Gear

What’s up with down? Here’s a look at nature’s original insulator and its synthetic look-alikes.

These waterproof, breathable jackets are designed to defend the body against winter’s worst elements. But new materials and innovative construction reveal a softer side to hardshell protection.

New technology makes wearing a ski helmet a no-brainer. Still making excuses? Put a lid on it.

Tripp Frey and twin brothers John and Chris Pew grew up skiing and snowboarding together on garbage-mound mountains just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Though life often took them in separate directions, they’ve recently found each other back in the snow.

With the trend back toward flat skis, consumers get to choose their own bindings again.

Völkl’s new women’s ski technology takes into account that a good percentage of knee injuries happen to women.

Go ski touring, alpine skiing, or telemarking on the same set of skis.

Put this binding on twin tips, and you can choose between a park-specific center mount or a traditional mount.

This new binding releases when standard bindings don't.

Because they care. And you'll get better service.

A woman’s boot or ski really will help you have more fun on the hill.

You can have your skis built just the way you want them. Here's a look at one of Colorado's custom ski shops.

Not all shops are created equal.

Category: Women's Powder Super Wide; Category ranking: No. 1; Average score: 3.82; Balance of skills: 3.98; Best for: Ease: Intermediates could heliski on it; Not for: Quick turns in tight trees;

Category: Women's Powder Super Wide; Category ranking: No. 4; Average score: 3.61; Balance of skills: 3.66; Best for: Long, fast turns through pow; Not for: Hardpack, where rocker can feel wobbly

Category: Women's Powder Super Wide; Category ranking No. 2; Average score 3.75; Balance of skills: 3.64; Best for: Heli trip; Not for: A balanced diet: Does not like groomed

Category: Women's Powder Super Wide; Category ranking: No. 3; Average score: 3.73; Balance of skills: 3.64; Best for: AT bindings: It’s super lightweight. Not for: Overhead blower days: It’s the least floaty.

Category: Women's Speed; Category ranking: No. 2 (tie); Average score: 3.78; Balance of skills: 4.03; Best for: Versatility; the Fuego likes almost all terrain; Not for: Huge bumps—it’s too damp to be quick

Category: Women's Speed; Category ranking: No. 6; Average score: 3.31; Balance of skills: 2.96; Best for: Hard snow and dry skies; Not for: Flyweights; this ski demands aggression

Category: Women's Speed; Category ranking: No. 1; Average score: 3.95; Balance of skills: 4.08; Best for: Speedsters who like to venture off-piste; Not for: Skidding: It can’t be dialed back.

Category: Women's Speed; Category ranking: No. 2 (tie); Average score: 3.78; Balance of skills: 3.71; Best for: The category: It is speed-specific. Not for: Anyone on a budget ($1,350 with binding)

Category: Women's Speed; Category ranking: No. 5; Average score: 3.59; Balance of skills: 3.40; Best for: Someone who wants a cruise-control option; Not for: Ice storms; the Burnin lacks bite.

Category: Women's Speed; Category ranking: No. 2 (tie); Average score: 3.78; Balance of skills: 3.54; Best for: East Coasters: unsurpassed edge-grip; Not for: A laid-back ride

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 3; Average score: 3.76; Balance of skills: 3.90; Best for: An everyday ski for a range of abilities; Not for: Short turns are not its forte

Category: Women's Powder Wide Category ranking: No. 1; Average score: 3.85; Balance of skills: 3.78; Best for: Hard-snow versatility; Not for: Holly-go-lightlies

Category: Women's Powder Wide; Category ranking: No. 5; Average score: 3.31; Balance of skills: 3.38; Best for: Smaller women who want responsiveness; Not for: Serious crud, where it’s too nimble

Category ranking: No. 4 Average score: 3.62 Balance of skills: 3.70 Best for: The less skilled: It’s a great teacher. Not for: Slalom turns

Category: Women's Powder Wide; Category ranking: No. 6; Average score: 3.14; Balance of skills: 3.16; Best for: Powerful experts; Not for: Anyone not wearing a helmet

Category: Women's Powder Wide; Category ranking: No. 2; Average score: 3.80; Balance of skills: 3.92; Best for: A quick and spirited ride; Not for: Bottomless pow, where liveliness is muffled

Category: Women's Intermediate; Category ranking: No. 5; Average score: 3.52; Balance of skills: 3.43; Best for: Whipping skilled athletes into shape; Not for: Beginners who want a friendly hand to hold

Category: Women's Intermediate; Category ranking: No. 2; Average score: 3.93; Balance of skills: 4.09; Best for: Venturing off-piste: No. 1 in flotation; Not for: Newbies: It has too much energy.

Category: Women's Intermediate; Category ranking: No. 4; Average score: 3.56; Balance of skills: 3.58; Best for: Beginners; Not for: Biting though blue ice

Category: Women's Intermediate; Category ranking: No. 6; Average score: 3.19; Balance of skills: 2.96; Best for: Having fun at your current ability level; Not for: High speeds

Category: Women's Intermediate; Category ranking: No. 3; Average score: 3.65; Balance of skills: 3.71; Best for: Growing with you as you improve; Not for: Novices, for whom it’s too quick and spunky

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 6 (tie); Average score 3.29; Balance of skills: 3.35; Best for: Precise, aggressive skiers; Not for: The cavalier

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 4 (tie); Average score: 3.31; Balance of skills: 3.3; Best for: Powder; Not for: Those who prize power over ease

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 1; Average score: 3.61; Balance of skills: 3.6; Best for: Eastern freeriders; Not for: Deep powder, where its attributes are wasted

Category: Women's Intermediate; Category ranking: No. 1; Average score: 4.03; Balance of skills: 3.81; Best for: Athletic learners who want room to grow; Not for: The contented. This ski will make you better.

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 3; Average score: 3.32; Balance of skills: 3.48; Best for: A wide range of abilities; Not for: East Coast or Midwest boilerplate

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 2; Average score: 3.38; Balance of skills: 3.35; Best for: Tahoe crud; Not for: Mary Jane: It’s too stiff to zipper down bumps.

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 6 (tie); Average score: 3.29; Balance of skills: 3.37; Best for: Maching through soft snow; Not for: Lighter, less aggressive skiers

Intermediate

Intermediate

Category: Women's Freeride; Category ranking: No. 4 (tie); Average score: 3.31; Balance of skills: 3.23; Best for: Athletic skiers: It reacts quickly to pressure. Not for: Sunday drivers: This ski demands attention.

Intermediate

Skins sure have changed since the days of animal fur. Here are five new technologies to help you get uphill faster and easier.

Cruiser

Cruiser

Category: Women's Cruiser; Category ranking: No. 4; Average score: 3.51; Balance of skills: 3.69; Best for: Amazing grip on the groomed; Not for: Bumps. The Tierra isn’t the quickest stick.

Cruiser

Cruiser

Freeride

Category: Women's Cruiser; Category ranking: No. 3; Average score: 3.53; Balance of skills: 3.54; Best for: Baring its teeth on ice; Not for: Deep powder; it has a heavy, grippy feel.

Freeride

Freeride

Category: Women's Cruiser; Category ranking: No. 5; Average score 3.34; Balance of skills: 3.36; Best for: A Westerner’s one-ski quiver; Not for: East Coast technicians: It’s too forgiving.

Freeride

Freeride

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Speed

Intermediate

Category: Women's Cruiser; Category ranking No. 6; Average score 3.27; Balance of skills: 3.39; Best for: Enjoying the scenery; Not for: Someone who wants a damp, burly ski

Cruiser

Cruiser

Cruiser

Category: Women's Cruiser; Category ranking No. 1; Average score 3.96; Balance of skills: 3.83; Best for: Cranking tight turns on hardpack; Not for: The lethargic or unathletic: It’s got energy.

Cruiser

Cruiser

Category: Women's Cruiser; Category ranking: No. 2; Average score: 3.55; Balance of skills: 3.83; Best for: Holding an edge at speed; Not for: The sidelines. This ski likes action.

Freeride

Freeride

Category: Men's Cruiser; Category ranking: No. 7; Average score: 3.11; Balance of skills: 2.65; Best For: High-speed carving on soft groomers; Not For: Slalom-ready quickness

Freeride

Freeride

Freeride

Freeride

Category: Men's Cruiser; Category ranking: No. 3 (tie); Average score: 3.31; Balance of skills: 3.37; Best for: All-terrain versatility, emphasis on groomers; Not for: Highly technical short-turn carving

What the Numbers Mean

Category: Men's Cruiser; Category ranking: No. 1; Average score: 3.51; Balance of skills: 3.59; Best For: All-day comfort with exacting performance; Not For: Frozen corduroy or blue East Coast ice

Freeride