Table of contents for Fall - Winter 2017-2018 in Outside

a. Rossignol X-ium Premium Skate S2 skis $805 Designed in collaboration with Rossignol athletes, the X-ium S2 has a rigid waist and flexible tail to deliver powerful energy transmission while reducing pressure in the shovel for enhanced glide and steering. The longer glide zone makes accelerating a breeze. b. Swix Triac 3.0 poles $600 These are the lightest, stiffest carbon poles on the market. Swix eliminated stretch in the wrist strap and added an index-finger platform to help transfer power to the ultraminimal grip-and-strap system. c, f. Swix Delda jacket $160 and tights $160 The waterproof-membrane-backed fabric on the chest and arms of the Delda will keep out wet snow as you glide into the squall. The highly breathable back panel on the jacket and tights allowed us to wear…

THE PASS Mountain Collective THE PRICE: $469 WHAT YOU GET: Two days of skiing at each of 16 top-notch resorts around the United States and in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This year, Sugarbush, Vermont, and Snowbasin, Utah, have been added to the list, alongside Jackson Hole, Alta, Snowbird, Aspen, Squaw Valley, Mammoth, Revelstoke, Taos, Sun Valley, Lake Louise, Banff, Telluride, Thredbo, and Coronet Peak. PERKS: After two days, you get half off additional lift tickets, as well as numerous discounts on lodging. SKI DAYS NEEDED TO PAY IT OFF: Four FINE PRINT: No blackout dates. BUY NOW: mountaincollective.com THE PASS M.A.X. Pass THE PRICE: $679 WHAT YOU GET: Five days at each of 44 different mountains, a growing list that includes Big Sky, Alyeska, Crystal, Killington, Copper, Crested Butte,…

The word onesie didn’t always evoke high performance. Rather, it used to conjure images of silliness: footie pajamas, DIY Halloween costumes, and gaper-day ski suits. Today’s onesies, however, are as utilitarian as they are just plain fun. Take Helly Hansen’s Ullr Powder Suit ($850; above). When waist-deep snow is in the forecast, this is the ultimate armor. The neon orange, wind- and waterproof body shown here is reminiscent of a hazmat suit, earning chuckles and compliments in the lift line. On the hill, the seam-sealed polyesterpolyurethane body eliminates the scourge of snow getting down your pants yet breathes, thanks to inner-thigh and underarm vents. Then there are the base-layer onesies, which beg to be worn from first chair to fireplace. The most stylish of the lot is the Shandoka 1Z…

Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak $229 We demand a lot from our packs: they need to accommodate a variety of loads, move with us, and carry comfortably on our backs. Until pack makers design the one that can do it all, we’re left weighing pros and cons. Of all the packs we tested this year, the Saddle Peak demanded the fewest compromises. Mystery Ranch—based in Bozeman, Montana—designed it to tame the local Bridger Bowl Ski Area. There are runs right off the lifts, but the best terrain requires a boot-pack, and there’s plenty of backcountry to explore. Thus, this 21-liter bag is too small for gear-heavy excursions but just right for sidecountry day trips. The straps and hipbelt are fully padded, and the two-pocket panel design is compact, for riding the…

Sunski Plover $58 Sunski, as ever, delivers quality and style that could easily cost twice as much. The Plover’s synthetic lenses are both polarized and mirrored—often premium upgrades. We put the optics to the test on a relentlessly sunny weekend on and next to the Pacific, where inferior lenses would have left our eyes fried. Spy Cyrus Whitewall $130 Aggro, loud, some screamingly unnatural red-orange color—you may not love such things in your president, but we dare you to ignore the flaming-hot lens mirroring and black-and-white frames that pay homage to vintage car tires. While it puts on a show for everybody else, it aids your eyes with a wide, crisp view through polycarbonate lenses with a color-neutral tint. Crap Eyewear Velvet Mirror $58 This fashion number is as provocative…

a. Arc’teryx Rush SV $275 Arc’teryx debuted the Alpha glove a couple of years ago, with a revolutionary build: it sealed the membrane stitches with waterproof tape, making the Alpha the most weatherproof glove we’ve ever tested. The Alpha has now been upgraded to the Rush, with a removable quick-drying liner. Think of it as hard-shell armor for your hands. b. Black Diamond Helio $200 Versatility was on full display during a ski tour in Crested Butte, where the three-inone Helio proved to be our best friend. We skinned up in the fleecy liner, then broke out the light outer with goat-leather palm and ripstop backing for the way down. That shell uses Gore’s new Active fabric, sacrificing some durability for breathability. c. 686 Linear $55 The name of the…

a. Dion Model 120/Laser From $240 Just when we thought Dion couldn’t lighten its racing snowshoes any further, the company launched the Model 120, which sheds even more ounces thanks to aircraft-grade aluminum tubing. At only seven inches wide and 20.5 inches long, the 120 doesn’t force you to alter your stride. 1 lb b. Crescent Moon Eva All-Foam $159 “A fat bike for your feet” is how one tester described the Eva—the most intuitive snowshoe in our test, courtesy of its easy-to-use Velcro bindings and simple, lightweight design. Underneath, hard foam lugs act like snow tires for a footprint that’s more lithe trail runner than bulky snowshoe. 1.7 lbs c. Yukon Charlie’s Carbon Flex Spin $190 Long snowshoes can feel clumsy, but the Carbon Flex, at 5.2 pounds per…

Save Our Snow! Winter is, hands down, the best season. And I swear I’m not just saying that because my birthday falls in January. Mainly it’s just really damn fun. Hell, half the Outside office shows up for work around 11 A.M. whenever there’s so much as a dusting of skiable snow in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains outside of town. Meetings are punctuated by frantic, hopelessly optimistic forecast discussions about the weekend. Lakes and backyard ponds become hockey and broomball arenas, while hillsides are transformed into chutes for sledding and tubing. Climbing on rock gives way to climbing on ice. And let’s not forget powder days spent skiing in the mountains, of course. But the current climate, both atmospheric and political, puts winter at risk. Studies by the American…

“I love my ski boots,” said no one. Ever. Complaints are common in this category, but brands are determined to stop skiers’ moans. This year’s models solve virtually every gripe, from cold toes to slippery soles. SOLVED: Pinched feet. Moldable liners are so 2005. Conformable shells are the new custom-fit frontier. The Fischer RC4 Curv 130 ($699; above) uses an exoskeleton made of a plastic that’s vacuum-molded at a specialty retailer to your unique foot shape. SOLVED: Frozen toes. K2 plugged a furnace into its hard-charging Spyne 120 Heat ($900) that keeps the whole foot toasty. Six hours on a USB cable recharges the battery, and a stiff Y-shaped panel on the back of the cuff delivers enough muscle to drive burly boards. SOLVED: Parking-lot wipeouts. Walking seems easy, until…

Völkl 100Eight $825 Backcountry-ski makers have spent years pursuing the holy grail of the alpine-touring world: a ski that’s light enough for touring but still rips on the down, no matter the snow conditions. While no one has nailed it yet, the Gear of the Year–winning Völkl 100Eight comes closer than most. You’ll often see this ski in-bounds at the resort because of its downhill prowess, but our out-of-bounds testers have adopted it, too. Its construction keeps the weight manageable for touring, with guts made from twin carbon stringers and a thin fiberglass layer that cups the wood core. Völkl also cut ounces by shaving down the top of the ski, leaving a ridge running along the center for stiffness. There are certainly lighter skis out there (Völkl’s own backcountrydedicated…

ROSSIGNOL The iconic French company moved its North America headquarters to Park City in 2006 so its employees “could live, eat, and breathe the mountain-sports lifestyle.” PRODUCTS: Alpine, snowboard, and Nordic equipment, apparel, and accessories POC POC, a Swedish company founded in 2006 and dedicated to reducing injuries and saving lives, moved its North American headquarters up from Salt Lake City in 2016. PRODUCTS: Snow- and cyclesports helmets, goggles, sunglasses, armor, apparel, and accessories SKULLCANDY Founder Rick Alden launched the company in his garage in Park City in 2003 and has since grown it into a successful global brand. PRODUCTS: Headphones and earbuds for lifestlye and action-sports participants SOUL POLES In 2011, former U.S. Ski Team member and cofounder Bryon Friedman partnered with teammate Erik Schlopy…

Don’t buy ski boots online. That’s the first thing veteran boot fitter Bob Gleason will tell you. The only way to do it is to go into a shop, stuff your foot in a boot, and see how it all feels. “Feet come in so many lengths and widths, with different knobs and high points,” says Gleason, founder of BootDoctors snowsports and bike shop, with locations in Taos, New Mexico, and Telluride, Colorado. “If a boot isn’t fitting properly, it can destroy the positive experience of skiing,” Gleason says. “If a boot fits right, you shouldn’t even have to think about it. It’ll be an extension of your body. You’ll ski better and longer.” Here, his tips for making sure you do. Step 1: Take it all off. Remove your…

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoodie $299 A few years ago, waterproof down and down blends were all the rage as brands worked to improve on the coveted high-loft, but moisture-averse, insulation. This year, companies are debuting a crop of jackets with new types of synthetic insulation that perform as well as down, regardless of the weather. Best of those is the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoodie. The superlight jacket is filled with the company’s brand-new PlumaFill insulation, made of hydrophobic polyester fibers that mimic the structure of down—gossamer tendrils radiating from a central spine. Rather than being blown into baffles like other synthetic down, the PlumaFill is tacked between sheets of ten-denier nylon fabric in long strands, so it won’t shift and create cold spots. Yet the Micro Puff costs $50 less…

a. Voormi Variant II vest $349 If core heat is a concern, consider Voormi’s reversible Variant II. Its thick layer of warmth-trapping merino wool is more than we’re used to seeing on a vest. Plus Voormi’s weather-resistant Core Construction is sewn right into the fabric. But you need to feel comfortable making a bold statement: the Variant is a bit of a Ducati for your torso. b. Strafe Drifter jacket $210 The versatile Drifter is both technical midlayer for the hill and street-smart everyday jacket for what comes after. The ripstop nylon shell and PrimaLoft Silver insulation both perform nobly while keeping things subtle. Like Strafe’s heavy-duty backcountry jackets, the Drifter is made to deal with harsh conditions, but it has more après chops. c. Outdoor Research Revy shirt $145…

a. Woolrich Civil War Gettysburg Wool blanket $115 These thick 1800s-era blankets were first issued to Union soldiers to keep them warm. The modern version is still tough as nails, but now it’s made of 80 percent wool gathered from the cutting-room floor. b. ShotzSki shot ski From $175 No après-ski throwdown is complete without a shot ski. Our favorite maker, ShotzSki has a host of recycled planks to choose from (fat, skinny, old, and new). Pick a design or get a custom graphic, and ShotzSki will mount ski-boot-shaped shot glasses on it. c. Mountain Designs Seawool Mike Check shirt $120 In addition to recycled bottles, there’s a sleeper ingredient in the Seawool: oyster shells collected from restaurants in Taiwan. The resulting fabric is soft, warm, and wicking, and it…

Petzl Sirocco $130 Stop thinking of helmets as accessories. They are crucial tools that have gotten so many major upgrades in the past few years it’s hard to keep track of them all. Take the new Sirocco. Weighing in at about a third of a pound, Petzl’s new lid is the lightest one we’ve ever tested. It’s also one of the most breathable, with an astonishing 24 vents. “I forgot I was wearing a helmet!” exclaimed one tester after summiting Mount Shasta on an 80-degree day. There’s not much to this helmet, with its single-strap fit system and bare-bones EPP foam, but it has full safety ratings for climbing—though not downhill skiing. It’s best suited to mountaineers who put a premium on head protection during the ups and need just…

Oakley Fall Line $190 Old-school goggle lenses were formed flat and then bent to fit goggle frames, inducing headaches by warping the light and forcing your brain to make sense of the distorted images. Then early iterations of lenses thermoformed on a cylinder (no need to bend them) took over the high end, only to be replaced with top-dollar spherical lenses that mimic the shape of the human eye. But recent refinements in how cylindrical lenses are built—less distortion for less money—have led to their resurgence. All the goggles we tested this year feature cylindrical lenses, but our favorite was Oakley’s Fall Line, which uses a deeply wrapped lens paired with a rimless frame to create the most peripheral vision we’ve ever had in a goggle. This alone makes it…

a. Mammut Trion Light 38 pack $160 Mammut’s Trion lets you jam in gear for days in the backcountry but is optimized for fast-andlight summit bids. Removable hip pads and top pouch slim things down when ounces count. b. MSR Remote 2 tent $800 The Remote 2’s spacious, 33-square-foot interior and cavernous vestibule made waiting out a storm almost pleasant. The burly composite poles held steady in 30-mile-per-hour winds. c. Leatherman Rebar multitool $60 With styling reminiscent of Leatherman’s original multi, the Rebar has the tools you need, including saw and can opener, in a slim package. d. Eddie Bauer BC Duraweave Alpine pants $499 These pants’ Duraweave-reinforced fabric is the most durable shell we’ve ever tested. Also nice: the single thigh pocket, as simple is always best for fast-and-light…

a. TomTom Adventurer watch $349 Reasonably priced for a smartwatch, the Adventurer packs in a lot of multisport bang for your buck. It can be used for a wide range of activities, including swimming and snow sports, and it will display trails and routes (though they have to be loaded manually). It also comes with 3GB of music storage for when you want to venture out sans phone. b. Motiv ring $199 For those who prefer not having a screen strapped to their arm, there is the Motiv, a titanium-coated plastic ring. It’s got most of the same sensors—such as an accelerometer and optical heart-rate monitor—just miniaturized, and it tracks many of the same stats. We found it less obtrusive while also impressively accurate, though you’ll need to open the…

a. Oboz Bridger 10" Insulated Waterproof $199 BEST FOR: Lasting forever. Consider this boot if (a) you love to snowshoe and need 400-gram insulation for warmth and a heelpiece to keep straps in place, or (b) you work outside shoveling snow all winter. We challenge you to wear through its waterproof nubuck leather. b. The North Face Ballard Duck Boot $145 BEST FOR: Owning après. With the Ballard, the North Face put its unique spin on the classic duck boot. And it performs, with a waterproof build that fought off slushy puddles at a ski race and 200-gram insulation that kept us warm while clearing snow off our car in belowfreezing temps but didn’t make us overheat in a coffee shop. c. Salewa Ultra Flex Mid GTX $190 BEST FOR:…

Salomon Sick Stick $650 Snowboarders just wanna have fun. Thankfully, designers are putting a premium on pleasure for 2018, focusing more on playful, enjoyable models that pop like tarts and slash like surfboards. Of the more than 100 planks we tested at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, the Sick Stick best epitomizes the return to snowboarding’s fun-loving roots. Salomon revamped this decade-old staple, most notably by getting rid of the board’s characteristic pintail in favor of shapes specific to each model size: the shortest deck (the 151) has the widest waist and is designed to float turns through powder glades; the 157 (shown here) is an all-mountain assassin with narrower dimensions that rails curves and aches to be airborne; and the 162’s longer length and sidecut make it stable at speed…

a. Salomon S/Lab X-Alp $1,000 The Arc’teryx Procline was the first boot with side-to-side flex in touring mode. Now there’s the X-Alp as well, which gets 23 degrees of inward flex and 13 degrees of outward, to help you skin across angled terrain. The biggest difference between this Salomon and the Arc’teryx is that the X-Alp is stiffer, better for driving a big ski. 2.9 lbs b. Lange Women’s XT Freetour 110 LV $750 A 110 flex might sound a little soft, but all of our testers raved about the Freetour’s power. “Zero loss of energy laterally and forward,” one said. That power comes from a light but stiff Grilamid-injected shell. We also love the uphill-specific Dynafit insert and Ultra Grip sole. The gripe: not enough range in the 43-degree…

a. Weston Backwoods splitboard $899 Slashy even in tight trees, this poplar-bamboo board hails from a boutique maker in Weston, Colorado. Its fun, surfy feel comes from a tip that’s wider than the tail, plus camber underfoot and rocker at the ends. b. ThirtyTwo Jones MTB boots $600 With full-zip gaiters, a crampon-compatible Vibram outsole with heavy lugs for hiking, and a collar that folds back to allow longer strides while skinning, these boots are tough enough to get you anywhere you think you want to be. Careful: you’ve still got to get down. c. Ortovox S1+ avalanche transceiver $490 This flip-phone-esque, three-antenna beacon uses a digital display to locate buried riders. Internal compass-like tech senses when you turn, and a grid screen displays multiple victims and the distance to…

a. Patagonia Performance Better Sweater Hoodie $159 Meet the garment that inspired this page: the Performance Better Sweater. The heathered, lightweight polyester fleece is stylish enough to wear to the office (at least if you work in New Mexico like us), while the Polartec side panels add stretch and breathability. We wore it all day at work, then took it out for hikes on local trails. b. Kari Traa Women’s Kristina $80 We took the seamless, loose-fitting Kristina from morning yoga to lunch in the park to movie night. The nylon body has a touch of stretch, and the cushy polyester dries quickly. Plus the elastic hem won’t ride up during downward dog. c. Myles Elements $88 The sleek and no-frills Elements hoodie is the valedictorian of our wardrobe. Its…

a. Spyder Glissade pants $129 You can now wear cozy pajama bottoms while skiing. That’s what the plush elastic waistline on the Glissade feels like. Synthetic insulation lining the front, backed by stretchy polyester-fleece along the thighs, offers warmth without bulk. And the slightly baggy fit minimizes chafing under ski pants. b. Norrona Lofoten Alpha Raw Zip hoodie $169 Norrona took Polartec’s Alpha tech and stripped it down (the satiny insulation feels so good against skin that it needs no liner) to make the Alpha Raw—the most breathable layer we tested. The fleecy Lofoten fabric kept us comfy yet ventilated under a shell, so we never shed it on ascents. c. Eddie Bauer Women’s EverTherm Down jacket $249 This isn’t the midlayer you want for highoutput activities; it’s the midlayer…

The number-one noob mistake in winter? Wearing too much. It may be cold out, but loading up with puffies and then sweating through your gear will make your day of play clammy and miserable. More important, as temperatures drop, that sweat can freeze, potentially leading to hypothermia and definitely more misery. Take it from professional ski mountaineer Brody Leven. When the 30-year-old isn’t on expeditions in Kazakhstan or Alaska, he’s logging millions of vertical feet around his hometown of Salt Lake City. Know what to look for in each layer, then manage them effectively, Leven says. Here’s his head-to-toe breakdown. a. Midlayer A midlayer with synthetic insulation in the chest but not in the back or under the arms makes for the ideal warmth-to-breathability ratio. Keep in mind that it…

It’s true: your head loses around 7 to 10 percent of your body’s heat—whether you’re spending winter nights in the desert high country or riding Colorado’s lifts—if it’s not well insulated. Still, though you should keep your dome swaddled, there’s no reason not to look good while doing so. Top of our list for high-output winter activities is the (a) 3-Season Helmet beanie ($35) from up-and-coming Chicago company Snowshed. It’s made from fine merino wool and fits nicely into your pocket. We wore the 3-Season beneath our bike and ski helmets without any bulk, itch, or overheating, thanks to its thin profile. For something burlier, (b) Outdoor Research’s new Whitefish hat ($56) is a Stormy Kromer–esque utility lid with a water-resistant polyester outer and warm fleece interior. Even though the…

Pentax KP $1,100 Stop shooting vacation photos on your iPhone and use this lightweight 1.5-pound box instead. The 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor captures bigger, richer files than your cell, making for better prints. Plus, the KP has a massive ISO range—up to 819,200—for crisp low-light shots. It can snap seven frames per second and has a weather seal to keep you firing in rain and snow. You’ll need a fast lens to get the most out of this Pentax, but it’s a setup worth building out. Canon EOS M6 $779 At 4.4 inches wide, this camera is too small and too powerful to not pack along on every trip—be that an evening hike or an all-day ride. You get a robust 24.2-megapixel sensor that snaps seven frames per second, plus an…

a. Tembo Tusk Skottle kit $275 The skottle—think a shallow wok with legs— makes an ideal grilling surface for post-pow steaks and veggies. Invented by South African farmers who repurposed old disc harrows from tractors, the propane-fueled cooking tool has gained popularity among U.S. overlanders because of its simple design and giant grilling surface. b. Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Double Knee pants $79 Ditch your crinkly, uncomfortable ski pants for these soft, warm, nearly indestructible work pants made from industrial hemp, recycled polyester, and organic cotton. Bonus: they only look better over time (and smeared with a little dirt). c. Kegworks Picnic Time Deluxe Portable Travel Bar set $180 This handy travel accessory comes with a shaker, tongs, martini glasses, and lots of other cocktail gear, all neatly packaged…

Trail bikes aside, no mountain machine adds more versatility to a fleet than a fat bike. The wide tires provide stability and flotation that will keep you riding through mud season and winter, and the combination of modern geometries and suspension forks has made fatties just as much fun for shredding in dry conditions, especially on rocky and sandy terrain. The Fatback Corvus ($3,565 as pictured) is the enthusiast’s choice, with a pedigree that includes course records at the Iditarod Trail Invitational. The current version is slacker up front, for more confident descending, and shorter in the rear triangle, for sprightlier pedaling. Yet it remains one of the most stable-riding fatties we’ve tried, which is important in snow, where too quick handling can leave you spinning angels in a drift.…

a. Treadwall Kore Home climbing wall $5,950 With 20 feet of total wall and nearly 300 possible hold placements, the Kore Home lets you replicate nearly any climbing problem in your living room. Six g’s nets you one of the best full-body workouts we’ve had. b. UrbnFit Balance board $30 Weak stabilizers—the small muscles surrounding your joints—can lead to injury. Spending 15 minutes a day on UrbnFit’s wooden board in the gym, office, or kitchen builds strength. c. NormaTec Pulse recovery system $1,495 Some say overpriced indulgence; we say critical recovery tool. The Pulse boots zip around your legs for a customizable massage, and we credit them for several of our PRs. d. Recoup Fitness Cold Massage roller $40 Rollers are painful yet useful when it comes to easing tight…

Sure, you could show up for your first day of skiing without doing a single squat or lunge beforehand. But, man, will everything from your lower back on down ache. Not to mention you’re putting yourself at higher risk of getting hurt. “Most injuries happen in the beginning of the season,” says Crystal Wright, a Freeskiing World Tour champ who’s now the owner of Jackson, Wyoming’s Wright Training. She recommends working your entire body with a focus on your core, hamstrings, and quads. For best results, do these exercises three days a week for two months before clicking into skis. Jane Fonda “The Jane Fonda is one of my favorite gluteus medius exercises, which is a very important sta bilizer muscle for preventing lower-back and knee pain,” says Wright. Lie…