Oct 31 2016

Review: Fritschi’s Vipec — Black is beautiful

 

Fritschi's Vipec is back in black, and its a beautiful binding to behold.

Fritschi’s Vipec is back in black, and its a beautiful binding to behold.


Whether good or bad, first impressions last and last and last. In the long run, if you can last long enough, weak first impressions can be buried in the glory of redemption. It will take more time to prove but I think it’s time to acknowledge that Fritschi’s Vipec really rocks they way they hoped it would, but didn’t quite, three years ago. To make sure you notice, Vipec’s back — in black.
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Oct 23 2016

Redemption in Tahoe despite no-Niño

The author enjoying a "normal" snowpack in Tahoe.

The author enjoying a “normal” snowpack in Tahoe.

Many of the pros had moved. So had many of the hardcore ski bums. Four consecutive winter flops had been too much to handle, pros couldn’t film and ski bums couldn’t ski powder. My anxiety had caused me to pick up fly fishing, in February! Of the four bad winters 14-15 had been the low point for me. A solid December had seen me out touring in some of my favorite Tahoe zones, we all thought and hoped the snow would continue. But alas, that December culminated with, “the Storm of the Century,” which ended up being the bust of the century, and petered out at a little over ten inches of dense Sierra snow. It seems that in the modern changing climate the weather isn’t the only thing getting weird, weathermen and women start grasping at straws and making veritable Himalayan mountains out of the moliest of hills.
Keep making backcountry turns

Jun 12 2016

Review: Scott Sports Voodoo NTN

 

NTN Voodoo from Scott Sports

NTN Voodoo from Scott Sports

It would be a shame if sales of Scott’s Voodoo don’t pick up. Now that they have added Dynafit tech inserts these boots are a valid boot choice for the direction telemark innovation is headed. However their performance beyond that remains unchanged from the Prophet by Garmont. Thus, I’m not predicting any sales records.

Depending on whether you ever skied them, and if you haven’t, whether or not they fit your foot, you may or may not like ’em. For Prophet fans, you can keep the flex you like while preparing for the future with tech inserts.
Keep making backcountry turns

May 24 2016

Review: 22D’s rebellious Outlaw

22 Designs Outlaw is the first binding licensed by Rottefella to used their patented second heel connection. By adapting the Axl platform to a new connection point they built a winner, a binding with a tour mode that is proven to work reliably and switch modes easily in a steel based package known for durability with NTN’s laterally tight connection. In simple terms, the Outlaw is an NTN Axl.

Outlaw, the first American NTN binding.

Outlaw: American ingenuity in NTN form. Solid, step-in, tele-satisfaction — and efficient to boot.


It has all the downhill power and control of a Hammerhead binding plus some, but in a configuration that is compatible with NTN boots. This means it parallels like no 75mm binding can thanks to the inherent edging power of NTN. Like any fully capable tele binding it has a free-pivot for touring and the easiest to engage climbing wire, the spring-loaded Hammerheel. As for convenience, it’s about the easiest binding to get in to, tele or alpine.
Keep making backcountry turns

May 16 2016

Review: 5-point ‘pons, Tech Crampon 250

 

Tech Crampon 250. Light. Small. Effective. Recommend a better safety strap though.

Tech Crampon 250. Light. Small. Effective. Recommend a better safety strap though.

Years ago the thought entered my head while kicking steps up a couloir that I really didn’t need a full set of crampons to boot up it, but some teeth at the toe would be nice. No doubt the same thought has entered your head if you’ve ever cramponed up a steep couloir. Alpinists would say not having a full set of points when climbing ice is not a good idea. That’s true, but I’m talking about skiable snow, which may be firm, and is advised to never be blue or glazed. For firm but skiable snow, most would agree a full set of points isn’t required, only a set of fangs up front. Which is exactly what the Tech Crampon 250s are, a pair of 5-point crampons at the toe.
Keep making backcountry turns

May 10 2016

First Look: Khion becomes a Beast

 

Beast of a boot from Dynafit. Magnesium rear spoiler, Master Step Inserts, and cool buckles.

Beast of a boot from Dynafit. Magnesium rear spoiler, Master Step Inserts, and cool buckles.

My first impression of the Khion wasn’t the greatest in the world. Half of that was due to the skis they were latched to – Dynafit’s Teton, a ski that dug the tips in with just a hint of angulation. Quite annoying actually, so it was hard to appreciate the excessive stiffness offered by the full metal, magnesium spoiler as the back of Khion’s cuff.

Apparently there is a conflict with the Khion name for another product so the boot was renamed the Beast for next year (2017), although I prefer calling them Stormtroopers. As my friend Cesare pointed out, and who can deny, they look like the sort of boots worn by Darth Vader’s white stormtroopers. While they were at it, Dynafit did more than change the name.
Keep making backcountry turns

Apr 25 2016

Review: Fischer ProFoil climbing skins

ProFoil climbing skins - Fischer's classic XC waxless crown pattern in a full length, removable package.

ProFoil climbing skins – Fischer’s classic XC waxless crown pattern in a full length, removable package.

Time for an update on Fischer’s new climbing skin technology, their ProFoil climbing skins. Unlike traditional skins that are modeled after the fur of seals, these are essentially a full length sheet of plastic scales like that found on waxless cross-country skis. Like climbing skins, they are attached or removed to the base of your skis as needed with a combination of tip and tail fixtures plus traditional skin glue.
Keep making backcountry turns