Snow Sports
Archive
I've struggled for years to find a way to keep my hands warm and dry in the backcountry. Inevitably, I sweat through my gloves on the skin up then freeze my digits on the descent. I currently have a light soft shell glove that I cover with an old hard shell for descending. Unfortunately, that gives me one more gear item to deal with on transitions, allowing my buddies drop in on the fresh line while I'm still fiddling. Travis Jackson, WY
I am looking into learning how to ski. What would you recommend as a good pair of skis for a beginner? Andrews Morgantown, WV
I've never had an interest in learning to ski, but I loved sledding as a kid. Are there any ski resorts with lift-assisted sledding? Having to walk back up the hill was always the worst part. I heard that some resort in Switzerland has a five-mile-long sledding run. Willy Santa Rosa, CA
My girlfriend wants a functional snow boot that will keep her warm, dry, and pretty. Help! —Dave Ostmann Chicago, Illinois
What do you recommend for ski pants? I'm not too worried about price. I'm an all-mountain skier who has outgrown his last pair.AndrewSeattle, WA
I'm looking for a waterproof hard shell outer layer, preferably three-ply, for winter activities...skiing, hiking, snowshoeing. Somewhere between bombproof and minimalist?MikeNewton, MA
There are certain skills every Outside guy should possess. For this, the first installment of our four-part fundamentals series, we address the basics of adventure.
Can you recommend a few options for sunglasses that will not fog up while running and cross-country skiing? Thank you very much!EricMilwaukee, Wi
What is the best winter cycling glove?TonyLong Beach, CA
A new film chronicles the classic story of a daring prison break from a Soviet gulag. We dispatched our crankiest critic to weigh in on the somewhat true story.
What are the best snowshoes for deep snow? What are the best goggles for snowshoeing? Jennifer from Helena, Montana Judy from Portland, Oregon
Freeskier Sarah Burke is ready to return to her winning ways and convince the world the halfpipe skiing is worthy of the Olympics.
What is the best soft shell for cross-country skiing? Paul Ely, MN
Does any company make a cool one-piece ski suit? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Greg Hill is 1.65 million feet into his goal of skiing two million backcountry feet in 2010. Will he make it?
What are the best shoes for winter running? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Aspen’s Michael Ferrara is bringing attention to a little-known problem: post-traumatic stress disorder among the people who save our lives
A new account of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet turns history into riveting adventure.
How can I survive a night in the snow? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Last spring, Christy Mahon became the first woman to ski all 54 Colorado fourteeners. And she didn't brag about it.
After having skied in the Northeast for the past ten years, I have come to appreciate warm gloves and have always gone for the mitten approach. My Swany X-Change gloves just fell apart and I was thinking of buying a warm finger glove. I was looking at the Black Diamond Legend or Guide. Which would you recommend? CyrilBurlington, VT
What are your top three cross-country ski destinations in the U.S.? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
As a recent transplant to Colorado, I realized I should be in the market for a decent winter boot (that could optionally be used year round). There are so many options out there with so many mixed reviews. I'd like to keep the purchase below $200. Any suggestions? JohnDurango, CO
Ski mountaineer Greg Hill is on his way to skiing two million vertical feet in one year, and he's got a few tips for you. Listen up.
From billiards to big air competitions—downtown—these four ski towns have the best nightlife.
How and where we tested the skis to determine our favorites.
The X-Games gold medalist shares her top five tips to make the most of your ski trip.
From couloir skiing to punchy chutes, the terrain at these resorts will keep you on your toes.
From ski school and childcare to tubing hills and mini-terrain parks, these four resorts put family first.
What is the best ski pant for people who tend to run hot? Eron Los Angeles, CA
What is the best way to melt snow for water? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Tony Hawk went from skateboarder to mogul. How did that happen?
Big-mountain snowboard king Jeremy Jones is leading the sport into a new era of responsibility—which makes him very uncomfortable.
You could plan a vacation around the Passage: hours on sundecks, strolls in bucolic settings, long drives with the top down. Just mind the drool when you first gaze through these state-of-the-art photochromic polarized ground-glass lenses. The classic look (not stodgy!) is sexed up with metallic mirroring, and the…
Hate cold toes? This is one of the first boots with an integrated, rechargeable heating system in the liner—crank it to a cozy 104 degrees for up to six hours. Caveat: The liner lacing always seemed to loosen by midday. burton.com …
For optical clarity, glass is best in class; it’s naturally much clearer, plus it doesn’t scratch. The only downside for casual use? It costs a lot more than poly. But here the modern yet classic design and wire build are equally high-end, so it would be a shame to…
MIRACLE LENSThose clever Germans have done it again: The FLs boast the first binocular lenses infused with fluoride. The chemical, commonly used in telescope lenses, reduces the tendency of glass to disperse colors, and, as billed, these barrels seduce with stunningly bright and crisp images. I tried them at dusk,…
Lance Armstrong’s preferred eyewear during his return to racing, the new Jawbone uses a hinged frame for easy lens changes. Small bumpers inside the tops of the frame secure the smudge-free, hydrophobic lenses without distorting them. oakley.com…
Speed is Your Friend Racers and fitness snowshoers, these are for you. And, no, you’re not missing something; there’s no binding. Instead, running shoes or lightweight boots attach directly to the shoes’ PVC-free decks with included, easy-to-use hardware and a couple of punches with a power drill. (Yes, it permanently…
BEGINNER’S BOARD The INT’s top may be made of closed-cell foam, but that doesn’t mean it’s a poorly performing slug like most soft-tops. Because the business side of the board is all resin (like conventional glassed surfboards), with a set of two Future Fins and a Bahn Fin in the…
LAP THE PARK The Fix’s reinforced edges are designed specifically to stand up to wear and tear in the park, while its soft flex allows for easy spins and takeoffs. The Fix also features Burton’s new Scoop Technology, which refers to the board’s forgiving, spoonlike convex curve and tapered edges.
Why They’re CoolOK, the prisms in the new Conquest line don’t quite match the light transmission of four-figure Zeisses, but these suckers cost $600. You still get anti-reflective lens coatings that deliver terrific brightness and dead-on color rendition. » For 10x binos, they’re exceptionally easy to hold, even during prolonged…
1. Want race-proven? Trek’s all-new Madone is available in three levels of carbon (White, Black, and Red). Because the top-tier Red frames weren’t done in time, Alberto Contador won last year’s Tour de France on a mid-level Black frame, exactly like the one shown here. 2. Stiffer bottom…
Why they ruleThanks to light-sensitive photochromic tinting, the brownish glass lenses make an unheard-of plunge from dark (87 percent of visible light blocked) to the stygian depths of full-on snowfield blinkers (95 percent). » The Advances have all the features of traditional glacier glasses—flexible side shades, bendable wire-core temples, and…
1. The Triumph is like the best hotel mattresses: soft and springy but not mushy. Articulated outsole lugs and a five-layer sandwich of foam, rubber, and thermoplastic in the heel absorb the impact of each foot strike while retaining a remarkable responsiveness. And thanks to its forward-leaning tilt, the…
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…
GT designed its new i-DXC around the latest version of the company’s superefficient i-Drive suspension setup, so it rides as comfortably as a cross-country bike—without sacrificing race-day speed. Whatever your singletrack agenda, this Gear of the Year winner is equally equipped to play in the backcountry or jump into the…
Trust us: It’ll make you a better photographer. The simple, intuitive M8.2 demands that you actually turn the aperture ring and shutter-speed dial manually, not just fondle screens. Luddite madness? Or a call for patience and thoughtfulness? The latter, no question. After days of shooting in Vancouver,…
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…
IMPULSE BUY You don’t have to think too hard about springing for a pair of these affordable and versatile shades. Oversize wrap-back lenses give protection high, low, and peripherally, while the brownish polycarbonate produces a bright, sharp-edged view on par with glasses twice the price. The toric lens design—which follows…
We expected the Epic to be fast—it's the same full-carbon bike that Swiss Christoph Sauser rode to the 2008 XC world championship—but not this fast. The Shimano XTR components and carbon cranks certainly help, but really it's all about the gray matter. The front and rear shocks feature Specialized's Brain…
Smart and Fast In an actual emergency, the last thing you want to do is fumble with zippers. Which is why Marmot designed the Backcountry’s external snow-safety-tool pocket with double zippers and a sturdy pull loop: You can rip it open with one quick tug. It’s just one of many…
DOUBLE-DUTY HAULER Mountaineering boots, crampons, ice ax, backpack, and so much more gear for a climb on Mexico’s El Pico de Orizaba were gobbled up by this simple yet ingenious two-for-one luggage solution. Fully loaded, the 7,300-cube monster rig rolls like a stalwart SUV with a cargo box up top.
If a moon boot gave birth to a trail runner, it would look like the Ochoco. But we doubt it would run as well. The padded ankle, soft tongue, and firm arch support gave us blissful feet after long hours pounding the trail. The just-right midsole has enough cushioning…
Great glass on the cheap. The Echo’s clarity and color ren-dition are impressive in all light conditions. But we especially like these all-purpose binocs for the grippy, rubber-coated housing and ergonomic feel. 10×42; brunton.com…
When you start gearing up to cling to walls of ice in the dead of winter, it’s no time to skimp, and PETZL‘s versatile and redesigned QUARK ICE TOOLS are a good place to start.
LOTS OF FINS, LOTS OF FUN Thanks to their speed and maneuverability, four-fin boards are hot—and the Round Pin is the most evolved of this sweet breed. While most shapers are just now hopping on the quad wagon, San Diego shaping genius Joe Blair has been building them since the…
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…
The Imperial has plenty of trick features—like shell material that helps distribute the rider’s weight and rubber ice spikes on a Vibram outsole for better hiking traction. But testers most appreciated the simple lacing system, which allows you to quickly lock in the ankle and toe areas separately.
MOST TECHNICAL The photochromatic lenses are a delight in low light or even mist, with a pale yellowish tint that knifes through murk. But when the morning fog finally burns off, the Race’s tint quickly darkens to a snow-and-ice-worthy shade of amber, blocking out an impressive 93 percent of available…
1. The Mogul’s lightweight glass lenses mean zero eyestrain, a huge but unsung benefit of stellar optics. Plastic/polycarbonate’s undetectable distortion and surface imperfections make your eyes tired and cranky, and the surfaces sooner or later get all fuzzy from microabrasions. But, unless you take a diamond to it, glass…
Ski-Mountaineering Master With straps, loops, and holders designed specifically to carry skis, snowshoes, a helmet, ropes, ice axes, and trekking poles, the 40-liter, ski-mountaineering Spindrift is without a doubt the most versatile pack we tested this year. Even more impressive is how intuitive it is to affix all of the…
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…
Behold the Gear of the Year: A 16-ounce, 900-fill-down wonder that’s destined to be the new sleep standard for fastpackers and anyone else who appreciates gossamer weight in a three-season bag. Marmot’s ultrastuffable Atom practically vanishes into your pack. 1. How feathery is the Atom, with its über-premium down and…