Patagonia Sunstretch Shirt ($99)

The Sunstretch is made for hot weather. Ample coverage, a collar, and UPF 30 provide protection from the rays, while the nylon-polyester blend dries fast.

Prana Stretch Zion Straight Pants ($89)

Prana鈥檚 venerated Stretch Zion has been a hiker favorite for years. The new straight fit puts the burly DWR-颅coated fabric in a silhouette that鈥檚 more comfortable, almost tailored.

Farm to Feet Cascade Locks Socks ($23)

Extra cushioning and a reinforced heel and forefoot make these ultrafine-merino socks the comfiest we tested.

Salomon Odyssey Triple Crown Magic Shoes ($140)

The name is a mouthful, but it shows that these shoes were designed for long distances. A wide toe box accommodates trail-swollen feet, while the stiff, cushioned midsole doesn鈥檛 pack out quickly.

Therm-a-Rest 颅Vesper Quilt ($340)

For those who detest the constricting nature of sleeping bags, quilts are a game changer. The 15-ounce Vesper is stuffed with 900-fill hydrophobic down and rated to 32 degrees. All packed up, it鈥檚 the size of a loaf of bread.

Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System ($145)

Testers loved the MiniMo鈥檚 short and stocky pot, which kept fingers clean when spooning mac and cheese. But the best feature is the precision flame control, which made it safe and easy to simmer food inside a tent during a storm.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest 40 Pack ($310)

Maine-based Hyperlite makes its packs almost exclusively from featherweight yet tearproof Dyneema. For the Southwest, it traded mesh exterior pockets (ubiquitous on lightweight packs) for ripstop nylon, which is impervious to branches and cactus. The minimalist 40-liter main compartment has just enough space for those with dialed-in kit.

Eddie Bauer BC Uplift Jacket ($199)

The BC Uplift isn鈥檛 much heavier than a wind shell鈥攚e nearly forgot we packed the seven-ounce jacket, until a deluge hit just a mile from the trailhead in Santa Fe National Forest. The nylon shell, waterproof zippers, and sealed seams make it completely waterproof.

The post The Best Men’s Hiking Gear of 2019 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Jaybird Tarah Earphones ($100)

Music is a must to stay focused in a noisy gym. These Bluetooth earphones are comfortably snug, sweatproof, and good for six hours on a single charge.

Hill City Body Map Train T-shirt ($48)

Not too loose and not too tight, the Body Map Train is made from Tencel, a durable fiber derived from wood pulp that鈥檚 surprisingly soft to the touch.

Ascent Whey Protein Powder ($40)

This natural whey blend is easy to digest and offers a 25-gram boost of protein (the equivalent of four large eggs) with every scoop.

Salomon Predict RA Shoes ($160)

Six channels in the sole help the Predict RA flex with your foot. The 25-millimeter stack height cushions during box jumps and sprints. And the tightly knit upper keeps you locked in.

Fits Light Runner Low Socks ($18)

These were a tester favorite, thanks to a blend of nylon, Lycra, and merino that offered breathability, odor resistance, and durability.

Lululemon Command the Day Duffel ($158)

Thirty-seven liters may seem big, but testers loved the dedicated pockets for shoes, laptop, and water bottle. The water-repellent fabric is easy to clean, too.

Saxx Kinetic Boxers ($37)

Luxurious enough for everyday wear, these boxers feature the (unfortunately named) BallPark Pouch and flat seams that don鈥檛 chafe.

Hill City X-Purpose Shorts ($58)

Hill City鈥檚 shorts are made with a water-repellent and wrinkle-resistant nylon fabric. Plus, they come in three different lengths, which means every tester found a pair that fit.

Purist Mover Water Bottle ($48)

The Mover looks like plenty of other stainless-steel carafes, but it鈥檚 lined with a thin layer of glass, so the bottle won鈥檛 absorb the flavors of your protein powder.

MyFitnessPal App (Free)

If you want to lose weight or gain muscle, you need to pay attention to what you eat. This app lets you set daily goals, and the bar-code scanner makes uploading info easy.

听

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I have a long history with snow bikes. I built my first one when I was 15 by bolting a pair of skis to an old bike frame in my parents鈥� garage. My best friend and I would ride it, pretty unsuccessfully, down the hills near my house. When I first moved to Santa Fe three years ago, I tried a professionally built bike, but it wasn鈥檛 really for me鈥攚hen you鈥檙e used to carving fast alpine turns, teetering down a groomer on a snow bike feels pretty underwhelming.

This winter, Utah-based snow-bike upstart 听sent me their Team Red model ($1,399)听to test. After using it for two days at Ski Santa Fe, I鈥檓 hooked.

My main complaint about other snow bikes I鈥檝e tried is the lack of control they provide. Much like learning to ski, crashing seems to be the only way to slow down. After two days on the听Sno-Go, I had nearly just as much control as I do on a normal pair of skis or my mountain bike. A lot of that is due to the unique tricycle design. Three 90-centimeter, metal-edged skis provide a stable base and slide and carve on snow. Instead of dragging your feet on the snow, like with many other bikes I鈥檝e used, your feet are planted securely in bindings. Much like mountain-bike pedals, friction and small rubber pegs keep your feet in place and help you feel connected to the bike.

The most unique part of the Sno-Go听is the patented pivoting rear triangle. When you shift your weight,听the rear skis move laterally, mimicking the feeling of carving. The suspension fork (a RockShox Judy) turns too, but similar to normal skiing (or more advanced mountain biking), much of the turning movement comes from how you position your weight.听This takes a little practice, but figuring it out lends an entirely new feeling to听biking. Check out 听of听experienced Sno-Go riders to see what I mean.听

Snow bikes听certainly aren鈥檛 for everyone. But if they鈥檝e piqued your interest, in my experience, the Sno-Go is the best you can buy. And while it will never replace the rush of charging through powder or dragging my hip on a perfect groomer, it鈥檚 without a doubt a very fun toy.

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For over 40 years,听国产吃瓜黑料听has helped its听readers find the best gear to pair with their active, adventure-filled lives. It鈥檚 a big job and one听that our five-person gear team takes very seriously. Every year听we hold听weeklong听bike听and ski听tests and send dozens of contributors to far-flung places to use and abuse products.

Our gear coverage takes a variety of forms, from our long-form reviews听to our 听(yes, that Yeti of yours can stand up to a grizzly)听to quick product and deals highlights. It鈥檚 the latter that we鈥檝e started showcasing on听Gear Picks, a new curated selection of featured gear.

We鈥檝e tested and heartily recommend everything that you see here, but you won鈥檛 find the full reviews on this page. Everything is听presented in a shorter, easy-to-scroll听(and easy-to-shop)听format. We stand by these products鈥攁nd the retailers that sell them鈥攁nd many of our editors use this stuff weekly.听We also know that outdoor gear can be prohibitively听expensive, which is why we鈥檝e started听partnering with retailers to give you the firsthand scoop on major听sales. Gear听Picks will allow us to increase this type of coverage and get you more gear听for less. (You can see all of the discounted gear here.)听听

Of course, our in-depth reviews aren鈥檛 going away. You can still read them in our听Gear Guy,听Indefinitely Wild, and听Perfect Thing听columns and all of our new traditional gear stories can be delivered straight to your inbox when you sign up for our Gear Fix newsletter. And if you鈥檙e looking for the latest and greatest, scan our most recent Buyer鈥檚 Guide.听

Finally, we earn听an affiliate commision on every product that a reader buys.听We don鈥檛 get paid to write about those products, and we pride ourselves on our independent, authoritative gear reviews. We want to help our readers make informed buying decisions; if we do our job right, they will either decide a product does or doesn鈥檛 work for them鈥攁nd if it鈥檚 the former, their purchases help fund our editorial work. If you want to learn more, here鈥檚 our full stance on affiliate links.

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A regular coating of fresh wax makes skis last longer and go faster. We recommend waxing your skis at least once a year, but if you hit the slopes regularly, waxing once a month or more听can make a big difference in ski performance. Most shops charge at least $25 for a fresh coat, but it鈥檚 a fun and surprisingly easy activity you can do at home.

Why Waxing Works

Ski bases are made from polyethylene, a strong, lightweight, porous material. As you ski, the pressure and temperature of your skis melt the snow, creating a fine film of water. Depending on the snow conditions (like temperature and humidity), this film of water can either make your skis faster or slower. Drier snow is usually faster while wet snow can slow you down. Wax acts as a lubricant for your ski bases, filling the pores and helping your skis glide over the snow.

The Gear You Need

Wax: The type you鈥檒l need will vary based on snow temperature, which is why ski racers and their technicians pay very close attention to the snow conditions to anticipate the best wax for performance. But for recreational skiers, it鈥檚 often unnecessary. Unless you plan on waxing your skis before every outing, we recommend a general all-purpose wax like the 听($33). Swix also has a 听that听analyzes the general snow conditions in your area听(based on NOAA data) and pairs you with the best wax for your local mountain.

Iron: Any iron will do in a pinch, even the one you use to smooth听your clothes. But a ski-specific model like the 听($60) is best. Unlike household irons, which often have holes in the bottom for steaming, this one is completely flat and holeless, so it won鈥檛 get gunked up with wax. It also has a digital readout, which is helpful when trying to maintain a consistent temperature.

Scraper: Simple and cheap, a 听($8) is used to remove most melted wax from the base of the ski.

Vise Set: Vises aren鈥檛 totally necessary, but they will make the waxing process a lot easier by holding your skis securely听in place. Swix makes 听($160), which clamps to any workbench or table. If you听don鈥檛 want to spend the money, setting your skis on two stacks of books will work, too (just not as well).

Brushes: Brushing is the last stage of the waxing process. While the scraper takes off听most of the wax, a brush works its way into the ski鈥檚 porous base material and removes the rest. A complete set of brushes includes one made of 听($26), one made of 听($21), and one made of 听($23). Like sharpening a knife, start with the aggressive metal brush and work your way down to the finer horsehair one. If you only want to buy one brush, we recommend getting a nylon one听as it鈥檚 a good听happy medium.

How to Wax, Step by Step

1. Before you can wax, you need to get your brakes out of the way. You can do this by hooking a strong rubber band on one brake arm, pulling it over the top of the heelpiece, and hooking it on to the other brake arm.

2. Next, flip the ski upside down on the vice. Secure the binding鈥檚 toepiece in the vice to hold everything in place.

3. Use a clean, dry rag to wipe off the base. If you have a metal brush, you can use it to brush any debris out of the base.

4. Heat up the iron to the correct temperature. Most waxes will list听the ideal temperature on the box. If yours doesn鈥檛, 140 degrees Fahrenheit is a safe bet. Next, place听the wax to the iron and allow it to drip onto the base of the ski. I like to create an S pattern听down the entire length of the ski. When in doubt, use more wax rather than less.

5. Working tip to tail, iron the wax onto the ski using short, back-and-forth strokes down the ski. Make sure the wax is melted over the entire ski from edge to edge. It鈥檚 important to keep the iron moving to avoid burning the base. Once the base is covered, remove the ski from the vise and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. This lets the wax fully penetrate the base, so the more time you let it rest, the better. While you鈥檙e waiting, wax the other ski.

6. After 30 minutes, put the initial ski back on the vise,听and use the scraper to remove as much wax as possible. Again, start at the tip and work your way down the ski, holding the scraper at a 45-degree angle. This can take some work, but don鈥檛 be afraid to put your back into it鈥攜ou won鈥檛 damage the base of the ski. It may take a few passes to get all the wax off.

7. After the scrape, go over the base several times with your nylon brush to remove any leftover wax fragments, still working from tip to tail. Once you do a few passes with the nylon brush, switch to the horsehair brush and repeat the process. Brushing is a bit like buffing a car鈥攖he more,听the better, and you can never really do too much.

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For most of my life, I never owned a ski rack. I just folded down one of my car seats and shoved my skis through the trunk. And while that method works, my skis and my car took quite a beating. But since starting at 国产吃瓜黑料, I鈥檝e tested quite a few different rooftop ski racks. The one I think offers the best features for the money听and the one I recommend most to friends听is the .

Ski racks aren鈥檛 very technical pieces of gear. They all do pretty much the same thing and are even designed the same way, with听two rubberized plastic bars that hinge, like an alligator mouth, to hold your skis. (The bottom bar attaches to horizontal roof racks on the top of a car.) The LiftOp Biggie follows this construction. But there are a few features that set it apart. First, of any rack I鈥檝e used, it鈥檚 the easiest to install. Out of the box, it comes nearly fully assembled and easily attaches via four metal cables to just about any type of rack. When you remove it, which I did a number of times this winter, all the pieces stay together. Read: no more filling plastic baggies with nuts and bolts听to be听duct-taped听to the rack during storage.

Price is another huge factor. At just $180, it costs nearly $50 less than its competitors鈥� versions听and works nearly as well. Plus,听the smaller听but identically built听听costs just $160.听听

Besides that, the Biggie has all the features we look for in a ski rack, like a one-touch push-button lever for easy opening and closing, and two locks, one to secure the rack to the car听and one to lock the skis inside to听prevent听anyone from swiping them from the rack.

My one gripe? The springs at the hinge are weak enough that the rack doesn鈥檛 stay open on its own. This means you have to hold the rack open with one hand while loading the skis with your other hand. It鈥檚 manageable, but not ideal for shorter or weaker users.

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Admittedly, the depths of January are听not shacket weather in most of the country. But an unseasonably warm day in Santa Fe last week had me swapping out my puffy for the听 ($228), and I was reminded just how much I love it.

The Airloft sits in my closet next to the ubiquitous Patagonia Nano Puff. It鈥檚 lightweight, slim-fitting, and perfect for wearing in temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees. The Airloft prevails in style:听Layer it over a button down and it will almost pass as a sport coat. OK, that may be a stretch anywhere but in the outdoor industry, but I do love the tailored cut and muted palette (either black or olive), which matches nearly everything in my closet. Plus, the quilted design helps distinguish听it from other similarly styled coats.

Sure, the Airloft wouldn鈥檛 be my first choice for hiking or biking, but like a lot of gear these days, that form I mentioned is well balanced with function, thanks to durable construction and premium materials. The shell is made from a lightweight, abrasion-resistant polyester-nylon blend that鈥檚 coated with听a water-repellent. The inside is stuffed with lofty and breathable synthetic Toray听active insulation. So while it certainly wouldn鈥檛 be as good on the trail as my other sport-specific jackets, the Airloft has听all the necessary elements to keep up if needed.

听

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Living in sunny New Mexico, a good pair of shades is a mandatory everyday accessory. Earlier this year, I wrote about six pairs I wear regularly. I鈥檇 like to add one more to that list: the .

When it comes to daily driving sunglasses, it鈥檚 all about appearance, and the Sundowners look sharp. The classic Wayfarer styling, which Bob Dylan made famous in the 鈥�60s, is cool without screaming ski bum. Of course, on the rare occasions when I do ski in them鈥攐r run, or fish, or, really, do anything outdoors鈥攖hey can handle it. Credit the virtually indestructible Grilamid frames (the same material used to make high-end ski boots) and polycarbonate lenses, which cut glare exceptionally well and offer 100 percent UV protection. The glasses don鈥檛 have rubber on the temples and nose bridge like many running- and biking-specific shades, but for shorter jaunts, I鈥檝e never had a problem with them staying put.

I dig the classic black frames, but if you want to add a little more pop, the Sundowners also come in multiple shades of translucent blue and clear with brightly colored lenses.

And my favorite part? At just $61, they cost half as much as Ray-Bans.

The post Why the Spy Sundowners Are My Favorite Casual Shades appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Most goggles aren鈥檛 cheap. And once you鈥檝e tried a good pair, which can easily cost over $200,听you鈥檒l never want to wear your $20 bargain-basement model. Unfortunately听with goggles, a higher price tag doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean better durability. Unlike skis, poles, and boots, which can be tossed in the back of a truck without suffering damage, goggles are liable to get scratched if you set them down unprotected while gearing up or grabbing a beer. For me听this usually means replacing mine after a season of use. That鈥檚 why the ($15) is my favorite new piece of ski gear.

I discovered the Vancouver-based company听at Outdoor Retailer in November,听and since then, its protective sleeve has come on every ski day听with me. Made from recycled plastic bottles, the 鈥渟ock鈥� is designed to stretch over almost any size听goggle, protecting the lenses from scratches. It鈥檚 simple, easy to use (even with gloves on), and small鈥攊t fits comfortably in the pocket of my snow pants. Plus, if you鈥檙e brave enough听to show off a bit of personal style, it鈥檚 available in more than 80 different eye-catching designs, including the听听and .

Looks aside, I鈥檓 just relieved that, after 14听days听of skiing so far this year, my brand-new goggles are still scratch-free.

The post The Gogglesoc is a Must-Have in Any Ski Kit appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This fall, Arc鈥檛eryx听launched two new rainwear products, the听听($325) and 听($225).听 Designed for fast-and-light hiking and , both products round out the Zeta line, which was previously highlighted by the Zeta AR shell, one of our听favorite jackets for hiking. I鈥檝e been testing the new products for the past few weeks. Here are my initial thoughts.听

What Are They?

Both the Zeta FL rain jacket and Zeta SL rain pants听are made from Gore-tex Paclite Plus, a breathable and waterproof material that also has the benefits of being highly packable. The jacket and pants feature听a trim fit and articulated tailoring to increase mobility, water-resistant zippers, and adjustable waists and cuffs, and the jacket has zippered hand pockets and an adjustable hood.

Wearing the Jacket and Pants

I wore the Zeta FL jacket and Zeta SL pants on an overnight trip to Lake Katherine, an alpine lake eight miles above Santa Fe. A few early-season snowstorms made for a chilly yet sweaty hike in. I found the jacket and pants to be听comfortable, and I appreciated their slim fit. In general, I avoid rain pants because I tend to overheat and the traditionally baggy fits are noisy while walking. The Zeta SL, on the other hand, was comfortable and had a soft next-to-skin feel. In general, both products felt more like $600 mountaineering and skiing shells than simple rainwear.听

Construction and Fit

The Zeta FL features Gore-Tex Paclite Plus fabric, which is waterproof and fairly breathable. The main body is a light but packable 20-denier material with few seams. When designing both products, packability and comfort were Arc鈥檛eryx鈥檚 main priorities, and just by looking at them you鈥檒l notice their sleekness.听

At six foot one and 175 pounds, I鈥檓 fairly tall and thin. I like Arc鈥檛eryx听products because of their slimmer fit, and size large fit me well. I would suggest that anyone with a broader build should size up.听

Features

Arc鈥檛eryx Zeta FL Jacket:

• Articulated hood and gusseted underarms for unrestricted mobility
• Hybrid elastic-straight hem and wrist cuffs for weight savings with a secure fit
• Hood that rolls and snaps out of the way and a stiffened hood brim
• Two handwarmer pockets with waterproof zippers
• A slim fit, which makes it ideal for warmer weather use where you don鈥檛 need to layer over insulation
• Waterproof-breathable fabric with taped seams and water-resistant zippers

Arc鈥檛eryx Zeta SL Pants:

• Zippered fly that snaps
• Three-quarter-length water-resistant leg zippers
• Gusseted crotch that won鈥檛 hinder mobility
• Internal adjuster in the waistband
• Reinforced fabric on the instep for added durability
• Waterproof-breathable fabric with taped seams and water-resistant zippers

Conclusion

Because I live in the Southwest,听I don鈥檛 find myself using rain pants very often. But compared with a few others I鈥檝e used from brands like Marmot and Patagonia, the Zeta SL鈥檚听are the best. I love the slimmer fit and comfortable feel against the skin. Similarly, the Zeta FL will become my new go-to rain jacket for hiking. It鈥檚 proved its ability to withstand the elements and, similar听to the pants, it鈥檚 just really comfortable to wear. If you鈥檙e on a budget, there are other rain听sets I would recommend that work well enough and cost a lot less. But if you want rain gear that鈥檚 comfortable, will keep you dry, and will last for years,听I would recommend both these products.听

听听

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