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.
Testers’ Choice: John Lauer’s Picks
From carving smooth powder turns to busting through crud and shredding corduroy, each tester aims to test eight products per day, a task that provided us with more than 1,100 individual reviews to craft the 2019 Gear Guide, available now and packed with tester feedback.
Testers’ Choice: Will Sardinsky’s Picks
From the 236 products we ran up and down the mountain, each tester nominated their personal favorites. Here are their picks and profiles, so you know who’s doing the dirty work and what they liked best.
Testers’ Choice: Lawson Yow’s Picks
It’s not all fun and games at Gear Test Week. Our 43 testers—32 skiers and 11 splitboarders—hit the slopes at Utah’s Powder Mountain with the dawn’s early light and don’t go to bed ’til the day’s reviews are complete. From carving smooth powder turns to busting through crud and shredding corduroy, each tester aims to test eight products per day, a task that provided us with more than 1,100 individual review to craft the 2019 Gear Guide, available now and packed with tester feedback.
2019 Testers’ Choice: Mindy “Cupcake” Mulliken’s Picks
From the 236 products we ran up and down the mountain, each tester nominated their personal favorites. Here are their picks and profiles, so you know who’s doing the dirty work and what they liked best.
2019 Gear Test Week: An Instagram Retrospective
This year’s Gear Test Week has come to an end, and all 40 testers have hopped into planes, cars and a few dilapidated minivans to head home for the end of the season. At Backcountry Magazine, the work is just beginning for our team of editors who compile tester comments and reviews to create the 2019 Gear Guide, out this fall.
A week in review: 2019 Gear Test Week Photo Gallery
Last week, more than 40 testers flocked to Powder Mountain, Utah for 2019 Gear Test Week, spending five days on snow testing next year’s backcountry skis, splitboards, boots and bindings. Matt Kiedaisch, resident Gear Test Week photographer, documented each day, from caffeinated breakfasts to party-filled nights—and all the corn, corduroy and powder in between.
Character Closeups: Jacob O’Connor on Gear Test Week 2019
A coating of fresh snow has graced the final days of Gear Test Week 2019 at Powder Mountain, so testers have been hitting the slopes hard to find their favorite gear for this coming winter. And part of what makes our test informative is the variety of ski and snowboard style our testers bring to […]
Splitboard Tester Quick Takes Day One: Gear Test Week 2019
New this year, we’re combining forces with the annual splitboard test to make our Gear Test, held for the 11th year at Powder Mountain, a bigger, more comprehensive event. As splitboard testers get familiar with the newest boards, boots and bindings during their first test day at Pow Mow, we catch up with a handful […]
