Feb 04 2018

OR Winter 2018: Best of Show – Crickets

Mind you, this was after having had an overpriced but otherwise decent salad for lunch at the Colorado Convention Center where the Winter Outdoor Retailer show was going on. Hunger was no longer driving me, only a craving for salt. So I was crunching on thin, nutritionally vacant Lay’s potato chips. As it was, that was the driving force for the gentleman to walk from behind the booth in to the aisle to ask me, “would you like to try a healthier way to satisfy your craving for salt?”

“Like what?” I asked.

“Crickets,” he replied.

Crickets for snacking on. Really. Yes. Insects.

Crickets for snacking on. Really. Yes. Insects.


Keep making backcountry turns

Jan 23 2018

Stoked Stix – better than ‘bucks

Get stoked. Smooth, rich and strong without specialized cookware. Add hot water and serve.

Get stoked. Smooth, rich and strong without specialized cookware. Add hot water and serve.

Ordinarily instant coffee is reserved for road trips and backcountry tours. However, it only took one sample cup of Stoked Stix for me to modify my daily routine. In fact, I sort of sabotaged my original plan, which was to use Stoked Stix instant coffee on a five day tour along the crest of the Sierra Nevada.

As it was, I still opted for Starbucks on the tour. Not because I preferred Verdana instant, but because I found I liked the Stoked Stix so much I burned through it before the trip even began. It was as smooth and rich as my standard cup of fresh pressed joe. Even the dark roast was smooth without the typical bitter bite of burned beans.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jan 17 2018

First Look: Marker’s Alpinist 2-pin binding

Marker has built a reputation for building alpine bindings with superior performance. Typically that means downhill performance – as in a binding that delivers a solid connection between the boot and the ski, but also knows when to let go. Marker’s new Alpinist 2-pin tech bindings maintain the alpine connection, but this time the performance emphasis is on the uphill.

The Alpinist adds uphill performance to Marker's binding repetoire.

Marker’s Alpinist: 245 grams of uphill prowess.


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Nov 24 2017

Review: Scarpa Maestrale RS2
—a worthy upgrade

Scarpa's Maestrale-RS for 2018.

Scarpa’s Maestrale-RS for 2018.

Although Scarpa put in a little overtime to improve the performance of their legendary Maestrale boot line, the part they tout the most in this second version (RS2) is the improvement you’ll notice the least — the lateral stiffness. There’s no denying the torsional rigidity of the boot has been improved by infusing the back half of the scafa with carbon for maximum power transfer. However, the plain Maestrale, like its predecessor was already plenty stiff for most conditions thanks to a Grilamid lower shell. Thankfully Scarpa did not make the tongue of the boot from Grilamid also, but instead used Pebax, allowing for some progressive give to the forward flex, making these boots a delight to drive the fall line in. Even though the increased lateral stiffness is noticeable, unless you plan on running gates with these boots, the improvement, though welcome, pales compared to the degree of noticeable improvement in Maestrale’s touring performance.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 19 2017

Review: Scarpa TX-Comp 2018

 

TX- Comp: Scarpa's burliest NTN boot.

TX- Comp: Scarpa’s burliest NTN boot.

The common theme among aficionados of burly tele boots is their lack of sensitivity. Not the skiers, the boots. As a powder pig sensitivity is a boot quality I revel in, but I’m no tele charger. Not by burly boot standards. However, that lack of sensitivity is really only an indication that boots like Scarpa’s TX-Comp were not meant to be skied at speeds where the forces driven and received between your legs, boots, and skis require sensitivity. If you routinely hammer the bumps, enjoy air, crush crud for breakfast, and spit in disdain at slush, these boots were built to navigate your path with power. In powder it just means you can go a lot faster and still maintain control because the boot won’t waffle in terrain or at speeds that make boots like the T2 or TX melt.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 16 2017

Ski Review: Black Diamond Helio 88

 

Howie rips mush with BD's Helio 88 and a full pack.

Howie rips mush with BD’s Helio 88 and a full pack.

Now that the pendulum is swinging back from the fringes of phat skis to moderately wide skis, what used to called fat but is now even skinny, Black Diamond’s Helio 88 should perk your interest. It’s a solid ski that lets you minimize weight without sacrificing good performance. Of course, a lot depends on your weight, boot, skill level, and how far you want push the boundaries.
Keep making backcountry turns

Sep 25 2017

Arva Reactor 32/40 liter airbag packs

Arva's Reactor 32 airbag pack

Arva’s Reactor 32 airbag pack

Arva has done a good job of balancing opposing goals with their Reactor avalanche safety packs. They provide ample touring utility while minimizing the weight of the airbag plumbing. The ingredients are a text book example of how to synthesize the best features currently available for cartridge systems:

  • inert gas,
  • a mechanical trigger for simplicity
  • dual airbags extending the length of your torso

    • It was an easy decision for Arva to stick with cartridges; besides having years of experience working with ABS as their pack manufacturer, electrically powered airbags don’t really have a long track record to prove their reliability.
    Keep making backcountry turns