Gear

Does your nephew spend time in the park throwing tricks you can't keep track of (pretzel what?)? Here's what you can get him to keep him safe and stylish. And to up his street cred.

Ski as fast as Bode, or at least see as fast.

Spend your whole winter searching for powder? We think you should be rewarded for that.

This season, we're rolling out a series of gift-guides, specifically created for every skier on your list. Happy shopping!

It's almost non-denominational holiday season, which means you're probably late getting on the present buying train. For your cliff-hucking, pow-schralping boyfriend we've got boots, baselayers, and and a book that'll keep him safe in avy terrain. Check back for ideas for all of the skiers in your life.

Sometimes it takes a wake up call to remind you that it's important to protect your brain. Here is Jeremy Benson's story, so you don't need you own.

Wondering how to become a brand director at a ski company? If you’re Chris O’Connell, it was simple: start your own.

Considering the latest running trend? Some experts weigh in on the benefits.

When it comes to skis it's always good to try before you buy. Which is why demoing skis is a good idea. Line Skis' Alex Albers told us what kind of research to do before you demo, how to fully test the skis on snow, and what he looks for in a ski.

The Salomon Quest W is an AT boot. But it doesn't ski like one.

What goes together better than skiing and metal? According to K2, nothing.

To feel good skiing you've got to look good.Here is our repository for the latest and greatest in slope style.

At the risk of his ski instructing job, Breckenridge inventor Jim Lawson takes on the identity theft risks posed by radio frequency technology in ski passes. Is it worth it?

Rocker technology has trickled down from the fattest powder skis, and will help you navigate everything from hard snow to choppy crud. Check out the K2 Rictor for a versatile ski with "speed terrain" rocker.

When you are shredding powder this season and your fingers are dry and warm, you can thank Dan Green.

A tribute to CR’s life and style. All proceeds will go towards the CRJ Memorial Fund

A closer look at the GORE-TEX® Arc'teryx Sidewinder AR Jacket, featuring GORE-TEX® 3-Layer PRO SHELL.

A versatile, backcountry-ready ski that still handles well inbounds.

Misprints to consider as you shop for skis.

The Mantra has been a mainstay in Volkl's freeskiing line. It's quick and snappy on hard snow, but wide enough for a powder day. Here's what the testers thought.

Bruce Jahnke, Director of Product Testing at K2, explains how he got the dream job of destroying ski gear, every day.

Rossignol had a great test this year, and here’s the poster child of the Rooster’s fully fledged return to relevance.

Master boot-fitter Jim Cooper on common boot misconceptions and how to spot some telltale signs of a good boot-fitter.

The best skiers are already perfectly aligned—skeletons that stack up in perfect balance over a carving edge. The rest of us—the bow-legged, the knock-kneed—muddle through with skis that feel either too edgy or not edgy enough. The solution: Take your body in for an alignment. We did just that with two guinea pigs, to see if even longtime skiers can still improve their game with a simple equipment fix. And yes, they can.

LF stands for Live Fit, one of this year’s more interesting innovations. Soft, flexible panels on the walls of the shell expand as needed for comfortable fit for the widest of feet without undue compromise in performance integrity. The upright stance reduces leg fatigue, and the two-buckle design is the ultimate in ease, providing just enough wrap for relaxed skiing.

The women’s version of the Impact series (see Men’s Freeride) is a study in minimalist design, using only essential material to provide all the foot envelopment and power transmission a relaxed expert could want. It has an uncanny ability to fit a variety of foot shapes, including wider ones that can take advantage of Salomon’s expandable Custom Shell technology.

The Poison will please experts looking for a snugger, more responsive fit than the Idol 8 (below). It’s the women’s version of the Ghost (see Men’s Freeride), with a roomier, lower cuff and a heel wedge. The two-buckle construction is more youthful in styling than the Idol, and more upright in stance. It feels at home in the park, but explores the whole mountain eagerly.

Our women liked the Vita slightly more than the pricier Electra Sensor3 90 (see previous). Must be a comfort thing. The Vita is roomier than the Electra, but it’s equally well balanced, the liner is every bit as well designed, constructed and married to its shell, and the more relaxed flex is still enough to power a ski. As one tester put it: “a bedroom slipper with some zest.”

With a notch more power than the Vita (next page) and a snugger fit, Rossi’s Electra series is the better choice for experts or athletic intermediates. Our lankiest tester wanted a taller cuff, but for most women it’s fine. As with all the new Rossis, the liner is plush but not sloppy, fitted perfectly to its shell, and the shell’s geometry sets the skier up for a balanced and responsive ride.

A slight softening of flex makes the Electra 80 a bit less powerful than the 90 (below), but it’s a better choice for intermediates or lighter experts. Otherwise, it’s a carbon copy of the 90. Both have rubbery Vibram soles that make parking lots and base lodge staircases easier to navigate, and both have quilted fleece-fur liners that ski accurately while keeping the cold out.

“Fur” liner, yes. Lipstick, no. Nordica shows women a lot of respect with this model, which will be popular with the most aggressive of them. It’s a toned-down race boot—a Spitfire 120 (see Men’s Speed) with a softer flex, some freeride-appropriate shock absorption, a lower cuff and, yes, a warm fur liner. The snug fit and sturdy construction made it a favorite among testers.

Though both are part of the Hot Rod collection, the 100W and the HR Pro (below) are different boots. The main difference: The 100 is 2 mm wider at the forefoot. And where the Pro is quick and precise, the 100 offers quieter, less demanding performance. Shock-absorbing materials deaden vibrations and soften landings, and the stance geometry is well balanced.

The RX 100 is a new design: moderately snug, with Lange’s best liner ever. Most testers instantly liked the relatively upright stance and flatter ramp angle—more comfortable, better suited to today’s tip-and-rip style. And for what it’s worth, all of them liked the look of it. A “Pro” version offers a 97-mm fit for the narrow-footed, but most women will prefer the 100-mm fit here.

Head gives the more established brands a run for their market share with winners like this. The Vector 100 shines in its combination of comfort and modest performance. The forefoot is cavernous, but where a modicum of snugness is needed for performance—in the ankle/heel area—it’s there. Advanced intermediates and relaxed experts will be set up to succeed.

Though it’s part of the Dream line, the 9.5 gets a roomier—and somewhat less responsive—fit shape. It won’t envelope the foot as snugly, or drive a ski as precisely, as the Dream 12.5 (see previous), but it’s a good value for reasonably competent women who prize comfort above all and are content to cruise the groomers at modest speeds.

Women who have fit problems but still crave performance shouldn’t give up before trying Head’s cleverly designed Dream series. The 12.5 offers fit tension more like what you’d expect from a 98-mm last than a 102, but the cuff of both the liner and the shell offer broad adaptability for troublesome calves. A race boot it’s not, but it’s aces for comfort and solid performance.

Testers loved its heel-hold, lightness and adjustability. Dalbello’s three-buckle, three-piece design—cuff, lower shell and shell tongue—is soft-flexing at low speeds, but stiffer as you ramp it up, with positive heel-hold for good leverage over the edge. It’s highly adjustable for flex, forward lean and fit, so it suits a variety of foot shapes and skier styles with all-day comfort.

The Hawx 90 is the same boot as the Hawx 100 (see previous), so it’s a matter of skier aggressiveness, ability and/or weight. It lacks some of the turn-finishing power of the 100, but more women probably belong here. Otherwise, the benefits are the same: flexible midsole for improved balance, snug heel retention, nice blend of comfort and performance.

Testers loved the built-in forefoot flex of the Hawx. Relief cuts in the shell allow it to give when the ski is deeply flexed, improving balance and keeping your heel anchored. The flex also makes it easier to walk in. The thickly padded liner is smooth and seamless. It feels tight at first but quickly expands. There are warmer boots, but the Hawx is a good fit for good skiers.

Up against stouter constructions in the category, the Instinct, with its compact fit, women-friendly cuff and 90 flex, held its own. Slender feet will find the 98-mm forefoot width plenty quick. For wider feet, the Custom Shell feature—expandable panels along the outside of the foot—allows the shop to add up to 6 mm more forefoot room. It’s a satisfyingly responsive performer.

Testers loved the new Lange race shell. Performance is uncompromised, but now comes with less discomfort. Women will stand taller in the new shell—the better to edge on modern sidecuts, without the quad burn of more aggressive forward lean. But the biggest improvement is the liner: better designed and constructed, and better shaped to fit the shell.

It’s not a women’s-specific boot, but the 100 flex and narrow shape will make it a great choice for girls who rip. Other than the softer flex and lower cuff, it’s the same as the Spitfire 120 (see Men’s Speed)—a willing all-mountain explorer with exceptional quickness. The difference: Female testers liked their Spitfire even more than the men did theirs. It’s aggressive and edgy.

Of all the winners in the category, the Medusa tries least to be a race boot, but despite the plush suede liner and the grippy, easy-walk sole, it’s snug and stiff enough to keep a hard-charger happy. It has the edge-power and quickness of a race boot but is eager and comfortable for all-day adventure off-piste. Note: Sizes 22–23.5 are of a different design, and weren’t tested.

The Mission offers generous volume and a thickly padded liner with just enough fit tension to keep an advanced intermediate happy. Its moisture wicking liner helps keep your foot dry and warm. The toe and heel pads are replaceable in case of wear. Heavier or more aggressive men with wide feet will be better served by the RS 12 ($565), with its 120 flex.

The lower shell is roomy and lacks fit tension. That’s good for comfort but usually bad for responsiveness. But Rossignol gives the Synergy 80 a snug upper cuff, so lateral quickness is pretty good for a boot this comfortable. It’s still not exactly dynamic, but its upright stance will keep intermediates balanced, and with its soft flex, it’s a natural in bumps

The Blaster stands out in a category of mostly intermediate boots. It’s comfortable but designed for experts. The walk feature, which allows the cuff to release upright, is intended for easier hiking and touring out of bounds, but it’s fine around the base area, too, and there’s little compromise of rearward stiffness. The foot-wrap and lateral quickness are excellent.

Usually what a wider boot sacrifices is edge-control. Not so much with the Viron 95. It’s fully featured, and the flex is reasonably sturdy. But what really makes the difference is Fischer’s Soma stance. The shell is oriented in a slightly duck-footed (abducted) position on the sole. It’s a natural stance for most men, and one that allows quick, sure access to the carving edge.

The emphasis is on comfort, and it’s hard to imagine any foot that wouldn’t find the fit of the Axion agreeable. The three-piece shell is as easy to put on and take off as any boot on the market. The performance isn’t edgy, and the rearward support could have more integrity, but the Axion sets intermediates up for relaxing fun, with a stance geometry that won’t hold them back.

For experts who can’t make Tecnica’s 98-mm wide Inferno line work, the Dragon series blends comfort and performance. Testers found it softer than its 120 flex rating suggests and roomier than the typical 100-mm last shape. It’s damp, and not explosively quick, but it’s a solid performer that skis comfortably long into the day and won’t throw you around in rough terrain.

The “detuned” version of the Inferno race boot is only slightly relaxed in fit but even softer than the 120 flex indicates. The lateral quickness is all there, and the softer flex works well with the new, more upright stance, making it easy to stay out of the back seat. It’s the easiest high-performance boot to get into and out of, it’ll power a big ski, and yes, it’s “fur”-lined.

The two-buckle design isn’t just cool-looking. It also gets the job done in terms of closure. The snug fit of the lower shell provides good leverage over the edge; a more relaxed cuff lacks little for lateral quickness. The 130-rated flex feels more like 120, but it’s still plenty powerful. The Ghost is a big-mountain ripper that’ll drive the widest skis with ease.

120/110 The amazing Impact promises high-performance for any foot width. As with the X3 RC race boot (see Speed), it has a panel of heat-moldable plastic along the outside of the forefoot. A shop can quickly make it significantly roomier. On snow, it’s quick and precise, light yet strong—a natural performer in tight spots and bumps, yet solid and stable on corduroy.

The Zenith 110, which feels stiffer than the 110 flex rating, is a good choice for the skier with a higher-than-average-volume foot who’s looking for accurate performance. It’s roomy yet secure, with one of the best liners out there, perfectly shaped to fit its shell for responsive performance. The result is a sophisticated blend of quickness, power and all-day comfort.

First: cool buckles. The Spineflex catches look and work like interlinked vertebrae. The flexibility improves the way the boot wraps your foot. Head has established itself as a legit but underrated player in recent years. The Vector 120 is a great example: It’s roomy—a full 103 mm in the forefoot—but grips your foot well. An impressive mix of comfort, performance and quality.

Testers preferred the stiffer flex and richer features of the Vector 120 (below), but the 100 will be a more appropriate model for lighter-weight or less aggressive skiers. It lacks the innovative buckles, but shares the same basic geometry. The fit is very generous, yet it still grips your foot firmly enough to provide leverage. And the upright stance promises all-day comfort.

Stand up and look at your feet: In your natural stance, they’re likely abducted—that is, heels in, toes out. Fischer builds that natural stance into all its Soma boots. It makes it easier to get on edge more quickly and more solidly. The effect is more pronounced in the stiffer X-120, but the 110, with its 100-mm forefoot width, is simultaneously balanced, sensitive and forgiving.

Abandon your preconceptions. Dalbello, the champion of high-volume, comfort/value boots, jumps with both feet into the narrow-lasted, high-performance category. The Scorpion 110 is an all-mountain version of the race-ready 150. Its 98-mm width holds your foot accurately and drives a ski with authority. An impressive newcomer, and the best Dalbello we’ve ever tested.

Midfoot flexibility is the hallmark of the Hawx. Relief cuts in the shell walls allow it—and the skier’s foot—to flex in a way that feels natural and improves balance. The fit is generous, yet sufficiently snug in the heel, and the stance is upright, ideal for centered skiing over modern sidecuts. Overall, it’s comfortable and connected to the snow and won’t fatigue your foot.

If you buy it for the graphic alone, we understand. But be ready for precise, powerful performance that demands aggressive input. The Jah is a stiffer version of the Spitfire 120 (see Men’s Speed). Both are based on the venerable Dobermann shell. A shock-absorbing bootboard smooths the ride, and yes, the liner is “fur.” But it’s basically a race boot: quick, sturdy, aggressive.

If you’re not ready to rock the Jah Love (below), the HR Pro is the same boot with a nominally softer flex and more subdued graphic. Both are cousins of the Spitfire (see Men’s Speed). Compared to the Jah, there’s no difference in fit or skiability; testers couldn’t even detect a difference in flex. As with the Jah and the Spitfire 120, there’s no cuff-alignment adjustment.

The Blaster, introduced last year, belongs to the new category of backcountry-compatible alpine boots. It’s roomier than the RX and easier to hike/tour in, thanks to good traction and a walk mode. Unlike walk mechanisms of the past, there’s little compromise in rearward stability. The Super is the stiffest Blaster, and despite the roomy fit, its lateral quickness is excellent.

Like the RS series of race-inspired boots, the RX series is new this year. If the RS series is narrower than you can deal with, the RX features the same new designs as the RS (less forward lean, less ramp, tight ankle/heel but roomier forefoot), with flashier colors and a grippy, hike-ready sole. It’s sensitive, well balanced, quick and way easier to get into and out of than the RS.

Compare to RS 130 (see Men’s Speed). The 110 Wide belongs to Lange’s new RS race series but gets the wider forefoot width of the RX freeride collection. (There’s also a wide fit in the RS 130.) It’s nice to see wider versions of stiff-flexing boots for expert guys with meaty feet. The 110 Wide has all the attributes of the RS130 in a less brick-like flex. A tester favorite.

Inferno is Tecnica’s new high-end narrow-width power plant. The 130 has two cool features: A carbon-steel frame embedded in the sole dampens vibrations and adds edginess, and a section of softer plastic makes it the easiest race boot to get on and off. The stance is noticeably more upright, the heel-hold is excellent, and it’s as laterally quick as any boot. Great looking, too.

The top-dog race version of the Falcon series has what testers generally considered the best performance-to-comfort ratio of the category. It packs incredible power and quickness in an extraordinarily light, tight and powerful construction, with uncommonly aggressive forward lean. And you don’t have to suffer in a “race fit”: Salomon’s Custom Shell allows easy expansion.

The WC 130 is identical to the Lange RS 130, and the co-owned French brands make little secret of the fact that their boots are co-developed—different only in paint and minor details. The WC 130 is every bit as successful in design, as capable in all-mountain terrain, as refined in its balance of no-compromise performance and reasonable all-day comfort. Note: It’s $110 cheaper.

It’s a notch down in flex from Nordica’s 130-flex Dobermann Pro, but it still has a powerful, racy feel, and it’s more versatile in terms of terrain preferences. As with all the 98-mm-lasted Dobermanns, its bootboard is bolted down and metal-reinforced for extra edge-power and stability. The Spitfire is a race-inspired performer that skis with surprising comfort.

The new RS collection preserves the best of Lange quickness and precision and fixes the shortcomings that Lange-heads were always willing to live with. The stance is more upright (11 to 14 degrees)—a significant departure from the classic forward-leaning Langes. The new shell shape works beautifully with a fine new liner, and the old touchy edginess is pleasingly muted.

Pandora’s customer? The deepseeker. With a 115 mm waist—by far the fattest women’s ski in the test—and an early-rise, tapered tip that won’t hook up harshly in fluff, it’s a powder specialist, to be sure, ranking No. 2 in Flotation. The Pandora doesn’t so much turn as drift, smearing easily through trees and down steeps until the rider finds herself, smiling uncontrollably, at the bottom. It’s forgiving, too, making it a good option for powder novices. As for Hard-Snow Grip, where it scored last among winners...well, it’s a powder ski, people. Go find some. “Really sweet in the deep. Perfect for powder only,” said Wilde.

Nordica took last year’s burly, damp Nemesis and lightened it up, replacing the two sheets of metal with carbon to make it significantly easier to handle. One thing hasn’t changed: It’s still an aggressive charger with a more demanding feel. Pro: It carves cleanly on hardpack, making it one of the more multitalented skis in the category. Con: It doesn’t have the buttery smooth feel of some of the powder purists in the category, and it requires a skilled, powerful driver. (It scored last among winners in Forgiveness.) “Solid at speed and holds a nice edge,” said Humes. “This is definitely a ski for an aggressive woman.”

Gradual rocker from tip to tail is the Kiku’s secret to unsurpassed smoothness. It’s steady, damp and humming with Völkl power. Testers scored it high in Flotation (No. 3), Crud Performance (No. 3) and Overall Impression (No. 2). It craves long turns and virgin powder the most, but when prodded, it’s not too stubborn to hustle through tight trees and bumps, too. You do have to steer it from exactly the right spot; but for those who find that spot, the rewards are rich. “A strong and powerful ski, it delivers performance in perfect fluff and the more- challenging chop,” said Moscarella.

Some skis are like good party guests: strong personalities that light up a room, but too much to handle in a long-term relationship. The new rocker-tipped Got Back—female counterpart to the Coomback—is life-partner material: easygoing, dependable and forgiving (No. 1) of even major mistakes. It’s not beefy enough to bust through thick crud, but its lightweight feel is easy on the thighs—and ideal for earning your turns, if you’re into that kind of thing (K2 skins clip into holes in the tip and tail). Intermediates, this is your mentor. Experts, relax and enjoy the ride. “Any skier will love it,” said Beale.

Rossi was among the first to incorporate rocker into a women’s ski (Voodoo Pro BC110). Now it unveils the S110W Freeski, one of the first women’s skis with rocker and reverse sidecut. Hence its funny shape: The tapered tip and tail smear better in the deep. With roughly the same dynamics as the hugely popular S7 (No. 1 in Men’s Deep Snow), the S110W is not built for versatility; it’s built to float effortlessly through feet of velvety powder, where it handles speed so well you hardly notice the trees are a blur. For deep-snow purists, it can’t be beat (No. 1 in Overall Impression). “It could float the Titanic,” said Dawson.

Let’s hope the still-small, reemergent Blizzard factory is fully staffed: These skis are going to sell. The redesigned Crush blows through everything in its path. All you have to do is look down your line, and this ski will take you there. Steep, tight trees? Chuck yourself in. Chopped up crud? Ditto. Groomers? It rips. A rockered tip and tail work with its sidecut for supreme contact on hard snow, making it the most versatile in the category—tops in Hard-Snow Grip, Crud, Rebound and Stability. And yes, it smears lusciously through pow. “I couldn’t go as fast as this ski wanted to,” said Beale. “What a standout.”

The first thing you notice is how huge it is. Then the scary clown. Then the tip profile: There’s almost no upward curve to it. The new Radict has traditional camber underfoot—about 60 percent of its length—with pronounced rocker tip and tail. The tip rocker starts 40 cm back and rises almost a full 3 cm—so high there’s no need for much additional tip curvature. The combination of width and rocker adds up to supreme flotation in the deepest pow. Testers had to punish it for lack of versatility, but still gave it the No. 2 ranking for Overall Impression. “Surprisingly maneuverable for its size; super fun,” said a tester.

The original backcountry twin-tip returns with minor modification this year. It’s fully, but subtly, rockered, with a long, gradual tip-to-tail bend. Völkl takes care to make sure rocker and sidecut work together: Tip a Gotama up on groomers, and there’s plenty of edge-to-snow contact for easy carving. But it’s built for soft snow. It surfs and smears readily in powder and smoothly manages crud. There were more dynamic skis in the test, but the Gotama won accolades for versatility and mellow user-friendliness. “A versatile tool for powder and crud—even carves on hardpack; fun and easy,” said Casey.

Fischer’s widest ski features a subtly rockered forebody this year, along with Powder Hull Technology—a tip shaped like a boat prow, the better to part the snow in its path. Given the 114’s size, it still lacks quickness, but that’s not a problem at speed in bottomless powder, where it thrives with a loose, smeary feel. The rocker adds a dose of maneuverability, and powerful skiers will love its beefiness. The construction is a surprising blend of power in a lightweight frame—wood core, metal-free, but with carbon-beam reinforcement. “Solid, stable and purposeful, with nice flotation,” said Gleason.

It’s still a lot of ski, but tip-and-tail rocker and twin tips give the Huge a welcome measure of quickness and forgiveness. Testers preferred it over the Legend 115, a non-twin Dynastar of comparable shape but with a more demanding, unrockered tail. The Huge was snappier than testers expected for a ski with so much rocker. That’s a function of Dynastar’s interesting leaf spring core profile (stiff underfoot, progressively more supple tip and tail). In powder, it’s predictably fun and surfy. “Stiff and dynamic; light and floaty; a burly ski that doesn’t forget how to have fun,” said Malone.

If the Sidestash (left) is built for a modicum of variable-snow versatility, the massive Darkside prefers powdery chutes and north faces. This year’s version is rockered from just in front of the toepiece forward and cambered from there back. It’s metal-free for lightness and ultra-wide for flotation (No. 2). It barely tolerates hard snow and lacks quickness for typical inbounds conditions, but it’s surprisingly forgiving (No. 3) in deep powder. Like other big, rockered skis, it’s both a game-improvement tool for powder novices and an accomplished expert’s big mountain slayer. “Super sturdy, but skis easier than you expect,” said Preston.

The Answer is a rockered big-mountain twin-tip that’s as lively as a fat ski can get (No. 1 in Rebound) thanks to the subtleness of its rocker profile. In deep powder, some testers wished they had the 191-cm length for extra float, but the 184 was zippy in crud and pleasingly energetic on the groomed. The Answer comes with Blizzard’s Slider binding interface, which accepts any binding, dismounts in seconds (so you can swap in another Slider-mounted binding), and allows the ski to flex roundly fore and aft of its single mounting screw directly underfoot. “A versatile, all-around performer,” said Malone.