Gear
Archive
The lightest option here (it weighs just 15 ounces), this airy helmet was our top choice for touring. If you’re a hothead like me, you’ll love the way the vents flow air through the helmet as well as in between the outer shell and the liner.
ALPINE TOURING Good for All Mountain Though it remains unchanged from last season, the Skookum proved itself an overall champ for its balanced uphill ergonomics and downhill chops. The interchangeable tongues are no gimmick: The downhill tongue stiffens the boot by 20 percent. It's easy to see why one…
All Mountain Aptly named for the exposed adjustable pivot beneath the toe, the Axl is a free-pivot touring binding like its forebear, the legendary Hammerhead. Testers found that the underfoot pistons, sleek cable routing, and heel throw provided more downhill chops than any similar binding on the hill. And unlike…
The Custom’s been a staple board in Burton’s line for 15 years, setting the standard for how a snowboard should ride. Every year, Burton refines it just a little more—and this year’s is the best yet thanks to its mixed-camber profile, a snappy carbon backbone, strands of strategically woven…
JUST RELAX Every ski in K2’s line features rocker this season. In addition to floating a ski, rocker can be designed to help initiate a turn. Such is the case with the easy-skiing Aftershock. And where skis like the Nordica Enforcer and V枚lkl Kendo require near-constant attention, it’s possible to…
Why It’s CoolIt’s so simple—a single strap secures the floating lid, and that’s all you see looking at the front of this bag. Not to fear; you get ice-ax loops, daisy chains, and compression straps down the sides, but the absence of front clutter is refreshing. 禄 The suspension is…
ROCK THE GLOP The little brother of Rossi’s S7 powder ski, the new S6 features U Rocker—bent up at the tip and tail, flat underfoot. As you’d expect, it floats in crud and fluff, but that flat section adds edging confidence. You can arc the ski into a big sweeping…
Why They’re CoolThere’s a 20-foot-long slab of slick rhyolite near my house, inclined at about 55 degrees. Maybe one out of ten pairs of hikers I try will cling to it at all, but the sticky-soled Ventures just walked right on up. 禄 Surprisingly, the sharp lugs also performed perfectly…
Finally, embrace your inner nordic dork with CASCO‘s frameless, photochromic NORDIC SPIRIT COMPETITION SHIELDS.
Ankles prone to rolling? The Breeze’s stable platform makes it incredibly supportive for a light hiker, yet it doesn’t feel clunky. The mostly mesh upper breathes exceptionally well and dries quickly. The Breeze excelled on fast-and-light trips, like a jaunt up and down Vermont’s Stowe Pinnacle. www.tecnicausa.com Bonus:…
Telemark This Colorado-made wood-core ski has traditional camber, making it extremely poppy and carvy in tight quarters, yet it’s easily “disengaged” due to its tapered tail. Loves floating in powder and chopped-up crud but lacks punch and bite on firmer snow. 160/110/130, 8.1 lbs. TAGS: powder, playful…
Can’t bear to leave anything behind, even on a weekend trip? This sleek pack has the biggest capacity of the bunch, with a suspension that can handle 40-plus pounds and a height that didn’t cause instability when I hiked Colorado’s steep Liberty Bell Trail. The pack is on the…
WIDE BUT NIMBLE You don’t need to be a big company to make a big ski. Liberty, a small manufacturer in Avon, Colorado, has created a giant-killer with the Helix. An eco-friendly bamboo-and-poplar core gives it a light and poppy feel鈥攂ut the Helix is still tough enough to land hard…
LITTLE BIG BOOT A hike on the eight-mile trail to the top of Colorado’s 14,259-foot Longs Peak demands a lot out of a shoe: support, traction, durability, agility, and low weight. That’s a tall order, but the Namche carried the day, performing like a running shoe disguised as an approach…
HARD CHARGER Unless you huck off every cliff in sight, donning body armor is overkill. But a little back protection makes sense for anyone who ventures into exposed, big-mountain terrain. The multitasking, 1,450-cubic-inch Razor is built with a Shield Back System: foam-wrapped polyethylene pads that are part of the internal…
THE PERFECT TRAVEL HIKER We didn’t pick this shoe because it’s good-looking enough to wear to dinner. We picked it because it performs just as well as the other light hikers we chose and you won’t look like a dork walking around downtown later that evening. The mid-sole of the…
Thanks to beefy waterproof-breathable uppers and grippy lugs, the Alby Low is our top pick for inclement weather. Ultra-cushy soles pad finicky feet on long walks, and on a snowy day hike, one tester reported perfectly warm and dry toes. 13 oz; hellyhansen.com…
Why They’re CoolAt a scant one pound 15 ounces per pair, I could feel the V-Lites maximizing my fuel efficiency with every step. Yet the full-height uppers shielded my ankle bones from rocks, stumps, and gravel. 禄 Hi-Tec built the V-Lites around a midsole of shock-absorbing EVA, which made for…
This was the best multi-day haul pack we tested. In terms of both price and usability, the 3,480-cubic-inch El Lobo hits the sweet spot. “Feels lighter than it is” and “really moves with you” were common tester refrains. Credit the Lobo’s X-shaped chassis and dual-pivot hipbelt, which, as advertised,…
The Trunk Rack, Evolved I’ve never been a big fan of trunk-mount racks—the clips and straps loosen and need to be tightened or, worse, scratch your car. The brand-new Raceway is different; it attaches via an easy-to-adjust ratcheting cable system that (so far, anyway) has yet to loosen or scratch…
Best for Scramble-Hikes Most approach shoes are either too slipperlike for hiking or too rigid for scrambling. But SCARPA’s Epic hits the sweet spot with its combination of a thick, shock-absorbing EVA foam midsole (for the hike in) and a sticky, smear-ready outsole (for the assault on the top). The…
I am an organization freak, so I find Zen when all of my gear has its own place, like in the multiple pockets of this compact 1,200-cubic-inch hydration pack, which holds three Nalgenes’ worth of water. ospreypacks.com…
Size, Price: 70 oz, $23Flow Rate: 2*Funk Fighter?: Zip top opening for easy cleaningFilter-Compatible?: Yes, with $4 adapterValve Shutoff?: NoGotta Love: Dump an ice try in the zip topBummer: Pre-hike test of zip seal is criticalSplat Test: Splatted *Ratings: 1=Average, 3=Excellent…
Why They’re CoolThe Stormfronts reverse the paradigm of waterproof footwear construction. By using Gore-Tex XCR fabric on the exterior of the shoe, rather than tucking it in the lining, they move the first line of moisture defense out where the rubber meets the road—or where the nubuck meets the thaw-muck.
Ever had one of those days when your feet felt so light it’s like they weren’t quite touching the ground? The X-1/C is the next best thing to bottling that feeling. The secret is shaving every possible gram while still retaining the essentials: cushion, traction, and stability. The Encapsulated…
BEST FOR ADVENTURE RACING You run where others walk? Then this is the shoe for you. After cruising up Colorado’s wickedly steep Mount Sanitas Trail, one tester gave the Active Trail Pro props for its reinforced sides, protective toe cap, and branch-busting undercarriage. Plus the Vibram sole adhered to everything…
If you train like a mailman—neither rain nor sleet will stop you—reach for these submersibles. The seamless upper is sealed with a Gore-Tex XCR liner and reinforced with a see-through TPU rand, which toughens the shoe without marring its clean look. The masochists among our crew raced up Colorado’s…
SMOOTH OPERATOR Don’t mistake the minimalist Streak for a beefed-up road shoe—it’s more like a big-mountain shoe that’s been eating mostly salad. Though it has the airy mesh upper of a pavement pounder, underneath is a pliable plastic rock guard and sticky dual-density outsole that can handle full-speed switchbacks. With…
HEAVY SUPPORT, LIGHT FEEL Even the best shoes can’t turn a severe overpronator into a neutral strider. But the AdiStar Control makes trompers feel like bounders. Sure, it offers a wide base, rock-solid medial posting, and a beveled, decoupled-heel crash pad that will serve heavier runners or severe overpronators. But…
FLEXIBLE FLIER Good for Packed TrailsLike to blaze along your local fire road or creek path? The extremely light and flexible Paragon is tailor-made for off-road tempo runs and speed work. A sleek tread and multiple forefoot grooves make for a supple feel on the flats, but the Paragon…
Moderate Stability Think of the Triax+12 as a Mini Cooper. While wider-footed testers found the cockpit a bit cramped, everyone else raved about the shoe’s fast and in-control feel. Credit the Triax’s ample cushioning for heavy heel-strikers and nimble, low-to-the-ground profile. A sturdy medial post provides a…
The Stature was our favorite shoe for mellower trails, serving up ample cushioning, a medial post for pronation control, and a comfy, debris-thwarting neoprene ankle cuff. Traction was great on uphills, but our feet slipped too much inside the shoe on the downs. Testers loved the female-specific fit and…
Bare-Bones Speedster Designed with input from ultrarunner Anton Krupicka, who’s so allergic to carrying extra ounces he races nearly nude, this super-minimalist trail shoe, with its wafer-thin midsole and highly flexible forefoot, is among the lightest we’ve ever seen. Ideal for faster runners with perfect mechanics who pick their way…
Road This value-priced lid kept testers cool (28 vents!) on even the most sweltering days. www.louisgarneau.com Bummer: Not everyone will love the exposed-foam look.
The TITLE 9 NO SWEAT STRING BIKINI has lightweight, wicking CoolMax Alta fabric to regulate temperature when the going gets hot. (800-342-4448, www.title9sports.com)…
A RACE-READY BARGAIN Raleigh reclaims some of its Tour de France-winning heritage with its new line of full-carbon, race-specific frames. The Supercourse is the most wallet-friendly of the bunch, but the cost savings come from the components. The frame is the same one Raleigh’s sponsored riders race, and you can…
This no-nonsense shoe is plenty stiff, has an aggressive tread, and sports a synthetic leather upper tough enough for the roughest trails. It performs as well as some cleats twice the price. bike.shimano.com…
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…
At just nine ounces, the 眉ber-flashy S-Works is the lightest lid on the planet. Deep vents, Kevlar reinforcement, and an ingenious full-head fit system make it as sensible as it is light. specialized.com…
Why It’s CoolGenerally speaking, the more you zoom, the less light you pull into the barrel. But Panasonic teamed up with Leica to get fab glass and the equivalent of a 35-420mm lens with a bright f/2.8 rating throughout the range. Translation: tripod-free, full-zoom shots in low-light conditions. 禄 Action…
Somehow, Bontrager managed to squeeze all the features of a high-end shoe—heat-moldable insoles, carbon-reinforced soles, removable toe spikes—into this extremely well-priced model. Fits narrow and medium-width feet best. bontrager.com…
The Atlas MNS is the quickest responder of the bunch. Flip it on and, before you can say “lost,” it locks on to satellites and starts kicking out coordinates. Scroll between pages and the dual processor pulls up weather, altitude, and navigational data almost instantly. Signal acquisition also shines…
Cross-Country Comfort Though this aluminum cross-country racer doesn’t boast the exotic carbon fiber and secret build techniques of the bikes above it in the Spark line, it does have the same semirelaxed geometry and efficient 4.3-inch-travel design that have made those bikes popular endurance racers. “I know it’s a race…
Who says a classic-looking camera can’t be high-tech? Within the 8.4-megapixel D-Lux 2’s retro-styled exterior is a unique ultrawide sensor—one of the first on the market—that corresponds to the 16:9 aspect ratio of a widescreen TV. Adding to the panoramic feel is a wide-angle (28mm equivalent) lens. At Whistler,…
Utility For Town or Country Need a tour-ready, highly walkable shoe that delivers stiffness and a grabby tread pattern鈥攁nd is also pretty styling? Here you go. The tough leather upper took a beating and easily brushed clean, the roomy toe box was comfortable on long rides, and the reflective…
I launched into my daily bike commute with the Legend C in my pack’s outer mesh pocket and locked on to six satellites. Every 30 seconds, the receiver silently dropped a digital bread crumb on the tack-sharp map. Out on the streets, the feature is a novelty, but in the…
When you finally decide to give up the dirtbag lifestyle and finish that degree, you’ll want an M210X riding shotgun. The Ultrabright widescreen supports ideal viewing of your digital scrapbook from the life nomadic or the latest huck-doll videos from your friends still livin’ it. When homework calls, the dazzlingly…
SIMPLE YET SOPHISTICATED Power low? The A710 can run on regular old AA batteries, which means—if you scrounge around someone’s pack or raid your headlamp—you should never miss a summit shot again. And stop showing your friends fuzzy wildlife shots: Because the A710 has a 6x zoom lens and the…
All you need to know: Thanks to a proprietary lens coating, the XM-HD delivers images as sharp and crisp as binocs twice the price. 8×42; carson-optical.com…
WILDERNESS-READY Two unique features make the Onix the year’s best GPS for the backcountry. The first is a layering function that lets you view different kinds of information—compass, waypoints, and map, for example—on the display together, eliminating the need to continually scroll between screens. The second—and even cooler—feature is the…
Interval junkies will love this new lap counter, which stores multiple training sessions with best and average lap times. And the sleek style feels right even if you're not prepping for Kona. timex.com 聽 聽 聽…
For adventurers in trouble, the ACR TERRAFIX 406 GPS I/O ($750) is among the first personal locator beacons with an internal GPS receiver, to bring help faster. When triggered, the eight-ounce waterproof device sends a distress signal to rescue teams, along with your lat/long coordinates, accurate to 100 yards.
Ah, the sweetheart of black-ops agents and adrenalists every-where. This next-gen chrono is as tough as they come, is good down to 200 meters, features ultra-precise atomic timekeeping, and charges via any available light source. gshock.com…
WALK, TALK, RUN, ROCK Fitness fanatics, listen up: This audio-focused, 3.3-ounce slider phone is the smallest, lightest device we tested—a stellar running companion. On board you’ll find a two-meg camera and a fitness app that can count steps, gauge speed, and monitor calories burned. Once we swapped out the puny…
This green-minded company’s solvents, lubes, and polishes are all biodegradable, and the reusable bucket comes with a paper-based cellulose sponge and horsehair brushes. And, yes, all of it works as well as—if not better than—the traditional stuff. pedros.com…
Casio takes its heavily armored G-Shock line to a new style plateau. Powered by the sun and kept perfectly precise by atomic technology, the 200-meter-rated Rose Gold is one of the best all-around travelers we’ve tested. casio.com…
The Throttle pulls off a rather nifty trick: In addition to being superlight—they weigh less than a pack of Gu Energy Gel—the grippy temples also make them the most comfortable glasses here. nativeyewear.com…
For starters, the interface is almost too much fun, like having a Mac in your hands, and audio integration is a snap with iTunes. Like the first-gen iPhone, the 3G has a 3.5-inch touchscreen that’s almost impossible to scratch—proven on multiple beach trips. Unlike the original, it boasts a…
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…
No one does GPS like Garmin. This totally wearable (but not waterproof) watch records distance, pace, and heart rate, saves data wirelessly to a computer, and has a new fine-tuned calorie counter that factors in heart rate. garmin.com…
Few sunglasses can switch from the Pacific Crest Trail to Rodeo Drive like this frameless number. Copper-tint polarized resin lenses protect against glare and pump up contrast for active sports. There’s secure grip in the right places, and the modest-size wrap lenses don’t sacrifice protection for fashion. Flair starts…
Whether it’s Black Eyed Peas or ABBA that gets you pumped to run, this iPod Nano–size armband (made for the Generation 4 version) won’t slip down your arm while running. It will also pull your whole look together—it’s constructed from nylon, just like high-end running shoes.
Why It’s CoolThe ripstop nylon fabric is embedded with a carbon yarn designed to dissipate static cling. So whether you’re layering it with a shaggy fleece or shagging in a fleecy lair, you won’t get that irritating snap-crackle-pop that synthetic threads tend to give off when they rub together. It’s…
Not only does the HP PSC 2510 PHOTOSMART ALL-IN-ONE ($399) copy, scan, fax, and, yes, print all your mundane workaday documents, it also churns out superbly bright, high-resolution digital pictures. The PSC 2510 has slots for a Sony Memory Stick, Compact Flash, SD, xD, and SmartMedia so you can insert…
Welcome to Savile Row. Enter your measurements and choose options on Beyond’s Web site and a couple weeks later take delivery of a custom-fit, custom-featured soft shell—I designed a model for cycling and nordic skiing. The one nonnegotiable characteristic—Schoeller Dryskin Extreme fabric—kept me just right during a 15-mph road…
Snap these aluminum grabbers onto any pair of Dynafit bindings and you can ski-climb slopes up to 25 degrees before having to de-skin and boot-pack. Available in three widths (82, 92, and 100 mm). 8.3 oz; TAGS: steep slopes, security…
Lightweight and low-profile, the Hooligan is perfect for slim faces and smaller heads. Bonus: You can afford another pair if you lose ’em at the crag. www.ryderseyewear.com…
Stay cool—literally and figuratively—with this high-style lid. www.kaenon.com…
Pull on this warm shell when the mercury plummets. The densely knit polyester doesn’t flap in the wind, and a fleecy lining wicks sweat (but adds heft). 12 oz; www.cloudveil.com…
MEAN AND LEANA smidge less of anything and the ultra-minimalist Kicker would be missing something important. But it’s all there: optics, protection, and security. Since the gray polarized poly lenses present a slightly flattened view, the Kicker is best suited to sailing, say, or riding your cruiser bike—activities that don’t…
With an adjustable strap across the arch, this flip-flop won’t fall off when you have to motor. And the multidirectional tread helps prevent slick-deck spills. sperrytopsider.com…
REFRESHINGLY UNFUSSY When Jackson, Wyoming–based Cloudveil promises a do-it-all mountain soft shell for under $150, the smart money gives it a try. So our Jackson-based tester did everything in it: He biked to work in light rain and snow, boot-packed up Glory Bowl in 20-degree weather with just a lightweight…
FOR FULL-THROTTLE, TECHNICAL RIDERS The Juliana powers through rocks, roots, and other trail detritus at full speed. One tester cleaned the gnarliest line that Stowe, Vermont, has to offer—while a pod of guys gaped as they walked the perimeter. Both the four-inch-travel RockShox Reba Team front shock and the rear…
The most refreshing trend in skiwear: technical ski jackets that are stylish enough to wear around town. The water-resistant J-Turn looks as good with jeans as it does with ski pants. quiksilver.com…
In a word, refreshing. Not only does this polyester base layer have an antimicrobial treatment, mesh underarm venting, and a low-key graphic; it’s also slim-fitting and a bargain. dakine.com…
The next best thing to wearing a hat hand-knit by a loved one? One designed by Swedish freeskiers Kaj Zackrisson and Sverre Liliequist, who founded Kask in 2004. kaskofsweden.com…
A new technology from Gore (called 2 in 1) allows you to adjust insulation. Sounds gimmicky, but it works: Flip the insulation to the back of your hand, and dexterity improves dramatically. kombisports.com…
Walk the walk: Thanks to a bamboo lining, organic cotton, and natural rubber, this jute-laced felt boot is eco-approved. Plus tiny bumps on the insole deliver a well-deserved foot massage. simpleshoes.com…