Table of contents for Fall - Winter 2015 - 2016 in Outside

SOMETHING NEW I’ve been skiing since I was two, but growing up in Vail, Colorado, I spent 95 percent of my time making turns in-bounds. As I got older, I’d take the occasional hut trip on tele skis, but I never was very good at freeing the heel. Once a season, I’d spot someone on alpinetouring gear and wonder how they’d gotten into the expensive, intimidating sport. How differently things would have been for me had I been born in, say, 2010. After several years of rapid development in AT gear, touring has gotten so popular that Vail groms now learn to French-fry on skis designed as much for the ups as the downs. The stuff remains expensive, but you get a heck of a lot for your money. Mount…

Ski jackets have long benefited from trickledown technology: the features developed for serious backcountry shells (page 108) work just as well when you’re huddled on a wet chairlift. This year there are more excellent options than ever. To whittle our initial list down to these seven, we spent a season skiing both sides of the ropes in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We tried jack ets with everything from an aerogel fill, developed by NASA and said to be the best insulator ever made, to a new design that features overlapping down baffles. The difference between enjoying a powder day and warming up in the lodge often comes down to what you’re wearing— it’s worth investing in quality outerwear. GEAR OF THE YEAR Arc’teryx Rethel $475 The supple Rethel is hands-down the…

1. Aulta Leeway Nylon $105 Newcomer Aulta was hatched by industry vets with a love of surfing. The Leeway has a Japanese quartz movement and a tough 316-L steel case, and survives plunges down to 328 feet. It makes us want to drive our woody up onto the dunes and never leave. aultasurf.com 2. Szanto Pilot 4000 $350 No solar power or tachymeter here— just basic good looks, with a seventies-feeling brown and gold face, a bronze-colored steel case, and a supple stitchedleather band. But the vintage style is matched with highquality quartz timekeeping. Subdials count up seconds and minutes, if you like to “run track,” as it used to be called. szantotime.com 3. Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Naimakka Limited Edition $625 That strap is a piece of Naimakka paracord…

There is a great divide among runners: those who pick their shoes for speed and those who choose for comfort. The firmer and thinner the midsole, the faster and more efficient a shoe will be, but the harder it will be on your feet. The softer the midsole and the more supportive the shoe, the better your legs will feel—at great cost to your pace. Or so we thought. Today’s most innovative footwear has been developed at the intersection of these conflicting design principles. Every shoe our team selected this year found a new, refreshing balance in the yin and yang of rush and plush. And no shoe traversed that divide better than Nike’s Pegasus, now in its 33rd year, with equal doses of speed and comfort that no other…

BEST FOR: Moving Fast 1. Hoka Tor Ultra Hi WP $230 The rockered Tor Ultra looks like a midcut waterproof hiker but feels like a running shoe with ankle support. Hoka balanced the plush cushioning with a deep, stable heel pocket. The leather and nylon-mesh upper isn’t insulated, but the boot’s waterproof eVent liner did a good job keeping out snow. hokaoneone.com BEST FOR: Big Hikes 2. Keen Durand Polar $200 Inside the Durand Polar, 400 grams of proprietary insulation and a waterproofbreathable membrane surround your foot, while a wool footbed further boosts warmth. The beefy upper and sturdy toe bumper resist scrapes and scuffs. Said one tester: “My go-to for bagging peaks with long approaches.” keenfootwear.com BEST FOR: Arctic Conditions 3. Muck Boot Pursuit Shadow $220 The fleece-lined Pursuit…

1. Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeeze $2.50 Squeeze packs are hot right now. But while most taste like a smoothie gone awry, this one blends fruit and oats into a satisfying treat. It didn’t freeze during a winter camping trip at 12,000 feet, though 100 calories per pack meant we had to eat four at a time. munkpack.com 2. Ally’s Bar $4 Made from sweet potatoes and dates, Ally’s Bars provide both immediate juice and a long-lasting IV drip of mojo. Our only complaint: just one flavor, which also features cranberries and chocolate. allysbar.com 3. Perfect Bar $3 On dawn-patrol skins, when we need to fit breakfast in our pockets, we always go for Perfect’s Almond Butter bar. Sweetened with honey and made from gluten-free and mostly organic ingredients, it…

BEST FOR: Occasional Missions 1. Tecnica Cochise Pro 130 $840 The Cochise Pro 130 carries over the inter -changeable tech- and DIN-compatible soles of last year’s model but gets an up graded liner. It remains a leader in the AT market, but due to its weight, it isn’t ideal for big-mileage days. That said, if you put a premium on going downhill fast, it can’t be beat. 8.9 lbs; tecnicausa.com BEST FOR: Long Tours 2. Scott Sports Superguide Carbon $1,000 To build this boot, Scott started with its Cosmos II, then added carbon to the lower shell for a lighter ride and better control on descents. It also embedded Gore-Tex into parts of the liner—which one tester called “plush but supportive”—to keep moisture off the skin. 6.2 lbs; scott-sports.com BEST…

ALL MOUNTAIN FRONTSIDE 1. Atomic Vantage 90 CTI W $725 Even frontside devotees detour into trees and bumps. Atomic’s answer: a ski that pairs onpiste performance with stellar off-trail capabilities. Camber underfoot is backed by a wood core and vibration-eating metal to ramp up carving power. A top-sheet window reveals woven carbon mesh that runs from tip to tail for torsional strength. Subtle rocker makes for supple turn initiation, while the wide 90-millimeter waist means you’ll stay lifted in the fluff. 129/90/112.5; atomic.com ALL MOUNTAIN POWDER 2. Völkl 100Eight W $825 This ski excels when storm totals measure in feet. Full rocker and a 108-millimeter waist kept testers atop thigh-deep powder and moving slough. Taper up front cut cleanly through chop and let us feather turns in the trees. Also…

Our 45-member test team spent a week riding 94 new snowboards in Crested Butte, Colorado, last March, shredding from dawn till dusk until our legs could take no more. The first few days on hardpack and a choppy mix of ice and snow taught us a lot about how the boards performed in dicey conditions. Then the storm gods dropped a foot of fresh powder. What we learned: today’s top boards are as capable banging through bumps below the lift as they are floating over a powder field. The trick is finding one with a ride that matches your style. GEAR OF THE YEAR High Society Temerity $450 Merriam-Webster defines temerity as “foolhardy contempt of danger.” That about sums it up. Testers found this all-mountain hero to be solid in…

1. Abominable Labs Abom $250 Nothing ruins a ski day faster than foggy goggles. But the geniuses at Abominable Labs have a solution. The antifog Abom has a thin, invisible heater inside the doublelayer lens that works like a rear-window defroster—that is to say, brilliantly. Leave it on low in wet conditions, and switch to Boost mode after a wipeout for a quick thaw. abom.com 2. Scott Sports LCG Compact $199 Bluebird blower days are nice, but powder skiers spend more time in storms. During the nastiest conditions, we pulled out the LCG with its Illuminator lens. When it’s dumping, this lightly filtered storm lens is unmatched for depth of field and low-light contrast. Bonus: the goggles come with a slick contoured sparelens case. scottsports.com 3. Zeal Optics Forecast $239…

1. Berghaus VapourLight Hydroloft Reversible Hoody $220 Most reversibles give you two distinct styles and not much else. Not so the eight-ounce VapourLight. Wear the dualtone fabric on the outside for increased wind protection, or flip it around for a bump in breathability. Perfect for highoutput bike commuting or hiking the steeps. berghaus.com 2. Fjällräven Ovik 3 in 1 $450 The Ovik is the warmest jacket here, with a detachable down-blend puffy liner tucked under a recycled-polyester and cotton shell that’s weather resistant but not waterproof. Adjustable hem and cuffs combine with an elastic collar to keep the heat in on cold days. Come spring we split it up, using the insulated piece on earlymorning hikes and the light outer layer for kicking around town. fjallraven.com 3. Kitsbow Alpha Snap…

NISEKO, JAPAN Japan has been unbeatable for snowfall in recent winters, and Niseko, on the northern island of Hokkaido, has held its reputation as an otherworldly powder paradise. Fly into New Chitose Airport in Sapporo and book a private transfer (from about $250; skybus.co.jp), then start exploring the four overlapping areas on the mountain— your pass covers them all. Don’t miss the boot-pack to the top of 4,291-foot Annupuri or the midday ramen at the Lookout Café. Stay at Ki Niseko, a new boutique hotel that opened last winter at the base of Niseko’s Grand Hirafu resort and offers views of the volcano Mount Yotei (from $300; kiniseko.com). After making your turns, soothe tired muscles in the hotel’s onsen, a traditional hot-spring-fed mineral bath complete with saunas and cold plunges.…

1. Louis Garneau Alpha vest $160 The Alpha’s asymmetrical zipper won’t rub on your chin, and the form-fitting athletic cut won’t impede movement or catch the wind in a tuck. louisgarneau.com 2. Swix Down shorts $90 These shorts are the winter equivalent of mountain-bike baggies: a functional statement piece. Keep them on while warming up, then zip them off when temps rise or it’s time to go fast. swixsport.us 3. Madshus Nano Carbon Race UHM poles $280 Stiff, lightweight poles are to nordic skiers what carbon wheels are to cyclists. The Nanos let you quicken your poling cadence, adding power to push. madshus.com 4. Swix Carbon jacket $199 The Carbon is one of the most versatile tops ever made. Essentially a simple full-zip shirt, it has enough wind blocking to…

1. Amplid Milligram splitboard $1,100 At 5.5 pounds, this carbon board is light without sacrificing performance. The blunt nose gives it a surfy feel in powder, while the stiff core remains responsive even while riding icy late-season couloirs. amplid.com 2. Dakine Heli vest $150 Ditch the pack in favor of the Heli. The slim 1.9-pound nylon top is chairlift-friendly and easily accommodates the essentials (shovel, beacon, and probe), plus an extra layer, snacks, and a one-liter bladder. dakine.com 3. Black Diamond Front Point bibs $499 With full-length zippers, internal gaiters with boot hooks, and a pair of enormous thigh pockets, these Gore-Tex bibs breathe well in the uptrack and keep powder out on the descent. blackdiamond equipment.com 4. Deeluxe Spark XV boots $359 These stiff boots have crampon-friendly soles, durable…

Packs keep getting lighter, smarter, and easier to use. We ran 18 new models through the wringer, and almost every one made the final round. But while it’s easy to find a great pack, choosing the perfect one still requires careful consideration. For starters, standard or airbag equipped? If you spend more than ten days a year in avalancheprone terrain, consider an airbag. Next there’s size. As a general rule, opt for 15 liters or smaller if you’re riding lifts, 15 to 25 for sidecountry adventures, 25 to 45 for day trips, and 45 or more for multi-day missions. Finally, do you want lots of pockets or a sleek top-loader? Your answers will lead you to a bag you’ll love—and use. GEAR OF THE YEAR The North Face Snomad 34…

1. Backcountry Access Scepter 7075 Aluminum poles $80 The Scepter is BCA’s classic twopiece adjustable metal pole, with a built-in scraper on top to help you keep your skis, skins, and boot soles clear. Because nothing is worse than dragging ten pounds of caked ice up the hill with you. backcountry access.com 2. Black Diamond Free Glide Skin Care wax $13 Spring skiing means wide temperature swings, which can cause climbing skins to soak up moisture and lose grippiness. To stave off the issue, treat your skins with Black Diamond’s Skin Care waterproofing wax the night before. blackdiamond equipment.com 3. Black Diamond Deploy 7 shovel $75 You owe it to your buddies to carry a serious shovel. This one has a curved aluminum handle that allows it to disappear in…

1. Showers Pass Rogue Hoodie $175 Like a highly functional iteration of your favorite sweatshirt, the Rogue bridges the urban-technical divide. A cozy fleece lining is encased in a waterproofbreathable exterior, while commuterfriendly elements like reflective trim, a loop for hanging a light, and a helmetcompatible hood make it ideal for winter bike rides. showerspass.com 2. Faction Harper Aerogel $569 The Harper is one of the first jackets to incorporate NASA-developed aerogel, a super-lightweight insulation that’s a fraction of the thickness of its synthetic competitors. It’s also bafflingly warm. With 100 percent seam-sealed everything, a powder skirt, and five exterior zip pockets, this is the shell to wear when you’ll be on the mountain all day, in the nastiest conditions. factionskis.com 3. Ternua South River $675 Parkas keep you toasty…

1. Woolrich Giant Buffalo Wool coat $350 Lumberjack shirts are the de facto uniform of mountain-town dudes. Woolrich gives the look an urban upgrade for women with its Giant Buffalo coat, made from a wool-nylon blend to keep you warm on the streets Vail at night. woolrich.com 2. United by Blue Murray Plaid dress $98 We like flannel for its unbeatable nextto-skin feel, and we like dresses for their versatility. Combine the two and you have the ideal postski kit. Bonus: the Philadelphia-based brand uses a portion of its proceeds to organize watercleanup efforts. unitedbyblue.com 3. Tucker and Bloom Ranger Market tote $175 Before technical fabric became a thing, waxed canvas reigned as king of weatherproofness. This bag—made in Nashville, Tennessee, by a fatherson duo—uses 18-ounce Missouri canvas with Kentucky…

BEST FOR: Freeskiers 1. Head Vector Evo 130 $800 The old Vector was a nice racing boot. This year, Head perfected the family by making the new Evo 130 even more performance oriented, with a forward lean that encourages an upright stance, a relatively steep ramp angle, and a narrower last. head.com BEST FOR: Dialing In Fit 2. Dalbello Avanti 100 $550 Not too soft but not too stiff, the 100-flex Avanti is the Goldilocks of the ski-boot world. Its Italian designers gave it a nearly bespoke fit with a heat-moldable liner, which can be custom-formed to your foot in five minutes flat. dalbello.it BEST FOR: Skiing Corduroy 3. Nordica Cruise 110 $499 This was the most comfortable boot we tested, with a superwide toe box and heel pocket, 104-millimeter…

1. Brunton All Day 2.0 power bank $70 With a massive lithium battery, the All Day quintuples the energy stores of your GoPro—just leave the camera’s battery in, replace the back housing with the All Day, and lock up. You can even simultaneously recharge your phone via a side port and the included two-in-one cord (Lightning and micro USB). brunton.com 2. Optrix by Body Glove Pro kit $170 Made of clear polycarbonate, this case adventure-proofs your iPhone 6 so it can survive being submerged in 33 feet of water or suffering a 20-foot drop. On land, the four included lenses, including a 165-degree wide angle, 2x telephoto, and macro, let you capture a huge variety of shots. You can buy an additional fisheye or 4x tele for $40 each. optrix.com…

1. Sunski Dipseas $55 This metrosexy number turns up the style dial with delicious frame colors like the tortoise pictured. The outlook is cool and clear through polarized emerald lenses that are better than you’d expect at this price, though they don’t give enough coverage for hardcore outdoorsiness. Big-headed guys only wish they could wear ’em, because the design’s medium-smallish. sunskis.com 2. Under Armour Captain $155 Ahoy. And huzzah. Normcore is dead— even, at last, in sunglasses designed for boating. UA builds in all the serious nautical necessities—anti-wetness lens coatings, anti-glare polarization, big coverage—in a unit that does not embarrass onshore. The Captain is also good for general action sports, but with the camo print and racy lines, it’s probably a mite too athletic for the street. underarmour.com 3. Smith…

BEST FOR: Aspiring Pros 1. Nikon 1 J5 $500 The lightning-fast 1 J5 can reel off an astonishing 60 frames per second in high definition. A touchscreen makes it easy to adjust settings on the fly, and it flips and twists for more angles. Even better, the camera works with more than 12 lenses and transfers files to your phone or desktop via Wi-Fi. nikonusa.com BEST FOR: Instagram Heroes 2. Moment Case and Lens $70 and $100 The sturdy Case, for the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, makes you a better smartphone photographer by serving as a mount for Moment’s superb glass lenses. The sleek cover offers a sturdy grip and has its own shutter button, which depresses with satisfying heft. momentlens.co BEST FOR: Zooming 3. Canon PowerShot SX710 HS…

BEST FOR: Minimalists 1. Timex Ironman Run x20 GPS $103 Like its more expensive siblings, the x20 accurately tracks pace and distance, counts laps, and sets intervals. And that’s it. It can’t sync with a heart-rate monitor or third-party apps. But what it lacks in bells and whistles it more than makes up for with its attractive, comfortable design and easy-to-read display. timex.com BEST FOR: Newbies 2. Polar M400 $250 This is the most intuitive running watch here. The GPS tracks flawlessly, the display graphics are clear, and you can choose from several data screens (think lap time, speed, and heart rate). All that in one of the smallest GPS-enabled watches out there. Bummer: syncing with third-party apps is frustratingly tricky. polar.com BEST FOR: Fixing Your Form 3. Sensoria Fitness…

1. Bkool Smart Pro trainer $700 The cyclist’s answer to the Wii, the Bkool lets you ride more than 500,000 routes, in video view or with computer-generated 3-D graphics, while your home computer adjusts the resistance to match the visuals. The $15 monthly subscription includes a virtualcompetition option for real-time racing against up to 100 other Bkool users worldwide. bkool.com 2. CycleOps Training Mat $75 Keep your trainer in place and your floors free of sweat with this hard vinyl mat. Downstairs neighbors and your significant other will appreciate its noise-dampening qualities at 6 A.M. cycleops.com 3. Pearl Izumi P.R.O. In-R-Cool shorts $150 Bibs are too hot to wear indoors, and many shorts come with thin pads that aren’t built for long training sessions. But a seamless chamois keeps these…

There’s been a lot of upheaval in this category recently. The race to create the lightest, most breathable—but still bomber—jacket has destroyed longstanding paradigms. The lines that once divided soft and hard shells have blurred so much, they’re all but gone. Waterproof down has gone from pipe dream to commonplace, while new lightweight synthetic insulations keep you warm on the coldest days. Now, in another leap forward, mad- scientist engineers are using surprising new materials like corn (that’s right, corn) and rain-shedding wool. The upshot? There are more high-quality jacket options than we ever thought possible. GEAR OF THE YEAR Outdoor Research Uberlayer $300 Companies have tried for years to make a puffy you put on and keep on, whether you’re at camp or on the hill. Patagonia pulled it…

1. Hestra Narvik Wool Terry $185 Like most of the leather gloves here, the Narvik is made from goatskin, but unlike some of them, it’s tanned with plant tannins. Like Flylow, Hestra utilizes a wax coating rather than laminating its fabrics. It’s a touch less breathable but still adequately water resistant, provided it’s waxed periodically. The removable wool liner is exceptionally fast drying. hestragloves.com 2. Seirus HeatTouch Torche $395 Seirus upgrades the typical batteryheated glove, adding a poly-fleece liner that slips into a leather-and-soft-shell outer with a heat reflective layer. Choose from three settings: warm, medium, and toasty (the last seriously diminishes battery life). Unlike most heated gloves, the Torche works well when switched off, even without the liner. seirus.com 3. Eddie Bauer First Ascent Guide Trigger $179 Mittens are…

1. G3 Synapse 101 W skis $900 A ski this light and uphill oriented tends to get skittish on the downs. Not so the Synapse 101W, which let testers rip in everything from day-old mank to eight inches of fresh. The superb mix of stiffness and playfulness comes from the carbon-wrapped poplar and paulownia core and the early-rise tip and tail. 130/101/118; 5.8 lbs; genuineguidegear.com 2. Fritschi Diamir Vipec 12 bindings $600 Last year the Vipec 12 made our list of finalists because of its alpinebinding-like toe release and pole-adjustable heel riser. The new version is even better, a result of subtle improvements like boot-toe guides for easy entry. 2.4 lbs; black diamondequipment.com 3. Atomic Century 109 skis $725 Mount alpine bindings on the Century 109 and you’ll be happy…

BEST FOR: Deep Carves 1. Gnu Zoid $650 The asymmetric Zoid comes in two shapes: one for regular footers and one for goofy. Testers agreed it was a joy to ride almost anywhere. “It’s medium stiff lengthwise and charges through corn, bumps, and groomers,” one noted. The serrated Magne-Traction edges provide solid hold on ice, and the surf-inspired Ekstrom tail “feels like pumping a wave but carves incredibly well,” our tester said. gnu.com RESPONSE: 4 / VERSATILITY: 3 BEST FOR: Going Bigger 2. Head Hope $429 The Hope is a twin-directional board with superior flex. A solid, stable feel on landings gave even less-aggressive riders the confi-dence to launch airs. Flat camber between the feet combined with a soft waist increases response time, while regular camber underfoot locks in the…

1. The North Face Dyvinity jacket $160 Finding the perfect winter training layer is tough: too heavy and you’ll overheat, too light and you’ll freeze. The Dyvinity nails the middle ground. Soft-shell material in the body and hood blocks wind, while knit fabric in the sleeves and along the sides allows for mobility. thenorthface.com 2. Terramar ATP Crew Hiker socks $17 for two pairs Mesh vent panels and Terramar’s polyester-Lycra-blend fabric let us run in these socks in temperatures from about 10 to above 50 degrees. terramarsports.com 3. Outdoor Voices Catch-Me-If-You-Can hoodie $85 This poly-spandex throw-on may be the most comfortable item in our closet. We put it on for morning runs and gym sessions, and then, because it’s so soft and the yoga-studio-cool styling let us get away with…

TRAIL 1. Saucony Nomad TR $110 The standout feature of this flexible road-trail hybrid is the array of low, coffinshaped lugs on the outsole, which roll smoothly on pavement or packed earth. Supple and smooth, the Nomad felt most at home on drier surfaces but was secure in most conditions despite the roomy last. 8.1 oz; 4 mm drop; saucony.com 2. Icebug Zeal OLX $185 Sixteen steel studs in the sticky, mudshucking rubber outsole of the nimble Zeal OLX made easy work of packed winter roads and sketchy trails, and the waterresistant upper kept things nice and dry in slush. The stiffer fit felt best with a thick winter sock, and the low, fast ride kept us moving even in the muck. 8.5 oz; 6 mm drop; icebug.com 3. Salomon…