Category: Gear

First Look: BD’s Compactor Ski Pole

As soon as I was introduced to Black Diamond’s Z-Pole concept I was thinking how appropriate it would be for snowboarders. The only problem was, the baskets that came with the Z-Poles were too small for anything but corn snow. That and the fact that the tips were manufactured in such a way that replacing …

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Review: K2’s LockJaw Ski Poles

The new LockJaw® Carbon/Carbon and Carbon/Alu ski poles from K2 take the concept of functionality for a ski pole to a new level. The core features remain, like the Lock-Jaw® clamp that holds reliably and is easy to adjust. But what originally distinguished K2’s backcountry ski poles from the competition, depth readings and slope indicators, …

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The Need for Knee Pads

Make no mistake about it, if you telemark, it’s not a matter of if, but when you will need a pair of knee pads to save your precious knees. You can make all the excuses you want about how your stance is tall and you never ski low so your knees aren’t at risk but …

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Ball of Foot Pressure in a Deep Telemark Turn?

I stand in my workshop hacksaw in hand, old tele boots strewn about the floor. A pair of old gara’s sit on the work bench surrounded by plastic shavings with a freshly cut gash through the bellows. Am I a deranged AT skier acting out every Tele skiers worst nightmare? Of course not, I’m a …

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Too much snow? Not with a Honda!

Here in the Lake Tahoe area where snow comes by the ton, you need a serious snow blower. Even if you’re not convinced that Honda is the way to go, and I’ll admit I’ve seen other brands do a good job, do not sell yourself short with something cheap. Spend the extra bucks and get a real piece of machinery because the snow up here comes in serious quantities, not baby sized.

Review: Voile Switchback

If bindings were cars, the Switchback would be a Subaru. It tracks superbly, uphill and downhill, and if you know how to drive ‘er, you can out maneuver higher-powered vehicles.

Review: Day 2 on TTS beta binding

Dynafit is not just the binding platform of choice for ski mountaineers with locked heels, but those with a tele-style free heel too.