Helmet technology has advanced over recent years with the advent of MIPS, a technology comprised of a layer inside a helmet to help to reduce rotational motion transferred to the brain, as well as Smith’s Koroyd honeycomb material that disperses the force of an impact. But even with this evolution in head protection, skiers continue to travel in the backcountry without helmets, citing that convenience is king when it comes to bc travel.
2019 Gear Guide: Safety Gear
Skiing deep pow in the backcountry is only as fun as it is safe. And knowing you have the tools to keep you and your friends out of harm’s way makes days on the skintrack all the more gratifying.
2019 Gear Guide: Camping Gear
Whether you’re using four wheels and the open road or a long, quiet skintrack to take you to your backcountry camping destinations, packing can be a tricky endeavor.
The American Alpine Club calls for applications for climbing and splitboard grants
On November 30, 2018, the American Alpine Club (AAC) will close the application process for this year’s grant cycle for the Cutting Edge Grant, Jones Live Like Liz Award, and Jones Backcountry Adventure Grants to support the efforts of individuals pushing boundaries in climbing and splitboarding.
Light, Not Lame: As construction advances, skis drop weight and keep the fun factor
Lose the weight, keep the performance—it’s an intention that brands have long been striving for. And while finding the pinnacle of ounces saved to oomph retained may be as Sisyphean as skinning in plug boots and Alpine Trekkers, many testers say skis are finally hitting the right performance-to-weight mark. “The lighter, touring-focused skis are getting […]
The Sweet Spot Gets Sweeter: Which underfoot width is best for everything?
Not that long ago, a mid-fat ski meant something in the realm of 85 mm underfoot. Over the last decade, that measurement has swelled as eccentric and experimental skis of exponential girth hit the market. While 85 mm may never again be average, the sweet spot in skis is becoming codified.
Light and Free: Freeride skis catch a weight-saving wave
The Gear Guide used to have an unofficial 10-lb. limit. We wouldn’t consider heavier skis. They flat out would not make the cut, and even the most freeride-focused testers would begrudge those portly profiles. But things have changed.
Journey Lines: Splitboard mountaineer Josh Jespersen transitions from seeking vert to finding community in his new project
To really find the backcountry goods in a new zone, insider knowledge pays off; you need to immerse yourself in a group of skiers and riders who call a place home. And, Aspen, one town on my checklist of places to explore close to home, is a place where the locals prove a stereotype wrong. A visitor might assume the Aspen community to be reserved and cliquish, but in my experience exploring the town’s surrounding Elk Mountains, I’ve found that reputation to be perpetuated by outsiders.
Finer Points: Five-point sidecut and the art of the taper
Even though antique skis are thought to be completely straight, a hint of sidecut has graced ski design since Norway’s early telemark skiers of the 1880s. The subtle one- to three-millimeter sidecut of old underwent a dramatic advancement in the early ’90s with the boom of turn-centric hourglass-shapes. And all that changed again about a decade back, with the introduction of a new sidecut concept that’s now almost ubiquitous in backcountry skis.
Backcountry Events Bulletin: November 2018
Across the U.S., late October and early November 2018 have brought winter weather, and early season turns are becoming the norm. To generate stoke and avalanche awareness for the quickly approaching winter season, backcountry alliances and avalanche centers are hosting a wide variety of parties, film festivals and education series—here’s the lineup for November 2018 events.
