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.
The 2023 Scarpa Maestrale AT Ski Boots Renowned for balancing uphill walkability and downhill ski performance, the Scarpa Maestrale ski boot is like the Toyota Tacoma of AT ski boots. It’s versatile, utilitarian and appeals to a wide range of skiers. You can find stiffer, burlier ski boots. In fact, too many people overlook the Maestrale in favor of the… Read More
I’ve worn a lot of different ski jackets over the years—waterproof, breathable shells from the biggest names in outdoor technical apparel—Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Outdoor Research, Norrøna, Dynafit, Black Diamond, Helly Hansen, Stio, etc. For the most part, they’ve all done a great job keeping me dry and protected in stormy weather, but very few have fit the way I wanted them… 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
Easy On, Easy Off — Hybrid Climbing Skins Most of us have struggled at one time or another while attempting to pull apart climbing skins stuck glue-to-glue. Sure, they eventually pull apart. But it’s no fun to struggle with them. That’s where the BCA Hybrid Climbing Skins come into the picture. The word hybrid in the name has a double… 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
Outdoor Research Helium Jacket – Ultralight, Packable Rain Jacket Mountain weather can be fickle. Sun in the morning. Rain in the afternoon. Sure, you can head out the door without a rain shell, but when you can pack one that fits in the palm of your hand, why not take it? The Outdoor Research Helium Ultralight Rain Jacket sets a… Read More
Extend Your Riding Season with the Showers Pass Apex Mountain Bike Pants You might recognize Showers Pass as the brand that makes bomber rain gear for cycling, born and proven in the damp climate of Portland, Oregon. Turns out their bike-know-how extends beyond rain gear. Last spring, I tested the Showers Pass Apex Mountain Bike Shorts and loved them. Their… Read More
Ready. Set. Pack. Salsa EXP Handlebar Bag Review Choosing the best bikepacking gear is a lesson in weight, space, function and durability. Salsa Cycles strikes a nice balance in their bikepacking handlebar bag – the Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle Handlebar Kit. The three-part set-up includes the EXP Anything Cradle, the EXP Dry Bag and an Anything Cradle Accessory Pouch. The… Read More
Waterproof. Durable. Secure. Ortlieb Handlebar Bag Review Well known for their bike panniers, Ortlieb has been making bomber-grade, waterproof bike packs since 1982. So, it’s no surprise that the Ortlieb bikepacking handlebar bag serves up secure, waterproof storage in a durable and easy-to-use design. Clean and simple describe the bag well. But it’s far from basic. It’s a minimalist dream… 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
Fork Mount Bikepacking Storage – Salsa EXP Anything Cage HD Options. That’s what the Salsa Anything Cage is all about. As the name suggests, these fork-mounted bikepacking cages let you carry just about anything. They expand your carrying capacity on the bike while maintaining a low profile and secure attachment for handling rough off-road travel. The Salsa Anything Cage has… 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
What Makes A Great Bike Helmet? A bike helmet review is a funny thing cause we can’t actually evaluate its impact protection. It’s more about comfort and looking at what types of safety tech and features it offers. The bottom line is that a great bike helmet should be the kind of thing you don’t really notice until you need… Read More
Low Rolling Resistance. All-Around Grip For most of the gravel riding in the Pacific Northwest, traction and volume are the primary concerns when choosing tires. But you should never discount rolling resistance on a long day or when there’s a good percentage of paved road miles on deck. Our latest gravel tire review is the Kenda Alluvium Pro. It’s a… Read More
