Latest
Smith 4D MAG Ski Goggles – Maximum Field of View
Ski goggles have advanced a lot in the last 10+ years. Optics are better, lens changes are simpler, tint options are plentiful, and perhaps most importantly, the field of view has improved dramatically. By Field of view, we mean how much you can see through your goggles. Not only have goggle lenses gotten bigger, but frame and lens technology have evolved to offer better peripheral vision, too. It all adds up to creating a better field of view, allowing you to see and do more in a broader range of weather conditions. Whether you run spherical, toric or cylindrical lens goggles (read more about choosing goggles and lens types), you can thank Dr. Bob Smith for the double-walled thermal lens technology used in modern goggles.…
Gear
Down vs. Synthetic Insulated Jackets
Insulated Puffy Jackets – Down v. Synthetic A warm, puffy jacket is required equipment for backcountry skiing (read our backcountry ski packing list). It’s your ticket to comfortable transitions, warm summit breaks and lightweight insurance for staying warm in the case of an emergency. I usually carry two insulated jackets in my backcountry ski pack—one light-to-midweight synthetic puffy jacket (that… Read More
Smith Bobcat Sunglasses – Almost as Good as Goggles
What if you could wear the same glasses on the up and the down? Ski goggles are great. They let you see and ski with precision when it’s snowing, blowing and deep. But, as a backcountry skier, goggles are only good for skiing down. Try and wear them on the uptrack, and you’ll quickly learn why it’s a bad idea… Read More
Patagonia SnowDrifter 30L Ski Pack Review
The Best Ski Packs Keep it Simple Backpack design is a funny thing. Designers are always looking for new ways to reinvent the wheel. In my opinion, the hallmark of a great backpack is simplicity. The newest Patagonia SnowDrifter 30L ski pack nails it with a clean, user-friendly and ski-ready design. It also happens to be made with 100% recycled… Read More
What’s the Best Ski Mid Layer for Backcountry Skiing?
Dressing for a day of backcountry skiing takes a little practice. Getting it right for the downhill part is easy, but it’s common to overdress for the uphill. Layering is the key to temperature regulation. And layers that let your body breathe are critical to regulating your temperature when ski touring. If you dress too warm or without good breathability,… Read More
Features
Down vs. Synthetic Insulated Jackets
Insulated Puffy Jackets – Down v. Synthetic A warm, puffy jacket is required equipment for backcountry skiing (read our backcountry ski packing list). It’s your ticket to comfortable transitions, warm summit breaks and lightweight insurance for staying warm in the case of an emergency. I usually carry two insulated jackets in my backcountry ski pack—one light-to-midweight synthetic puffy jacket (that… Read More
Smith Bobcat Sunglasses – Almost as Good as Goggles
What if you could wear the same glasses on the up and the down? Ski goggles are great. They let you see and ski with precision when it’s snowing, blowing and deep. But, as a backcountry skier, goggles are only good for skiing down. Try and wear them on the uptrack, and you’ll quickly learn why it’s a bad idea… Read More
Build Your Own Backcountry Ski Repair Kit
Backcountry Ski Repair Kit – Pack Light or Go Big? Have you ever had a gear failure in the field? Fortunately, modern backcountry ski gear is pretty robust stuff. I can count the number of significant gear failures I’ve experienced or witnessed on the one hand – and most of those were back in my dedicated telemark ski days. Nonetheless,… Read More
What’s the Best Ski Mid Layer for Backcountry Skiing?
Dressing for a day of backcountry skiing takes a little practice. Getting it right for the downhill part is easy, but it’s common to overdress for the uphill. Layering is the key to temperature regulation. And layers that let your body breathe are critical to regulating your temperature when ski touring. If you dress too warm or without good breathability,… Read More
Adventure Ride Essentials
Adventure Ride Essentials – Gravel Tires
Adventure Bike Gravel Tires Reviewed So many choices. So little time. Choosing the best gravel tire is a bit like picking the right shoes for the day. It’s all about the terrain and surfaces that are on the agenda. When talking tires for adventure riding, maximum volume and width are key considerations. Tread is important, too. But volume is directly related to… Read More
Portable Handheld Coffee Grinders
Fresh Ground Coffee, Anywhere! Coffee, the magical fuel of many an adventure and a daily ritual for many of us. And who can deny that fresh ground beans are the best way to make the best cup of coffee? The art of making coffee in the backcountry and on road trips takes many forms. Regardless of how you make your… Read More
GORE SHAKEDRY – 7Mesh Oro Jacket
GORE SHAKEDRY GORE set the standard to which waterproof, breathable outerwear is measured, and their latest innovation, GORE SHAKEDRY™, takes everything GORE-TEX is known for to a higher level of performance – waterproofness, breathability and lightweight construction. SHAKEDRY’s distinct design uses a GORE-TEX membrane as the face fabric and a 100% polyamide fabric as a backer. What does that mean?… Read More
Camelbak Chase Hydration Vest Review
Camelbak Chase Hydration Vest Review One of the big limiting factors when setting out on an extended adventure ride is water-carrying capacity. It takes a lot of water to stay hydrated on a 100+ mile ride. The obvious solution is a hydration pack. But when traveling light is your goal, most hydration packs are overkill. The Camelbak Chase hydration vest… Read More
Club Ride Mountain Surf MTB Shorts – Adventure Ride Essentials
Club Ride Mountain Surf MTB Shorts – Adventure Ride Ready Adventure pedaling season here in the Pacific Northwest runs nearly year-round. Come late March, big miles and long hours in the saddle are the norm. Big miles require quality bike shorts. Bib shorts are the style of choice for most roadies and endurance riders, but coming from the mountain bike… Read More
Wacaco Nanopresso – Portable Espresso Maker
Wacaco Nanopresso – Portable Espresso Maker Strong coffee and adventure go hand in hand. When traveling and backcountry trips require packing your own coffee making supplies, you can go as basic as a cone filter or upgrade to the popular Aeropress. Both methods offer a solid approach to brewing a stout cup of coffee with its own merits. For those who… Read More
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Systems – Managing Your Human Factor
What’s Your System? Managing Your Human Factor – Joe Stock I’ve never been caught in avalanche. Maybe it’s because I’m good at mountain travel. Maybe it’s because I maintain a healthy margin for error. Maybe it’s luck. In any case, I work hard to avoid avalanches. I’m in the snowy mountains most of winter. The odds are against me. One of the… Read More
Avalanche Beacon Testing
We’ve been practicing with an assortment of current model avalanche beacons for an upcoming article in the print magazine. The bulk of our testing has focused on mid-level beacons aimed at solid recreational users like the BCA Tracker 3, Barryvox Element, Ortovox 3+ and Pieps DSP Sport. All of these avalanche beacons feature three-antenna technology and a signal marking function (suppression… Read More
Avalanche Essentials
There’s no shortage of books on avalanche safety, and Utah Avalanche Center Director, Bruce Tremper, is the author of one of the best, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. One thing books like Staying Alive and others lack, however, is a readability and first person approach that appeals to readers with a less technical background or approach. This readable, first person… Read More
Avalanche Footage and Imagery
It’s been a wild February and March for avalanche footage and imagery from around the world. There have been many high profile slides around North America and Europe including slides that have hit homes and ski resort infrastructure. In case you have any question as to the destructive potential of an avalanche, here’s a collection of footage from around the… Read More
Movies
Made In Voyage – Ski Film Trailer
Made In Voyage – Ski Film Trailer The jet stream is lining up for its winter pattern. The weather forecasts call for a moderate La Nińa. And the ski film trailers are popping up weekly. Winter must be on its way . . . Check out this fun ski movie trailer to hep fuel the winter roadtrip stoke: Made In… Read More
TGR – Make Believe Ski Film Trailer
TGR – Make Believe It’s pushing 100-degrees Fahrenheit outside. It’s a great day to cool down with thoughts of the upcoming winter. TGR offers up Make Believe. For 25 years TGR has focused on turning ‘Make Believe’ into reality, from exploring powder stashes in our backyard playground to first descents on unnamed peaks, the ethos of “live the dream” has defined… Read More
DPS Skis – Shadow Campaign – Lonely Star
DPS Skis – Shadow Campaign – Lonely Star DPS Cinematic is back with Volume VI of the Shadow Campaign ski film series. Skiers Santiago Guzman, Piers Solomon and Zack Giffin inspire winter adventures with their snow sliding skills from Mt Baker to Revelstoke. Here’s what DPS Skis has to say . . . An ill-fated explorer finds himself marooned on… Read More
Abandoned – A Ski Film about Lost Ski Areas
Abandoned – A Film about Lost Ski Areas Abandoned is about a crew of backcountry skiers who set out to explore Colorado’s lost ski areas in hopes to find adventure amongst the ruins. Instead, they discover the truth behind what made these areas close their doors for good and illustrates what skiing used to be like before mega resorts and… Read More
The Vault
What’s The Problem? Understanding Avalanche Hazard
The classic backcountry ski checklist – shovel, probe, beacon, brain – has also come to include the avalanche forecast, and most of us make the effort to check the forecast before we head into the mountains. But an important question that’s often overlooked is; “Are really absorbing the most important information contained in the forecast?” Sure, the avalanche hazard rating… Read More
Avalanche Safety – The Morning Meeting
Avalanche Safety – Have a Clear Plan and Conditions Dialogue The number one response I hear from students when asked why they are taking an avalanche class is, “to be safer in the backcountry.” Avalanche instructors work hard to send folks away with many of the tools they need to be safer skiers. Some of these avalanche safety tools are… Read More
