Check out Off-Piste Magazine’s expert ski gear reviews, including backcountry skis, AT ski boots, tech bindings, avalanche beacons, avalanche shovels, ski jackets, backcountry ski pants, ski packs, headlamps, AT ski boots, crampons, climbing skins and more. We use the gear we write up, and the reviews here represent the best of the gear we’ve tested.
Patagonia Houdini Jacket So light and packable, there’s no reason to leave it behind The best gear is the stuff that simply becomes part of your adventure kit, no debate required. The Patagonia Houdini Jacket is that kind of gear. It’s not about specialty tech or features; it’s about simplicity and its ability to disappear. Stuffed into its chest pocket,… Read More
Size Matters Like backpacking, bikepacking rewards a minimalist approach to your gear. Packing light starts with stripping things down to the essentials and keeping the must-haves as light and packable as possible. A good place to start is with your sleeping kit, specifically your sleeping pad. A good pad can make the difference between a restless night and waking up… Read More
Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt: Light is Right From stormy nights in Tasmania to calm summer evenings in the high desert and snowy high-alpine camps in the Cascades, I’ve spent my fair share of nights in a sleeping bag. But never had I used a sleeping quilt until I started using the Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt 20°. Why go with a… Read More
MountainFLOW IR Waxing Tool + Guide ReviewA shop-tech take from someone who’d rather be skiing, but who still cares about fast bases. DIY Ski Waxing – Ritual or Chore Ski waxing sits in that funny space between meditation and chore. Some folks throw on music, crack a beer and happily disappear into the rhythm of drip–iron–scrape like it’s part of… Read More
Every gram counts when you spend the day earning your turns on a skin track. The Helly Hansen Odin Ultimate Jacket strikes a nice balance between lightweight minimalism, pro-level storm coverage and breathability that keeps pace with trail breaking and extended climbs. As the industry pushes to eliminate PFAS from waterproof, breathable outerwear, Helly Hansen developed LIFA INFINITY™, a professional-grade… 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
A Ski Pack for Skiers Simple, organized design doesn’t have to mean bare-bones minimalism. The women’s Gregory Targhee 24 packs a range of features into a simple, thoughtful design that offers good organization and easy access to essential day touring gear. The Targhee has been a fixture in the Gregory backpack line for many years, and the latest edition is… Read More
It’s easy to be a backpack critic. Designing and building a backcountry ski pack that pleases everyone is difficult. There are countless priorities to consider, from volume to pockets and unique features to access style and materials. Design considerations make trying new packs an interesting project because it’s where you get to put design to a real-world test. The… 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
Like backpacking, efficient bikepacking is all about packing light. Careful choices in tent, sleep system and cook kit are easy places to save weight and space. Choosing a lightweight camping stove and meal plan saves significant weight and space over a more complex cooking plan and stove setup (read about freeze-dried meals and meal tips for bikepacking). There’s no shortage… Read More
The current trend in cycling sunglasses is for maximum coverage, where bigger equals better. From well-known brands like Tifosi, Oakley and Smith to up-and-coming brands like Vallon, maximum coverage offers bold aesthetics and serious performance.
Routine Maintenance Keeping your bike running smoothly is all about routine maintenance. Regular cleaning, lubing and fine-tuning are what keep the miles rolling easy. As the wet season begins here in the Pacific Northwest, regular cleaning is more important than ever to keep your bike running well. As the old saying goes for horses, “rode hard and put away wet”… Read More
No matter how well your ski boots fit, taking them off at the end of the day always feels good. We all have our fave shoes to slip into after a day in our ski boots. Blundstones, Bogs, Sorels, or even comfy sneakers work, but I recently discovered a new favorite après-ski boot — XTRATUF Deck Boots, specifically the fleece-lined… Read More
Raise the Bar on Backcountry Communication – Rocky Talkie Radios If you don’t ski with two-way radios, you should. Good communication makes for a good day and safe travel protocol in the backcountry. On the most basic level, good communication is about staying in touch with your ski partner(s) while climbing and skiing. When the terrain splits your group, or… Read More
