“This helmet has more holes for ventilation than a cheese grater and is plenty airy while skinning,” The Tech: The name of Sweet Protection’s latest lid embodies its purpose—it’s designed for the growing number of tourers who wear their helmet all day long, not just for the descent, with low weight, high ventilation and no […]

Mountain Equipment’s new Kaniq is designed for the tourer who wants to bring everything but the camp sink without committing to a heavy load. It sports a minimalist design featuring a roll-top entry to the voluminous main compartment and a separate Velcro-sealed avy compartment to help keep tools organized. Two pockets on the clamshell topper […]

“Just the right amount of stiffness for full control while allowing plenty of room to play,” The Tech: Venture’s Storm scored an Editors’ Choice Award in 2018, and this year testers gave top honors to the Tempest, a women’s-specific interpretation. The same floaty freeride formula—gravity-defying nose, tapered waist and traditional tail—is on tap, but with […]

New this year, the Hoji Free is the stiffer, narrower, freeride-oriented iteration of freeskier Eric Hjorleifson’s pro-model, the Hoji Pro Tour, released last year. The re-introduction of the toe lug and a new power strap are intended to cater to the touring set looking for downhill precision, uphill mobility and compatibility with frame bindings. “This […]

For the second year in a row, the Tracer 108 takes the Editors’ Choice stage, receiving high marks among testers for versatility and playfulness. “Skiing the Tracer 108 is like being a kid in a candy store; you can get whatever you want,” one tester exclaimed. “The question is: what do you want to ski […]

Salomon’s five-ski QST series has become ubiquitous at resorts and in the backcountry since its 2016 introduction. And while each ski has experienced minor improvements over the last three years, the entire line is overhauled this season to improve versatility and turn initiation. Those updates shone best in the QST 106. “These feel much bigger […]

Blizzard overhauled nearly everything about their Zero G ski line after three years of hard-skiing, lightweight notoriety. One tester called the redesign of the most substantial offering—narrowed from 108 to 105 mm underfoot—“A welcomed update to Blizzard’s widest touring ski.” “Quicker edge to edge,” one tester said. “Super playful, very predictable, yet responsive.” The updates […]

Introduced last year, returning unchanged and once again earning an Editors’ Choice Award, the Zero G Tour Pro is Tecnica’s answer to an aggressive alpine-style boot that can also speed up a skintrack, with a solid 130 flex and generous 55-degree walk-mode range. “The top-of-the-line walk mode paired with downhill performance and fit comparable to […]

The Scarpa Gea RS: off again, on again. And when the switch is between years spent earning an Editors’ Choice Award and a Gear Guide selection, flip-flopping isn’t too bad. “A highly effective and efficient buckle design…slightly more aggressive forward lean angle than most.” Two years ago, Scarpa overhauled the Gea RS and its male […]

When Dynafit introduced the TLT line in 1989—the same year Greg Stump released the film License to Thrill—backcountry skiing was far from mainstream. In the subsequent three decades, touring boots have transitioned from niche to commonplace, and the TLT, once again overhauled, has been along for the trip. “I’m not really sure why people ski beefier […]