Category: Gear

Review: Blizzard’s Zero G

Last week I managed to get out on Blizzard’s Zero G for two days and can confirm they are a worthy contender for next year’s addition to your quiver. The Zero G is Blizzards entry into the lightweight, carbon enhanced backcountry ski category that continues to amaze with skis weighing less than three pounds per …

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Review: Smith’s Prophecy Turbo Goggles

  In the draught stricken Sierra Nevada, the need for goggles that have the power to keep from fogging up has been less essential lately. Nonetheless, the major reason I’m not a big user of goggles is because I can fog any of them up, and not because I’m trying to fog them, it simply …

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Review: G3’s Via ski poles

When it comes to ski poles any pole will do, especially if you’ve just broken or lost yours. However, if you’re earning your turns, it is worth it to get yourself a pair with dedicated backcountry features. The most obvious would seem to be a pole with length adjustability, but that is only one of …

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First Look: Dynafit’s Chugach ski

To say that next year’s new skis from Dynafit are probably the best turning skis they’ve ever made only confirms what backcountry skiers have known for years; there’s a limit to how light you can make a ski if you want great downhill performance in a lot of conditions, at any speed. In short, when …

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First Look: Fischer ProFoil climbing skins

  The most interesting new gadget at the recent trade shows was Fischer’s new Profoil climbing skins. They’re not made with a traditional plush of fibers lying down. Think of them instead as a removable base of plastic scales, or as Fischer would prefer, a waxless, grippy, crown pattern. The few leathernecks I ran in …

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DIY: Making fish-scaled skis

I bought some $30 kids’ skis at my local sports-exchange shop and added some fish-scales to make a waxless base for my 7 year old’s skis to tour with (although he just likes jibbin’ at this point).

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Hagan makes AT binding & skis for kids

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the future sustainability of skiing, particularly the human powered version. Erratic snowfall is an issue, but equally important is the root element of interest. To combat the trend of kids caught up in a web of virtual reality, Hagan will be offering a kids version of …

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