The Art of Layering – How To Layer For Backcountry Skiing Dressing for a full day of backcountry skiing requires a balance of breathability and weather protection. And the only way to really achieve the balance is through layering. It’s not rocket science, but it’s easy to overdress for ski touring. Touring is an aerobic activity, and you need to… Read More
La Sportiva Synchro AT Ski Boot It’s no secret that we spend more time climbing uphill than we do skiing down when backcountry skiing. Nonetheless, downhill performance remains high on the AT ski boot requirement list for most backcountry skiers. As a result, our boots need to walk the line between being lightweight and uphill-friendly while maintaining the ability to… Read More
Ski Clothes for Kids – Setting Kids up for the Backcountry A big part of getting kids to enjoy backcountry skiing is making sure they stay warm and dry. We (adults) take managing our body temp and comfort level for granted, but kids have to learn how to manage uphill and downhill comfort. It’s not rocket science, but it requires us… Read More
Patagonia Nano Air Light Hoody Finding the magic layering system that is warm yet breathable enough to handle breaking trail and uphill travel is no simple feat. First off, every day is different – sun, wind, temp, precip – they all vary by day and even aspect. Second, everybody is different – some of us run hot, others run cool…. Read More
Patagonia Reconnaissance Ski Pant Review I spend nearly every day of the winter in softshell pants. Finding the perfect do-it-all pants is nearly as challenging as finding the perfect quiver-of-one ski. I’ve had my favorite pants over the years, but in the ever-evolving world of fabric and our newer-is-better culture, it seems like the shelf life of even the best… Read More
Backcountry Ski JacketsShell Jacket 101 Hardshell – We define a hardshell as any waterproof / breathable jacket that features waterproof membrane construction like GORE-TEX®. It’s essentially a sandwich featuring an outer face material, a waterproof/breathable membrane and a backer material. Hardshell materials have come a long way in recent years to offer softer, less hardshell feeling materials. High-end three-layer hardshells… Read More
The Dynafit Vulcan Pant arrived here at the office this fall. It’s a new softshell backcountry ski pant and part of a broader line of clothing that Dynafit launched in the US this year. While I haven’t had them on snow too much yet, I have put them through the paces this fall. I’m a firm believer in softshell pants for… Read More
