winter after years of in-bounds skiing, and I need a randonee set up. How much should I plan to spend? And will I notice a big difference between randonee boots and skis, and my race boots and all-mountain skis?
What's the best technical shell for skiing? I'm looking for a jacket that isn't bulky and provides versatility in more than one season.
The history of Frostline Kits isn't complicated, and if you knew how to work a sewing machine, the concept wasn't either. Started in 1966 by Dale Johnson, a former employee of Gerry Mountaineering Equipment, Frostline made sewing kits for those who didn't have the money to purchase camping…
Our Gear of the Year winning board can handle any terrain.
Plush padding and female-friendly shaping deliver all-day comfort.
The most versatile all-around mountain ski just got better.
Our favorite all mountain ski, and winner of our 2009 Gear of the Year award.
An all-mountain, eco-friendly board for powder and park.
One of the most user-friendly—and fun, and rockered—powder skis around.
A comfortable goggle with lenses that automatically tint when the sun gets bright.
A great looking down jacket that can weather harsh conditions. $325…
Outside's Alicia Carr checks out Smith's Tractor Beam Technology, a new feature set to debut on their helmets and goggles in winter 2012.
An 850-fill goose down jacket at home on a weekend climb or in the city. $269…
Sam Moulton heads over the K2 booth to learn about a new ski pole with an inclinometer built in to the handle.
Thinking about getting a new pair? First, consider these three things. seracfilms.com and bentgate.com…
Wick away sweat and stay warm with these new baselayers, the Helly Hansen W Verglas Hybrid $100 and the Neve Designs Chamonix $130.
Sam Moulton heads over the K2 booth to learn about a new ski pole with an inclinometer built in to the handle.
Do not become a statistic: Four products to include in your pack when heading into the backcountry. seracfilms.com and bentgate.com…
A fashionable new jacket that works just as well on the slopes as it looks good at the resort bar. $300…
A pair of well-priced, versatile snowshoes built for rolling hills and trails.
These two-in-one mitts have a highly durable buckskin exterior and a warm wool interior.
A very light, very stiff alpine touring boot.
A champ on powder that doesn’t need to sit in the closet until the big snows come.
Masked in a proprietary waterproofing nano-technology, the multi-sport V-Lite Thunder can handle any weather condition. $90…
A stiff, all-mountain board that's solid at high speeds..
Buyer’s Guide managing editor Alicia Carr picks some of her favorite new gear from the SIA snow show.
Buyer's Guide managing editor Alicia Carr hits up the Smith booth at SIA for a quick history lesson.
Buyer's Guide editor Sam Moulton presents the GOY award to Black Diamond for the Justice.
Fully customizable powder skis–add your own graphics and chose the flex based on your height and weight.
Buyer's Guide editor Sam Moulton presents the GOY award to Patagonia for the Reconnaissance.
Buyer’s Guide managing editor Alicia Carr reviews one of the coolest new boot innovations at the SIA snow show.
Johnathan Frederick of Bent Gate Mountaineering teams up with Searac Adventure Films to tell you how to shop for backcountry and alpine skis. seracfilms.com and bentgate.com…
Need new backcountry ski boots? Watch this video before you start shopping. seracfilms.com and bentgate.com…
Buyer’s Guide managing editor Alicia Carr picks her favorite gear from the SIA Snow Show.
An affordable option that doesn't sacrifice comfort.
It's easier than you think. And you'll save money. And have more fun. Seriously. seracfilms.com and bentgate.com…
Buyer’s Guide managing editor Ali Carr shares the Gear of the Year-winning snowboard.