The lifts at most Utah resorts have stopped turning, but that doesn’t mean snowboarding is over for the season. If you are planning on doing any backcountry touring, there are several pieces of essential gear that you will need. Certainly, a backpack worthy of your adventures is on the list. I have been using the…
Category: Gear Reviews
Scarpa Freedom SL Alpine Touring Boots review
A happy medium. That’s all I want when shopping for alpine touring boots. That medium is good tourability with excellent downhill performance. The lightest boots with the most range-of-motion I’ve found to be wimps on the ski down, but boots that are stiff and stable on the descent can be heavy and uncomfortable on the…
Clif Organic Energy Food review
Sick and tired of energy bars or gels while recreating? Well, so are some Team Clif Bar athletes who worked with the company to concoct new Clif Organic Energy Food. These meal pouches feature unusual flavors not usually associated with energy bars – flavors like Pizza Margherita, Sweet Potato with Sea Salt and Banana Beet…
Woolx Merino X-Plorer Base Layer review
I’m very picky about my base layers, mostly because I’ve become spoiled from merino wool. Now, all I want to wear when skiing is merino. So when Woolx, a company based out of Endicott, New York, asked if I’d like to try some X-Plorer base layers, they didn’t have to twist my arm too hard….
Filson Mackinaw Wool Vest review
What was once old is new again. Fashion is absolutely the one aspect in life where this is true, and outdoor apparel is no exception. Take for example, the Filson Mackinaw Wool Vest. It looks like a throwback to a simpler time, like, say, the 1890s, where men wore fancy garments all the time, whether…
Audio-Technica SonicFuel Earbuds Review and Giveaway
Music goes with the outdoors like vanilla ice cream goes with bourbon. Seems these things were just made for each other. I’d bet that very few of you don’t enjoy cranking the tunes in nature when the time is right; but, that’s the catch- it’s not always the perfect time to rock the park out….
First Look: Salomon MTN LAB backcountry boots
The Salomon MTN LAB backcountry boots have gotten a lot of press lately. From Outdoor Retailer, SIA, and ISPO, the boots have won awards and are probably soaking wet from all the people salivating over them. What’s the big deal? Word is that these boots have blurred the line between light weight touring boots for…
Salomon MTN LAB at Outdoor Retailer 2015 Winter Market
Salomon has been making backcountry ski gear for a few years now, but it’s always been in the heavier sidecountry/freeride arena. Well, this year at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, they’ve unveiled a whole new line of touring gear including skis, poles, skins, and most attention-getting, MTN LAB backcountry boots. MTN LAB Boots Salomon athlete and…
Icebreaker goes way beyond base layers at Outdoor Retailer 2015 Winter Market
Icebreaker is well known for their merino wool base layers, but they’ve gone far beyond that. At Outdoor Retailer 2015 Winter Market, technical outerwear using merino as high-loft insulation is the big story, which perked my interest as Icebreaker as long been among my favorite brands. Add in jackets that can be used for backcountry…
Mountain Hardwear goes big with backcountry apparel at Outdoor Retailer 2015 Winter Market
Mountain Hardwear is once again stepping up their backcountry-skiing game at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market with new apparel that insulates and breathes for the up and the down. Micro Thermostatic Jacket Among the myriad of layering pieces that will be coming out this year, is the new Micro Thermostatic Jacket. This is a very light…