Check out our feature stories about backcountry ski gear, skiing and culture.
It’s that time again. Here’s our annual guide to cool gifts for skiers on your holiday list. Skier Gifts $100+ Give-r 4-Season Leather Gloves $119 We are big advocates of leather ski gloves, and it’s hard to beat the simplicity, durability and price of Give’r Gloves. They’ve got several glove and mitten options, but if you just want one pair… Read More
The classic backcountry ski checklist – shovel, probe, beacon, brain – has also come to include the avalanche forecast, and most of us make an effort to check the forecast before we head into the mountains. But an important question that’s often overlooked is, “Are you really absorbing the most important information contained in the forecast?” Sure, the avalanche hazard… Read More
Arc’teryx Proton Hoody – Active Insulation Backcountry Skiing If you haven’t experienced the modern world of “active insulation,” it’s more than just marketing hype. It refers to an insulated jacket that maintains air permeability. In other words, it’s breathable. The idea behind active insulation is warmth across a broader spectrum of aerobic activity than a more traditional, less breathable jacket… Read More
Happy Norwegian Ski Waxing and Tuning Stand If you don’t wax your own skis, it’s time to start. Thanks to the creative folks at Happy Norwegian, ski waxing at home and on the go is easier than ever. Mr Grippy is a portable ski waxing and tuning stand for home and travel use. It works almost anywhere. Works With All… Read More
Uphill Ease, Downhill Power – La Sportiva Vega We ask a lot of our ski boots when backcountry skiing. They need to be light and flexible enough for easy uphill travel, stiff and responsive enough to drive skis in a wide range of conditions, and comfortable enough to wear all day long. The new La Sportiva Vega ski boots check all… Read More
Sharing the Stoke – Backcountry Skiing with Kids “I can’t go any further,” my six-year-old son exclaims with the added drama of excruciatingly slow forward shuffles on the skin track. “Let’s regroup and take a break at the larch tree just ahead,” I offer encouragingly as I look over my shoulder to gauge the whereabouts of my wife and daughter… Read More
Winter 2022-23 Ski Season Forecast It’s that time of year! Time to start dreaming about winter. And what better way to fuel your backcountry powder skiing dreams than to obsess about long range weather forecasts, La Niña vs. El Niño and the latest temperature trends in the equatorial Pacific that directly influence the big picture weather through the El Niño… Read More
Rocker Ski Racks Skis have a way of cluttering your garage, hallway, closet or wherever it is that you happen to store them. We all know what happens when you simply lean your skis against the nearest available wall – if they don’t fall over right away, they will fall over eventually, often taking a few other choice items with them on… Read More
Eco-Friendly Bike Chain Lube, Maintenance and Cleaning Supplies from Mountainflow A clean, lubed bike is a happy bike. It’s a simple concept, but even basic bike maintenance takes time and the right supplies. You can clean with traditional dish soap and water, but why not do it right and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and bike chain lube. The innovative folks at… Read More
GoSun 10 Watt Portable Solar Panel Phone, GPS, head unit, camera gear, headlamp, the list goes on. Carrying electronics in the backcountry is the norm these days. Keeping them charged over the course of a multi-day backcountry trip, however, is a project of its own. Portable batteries are an obvious solution and are great for a single device for a… Read More
Better AeroPress Coffee with Fellow Prismo Filter For dedicated coffee drinkers, little compares to the ritual brewing of the morning cup. We all have our favorite time-tested methods for brewing coffee in the backcountry or while on the road, and one of the best portable coffee makers is the AeroPress coffee maker. This winter, I stumbled across the Fellow Prismo… Read More
Go Tubeless or Go Home If you aren’t using tubeless tires on your adventure gravel bike (or mountain bike), you should be. Imagine bombing down gravel descents and across rough ground without concern for flats. Going tubeless is the key to reducing tire issues on adventurous rides. Tubeless lets you run lower tire pressure without fear of pinch flats and… Read More
Carve or Slarve – The Volkl Blaze 106 is Right at Home By the numbers, the Volkl Blaze 106 is an interesting ski. It has a unique blend of new school and traditional design elements. It specs out with a 146mm tip, a 106mm waist and a 128mm tail for all lengths. Its wide shovel and strong sidecut are the… Read More
GORE-TEX 101 GORE-TEX is synonymous with reliable storm protection. Gore pioneered the waterproof, breathable membrane technology that dominates the outerwear we all use, but understanding all of the Gore options takes some research. How much do you know about all of the GORE-TEX levels? Read on to learn the details about the Gore variations and the latest on the newest… Read More
Ortovox Adds Voice Direction to the Beacon Search Equation The advent of digital signal processing was a game changer for avalanche beacon technology. Directional arrows and distance readouts are standard fare. There are a few more pieces to the puzzle — like multiple antennas — but the point is that technology has made using avalanche beacons faster, easier and more… Read More
