The Tech: Though freeze-dried ice cream is questionable, anything approved by NASA usually holds up on earth, in this case Outdoor Research’s Inception Aerogel Gloves. These gloves employ Primaloft Gold Insulation Aerogel—that’s the NASA part—which is designed to be compression resistant and block cold, rather than insulate from it. The Talk: A simply designed glove […]

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 […]

The ZED 12 came to market in a soft launch midway through last winter and, as a result, 2020 Gear Test Week was the first time testers got aboard G3’s new binding. And while the tech behind the ZED isn’t anything groundbreaking, its simplicity and reliability make it stand out in the sea of lightweight […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Last year, Atomic beefed up their touring-specific line with the 107, the widest version of its Backland models, and earned an Editors’ Choice Award in the process. The Backland 107 returns unchanged, aside from updated black graphics to tack “dark and handsome” onto its list of affable attributes.  “Provides confidence in powder,” one tester said, […]

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 […]