Dynafit TLT Speedfit Binding As the snow stacks up in the hills, so does the test gear in the Off-Piste Mag shop. The latest new tech for testing is the Dynafit TLT Speedfit binding. The Dynafit tech binding design has seen a steady evolution from the original Dynafit TLT to the now feature-rich Radical 2.0 and Radical ST bindings. The… Read More
Rogers Pass – Uptracks, Bootpacks and Bushwhacks As winter approaches, so does the trip planning. There is perhaps no other destination that offers better roadside access or more consistent snow conditions than Rogers Pass, British Columbia. The Rogers Pass backcountry is one of the largest and most accessible backcountry ski playgrounds on the planet. It lies between Revelstoke and Golden,… Read More
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ice Pack Summer is in full swing here in Hood River, and that means packing as many adventures into the week (or day) as possible. I have been testing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Ice Pack for the past couple of months and have attempted to put it through the full gamut of mountain adventures from day… Read More
Book Review: Beyond the Mountain Steve House is one of the world’s premier alpine climbers. He has set a high standard for style and achievement in the mountains. His approach to the mountains centers on a low impact, self-reliant alpine style that demands serious commitment and resolute skill. From a sixty-hour non-stop ascent of the Slovak Direct route on Denali to… Read More
Mountain Coloring Book for Outdoor People A wide variety of outdoor gear and related stuff comes across our desk over the course of a season, but this is the first time we’ve ever seen a coloring book. It’s a mountain coloring book to be specific. And, believe it or not, it’s worth a look. The Mountain Mix Coloring Book is… Read More
The Wapta Traverse – A Canadian Rockies Classic High Pressure and bluebird conditions prevail and the views stretch as far as my eyes can see in all directions. Dozens of stunning, rocky peaks dressed in white vie for my attention. I wander the ridge toward the summit of a small peak near the Scott Duncan Hut and contemplate the surroundings…. Read More
Fritschi Tecton – Tech binding meets alpine binding ease The latest tech binding to make our test fleet is the Fritschi Tecton. As tech bindings evolve, the designs can be categorized into one of three general categories – minimalist, full-featured and – for lack of a better term – freeride. The Fritschi Tecton binding fits the freeride category. It builds… Read More
Avalanche Safety – Communication in the Backcountry With ski season comes avalanche season. It’s time to review the practices, communication, behavior and interactions with your ski partners from last season – take an honest and critical look at how the memories measure up on the safety front – think about the days you pushed the comfort zone and the days… Read More
Patagonia Snowdrifter Softshell Ski Pants Why Go Softshell If you’ve ever ski toured in a pair of GORE-TEX ski pants, you know how little they really breathe when you’re working hard on the uptrack. Unlike our upper layers, no one changes leg layers while out skiing. Backcountry ski pants require breathability to manage the demands of touring. Waterproof and breathable… Read More
G3 SENDr 112 – Ski Review We have been fans of the G3 Empire for several seasons. It’s lightweight carbon build plus healthy width and rocker combined to deliver a surfy and playful ride in any soft snow conditions. Well, the next evolution is here and it’s a lot of fun, too: the 2018 G3 SENDr 112. The SENDr 112… Read More
Dynafit has revamped their ski lineup to include three distinct categories: Speed, Tour, and Beast. Speed, as you might guess, is the lightest category and targets the light-is-right crowd. The Tour category is the do-it-all ski for general backcountry skiing. And the Beast category is for skiers most concerned with damp predictability and speed on the descent. We picked a… Read More
G3 ION Binding Review Although we skied the new G3 ION binding a little last spring and liked it, it wasn’t until January that I was able to mount and ski a pair for long-term use. The ION represents a full redesign of G3’s first tech binding, the Onyx, and it’s proving to perform well. Upon first glance, the G3… Read More
Tech bindings have evolved quickly over the past few years and the 2017 Outdoor Retailer (OR) show in Salt Lake offered a glimpse of the latest innovations on the tech binding front. Dynafit and Fritschi unveiled new AT tech bindings at OR, while G3 and Salomon continue to refine their offerings. Here’s quick overview: DYNAFIT: The brand that literally invented the… Read More
Outdoor Retailer, the annual gathering of outdoor gear/clothing manufacturers and industry pros, was held in Salt Lake last week. We checked out a wide variety of cool new and upcoming products at the show, but one of the highlights was a day of skiing in the Uintas Mountains with SCARPA, G3 and Park City Powder Cats to test the new… Read More
DPS Lotus 124 When asked for backcountry ski recommendations, I often turn the conversation to where the ski will see most of its use. And for most of us, this means mixed snow conditions, which usually leads to talking about skis in an all-purpose backcountry range of something like 100-114 mm underfoot. It’s the rare person who is looking for a dedicated… Read More
