Check out feature stories, how-to articles, product comparisons and more about backcountry ski gear, skiing and culture.
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Protein vs. CaloriesWhat Matters Most on a Multi-Day Bikepacking Trip? A long day in the saddle can burn thousands of calories. Running low on fuel is a fast track to sluggish legs, poor decision-making and a miserable ride. That’s why most bikepacking food tips focus on calorie-dense staples like tortillas, peanut butter, pasta, and trail mix. But on trips lasting… Read More
If you have tried waxing your chain, you likely know the advantages. I’m talking a smooth, clean drivetrain. If you’re ready to commit to chain waxing, the best way to make it fast and efficient is with a dedicated chain-waxing stand. A dedicated stand makes waxing a snap. Just heat the wax and submerge your chain. We are talking 10-15… Read More
As the main ski season comes to a close, it’s worth giving some thought to storing your climbing skins, skis, boots and beacon for the summer. A few simple steps will make sure your backcountry ski gear is ready to roll and easy to find when the snow flies in the fall. How to Store Climbing Skins – Summer Gear… Read More
Terrain choices and weather patterns shift daily, and your layers need to adapt. The Arc’teryx Rush jacket and pants are the GORE-TEX shells purpose-built for all things backcountry. Made with full weather protection for dedicated touring wear, they let you adapt to the conditions over long tours, storm days and spring missions alike. Arc’teryx Rush Jacket and Pants At the… Read More
Photochromic Versus Changeable Lens Goggles Ski goggles come in many flavors. Choosing the best goggles to match your needs requires a basic understanding of tech and setting a few priorities. If you’re not familiar with lens shapes and their advantages, check out our Ski Goggles 101 article for some basic goggles tech and know-how. When it comes to key goggles… Read More
Backcountry Skier Personalities Backcountry skiers can be a curious bunch. We come in a variety of flavors, and there are several easy stereotypes to poke fun at. Of course, we all hold traits from a mix of stereotypes, but in the spirit of making fun of ourselves, we broke backcountry skier personalities into six classic stereotypes — Gearhead, Jaded Local,… Read More
Skier Gift Ideas Make your gift search easy. Check out our curated list of gift ideas for backcountry skiers. We’re talking real gear picks by real people. And it’s all stuff we actually use and endorse. Black Diamond Tour Pro Ski Gloves – $130 Ski gloves are not as glamorous as a new down puffy or a pair of skis,… Read More
Avalanche safety education is better than ever. Between improved forecasting and conditions reporting, the unified teaching curriculum brought by AIARE, along with elevated public awareness, there is more information and higher-quality educational opportunities than ever before. And you can add a new resource to the list: AvalancheAware AvalancheAware is a free, online starting point for anyone interested in heading into… Read More
Yes, that’s right, armless sunglasses. Sounds a bit unlikely, but that’s exactly the concept behind Ombraz. The idea was born out of necessity when Ombraz cofounder Jensen broke a pair of aviator sunglasses while travelling. He repaired them by replacing the arms with a cord to hold them in place. It was so effective that he continued to use them… Read More
Winter Snow Forecast 2025-26 – La Niña Chances on the Rise Greetings, weather nerds. The winter snow forecast predictions are starting to take shape. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center is calling for the development of weak La Niña conditions this winter. While the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was neutral through the end of August 2025, with near-average sea surface temperatures… Read More
As the adventure-cycling category grows, gravel bikes continue to evolve with improved tire clearance. Tire clearance translates to versatility, making a gravel bike a quiver-of-one bike. Run 30mm tires for all-purpose road rides. Run 40mm for all-purpose gravel riding. And run 50mm for adventure rides and bikepacking. How Wide For Gravel Tires Of course, extra tire clearance also raises the… Read More
Bikepacking Route Craft 101 “All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost.” — JR Tolkien. Gandalf’s words to Frodo as the Hobbit departs in search of Aragorn are equally sage advice for those looking to learn the art of creating bikepacking and adventure gravel routes. Route craft requires equal parts map-reading skills, curiosity and… Read More
Backcountry Skier Personalities – The Newbie We’ve all been there. New gear or new to the sport, the Newbie is both endearing and embarrassing. The Newbie You needn’t search far afield for the Newbie. This species is ubiquitous around North America and commonly sighted at sidecountry locations and roadside attractions made popular by their easy access and moderate terrain. A Newbie… Read More
Backcountry Skier Personalities One could argue that a Rando Racer is not really a backcountry skier, and that the easiest way to take the fun out of backcountry skiing is to time it. But there’s been some bleed-over between the rando race scene and the lightweight touring world, so here is the Rando Racer backcountry skier profile. Stay tuned for… Read More
Backcountry Skier Personalities We all know a Bro or two. A classic ski bum stereotype, the Bro Brah is found all over the world. Stay tuned for the still to come Rando Racer and Newbie profiles. The Bro Brah Few skiers are as easy to identify as the quintessential Bro Brah. The Bro Brah is part ski bum and part… Read More
