It's funny how things can come full circle. When mountain bike suspension forks were first introduced, RockShox was the king of the hill. Their famous Mag21 fork was legendary and everyone drooled over the fold-flecked magnesium lowers and how plush 60 mm of travel felt. Ahh, the days. Then, Marzocchi came on the freeride scene with all the grace of a 500-lb. gorilla just squashing both RockShox and Manitou out of the market. RockShox's lone ray of hope was the Boxxer World Cup, which shined on World Cup courses and was and still is ridden by the DH man-to-beat, Steve Peat. Somewhere in between the decline, the ray of hope, the amazing success on the DH circuit and my garage, RockShox has once again emerged as (in my mind) the premiere manufacturer of mountain bike ...

The French aren't so much known for building mountain bikes, though there have been several Frenchman who have been ultra-successful at both XC and DH disciplines. When I think of France and bikes, I think of bikes of the skinny tire variety. Contrary to that stereotype, Commencal has been building a handful of downhill and freeride-type mountain bikes since 2000. I didn't really notice Commencal until freeride and DH phenom Cedric Gracia jumped from Cannondale to Commencal a couple of years ago. I haven't seen much of Gracia lately, so I'm not sure if he's settled into the European spotlight and dropped of the US radar or not. However, at the Interbike Outdoor Demo, I was determined to at least swing a leg over one of their rides to get a first-hand feel for how they perform....

Sunglasses are uber-important pieces of gear for nearly every outdoor activity. Mountain and road cyclists typically have several pairs of sunglasses or at least a pair with interchangeable lenses. In my mind there are three imperatives with biking-friendly eyewear: 1) they must be lightweight and 2) they must stay put--even while sweating up a storm and 3) They've got to properly block the wind. With high-end sunglass prices typically in the $100-$150 range, it's hard to afford multiple pair or even that one do-it-all pair of sunglasses. Markup on a typical pair of sunglasses must be huge--either that or they are having to carry a huge amount of overhead with their behemoth marketing budgets. Either way, it's hard to imagine that a pair of sunglasses can be worth that much. So, in my mind, even though the big boys have ...

Backcountry skiers are like the leg-shavin' XC mountain bike racers who count every gram, drill out every part, swap out all steel bolts for titanium ones and shave their legs too. Every gram counts whether you are pedaling or skinning uphill. Regardless of lightweight gear or not, I'm always the last one up the skintrack. I just like to take things slow and steady, but can still appreciate the weight savings. With so much high-quality, lightweight backcountry gear these days, there's a myriad of choices. Dynafit or Fritschi? Foam or bamboo core? Full-size or mid-size shovel? Carbon fiber or aluminum probe? The list is endless. Lets talk about an all-new piece of gear that not only can help reduce weight, but can also help keep your cool on those long skintracks: the Sierra Designs Mantra Pants....

When it comes down to it, I'm a vest guy. They are one of the most versatile pieces of outdoor clothing there are. As a lightweight and unobtrusive layering piece, they are always tops on my list. On backcountry ski trips, I always carry one in the bottom of my pack just in case. A nice, lightweight vest is an awesome piece to have in the car just in case the temps on an early-morning trail run are a tad chilly. Several years ago, I lost my Marmot DriClime Vest somewhere between couch surfing or mountain biking trips to Moab. I'm still bummed that I don't have that vest. It was the perfect vest for spring or fall and provided just enough insulation and plenty of wind protection. I've been on the lookout for a replacement ever since. ...

I don't know why all other grip manufacturers don't just throw their hands up in submission and give up making their futile attempts at grips. Is there any reason why you would NOT want to have your grips securely attached to your bars? Is there a reason why you would NOT want to be able to swap out grips, shifters or brake levers on a whim without destroying your grips? Ummm... I can't think of a reason. ODI Lock-On grips are simply the best grips on the market today and the only grips I use on my bikes. I've been using them for years and can't imagine NOT having them on my bikes. The patented Lock-On rings enable you to swap your grips at any time. And, no matter what, they stay secured--even in torrential rain....

Until this season finding a solid 4 buckle alpine touring ski boot with Dynafit binding compatibility has been a short shopping experience of 1-2 options. These few options have primarily been soft flexing boots with a less than stable ride for bigger skiers like myself. So until now I've cut back to 3 buckles for conserving weight, accepted the fact that my backcountry skiing experience would include a soft boot and I've adjusted. Thankfully those days may be coming to an end. When it comes to shopping for alpine touring ski boots having selection should be the name of the game and thankfully this year (and in anticipation of next year) the selection of 4 buckle boots that feature Dynafit binding compatibility has exploded. One of the first boots introduced as a mid season release in this ...

I've long been a fan of Gordini's Lavawool® fabric. This proprietary blend of wool and synthetic fibers represents the best in both thermal properties and quick drying attributes. I tested a pair of the Gordini Vertigo gloves a few years back and that was my first taste of Lavawool fabrics. I was impressed by the feel and function of the fabric--very warm and quick to dry, which are both highly-desirable qualities for gloves. As Lavawool as gotten more and more acclaim, Gordini has been expanding the Lavawool lineup in recent years--utilizing it in other applications aside from their glove line, such as socks, hats and face protection. The latest application of this fabric is in the new Gordini Lavawool base layers. About the Gordini Lavawool Midweight Base Layers The ...

Not only is Backcountry.com one of the top online gear retailers, they are also coming on the scene in a big way with their own house-brand gear. Since these guys have schlepped high-end outerwear and gear for years, they know a thing or two about the little things that make a great jacket. This season represents the best collection of Backcountry.com Goat gear to date with stellar merino wool base layers, funky T's, beanies and softshell jackets. There's no doubt their clothing line is for real and their pricepoints are extremely competitive for what you're getting. Backed by their 100% no-nonsense guarantee, you can be sure your Goat gear will last a lifetime. About the Backcountry.com Wool Hooded Jacket Built from a wool-blend exterior with a bonded fleece lining to keep ...

Highgear is a relative newcomer to the altimeter watch market. While industry heavyweights like Suunto were creating more and more complicated devices with higher and higher pricetags, Highgear was quietly plugging along with the mantra of providing top-notch altimeters and navigational equipment at an affordable price. I've seen and used many of their altimeter watches in the past and have found them to be highly functional and feature-rich for their $130-$160 price range, which is half the cost of those from other top brands. The entire line of Highgear products spans from pedometers to altimeters to portable mp3 players and other handheld tools commonly used in the backcountry. About the Highgear Altis Ti Altimeter Watch The new Highgear Altis Ti was introduced late last year as the new top-of-the-line altimeter watch ...