Bill was a freestyler in the ’80s, a racer in high school, a telemarker sometime after that and has been a ski tester for the last three years. He likes touring, but prefers to ski with friends—unless it’s a powder day. His pick of the test? The Voilé V8.
2014 Editors’ Choice Awards – Skis
This year we tested more than 200 skis from 30-plus brands. And it was the most innovative ski crop yet, with brands like DPS getting 3D and the money zone (100-112mm underfoot) exploding with refined shapes and lighter weights. Here’s just a teaser of this year’s Editors’ Choice winning skis. To see the full reviews, […]
2014 Editors’ Choice Awards – Snowboards
We’ve entered the Golden Age of Splitboards. What’s that mean? Splitboards are as innovative as ever, with brands introducing more than 60 boards this season. But game-changing technology has gone beyond the decks. This year, we tested a completely new binding system from K2 and the most impressive binding to date from Spark R&D. Here’s […]
2014 Editors’ Choice Awards – The best AT and Telemark Ski Boots
Here’s just a teaser of this year’s best AT and telemark ski boots.
2014 Editors’ Choice Awards – AT and Telemark Ski Bindings
The future of AT and telemark bindings is here. This year, we tested the first-ever tech telemark binding, plus a tech AT binding with a release value of 16. But that’s not all because this year, brands have introduced more tech and frame bindings than ever before. Find out which AT and Telemark ski bindings won our 2014 Editors’ Choice Awards, here….
Backcountry Bibliotheca
“The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it,” British academic James Bryce once said. Clearly he was talking about the hefty tomes and thoughtful prose of backcountry skiing literature. After all, I don’t recommend hauling some handbook up the skintrack. Instead, read up, reread and carry […]
Tried & New: Leatherman Blast
With an schmorgesborg of tools, sharp things and twisty metal, a good multi-tool can be a gear nerd’s wet dream. In fact, the list of tasks that a multi-tool can effectively complete is almost endless: adjusting bindings, opening cans, clipping toenails, breaking and entering, or stabbing your enemies, a multi-tool can do it all. And […]
Tried & New: Black Diamond Patrol
If you’ve ever patrolled, chances are you used leather gloves. Once you’ve had a leather glove, nothing else comes close to its fit and function. I got this sample pair of the Black Diamond Patrol back in 2006 or ’07. As a former patroller, I value a glove with a lotta leather. You beat the […]
Tried & New: Smith I/O
Have you ever really loved a pair of goggles? Like, when they got scratched, did you mope the same as when you blew an edge? Or were you once unable to sleep, antsy with…
Tried & New: Zeal Airstream
You can buy sunglasses just about anywhere—gear shops, grocery stores, gas stations—basically wherever there’s a cash register.
