Snow Sports
Archive
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.
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.
A boot that performs nearly as well in-bounds as it does out-of-bounds.
A big mountain ski that blasts through powder but can still handle hard snow.
With reinforced edges, this twin tip is designed specifically for the park.
A super-sticky carving ski that penetrates even the hardest snow.
Sam Moulton is at Boulder Ski Deals for a rundown of the best alpine skis.
The most versatile jacket, and our Gear of the Year winner.
Our Gear of the Year winning board can handle any terrain.
Plush padding and female-friendly shaping deliver all-day comfort.
Our favorite all mountain ski, and winner of our 2009 Gear of the Year award.
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.
By Stephen Regenold Grab onto the foam grip atop the latest ultra-light trekking pole from Black Diamond Equipment and you might wonder where the rest of the pole went. But look down, it’s all there. At an insane 5 ounces per pole, these modern-day walking…
What's the warmest and lightest winter jacket for under $300 for a woman? JonWarren, VT
Which snowshoes have the easiest binding system for gloved hands?ArtPhiladelphia, PA
What's the best women's all-mountain snowboard? — Annie San Francisco, California
Serious toys to get the newest members of your clan addicted to winter fun
Last week's SnowSports Industries America trade show (SIA) made its second debut in Denver, Colorado, exhibiting a lot of new cold-weather product set to hit stores for the 2011/2012 winter season. I spent a couple of days there, getting the skinny on new snowboards for next year…
What are the best snowshoes for deep snow? What are the best goggles for snowshoeing? Jennifer from Helena, Montana Judy from Portland, Oregon
Does any company make a cool one-piece ski suit? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
I am looking to buy a new snowboard. I only use it six to ten times a year but I still want a good board. I'm looking for a mid-level board for any sort of condition. What are your suggestions? David Detroit, MI
By Stephen RegenoldPhotos by Tommy Chandler/Backcountry.com. Last time I checked, the live countdown clicker read “1,749,615.” That was the current readout on www.Backcountry.com/greghill2mil, a number that represents vertical feet skied in the backcountry this year by Greg Hill, a 34-year-old Revelstoke, B.C., man on…
I would like to get my husband a pair of snowshoes for the holidays. I know nothing about them. Can you suggest a few pairs worth looking into? Thank you! KatieMilford, NH
The insanity of “Black Friday” is mercifully past. “Cyber Monday” was this week. Still in need of something for an outdoors lover on your list? Here are a half-dozen holiday gift ideas, ready to wrap and Gear Junkie approved. Seasonal Energy Food, $1 and up Energize for the…
What are your top three cross-country ski destinations in the U.S.? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
How and where we tested the skis to determine our favorites.
By Stephen Regenold Snow piles deep each winter on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a region of vast forests, rivers, small mountains, and the immense body of Lake Superior to the north. Not many people live on the U.P. But those who do, like David Ollila,…
Fast and Light Designed to tackle the steepest Wasatch skin tracks and the deepest Utah powder, the three-year-old Switchback is still the lightest and least expensive free-pivot tele binding around. Testers gave props for its icing-resistant toe piece and its easy-to-operate, spring-loaded mode switch. “It’s not for driving big sidecountry…
NO SNOW TOO DEEP, NO ICE TOO HARD You’ll see old Gotamas, one of our favorite big-mountain skis of all time, with hundreds of days of abuse, still in liftlines everywhere from Taos to Fernie, but the current Gotama (new last year) is a worthy upgrade. Rocker (tip and tail)…
It’s true: Testers were first attracted to the Feenom simply because they look hot. But we also loved their ultra-wide peripheral vision and anti-fog vents. vonzipper.com…
Building off its success in mountain-bike helmets, Giro incorporates ample, switch-closable vents and a style-conscious but functional visor on this freeskiing lid. For $30 more get speakers built into the ear pads. giro.com…
A high cuff and fixed spine make the Shaman every bit as stiff as the best alpine freeride boots on the market. But because it comes with two soles—one ISO alpine and one rockered, ski-mountaineering sole—it's perfect for resort skiers who occasionally tour or boot-pack in search of better snow.
Women-specific gear should never be a softer, pinker version of the men's. That's why we love the four-buckle T1 Lady, which is as robust as the men's T1 but with a narrower heel fit and Scarpa's custom-moldable Intuition liner. 7.4 lbs; scarpa.com …
TAKE IT EVERYWHERE Good for Groomed Runs The most versatile frontside ski we tested, the brand-new 777 is less of a pure carver than the other skis on this page, making it an ideal choice for advanced skiers looking to step it up. Built to similar specs…
Obvious beer-goggle jokes notwithstanding, Scott’s new spherical, all-conditions Natural Light lens might be the most versatile in our test. Instead of a gray or vermilion field of vision, Natural Light shows the world pretty much as it is. scottusa.com…
Good for Big Mountain With features like a free-pivot touring mechanism, a reliable safety release, brakes, and the closest thing to step-in convenience in the freeheel world, the NTN (New Telemark Norm) binding represents a significant departure from conventional tele bindings. While it can be overpowering when matched with…
Although K2 calls the Lotta Luv an expert ski, it accommodates a wide range of advanced skiers. The wood core, topped by a layer of metal, makes for a quiet ride, while the integrated Marker system binding allows the ski to arc naturally through the turn. If that all…
STIFF AND STABLE On paper, the 154 demo model we were sent should’ve been too short for most of our testers. But this true twin proved to be surprisingly stable at speed. “It felt longer and stronger than it should have at top speed,” said one of our larger riders.
Instead of two straps, the new Essence has one big flap with four mini-ratchets. It’s a time-tested design, and testers loved this binding’s unparalleled feeling of security. flow.com…
Good for Resort Beginners, take note: This is the most forgiving board in our lineup. If you’re wondering whether rockered boards are really all that (and they are), know that the Angus is the most predictable and easygoing reverse-camber board here. This all-mountain, directional twin took on…
Good for All Mountain Are you rather large? Do wimpy skis piss you off? Go to Helldiver! Here’s an all-mountain ski with a big platform underfoot—90 millimeters—and no speed limit. While our biggest and fastest testers loved bombing groomers on it, our lightest testers found it a…
With its fog-cutting yellow-based tint, the Revolution has the most effective photochromic lens we’ve seen, capable of going from a milk-bottle day to bright sun. julbousa.com…
The tour mode still lacks the flexibility of traditional bindings, but the wide range of variously stiff, color-coded cables makes the NTN a good choice for skiers of all abilities. “This binding truly brings telemark skiing to a new level,” said one neophyte. 5.4 lbs; rottefella.com …
It doesn’t get much simpler than this. The low-profile Riot has a few small air vents, fleece-lined earflaps, a molded (read sturdier) brim, and that’s about it. The earflaps detach too easily. A nonadjustable liner means it either fits your head or doesn’t. TAGS: no frills, low-profile…
Telemark This year, SCARPA finally adds a walk mode to the powerful, smooth-skiing T-Race. Add that to its downhill chops—four buckles and the best power strap we’ve seen—and you’ve got, as one tester put it, “a full-tilt, full-shred crusher.” 8.6 lbs; TAGS: all mountain, new walk mode…
By laminating different materials to the frame (canvas and faux leather), Anon has constructed an impressively sturdy and cool-looking goggle. But we didn’t pick it just because it’s crafty. The Figment was also one of the most comfortable and fog-resistant goggles we tested this year. TAGS: new…
NO RATTLE, PLENTY OF HUM Another no-nonsense frontside carver, the new Strato 80 Ti is motorhead-fast right down to the flaming Troy Lee Designs graphics. But although you can push into sweeping turns at GS speeds and beyond, it’s not race-ski nervous. The wide-body tip needs only to be rolled…
BIG MOUNTAIN With plenty of snow to push around during testing at Utah’s Powder Mountain, people didn’t wait long to dig in with Scott’s fattest ski. The general consensus: Most felt its name is somewhat misleading. “Lively … Stay forward and let the rockered tips plow over anything,” said one…
Big Mountain Our women testers praised the Nemesis as “the go-to ski for anyone who seeks powder at all costs.” But, while the 98-millimeter waist says soft snow, when you hit the hardpack you can hang it way out there with the carvers. New this year, a “slow rise” in…
Thanks to a neoprene toe box and ample cushioning, these are as close as you’ll come to skiing in a pair of bedroom slippers. But due to a forward stance and stiff flex, they performed well, too. nordicausa.com …
SPEED DEMON It’s rare for all of our testers to be on the same page, but everyone agreed: The new 888 is unquestionably the best ski the Slovenian company has produced in years. During several days of testing at Powder Mountain, these moderately wide planks (88 millimeters underfoot) effortlessly zippered…
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…