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Rock this oversize titanium chronograph—with tachymeter and sailing-inspired style—confidently on deck or ashore. nautica.com…
Thanks to a double layer of material on the knee, these quick-drying and stretchy nylon pants are up for every-thing from canoeing to climbing. prana.com Bonus: Available in two inseam lengths.
GREAT ANKLE SUPPORT In a world of Honda Elements and Subaru Outbacks, the Ranger is a Ford Bronco: old-school and well-built but certainly not flashy. The crux of this classically designed boot is the collar. Leather strips on the outer surface offer stiff resistance to ankle rolls, while the inner…
Tiny and versatile: Simply slide the featherweight, CR2-lithium-powered headlamp’s toggle to strap it to anything, be it your cranium, messenger bag, or handlebars. 1.4 oz; coleman.com…
The most full-featured of the key-chain strongboxes, SAMSUNG’S YEPP YP-55V ($199) holds 256 megabytes of music in bump-proof flash memory. It plays FM when your mixes get moldy, and records digital files from radio, voice, or aftermarket mike. To fill it up, plug the 1.2-ounce unit into your PC’s USB…
Sperry partnered with the U.S. Sailing Team to create a per-formance racing bootie. Interior mesh panels allow the ankle-high neoprene to drain quickly, while a removable internal toe thong adds extra control on slick surfaces. sperrytopsider.com…
It can take a licking. A rubber grip makes this waterproof, one-watt LED flashlight hard to break or even ding. 6.8 oz; princetontec.com…
“Just right” is not exactly a technical attribute, but that’s what testers kept saying about this shoe after subjecting it to a variety of conditions. It’s simply the most versatile runner of the bunch. The Syncro Pace has sufficient motion-control mechanisms to combat mild pronation, it’s light and flexible enough…
BACK-BOWL BOARDS Good for All Mountain More of a freeride ski than the Blizzard or V枚lkl, the Lord excels at slinking around the resort in search of bumps, steeps, and leftover powder. But it’s no noodle. The edge grip was unfailing—especially impressive for a ski with…
The Tartan’s ergonomic grips are the most comfortable of any here, and the aircraft-grade aluminum should stand up to years of abuse. scottusa.com…
Good for Big Mountain This year's Ravyn received a facelift (new graphics) but otherwise returns unchanged. It remains relatively light for its footprint but still impressed testers with its damp feel and edge-to-edge prowess. “The harder the Ravyn is pushed, the easier it is to ski,” said one tester.
Good for Big Mountain If we had a Gear of the Year award for boots, the Factor would win it. Constructed with an alpine-like overlap-shell design and progressive forward flex, the Factor was easily this year's most comfortable and best-performing downhill boot. Testers especially liked the liner's Boa closure…
FlyLow takes a classic pigskin-and-Thinsulate work glove and oven-bakes it with a beeswax coating. The result: warmth and water resistance for the price of dinner. flylowgear.com…
BACKCOUNTRY STANDBY Good for Backcountry Technically, the Vanquish is a “soft” shell, but it certainly didn’t behave like one in the field. Gore-Tex’s Soft Shell material is fairly breathable and virtually waterproof—we didn’t test it in driving rain, but it easily shed several hours of…
SKI SHARP Good for Resort Look as good as you ski. The Spectre is for the guy who wants street-smart style but not at the expense of top-end technical performance. Beneath the understated, retro tweed is a waterproof-breathable Gore Performance Shell membrane protecting the jacket’s blizzard-ready…
CLIMBER’S FAVORITE The stripped-down Prolight 27 performs best when it’s going up. How do we know? After spending time in Colorado scaling multipitch climbs in Eldorado Canyon and summiting (and then skiing down) Longs Peak, our American Mountain Guides Association–certified tester didn’t want to give it back. “It was perfect,”…
Because the Marshall has a low-profile sole and footbed, testers agreed it affords the best snow feel. Narrow feet? This boot is probably too wide for you. romesds.com…
The Slinger isn’t as breathable as more ventilated, higher-priced lids. But the one-handed dial adjuster in the back gives the helmet a secure, confident fit, making it without a doubt the most comfortable $100 helmet we’ve worn. e-rudy.com…
One of the most versatile bikes we tested, the 928 Carbon is comfortable enough for mountain centuries and quick enough for hard efforts on twisty courses. With its race-inspired geometry and compact gearing, the Mono-Q earned high marks as an efficient climber, though testers would have liked to see wider…
CushioningCan’t stand the squishy feeling of your current running shoes? The Glycerin 7, by far the firmest shoe of our picks this year, might be more your style—especially if you’re a heavier runner or a slow-and-steady type. Of the neutral shoes on this page, the no-frills Glycerin…
Why It’s CoolFive-by-sevens printed up at near-35mm-film quality, which is a real testament not just to electronics but to the quality of the f/2.8 lens. The bonus here is a 27mm-equivalent wide-angle, which is great for shooting landscapes, and a 110mm-equivalent 4x optical zoom. 禄 The videocam-style swiveling LCD preview…
A new, refreshingly not-so-sweet endurance drink, Xood has no artificial anything. But each 16-oz packet does have 30 g of carbs (natural maltodextrin and fructose), 105 mg of sodium, and 2.5 g of whey protein. xoodhealth.com BummerThe concoction is too frothy to carry…
Wasn’t Doc wearing these at the end of Back to the Future? But seriously, testers raved about Rudy’s photochromic red tint, which pumps up contrast and depth and self-adjusts in sunlight and shadow. We also loved the way the snug, featherweight polymer shield just disappears—no edges or obstructions in…
Long, trim, well-built, and without an ounce of excess flab, the Swerve manages large loads elegantly. Inside is 5,800 cubic inches of uninterrupted space, which was more than enough to cram all my dive gear, clothing, and personals for a month in the Philippines. Exterior compression straps ratcheted the…
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…
Both the Ekolab’s vegetable-based waterproof-breathable membrane and DWR finish are fluorocarbon-free and recyclable. Testers were a bit skeptical that the sustainable chemistry would perform as well as the regular stuff, but the shell easily fended off hours of rain during a wet hike in Colorado’s Indian Peaks. Although the…
Nothing is worse than being rudely awakened by rain when sleeping out sans tent, which is why testers had high praise for the 15-degree Shield. For starters, the 800-fill down is wrapped in a proprietary waterproof-breathable fabric that’s nearly as tough as Mammut’s burliest shells. And if it starts…
This lightweight workhorse was designed with adventure racers in mind. Its six LEDs cast a dazzlingly bright, headlight-like glow (350 lumens), and it comes with a lithium-ion battery that lasts four hours on high. 1.6 lbs; petzl.com…
Good for Resort Beginners, take note: This is the most forgiving board in our lineup. If you’re wondering whether rockered boards are really all that (and they are), know that the Angus is the most predictable and easygoing reverse-camber board here. This all-mountain, directional twin took on…
This is the lightest-weight boot here. But there was just enough Thinsulate insulation to keep testers’ feet toasty on aerobic outings, and the protective sole is just stiff enough to handle strap-on crampons or snowshoes. Runs narrow. 2 lbs; columbia.com…
Good for Resort A slightly detuned version of Nordica’s famed Speedmachine boot, the all-mountain Hot Rod skis incredibly well right out of the box. And because its boot board is rubberized polypropylene (instead of polyurethane), it dishes up the smoothest ride here. nordica.com…
Front vents above the goggles force air between the helmet’s two layers, while the back vents draw air away. The result: chimney-like airflow that doesn’t whistle across your head. Flip a lever to open six additional vents on the helmet top, or flick ’em closed when the snow starts…
TELEMARK Good for All Mountain The four-buckle Custom overpowered the toughest bindings and even some testers. Those who could handle it gave it props for cuff/bellows flex and stiffness. As with other boots in BD's Power Series, the Custom's liner has a Boa closure system that clamps down hard…
Good for Backcountry It stretches and feels like a soft shell, but thanks to a waterproof-breathable membrane, taped seams, and waterproof YKK zippers, the Higgins repels snow and rain like a top-of-the-line hard shell. And, as with most stuff FlyLow makes, the Higgins can take a beating.
Good for Backcountry Here’s a perfect spring pant. The ultralight Primo features Patagonia’s proprietary H2No waterproof-breathable stretch fabric, half-length side zips for venting, and three pockets. Minimalism at its best means protection without overheating. patagonia.com…
A reasonably priced HRM鈥坵atch that lets you target one of four heart-rate zones, beeps when you slip out of the zone, and ticks off calories burned. A light, highly readable training tool with three-striped Euro cool. shopadidas.com…
A claw-like hybrid that offers up the best of both worlds: It’s mitten-toasty but, because your index finger has its own separate condo, nearly as dexterous as a glove. levelgloves.com…
Base-Camp King A zero-degree-rated, 650-fill down bag for $219? It’s not a misprint. The Coromell saves a few bucks by using duck down. While duck and goose down are virtually the same performance-wise, you generally pay a bit more for goose down’s superior reputation. And Kelty certainly didn’t skimp on…
Lightweight Luxe This classic two-door, two-man, two-vestibule backpacking tent has been rebuilt with lighter fabrics to weigh in at less than most single-door ultralights. The Skyledge 2.1 shaves ounces by eliminating the tent’s corners; instead, nylon webbing connects the body to the tent poles. The 20-denier fly fabric needs to…
Pocket Rocket When you want the hyper-efficency of a Jetboil stove, but need to cook for two to four people, it’s hard to beat the Helios. The company’s proprietary FluxRing (a baffle on the bottom of the included two-liter pot) helps conserve energy, while the upside-down canister stand lets you…
Ignore the Forecast All-purpose windbreakers like the nonstretchy Shadowland have been around for a while—and with good reason. More lined than insulated, the Shadowland is essentially what you’d get if you fused your softest, fastest-wicking base layer with your favorite wind shell. Translation: It’s a remarkably versatile and highly wind-…
Sterling’s 70-meter, 10.1-millimeter Marathon Pro rope strikes a good balance between lightness and durability. sterlingrope.com…
We’ve entered the golden age of bicycle components. Though carbon-fiber frame designs are still improving, the advances now come in increments, rather than the leaps and bounds of recent years. (For road frames, there are now viable carbon-and-aluminum bikes and even full-carbon options in the one-to-two-grand range.) But when…
Because of the repetitive pounding of road running, you need a shoe designed for your particular foot strike. (Consult a specialty running store to diagnose your type.) If you overpronate, with your foot and ankle tending to roll inward, you need a “light stability” or “stability” shoe to help…
Flat and Fast If you’re running dry, flat dirt trails, you might as well enjoy road-shoe-like comfort. Here the SyncroFuel XC delivers with a seamless upper and even cushioning—pillowy enough for long, slow miles but light enough to feel fluid at a lung-busting pace. The upper’s secure midfoot wrap held…
Mr. Versatility Naming this sly cyclocross beast “Fox” (in Italian) was perfect: Whenever we got in a sticky situation, its big all-terrain rubber, triple chainring, and forgiving steel frame saw us through in style. And if you’re not riding your local trails or CX course on the weekend, you can…
Explosive underwear, full-body scans, luggage fees? Welcome to the friendly skies. To subdue some of travel’s travails, shop smart for luggage; no one wants a finicky travel companion. With airlines’ checked-luggage charges, carry-ons have renewed appeal. The newest batch strives for lightness—generally good but not if shaved ounces compromise…
You Can Hear Me Now?! A godsend to anyone who’s accidentally water-skied with a phone in his pocket, the Brigade is the first messaging phone sold in the U.S. that’s shock-resistant and waterproof (to one meter, for 30 minutes). At 4.4 inches long and 5.5 ounces, this sideways-clamshell unit is…
Expert Fisherman Using the underwater pedal-powered flippers and knob-controlled rudder, you can propel the Mirage across the lake hands-free so you can fish, shoot pics, sip a drink. Prefer to paddle? The flippers remove in a snap (OK, the press of a button) and you're free to paddle it like…
We like this American watchmaker for its unique designs that hold up to the elements while looking great with a suit. This patriotic, red-black-and-blue number has a soft calf-leather strap, 100-meter water resistance, and dials for date, seconds, and 60-minute timing. TAGS: urban, sporty…
Strike a balance between cold weather and the heat you’ll be generating with RAPHA‘s CROSS 3/4 BIB SHORTS—long enough for cool temps but made of a thin, tough fabric.
Hot Deal With top-shelf synthetic insulation (PrimaLoft Eco), a tough, waterproof outer fabric, and all the creature comforts you could want (including nine pockets, pit zips, a powder skirt, and a goggle chamois), the 4 Pines has all the ingredients of a high-performance, full-featured resort parka. Normally, all this adds…
Big Mountain With the surface area of an aircraft carrier, aggressive rocker forward of the boot, and traditional camber underfoot and in the tail, the DarkSide dominates deep powder. “Scary fast and maneuverable in the fluff,” said one Utah tester. The stiff, flat tail provides a solid platform for…
The synthetic-and-wool lining on these waterproof spring-weight gloves does a great job of wicking away moisture. Dexterity is only so-so, but they’re a solid glove at this price. TAGS: stretchy, spring skiing…
It’s not just a name. The Sonam, like 90 percent of all Sherpa apparel, is made in Nepal, with a small portion of the proceeds going to support the education of Sherpa children. The poly-and-nylon fabric wicks like a champ and, thanks to silver ions, resists odor. Slim-fitting.
Each size of this all-mountain twin is adorned with a different dude, like John Lennon, Albert Einstein, or Martin Luther King Jr. But all the dudes ride the same: Thanks to a robust poplar-and-beech core, it’s the stiffest and most carve-ready board here. Like the Rossignol One Magtek, it’s…
CARVE IT ALL Like every model in Blizzard’s line, the M-Power is overbuilt, with beefy vertical sidewalls. The resulting deep edge penetration and an unwavering stability made the M-Power the best groomer ski in this category. But there was a tradeoff: It was a little hard to handle in soft…
I NEED A MIRACLE They look like traditional cambered fat skis, but step into them and the tips and tails lift into a rocker shape. It’s been called “adaptive rocker” and it offers two benefits: the added float and loose feel of rocker, and the extended contact point of camber…
LEKI‘s SHARK CRUISER GLOVES are stylish and comfortable.
SAUCONY‘s wind-resistant, hunter-orange PROTECTION GLOVES have great features (terry snot wipe, big reflective patch, breathable palm panel, and nifty USB-rechargeable, clip-on light).
You can winterize any inflatable sleeping pad with an inexpensive (if bulky) closed-cell foam mat like THERM-A-REST’S Z LITE PAD.
Why They’re CoolWhat do you get when you shell out a few more shekels than you would for the Olympus? A sharper image (thanks to phase-coated prisms), better low-light viewing (credit a slightly larger objective lens), and a broader field of view. 禄 You also get a close-focus distance of…
聽 Built from the same basic mold Lange has been using for 30 years, these all-mountain (and updated) boots have even more spring and power, thanks to a shock-absorbing boot board and a heavy-duty power strap. langeskiboots.com 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽…
RAIN BEATERThe big deal with this one? No sticker shock on a piece that can match the performance of jackets almost twice as pricey. A stylin’ hoodie with taped seams, the Mithril weighs in at 22 ounces, and though I doubted OR’s claim that its stretchy Ventia fabric was waterproof,…
Yes, it cranks. But the true test of stoves this size is how well they simmer—and the Bantam passed our (scientific) evenly-cooked-pancake test with flying colors. White gas only, 10 oz; brunton.com…
The debate between bigger and lighter ends here. On an early-fall trip in the Wind River Range, Black Diamond’s Skylight performed like a big top, allowing a pair of testers (one over six and a half feet tall) to stretch out and stay dry. The shelter weathered a gusty…
Let there be light transmission! Kowa’s new 44mm lenses use patented multi-coating technology to enhance brightness. Ideal for glassing wildlife at twilight, this brute produces exceptional color and detail. 10.5×44; kowa-usa.com…
Traveling Light These pocket-friendly glasses proved their worth on a trip down under, where spotting honeyeaters and musky rat kangaroos was easy. On our test back home, they were the best small binocs of the bunch, with tight, clean images, thanks to top-of-the-line SF prism glass and a light (13.5…
MACHO IN THE MIDDLESmith closes the gap between Bono frames and small, girly models with the manly Director, for medium-size crania. The tortoise frame evokes yesteryear’s glasses but with a few sports-hip fillips. Take this protective and secure model around the White Rim Trail. You’ll find its brown-tinted, polarized poly…
LAP THE PARK The Fix’s reinforced edges are designed specifically to stand up to wear and tear in the park, while its soft flex allows for easy spins and takeoffs. The Fix also features Burton’s new Scoop Technology, which refers to the board’s forgiving, spoonlike convex curve and tapered edges.
Why They’re CoolOK, the prisms in the new Conquest line don’t quite match the light transmission of four-figure Zeisses, but these suckers cost $600. You still get anti-reflective lens coatings that deliver terrific brightness and dead-on color rendition. 禄 For 10x binos, they’re exceptionally easy to hold, even during prolonged…
DOUBLE-DUTY HAULER Mountaineering boots, crampons, ice ax, backpack, and so much more gear for a climb on Mexico’s El Pico de Orizaba were gobbled up by this simple yet ingenious two-for-one luggage solution. Fully loaded, the 7,300-cube monster rig rolls like a stalwart SUV with a cargo box up top.
Why It’s CoolThe least expensive pack in this lineup is also one of the few with adjustable torso length, which nails the fit for a comfortable carry. 禄 Precisely tuned for a 35-pound load, the framesheet and the U-shaped stay transfer weight to a hipbelt with moderate padding. 禄 Kudos…
Size, Price: 70 oz, $21; 105 oz, $22Flow Rate: 1*Funk Fighter?: Antimicrobial treatmentFilterCompatible?: NoValve Shutoff?: YesGotta Love: Saucepan-style handle makes for easy fillingBummer: Second-rate bite valve makes for low flowSplat Test: Survived *Ratings: 1=Average, 3=Excellent…
This basic mini-longboard lets you ride for a fraction of the cost of most others. At seven feet six inches, the Funboard is long enough to catch waves easily, and its near-23-inch width makes for a stable platform that helps novices find their balance. It fends off dings well,…
This wrist-top GPS manages a knife-edge feat: It’s equal parts cool and geeky. Sporting the X9i, I launched out on a run from my hotel room in downtown Buenos Aires. Within minutes, the 12-channel GPS receiver had locked on to satellites and was displaying my speed and distance. When…
A serious pair of shades plus temple controls and articulating earbuds equals ultimate on-the-go audio. www.oakley.com…
If you think catch-and-release is too prissy, unholster this seven-inch stainless-steel blade. With a retractable blade guard (which means less handle to get in the way when you’re slicing), this scalpel would make a sushi chef proud. www.benchmade.com…
Unfurl the Kelty Silk Sleeping Bag Liner for instant camping luxury. It feels sweet against the skin, lengthens the life of your sack by reducing the frequency of launderings, and lowers your bag’s temperature rating by five degrees. To make extra room in your pack for your pad, liner, or…
Judicious use of siliconized nylon—bolstered by 1,000-denier reinforcements—make the Bodie both water-repellent and durable while keeping weight low. 2.5 lbs, 2,000 cu in; www.marmot.com…