Category: Gear

First Look: Mammut’s Light 30 airbag pack

  Saving weight has always been a primary goal with packs. Afterall, the plan is to carry a bunch of stuff on your back without breaking it. Keeping the weight of the container down is part of the puzzle. This gets more difficult when you’re talking about an airbag pack. The main reason you’re buying …

Keep making backcountry turns

First Look: Dynafit’s Beast 16

  The saying goes, “Light is right, but weight is great.” Even Dynafit is acknowledging that with the introduction of their next generation tech binding, the Beast 16. At almost a kilogram per foot (actually only 966 grams or 34 oz.) it is a beast of a binding, especially for a company firmly rooted with …

Keep making backcountry turns

Overview of Avalanche Airbag Systems

  Airbag packs have become a commodity. Not because they are everywhere, but because so many different pack makers are offering one. Which means that, once you decide you need one of these, there is bound to be one that one will strike your fancy simply as a pack, regardless of the type of airbag …

Keep making backcountry turns

Schaffner advised K2 on Pinnacle boot

  (Editor’s Note: It was just over a year ago that I went to the front lines to sell skis and boots at the retail level. A big part of the lure was the opportunity to learn some boot fitting tricks from Jim Schaffner. A fringe benefit was getting to meet and help so many …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: BD Dawn Patrol Pants

  When Black Diamond announced they were going all in on clothing, I was fairly confident they would do a good job with respect to functionality first without ignoring fashion. Of the few pieces I’ve worn and used so far, they hit the nail squarely on the head. Keep in mind it isn’t like I …

Keep making backcountry turns

1st Look: Ambition – Tyrolia’s lightest AT binding

  After touring with Tyrolia’s beefy AT binding, the Adrenaline I was impressed with how simple and easy the mode switch was to operate; on par with the original BAT binding, Fritschi-Diamir’s Freeride. No need to step out of the binding to switch modes, a nice feature between downhill pitches where you don’t need to …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Energizer Ultimate headlamp

  There is no question that Energizer’s new Ultimate headlamp does an excellent job of illuminating what’s in front of you. Backcountry snobs might turn up their nose at the spot style, circular pattern. Most headlamps have very diffuse edges to their pattern, so Energizer’s circular pattern calls attention to itself, reminding one of classic …

Keep making backcountry turns