After moving to Steamboat Springs a year and a half ago from my native city of Denver, I fell into learning what 鈥渃ommunity鈥� really means. It鈥檚 not, (thankfully), about joining the PTA or going to town hall meetings.

It鈥檚 about having Kelli, the Safeway pharmacist, in my text thread in case her four kids need to be shuttled somewhere after her hip surgery. It鈥檚 about dropping beers off to Mikey, the car mechanic, in exchange for a tire repair. It鈥檚 about the woman at the post office who offers to pay for your lost package from her own pocket. These everyday interactions become meaningful entry points into this town, like capillaries that lead to larger veins and then arteries. Everyone is someone, and we鈥檙e all connected somehow.听

And because this small town is also Ski Town USA, the blood that flows through it all is our favorite winter sport, and there鈥檚 nowhere you feel the connection pulsing stronger than the annual Ski Swap.

Technically, the Ski Swap is a used gear sale and fundraiser for the Winter Sports Club, which breeds Olympians (more than 100 to date). It鈥檚 held every fall at the base lodge of Howelson Hill, the oldest continuously operating ski hill in North America, home of two year-round Nordic jumps, and the training ground for said Olympians-to-be. Not-so technically, it鈥檚 a town rager, albeit without the hangover.听

鈥淓lise, go for the Elans!鈥� a middle-aged dude in a beanie shouts over G-Love and Special Sauce blasting from the outdoor speakers. The racks of skis are all outside, mostly organized by brand, and the place is absolutely mobbed. I鈥檓 stalking the Blizzard rack, as I have a pair I鈥檓 hoping to sell but I鈥檓 afraid they鈥檙e priced too high. 鈥淐areful鈥攕omeone tuned the hell out of these,鈥� says another middle-aged man to his daughter near one of the race-ski racks, where wasp-waisted slalom and GS skis with World Cup tunes threaten both fingers and down jackets.

And then I鈥檓 hit with the sounds of juxtaposing calls, 鈥淭hese are 10 years old and there鈥檚 barely any edge left,鈥� a familiar voice behind me says. 鈥淏ut they鈥檙e only $50鈥︹�� It鈥檚 my ex-brother-in-law鈥檚 brother-in-law, naturally. I turn around and give him a quick hug. 鈥淵ou want these bindings? I鈥檒l give 鈥檈m to you for $25,鈥� he says. We talk about Christmas plans, and then he breaks into a smile at someone behind me. I turn around to see my physical therapist looking for skis for her son, Colin, who鈥檚 outgrown everything he owns. Colin ran cross-country with my daughter, who鈥檚 a year older than he and, thankfully, she鈥檚 mostly done growing.

I walk back inside, past the Nordic jumping skis that look like 10-foot-tall tongue depressors, through the ski boot room with so many kids crouching on the floor it could be a pi帽ata party, and up the stairs to the softgoods. 鈥淚 told this kid I鈥檇 buy him dog food for a year if he let me name his puppy Captain America,鈥� says another recognizable voice at the top. My friend and former coworker鈥檚 dad, a shaggy-haired guy in mud boots and a fuzzy flannel, then introduces me to his neighbor.

Past the back protectors, speed suits, full-face helmets, regular helmets, and outerwear, I set my sights on the vintage ski sweater table, where treasure surely awaits. My path to it, however, turns into the kind of beeline that an actual bee would make if she showed up drunk to mating season. I talk to the guy with a handlebar mustache who offered me kind words of encouragement after knee-replacement surgery, to my friend Lynn whose daughter is besties with my daughter, to a couple I met who were also trying to cut through the baseball field to avoid the parking lot mayhem, plus a guy I鈥檝e met a few times but never knew was on the U.S. Ski Team who tells me the new Indian food place is a little hit or miss.听

The serotonin flooding my brain from all this warm fuzziness makes me wonder what it is about this town that makes people nicer. Anonymity doesn鈥檛 exist here, which keeps people on their best behavior. There鈥檚 also no soul-sucking traffic, which can鈥檛 be underestimated as a cause for dickishness. But it鈥檚 more than that.听

These veins we share, with skiing coursing through, somehow put us all on the same side, regardless of politics or paychecks. I鈥檓 not saying that small rural towns don鈥檛 have their issues. They do. Because when everyone is someone, that means you are, too.听

I never make it to the vintage sweater table. I push my way down the stairs and squish back through the soggy field to my car. I am empty-handed, yes. But I know this winter, when I tromp into the T-Bar after a huge powder day, I鈥檒l have even more people to clink beers with, and that鈥檚 even better than new (to me) gear.

The post Nothing Brings My Community Together like the Local Ski Swap appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article was first published by .

Looking for the best unisex all-mountain skis of 2024? You鈥檒l find those here.

How We Test

Number of all-mountain skis tested: 21
Number of testers:听11
Testing location:听Sun Valley, Idaho
Average age of tester:听38
Average height of tester:听5鈥�6鈥�
Average weight of tester:听139 lbs

SKI has been running its annual ski test for decades now, but we鈥檙e always tweaking and perfecting the process. As in the past, we invited a crew of seasoned industry professionals鈥攕ki instructors, ski shop employees, coaches, and former World Cup racers鈥攖o join us for a week-long gear test in , a resort known for its steep and manicured groomers, legendary bump runs, perfectly gladed tree runs, and of course, 鈥渢he Burn,鈥� sidecountry terrain that powder dreams are made of.

The mission: Jump on every pair of skis entered into our five categories (Carving, Frontside, All-Mountain, All-Mountain Wide, and Powder), put them through their paces all over the mountain, and then fill out a digital scorecard with comments and impressions of how each pair of planks performed across various skill categories鈥攆rom carving chops and crud performance to stability at speed and responsiveness. We ask our crew of 24 testers to identify a ski鈥檚 primary strengths, its weaknesses, who it鈥檚 designed for, and what terrain and snow conditions it鈥檚 most adept at. At the end of the week, we have enough hard data on the 100-plus pairs of skis tested to make your head spin, and we use it all to bring you these reviews of the best skis of the year.

When judging an all-mountain ski, we primarily assess how versatile it is in terms of the type of terrain and snow conditions it can handle. So in Sun Valley, we put the all-mountain skis through the wringer, testing them on groomers, in the bumps, in glades, and even in Sun Valley鈥檚 famous Burn zone, where powder stashes can be found days after the last storm. Lucky for us, we didn鈥檛 have to make do with stale powder鈥攊t was nuking on the day of our All-Mountain category test. The skis that impressed us the most with their balance of skills on hard snow and in powder, in tight terrain and on wide open groomers, made this list of the best all-mountain skis of the year.

奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Skis vs. Unisex Skis

The idea of women鈥檚-specific skis is still a contentious one today. Some brands don鈥檛 make anything but unisex skis because they argue that gender doesn鈥檛 factor into how a ski performs鈥攐nly weight, height, strength, and skier ability counts. They therefore only produce unisex skis, but make them in shorter lengths (sometimes down to 162 centimeters or even 158 centimeters) to be more inclusive towards women.

Other brands have invested a lot of time and money into developing truly women鈥檚-specific skis鈥攕kis that feature construction modifications from their unisex counterparts to account for a woman鈥檚 physique and body mechanics. Finally, some brands appear to offer women鈥檚-specific skis, though often those skis are exactly the same as their unisex counterparts and just feature a different top sheet and women鈥檚-specific model name.

Read more:听

This makes the whole idea of testing 鈥渨omen鈥檚鈥� skis a little complicated. Because many of the skis we鈥檝e covered on our 鈥渂est women鈥檚 skis of the year鈥� lists in the past are, in fact, unisex skis that female testers loved, we decided to change things up this year. This time around, we allowed brands to enter their unisex skis into our women鈥檚 categories provided the ski comes in an approachable length for women (in the 170-centimeter range or below), and the brand doesn鈥檛 offer a women鈥檚-specific alternative. So some of the skis on this list are unisex skis that our lady testers loved and would not hesitate to recommend to other ladies. If you, like many of our female testers, prefer a longer ski that has some heft to it, don鈥檛 be scared off by the 鈥渦nisex鈥� designation. Rest assured that all the skis on this year鈥檚 list (whether unisex or women鈥檚-specific) are tested by women and recommended for women.

How to Use These Ski Reviews

The following skis appear in ranked order, with the ski that tested best at the SKI/国产吃瓜黑料 2024 gear test in Sun Valley, Idaho listed at the top. In each review, we list the ski鈥檚 overall score, a product of how eight female testers scored the ski across nine different skills categories: Hard-Snow Integrity; Stability at Speed; Responsiveness; Quickness; Forgiveness; Carving; Flotation; Crud Performance; and Versatility. SKI鈥檚 scoring system exists to determine and call attention to the skis that most impressed our testers, a crew of ski industry professionals and advanced and expert skiers from across the country.

We believe the sticks listed here set the benchmark for what an all-mountain ski is designed to do. That said, remember that ski testing (and skiing) is somewhat subjective. While we鈥檙e big fans of the category-winning , it may not be the best choice for every skier. So don鈥檛 just look at a ski鈥檚 score鈥攔ead our testers鈥� feedback to understand the nuances of each ski and who it鈥檚 best suited to. Otherwise, you might wind up with a great ski, just not the right ski for you.

Meet the Testers

Age: 47 | Height: 5鈥�4鈥� | Weight: 112 lbs

Kimberly Beekman has been testing skis and writing gear reviews for longer than she鈥檇 like to admit. She鈥檚 a former editor of SKI and freelance contributor to both SKI and 国产吃瓜黑料. She lives in Steamboat Springs with her wonderful daughter and terrible cat.

Avery Pesce

Age: 40 | Height: 5鈥�6鈥� | Weight: 138 lbs

Pesce lives in Whitman, Mass., and calls the ski areas of Vermont and New Hampshire home. She鈥檚 an expert skier with an aggressive style that she applies to any and all type of terrain and snow conditions. As the head ski buyer for Boston Ski & Tennis in Newton, Mass., she knows a thing or two about skis鈥攈ow they鈥檙e built, how they perform, and who they鈥檙e best suited to.

Age: 35 | Height: 5鈥�5鈥� | Weight: 140 lbs

Wiegand is SKI鈥檚 gear test director and associate gear director for 国产吃瓜黑料. She grew up in Garmisch, Germany and cut her teeth on the World Cup slopes of the Hausberg. She started out as a competitive figure skater before realizing skiing was more fun. She ski raced in high school and college, then promptly got herself a job in the ski industry, first as a ski instructor at Crested Butte, Colo., then as an editor at SKI.

The Reviews: The Best 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain Skis of the Year

Editor鈥檚 Choice: Blizzard Sheeva 9 ($750)

Overall score: 8.47/10
Lengths (cm): 150, 156, 162, 168, 174
Dimensions (mm): 129-96-118.5
Radius (m): 14 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,765 (162)
Pros: Versatility, Quickness
Cons: Flotation, Stability at Speed

Last year, the Blizzard Sheeva 9 won best in test. This year, it repeats the feat, but while boasting a complete redesign that hones its strengths and eliminates its weaknesses鈥斺�渇avorite ski of the day鈥� was our testers鈥� refrain. The new iteration is 4 millimeters wider underfoot and has a longer effective edge to both float in powder and carve on groomers. It also boasts Blizzard鈥檚 Freeride TrueBlend Woodcore, which consists of denser wood where a stiffer flex is desirable, and softer wood in the tips and tails lends forgiveness and ease of turn initiation. A new fiberglass plate underfoot replaces the metal one, allowing the ski to go from tight slalom corkscrews to long, fast downhill turns just by thinking about it. The Sheeva 9 is quick and playful, and testers agreed that it鈥檚 the most versatile within the 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain category in terms of both ability levels and terrain. 鈥淎mazing all over the mountain,鈥� said Avery Pesce, a Sugarbush and Jay Peak, Vermont, skier.

Read the full review for category scores, strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback.

Overall score: 8.05/10
Lengths (cm): 159, 166, 173, 180, 187
Dimensions (mm): 128-96-119
Radius (m): 17 (173)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,850 (173)
Pros: Versatility, Responsiveness
Cons: Crud Performance, Flotation

It used to be that our testers found the Fischer Rangers polarizing鈥攗ntil the brand debuted its revamped line last year. For 2023-24, the positive consensus was even more resounding, and the unisex Ranger 96 floated to No. 2 overall for 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain skis. Testers lauded its versatility for both ability level and terrain. 鈥淚 recommend this ski for almost everyone,鈥� said Lily Krass, an expert skier from Jackson, Wyoming. Our crew found this ski responsive, playful, dependable, and easy鈥攁 fun ride that they didn鈥檛 have to work too hard to figure out. It had just enough heft to be reassuring when the powder turned to chunder, plus a sheet of metal and a flat tail gave it edge grip and a strong turn finish on the groomers. A few worried it might be too forgiving, making stronger or heavier skiers feel like they鈥檙e going over the handlebars鈥攕urprising, considering the unisex construction鈥攂ut overall the Ranger 96 is 鈥渁n incredible all-mountain ski that zips through bumps, lays an edge, and feels easy to initiate,鈥� said Krass.

Overall score: 7.96/10
Lengths (cm): 149, 156, 163, 170, 177
Dimensions (mm): 135-96-113
Radius (m): 24-14-20 (163)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,723 (156)
Pros: Carving, Flotation
Cons: Crud Performance, Playfulness

The V枚lkl Secret 96 is a study in contradictions: carvy and surfy, stable and playful, damp and lively, quick and strong. 鈥淭he versatility is great,鈥� said Tracy Gibbons, a former U.S. Ski Teamer. 鈥淟ay it up on edge, take it in the trees, take it wherever.鈥� But the true test of an all-arounder, according to our ex-racer set, is a firm, steep groomer鈥攁nd this is where the Secret 96 shone, earning category-topping scores for Carving and Stability at Speed. That bulldog grip might be due to all that Titanal along the edges and underfoot, which damps vibration and gives the ski a stuck-to-the-snow feel. Generously rockered tips hooked up beautifully with the nudge of an ankle, and the rockered tail released gracefully out of the turn. While the Secret 96 is perhaps best for experts who will properly appreciate its strengths鈥攁 couple of testers mentioned it could feel burly to beginners鈥攁dvanced skiers on up will benefit from its confidence-inspiring versatility. 鈥淚t鈥檚 perfect for the ex-racer gal who wants not just her frontside performance, but also the width she needs for the crud and sidecountry,鈥� claimed Pesce.

Overall score: 7.74/10
Lengths (cm): 159, 165, 171
Dimensions (mm): 132-99-121
Radius (m): 16 (165)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,750 (165)
Pros: Responsiveness, Hard-Snow Integrity
Cons: Playfulness, Crud Performance

Last year, testers found the MSP CC to be the perfect machine for pinning the throttle on fall-line steeps, but not necessarily for easy Sunday cruising. This year, 4FRNT revamped its women鈥檚 best-seller to be every bit as powerful as before, but with a little added forgiveness and ease. 鈥淚t read my mind and won my heart,鈥� said SKI executive editor Samantha Berman. The major update is a new maple-and-aspen core (replacing poplar), which gives a more responsive (read: fun) ride. Testers found this ski initiated turns instantly and effortlessly, while a Titanal laminate damped vibration and gave it stability at speed. It was so confident in any kind of terrain and conditions that testers hardly noticed what was under their feet. The MSP CC is on the 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain category鈥檚 wide side, which makes it best for soft snow, but its scores in Hard-Snow Integrity and Carving were very respectable. 鈥淭his ski gets more fun the faster you go,鈥� said Taos, New Mexico-based tester Erika Northrop.

Overall score: 7.72/10
Lengths (cm): 146, 154, 162, 170, 178
Dimensions (mm): 136-94-110
Radius (m): 15 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,590 (170)
Pros: Quickness, Hard-Snow Integrity
Cons: Playfulness, Crud Performance

The Ripstick 94 W Black Edition is all knives out, slicing, dicing, and dissecting hardpack like a ski half its size. With a No. 2 score in Hard-Snow Integrity and a No. 3 in Carving across the 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain skis we tested, it鈥檚 a great choice for ex-racers who are unwilling to sacrifice good old-fashioned cambered edge grip.听鈥淭his is a ski for those who still care about edge performance and precision even in this category,鈥� said Jenny Wiegand, 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 associate gear director. The downside, some felt, is that it鈥檚 a little too directional to be playful. Elan鈥檚 mad scientists designed the Ripstick 94 W Black Edition to have a dedicated left and right ski, cambered on the inside edge and rockered on the outside, and put carbon tubes in the core to increase stability without adding weight. But what all those bells and whistles boil down to is a solid ski you can trust in any conditions. 鈥淚t outperformed most of the skis in the category,鈥� said Michelle Nicholson, a tester from Jackson, Wyoming. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a total standout. I was blown away.鈥�

No. 6: Peak 98 by Bode ($1,090)

Overall score: 7.41/10
Lengths (cm): 160, 168, 178, 184, 190
Dimensions (mm): 126-98-114
Radius (m): 22.3 (168)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,918 (178)
Pros: Carving, Stability at Speed
Cons: Versatility, Playfulness

If you鈥檝e ever wanted to know what it feels like to be Bode Miller, buckle your boots down tight and click into his new ski, the Peak 98. Like a racehorse that smells the track, this unisex ski wants to move. And the faster you go, the more it goads you. It champs the bit at slow speeds and feels a little burly for bumps, but for those who want to trench going mach 蝉肠丑苍茅濒濒, this is the ski for you. The Peak鈥檚 revolutionary design comes straight from Miller鈥檚 2004 World Cup GS title, which he won on a ski that had a small keyhole cut out of the metal laminate in front of the binding. The cutaway gave the forebody a more forgiving flex, allowing him to turn while still in a tuck without sacrificing underfoot edge grip. The Peak 98 may not be for everyone, but it鈥檚 鈥渄efinitely a winner for the ex-racer or hard charger who likes to carve,鈥� stated Gibbons.

No. 7: Dynastar E-Pro 99 ($900)

Overall score: 7.13/10
Lengths (cm): 154, 162, 170, 178
Dimensions (mm): 125-97-116
Radius (m): 15 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,700 (162)
Pros: Versatility, Playfulness
Cons: Hard-Snow Integrity, Stability at Speed

Testers were of two minds on the Dynastar E-Pro 99. 鈥淓asygoing ski,鈥� offered Nicholson. 鈥淣ot for the timid,鈥� countered Pesce. Technically unisex in everything but name and graphic, this ski is energetic and poppy, carving as if on a metronome鈥攁s long as you know how to find its edges. Its core is made of poplar and, curiously, polyurethane (the same damping material in many sidewalls), with a metal laminate that tapers in the tip and tail for ease of turn initiation. It鈥檚 supremely versatile in all conditions, happily bounding down the fall line in any turn shape and in every sort of terrain, though, as a wider offering in the 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain category, its natural habitat is softer snow. That said, the Dynastar E-Pro 99 prefers to be driven, not ridden, so it鈥檚 best suited for the expert set. 鈥淎n unsung hero of the all-mountain category,鈥� claimed Pesce, who works as a hardgoods buyer.

No. 8: Line Pandora 94 ($650)

Overall score: 7.05/10
Lengths (cm): 151, 158, 165, 172
Dimensions (mm): 131-84-117
Radius (m): 14.5 (165)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,491 (165)
Pros: Versatility, Quickness
Cons: Flotation, Stability at Speed

There are skis that take skiing seriously鈥攁nd then there鈥檚 the Line Pandora 94. In short, this ski likes to party. Described as 鈥渘imble鈥� and 鈥渆nergetic,鈥� it reminded our testers why they started skiing to begin with: 鈥淓asy fun!鈥� exclaimed Northrop. Made with lightweight aspen and carbon, and bereft of dance-move-damping metal, it鈥檚 playful and eager to please. The Pandora 94 is quick underfoot, diving through tight trees and bumps, and forgiving enough to throw sideways when you need to scrub speed. It鈥檚 a bit too lightweight and soft to drive hard on firm groomers, and it鈥檚 not quite wide enough to float through the deep, but it鈥檚 an absolute blast everywhere else. Testers proclaimed this model perfect for intermediates looking to improve and experts who just wanna have fun. 鈥淭his ski鈥檚 for anyone who鈥檚 as happy making turns as she is having an early apr猫s,鈥� Northrop said. Our kind of ski indeed.

No. 9: Rossignol Rallybird 92 ($650)

Overall score: 7.04/10
Lengths (cm): 154, 162, 170
Dimensions (mm): 127-92-117
Radius (m): 14 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,600 (162)
Pros: Responsiveness, Forgiveness
Cons: Flotation, Crud Performance

This proud French brand is doing for women鈥檚 skis what Julia Child did for its motherland鈥檚 dishes: making them smooth, buttery, and approachable. The Rallybird 92 is case in point. Initially intimidated by its dice-ready waist width, testers found it to be surprisingly soft and forgiving, capable of coaxing lesser experts from skid to carve. 鈥淭his felt like an easy-skiing option for intermediates鈥攁nd maybe even beginners鈥攖o grow with,鈥� said Berman. Rossi鈥檚 winning recipe is a lightweight paulownia wood core with a carbon-fiber-weave laminate that loads this model with energy and pop to zip through bumps and tight trees. Testers did complain that it鈥檚 not wide enough for fluff (it scored dead last in Flotation) or grippy enough for ice, but for all-mountain cruisers who like to venture off-trail from time to time, it鈥檚 an energetic yet chill ride. 鈥淚t鈥檚 playful and has good rebound energy,鈥� Berman added.

No. 10: Nordica Santa Ana 98 ($750)

Overall score: 7/10
Lengths (cm): 151, 158, 165, 172, 179
Dimensions (mm): 131-98-118
Radius (m): 15 (165)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,745 (165)
Pros: Crud Performance, Stability at Speed
Cons: Playfulness, Versatility

When Nordica鈥檚 first Santa Ana 98 came out, in 2016, it led the charge in the revolution against wimpy women鈥檚 models. While it鈥檚 no longer at the top of our rankings, it should be credited as the inspiration for many of those that are. Redesigned in 2022-23 to be a bit friendlier (which caused a few testers to note that it felt as if it had lost its tail), the Santa Ana 98 is still a beast at heart: full-wood core, sandwich construction, and a damping sheet of metal. Accordingly, testers found it crushed crud (where it earned an impressive No. 2 in the category) and craved speed鈥攂ut it鈥檚 too much of a blunt-force instrument to be operated with finesse. It鈥檚 not playful or forgiving, but it is solid. 鈥淎 versatile all-arounder, but definitely more work in bumps, trees, and tight terrain,鈥� claimed Wiegand.

No. 11: Salomon QST Lumen 98 ($600)

Overall score: 6.99/10
Lengths (cm): 152, 160, 168, 176
Dimensions (mm): 131-98-119
Radius (m): 15 (168)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,740 (168)
Pros: Quickness, Responsiveness
Cons: Stability at Speed, Carving

The Salomon QST Lumen 98 is the champagne of the 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain test: light, effervescent, and easy. While its happy-go-lucky nature won the hearts of some, it left others wanting something stronger and with more bite. 鈥淟ittle Bunny Foo Foo, hopping through the forest,鈥� joked Northrop, the New Mexico area manager for Christy Sports. Indeed, a few testers complained that the QST Lumen 98 got nervous at speed and deflected off hardpack, but most agreed that as long as you鈥檙e in soft snow, it鈥檚 a quick, nimble, playful, comfortable, and forgiving ride that won鈥檛 tax your quads. Boasting the same poplar core with carbon fiber and flax laminates as the unisex QST line, the Lumen 98鈥檚 secret sauce is cork in the tip and tail that damps vibration without adding swing weight. 鈥淔un for a gal looking to expand her horizons off-piste,鈥� said Gibbons, who calls Crystal Mountain, Washington, her home terrain.

No. 12: Armada Reliance 92 Ti ($850)

Overall score: 6.82/10
Lengths (cm): 156, 164, 172, 180
Dimensions (mm): 130-92-116
Radius (m): 16.5 (164)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,625 (164)
Pros: Hard-Snow Integrity, Responsiveness
Cons: Forgiveness, Flotation

Armada, formerly a freestyle-oriented park-and-pow brand, has slowly but surely established itself as a serious contender in the all-mountain market鈥攁nd for good reason. The Reliance 92 Ti has been a tester favorite since it came on the scene in 2021, earning high marks for its tenacious edge grip and power. A rockered tip initiates easily and a fully cambered tail doesn鈥檛 release from the turn until it鈥檚 good and done, while a caruba wood core reinforced with Titanal responds instantly to skier input. The downsides, testers noted, are that it can feel unwieldy in bumps, it鈥檚 a little too serious to be playful, and it鈥檚 too narrow to be versatile when the low-pressure front moves in. It鈥檚 also best driven by experts who don鈥檛 mind firing a muscle or two. 鈥淚t surprised me how tiring it felt to ski the Reliance 92 Ti,鈥� said 国产吃瓜黑料 associate gear editor Kelly Klein. All in all, though, it鈥檚 a 鈥渂omber all-mountain ski,鈥� said Nicholson, who鈥檚 a patroller for Wyoming鈥檚 Jackson Hole.

No. 13: St枚ckli Nela 96 ($1,149)

Overall score: 6.77/10
Lengths (cm): 156, 164, 172
Dimensions (mm): 134-96-121
Radius (m): 15.8 (164)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,650 (164)
Pros: Stability at Speed, Carving
Cons: Versatility, Playfulness

St枚ckli is renowned for its unparalleled quality and buttery smooth feel鈥攊t鈥檚 a Swiss brand, after all鈥攁nd it has the price tag to match. The Nela 96 boasts all of that, earning No. 1 scores in Stability at Speed, Carving, and, shockingly, Flotation. It鈥檚 the brand鈥檚 widest women鈥檚 offering, and, with rockered tips and tails, it offers terrain versatility that鈥檚 uncharacteristic of this brand. (Many of St枚ckli鈥檚 thoroughbreds are one-trick ponies that, to be fair, do that one trick really, really well.) But when it comes to versatility for ability level, the Nela continues to turn up its nose at lesser-skilled skiers. 鈥淭oo much ski for smaller women or those who can鈥檛 put enough strength into steering,鈥� said Berman, who skis mostly in Colorado鈥檚 Front Range. But for experts who eat their spinach, it鈥檚 鈥渟uper dependable and responsive,鈥� said Pesce. 鈥淎 blast to ski on anywhere on the mountain.鈥�

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best all-mountain skis for women?

1. Blizzard Sheeva 9
6. Peak 98 by Bode
7. Dynastar E-Pro 99
8. Line Pandora 94
9. Rossignol Rallybird 92
10. Nordica Santa Ana 98
11. Salomon QST Lumen 98
12. Armada Reliance 92 Ti
13. St枚ckli Nela 96

What is an all-mountain ski ?

From groomed runs to moguls to the steep-and-deep freeride terrain, all-mountain skis are designed to take on the entire mountain. They usually feature a waist between 85-100mm and are sold without bindings. The majority of all-mountain skis that our testers prefer feature wood cores and two sheets of metal鈥攂ut there are exceptions that include no metal at all in favor of keeping the ski light and more playful. It鈥檚 hard to beat the versatility of an all-mountain ski, though these skis can be too wide for those who spend the majority of their time on groomers, and too narrow for those who ski mountains blessed with regular and bountiful snowfall. Read more:听

What鈥檚 the difference between men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 skis?

In truth, most skis are unisex and not gender-specific. Many brands produce the ski with the exact same construction technologies for both genders, but often create two different top sheets to appeal to men vs. women. A handful of brands are making truly women鈥檚-specific skis, where the ski takes a woman鈥檚 physique into account when building the ski. Men and women can ski on the same ski but may want to choose different lengths depending on their height and their skiing ability.

What鈥檚 the difference between the All-Mountain and Frontside ski category?

Truth is, the line can be blurry between these two ski categories since ski manufacturers started throwing everything they have at producing well-rounded and versatile skis in both. As a result, you can now find narrow all-mountain skis that also rail on groomers and frontside skis that can hold their own in crud. That said, there are still some key differences between frontside and all-mountain skis, the biggest being that frontside skis are primarily designed for on-trail performance, while all-mountain skis (even the narrower ones) are engineered to tackle conditions and terrain off the groomers.听.

How long do skis last?

With proper care and regularly performed tuning by a professional ski tech, skis can last for 200-300 days on snow depending on the size and aggressiveness of the skier. Larger skiers and people who are harder on their equipment will not get as many days on snow before the wood core, edges, or other aspects of the ski become compromised. Bindings should be tested by a professional ski tech every season, and replaced when they do not meet standardized norms.

The post The Best 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain Skis of 2024 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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At a Glance

• Brand: Blizzard
• Model: Sheeva 9
• Overall Ranking: #1
• Overall Score: 8.37/10
• Strengths: Versatility, Quickness
• Weaknesses: Flotation, Stability at Speed
• Gender: 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚
• Level: Advanced, Expert

Specs

• Tip/Waist/Tail (mm): 129-96-118.5
• Lengths (cm): 150, 156, 162, 168, 174
• Radius (m): 14 (162 cm)
• Waist Width (mm): 96
• Weight (per ski in grams): 1,765 (162)

Test Scores

• Stability at Speed: 7.56/10
• Quickness/Maneuverability: 9/10
• Playfulness: 8.67/10
• Forgiveness: 7.56/10
• Hard Snow Performance: 9/10
• Crud Performance: 8.67/10
• Versatility: 8.78/10
• Responsiveness: 9/10
• Carving: 7.56/10

Last year, the Sheeva 9 won best in test for the 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 All-Mountain category. This year, it repeats the feat, but that hones its strengths and eliminates its weaknesses. 鈥淔avorite ski of the day鈥� was the testers鈥� refrain.

Forgive us for being anticlimactic, but we鈥檙e not in the least bit surprised. The brand has spent three of the six years the Sheevas have been in production obsessed with engineering the perfect refinements, as that line鈥攖he sexy all-mountain freeride and powder category鈥攈as quickly become Blizzard鈥檚 flagship, eclipsing in importance even the Black Pearl 88, which was the industry鈥檚 best-selling ski across all categories and genders for nearly a decade. And, judging by our testers鈥� gushing comments, all that legwork paid off.

To improve the Sheeva 9, Blizzard may have taken a few of the best attributes of the trench-ready, fall-line-loving, but sometimes punishing Black Pearl 97 and infused them鈥攁long with some new tech鈥攊nto this freeride-y, forgiving model. The result is a versatile all-rounder that鈥檚 smoother and easier, but also so grippy on edge that it impressed even the East Coasters: 鈥淎mazing all over the mountain. Easily best in test for the category,鈥� said Avery Pesce, a Sugarbush and Jay Peak, Vermont, skier. 鈥淚 would grab it each and every day here in New England, regardless of the conditions or terrain.鈥�

The first major changes in the Sheeva 9 are that it鈥檚 significantly wider, bumping up from a 92-millimeter waist to a 96, and that its snow-contact point (where the rocker starts) is extended on both the tip and tail. The new width and profile are key to making it more of an all-mountain, all-condition tool: The wider platform floats better in powder, and the longer effective edge grips and carves better on groomers. Blizzard also increased the height of the rocker so as not to compromise the ski鈥檚 surfability, and gave it a slightly tighter turn radius, but, because of the longer edge, the new radius isn鈥檛 all that noticeable.

Related:

This year鈥檚 Sheeva line also (finally) boasts the brand鈥檚 Freeride Trueblend Woodcore, which consists of three different densities of wood and is similar to the construction of the extremely successful women鈥檚 Black Pearl and the men鈥檚 Bonafide and Brahma lines. Blizzard inlays the harder wood in strips underfoot and on the edges, where a stiffer flex is desirable, and the softer wood in the tips and tails for forgiveness and ease of turn initiation. This also corrects an age-old problem with flex patterns changing according to the length of the ski; they can now make every size feel more or less the same in terms of stiffness and rebound.

Another important update is that the Sheeva 9 gets a fiberglass plate underfoot instead of the previous metal one, which allows it to bend and flex without any hinge points. This might be partly responsible for the tester feedback that this ski can go from tight slalom corkscrew to long, fast downhill turns just by thinking about it. It鈥檚 quick and playful, and testers also noted that it鈥檚 the most versatile for both terrain and ability levels.

鈥淲hen I got off this ski, I felt like an inspiring friend had just coaxed me into stepping out of my comfort zone, and I could not thank her enough for how jazzed and invigorated I felt,鈥� said Erika Northrop, a 5-foot-9 Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, local. With a nice rebound energy, the Sheeva 9 gives you back what you put into it.

See how the Blizzard Sheeva 9 compares to our other favorite all-mountain skis of the year.

The post Review: 2024 Blizzard Sheeva 9 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Moving to the mountains is what we skiers dream about. Skinning out the back door before work, being first in line on a powder Tuesday, raising children who will know how to operate a snow machine. This was what I have wanted since before I can remember.

Then, just as my 14-year-old daughter, Cate, was finishing middle school in Denver, my best friend鈥檚 house in downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado., came up for rent.

We drove up to see it one late-summer day. We ignored the heavy odors of weed smoke and dog-pee and decided on the spot that we could cram ourselves, four bikes, 12 pairs of skis, all of our gear, and our indoor/outdoor tomcat into an 884-square-foot cabin built in 1909 with floors so uneven, it felt like walking on a houseboat. 鈥淚t has good bones,鈥� I said. 鈥淧erfect location,鈥� Cate said.

That one swift decision kicked off countless painstaking ones: We had one month to offload 16 years鈥� worth of stuff from the only home Cate had ever known. Every cupboard, drawer, and closet I went through was like an exorcism of shame. The barware alone was alarming鈥攄id I really ever think I would need 12 martini glasses, now coated in grimy dust? There were eight settings of blue and gold china I put on my wedding registry; each cost $80 and had been used for two Christmases, only one of which was while I was still married. There were four sets of my mother鈥檚 cast-off placemats and napkin rings (who uses napkin rings?), plus table runners, candlestick holders, a tortilla warmer, and a big bowl with a coyote painted on it. There were silver trays and salt and pepper shakers from my stepdad鈥檚 mother鈥檚 estate, and a closet full of books and journals from my brother鈥檚.听

But it was the Cuisinart food processor, never used, that turned me inside out. How was my vision of what I thought my life would be so far from how it actually turned out? That night, I dreamed of being caught in a landslide while driving, unable to brake or steer or open the car door.

Then came the Craigslist transactions and potential tenant tours. Every one made me sad. I knew I was anthropomorphizing and that was irrational, but I worried about how our things would feel, cared for by new people. Would the china we sold be handwashed and neatly stacked? Would the peonies under Cate鈥檚 window get snipped and put in a glass vase each spring?听

But time kept moving, so I continued to let go. Finally, with our pared-down belongings packed in boxes and suitcases and plastic bins, we loaded up the U-Haul. At the last minute, with only a couple of feet left in the truck, I crammed in my outdoor potted plants that I had intended to leave behind. Our new rental had no patio, no yard, no place to put such things. But I couldn鈥檛 stand the thought of a life without flowers.

As we unpacked, I spent hundreds of dollars on Amazon for organizers and baskets that hang on doors and go on shelves. The stuff that would not fit鈥攃leaning supplies, spare sheets, towels, vitamins, socks, and swimsuits鈥擨 shoved in boxes under our beds. I stashed rolls of spare toilet paper in the hutch under the TV, and cough medicine, batteries, lightbulbs, and tools in bins on the floor of my closet. We borrowed a trailer to house our skis and bikes out back. I wedged 2x4s under half the legs of our furniture to keep it from falling over. I rigged up a portable ski-tuning station in the hallway by Cate鈥檚 room and a clothes-drying rack over the heat vent in my office.听

Then, quickly for Cate, slowly for me, we met some people. They kindly responded to my desperate group texts (鈥淚鈥檓 Cate鈥檚 mom. Does anyone want to have a glass of wine with me?鈥�). They taught us that the bears know how to open the trunk of a Subaru, and the guy who works weeknights at the local drive through gives extra chicken strips. They invited us to high school football games and commiserated about the long lines at the post office. They made us feel like we belong.

Today, I am writing this while still in my long underwear after an afternoon on the hill with Cate and some new friends. We got 11 inches of early season snow last night that stacked up in big, fluffy drifts. We rode up Storm Peak and skied down in a whiteout with snow blowing sideways, uphill, and directly through the zippers of our jackets. And the snow is still falling in fat clumps out my window.

We miss our house. We miss some of our things. But moving has forced me to reevaluate just what, exactly, is valuable. It isn鈥檛 wedding china at all.

Now, I like to imagine my Cuisinart鈥檚 new life. Cate probably wouldn鈥檛 remember growing up with fresh salsa or homemade gazpacho; she doesn鈥檛 even like those things. But I know what she will remember鈥攕kipping school to ski powder, sometimes with me. And as for those martini glasses, I did hang on to two of them, which is at least one more than I really need.

The post We Left the City for a Tiny Cabin in a Ski Town. We Don鈥檛 Regret a Thing. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I hate shopping at outdoor gear stores. This seems odd, considering that I鈥檓 an outdoorsy person who loves gear and reviews it for a living. But from the moment I walk in, I鈥檓 conscious of how I appear at face value: a diminutive middle-aged mom searching through my fanny pack for the reading glasses that are already on top of my head. I might as well carry a sign that says 鈥淪ell me lame gear in the value category鈥� or 鈥淧lease explain how ski bindings work.鈥澨�

Take my recent mountain bike shopping experience. As I stumbled through what felt like an interview about my legitimacy, I admitted to the shop-floor dude that I did not know how much travel I wanted in the front or back shock or what kind of componentry I wanted. (I am an avid rider, but I have always bought friends鈥� hand-me-downs, which means the only thing I know about bikes is that I love to ride them.) 鈥淗ave you thought about buying a gravel bike?鈥� he said, perceptibly flexing his tattoos.听

鈥淚鈥檝e been mountain biking for longer than you鈥檝e been alive!鈥� I wanted to yell in my own lame defense at his flat-brimmed hat. But I didn鈥檛, because that would be embarrassing, and the hot tears that would likely start running down my face would warrant a call to my therapist. (And I work really hard to make her think I don鈥檛 have any issues.)听

So, after some satisfyingly snarky inner dialogue鈥斺�淵ou don鈥檛 even think your mustache is ironic, which is so ironic!鈥濃�擨 retreated to the safety of my living room with my tail tucked into my chamois to search for help. That鈥檚 how I found . It鈥檚 a new online gear-finding service that connects you with an expert in whatever sport you鈥檙e into. They guide you through the process and give you a few recommendations, most of which are discounted. If you buy from their list, the expert gets a commission on the sale.听

Curated quietly launched in 2017 after Eduardo Vivas went on a snowboarding trip to Vail and discovered that all the high-end gear he bought was wrong for a beginner. Vivas and his cofounders鈥擫inkedIn and Facebook veterans鈥攖hought that by focusing on connections with real experts rather than on the shiny new toys, they could better serve consumers (though selling the gear is certainly still the goal). Because the program prioritizes matching you to experts in your area, there鈥檚 a lot of common ground to spark conversation. 鈥淥ur experts will even go skiing or golfing with our customers,鈥� says Matt Jay, Curated鈥檚 head of business development.听

According to Jay, in the past year Curated has doubled the number of winter gear experts, from roughly 500 to 1,000, to accommodate growing demand. Another indicator of success: the company鈥檚 return rate is less than 2 percent. Clearly, Curated鈥檚 model is working. Half of the experts鈥� salaries come from tips鈥攁 huge motivator for them to get it right the first time. 鈥淭he experts are beholden to the consumer,鈥� Jay says.

I was skeptical of the model, so before I used Curated to help me choose a bike, I wanted to test the service by searching for gear I actually know something about to see how Curated鈥檚 recommendations stack up. I鈥檝e been a ski writer and tester for roughly 20 years, so I clicked 鈥渂rowse skis.鈥�

I was paired with Jake, a 20-some-year-old freestyle ski coach in Aspen. From the very first words that popped into my chat window, I could feel his stoke for the sport. He asked me how long I鈥檝e been skiing and then proceeded to assess my abilities in a nonjudgmental way. And because of the relative anonymity of the platform, I could be honest without feeling like a fraud鈥攁 phenomenon born from insidious girl code that causes women to consistently downplay our abilities.听

鈥淚鈥檓 a high-expert,鈥� I said frankly.听

鈥淗ell, yeah!鈥� Jake responded.听

Suddenly, even though I had just spent my Saturday folding soccer clothes and vacuuming smashed Goldfish from the floor mats of my Subaru, I felt like I was being taken seriously.

Jake had the answers to all my questions (it was a test鈥擨 already knew the answers myself): which models have metal in them, which skis are female-specific below the topsheet, what the turn radius is in each size. He also gave me an educated evaluation of what the longer and shorter lengths will feel like in Colorado鈥檚 terrain. When he recommended one particular women鈥檚 model, I commented that the name is better suited for a feminine hygiene product. He laughed.

At the end of our chat, Jake sent over his final recommendations. I clicked on the link to find the two exact models I currently have in my basement. Coincidence? I think not. If only dating apps were so successful.听

Now it was time to move on to the harder stuff: mountain bikes. Griffin was my guy in this department. He was an 18-year-old racer and mechanic who was taking a year off college to ride and hang out in Maui. I told him that all I know about mountain bikes is that I like to ride them, that I wanted something that can handle both long distances and chunky tech, and that I was curious about upgrading to a 29er but unsure about how one would perform for someone who bears a strong resemblance to a Keebler elf.听

Thanks again to that online anonymity, I also felt comfortable spilling my guts about my last bike shop experience. (And unfortunately for him, comfortable enough to dole out unwanted advice that he should go back to college someday.) When Griffin responded, I wanted to give him my $30 therapy copay: 鈥淚t鈥檚 the worst to be underestimated and stupidly mansplained by shop dudes,鈥� he said. Yes, dearest Griffin, it sure is.

Then we got into the local bike scene in Colorado. We had a good laugh about all the bros in Pit Vipers here (鈥淚f you buy a Yeti, I鈥檓 sure you would make plenty of friends on the trails hahaha鈥�). Ultimately, Griffin suggested two solid choices: a 27.5 that rides like a 29er, and a 29er that鈥檚 maneuverable for elves. He was respectful, honest, and didn鈥檛 mansplain a damn thing. Thanks, Griffin.

Next, to fully see what Curated was capable of, I devised one final test: seeking equipment for a sport I鈥檓 a total newb at. I chose golf, which I am not convinced is actually a sport at all. (I made a mental note not to ask that question, because that鈥檚 just rude.) I was matched with Ryan, who first informed me that he was a real human. In the era of help chats populated by bots that funnel you into maddeningly unhelpful FAQs, this was reassuring indeed.听

I immediately confessed that I had zero idea what I was doing and that I couldn鈥檛 fake my way past the drink cart if I tried. Ryan suggested a full set of clubs rather than piecemealing them like real golfers do. He was honest about which ones were the best deals and which ones seemed like a good deal but that I鈥檇 soon outgrow. He came up with two options for me. Afterward, my own internet research revealed that the clubs he picked were not the typical 鈥渘ewbie鈥� clubs painted pink for women. Rather, they were thoughtfully selected with quality and learning curve in mind.听

And Ryan assured me there was plenty of room in the bag for beer, which is, of course, the real reason I would ever venture onto a green. He also gave me a few tips (鈥淒on鈥檛 swing hard! It鈥檚 all about ball contact!鈥�) and indulged my cringey questions (鈥淲hat is a hybrid club?鈥� 鈥淒o the shoes really matter?鈥�). He then followed up a couple hours later with a deal that included free balls and a discount code he found somewhere. 鈥淚鈥檓 not 100 percent sure the code works, but try it and see! Just trying to get you the best deal.鈥� So nice!

So, dear gear-shop bros, I am happy to say I will never subject myself to your withering gaze ever again. Unless it鈥檚 to politely ask you to fix the gear that I鈥檝e broken doing things some middle-aged moms who can no longer read their phones do (with their readers safely stowed in their packs, of course).听

And to all the Curated people who helped me, thank you. I鈥檓 sorry I haven鈥檛 actually purchased anything yet. Don鈥檛 worry鈥擨鈥檒l be back.

The post Curated Wants to Change How We Shop for Gear appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Like blue-jeans fashion, ski design is always evolving. The most notable adaptations have made not sucking at this sport so much easier. In 1949, Head introduced the continuous metal edge. In 1995, Atomic released the Powder Plus, one of the first fat听skis, with a waist width听of 95 millimeters听underfoot. In 1990, Elan听trademarked the term parabolic听with the听new SideCut eXtreme, or SCX. Then听2001 saw the advent of rocker with the Volant Spatula. But when it comes to the most recent trend in all-mountain skis, I have some doubts.

Designers in R&D labs around the world are putting perfect skis on the operating table to strip out precious pounds in order to join the marketing war over who makes the lightest boards. They drill out听honeycomb patterns in the tips and tails and inject twinkie-like foam filling between wood stringers. They layer听听that are measured in atoms instead of grams and are听surely听better suited to interstellar travel. They insert hollow carbon tubes that will someday wash up on the beach like all those plastic tampon applicators. Then they put their nipped and tucked creations into a ski-flexing machine, take down the numbers, and nod at the marvel of their lightweight strength. But is the lightest ski possible really the best thing for most of us?

Now, I鈥檓 not some kind of Luddite who yearns for the days of my brother鈥檚 hand-me-down 200-centimeter K2 KVC Comps (though they were so cool). I鈥檓 all about progress. Case in point: I just bought a new $6,000 carbon mountain bike in the hope that it will help me climb all the frustrating听technical steeps on the Colorado听Front Range.听And in my 20-some years of testing skis for magazines, I can happily corroborate听that the shaving of some swing weight has, in fact, eased my quad burn at the end of the day.听

But there comes a point when a trend goes too far, like when my 13-year-old daughter came home from the mall wearing mom jeans. Yes, reducing a ski鈥檚 weight can make turning a听bit easier and less tiring, which was the original impetus behind this whole trend. But do you know what is really tiring? Getting bucked around in push piles all day because the feathers on your feet are afraid of snow. Have manufacturers forgotten that skiing downhill is a gravity sport?听

After three days of testing with 国产吃瓜黑料 at Colorado鈥檚 Steamboat Mountain Resort last winter, I came away feeling like many all-mountain, resort-oriented models in the new 2020鈥�21 crop鈥攖he models听hitting the market this year鈥攚ere simply missing their meat. As we put skis through their paces, the conditions went from heavy pow to heaps of slop to frozen ocean, each of which a disconcerting number of skis seemed to shudder on. At the end of each run, we take notes on the ones we just tried out, and my comments on these skis鈥� cards read like this: 鈥淧erhaps it prefers fly-fishing?鈥� 鈥淧erfect Christmas gift for a Keebler elf.鈥� In the space devoted to听writing down what conditions each of the听skis would be best suited for, I noted skinning uphill as an AT听setup, where of course lightness makes perfect sense.听

Indeed, the uphill trend is partially responsible for the emaciation of all-mountain skis. Most consumers have to prioritize sending their kids to college over collecting a garage full of gear. So听manufacturers are nobly trying to build one ski that can do it all. But no matter how badly my bank account wishes it were so, a ski that is light enough for mortals like me to haul up high-alpine peaks just doesn鈥檛 cut it on lift-served crud. A ski simply needs a bit of heft to stay its course. Have you seen ski-mountaineering racers with their magic slippers and featherweight toothpicks try to downhill? It鈥檚 like watching toddlers who just learned how to walk run down a cobblestone street while听wearing Crocs.听

If you鈥檙e听starting out听and are drawn to听lightweight skis for their ability to turn (rather than听their uphill versatility), I understand the temptation. But those skis won鈥檛 make you better faster. Trying to push yourself and gain confidence in variable snow is hard and scary. Your skis should be there to support you, not turn into a chattery mess the minute you venture off the corduroy.

I know, my priorities may not be in order. I have a garage full of skis for different conditions听and high hopes that I鈥檒l be paying听in-state tuition when my daughter goes to college.听But I鈥檓 sticking to my guns on this point: just as the skis made for alpine touring should be light enough to avoid permanent damage to your hip flexors, skis marketed for all-mountain resort skiing should be heavy enough to stay on the snow.听

There are some models that successfully cross over from resort to backcountry. (And truth be told, much of the loss of skiability on an all-terrain听setup owes to the boots and bindings.) But there鈥檚 a feeling you get on hearty skis鈥攖hat of biting into the snow and plowing through chunder鈥攖hat those lightweights just can鈥檛 deliver. It鈥檚 the closest I鈥檝e felt to having a superpower.听

Why shy away from that? We are skiers, after all.听We understand effort. We don鈥檛 mind firing a muscle or two. We forego beach vacations for ski passes, set ungodly alarm times, pull warm children from their covers, fight traffic for hours, schlep gear wearing painful boots, and freeze our asses off all day. Yet it only takes one turn鈥攚hether it鈥檚 the jolt听of hardpack or the velvety purr of plundering pow鈥攖o remember what happiness is. This sport is a vehicle for joy, and it is best deployed at eye-watering speeds. There is nothing anyone can do to make my听low-rise skinny jeans fashionable again. So听manufacturers, I implore you: give me a ski with meat, and leave the feathers for walking up mountains.

The post These New Skis Have Gone Too Far appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Maho Shades Charleston 2 Sunglasses ($125)

These sunnies are so lightweight, you鈥檒l forget they鈥檙e on your face. Made of wood pulp and cotton, the frames have a special coating that gets sticky when wet, so they stay put during sweaty adventures.

Gregory Detour 40 Pack ($120)

Designed to be simple and adaptable, the Detour 40 is an ideal carry-on. It features two 颅handles for easy use, a contoured shoulder harness for comfort, just the right number of pockets for passports and snacks, and a padded laptop sleeve. And still there鈥檚 enough space for the helmet that never seems to fit in your ski bag.

Sorel Explorer Joan Boots ($140)

Winter footwear can be cumbersome to travel with. But the Joan are so light, you鈥檒l barely notice a difference in your luggage. Even so, the microfleece-covered footbed and waterproof leather and suede keep your feet dry and comfortable when streets turn sloppy. It even looks cute with jeans.

Sponsor Content
POC Fornix SPIN ($180)

Lightweight and well ventilated, POC鈥檚 new Fornix SPIN is the ultimate all-mountain helmet, allowing you optimum temperature control whether touring in the backcountry or riding the lifts this winter.

Cotopaxi Dorado Half-Zip Fleece Jacket ($100)

The Dorado鈥檚 cheerful colors and retro styling made us happy, and its midweight recycled-polyester material kept us warm without overheating鈥攑erfect for long days on the go. Plus, the company donates 1 percent of its profits to organizations dedicated to ending poverty.

听

Rumpl Travel NanoLoft Puffy Blanket ($99)

Meet your new security blanket. The Rumpl is remarkably warm for being just 0.7听pounds. It鈥檚 also water resistant and filled with 100 percent recycled synthetic insulation, and it stuffs down too small to ever leave behind.

NuraLoop Earphones ($199)

Using a special microphone, the new 颅NuraLoop measures the vibrations your ears generate in response to certain tones. It then customizes the audio鈥檚 range accordingly, bumping up the treble for those less attuned to high-颅frequency sounds, for example. The 颅result is a much more immersive listening experience.

Hydro Flask Coffee bottle with Flex Sip Cap ($33)

Finally, a no-drip coffee bottle, thanks to Hydro Flask鈥檚 twist-lock mechanism. The double-walled stainless-steel container keeps liquids hot for 12 hours and cold for 24, and it鈥檚 dishwasher safe.

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This soft heavyweight flannel, made with organic cotton and plant-based dyes, will become your go-to multipurpose layer to dress up or down.

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Clack clack clack鈥攖he sound of Timothy Olson鈥檚 feet hitting the thin pieces of shale on the trail was the only proof that he was not actually flying. The long-haired, tattooed, bearded, and sinewy Western States 100 champion, wearing a paperweight tank top and Steve McQueen shades, had run past a herd of bighorn sheep grazing in the meadow, a handful of marmots, and a family of mountain goats, the kids cocking their heads at him curiously.

He鈥檚 one of a number of high-profile runners鈥攊ncluding Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen, ultraman and podcast host Rich Roll, and Black Roses NYC run-club co-founder Knox Robinson鈥攚ho gathered in Glacier National Park earlier this summer to test out the new .

The culmination of 13 years of research and development, the Vistas are designed to withstand both heavy perspiration and the nastiest weather and to keep out dust and sand. Naturally, our first task was to see how the headphones performed on an early-morning run to Avalanche Lake, a glacier-fed beauty in the heart of the park. Their听Earthproof construction is rated at IPX7鈥攐ne of the highest waterproof and sweatproof ratings in the industry. And while it was too cold for anyone to volunteer to test them underwater鈥攖he Vistas are waterproof down to a meter for 30 minutes鈥攅veryone was impressed with how rock-solid the headphones felt in our sweaty ears.

The main reason for that is the fit. The Vistas' fins anchor them snugly in your ears, and the headphones themselves require no fitting or molding鈥擩aybird studied thousands of different ear scans to develop a unique replaceable wing that nests neatly in your ear鈥攕o they feel great right out of the box. (And in the rare event they don鈥檛, they come with ear gels in a variety of sizes for customization.) Translation: the Vistas felt secure even when we were running at eye-watering speeds down a rocky trail or, later, doing downward dogs and headstands on yoga mats. 鈥淭hey fit my ear really well, and stayed put,鈥� Olson says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so small I could barely tell they were there.鈥�

Size matters, especially with an endurance-minded crew like this, which is Jaybird鈥檚 sweet spot. The company is based outside of Park City, and, as Roll, observed one day, 鈥渢hey do all the same stuff we do, and that informs the products they make.鈥� At only six grams apiece, each earbud weighs as much as one sheet of paper. The included charging case weighs 45 grams (about as much as two AA batteries) and is small enough to fit in the car-key pocket of your running shorts. It opens and closes with a satisfying snap and the buds are secured with magnets.

Speaking of charging, most folks won鈥檛 need to do so all that much. The have one of the longest-lasting batteries on the market, with 16 hours in the headphones alone and ten more with the charging case. If you use one bud at a time, you can get up to 32 hours of continuous use. (If you do forget to plug them in, five minutes of charging鈥攁bout the time it takes to lace up your shoes and stretch out鈥攑rovides an hour of power.)

The single-bud option is also where the Vistas stand听out among the competition, as lots of runners, including Olson, prefer to listen to just one headphone at a time鈥攁n especially important feature in bear country. 鈥淚 want to pay attention to my surroundings,鈥� Olson says, echoing a sentiment illustrated by the nervous chitchat I heard from our crew before one predawn run in Glacier. But the benefits of listening through a single bud don鈥檛 stop at safety. It also means the ability to chat with other trail users or runners in your group. For Olson, that means during the stretches when he lets them catch up, anyway.

To enable this single-bud option, Jaybird diverged from the typical wireless operating system, where one bud is the master. Instead, each of the Vista鈥檚 buds connects to your phone independently, eliminating connectivity and syncing issues. Additionally, each bud features voice activation and identical control features鈥攖ap to play or pause a song or answer a phone call,听double-tap to skip to the next song. The new JBS1 chipset pairs and connects seamlessly with your phone or watch, too.

Somehow, in making these buds smaller and lighter than previous models, Jaybird also managed to improve the sound, redesigning the six-millimeter milled drivers for better accuracy and less harmonic distortion. Jaybird also designed an app feature that allows you to customize听the equalization settings, adding more bass or even downloading another user鈥檚 settings. (The app also features a “Find my Buds鈥� feature that identifies the last place they were used.) And although the Vistas don't have active noise canceling, they block out an impressive amount of ambient chatter and noise, an appealing feature for urban runners or frequent travelers.

鈥淭he quality of the sound really got me,鈥� says Olson, who listens to calming meditation music before races and then ramps it up when he鈥檚 low or tired. Indeed, meditation and mindfulness were hot topics here, because being present, thinking about nothing but the next bend in the trail, is precisely why athletes love to run, bike, ski, and hike in the first place. And as far as Jaybird is concerned, the less distracted you are by your devices, the easier it is to be in the moment.

If that鈥檚 the ultimate test鈥攈ow well a pair of wireless headphones allows听you to push your limits鈥攖hen the 听are in a league of their听own. On the performance side, they听can easily handle any weather that comes your way and will stay put no matter how rough the trail gets. But what sets them apart from the pack is how good they are at everything else. 鈥淚t's a giant step forward on the product,鈥� noted Roll, who has tested all of Jaybird鈥檚 previous models. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e way lighter weight, the noise-canceling is better, and the battery life is longer.鈥� In other words: better all the way around.

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